Chapter 4: The Young Master of the Lu Family Is Actually Him?

Shen Lu continued, “Normally, big families like the Lu family have permanent live-in maids. But it turns out their current maid was just diagnosed with cancer and can’t work anymore. That’s why they’re urgently looking for someone new. Because the pay is good, the competition is pretty fierce. They want someone who can clean, cook, and has good awareness. But… it’s a full-time live-in job, so it might interfere with your studies. Do you want to think about it a little more?”

Li Qingqing hesitated after hearing that. She was already in her third year at university, majoring in education. Truth be told, she never liked the major. But back then, Chen Suyun told her it would be easier to find a job as a teacher, so she picked it.

Now, she was torn. If she accepted the job, she’d have to take a leave from school. But if she didn’t, there was no way she could come up with the remaining eighty thousand yuan for the deposit—or afford Xie Ze’s future surgery.

She gripped the bedsheet tightly, her brows furrowed in anguish, unable to make a decision.

Shen Lu was in a hurry to head out, so she said, “Why don’t you just go to the interview first? It’s not guaranteed that you’ll get picked anyway.”

Li Qingqing nodded gratefully.

She’d do as Shen Lu said. If she passed the interview, she’d take the job. If not, she’d think of another way to find part-time work. Right now, this was the only path available to her.

•  

Taking advantage of the weekend, Li Qingqing went to visit Xie Ze at the hospital.

She transferred the 100,000 yuan to Chen Suyun and told her that she’d figure out a way to get the remaining 80,000 yuan.

Chen Suyun didn’t ask where the money came from. Instead, she scolded her for only bringing back 100,000 yuan, saying it wasn’t enough for the deposit.

Listening to Chen Suyun’s endless demands and insults, Li Qingqing felt utterly hopeless. But when she looked at Ah Ze lying on the hospital bed, she endured it. He was only twelve—his life couldn’t end here.

As she left the hospital, she received a message from Shen Lu:

[I’ve spoken with Butler Liang. You’ve got an interview at the Lu Family Villa tomorrow at 10 a.m.]

Li Qingqing was deeply grateful for all the help Shen Lu had given her. She replied:

[Thank you, Lulu. If I pass the interview, I’ll treat you to a meal.]

Shen Lu:
[A meal can wait. Right now, saving money is more important.]

Staring at the message, Li Qingqing thought back to the way Chen Suyun had treated her earlier and couldn’t help but feel the irony.

Forget favoritism—she hadn’t even experienced the warmth of a normal family. All she ever got was endless exploitation and abuse.

Yet unfortunately, she had a weakness. They knew it—and used it to control her again and again.

•  

The next day, Li Qingqing arrived on time for the interview at the Lu residence.

There were five candidates in total, including her. The other four were all older women with years of experience as housemaids. Li Qingqing didn’t think her chances were high. Although she did all the cleaning and cooking at home, she had never formally worked for an employer before.

Nervously, she began the day’s interview.

Butler Liang had arranged two rounds of evaluation—one for housekeeping skills and one for cooking.

After the housekeeping challenge, each candidate had their strengths. All of them worked efficiently and neatly.

For the cooking round, there were no specific dish requirements—each candidate was free to prepare something they were good at.

Li Qingqing had no idea what kind of food the employers liked, so she decided to cook something she was familiar with. Since Chen Suyun was from Xiangcheng and preferred spicy food, one of the most common dishes in their household was stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork.

One by one, the dishes were placed on the table. Butler Liang tasted each one carefully. When he reached the last dish, he exchanged a subtle glance with an older woman who had curly red hair.

He was just about to announce the winner of the day when a poised and elegant woman walked into the kitchen without anyone noticing.

She carried herself with refined grace—every movement revealing the dignity and prestige of someone from a wealthy family.

The moment Butler Liang saw her, he immediately bowed in deference.

“Oh my, Madam, there’s so much smoke and grease in the kitchen—what brings you here?”

It turned out to be Madam Lu. The interview candidates all turned to her with curious looks.

“I caught a whiff of something from upstairs just now,” Song Jihe said as she walked over to the dishes. She leaned down and sniffed each one, eventually stopping in front of Li Qingqing’s stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork.

“Yes, this is it. This smells exactly like the dish my grandmother used to make!” She looked across the table at the candidates and asked, “Who made this?”

Li Qingqing hadn’t expected that her specialty dish would be exactly to the employer’s taste. She slowly raised her hand and nervously said, “I did, Madam.”

Song Jihe looked up and was surprised to see such a young girl claiming the dish. But perhaps that was for the best—experienced maids often tried to take advantage of the family, while someone this young and inexperienced would be easier to manage and more obedient.

“She’s the one,” Song Jihe said, pointing to Li Qingqing as she addressed Butler Liang.

“Ah? Uh… yes, Madam…”

Butler Liang hadn’t expected Song Jihe to come down and personally choose the maid—she usually left these matters entirely to him.

After Madam Lu left, the curly-haired woman with red highlights immediately protested, “What’s the meaning of this, Butler Liang? Didn’t you promise I’d get the job? I already wired you the twenty-thousand-yuan commission. What now?”

Butler Liang sighed. “You saw it yourself. Madam came down and chose someone personally—what can I do? I’ll return your fee. Just head back now. You too.” He turned to look at Li Qingqing’s name badge. “You’re Li Qingqing, right?”

Li Qingqing nodded obediently.

“Come with me. Everyone else, you can leave on your own. No need to see you out.”

Li Qingqing followed Butler Liang up to the attic. He pointed to a small room off the hallway and said, “This will be your bedroom from now on. You’re young—you don’t mind climbing stairs, do you?”

Before Li Qingqing could answer, Butler Liang continued, “I live on the first floor with Aunt Fang. She’s in charge of the kitchen and the bathrooms. You’ll help her out. You won’t need to handle anything else. Be sharp—if Madam gives an order, go immediately. Got it?”

Li Qingqing nodded repeatedly behind him.

“Start the day after tomorrow.” As he spoke, he tossed her a set of keys.

•  

After leaving the Lu residence, Li Qingqing returned to school and immediately went to the administration office to apply for a leave of absence. Maybe someone like her just wasn’t meant to study peacefully in school—she couldn’t help thinking that.

•  

Early on the third day, Li Qingqing arrived at the Lu residence with her few belongings and moved into the small attic room. It was tiny, with just a bed and a desk.

After she unpacked, she headed downstairs to start work.

“Young Master is coming home today. No slacking off in the kitchen. Lunch needs to be ready before noon, understood?” Butler Liang instructed.

Li Qingqing immediately joined Aunt Fang and dove into the kitchen work.

At 11:30 a.m., Lu Yan stepped through the gates of the Lu estate.

“You little brat, you finally remembered to come home,” Song Jihe scolded, though her face was glowing with joy.

Lu Yan replied, “Just caught up with some friends these past few days. How have you been?”

“If you hadn’t come back soon, your mom would’ve turned into an old lady. You’ve been back in the country nearly a week and haven’t shown your face once. You’re acting like a wild child.” Her voice trembled with emotion—she hadn’t seen her son in two whole years.

“Come, sit down and eat. Your Aunt Wang is sick, but thankfully Aunt Fang learned a lot from her over the years. Try these dishes—they’re all your favorites. Oh, and a few days ago, I hired a new little maid. She’s amazing in the kitchen—try her food.”

Just as she was speaking, Li Qingqing came out with the last dish: stir-fried shrimp.

Seeing her arrive, Song Jihe smiled and said to Lu Yan, “This is her—the new maid I hired.”

Lu Yan turned his head—and nearly spat out the sip of water he’d just taken.