Before the birthday feast started, everyone gathered at the hall. As there were many people who were invited to attend the event, when they saw Jiang Xiaobai, who was slender and pretty, a lot of people came over to ask questions about her, such as her age and qualifications.
Upon hearing that she was a freelancer, they even praised her capability and encouraged her to continue to work hard.
Jiang Mei, who was at one side listening to this, felt uneasy, and she was so jealous that she was sulky.
Though the Jiang family had three sons, the three sons gave birth to only two daughters.
Since young, Jiang Mei liked to compare herself with Jiang Xiaobai. She would do everything that Jiang Xiaobai did. However, there was one thing that Jiang Xiaobai had that she could never catch up with—her appearance.
That was because Jiang Xiaobai inherited both her mother’s beauty and her father’s tall figure and long legs. Therefore, she not only had enviable long legs and a tall build, she was also blessed with a face that would arouse the jealousy of many. She was that kind of a person who would look beautiful even without dressing up, and when she dressed up, she would become the most outstanding one. Therefore, before Jiang Mei came today, she had specially dressed herself up.
Moreover, she had been dissatisfied with her single eyelids for a very long time, so she finally made up her mind to find a doctor and go through surgery to have double eyelids. She had even gone through plenty of aesthetic medicine products and surgical procedures, such as mesotherapy and hyaluronic acid.
Jiang Mei thought that she was already gorgeous, while Jiang Xiaobai, who always stayed at home and seldom went out, would definitely not be as pretty as she used to be. However, when she met her today, she found out that she was wrong. Jiang Xiaobai was not only pretty now; she was also a natural beauty, whose skin would look fair and silky even without much skin care. This really enraged Jiang Mei! Now, when she saw most of the guests present striking conversations with Jiang Xiaobai, she was beyond furious.
Therefore, when someone brought up the question of whether Jiang Xiaobai’s monthly income from writing was enough to support herself, Jiang Mei could not hold back herself anymore. Without any regard for courtesy, she directly stepped forward and chimed in, “How can she make enough money to support herself? Xiaobai, when you were in school, you didn’t like studying. Why didn’t you try harder to find a job after you graduated? Though we are cousins, I really can’t hold back myself from saying this to you—you are not a child anymore, and you are going to get married and have kids in the future, so you need to quickly find a proper job and save up some money. You should stop making your parents work too hard.”
Jiang Xiaobai was speechless. As expected, this annoying fly is back. Sigh, that annoying fly really can’t help herself.
Upon having such thoughts, Jiang Xiaobai glanced at her with a faint smile. “My parents? You are junior to them; don’t you know how to address your elders?”
Jiang Mei’s facial expression changed as she did not expect her to pick on her using this, so she could only quickly make up to it. “I was just speaking casually. Uncle Yanke and Aunty Xiaoyu have worked hard for you, and you are the only daughter in your family. But you don’t work nor make money, and you even need your parents to feed and support you. This is quite embarrassing.”
“Then, according to you, what should I do?” Jiang Xiaobai was not mad, and she still wore a faint smile on her face, as if she was saving her energy and preparing herself for an ultimate move.
Although Jiang Mei had a sense of foreboding, when she saw the scornful looks cast by the surrounding people at Jiang Xiaobai after hearing her words, she could not help but secretly feel pleased at herself. “There are so many people here. How about we have everyone here help you and see if they have any jobs they can introduce to you?”
“Huh? Her academic results were not good, and she has been staying at home for free for such a long time without working any job. I bet that she can’t do anything well even if she goes out to work.”
“That’s right. She has never had any hardship; how is she able to join the taskforce?”
Jiang Mei lightly coughed. “Xiaobai, I have a colleague at the company I’m working at whose family owns a western cuisine restaurant. Coincidentally, I heard that they are recently hiring a waitress. Though the pay is not high, they cover three meals per day. It is a little tiring to be a waitress, but judging by your current condition, why don’t you go and try? Don’t make Uncle Yanke and Aunty Xiaoyu worry for you anymore.”
“Waitress? This is quite a good job,” replied Jiang Xiaobai as she quirked up her lips.
In her opinion, provided that one stood on their own two feet, whatever their profession was would be worthy of respect from others. Everyone worked hard to do what they could without stealing nor snatching, and as long as that job could generate legitimate income, there was nothing to be ashamed of.
However, Jiang Mei used the job of a waitress to demean her.
“I know, right?” Upon hearing her praising the job, Jiang Mei thought that she was tempted by it. At the same time, she exclaimed inwardly for how thick-skinned Jiang Xiaobai was—even though she was humiliated in public, she actually did not turn her head away and leave.
“If you think that this is suitable for you, I can introduce my colleague to you.”
“Sure,” Jiang Xiaobai uttered.
However, Jiang Mei felt that something was wrong. When they were outside just now, Jiang Xiaobai was not as nice as she was now.
Therefore, she approached Jiang Xiaobai before asking in a voice so low that was audible to both of them, “What are you scheming?”
Hearing that, Jiang Xiaobai blinked innocently. “Huh? I’m not scheming anything.”
Jiang Mei did not believe her. “Despite what I said, you are still not mad. Jiang Xiaobai, you are really thick-skinned.”
“I’m still not even half as thick-skinned as you. You relied on a man to enter a company, but you couldn’t manage the work. In the end, you had to rely on a man to support yourself. Jiang Mei, seeing that both of us are women, I can’t help but to remind you something—if that man is willing to let you to rely on him for your whole life, you can consider yourself lucky; but if he leaves you halfway down the road, what else would you have left?”
Jiang Mei was stunned.
“Do you think that you can continue to stand here gracefully like now, wearing pretty clothes and branded perfume, while arrogantly offering to find a job for me? I’m afraid that when that time comes, you won’t be able to find a job that you wanted to get for me for yourself.”
After saying that, Jiang Xiaobai wore an exquisite smile while she whispered, “Aren’t you saying all this in public to let everyone know that you are living very well, have a position in a company, and even know some impressive people, while I have nothing? You want to embarrass me and watch me panic; am I right? Let me tell you something—don’t you even think about it.”
After that, she looked around and announced with poise, “Currently, my working hours are indeed more flexible. If anyone wants to introduce a job to me, I can spare some time to work part-time. After all, working hard makes me feel proud of myself.”
Everyone did not expect her to be so poised and brave. Feeling embarrassed, they touched their own nose without knowing what to say. Jiang Mei, whose aim was not achieved, was extremely displeased as well.
Jiang Mei grabbed Jiang Xiaobai’s hand, and just when she was about to say something, Old Madam Jiang appeared while surrounded by people.
“Why are you gripping my hand? Miss Jiang Mei, granny is here; aren’t you going to let go of my hand and go to butter her up? You may lose your chance if you go there too late.”
After listening to Jiang Xiaobai’s words, Jiang Mei seemed to have realized something. She then asked Jiang Xiaobai to wait for a moment before turning around and squeezing her way through the crowd.
This kind of a person who likes to butter people up just can’t bear to be triggered.
Jiang Xiaobai turned around and let out a resigned smile.
