Chapter 4: Get Up and Speak

The silver-white tip of the saber reflected a blinding light on the table, unsettling Lu Yingchi as he returned to his room. The image of Qiao Wu throwing down the saber and glancing at him lingered in his mind, sending a chilling numbness rising from the soles of his feet.

She had changed.

She had become disobedient and daringly rebellious.

No wonder people said women were fickle. How annoying.

Wake up at 6:30? She was dreaming.

Lu Yingchi glanced at the small radio installed in the room, smirked, and without hesitation grabbed a decorative item from the display cabinet.

The room was soundproof, so the loud noise didn’t attract anyone’s attention.

Lu Yingchi collapsed onto the bed, feeling only one word in his heart.

Satisfaction!

–

The next day, Qiao Zhiyi woke up according to his biological clock. Although he was no longer the housekeeper, news of yesterday’s events had reached him. Feeling concerned, he decided to get up and make breakfast, using the opportunity to talk to his daughter.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he went downstairs, he heard sounds coming from the kitchen.

Although he and his daughter lived in a small villa, he always remembered his status and never allowed other servants to help here, preferring to do everything himself.

Qiao Zhiyi walked over and, upon seeing the person in the kitchen, his pupils slightly contracted. “Xiao Wu?”

“You’re awake?” Qiao Wu continued making breakfast without pause. “Dad, you don’t need to get up early to make breakfast for me anymore. I’ll prepare it and leave it in the warmer for you to eat when you wake up.”

Actually, she could have eaten at the main house, but considering her father no longer went there, she decided to eat at home.

Qiao Zhiyi was stunned because he had never eaten breakfast made by his daughter before. She used to believe she was born to be pampered, thinking such tasks were for servants. She also disliked Chinese food, as it helped her stand out and appear refined.

But now, wasn’t she making a Chinese-style breakfast?

“Are you used to waking up so early?” Qiao Zhiyi asked, suppressing the emotion in his heart.

“It’s fine. I feel quite energetic.”

Finally having control over her body and experiencing the joy of being a normal person, Qiao Wu was thoroughly enjoying it.

“Xiao Wu.” Qiao Zhiyi helped her scoop up the noodles, softening his voice. “I believe everything you’ve said before, but no matter how well the Lu Family treats us, we must always remember our status and not overstep. Yesterday, you…”

He hesitated before asking, “Did you threaten the Fourth Young Master with a saber?”

“Yes.”

When Qiao Wu threw the saber, the servants nearby were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped. She had seen it.

Qiao Zhiyi took a sharp breath, his vision darkening slightly.

In all his years with the Lu Family, he had never even raised his voice, let alone threatened anyone with a saber.

How could Xiao Wu dare to do such a thing?

And to the Fourth Young Master, that Devil King.

Qiao Wu also knew what her father was worried about. As a housekeeper, bullying the master’s family was indeed going too far.

“Dad,” she said, taking small bites of the noodles. “To me, they’re not just the master’s family.”

Qiao Zhiyi didn’t understand.

“I grew up here. They’re like half of my family,” Qiao Wu said in an extremely natural tone. “Within my capabilities, I hope everyone here is well.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. If they can’t stand me, they’ll fire me, and I’ll leave willingly. When that happens, I’ll leave the Lu Family with you.” She quickly finished her breakfast and added, “You’re my father. You don’t need to accommodate me in anything.”

Watching her daughter’s retreating figure, Qiao Zhiyi bit into the soft, mushy noodles in her mouth, inexplicably feeling the illusion that her child had grown up overnight.

When Qiao Wu arrived at the main house, it was not yet half past six. After the incident yesterday where she had intimidated Lu Yingchi with a saber, the way all the servants looked at her had changed.

Although it didn’t show on their faces, the truth was that the servants in the house had always looked down on Qiao Wu, considering her a superficial flatterer with no substance.

Who would have thought that this so-called “empty-headed” person would actually stand up to the young master?

Some were frightened, while others wanted to see her downfall. How long could someone who didn’t know their place and dared to climb over the heads of the masters last?

Yesterday, when the Fourth Young Master stormed upstairs in a rage, he had gritted his teeth and said, “Qiao Wu, just you wait.”

Qiao Wu ignored all the complex gazes and greeted everyone as usual when she entered. After confirming that no one else had returned last night, she pressed the Morning Alarm again with her unharmed hand.

This time, she didn’t wait for a response but went straight to the kitchen to confirm today’s breakfast menu.

Upon entering the kitchen, she discovered that none of the dishes planned for the morning had been prepared.

“Is there any difficulty?” she asked.

“No,” the head chef replied, focusing on his own menu. “But since the Young Miss and the Fourth Young Master are finally having breakfast at home, it would be too shabby to serve those things. Today, we specially prepared Crab Roe Shumai, Shrimp Dumplings, Roasted Pigeon, and Western-style Caviar Salmon Croissant, each paired with three types of fruit.”

The chef was clearly annoyed. Yesterday, they hadn’t known that the breakfast was meant for the Young Miss and the young master, so they had only prepared simple vegetable dumplings and plain porridge. If the young master and miss were unhappy, who would suffer the consequences?

Anyone could flatter, and once Qiao Wu was driven out, others would have their chance.

“Remove the croissant,” Qiao Wu said.

“Why?” the chef retorted, displeased. “Butler Qiao, if you want to upset the Young Miss and the young master, don’t drag us into it. Besides, we’ve been in this house for years. You just returned from abroad and know nothing, yet you’re setting the menu yourself?”

Qiao Wu looked at him coldly. “Then what do you know?”

“I know…”

The chef faltered. He really didn’t know anything.

There were many chefs in the house, but few people actually ate at home, and no one bothered to mention anyone’s preferences. To showcase their skills, they always prepared the most exquisite and expensive dishes, especially now when they wanted to curry favor with the masters.

“Butler Qiao, what’s with this tone? Didn’t you used to like these things too? You even said you wouldn’t eat commoner food. Now, you want us to serve what to the Young Miss and the young master?”

Qiao Wu never cared about what the “her” controlled by the plot had done in the past—it had nothing to do with her.

But that didn’t mean she would accept it. She also understood that these people had started to harbor disloyal thoughts after seeing Lu Yingchi’s attitude yesterday.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Li Shun.”

Qiao Wu nodded, then casually picked up the croissant and shrimp dumplings and moved them aside. She said lightly, “Li Shun, you’re fired.”

“!!!”

Everyone who had been cautiously observing the situation was stunned.

Li Shun was still holding a knife in his hand. Upon hearing this, his eyes widened as if he were about to charge forward, his voice rough and heavy. “On what grounds?!”

But Qiao Wu was not intimidated. She walked straight forward, forcing Li Shun to retreat two steps, and the saber in his hand was snatched away.

In the next moment, the saber thudded into the chopping board, creating a more intimidating scene than last night, causing everyone to tremble involuntarily.

How could Butler Qiao have such great strength?

However, Qiao Wu did not look at Li Shun. Instead, she took out two portions of fruit again, and while turning on the water, she spoke calmly, “Yesterday, I sent a document to each of you, which clearly recorded the preferences and taboos of everyone in the household.”

Indeed, everyone had received a document last night, but considering Qiao Wu’s past behavior, many had merely glanced at it and not read it carefully, as the document was very long.

At this moment, Qiao Wu’s voice became even colder under the sound of running water, “Young Miss does not eat any raw food other than fruit. Fourth Young Master is allergic to peanut butter. You have made so many mistakes at once. What use is there in keeping you? You were hired at such a high salary not to act according to your own whims.”

“Are you the chef or am I? I’ve never heard of Young Miss and the others having such dietary restrictions! It’s not like we haven’t done this before. Where did you get this information?”

Qiao Wu replied, “So you’ve never proactively asked the family for feedback on the dishes. That’s an additional offense.”

“How do I know?” She placed the freshly washed fruit on a clean plate and looked up, “I fed them bite by bite when they were young. How do you think I know?”

In this household, many people have come and gone, and most are newcomers who only knew Qiao Wu as a sycophantic lackey.

They never expected she had such a history with the family.

“Perfect timing,” Qiao Wu turned to face all the chefs and servants in the kitchen. Her awakening had been recent, and with handling Lu Ning’s affairs, she hadn’t had the chance to hold a meeting at home. Now, many were in a wait-and-see attitude towards her, and she didn’t mind using this opportunity to establish her authority.

“How the family treats me is their business. If I’m wrong, I’ll accept punishment. Similarly, whether you respect me or not, whatever your thoughts were before, starting today, as long as I remain the Chief Butler, you must memorize every document I send. If you make a mistake, bear the consequences yourself. Don’t come asking me why later. Is that clear?”

Her tone was not loud, but in the quiet environment, it made people want to lower their heads involuntarily.

The others remained silent, only Li Shun was furious, “Qiao Wu, you’re just a dog, and you really think you’re the master?! What right do you have to fire me!”

The Lu Residence was so large that Old Master Lu certainly didn’t have the energy to manage so many trivial matters. Initially, due to trust in the Old Butler, the Chief Butler was given significant authority. However, after Qiao Wu took over, many thought she was young and foolish, so they forgot about this.

Qiao Wu picked up her phone to notify security, her expression indifferent, “Because I can have security throw you out, but you can’t.”

When security came to apprehend Li Shun, everyone noticed that Lu Ning had been standing at the kitchen door, though no one knew how long she had been there.

She hadn’t wanted to get up but was awakened by the noise and had intended to come down and smash that bell.

But upon coming down, she heard the servants say Qiao Wu was in the kitchen, so she made her way over, wondering if Qiao Wu had seen the dumplings being spilled and was making dumplings here to please her.

 I didn’t expect to stumble upon Qiao Wu showing off her authority.

Lu Ning thought in confusion: When did Qiao Wu become so cool?

And when did she ever feed me?

Although she really didn’t like eating those things, she couldn’t be bothered to explain to a group of people who didn’t care about her. She just avoided them during meals.

But… Qiao Wu remembered.

Having already finished dealing with the others, Qiao Wu’s expression had softened considerably. She carried breakfast over to Lu Ning and asked, “Does the wound still hurt?”

“I already said it doesn’t hurt!” After a pause, she realized something and followed Qiao Wu to the dining room, whining as she walked, “Wait, no, it hurts so much that I can’t go to school. You have to call in sick for me!”

With a clatter, Qiao Wu placed the tray on the table and turned back with a smile, “What did you say?”

For no reason, Lu Ning suddenly thought of the Saber still stuck in the cutting board, not yet pulled out, and didn’t dare to speak too boldly.

“Eat up, the driver is already waiting,” Qiao Wu said, about to turn away.

Lu Ning didn’t want to eat alone in such a large dining room, “Where are you going?”

“To wake up your uncle.”

“!!!”

Lu Ning decisively picked up her steamed dumplings and followed.

Seeing her trailing behind, Qiao Wu chuckled, “Why are you following me?”

Lu Ning’s eyes darted around, “Morning exercise.”

She didn’t know how to deal with Qiao Wu yet, but wouldn’t Lu Yingchi know?

No matter who dealt with whom, this show was bound to be entertaining.

Qiao Wu anticipated that Lu Yingchi wouldn’t react to the Morning Alarm. After being pushed to the brink yesterday and not managing to chop off his hand, he wouldn’t just sit and wait. Not only that, he would also lock his door, making it impossible for anyone to enter.

But Qiao Wu didn’t care about that. She went straight to the floor where Lu Yingchi’s room was, felt around behind a life-sized anime figure outside the door, and pulled out a key.

Lu Ning: “???”

How did Qiao Wu know there was a key here?!

In that moment, Lu Ning’s thirteen years of steadfast beliefs shattered.

She thought Qiao Wu only listened to her, that she was her most loyal Lackey, but Qiao Wu actually had a key to Lu Yingchi’s room!

Qiao Wu was closer to Lu Yingchi.

She was someone else’s dog!

Compared to Qiao Wu recently becoming a bit fierce and disobedient, this realization was even harder for Lu Ning to accept.

So… maybe the food wasn’t for her, but for that stinky pig Lu Yingchi!

Lu Ning’s hands trembled with anger, but before she could say anything, Qiao Wu had already opened the door and walked in. She could only follow immediately.

Hmph, she wanted to see just how close these two were behind her back.

Qiao Wu knew the layout of Lu Yingchi’s room like the back of her hand. She didn’t head straight to the bedroom but instead turned on the speakers in his study. This man knew how to enjoy himself; his sound system cost several million and had an immersive effect.

Including the eerie, haunting, and sorrowful Ghost Music.

Lu Ning got goosebumps all over, thinking this was such a childish method. Would Lu Yingchi be scared of this?

Ten seconds later, a blood-curdling scream came from the bedroom next door: “Holy crap!!!”

It scared Lu Ning so much she dropped her steamed dumplings.

Qiao Wu, waiting at the door, gently knocked, “Lu Yingchi, what’s wrong?”

“There’s… there’s…” Lu Yingchi couldn’t even finish his sentence, urgently urging, “Get in here!”

Only then did Qiao Wu push the door open.

The bedroom was pitch black. Lu Ning, eager to see the drama, peeked her head in and saw a large lump trembling in the corner of the bed.

“Ha,” she couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Lu Yingchi, your lung capacity is really impressive.”

She felt a strange sense of balance in her heart. Looking at it this way, Qiao Wu’s methods towards her were actually quite gentle.

Hmph, she was still closer to Qiao Wu.

Hearing this sound, Lu Yingchi abruptly threw off the blanket that was covering his head.

He was clutching a pillow tightly in his hands, his face pale and his mind still reeling from the shock. His sluggish brain finally realized what had happened.

In this world, only Qiao Wu knew what he was afraid of.

“Six forty,” Qiao Wu turned off the music and used the remote to open the curtains. “Not bad, you have time to have breakfast at home today.”

Her body was bathed in sunlight, warm and comforting, but the disoriented Lu Yingchi felt a chilling cold throughout his body.

This woman was terrifying.

His voice was hoarse, with a hint of fragile trembling: “Qiao Wu, I’m going to kill you.”

“Well, before that…” Qiao Wu glanced at him, who was huddled at the head of the bed, and raised an eyebrow. “You should stand up and talk.”

Lu Yingchi: “…”

The room was immediately filled with Lu Ning’s unrestrained laughter.

Lu Yingchi had never been so humiliated before. He tightly closed his eyes, his chest heaving rapidly.

From today on, this house would have Qiao Wu, but not him!