From Dropout to Housemaid-The Upper Crust's Favorite - Chapter 6 - The Housemaid

As night fell, Jiang Xianyu tidied herself up, deciding to treat herself for once. She changed into a fresh outfit, grabbed her bag, and headed out for dinner.

At that moment, she radiated confidence, shedding the weariness of her workday persona.

After dinner, she wandered into a shopping mall and decided to buy herself some new clothes. She had lived frugally before, but now, there was no need for that anymore.

From now on, every penny she spent would be for herself.

Passing by the VCA counter, she hesitated for a moment before finally purchasing a bracelet.

Her fair skin and slender wrist made the bracelet look exceptionally elegant on her.

When the payment went through, Jiang Xianyu felt a pang of regret. But as she thought about how her family had spent her hard-earned money over the years without showing her an ounce of gratitude, the guilt vanished instantly.

By the time she got home, it was already past nine o’clock.

It was then that she remembered she hadn’t left the company group chats yet. She quickly pulled out her phone and exited each muted work group one by one.

With the weight of work lifted off her shoulders, Jiang Xianyu slept soundly until ten-thirty the next morning.

When she woke up, she finally had the energy to make herself a proper meal.

After lunch, she pulled out her notebook to start planning her next steps.

The first issue was finding a new job.

For the next two years, she couldn’t work in her previous field due to restrictions. But her college major was finance-if she didn’t pursue a career in her field, she would have to rely on her other skills.

Aside from her professional knowledge, her other strengths came from the practical skills she had honed during her years of part-time work.

In the end, she decided to focus on becoming a housemaid.

While the title of “housemaid” might not sound glamorous, it was undeniably appealing.

Especially in a bustling metropolis like Hai City, the salary for high-end housemaids was comparable to that of investment banking jobs.

More importantly, the job offered a single client to serve, no endless overtime, no unavoidable social events, and significantly less mental stress.

With that thought in mind, Jiang Xianyu began sorting through her various certificates.

She laid them out on the bed and examined them one by one.

Her health certificate? Expired. She’d need to renew it soon.

Driver’s license? Useful.

Montessori early education certificate? Useful.

Aisheng Housekeeping Company’s professional certificate? Useful.

The rest didn’t seem relevant for housemaid work.

Finally, she gathered the useful certificates and decided to visit Aisheng that afternoon to officially register herself.

Jiang Xianyu had dealt with Aisheng many times before. When Yang, the housekeeping consultant, saw her, she was visibly surprised.

She remembered this young girl well, though she hadn’t seen her since she graduated.

“Yang, it’s been a while,” Jiang Xianyu greeted warmly.

Yang broke into a smile. “It really has been a while. What brings you here today?”

Jiang Xianyu laid out her certificates and said gently, “Yang, I’d like to register as a housemaid. I’m open to both live-in and daytime roles.”

Yang was taken aback by her decision. “Xiao Jiang, this means you’re going full-time. What about your current job?”

Previously, Jiang Xianyu had only worked part-time, especially during winter and summer breaks when housemaid demand surged due to children being out of school while parents still had work obligations.

It had been three years since Yang last saw Jiang Xianyu, and she assumed the young woman must have found a stable job by now.

Yang was well aware of Jiang Xianyu’s qualifications and capabilities; her career prospects were undoubtedly promising.

That’s precisely why Yang couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Xianyu briefly explained the situation.

She didn’t mention her unwillingness to continue working in investment banking, only that due to the non-compete agreement, she would need to find a different job for the next two years.

Yang understood immediately.

As a domestic services consultant, it was her responsibility to clarify the details of a housemaid registration to ensure that the company’s placements wouldn’t encounter issues later. Of course, all information would still need to be verified.

Yang, experienced in this process, took copies of Jiang Xianyu’s certificates and asked her to renew her health certificate before proceeding with the registration.

Xianyu wasn’t in a rush and promised to bring it over in a couple of days.

Just as she was about to leave, Yang suddenly called out to her, “Xiao Jiang, you’re smart and hardworking. We’ve recently started offering a housekeeper training course. If you have time, you should attend and get your Housekeeper Certificate. With the certificate, you can negotiate a higher salary.”

Xianyu thought about it for a moment and agreed.

Over the next few days, she attended the training sessions as planned. During her free time, she didn’t waste a moment-she organized records of the money she had sent to the Jiang Family every month, preparing for any potential disputes with her family in the future.

Just as Xianyu was diligently preparing for her new career in domestic services, a phone call shattered her calm.

“Jiang Xianyu! Do you even consider me your sister anymore? You quit your job, and you didn’t even tell me? That’s outrageous!”

Hearing the fiery voice on the other end of the line, a smile unconsciously spread across Xianyu’s face.

“Xiao Jun, how about meeting up for coffee? My treat.”

The voice on the other end paused briefly before responding, “You kept something this big from me, so of course you’re paying.”

Then, Xiao Jun gave her the name of a café and hung up.

Xianyu put down her phone, quickly changed clothes, tidied herself up, and headed out.

The café Xiao Jun had chosen was close to Xianyu’s place, so she arrived quickly.

About half an hour later, a striking figure walked through the door.

The woman wore a red maxi dress, her hair styled in voluminous waves, paired with sleek high heels. Her hurried steps, however, betrayed a sense of urgency.

She sat down across from Xianyu, removed her sunglasses, crossed her arms, and uttered a few commanding words: “Confess everything.”

Xianyu looked at the bold and glamorous woman in front of her and offered a sheepish smile.

Liu Lijun stared at Xianyu’s face, and just like that, most of her anger dissipated.

Seeing that Liu Lijun’s expression had softened, Xianyu quickly ordered her a latte.

When Liu Lijun saw that Xianyu had ordered her favorite drink, the last remnants of her annoyance melted away.

Xianyu and Liu Lijun had been classmates and roommates in college. Lijun was one of Xianyu’s few close friends-perhaps “best friend” would be a more fitting term. She was the only person who knew about Xianyu’s family situation and had supported her financially and emotionally during tough times. Xianyu cherished her deeply.

Lijun also worked in investment banking, but she was at Chengyuan Capital. In a couple of years, after completing a few more projects, she was on track to be promoted to VP.

When the coffee arrived, Lijun took a sip and finally spoke, her tone tinged with concern, “What’s going on with you? Why did you suddenly quit your job?”

Jiang Xianyu stirred her coffee slowly, her voice calm as she began to recount the events.

When Liu Lijun heard about the Jiang Family causing a scene at Xinyang Technology in August, her reaction was explosive. If they hadn’t been in a public place, Jiang Xianyu was sure she’d be bombarded with a string of censored words.

Not wanting to give Liu Lijun time to let her anger simmer, Jiang Xianyu quickly continued, explaining the details of her resignation.

Liu Lijun, who had been fuming moments ago, finally calmed down upon hearing that Jiang Xianyu had received severance compensation.

“So, what’s your plan now?” Liu Lijun asked.

Jiang Xianyu smiled faintly. “I’m planning to become a housemaid.”

Liu Lijun was utterly stunned. “You? A former VP in investment banking, the one who snatched the Xinyang Technology project from our company? You’re going to be a housemaid?”

“Every profession has its dignity,” Jiang Xianyu replied with good-natured composure.

Liu Lijun didn’t dwell on it, assuming Jiang Xianyu had no other choice. “Manager Qi at our company really admires you. How about I talk to him and see if there’s a way to bring you over to our side?”

Back then, it was Manager Qi who had been in charge of the Xinyang Technology project. When he later learned that Jiang Xianyu had secured the deal, he had spoken highly of her abilities.

Jiang Xianyu declined the offer. “The non-compete agreement isn’t easy to navigate, and honestly, I don’t want to stay in this field for the next few years.”

Liu Lijun studied her expression carefully, ensuring she wasn’t just putting on a brave face. Only then did she sigh and say, “Fine, if you don’t like it, then let’s leave it at that.”

After a pause, she leaned in and asked softly, “Do you have enough money? If not, I can lend you some.”

Jiang Xianyu shook her head, politely refusing the offer. “I just got my severance pay, remember?”

Liu Lijun gave her a stern look and warned, “Don’t be foolish this time. If you dare send that money back to your family again, I’ll cut ties with you.”

Jiang Xianyu’s eyes reddened slightly, but she smiled and nodded. “Alright, I promise. No one gets a penny. It’s all for me.”

Satisfied, Liu Lijun checked the time, finished her coffee, and hurried off. She had only managed to sneak out during work hours and needed to get back to the office.

Meeting her closest friend had reinvigorated Jiang Xianyu, filling her with renewed energy to dive back into her training and exams.

The Housekeeper Certificate course was extensive and couldn’t be completed overnight. Once Jiang Xianyu’s new health certificate was issued, Yang officially listed her as available for work. The certification process would proceed gradually alongside her training.

It had been years since Jiang Xianyu had done any housemaid-related work, and she felt a mix of excitement and anticipation. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of family her next employer would be.

While waiting to be matched with a suitable employer, Jiang Xianyu spent the next few days practicing her skills at home, ensuring she would be in top form for her new role.