"You husband was with another woman last night."
Xu Miyu received this message as soon as she woke up.
She stared at her phone, frozen in place.
One day earlier. In the executive suite of the Swire Hotel.
"I'm coming down to get you right now. Yes, yes, you've been waiting, but you have to let me get dressed first?... Mom, stop nagging, I'm coming down to get you now."
Xu Miyu hung up the phone and sighed deeply while clutching her mobile.
She walked to the bathroom door, which was ajar, where her husband Nie Yucheng was washing up.
"Sorry, honey, for dragging you out of bed so early..." Xu Miyu leaned against the doorframe like a timid young bride, her face full of apology as she pitifully expressed regret to Nie Yucheng.
Nie Yucheng's handsome, refined face was openly covered with impatience and endurance. He held a razor while shaving, wanting to press harder out of frustration, yet knowing he couldn't apply too much force when shaving himself. This made him appear even more irritated.
Xu Miyu sensed his annoyance and mumbled an explanation while picking at the doorframe: "My mom... she does tend to be a bit demanding..."
Nie Yucheng finally lost control and pressed too hard, immediately drawing a thin line of blood on his chin.
He hissed in pain, threw down the razor, and could no longer hold back his complaints.
"A bit demanding? She's extremely demanding! She said she wanted to visit Xing City, that she wasn't feeling well and didn't want to stay in a hotel because it's uncomfortable, so she wanted to stay at our place. Fine, we let her come and stay. Then she said there were too many people and it was too noisy. Fine, I gave up our home for her to stay in without disturbance, and we moved out to a hotel ourselves. Isn't that enough? But then what happens? After hearing your eldest sister talk about how nice five-star hotels are, your mom immediately insisted on switching places with us. Miyu, can't you talk to your mother? Tell her not to keep taking advantage of us like this. Don't lose your head just because she gives you a couple of meaningless compliments!"
While he was venting his frustrations, Xu Miyu quickly performed a series of tasks. She stepped away from the doorframe, hurried into the bathroom, cleaned his chin with water, found a cotton swab, and tended to the small cut on his chin.
Gently dabbing the thin wound with the cotton swab, Xu Miyu said with heartfelt concern: "Oh, how could you be so careless? No matter how angry you are, you shouldn't take it out on your handsome face! How can such a good-looking face have a cut?" As she spoke, Xu Miyu blew gently on the wound, treating him with the same tenderness one would show a hurt child or small animal, her eyes filled with affection.
Nie Yucheng looked down at her and let out a helpless sigh.
Xu Miyu sensed that the anger and impatience in that sigh were beginning to fade.
"You just can't resist when your mother praises you!" Though his tone still carried some resentment, it had ultimately softened.
Xu Miyu felt relieved. Seizing the moment, she looked up at Nie Yucheng with an ingratiating expression, batting her eyelids affectedly as she spoke: "She's not in good health - she developed chronic back pain from giving birth to me and my brother. I can't be too harsh with her, can I? And when Mom says I'm capable and married well, isn't she really complimenting you? Since she's praising you like that, let's just indulge her a little, okay?"Nie Yucheng looked down at her acting cute, feeling both helpless and amused. Xu Miyu seized the moment, stood on her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. After kissing him, she looked at him with a smiling face, her eyes curved like crescent moons, the corners of her mouth upturned, revealing a few small, white, neat teeth. She had a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes—when she smiled, they sparkled and curved, lovely and charming. Paired with her sweet, upturned lips, her smile had a way of striking straight into one’s heart, always seeming to make people let their guard down.
Nie Yucheng was utterly helpless against her antics and finally gave in.
Xu Miyu struck while the iron was hot, gently stroking Nie Yucheng’s chest as she said softly, “Oh, by the way, I’ve been counting the days. The stewed meat I sent to your mom last time should be almost finished. A couple of days ago, I made some new stewed beef, vacuum-sealed it, and already sent it to her. You’ve been so busy lately, working overtime every day and coming home late, so I haven’t had a chance to tell you. And guess what? When I was stewing the meat, the neighbors smelled it and came knocking on our door asking for some! See how much effort and quality ingredients I put into stewing meat for your mom?”
Her mother-in-law had always been somewhat aloof, but she especially loved the food Xu Miyu made, particularly the stewed dishes. Initially, she hadn’t approved of Xu Miyu and Nie Yucheng’s marriage, feeling that Xu Miyu’s background and education were nowhere near good enough for her son. If it hadn’t been for Xu Miyu’s cooking skills winning over her mother-in-law’s stomach, she might never have married Nie Yucheng.
Hearing this, Nie Yucheng couldn’t help but soften.
Xu Miyu raised her hand and gently stroked his chin with her fingertips, continuing to coax him, “Honey, don’t be upset. Look, my mom won’t be here every day. We just have to tough it out until she leaves. If she does anything inappropriate these days, I’ll apologize on her behalf and make it up to you—I’ll do anything you ask, okay?”
Nie Yucheng sighed. He could never hold out against Xu Miyu’s coaxing. He took her hand and said resignedly, “Forget it, forget it. I have a business trip this afternoon. Your mom can stay wherever she wants.”
Xu Miyu let out an “Huh?” and blurted out, “A business trip this afternoon? So suddenly?”
Nie Yucheng frowned and was about to say something when Xu Miyu’s phone rang again.
Xu Miyu answered the call. Her mother, Jiao Xiumei’s urging voice exploded like a depth charge, sending ripples through the air.
Xu Miyu was immediately overwhelmed by Jiao Xiumei’s bombardment. She hurriedly said into the phone, “Coming, coming, I’ll be right down to get you!” then turned to her husband and said, “I’ll go down now to pick up my mom. You should get dressed quickly and head to work. Try to avoid running into her so she doesn’t bother you. Once I get my mom settled, I’ll come back and pack your luggage for the trip.”
After saying this, she hastily threw on her coat, grabbed her key card, and rushed out.
Nie Yucheng stood behind her, watching the room door slowly close. The mirror reflected his face, filled with an expression of having had enough and being unable to tolerate any more.
Xu Miyu hurriedly took the elevator downstairs and rushed to the hotel entrance.
The Swift Hotel was a luxurious five-star establishment, frequented by influential and wealthy guests. If Jiao Xiumei caused a scene at the entrance for too long, Xu Miyu was afraid she would become a laughingstock.
As she stepped out of the lobby and caught sight of her mother’s outfit outside the hotel, Xu Miyu’s eyes widened in shock.Jiao Xiumei didn't look like an elderly woman from the countryside at all. Not only was she dressed fashionably, but she also wore a large pair of sunglasses perched on her nose. Yet, the outfit seemed oddly mismatched with her overall demeanor.
"Mom, why are you wearing my clothes?" And it was her best and most expensive piece—a gift Nie Yucheng had brought back for her from a business trip abroad. "And where did you dig out my sunglasses? You're really something—I'd even forgotten where I put them, but you managed to find them." As she spoke, Xu Miyu reached out to take back the sunglasses, intending to reclaim what was hers.
Jiao Xiumei raised her hand to block the attempt, pushing her daughter's arm aside.
"I'm your mother. I raised you all these years. Is it such a big deal if I wear one of your outfits or try on your sunglasses? Besides, now that they're on my face, how can you have the nerve to take them back?" Her voice was loud and booming, startling Xu Miyu into avoiding further argument.
In the bustling hotel lobby, Xu Miyu still wanted to save face.
She quickly took the suitcase from Jiao Xiumei's hand and led her into the hotel.
As soon as they stepped into the lobby, Jiao Xiumei let out a "Wow!" and pushed the sunglasses up onto her forehead, turning her head to take in the surroundings.
"No wonder your eldest sister said five-star hotels are amazing—they're nothing like regular inns. This is really something! Look at how high the ceilings are! And the decor—so grand! It's practically decorated like a palace!"
"Like you've ever seen what a palace looks like," Xu Miyu retorted as she tugged Jiao Xiumei toward the elevator area. She was genuinely afraid that if she left Jiao Xiumei to her own devices, the next moment she might rush up to the front desk manager, touch their uniform, and say, "This outfit is so sharp—it's not a uniform, it's like something tailored from an emperor's robes!"
All the elevators in the bank were stopped on higher floors, except for one currently on the ground level. But its doors were about to close. Without a second thought, Xu Miyu pulled Jiao Xiumei into a quick dash, shouting, "Please hold the door!" Just as the doors were about to seal shut, she thrust her hand inside, successfully halting the elevator's ascent.
The doors slid open slowly. Inside, Xu Miyu saw only two people—two tall, young men, both handsome and dressed in sharp suits. Their expressions were far from pleased, as if greatly annoyed by the interruption of the elevator's journey.
Judging by their positioning, Xu Miyu guessed they were likely a boss and his assistant.
The boss, in particular, stood out with his striking looks and an aura that was cold and imposing. His eyes swept over Xu Miyu only briefly, yet she instantly felt a sense of being disliked and looked down upon. When she wanted to argue or question it, she found no grounds—he had merely glanced her way; it was she who had interpreted the look.
For a moment, she considered stepping back out and waiting with Jiao Xiumei for another elevator, if only to ease the strange guilt of having disturbed others. But Jiao Xiumei had already stepped confidently into the elevator and pulled Xu Miyu in after her, urging her to hurry up and stop dawdling.
Swallowing her discomfort, Xu Miyu stepped inside and reached into her pocket for her key card to swipe for their floor.
But whether it was the key card or the elevator that malfunctioned, no matter how many times she swiped, the elevator remained unresponsive.
The man who appeared to be the assistant spoke up."Miss, we're in a hurry. Perhaps you could wait for the neighboring elevator? This elevator is V—"
Before he could finish speaking, Jiao Xiumei had already turned her head to shoot him a displeased sidelong glance and spoke up: "Young man, does this elevator belong to you? Then why don't you take it back to your home! Since it's placed here, anyone who wants to use it can use it. If you're in such a hurry, you can go take the neighboring elevator yourselves." Jiao Xiumei spoke with rhythmic cadence, her eyes rolling in elaborate arcs.
The assistant was momentarily stunned by the retort. Xu Miyu glanced over and caught the disdainful look in his boss's eyes that seemed to pierce through her.
At that moment, Xu Miyu wanted to apologize to the entire world. She hated her own temperament—always afraid of offending anyone, always fearful of being disliked.
With an apologetic expression, she tried to pull Jiao Xiume off the elevator: "Mom, my card can't access the floors. Let's try another one."
Jiao Xiumei shook off her arm, stubbornly determined to ride this particular elevator.
"Don't be ridiculous! Why switch? The soles of my feet have already warmed up this elevator—I can't let that go to waste."
"..." Xu Miyu truly couldn't match her mother's stubborn rhetoric.
Finally, the man who appeared to be the boss spoke. His tone was cold as he told his assistant: "Forget it, just swipe their floor for them. Don't waste time on pointless matters. We can't be late for the appointment."
The assistant swallowed his anger with visible effort, replied "Yes," and reached out to swipe the elevator card. Xu Miyu pressed their destination floor and murmured a faint "thank you."
She glanced quickly and noticed the two men were headed to the hotel's top floor.
The elevator finally began moving. As it ascended slowly, Jiao Xiumei, unable to bear the silence, opened her mouth to speak.
She complained to Xu Miyu: "Why did you keep me waiting so long just now? You know my back problems, yet you made me stand out there for ages—want to see my spine crack? You said you were coming down on the first call, but when I called the second time you were still upstairs! I almost thought this hotel must have hundreds of floors, and it'd take you a year to come down. Seriously, Third Daughter, now that you've married well, are you abandoning your old mother? Don't want me visiting anymore, is that it?"
Afraid she would continue her endless nagging, Xu Miyu quickly cut her off: "Mom, what are you talking about?" After a pause, she lowered her voice and asked, "Didn't you say you wanted to stay quietly at my place? To give you that peace, Yucheng brought me here to stay, specifically vacating our home for you. So why did you suddenly decide to come swap with us after just one day?"
Jiao Xiumei let out a sharp laugh: "That's because I hadn't thought it through at first. So you two get to stay in a five-star hotel while I stay at your place and clean up after you? Am I your mother or your maid? I'm at this age, my health ruined from giving birth to you, worked so hard to raise you—shouldn't you be taking good care of me? Instead you take advantage and treat me like your servant—how could you?"
Jiao Xiumei's voice began rising toward the end. Xu Miyu quickly interjected with "Yes, yes, yes" to placate her. Even though the reality wasn't what Jiao Xiumei described, if it could shut her loud mouth, Xu Miyu wouldn't hesitate to call herself inhuman.
Suddenly, a loud ringtone blared through the elevator. Xu Miyu jolted, then immediately grew flustered.
It was Jiao Xiumei's phone ringing.Jiao Xiumei beamed with delight the moment the call connected, calling out "my son" and instructing him: "Alright, alright, if something's broken don't touch it. Wait until I get back to fix it. Whatever you do, don't try to handle it yourself—you might get hurt!"
Xu Miyu couldn't help muttering under her breath nearby: "Xu Mibao is exactly the same age as me—we're both about to turn thirty in the blink of an eye. It's not like he's only three years old. Do you really need to spoil him like this?"
Jiao Xiumei responded without hesitation: "Your brother is the only male heir in our family. Not only should I spoil him, but you three sisters should all spoil him together—that's how we honor the ancestors of the Xu family!"
Xu Miyu couldn't resist rolling her eyes. She felt so indignant that she didn't care there were two strangers behind her. After all, they were just passing acquaintances she'd probably never see again in this lifetime.
So she retorted angrily to Jiao Xiumei: "He was actually born three minutes before me, you know."
Jiao Xiumei countered her rebuttal: "He's the male heir. Even though he was born three minutes before you, it was a family decision that you would be the older sister and he the younger brother, and that you would take more care of him in the future. What are you grumbling about? Besides, you're currently the most successful among all you siblings. Now that you have the capability, shouldn't you look after your brother more? Sibling bonds, sibling bonds—since he's your sibling, shouldn't you show him deeper affection?"
Xu Miyu resignedly said, "Alright, alright." She once again realized she could never win an argument against her mother, whose logic was ironclad and whose rhetoric was even more formidable.
The elevator arrived at their floor with a ding, and the doors slid open.
Xu Miyu pulled her suitcase and led Jiao Xiumei out.
The elevator doors closed behind them.
Assistant Xue Rui turned to look at his boss Ji Feng. He saw icy contempt freezing in his boss's eyes.
He tentatively asked: "Mr. Ji, why didn't you let me tell them this is the VIP elevator reserved for top-floor guests?"
Ji Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, concealing the cold severity in his gaze. The corner of his mouth twitched, leaking sarcasm: "The older one clearly has no sense of reason. If you'd told her, she'd have argued with you for ten minutes. I don't care if she's not embarrassed—I can't afford to waste the time."
The assistant shook his head and sighed at these words: "I've truly never encountered people with such bizarre manners in a luxury five-star hotel. Listening to that mother and daughter discuss their family affairs was simply astonishing."
When the elevator reached the top floor, Ji Feng issued a cold instruction to Xue Rui before stepping out: "Go tell the front desk that when checking guests in from now on, they should remember to explain what 'VIP elevator exclusively for top-floor guests' actually means."
Xue Rui quickly strode to keep up while responding, "Yes, sir."
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