Chapter 26: None of Your Business

During dinner, Qiu Yingying suddenly spoke with admiration.

"Sister Fan, you are so amazing! I didn't dare say anything when you went in before, but all those people participating in the assessment looked so outstanding, and yet you still fought your way out. It's just wonderful!"

Guan Ju'er nodded in deep agreement. "It's true, Sister Fan. If it were me, I definitely couldn't do it. In front of so many people, I would be so nervous that I wouldn't be able to say a single word."

Because she was happy, Fan Shengmei had drunk quite a bit. Slightly tipsy, she waved her hand.

"Guan Guan, for us girls from out of town to gain a foothold in Shanghai, we can only rely on ourselves. You can't count on anyone else, including your parents or siblings, do you understand?"

Guan Ju'er nodded seriously. She didn't know anything about Fan Shengmei's family situation; she simply thought this was some kind of inspirational life advice.

However, Qiu Yingying said with a dimmed expression, "Guan Guan works in an investment bank at a foreign firm, and Sister Fan was already earning a lot, and now she's even becoming a streamer. I'm the only one just drifting through life aimlessly, not knowing where my future lies."

Hearing this, Fan Shengmei rolled her eyes. This little earthworm truly didn't know how lucky she was. She was Qiu Yan's biological younger sister; given Qiu Yan's current achievements, as long as he gave her a little push in the future, it would be enough for her to live a happy and prosperous life forever.

After dinner, Fan Shengmei was already drunk. Guan Ju'er and Qiu Yingying struggled to help her into the car.

But when they reached the underground garage, the two of them ran into a problem: with their small builds, they simply couldn't carry Fan Shengmei.

Seeing the two of them looking at each other helplessly, Qin Hao had no choice but to step in and carry Fan Shengmei on his back.

"Oh, what's Sister Fan's drama this time? A breakup?"

As luck would have it, they ran into Qu Xiaoxiao, who had just returned home, in the elevator.

Qiu Yingying couldn't stand Qu Xiaoxiao's mocking tone and snapped, "Qu Xiaoxiao, shut your crow mouth! Sister Fan is doing just fine. She passed her assessment today and is about to become a streamer."

Qu Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised, but she immediately curled her lip. "Hmph, what's the big deal? She's just an online salesperson. Sister Fan used to be a white-collar worker at a foreign firm; I don't know what she's thinking, descending to the level of showing her face in public like that."

"You!" Qiu Yingying was furious.

"Xiao Qu, how can you say such things?" Guan Ju'er was also incensed.

Qin Hao suddenly spoke up: "I don't know what's wrong with society these days. Certain parasites who just live to eat and wait for death actually have the nerve to look down on people who work hard. I'm afraid some people have never experienced the sense of achievement that comes from earning money through their own hard work since they were children. Tsk tsk, how truly pitiful."

Qiu Yingying immediately straightened her posture. "That's right, Qu Xiaoxiao! Even though my monthly salary is only a little over four thousand, I earned it through my own hard work. What about you? Besides reaching out to your family for money, what else can you do? You have the nerve to talk about us?"

Qu Xiaoxiao's face turned red with anger. "You're talking nonsense! I'm about to secure the agency rights for the GI project."

"That was also because Sister Andy prepared the feasibility plan for you. Otherwise, with your level of English, you're only fit to flirt with muscular men," Guan Ju'er said, her tone becoming sharp as she was genuinely enraged.

With a *ding*, the elevator reached the 22nd floor. The three of them ignored Qu Xiaoxiao and stepped out of the elevator.

Soon, Qu Xiaoxiao's frantic screaming could be heard from inside the elevator.

Closing the door, Guan Ju'er asked with concern, "Is Qu Xiaoxiao okay? Was I too harsh just now?"

Qiu Yingying crossed her arms and said indignantly, "How was it harsh? She was the one being excessive; why should we give her face?"

By this time, Qin Hao had already placed Fan Shengmei on her bed. He walked out and said appreciatively, "It's rare for Yingying to say something so sophisticated. It seems you really have made progress."

"Brother!" Qiu Yingying acted spoiled.

Qin Hao rubbed Qiu Yingying's head, then turned to Guan Ju'er.

"Guan Guan, sometimes you think too much about others. Respect is always mutual. That's why there are sayings like 'do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself' and 'repay resentment with justice and kindness with kindness.' Whether in work or in life, as long as you do these two things, you can live with a clear conscience. Do you understand?"

Guan Ju'er made a bitter face. "I understand the logic, but I just can't do it. Some things are simply impossible to say out loud."

This was a classic people-pleasing personality, closely related to the family education Guan Ju'er had received since childhood. Her parents had always told her to be friendly, kind, and helpful. Over time, Guan Ju'er became increasingly concerned with how others perceived her.

【Ding! Task updated. Guan Ju'er's wish: Guan Ju'er does not want to be a "good girl" anymore; she wants to break free from the shackles of her original mindset. Task reward: 6 Luck Points.】

Qin Hao accepted the task. After thinking for a moment, he said to Guan Ju'er

"Actually, some things don't necessarily need to be said out loud. Guan Guan, I'll teach you a method."

"In the future, whenever someone wants you to do something you are unwilling to do, just do this: look at them with a smile and don't say a single word. If they try to use moral kidnapping against you, just add a sentence in your heart: 'None of your damn business.'"

Guan Ju'er's eyes lit up. "Will... will that work?"

"Whether it works or not, you'll know if you try." Qin Hao shrugged and checked the time. "Alright, I'm heading back too. Get some rest early; it's Monday tomorrow and you have to go to work."

The next day, Guan Ju'er sat in Andy's car and recounted what had happened the previous night.

Andy pursed her lips. "I think you can give it a try. Qiu Yan is quite reliable in how he handles things."

"Mm, since Sister Andy says so, I'll give it a try."

Arriving at the company, Guan Ju'er returned to being a busy little cog in the machine. However, she clearly felt that Michelle's attitude toward her had changed significantly. Ever since Michelle was rejected by Qin Hao, they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Even the colleagues she was close with looked at her with strange, scrutinizing eyes.

"Sigh, Guan Guan, do you know? Michelle has been badmouthing you behind your back," a colleague whispered to Guan Ju'er during lunch break.

Guan Ju'er wasn't overly surprised, but she was very confused. "Huh? What did she say about me?"

"She said you're a hypocrite pretending to be a good girl, but in reality, you're very calculating. She even said that even though you clearly like a certain boy, you're pretending to be best friends with his sister just to get close to him, and that you're playing her like a monkey..."

Guan Ju'er's mind exploded with a loud *bang*. After that, she couldn't hear a single word the colleague said.

In the restroom, Guan Ju'er hid in a stall, and tears began to flow uncontrollably. She never expected Michelle to say such things about her.

But after crying for a while, another voice surfaced in her mind, asking her: *Are you crying because Michelle wronged you? Did she really wrong you? Do you not like Qiu Yan?*

Suddenly, Guan Ju'er didn't feel so wronged anymore. At that moment, a gentle voice echoed in her mind

"None of your damn business!"

(End of Chapter)