The Epoch of Miyu

Xu Miyu couldn't immediately grasp what Yin Xiang meant.

How could someone as insignificant as herself be considered a thorn in someone's side?

What an honor.

"Before I came here, I didn't know anyone and hadn't made any enemies. I don't understand—who would target me and want to drive me out of the hotel?" Xu Miyu voiced her confusion.

Yin Xiang bit her lip again, steeled herself, and revealed the answer: "It's the supervisor."

Xu Miyu no longer stood there dazed. This time, she was utterly stunned.

If there really was someone targeting her, she would never have guessed it was Zhang Cailu.

From the very first day Xu Miyu started working at the hotel, Zhang Cailu had shown her nothing but care and consideration.

"From the day you arrived at the hotel, the supervisor has actually been thinking about how to get you fired!"

Listening to Yin Xiang's words, Xu Miyu felt a surreal sense of irony.

If Yin Xiang hadn't told her, she wouldn't have noticed anything amiss.

But after hearing Yin Xiang's explanation, it was as if a crack had been opened in a secret, and countless past incidents began to pile up in Xu Miyu's mind, gradually forming a glaringly obvious truth.

Now that she thought about it, things really hadn't been right. Over the past few days, she had encountered one difficult customer after another and faced a string of misfortunes. Individually, each incident seemed like a coincidence, but when strung together, the fact that she was being deliberately targeted—or even set up—became unmistakably clear.

"Why?" she wanted to know what made her significant enough to be someone's object of hatred.

"I only found out by hinting around and piecing it together. After that waitress who left with the big boss resigned, the supervisor had planned to bring her relative in to fill the position. I think she even took some money under the table. But just when everything was settled, you ended up taking the spot. You made her lose face and money. Do you think she can stand having you around her every day?"

Xu Miyu digested these words.

Since the secret had already been cracked open, Yin Xiang decided to widen the gap and lay out the truth for Xu Miyu, piece by piece.

"Mi Yu, do you remember the first unsatisfactory rating you received? The customer who took the bathrobe when checking out."

Xu Miyu nodded. "The supervisor said he was a long-term guest. The hotel couldn't afford to offend a regular customer over a bathrobe." So, right and wrong were disregarded, and the dishonest customer was allowed to give an unsatisfactory rating to the staff.

"But that incident was just my bad luck—it happened to be me cleaning that room. If it had been someone else, they would've been the unlucky one." As she said this, Xu Miyu noticed the look of utter disbelief on Yin Xiang's face.

She couldn't help but ask hesitantly, "Was that random incident... actually related to the supervisor?"

Yin Xiang let out a scornful laugh. "That was no random incident. Do you remember what happened before and after that day?"

Xu Miyu said she did. That day, Zhang Cailu had personally come to the housekeeping department to inform them that a room had been missed on the work list and the guest was checking out, so someone needed to go inspect it immediately.

"Do you remember what Ke Wenxue said at the time?"

Xu Miyu thought carefully. Ke Wenxue had said something like: Boss, couldn't you have just said this over the walkie-talkie? Was it really necessary to come all the way here? Aren't you tired?

At the time, worried that Zhang Cailu might feel awkward, Xu Miyu had even tried to smooth things over by saying: The supervisor is just down-to-earth and wants to be one of us.

So..."So Sister Mi Yu, this was no isolated incident. Ke Wenxue's casual remark nearly ruined everything, because on the room assignment sheet, Zhang Cailu deliberately omitted this room. Then she privately coordinated with me—afterwards she personally came to the housekeeping department, where I chimed in to fuel the situation and subtly guide you into taking that room. I know you love chocolate candies, so that day I specifically gave you one—it was actually a premeditated 'sugar-coated bullet.' Sure enough, after accepting it, you readily took on that room for us without hesitation."

Xu Miyu widened her eyes slightly.

Within what had seemed like a perfectly natural conversation among several people that day, there had actually been such layered designs and schemes.

She was surprised that, despite being right in the middle of it all, she had failed to see through any of this.

After a moment, she asked, "Then why didn't Zhang Cailu assign this room to my work list from the start?"

Yin Xiang explained, "Because she needed to gather three unsatisfactory ratings against you. If all three customers who could give negative reviews were assigned to you directly through the work list, it would be too obvious that you were being targeted. By occasionally omitting a room and then using me to indirectly assign it to you, she could seamlessly pull you into taking the fall."

The more Xu Miyu listened, the more inwardly alarmed she grew.

This was just the housekeeping department of a five-star hotel. They were merely the most basic, inconspicuous service staff behind the glamorous facade of the hotel. Yet even here, such undercurrents of intricate scheming could flourish.

Yin Xiang continued, "That guest is a regular. Every time he stays, he always takes something when checking out. But because he's a frequent guest who always books business executive suites and spends quite a bit, the hotel turns a blind eye to his little habit. The supervisor instructed us to look the other way whenever we encounter him. But you were new—the supervisor hadn't briefed you. So she deliberately sent you to that guest, and sure enough, you confronted him and exposed his misconduct. In the end, the exposed guest became embarrassed and angry, giving you an unsatisfactory service rating."

Xu Miyu thought for a moment and asked, "Was Zhang Cailu so certain this guest would become enraged when I exposed him?"

Yin Xiang smiled, a hint of mockery in her expression. "That's where the supervisor's skill comes in. If the guest hadn't become angry from your actions, she would have ultimately provoked him into losing his temper anyway."

After a pause, Yin Xiang added, "On the day it happened, the supervisor probably told you to leave the room first so she could 'reason' with the guest, right?"

Xu Miyu nodded.

"Did you feel grateful, thinking the supervisor was taking the heat for you?"

Xu Miyu nodded again.

"Sister Mi Yu," Yin Xiang sighed, "you're not that young—how can you be so naive? If it were me, or Ke Wenxue, or Luo Qingping—any one of us—we would have known that in that situation, the supervisor wasn't in there calming the guest down. She was stirring him up, provoking him until he forgot he was in the wrong and became determined to give you an unsatisfactory rating."Xu Miyu found it unbelievable; she simply couldn't imagine how such an effect as described by Yin Xiang could be achieved. She couldn't fathom that Zhang Cailu, who had always shown her kindness, could be so sinister and malicious behind her back. Even in all the dramas she had watched, she had never encountered someone so two-faced.

She posed this question to Yin Xiang.

Yin Xiang shook her head and told her, "It's incredibly simple. Just a few words can achieve that effect. For example, she might complain about you to a guest like this: 'Yes, yes, it's her fault. How could she falsely accuse a regular customer like that? Yes, yes, she lacks professionalism. To put it bluntly, she really has issues with her value system and moral compass. We will definitely educate her afterward and make her realize her mistake. So please give her a chance—don't have her removed from the hotel. Just give her an unsatisfactory service rating to teach her a lesson!'"

"The guest, who originally felt guilty about their own wrongdoing and just wanted an easy way out, would straighten up upon hearing this and insist on giving you an unsatisfactory rating."

Xu Miyu was speechless for a long moment after hearing this. She didn't know whether she was too naive or if the outside world was just too complicated.

Then Yin Xiang went on to tell her that what she thought was complicated was nothing compared to what came next—something that would completely overturn her understanding.

"Also, that female guest who falsely accused you of stealing the ring wasn't just a random encounter. That woman was actually brought in by Zhang Cailu. The whole incident was a trap set by Zhang Cailu for you."

Yin Xiang's words sent shock after shock through Xu Miyu. After the initial shock subsided, she felt that everything suddenly made sense.

"That female guest—I remember Zhang Cailu mentioning her before. She was a friend Zhang met while clubbing. She didn't have much education and didn't even finish high school. Originally, the two of them conspired to put on a show with the goal of getting you fired from the hotel. But when the woman saw how timid you were, she got greedy and thought she could actually get a diamond ring worth fifty thousand for nothing. She didn't stick to the script she and Zhang Cailu had agreed on, and as a result, you turned the tables on her, and their plan fell apart. Afterward, Zhang Cailu cut ties with her."

Xu Miyu couldn't imagine that Zhang Cailu, who had always shown her kindness, harbored such deep malice toward her. And she had never even known Zhang Cailu before—her only "sin" was coming here to work as a service staff.

"But when I was falsely accused of stealing the diamond ring, it was Zhang Cailu who applied for the opportunity for me to prove my innocence. Without that chance, I wouldn't have been able to turn the tables..." She wondered, could one person truly be so malicious toward another, without even a hint of kindness or hesitation? Then what was the purpose of Zhang Cailu's action at that time?"It's quite simple. We all know you were brought in by the deputy manager. Zhang Cailu was afraid that directly firing you would offend him, so she pretended to give you a chance to prove your innocence. She was certain you couldn't clear your name—these baseless accusations are always impossible to disprove. The hotel has always prioritized customers and feared negative publicity. Since you usually seem timid, she thought you wouldn't make waves. This way, when you failed to prove yourself and were eventually fired, she could claim she'd done everything possible. The deputy manager wouldn't feel slighted either." At this point, Yin Xiang looked at Xu Miyu, raised an eyebrow, and said with a hint of satisfaction, "But who knew you'd not only prove yourself but also expose the person she'd set up? That day, she was terrified. If you'd insisted on calling the police, the whole hotel would have learned she orchestrated the trap."

Xu Miyu let out a long sigh.

So it was true—one person could harbor such malice toward another without a shred of goodwill or hesitation. She had thought there might be some, but peeling back the surface revealed even deeper malice.

After a moment's thought, Xu Miyu asked Yin Xiang, "So the difficult Old Man Cui was also...?"

Yin Xiang nodded sheepishly. "Yes, Zhang Cailu told me to delay until you arrived and then assign you to clean his room. She hoped you'd get a poor rating from the hard-to-please Old Man Cui, but instead, you were praised. His family is wealthy, and he knows the hotel's upper management, so his praise carries weight—that's why the staff he commends get bonuses. But then there was the incident with his missing watch."

At this, Yin Xiang flushed with shame. "Mi Yu, I took credit for your achievements but let you take the blame for my mistakes. I may be opportunistic, but I'm not heartless. I truly feel guilty—I'm sorry!"

Xu Miyu shook her head. "I don't care about any of that. There's no need to apologize." After a pause, she asked, "But why are you willing to tell me all this about Zhang Cailu?"

Yin Xiang's expression darkened, her brow furrowing. "Because I've started doubting her actions—and myself. She openly does harmful things to you while pretending to be kind and caring. Often, after causing you trouble, she makes you feel grateful to her, and she takes pride in that. And me? In all this, I'm just a tool she uses to build her 'good person' image. Sometimes, I even end up as the villain. But what grudge could I possibly have against you, Xu Miyu? I'm just opportunistic, eager to curry favor with superiors. But in the end, pleasing her has turned me into a clown, contrasting her 'goodness.' After several incidents, I've grown increasingly afraid of Zhang Cailu's methods and more doubtful of myself. What am I even doing?"In addition to the reasons Yin Xiang had mentioned, Xu Miyu thought of another possibility—inspired by TV dramas she had watched before. Yin Xiang knew exactly what Zhang Cailu had done and the methods she had used to push out a subordinate. Even if Yin Xiang was skilled at currying favor with leadership, once Zhang Cailu was promoted to supervisor, she might not necessarily promote Yin Xiang to team leader. In fact, she might even try to drive Yin Xiang away—who would want to keep someone who knew their dirty secrets close by and continue promoting them? Otherwise, those past misdeeds could become leverage in the hands of the one who knew.

Unconsciously, they had been talking for a long time. The front desk staff’s voice came through the walkie-talkie, urging the executive level to prepare several rooms quickly, as guests were waiting to check in.

Zhang Cailu immediately acknowledged the message and called the floor attendants, including Yin Xiang and Xu Miyu, instructing them to cancel their lunch breaks and head to the dirty rooms for cleaning as soon as possible.

Yin Xiang and Xu Miyu replied one after another, confirming they had received the instructions.

Then Yin Xiang said to Xu Miyu, "Mi Yu, let’s go back separately."

Xu Miyu agreed and suggested that Yin Xiang return to the executive level first, while she would wait a couple of minutes before going up.

Before leaving, Yin Xiang seemed hesitant, as if she had more to say.

Xu Miyu understood immediately and reassured her, "Don’t worry, everything you told me today, I won’t let anyone else know, especially the team leader."

Yin Xiang visibly relaxed and explained with an awkward smile, "After all, she’s still our supervisor, and we have to work under her. Even though I can’t stand her methods, I don’t want to offend her either."

Xu Miyu expressed her understanding.

Yin Xiang added, "Mi Yu, Zhang Cailu won’t stop. You already have two unsatisfactory ratings—she’ll find a way to give you another one to push you out. So... from now until the end of your probation period, you really need to be careful."

Xu Miyu nodded and said, "Okay, I will." Then she sincerely thanked Yin Xiang, "Thank you, Xiao Xiang."

Yin Xiang went upstairs first. Estimating that she had likely reached the executive level, Xu Miyu also walked back to the hotel and took the staff elevator upstairs.

Having absorbed so much information all at once, she felt a bit overwhelmed for a moment.

Standing in the staff elevator, she couldn’t help but feel dazed, unsure of how to face Zhang Cailu next.

The more confused she felt, the more inevitable it seemed to encounter Zhang Cailu. As Xu Miyu pushed the linen cart down the hallway, she happened to run into Zhang Cailu coming from the opposite direction.

Zhang Cailu beamed at her and asked with concern, "Sister Xu, did you have a good lunch? If not, why don’t you go grab a bite first? I’ll take care of the dirty rooms assigned to you for now!"

Xu Miyu thought to herself, if not for the revelations at noon today, who would associate such a warm and kind person with the word "malice"? Who would imagine that someone who seemed so caring actually wished for her to disappear?

Before today’s lunch, such concern would have made her feel deeply warm and grateful. But now it felt ugly and distorted, making Xu Miyu unable to face it directly.Xu Miyu felt almost flustered and at a loss, wanting to avoid Zhang Cailu's gaze. But she commanded herself: don't dodge, don't reveal any clues, don't act differently from usual. Then she said to Zhang Cailu, "Thank you," adding, "I've finished eating and am ready to start work."

After speaking, she continued pushing the linen cart forward steadily as before. But inwardly, it felt like she was fleeing in panic.

While cleaning the dirty rooms left by guests, she worked with unusual intensity.

It seemed she had never exerted herself like this before. While scrubbing the bathtub in the bathroom, the brush nearly wore out from friction, and the tub itself seemed thinner from her vigorous scrubbing.

Though this easily tired her out, she maintained her intensity. It was as if by scrubbing so hard, she could also straighten out her muddled thoughts.

She wondered what she should do next? How exactly should she face Zhang Cailu?

She clearly knew she didn't want to be mortal enemies with anyone, nor did she have grand ambitions or burning desires to overthrow the supervisor. She felt incapable of such things anyway.

She just wanted to live quietly and ordinarily, unnoticed by others.

Now the supervisor merely wanted to catch her making a mistake, to give her another unsatisfactory service rating so she'd have to leave.

So as long as she was more careful, did her job properly, left no room for criticism, and gave no one any faults to pick on, that should be enough, right?

After finishing the bathtub, she turned on the water to rinse it.

Where the water gushed and flowed, the bathtub became as clean as white jade.

Xu Miyu's confused thoughts seemed to clear up along with it.

She felt she had figured things out. When she saw Zhang Cailu's caring smile again, she believed she could handle it calmly, as if she never knew the whole truth, without the panic she felt earlier.

Around four in the afternoon, everyone had gradually finished their room duties and returned to the housekeeping department to drink water and rest.

Only Xu Miyu hadn't finished yet. Having used twice her usual effort and worked more meticulously than normal, her progress was slower than usual.

While Ke Wenxue was pulling Yin Xiang aside to gossip, Li Kunlun from the food and beverage department arrived. Having just finished delivering meals to this floor with no immediate tasks, he could take a short break, so he wandered over to the housekeeping department to chat with Ke Wenxue.

When he entered, he glanced around and, seeing no supervisors present, his face immediately lit up with the excitement of having big gossip to share.

Ke Wenxue could tell from his expression that his juicy news couldn't wait until after work.

They started talking about Xu Miyu.

Li Kunlun sighed with pity.

"You know, this sister was actually a guest on this floor before—I delivered meals to her. Who would've thought? Just a few days later, with how fortunes change, she's ended up as a cleaner here. When she stayed here before, she was quite a stylish lady. Pitiful how she looks like she's aged ten years in no time."

After a pause, he slapped his thigh and said to Ke Wenxue, "Did I forget to tell you some gossip?"

Before Ke Wenxue could respond, Yin Xiang kicked her lightly, signaling her to be quiet and look toward the door.

It was Zhang Cailu walking in.She noticed that as soon as she entered, everyone stopped their casual chatter, so she quickly said, "It's fine, carry on with your conversation. I was just bored sitting in the office and thought I'd come join the fun." She told Li Kunlun, "Don't run off the moment you see me—I don't bite. Were you all gossiping before I came? Go on, I'd like to listen too."

Seeing that Zhang Cailu didn't seem to be there to catch employees slacking off and chatting, Li Kunlun relaxed, grew bolder, and picked up the gossipy tone again.

"Have I not told you about this Sister Xu's husband's affair yet?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room perked up. Even Luo Qingping, who had been sitting to the side acting as if she couldn't be bothered with the commotion, turned her face toward them.

Ke Wenxue immediately urged Li Kunlun to continue and not keep them in suspense.

"How could you leave out such juicy gossip? Be careful, or Lu Xiaoyan and I will kick you out of the group!"

Li Kunlun quickly recounted what he had witnessed earlier.

"I saw this with my own eyes while delivering food—no exaggeration at all. This sister's husband is just unbelievable. He had just spent the night with his wife in an executive suite, then turned around and went to another floor to cheat with another woman. Even the room number he chose for the affair was particularly meaningful—1314! Can you believe it? Even when cheating, he wants it to be 'forever and ever,' tsk tsk! On the same day he cheated, his wife wasn't staying at the hotel anymore, but his mother-in-law was still there. Can you imagine how bold he is?"

Ke Wenxue let out a shocked "Wow!"

Yin Xiang also exclaimed "Wow," but couldn't help feeling even more sympathy and guilt toward Xu Miyu. So she's been going through such hardship.

Luo Qingping maintained an expression as if the gossip had nothing to do with her, yet she pricked up her ears and didn't miss a single word.

Zhang Cailu sighed with what seemed like boundless sympathy.

Ke Wenxue asked, "Since they used to be residents on this floor, how did Sister Xu end up having to work here?"

Li Kunlun speculated, "Could it be that her husband divorced her, and she had no choice but to go out to work and earn money?"

Ke Wenxue shook her head. "It doesn't seem so. Remember what we talked about before? Sister Xu once took a phone call in the locker room from her husband asking her for money."

Yin Xiang nodded beside them. She and Ke Wenxue had both heard that call with their own ears.

Li Kunlun pieced things together for analysis: "Then could it be like this: Sister Xu's family was originally quite wealthy, but her husband messed around outside and squandered all the money, forcing Sister Xu to go out and earn money? And then her husband kept spending money on his mistress outside, so he had to constantly pressure Sister Xu to give him money to spend?"

After hearing this, Ke Wenxue slammed the table angrily and said, "Scumbag! Trash! That man is utterly despicable! Not only does he live off his wife, but he also cheats on her while doing so. He's really fucking scummy!"

Yin Xiang asked Li Kunlun from the side, "How do you know her husband is still spending money on his mistress?"

Li Kunlun's eyes lit up, he clapped his hands together, and his expression became even more animated: "So what comes next is the main course of today's gossip—everything before was just the prelude!" After building up everyone's anticipation and attention, he began to reveal the bombshell gossip: "Didn't I say when I came in that I just finished delivering food to a resident on this floor? Guess which room I delivered to? You'd never guess—it was Sister Xu's husband! He brought his mistress here to check in again!"

After he finished speaking, everyone was so shocked they were momentarily speechless.

Ke Wenxue was the first to curse: "He really is a thoroughly disgusting cheating scumbag! Bringing his mistress to check in at the place where his wife works? Room 1314 wasn't enough, he has to come right under his wife's nose to disgust her? Why doesn't heaven castrate both of them!"

Li Kunlun said, "Hey, don't say that. Before I came here, I chatted with Lu Xiaoyan for a bit. It just so happened that Lu Xiaoyan was the one at the front desk who checked these two in. She said the woman actually requested to stay in room 1314, but Sister Xu's husband absolutely refused and insisted against it, so they ended up booking a room on the executive level instead."

Ke Wenxue nearly threw her cup upon hearing this.

"Does he have to come right under his wife's nose to disgust people? That dog of a man!"

Yin Xiang couldn't help but say, "Sister Xu is so pitiful. Why doesn't she divorce such a garbage man?"

Ke Wenxue sneered beside her: "Why should she divorce? To make room for the mistress?"

Yin Xiang thought for a moment and said, "You're right."

Zhang Cailu remained thoughtful and didn't speak throughout.

Luo Qingping retorted to Yin Xiang and Ke Wenxue from the side: "What's so pitiful about her? Men are only this vile because women enable them. Besides, I haven't seen you two showing much pity for her—you never hold back when ordering her around."

Luo Qingping's words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the heated gossip atmosphere entirely. Li Kunlun returned to the food and beverage department, while Ke Wenxue and Yin Xiang shot Luo Qingping a glare, held hands, and went to the restroom together—as if this act could isolate Luo Qingping and vent their frustration.

Luo Qingping went about her business as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Cailu stood up and walked out without letting anyone see the pensiveness in her heart.

*Zhang Cailu returned to her office and immediately called the guest service center to inquire which room on the executive level had recently ordered room service.

As the executive level supervisor, no one would question her checking such details. The guest service center promptly provided her with the room number.

After hanging up, Zhang Cailu immediately dialed that room's number.

After two rings, the call was answered by a female voice.

Zhang Cailu instantly infused her voice with warmth and concern as she asked: "Would you like housekeeping service?"

The woman's voice sounded somewhat languid as she replied that it wasn't necessary—she wanted to rest.

Just before the call could be disconnected, Zhang Cailu persisted without being pushy: "Madam, according to the information center's feedback, your room recently ordered a meal. Have you finished dining? Would you like me to send a housekeeper to clean up for you?"

This time the woman paused briefly before saying, "Alright then."

Zhang Cailu put down the phone and immediately left her office. She searched through each dirty room assigned to Xu Miyu, finally finding her in the last one.

Xu Miyu was stripping dirty sheets and duvet covers from the large bed in the final dirty room. As she carried these soiled linens to the laundry cart, she spotted Zhang Cailu.

She paused momentarily before greeting, "Supervisor."

Zhang Cailu asked with apparent concern: "Sister Xu, is this the last room?"

Xu Miyu nodded in confirmation.

"How much longer until it's completely cleaned?" Zhang Cailu continued.

"Just need to put on fresh bedding."

Zhang Cailu said: "In that case, Sister Xu, after you finish this room, please go clean another executive suite. It's an occupied room—the guest checked in at noon, just ordered a meal, and needs the room tidied up." She added by way of explanation, "Everyone else is busy, so I'll have to trouble you with this, Sister Xu!"

Xu Miyu immediately agreed and memorized the room number.

After thoroughly cleaning the current room and locking the door, Xu Miyu pushed the laundry cart toward the newly assigned executive suite.

She walked slowly, giving herself sufficient time to think.

She realized Zhang Cailu had personally come to assign her this room. That meant this was certainly another challenging task. Gripping the laundry cart's handle, she mentally prepared herself: No matter how difficult or demanding the guest in that room might be, she would remain calm, avoid confrontation, keep her head down, and focus on her work.

If she could manage that, even if this was a trap set by Zhang Cailu, she would navigate carefully and avoid falling into it.

Arriving at the suite, she first parked the laundry cart, then stood before the suite door.

Everything will be fine. I'll definitely get through this safely.

Xu Miyu silently encouraged herself with these thoughts.

Then she took a deep breath, raised her hand, and knocked gently three times before announcing: "Hello, housekeeping."

Before she could repeat herself, the room door opened from inside.

When Xu Miyu looked up, she froze in stunned disbelief.

The person who had opened the door was none other than Nie Yucheng. And standing behind him was Lu Zhenzhen.