Huo Yanxue's eyes flickered, "Sister, what is this... how did you suddenly become a slave?"
Huo Yanxue emphasized the word "slave."
Zhao Shuyao showed no trace of anger on her face, her smile undiminished, "You jest. Since Madam Shao is awake, please go and dine!"
Zhao Shuyao's repeated address of "Madam Shao" pleased Huo Yanxue, making her straighten her back.
Just as she was about to say something, she heard footsteps behind her.
Huo Yanxue immediately stepped forward and took Zhao Shuyao's hand, "Sister, what are you doing? You're so pampered, how can you do rough work? You've never done any mopping or cleaning before!"
A weasel paying New Year's greetings to a chicken!
Zhao Shuyao shook off Huo Yanxue's hand and was about to say something.
"No need to pity her. Since she chose to come, she should work hard. Don't do any less than the household servants. I'll have the housekeeper supervise you at all times... Go, tidy up Xue'er's bedroom. Don't steal anything."
The man's cold voice rang out.
It was magnetic and pleasant, like heavenly music.
But to Zhao Shuyao's ears, it sounded like a dog's bark.
"Yes, Mr. Qin!"
She knew Qin Yusheng wouldn't let her off so easily.
It was just that Huo Yanxue's words had spurred the man on.
She could have gotten through these three days smoothly, but with Huo Yanxue here, it wouldn't be so simple.
Zhao Shuyao hadn't expected Huo Yanxue to move into the Qin residence before her engagement.
And...
She was living in her room.
Didn't her grandfather know?
Right, her grandfather was ill and in the hospital.
No wonder Qin Yusheng was so brazen to bring Huo Yanxue over.
What a coincidence.
Her grandfather fell ill right after the engagement.
Zhao Shuyao pushed open the door and entered Huo Yanxue's bedroom. It was decorated like a princess's room, filled with many luxury items and dolls.
It was packed to the brim; in the over a hundred square meter room, there was hardly any space to stand.
When she lived here, the room only had a bed, making it feel empty and desolate, even echoing when she spoke.
A few days after marriage, she had replaced the garish red comforter with a cold, velvet blue-gray.
The current setup was all pink and white, with lace princess canopy curtains. The carpet was also very soft, made of expensive cashmere...
It was so much like her own boudoir when she was at the Zhao family.
Was Huo Yanxue deliberately imitating her?
Zhao Shuyao let out a scoff and began to tidy up.
She neatly arranged the scattered toys, categorized all the dolls and luxury bags, and then put the clothes strewn everywhere into the laundry hamper. Some clothes were for dry cleaning, others for washing.
Zhao Shuyao finished, her back too stiff to straighten.
She picked up the laundry hamper and headed for the door.
Huo Yanxue appeared at the doorway, with Qin Yusheng standing behind her.
"Oh dear, Sister, what are you doing? Go and eat something. How can you bear to tidy my room? Let someone else do it. If your hands get calluses, I'll be heartbroken. Go and rest."
As Huo Yanxue spoke, she reached out to take the laundry hamper from Zhao Shuyao.
Qin Yusheng held Huo Yanxue's hand, "Let her do it. The household servants all do this. Don't pity her just because she's your cousin, especially since she's a shameless woman!"
Zhao Shuyao trembled all over.
Even though she had prepared herself mentally, the man's tone and words were still like a resounding slap across her face.
Mocking and ridiculing her in front of Huo Yanxue was indeed a good way to humiliate someone.
Zhao Shuyao lowered her gaze.
Did this man still think she was the same Zhao Shuyao as before?
Back then, she had taken advantage of his love for her, allowing her to insult him wantonly.
Every word he spoke felt like a knife piercing her.
But now...
His words could no longer cause her substantial harm.
She didn't care about what unimportant people said.
"Young Master is right. Madam Shao, you don't need to say anything more. I will work hard. Thank you for your concern, Madam Shao."
Zhao Shuyao said expressionlessly, then left with the laundry hamper.
After she finished dealing with Huo Yanxue's dirty clothes, a servant informed her that she needed to clean the kitchen. After cleaning the kitchen, she had to mop the floors and do laundry. She barely stopped all day, not even having time to eat.
It was late into the night when she finally finished her tasks.
Zhao Shuyao was so tired her back ached and her legs cramped. After taking a shower, she lay on the narrow servant's bed, feeling as if all her bones were about to fall apart.
She turned off the light and closed her eyes, drowsy.
As she drifted in and out of sleep, she suddenly felt a heavy weight on her.
"Doctor Xiang, no..."
Zhao Shuyao murmured softly.
The force pressing down on her jolted violently.
Then her jaw was grabbed, the pressure so intense it woke her up in pain.
Zhao Shuyao's eyes snapped open. The room was dark, but because it was only a few square meters and extremely narrow, there was nothing but the walls and the bed.
She immediately smelled the man's distinct scent.
Zhao Shuyao's eyes widened in horror, almost thinking she was experiencing sleep paralysis or a nightmare. She pinched herself hard, trying to wake up.
But it was no use; the man's warmth, the strength of his grip, felt incredibly real.
She could even taste the man's saliva, thick with the smell of smoke...
Zhao Shuyao's expression changed, her throat felt sour, and she almost vomited.
Zhao Shuyao covered her mouth and rushed out of the room, leaning over the windowsill, and vomited everything out with a "wah."
Lately, because she often didn't eat on time, she had been feeling nauseous.
Her stomach had become sensitive; she needed to get it checked...
Zhao Shuyao was completely awake now. After vomiting, she turned to look at the man behind her.
Qin Yusheng was still sitting on the bed. The room was unlit, but the cold moonlight shone in, making the man look like a demon from hell.
Zhao Shuyao wanted to get angry, but her reason held her back.
She quietly opened her phone and pressed the record button.
"Mr. Qin, first, we are divorced. Second, you came to my dormitory late at night. Third, how does Mr. Qin plan to resolve this?"
"Are you threatening me?"
The man narrowed his falcon-like eyes.
He exuded a dangerous aura.
Zhao Shuyao sneered, "That trick won't work on me. You are no longer my husband. What you are doing is illegal. Do you think you can do whatever you want in the capital and get away with it? Mr. Qin had better think about how to compensate!"
This man was simply insane.
Qin Yusheng's presence made her stomach churn.
The man stood up and slowly walked towards her.
Zhao Shuyao didn't move, only glared at him.
"What do you want?"
"What I want? I'm not extorting you. It's Mr. Qin who needs to resolve this! Are you going to sue you, or pay my salary in advance?!"
Zhao Shuyao gripped her phone tightly, showing no fear.