Gu Jiangfeng was having lunch in the company cafeteria and was a little bewildered when he received Gu Shuoyan's call.
What did he mean, his wife was very angry right now? He hadn't done anything today, had he? It had been ages since he last upset her.
Gu Shuoyan said, "Dad, it's not your fault. Anyway, just hurry home."
"All right, I'll head back right now."
A Cui knelt there trembling, a clear handprint on her face. Her head was lowered, and the underwear in her hands had fallen to the floor, lying in plain sight before everyone.
Zhao Wanling called Qian the Butler over. "Old Qian, tell the servants coming to clean at noon to come to the main house two hours later. Tell Aunt Sun to hold off on making lunch."
"Yes, madam. I'll let them know right away."
Gu Zhiyue leaned his lower back against the railing and continued watching the show with Xiao Jiu. [What do you think she's after? She was bound to get caught someday. Why not just do her job properly? She makes two hundred thousand a month. Why steal clothes? It's not like my dad would develop feelings for her just because she's worked here for a long time.]
Xiao Jiu thought for a moment. [I don't know either. Romance systems know more about that. Maybe you'll understand too if you find someone you like someday, host.]
[Then I'll never understand it as long as I live. I could never steal someone else's clothes, especially worn ones. Doesn't she think they're dirty?]
[Hmm... they really are pretty dirty. At least steal washed ones.]
Zhao Wanling pressed a hand to her forehead. Where on earth had these two met? Was whether the stolen clothes had been washed really the issue here?
Zhao Wanling said, "There's no place for you in the Gu Family anymore. You'll receive your full salary for this month. I'll give you two more days. Don't let me see you here the day after tomorrow."
"Madam, I really know I was wrong. I'll never do it again. Madam, please forgive me this once. I still have two children in school, and my mother-in-law is bedridden and needs money. Madam, I can't lose this job!"
Zhao Wanling frowned slightly. Firing her really did seem a little excessive, but she couldn't stomach keeping her on either.
Gu Zhiyue asked Xiao Jiu, [Is everything she said true?]
Xiao Jiu said, [Half true, half false. Her mother-in-law died years ago.]
Hearing that, Zhao Wanling abruptly clenched the hand hanging at her side. "What does your family situation have to do with me? Am I supposed to keep you here so you can go on stealing my husband's clothes? You have one day. Don't let me see you again tomorrow!"
Gu Jiangfeng had just returned. After Qian the Butler told him everyone was upstairs, he headed up. He heard Zhao Wanling's words as soon as he arrived, and his expression immediately changed.
"Who stole my clothes? What's going on?"
Gu Jiangfeng walked over and looked down at A Cui kneeling on the floor, a handprint on her face and tears streaming down her cheeks.
Gu Jiangfeng went over to Zhao Wanling and asked, "What happened? What did you call me back for?"
A Cui suddenly crawled over and grabbed Gu Jiangfeng's trouser leg. "Sir! Sir! Please talk to madam. Don't fire me. I'll never do it again. I really was wrong!"
Gu Jiangfeng had to use some force to pull his leg out of A Cui's grip. With Zhao Wanling looking utterly exasperated, he could only turn to Gu Zhiyue and Gu Shuoyan beside them.
Gu Shuoyan pointed at the clothing on the floor. "Dad, does that look familiar?"
Gu Jiangfeng followed his finger. That black, boxer-shaped thing on the floor-wasn't that his?!!
Gu Zhiyue chimed in, "A Cui sneaked into your bedroom to steal your clothes, and the three of us caught her. That's why Mom's so angry."
Gu Jiangfeng's expression darkened at once. He walked over to Zhao Wanling's side. "The Gu Family has room for someone with crooked intentions like you. You have one day. Leave the Gu Family immediately, or we'll call the police to handle this. A servant entering her employers' room without permission-just the occasion to have the police check whether any valuables are missing."
"No, you can't call the police! I didn't steal anything. Sir, madam, you can't do this. I can't lose this job! I really know I was wrong!"
A Cui all but kowtowed to them. Downstairs, Aunt Sun, who was waiting to start cooking, heard the commotion and couldn't help asking curiously, "Oh my, what happened? Madam's so angry. What did that A Cui do?"
Qian the Butler said calmly, "That's not for us to ask. We might as well take the chance to slack off a little longer."
Gu Zhiyue said, "Even if you're fired, you can still find work elsewhere. With all your years of experience, finding another well-paid housekeeping job wouldn't be a problem for you at all."
Gu Zhiyue paused for two seconds. "Or are you refusing to leave because there's something you can't bear to part with? What exactly can't you bear to leave behind?"
A Cui cautiously glanced at Gu Jiangfeng, then quickly looked away. It happened so fast it was barely noticeable, but Gu Zhiyue, who had been watching her the whole time, caught every movement.
Gu Zhiyue sneered. "My parents have already been very merciful to you. You sneaked into your employers' private space and stole and hid their belongings. Firing you instead of calling the police was already out of consideration for your many years working for the Gu Family. Also, do you think you were only caught this time because you were unlucky?"
A Cui asked fearfully, "Young master, I... I don't understand what you mean..."
"Do you really think no one knew what you were doing? My parents didn't expose you before because you worked hard. They were giving you a chance to see whether you'd change. But not only did you refuse to change, you crossed the line over and over."
Gu Shuoyan immediately chimed in, "Exactly. We caught you once before. We were going to give you a chance, but you actually got worse and kept doing this again and again!"
"If we forgive you this time, what about next time? And the time after that? The Gu Family has no room for thieves."
Zhao Wanling said coldly, "Either pack your things, collect your final pay, and leave quietly, or I'll send someone to the servants' quarters right now to search and see just how much you've stolen and hidden."
"I'll leave, I'll leave!" A Cui hurriedly stood up. "Madam, I... I'm willing to be fired. I'll go pack my things right now. I'll leave at once."
With that, A Cui ran downstairs, and Gu Zhiyue came down as well.
Watching A Cui open the door and leave, Gu Zhiyue said to Qian the Butler, "Uncle Qian, sorry for the trouble, but please go help A Cui pack. Losing a job so suddenly is bound to make someone emotional. Don't let her say anything out of line."
"Yes, young master." Qian the Butler bowed slightly, then left for the servants' quarters.
Zhao Wanling sat on the sofa and rubbed her temples, which ached from anger. "I'm furious. My good mood today is completely ruined, and I didn't even get my hair done."
Gu Zhiyue peeled a grape and ate it. "Mom, have something nice to eat to cheer yourself up. We can ask Aunt Sun to make a few more of your favorite dishes."
"Aunt Sun, please get lunch started. I'm feeling a little hungry."
Aunt Sun stood and replied, "Young master, the soup is ready. I just need to stir-fry a few dishes, and we can eat. It'll only take half an hour."
Zhao Wanling instructed, "Aunt Sun, make me an extra-spicy beef dish too. I need to really let off some steam."
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