Blood Orange

The red sports car pulled into its usual spot. Shen Qiancheng set the keys on the seat and was about to call Su Tongqin when she caught a glimpse of Liao Xue by the door, arms crossed, puffing up like a blowfish.

Shen Qiancheng backed out of the call screen and texted Su Tongqin instead.

After doing that, she looked up and thought she saw the blowfish's lips curl just a fraction.

She even wondered if she'd imagined it.

Liao Xue tugged at her clothes, glancing around before saying, "You said you'd take me on as your live-in maid. Thirty thousand a month, room and board included."

Shen Qiancheng nodded—that was exactly what she'd said, not a word off.

Liao Xue bit her lip. "What you want is a live-in maid, right?"

Shen Qiancheng nodded. "Yeah."

Liao Xue closed her eyes, her ears turning a vivid red. "Then shouldn't you be taking me to your place?"

Shen Qiancheng let out a long sigh. "Not yet..."

Liao Xue took a deep breath. "When?"

"Tonight." Shen Qiancheng spotted her own car in Su Tongqin's private garage—a blaze of flame-red metal. She stood before it, equally fired up. "I'll take you to your place first. Pack your things, and I'll pick you up when I'm done."

Liao Xue's eyes darkened with something unreadable. She glanced at the car in Su Tongqin's garage, then raised an eyebrow. "No. I'm coming with you."

So clingy? Shen Qiancheng frowned but personally opened the passenger door for Liao Xue, buckled her in, got behind the wheel, and started the engine.

The Shen Building came into view—a soaring, hard-edged tower of steel and glass. Businesspeople in sharp suits bustled through the lobby, hurried and purposeful.

For some reason, Liao Xue felt like she couldn't breathe. She kept her head down, trailing a step behind Shen Qiancheng like a shadow.

Shen Qiancheng, by contrast, walked in with easy confidence, ignoring the smiling greetings at the front desk and heading straight for the elevator.

It was working hours, so the elevator was nearly empty.

When the few people inside recognized Shen Qiancheng—the only daughter of the Shen Corporation—they clutched their coffees and stepped out one by one, leaving the cramped elevator wide open for her.

Liao Xue watched all this in silence. Suddenly she remembered she was still wearing the Su family's chef uniform. She hadn't had time to change...

"Liao Xue, keep up." Shen Qiancheng held the door-open button and leaned out to remind her.

Liao Xue gave a small nod and stepped in.

The polished elevator walls mirrored both of them. Shen Qiancheng was slightly shorter, but Liao Xue had stooped for so long that she actually looked half a head shorter.

Liao Xue had things on her mind. She kept her head lowered, her bangs brushing her forehead, utterly oblivious.

Then a light but firm slap landed on her back, jolting her upright.

Shen Qiancheng's voice carried a lazy edge, like she was scolding a wayward younger sister. "Straighten your back. Watch out for hunchback."

Liao Xue kept her spine straight all the way out of the elevator. Shen Qiancheng then swept the stray hairs from her forehead, as if fussing over a kindergartner, and said, "Wait here quietly for me."

Only after watching Shen Qiancheng stride away did Liao Xue realize she'd been left in a small lounge, where employees with ID badges were peering at her from the doorway.

She was wearing a pair of washed-out canvas shoes, socks starting to fray, and the most valuable thing on her was that Su family chef uniform.

But here she was in a building full of impeccably dressed professionals...

Liao Xue felt her cheeks burn. She kept her eyes fixed on the door of the large conference room Shen Qiancheng had entered.

When would Shen Qiancheng come out and take her away?

Sui Shi, having received Shen Qiancheng's message, arrived at the small lounge to find a group of people at the door, whispering about Liao Xue.

Sui Shi knocked on the doorframe, her voice stern. "What are you all doing here during work hours?"

Sui Shi was only Shen Qiancheng's personal assistant, and Shen Qiancheng barely had any say in the Shen Corporation, let alone a mere assistant. Everyone there was just an employee—why should they take orders from her?

Someone shot back, "Someone's hogging the lounge. We can't even come in for a cup of coffee."

Sui Shi glanced at Liao Xue, then stepped inside. "This lounge belongs to everyone. I just came in—has anyone tried to kick me out?"

The person who'd spoken was left speechless. They hadn't really needed the lounge anyway; they'd only come to poke around for gossip about Liao Xue. With nothing to learn, they slunk away.

Liao Xue, who had noticed the commotion, nodded at Sui Shi with grateful eyes. "Thank you."

Sui Shi gave a warm smile. "You're welcome. Hello, I'm Sui Shi, Shen's personal life assistant."

Liao Xue suddenly felt at a loss—had she stolen this kind girl's job?

"Hello, I'm Liao Xue, Shen... Miss Shen's live-in maid." She asked hesitantly, "She didn't fire you, did she?"

Knowing Shen Qiancheng's nasty streak, Liao Xue was genuinely worried.

Sui Shi smiled gently. "I've been with Shen since her third year of high school. That's over four years now."

Her implication was that Shen Qiancheng was loyal to her people and would never let her go—Liao Xue could rest easy.

But Liao Xue didn't feel reassured at all. That wretched Shen Qiancheng had so many people around her, and they'd all known her longer than she had.

Sui Shi was dressed in a sharp, well-tailored blazer, with gleaming watch and bracelet at her wrist, and her hair was glossy and black—clearly carefully maintained...

Liao Xue looked down at her own calloused fingers and oil-stained sleeves.

She shrank her hands back, her smile a little strained.

She shouldn't have come with Shen Qiancheng. She should go back to her rented room.

Sui Shi still had her task from Shen Qiancheng. Graciously, she poured Liao Xue a cup of tea and sat down beside her. "Miss Shen asked me to pass along some of my responsibilities to you."

"I approve of Shen Qiancheng joining the Shen Corporation," an older shareholder said, and soon others followed suit.

Shen Qiancheng sat upright at the conference table, and amid the applause as everyone rose to their feet, she finally had her seat at the table.

Shi Jianren sat at the head, his gaze skimming over the crowded room to land on Shen Qiancheng. She met his look with a triumphant gleam in her eye—the one who was already certain of victory had planned ahead.

That day, her words about wanting to enter the company and learn had not been a question but a notice.

Shi Jianren had to admit he'd underestimated Shen Qiancheng. But now, he realized he'd never really seen her clearly at all.

Someone like that truly shouldn't stay in the Shen family.

A faint smile tugged at Shi Jianren's lips. Even if she joined the Shen Corporation, what waves could she stir? In just a few more months, she'd have to marry into the Su family.

"President Shi, a father's excellence truly shows in his daughter," someone flattered. "With Chengcheng on board, the Shen Corporation is sure to reach new heights!"

Shi Jianren smiled and exchanged pleasantries.

Only Shen Qiancheng herself knew what she had lost to win this battle for a seat in the company.

And the harder battle was still ahead—getting into the boardroom would be a thousand times harder than just joining the company.

When the meeting ended, Shen Qiancheng walked out and immediately spotted Liao Xue in the small lounge.

Liao Xue sat there obediently and quietly, holding a transparent cup filled with amber tea. Her brownish-yellow hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, making the skin there look delicate and fair.

Shen Qiancheng felt an inexplicable sense of calm wash over her. Right now, she desperately wanted to eat the food Liao Xue cooked—preferably served on a bone-white porcelain plate, steaming hot and fragrant.

When Sui Shi saw Shen Qiancheng come out, she quickly stood and approached. "Miss Shen."

Shen Qiancheng waved a hand. "Move all my things to my new office."

Sui Shi acknowledged and left.

Their exchange was loud enough to be heard, but Liao Xue, as if asleep, never raised her head.

Shen Qiancheng pinched the bridge of her nose, then walked over to Liao Xue, her voice softer than she herself realized. "Come on, let's go home."

Liao Xue's hands clenched around the cup, her knuckles white. Her face was wooden, and her voice was icy. "So you're allergic to chili after all?"

Shen Qiancheng: ?

Liao Xue continued, "And you need a cup of coffee first thing in the morning?"

Shen Qiancheng: ??

Liao Xue met Shen Qiancheng's eyes, searching for any trace of guilt or panic there. "And you actually hate cilantro, scallions, ginger, garlic, and spinach..."

But she found nothing—not even a flicker. Shen Qiancheng touched Liao Xue's forehead, as if checking for a fever-induced rambling, and asked, puzzled, "Did Sui Shi tell you all that, all passive-aggressive?"

Shen Qiancheng was baffled. She couldn't understand why Liao Xue hadn't spoken a word to her since getting in the car. She'd even tried making conversation.

"Three years is such a long time. Were you in the Shen family the whole time?"

Liao Xue stayed quiet, turning her face toward the window.

Shen Qiancheng made a left turn, and Liao Xue realized this wasn't the way to her rental.

"It's too late. I want to go home," Liao Xue said.

Shen Qiancheng sounded confused. "Didn't you say a live-in maid has to stay at the employer's house?"

Liao Xue said, her voice thick, "Your house is your house, and my house is my house!"

Karma had come around. Shen Qiancheng couldn't figure out how she'd offended Liao Xue. Right now, Liao Xue was behaving more like a spoiled young miss than Shen Qiancheng ever was.

"I already cancelled your lease and had your things brought over."

Liao Xue panicked. "I still have a five-hundred deposit..."

At the red light, Shen Qiancheng pulled out her phone.

Liao Xue's phone screen lit up with a friend request.

The profile picture was a slice of blood orange. Shen Qiancheng started the car. "Accept it."

"Oh," Liao Xue did as told, and quickly received a transfer of fifty thousand yuan. "What's this for?"

Shen Qiancheng raised an eyebrow. "Compensation for your deposit."

In the world Shen Qiancheng had grown up in, money was omnipotent—it could apologize, it could compensate.

Using money to make amends was far easier than soothing someone with kind words.

Liao Xue said nothing. After all, no one should hold a grudge against money.

Red light after red light, and before she knew it, the car had stopped in front of a residential complex.

Bleary-eyed, Liao Xue rubbed her eyes. "Aren't we going to the Shen residence?"

"The Shen residence isn't safe," Shen Qiancheng said, getting out of the car. "The deed for this apartment is in your name. Consider it an apology gift."

Shen Qiancheng watched Liao Xue's face fall in the span of a second.

What now, my dear Miss Liao?

Shen Qiancheng felt like pulling her hair out. How could anyone be unhappy about being given money and a house?

Was Liao Xue addicted to poverty?

Liao Xue had been to this residential complex before—it was the house where Liu Chengzhi had brought her to cook.

Once inside, unlike the last time when the kitchen was the only decently kept room, this time Liao Xue could feel signs of someone actually living here.

Clothes hung drying on the balcony. Snack bags full of junk food were stacked by the sofa. There was even trash in the bin.

Liao Xue: Shen Qiancheng lived here?

Shen Qiancheng: Sui Shi did a good job this time—this is a perfect image of a spoiled rich kid living a miserable life outside the family.

Liao Xue said dryly, "I'm going to buy groceries and cook. What do you want to eat?"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes lit up—she was craving Liao Xue's cooking. "Anything you make is fine."

Liao Xue went into the kitchen, and Shen Qiancheng looked around, thoroughly pleased.

Not until she had washed her hands and excitedly dashed to the dining table did she see what Liao Xue had made.

Stir-fried pork with chili, spinach and egg soup, and shredded potatoes with ginger...