Qiuyun slowly pulled out a voice recorder.
“Deputy Director He, if you’re not part of the Yu family, then I see no reason to be polite. I’m sure the discipline inspection commission would be very interested in your theories about the old society, the abuse you’ve hurled at an ordinary citizen like me, and the sources of the several luxury goods you and your family own.”
What?
No, seriously.
Who brings a voice recorder to a family reunion dinner on New Year’s?
As expected, He Guilan’s face turned livid, though she still refused to back down. “You think a voice recorder can threaten me? Do you really think the organization can fire me over a few words on a recording?”
“Of course not.” Qiuyun smiled. “But I have money, free time, and plenty of patience. I can keep reporting you to higher authorities. Your unit may not fire you, but they certainly won’t promote you anymore, will they? And then there are the annual awards and year-end evaluations. Tsk, who knows? It might even affect your son’s civil service application. If I remember correctly, he’s graduating next year too, just like the Young Master of the family?”
“You!”
He Guilan’s eyes widened. “How dare you! My son’s surname is Yu! He’s a member of the Yu family! Aren’t you afraid Yu Xiang will make you pay?”
“Then let her.” Qiuyun shrugged. “I’m not surnamed Yu, and I’m not surnamed Jiang either. At worst, I’ll quit and find another job. But I have a strong sense of self-respect. If someone refuses to make up with me, curses me out, then throws down her chopsticks and storms off just to show me her displeasure, I’m not going to let her off easily.”
Watching her aunt’s face cycle from red to green, then purple and finally white, Jiang Chuling nearly burst out laughing.
Some things really did require an outsider to say them.
As a junior, she was always afraid of upsetting Grandma, so most of the time she chose to endure it and let things go. After all, they only met once a year.
But now—hahaha!
Someone had finally come to put her in her place!
“Auntie, you’d better not doubt Sister Xiaoqiu,” Jiang Chuling said with a giggle. “If she really decides not to let something go, she’ll absolutely make your life difficult.”
Then she added cheerfully, “Let me tell you a secret. The son of Mayor Pei of the capital is currently pursuing our Sister Xiaoqiu~”
What?
Qiuyun was startled.
Oh no. She had raised this child too freely. Now she was making up all kinds of nonsense to scare people!
Everyone around them drew in a sharp breath, especially Jiang Linzhi.
He had been happily enjoying the show, but the moment he heard his friend’s name, he froze, his brows drawing together.
Old Pei?
Pursuing Qiuyun?
He Guilan’s eyes widened as she ground her teeth. “How is that possible?! What kind of status does she have? What kind of family does Mayor Pei come from?”
Jiang Chuling snorted and shrugged. “Believe it or not, I’m just a child. Children never lie.”
He Guilan had already been wary of Qiuyun throwing caution to the wind. Now she was even more reluctant to act rashly.
Even if it hadn’t reached the point of actually “pursuing” her, Qiuyun must at least know him.
Besides…
She glanced at the little brat’s smug face. Tsk, she really had inherited her father’s looks. He Guilan couldn’t even bring herself to call her ugly. What if that blind fool had actually taken a liking to her?
The atmosphere grew tense. No one knew whether they should intervene or stay out of it.
In the end, Qiuyun stepped forward, personally took He Guilan’s hand, and guided her back into her seat. She then placed a hand on her shoulder and pressed down gently.
In a soft voice, she soothed her. “I’m Miss’s assistant. Naturally, I have to put Miss’s wishes first in everything. When you accused Miss of bringing an assistant with her without knowing the facts, of course I couldn’t just stand by and listen.”
Someone had given her a way out, and He Guilan likewise had no desire to let things escalate further. She seized the opportunity and said, “Then are you saying I was wrong? She’s a grown woman, yet she needs someone to look after her just to eat a meal!”
Qiuyun chuckled. “You’ve truly misunderstood our Miss. She really is busy with official business. What if something urgent comes up at the company and she needs to make a decision? I have to relay messages to her at all times and keep in constant contact with the company.”
“She is? Busy with official business?” He Guilan asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Qiuyun continued, “Two or three months ago, the Old Master gave Miss a small company to practice running. Its market value is… only three or four billion yuan. It isn’t much, but it’s still a valuable opportunity for experience. She has to produce some results so she doesn’t let the Old Master’s trust go to waste.”
At that, everyone’s gaze toward Jiang Chuling instantly changed.
She was still so young, yet she already had a company in her hands?!
Indeed, the greatest dividing line between people was the amniotic fluid they had been born from.
He Guilan was rendered speechless. Even the grand-uncle changed his tune.
“This assistant has a point,” he said. “Ling’er may be a young leader now, but you can’t scold her to her face as if she were still just a child.”
He Guilan’s expression twisted, but she forced out a laugh. “Hehe, Great-Uncle is right.”
With that vague response, the grand family drama that had nearly ended with the table being overturned was quelled by a few casual remarks from Qiuyun.
Everyone returned to their seats and resumed eating and drinking. The banquet continued, as did the toasts. But compared to before, everyone was now far more polite and cautious around Qiuyun and Jiang Chuling.
Amid the clamor, He Guilan alone seethed with hatred until her heart felt as though it were dripping blood.
Unfortunately, Qiuyun had leverage over her. She didn’t dare confront her head-on, couldn’t outtalk her, and had no argument to stand on. She had been needled to her face and forced to swallow the humiliation, all while maintaining a smile.
She was, after all, a government employee. When had she ever felt so stifled in her own family?
The anger sent flames roaring through her chest.
Two cold sores promptly erupted on her lower lip.
At another table, Jiang Linzhi came over and asked Qiuyun, “Is Old Pei really pursuing you?”
Qiuyun was speechless. “Miss only said that to help me save face, and you believed her?”
The expression of utter exasperation on her face was simply too convincing. Jiang Linzhi immediately believed her and sighed.
“I finally understand why Mom and Little Seven like you so much.”
His mother had a gentle temperament and never easily quarreled with anyone. As for Little Seven, she was young, and no one took her words seriously. Of course they needed someone like Qiuyun—clever, quick-witted, and capable of speaking for them.
Qiuyun took it as a compliment. “Thank you.”
Jiang Chuling leaned over from beside them. “Sister Xiaoqiu, you’re amazing. How did you know Auntie hates being called ‘Deputy Director’ more than anything?”
Qiuyun took out her phone and opened the text message Sister Zhou had sent her.
“Miss warned me ahead of time that this woman was difficult to deal with. How could I not make some preparations?”
Jiang Chuling felt completely surrounded by the incredible sense of security Sister Xiaoqiu gave her.
“Sister Xiaoqiu~” Jiang Chuling threw herself into her arms. “Love you, mwah~”
Jiang Linzhi complained, “What a spoiled brat.”
Jiang Chuling gave him a cold little laugh. “Who asked for your opinion?”
Seeing the siblings lock eyes and prepare to start bickering, Qiuyun hurriedly intervened. “Come on, let’s eat. Didn’t you say we still have to go pay respects to the ancestors this afternoon?”
After the meal, Qiuyun went to ask Madam when they would be returning to the capital.
It was only because Miss had mentioned Pei Cizhou earlier that she remembered: tomorrow was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and she had made plans to go to Chengyuan with him.
Meanwhile, over on Jiang Chuling’s side, several uncles and aunts finally noticed that the silver-tongued assistant was no longer there. They hurried over one after another.
“Ling’er, what kind of company is it? How are the salary and benefits? Do you think your brother could get a management position there?”
