The day after he fell ill, the detective sent Meng Jiuyi all of Gao Xiyue's messages.
She is still alive. Since severing her adoption relationship with the Gao family, she has changed her name to Zhou Ting, seemingly trying to completely cut ties with the past.
She has changed jobs many times over the years and is now working as a cleaner at a golf resort.
Zhou Ting has at least a bachelor's degree, but over the years she has been living a nomadic life, working in factories and as a sanitation worker, doing jobs that barely make ends meet.
Meng Jiuyi found it increasingly strange, instinctively feeling that there must be something fishy going on. The next day, he submitted his resume to Xiangzhou Golf Manor, applying for every position available.
During the interview, the manager asked her why she, at such a young age, wanted to work as a cleaner.
Meng Jiuyi said, "A friend of mine used to work here and said the pay and benefits were excellent."
The manager glanced at her from head to toe, raising an eyebrow.
"We've filled all the cleaning positions, but we're still short a caddie. Are you interested?"
Meng Jiuyi was taken aback.
“Caddie income is much more lucrative than cleaning. As long as you have high emotional intelligence, there’s no limit to tips. A young girl like you should have some ambition.”
Meng Jiuyi felt that this person's words had a hidden meaning, but he was only doing cleaning work in order to find an opportunity to get close to Zhou Ting.
As long as you can get into the manor, you don't have to worry about not having a chance.
She agreed.
However, this job was busier than she had imagined. She had to undergo three days of training before officially starting work. She was not allowed to use her phone at work, or she would be fined. She spent her days either receiving customers and trying to sell products or delivering emotional value.
Meng Jiuyi's face was practically frozen from all the smiling and begging. Although there was a machine to retrieve the balls, she was running back and forth like a Doraemon retrieving balls in order to give the guests a perfect and enjoyable experience. She didn't see much in tips, but many middle-aged men on the court who claimed to love their wives hinted to her in private that she didn't have to work so hard.
Meng Jiuyi cursed his father in his heart.
Every night when she gets home, her back aches and she falls asleep as soon as she lies down in bed. She almost never answers the phone when Xu Yanzhi calls. If this continues, he'll forget about her sooner or later.
No wonder people say that working like cattle doesn't deserve love; she is one of them now.
There was nothing Meng Jiuyi could do about her anxiety, so she could only tough it out for now. However, she did run into Zhou Ting in the cafeteria during this time.
She was almost always alone. While the cleaning staff liked to chat during their breaks, Zhou Ting never joined in. Her face, half-covered by a mask, remained silent.
Because of her unsociable personality, she was isolated by others, and almost all the dirty and tiring work was assigned to her.
Meng Jiuyi had just seen off a group of guests and went to the restroom to wash his hands when he heard an argument coming from next door.
"Why was I assigned to District D this month? According to last month's schedule, it should have been your turn."
It was Zhou Ting's voice.
Meng Jiuyi turned off the tap.
"Why should I? This was all arranged by Sister Gao. If you're not happy, go find her. Why are you whining to me?"
Zhou Ting retorted indignantly, "Of course she'll help you because she's your relative. You were the one who cleaned the men's restroom last night, but when the inspection revealed a problem, you're shifting the blame to me. Don't leave—"
The person opposite her completely ignored her and turned to leave.
Zhou Ting tried to grab her, but was pushed against the sink and bent over in pain.
"Go ahead and tattle on me to the manager. Let's see if they believe you or me."
The woman was smug, but when she turned around, she saw Meng Jiuyi standing at the entrance of the men's restroom, filming her with his phone. The video recorded the entire process of their argument.
What are you doing?!
Meng Jiuyi held up his phone, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You've hurt someone and you're still so arrogant. Believe me, if the police come, they can charge you with intentional assault. Tell me, who'll be fired then?"
"you!"
If a woman can't win an argument with someone, she'll leave.
"Why are you running away? You'll lose money!"
Meng Jiuyi stopped her, "You think you can get away with injuring someone like this? Either go to the hospital or pay compensation, the choice is yours!"
The woman eventually paid 800 yuan while cursing and swearing.
After everyone left, Meng Jiuyi helped Zhou Ting to a chair. "Sister Zhou, how are you? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"
He lifted up the hem of her shirt, revealing bruises all over her waist. Meng Jiuyi was going to the infirmary to get medicine.
Zhou Ting stopped her, saying it was nothing serious, and the bruise would heal in a few days.
"We're not related, why are you helping me?"
Zhou Ting asked this question more than once. Last week, when her colleague falsely accused her of stealing money, it was Meng Jiuyi who chimed in.
Other caddies look down on these cleaners, who are influenced by the upper class and receive constant tips.
Meng Jiuyi blinked and met her gaze.
“Your eyes look a lot like my sister’s. Seeing you being bullied, Sister Zhou, is like seeing my sister being wronged. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
Zhou Ting was taken aback.
"And your sister?"
"She went to jail to protect me."
Meng Jiuyi lowered his face. "We are both orphans and were adopted by different families. My adoptive father had wicked thoughts when I was a minor. It was my sister who protected me."
"Protecting you is like protecting her."
After finding so much information about Zhou Ting, countless guesses swirled in Meng Jiuyi's mind.
She took the risk and chose the boldest idea, only to see the wariness in Zhou Ting's eyes melt away into emotion.
"If you really consider me your older sister, then don't blame me for saying something inappropriate: find a stable job."
"Why Sister Zhou?"
Meng Jiuyi asked innocently, "Those big bosses are quite generous with tips. I want to save up more money for my sister to get out."
Zhou Ting said, "That's a trap set for you young girls. Once you realize it, you won't be able to climb out. Successful men may appear gentle and refined, but when they're scheming, they can devour you completely. Your beauty and youth are just stepping stones and tools for social interaction in their eyes."
"You're after his little tip, but he's after your whole body, from head to toe, down to your bones."
Meng Jiuyi seemed to understand but not quite, and was about to ask for details.
Then I heard a call from the manager through my headset.
"Number 18! Number 18, Meng Jiuyi, please come to Court 3 immediately."
Now was not a good time to chat, so Meng Jiuyi had to go and get back to work.
When they arrived at the stadium, the manager told them that there were important guests at the Stone House Villa and that they should treat them well and not spoil their fun.
"Our boss is here too. I only chose you guys because you're all quick-witted, so don't let me down."
Upon hearing that the big boss had arrived, the eyes of several girls nearby lit up, and after the manager left, excited whispers erupted.
"Sister Xin, you've met our boss, what does he look like?"
"Super handsome! Not only him, but his friends, just by looking at their clothes and their manner of speaking, have a background that ordinary people can't even dream of. And they're super generous. Last time, they accompanied me to two practice sessions and gave me this much in tips."
She gestured a number, and the others immediately gasped in surprise, covering their mouths.
Actually, Meng Jiuyi should also be included in this. She never turns down money, but she was still pondering Zhou Ting's words.
What does "communication tool" mean? Is Zhou Ting referring to herself?
The girl called Sister Xin is named Ye Xin, and she turns to look at Meng Jiuyi.
"Meng Jiuyi, among us, your sparring skills are pretty average. You go fetch the ball."
Meng Jiuyi: "..."
Are those ball-collecting machines just for show?
The games played by the rich are not only expensive, but also require ordinary people to smile and fawn over them to be enjoyable; machines simply cannot provide them with that kind of pleasure.
She'll need to put on the plaster again when she gets home tonight.
"OK."
The sports field in front of the stone villa is like a green mountain ridge, and even the quality of the grass is one in a million.
Meng Jiuyi stood waiting outside the fairway. Two girls blocked half of her view, but the ball flying out in a parabola caught her attention a few more times.
They played alright.
She glanced at the tee box and froze.
Cen Dong?
Who else could it be but him? Ye Xin and the girl next to her stood obediently by the side with their water. Cen Dong casually teased them, and their faces flushed.
There were also a few men whose names Meng Jiuyi couldn't recall, but who he had met at previous banquets.
Upon seeing them, she knew she was in a very bad situation, her eyes scanning the surroundings like a minefield.
The second floor has an open balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow a clear view into the living room, where several men are either sitting or standing on the sofa.
Despite being completely covered up, the man only revealed his arm, which was draped lazily on the sofa with his wrist hanging loosely. A blue tourbillon watch with a reflective mirror was fastened to his wrist.
There's no need to guess who it is.
No one richer than him is as scoundrel, as shameless, or as arrogant. The weariness in his worldly exterior almost overflows from his very bones.
Meng Jiuyi didn't know why, but now he could recognize Tan Yuchen the dog just by looking at one of his arms.
The stone wall blocks out most of the room; who knows who might be inside?
Her mind immediately went into overdrive, and she was ready to flee without a second thought, forgetting all about her work.
His companion turned around and asked, "Hey, where are you going?"
"I ate something bad, my stomach hurts a little."
She ran very fast, but the green field stretched out in undulating waves, offering nowhere to hide.
Some people, too lazy to even lift their eyelids, spotted her immediately.
--
Typing on a phone is so inconvenient; I couldn't even finish writing the whole "battlefield"... Goodnight~
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