Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Zhou Yin froze.

She had clearly not expected me to say something so blunt. Her face flushed at once, but she quickly composed herself.

“Miss Shen, I was only doing my duty as a nanny. If you think I’ve done something wrong, you’re welcome to criticize me and correct me, but please don’t… don’t insult me.”

Her chin lifted slightly, each word deliberate, as if she were a wronged but unyielding warrior.

Anger flared in my chest. Seeing her like that only made me even angrier. I said coldly, “You’ve been here less than two weeks. The front door passcode was changed according to your wishes, the decorations in the house were moved wherever you wanted, and even the curtains in the master bedroom were replaced after you gave them some thought. Is that part of a nanny’s duty?”

Zhou Yin bit her lip. Her voice trembled, but she still argued her case.

“Everything I did was for Mr. Song’s sake. And I informed Mr. Song about all of it. My conscience is clear.”

I found it both absurd and irritating, and kept going.

“You know perfectly well that I’m Mr. Song’s fiancée, and you also know perfectly well that this apartment is my marital home. Anyone with the slightest sense of propriety would at least notify me before doing these things. That isn’t asking too much. That’s common courtesy. But all you ever mention is Mr. Song. Are you trying to remind me that whatever you do has nothing to do with me?”

Over the years of dealing with people in business, I had gradually learned to manage my emotions. I rarely lost my temper anymore. I had no idea why I couldn’t control myself today.

Right then, agitation burned in my chest. I said impatiently, “Enough. Pack your things and leave today.”

Zhou Yin froze, staring at me in shock.

For a long while, she said nothing. She bit down hard on her lower lip, and then tears as large as beans began falling one by one.

Song Qingyun frowned slightly.

“Ah Lan, did someone upset you while you were out today?”

I was on the phone, asking my assistant to find someone to come over and replace the curtains. Hearing that, I glanced at him and said, puzzled, “You can’t tell what I’m angry about?”

“Step outside for a bit. I need to speak with Miss Shen.”

He gave the instruction to Zhou Yin, who was still standing there blankly. She froze for a few seconds, then hurried out with red-rimmed eyes.

I hung up and looked at Song Qingyun expressionlessly.

“What? Do I not even have the right to dismiss a nanny from this apartment?”

He shook his head with a helpless smile. “Of course you do. Forget dismissing her, you could throw me out too. But Zhou Yin’s situation is a little special. When Auntie Wu asked me to take her in, she specifically told me about her circumstances.”

He poured me a cup of black tea and spoke gently.

“Zhou Yin’s parents died in a car accident when she was in high school. Because they never found the driver responsible, there was no compensation either. Apparently, she used to rank first in her entire school, but she resolutely dropped out to take care of her younger siblings. Now that her brother and sister are in university, she’s working odd jobs everywhere to earn their tuition. Auntie Wu introduced her this time because she pitied her and wanted to give her a chance to make some money.”

“I’m partly responsible for what happened today too. When Auntie Wu was here, I was used to not caring about anything at home. Zhou Yin was probably just too eager to do well, and ended up offending our Eldest Miss Shen. Ah Lan, for my sake, let it slide this once. In any case, she won’t be working here for more than a few months.”

I said nothing.

It wasn’t because I pitied Zhou Yin.

Ever since I took over the company, I had realized that being a boss didn’t mean the more approachable you were, the better. Nor did it mean the more your sympathy overflowed, the better.

A good deed was a good deed. Work was work.

But I knew Song Qingyun very well. Deep down, he had a tendency to look up with pride and down with compassion.

Sometimes at business events, he would be cold toward bosses who politely tried to build connections with him, but he was always extremely gentle and courteous toward waiters and cleaners, thanking them every time he spoke.

There was no need to let a temporary nanny affect my relationship with him.

“Fine.”

I nodded, then pouted.

“But just this once, Song Qingyun. From now on, you’re not allowed to help other people instead of helping me.”

Song Qingyun laughed despite himself.

“Ah Lan, of course.”

“No matter what, I will always be on your side and yours alone.”