No one asked Xie Yuan if he had eaten. Everyone knew what was going on since he was back so late. Of course, according to Xie Yuan himself, he had been out socializing.

"Didn't you prepare a bath for me?" he asked wearily. Usually, when he came home late, Song Xia would have everything ready: tea to help him sober up, warm water, comfortable pajamas, and the right temperature. But today, there was nothing in the master bedroom, not even a light, which made him feel very uncomfortable.

"I forgot while playing with Lingling, you can put it away yourself," Song Xia said nonchalantly, ignoring Xie Yuan's request.

Xie Yuan had no choice but to take a quick, dejected shower and let him go through all that trouble himself.

Whenever I returned exhausted from Zuo Shan's place, I always found the best relief at Song Xia's place, but today I was especially tired, and even falling asleep felt difficult.

On the other side, Zhang Yuefen and Xie Chuancai were also having trouble getting used to it. They used to live with Song Xia and didn't have to worry about anything. Now, Xie Chuancai still doesn't do any work, which is making things difficult for Zhang Yuefen.

Today I cooked dinner and came back from Zuo Shan's place, but when I got back, Xie Chuancai's teacup wasn't washed, the kitchen trash hadn't been taken out, and there were several cigarette butts and some sunflower seed shells on the coffee table. In particular, the phlegm on the floor and the urine stains in the toilet were disgusting to look at. In the past, when I lived with Song Xia, she always complained that they didn't care about hygiene, but after complaining, she would clean very well.

The house is what they ruined today. Although they may ruin it themselves, they are used to a comfortable and clean environment. But after a long day, they still have to do it themselves. How can Zhang Yuefen not be angry?

"What a ridiculous situation! Why do we have to live separately when we can have a perfectly good life? We can't just waste money like this." She grumbled as she tidied up. "Since ancient times, it's always been the daughter-in-law who serves the mother-in-law. It's just a little housework. Why hire a maid? Even if there's a lot of work to do, the little girl is all grown up now. Can't she help out?"

She was still angry, so she cursed more and more harshly: "It's only because Song Xia's biological mother died that she would at least ask how she raised her daughter. She's such an ill-mannered person."

Zhang Yuefen only had complaints about Song Xia. Zuo Shan had hired a nanny since she became pregnant, but she never complained about it once.

Firstly, Zuo Shan gave birth to her precious grandson; secondly, Song Xia was always the rightful daughter-in-law of the Xie family, so naturally her expectations were higher.

However, she doesn't seem to consider who she's benefited from in the life she's enjoyed these past few years. Weren't you all working much harder before Song Xia married Xie Yuan? Why are you unhappy about doing housework again? Didn't you always say it was easy after they got married, yet you forced Song Xia to do it all by herself? Why is it hard when it's your turn?

The next morning, she and Xie Chuancai went to Song Xia's house. Before Song Xia got up, she directly instructed Aunt Liu: "Since Song Xia insists on inviting you back, I won't say anything. However, you must clean the room I live in every day, and call us over to eat at mealtimes. This is our old couple's eating habit, so please do it this way from now on."

She bossed Aunt Liu around like a mistress of the house, but Aunt Liu didn't take the paper from her.

Instead, he smiled and said, "I'm sorry, when Miss Song asked me to come back, she only asked me to clean this house and cook for the family."

Zhang Yuefen glared at her: "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm not part of this family? I'm just a nanny. You either do what I'm told or you get out."

Aunt Liu's smile vanished instantly: "Miss Song invited me here, and I will only leave if Miss Song tells me to."

"You slut..." Zhang Yuefen was used to being arrogant and considered herself to be superior to others. She dared to talk back to a nanny and was about to beat her up.

"What are you doing!" Seeing her mother being bullied, Liu Qian took three steps in two and grabbed Zhang Yuefen.

She was young, exercised regularly, and was taller than Zhang Yuefen, so Zhang Yuefen didn't get any advantage.

He became even more enraged: "Murder! The nanny killed her employer! Is there no justice in this world? Song Xia, look at the good nanny you hired!"

"What's wrong?" Song Xia frowned, her gaze towards Liu Qian questioning, not the anger Zhang Yuefen expected.

"What's wrong? You did this on purpose, didn't you? Song Xia, I'm going to tell Xiao Yuan about this today. Just you wait and see."

"Mom, what are you doing here if there's nothing wrong?" Song Xia's reaction was completely different from what Zhang Yuefen had imagined. In the past, Song Xia would panic whenever she complained to her son. Why was she questioning her this time?

"You say you can't stand my lifestyle, but we've already separated. Why do you have to come here and make things difficult? I know Aunt Liu; she's incredibly kind. Can you please stop throwing a tantrum? Aunt Liu is a paid employee, not like me!"

Zhang Yuefen was a bit confused by what Song Xia said. What was different? How did it become her fault?

"She's clearly ungrateful. She's just a nanny; I only asked her to come and clean my place. What right does she have to refuse?"

“Aunt Liu only gets one salary!” Song Xia said matter-of-factly. “Besides, Mom, didn’t you and Dad say you don’t like outsiders disturbing your lives? Why make Aunt Liu do cleaning? You always say you’re capable, but it’s just the two of you usually, and there’s not much to do. It’s just a small thing.”

Song Xia spoke casually, but it left Zhang Yuefen feeling suffocated. She had only used these words to manipulate Song Xia before, so how did it turn out to be a trap for her?

"You're paying her such a high salary, wouldn't it be a huge loss if you didn't let her do more work?"

“I have quite a lot of work here. Besides, if more work means higher wages, then sanitation workers and waiters probably have the highest wages in the world.”

Song Xia said it with a smile, leaving Zhang Yuefen with no room to find fault.

"By the way, Mom, I can't do that thing you told me about asking my cousin to find a job to help him."

She changed the subject, which successfully drew Zhang Yuefen's attention back to the matter: "Can't you do anything about it? Doesn't your Song family have a lot of influence?"

“That was before.” Song Xia said with a dejected expression. “But now that my parents are gone, all the old relationships have faded away. As for my cousin’s matter, it’s better to let Xie Yuan figure it out.”

"Such good relationships, how could you not maintain them?" Zhang Yuefen scolded angrily, "How could you be so inconsiderate?"

Song Xia looked hurt: "Mom, how can you blame me? You were the one who said the gifts were too expensive and told me not to send any more! How come you're blaming me now? Xie Yuan was there when you said that, why don't we have him come back and judge?"

She lowered her head and continued, "Mom, why are you never satisfied no matter what I do? Am I just too bad, or are you just too picky?"

Aunt Liu chimed in at the opportune moment: "Miss, you have always excelled in your studies and have many friends. You are the most outstanding young person I have ever met."

These words were practically a direct accusation that Zhang Yuefen was too picky, which made Zhang Yuefen's face turn ashen with anger.