It has to be said, having connections really makes life easier. In just the short time during the car ride, Jiang Mo had already gathered detailed intel on the "enemy."
Curious, Jiang Mo asked, "Mom, how do you know all this so clearly?"
"We domestic helpers have our own social circles too, you know? Did you think I’ve been slacking off for the past twenty years, just eating for free?" Wang Xia shot back.
"Today, your dear mother is going to teach you a lesson. Don’t think being a domestic helper is easy—you’ve got to do the job well and have high emotional intelligence..."
Wang Xia sent over several 60-second voice messages. Sitting in the passenger seat, Jiang Mo didn’t dare listen to them out loud, opting to covertly convert them to text to absorb the wisdom.
Sixty seconds might be WeChat’s limit, but it certainly wasn’t Wang Xia’s.
After listening, Jiang Mo quickly zeroed in on the key point: "So, Mom, you’re telling me there’s a high-society gossip group, right? I want in!!!"
Wang Xia: ???
Wait—
Is this how it’s supposed to go?
Getting no response, Jiang Mo sent a sticker: "Hellooo? Mom?"
Wang Xia played dead, completely ignoring her after that.
Shengshi Mansion wasn’t far. They sped over, arriving in just over half an hour.
The place was an upscale members-only club, sprawling with high-end entertainment facilities—a gathering spot for the elite and wealthy socialites of Jiangcheng to unwind.
The moment their car’s tires rolled into the entrance, a sharply dressed valet jogged over to park it.
Su Yunjin, heels clicking, tossed the keys with flair and strode toward the gleaming lobby.
Jiang Mo scrambled out of the car and trotted after her.
Inside, a polished hostess greeted them and escorted them upstairs.
They entered a private room with practiced ease.
A lively chatter filled the space, where a few women were already lounging on the sofas.
As they walked in, a woman with voluminous curls and a qipao turned her head, her voice dripping with sweetness—as if she were deliberately pitching it higher. "Yunjin, you’re here! We’ve got three players waiting for a fourth. It’s all on you now."
Thanks to her mom’s intel, Jiang Mo instantly recognized her: Jiang Rou, Su Yunjin’s sworn rival.
Rumor had it they used to be classmates and got along fine—until Jiang Rou stabbed her in the back. Their friendship shattered after that.
Later, Jiang Rou married into wealth, climbing into high society. Since their families had business ties, they occasionally crossed paths.
"Ah, you know how it is—busy managing the household. Not all of us have the luxury of lounging around all morning," Su Yunjin replied with a smile. "Old Jiang, I see your figure’s… softened a bit lately."
Jiang Rou’s face stiffened. This woman—always poking where it hurts.
"My personal doctor says a little extra weight is healthier," Jiang Rou retorted, then glanced at Jiang Mo. "And who’s this girl?"
"My domestic helper’s daughter," Su Yunjin answered before turning to Jiang Mo. "There’s food and drinks here—help yourself. The menu’s on the table if you want to order something."
Jiang Mo nodded and promptly retreated to the sidelines.
Before long, Jiang Rou nudged the group toward the mahjong table.
Jiang Mo scratched her head. She’d expected a dramatic showdown between these two rivals—like something out of a TV drama, with verbal sparring and high-stakes mind games.
She’d even prepped herself like a firecracker ready to explode, studying tricks on Douyin. But none of it was necessary.
Bored, she wandered around the spacious room, which was divided into a lounge, entertainment area, dining space, and floor-to-ceiling windows with a stunning view.
After snacking, Jiang Mo meandered out of the room.
A staff member, assuming she was lost, approached to guide her.
"Hey, do you guys have a swimming pool here?" Jiang Mo asked.
"We do. Would you like to go for a swim?"
"Are there a lot of hot guys there? Good bodies?" she pressed, scanning the area as they walked.
The black-uniformed attendant blinked. "I… wouldn’t know. We strictly protect our guests’ privacy."
"What about the chefs here? Are they any good?"
"Um… our guests generally give positive feedback."
Jiang Mo nodded, then lowered her voice. "So, how’s the pay here? What’s the salary like?"
The attendant froze.
Silence.
How did this person even get in?
Is she really a VIP here?
Why are her questions so… odd?
The guy was a newbie—only his third day on the job—and hadn’t yet developed the sharp eye to distinguish the truly wealthy from the average. A seasoned colleague would’ve ignored Jiang Mo outright.
Still, he kept his professionalism, deflecting with practiced vagueness.
"It’s alright. I’m just an intern—can’t complain when jobs are hard to come by."
"Tell me about it. The job market’s brutal. I only got my gig as a domestic helper through family connections," Jiang Mo sighed, empathizing deeply.
The attendant: "..."
Jiang Mo pulled out her phone. "Let’s add each other. We’re both navigating high society now—good to have someone to rely on."
High society?
Us?
Would high society even glance our way?
But faced with Jiang Mo’s earnest gaze, he couldn’t refuse. They exchanged contacts.
"I’m Jiang Mo, working as a domestic helper for the Gu family. You can save me as ‘Little Mo the Helper.’"
"Zhou Hang..."
Before he could finish, he caught sight of Jiang Mo’s contact name for him: Club Hottie—Zhou Hang.
Zhou Hang: …I’m a legit college student, not some shady gig worker.
"If you ever hear any juicy gossip at work and need someone to dish with, hit me up. I’m always down," Jiang Mo said, already scheming. If her mom wouldn’t add her to the elite gossip group, she’d start her own.
Zhou Hang’s expression was a mix of amusement and resignation. "…Sure."
Jiang Mo handed him a pack of biscuits she’d pocketed from the room and, not wanting to distract him further, strolled off to the pool.
The swimming area had a few men, but they were neither young, handsome, nor in shape.
Tch. Nothing worth looking at.
She considered napping on a lounge chair in the garden but underestimated her ability to conk out. When she woke up, over an hour had passed.
Worried Su Yunjin might be looking for her, she checked her phone—no calls or messages. Wiping drool from her cheek, she freshened up in the restroom and headed back upstairs.
The mahjong game was still in full swing when she returned, though Jiang Rou and the woman across from her looked visibly irritated.
"Back already? Have fun out there?" Su Yunjin asked, barely glancing up from her tiles.
