From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

I was getting annoyed by her pestering me and lost all patience. I raised my hand and waved it impatiently.

"Hurry up and leave, don't linger any longer."

Xiaoping pursed her lips, feigning a pitiful look as if she had suffered a great injustice, and then secretly glanced at my mother, hoping that my mother would speak well of her.

But my mother remained calm and didn't look at her again.

Xiaoping had completely lost hope and could only sigh in resentment before reluctantly leaving the courtyard with the matchmaker.

After the two left, the noisy main room instantly fell silent.

My mother sat in silence for a long time before slowly speaking, "Yezi, that girl just now..."

Afraid she might overthink it, I quickly explained beforehand, "Mom, she's my friend. She just happened to come over today to help me out."

My mother glanced at me, but didn't press me about the necklace; she simply said:

"What was she talking about with your company? Did you start a company on the side?"

I knew I couldn't hide it from her, but I couldn't explain everything clearly either, so I could only give a vague answer:

"It's just a startup project I'm doing with a friend. It's not stable yet, so I didn't tell you in advance."

My mother nodded as if she understood, but didn't delve any deeper, though her tense expression clearly relaxed considerably.

She looked down at the exquisite jewelry box in her hand and sighed softly, "This necklace looks too expensive. How could a country woman like me afford such a nice thing? It's such a waste."

I was instantly embarrassed and didn't know how to respond.

After all, I didn't buy this chain at all, and I don't even know its origin, so I can't respond to that.

Just as I was struggling to come up with my words, Su Qing quietly entered the courtyard, and her clear voice rang out immediately:

"Auntie, please accept this. Our boss specially picked it out for you. He carefully selected it as a token of his affection."

My mother turned to look at her, then back at me, and asked seriously, "Yezi, how much does this necklace cost?"

My cheeks burned, and I could only force a smile and say, "It's nothing, Mom. It's not much money, just a small gift."

After saying that, fearing my mother would continue to ask questions, I quickly added, "Mom, I'll go out and talk to her for a bit, I'll be right back."

Before my mother could respond, I grabbed Su Qing's wrist and quickly walked out of the main room.

Walking outside to the empty loquat tree, I lowered my voice and asked with a hint of helplessness:

"Su Qing, what exactly are you up to today?"

Su Qing gently shook off my hand, tilted her head slightly to look at me with an arrogant and self-righteous expression, and gave a soft snort:

"I'll slap her in the face for you! That gold-digging woman was so arrogant, and seeing her turn on you and get humiliated so quickly, didn't you feel good?"

Looking at her bright and righteous appearance, I felt a mix of emotions.

To be honest, I was truly moved.

But I was more apprehensive. The necklace was of excellent quality and looked very valuable. I really didn't dare to accept it casually.

I stared intently at her and pressed her for an answer: "Where did that necklace come from? Tell me honestly."

"Never mind where it came from, it's gone once it's been given away." Su Qing turned her head away from my gaze, clearly not wanting to explain.

"If you don't explain clearly, I'll go in right now, get it, and return it to you."

Forced into a corner by my pressure, Su Qing rolled her eyes dramatically and said helplessly, "I bought it, isn't that enough?"

"Where will you get the money to buy it?"

"Ugh, do you have to pry?" She was clearly getting impatient.

"Yes, this is a serious matter. I'm not joking with you," I said with a serious expression.

She tilted her chin slightly towards the main room, sighed softly, and said, "Alright, alright, this necklace is mine. It was a birthday present from my mom last year. I thought it was too old-fashioned and just tossed it aside. Leng Shanshan saw it and kept it for me. She put it in the car yesterday when she brought it over, and I only just found out."

That explanation makes sense.

I looked at her, and asked helplessly, "Then why didn't you just tell me directly earlier? Why were you so hesitant?"

Su Qing pursed her lips, her tone somewhat awkward: "I'm afraid you'll overthink it, afraid you'll think I'm just using my old things that I don't want to fool your aunt, and that will make you uncomfortable."

I was speechless for a moment. Looking at the girl in front of me, who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, I felt both warm and helpless.

Seeing this, Su Qing quickly waved her hand to comfort me: "Don't worry about such a small thing. If you really feel it's inappropriate, then go in and get it back. I don't mind."

I sighed softly and said seriously, "It's not that I think it's inappropriate, it's just that this necklace looks expensive. I owe you such a big favor for no reason, and I don't know how to repay you."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing suddenly looked up at me and revealed a clean smile: "Who asked you to repay a favor? I just couldn't stand that girl's snobbish attitude."

"I heard it all from the doorway. She's just an ordinary person, yet she dares to be so condescending and picky about you. It makes me so angry."

I still had many concerns: "But what if she realizes later that we were just acting to fool her and doesn't believe I have any real ability? Wouldn't all of today's efforts have been for nothing?"

Su Qing instantly laughed and said confidently, "If she dares not believe me, I'll drive this Panamera around her house twice a day, specifically taking the road in front of her house. Let's see if she still dares to look down on me!"

I couldn't help but laugh out loud at her arrogant yet protective words.

Su Qing has always been like this, acting impulsively and recklessly, seemingly carefree and willful.

That's just how she is; she does everything with a reckless abandon, as if she never thinks about the consequences.

But upon closer reflection, she always struck the right balance when she offered help.

I waved my hand: "Alright, alright, let's put the necklace aside for now. Don't mention the price to my mom later. She's been frugal her whole life, and she'll definitely feel burdened if she knows it's too expensive."

Su Qing nonchalantly raised her chin: "I don't care that much. It's just a necklace, I don't care about it at all. Just don't think I'm trying to fool your aunt with some junk I don't want anymore."

Of course I don't think so. Even though she didn't want the necklace, it was still priceless.

Given her current situation, the fact that Leng Shanshan secretly returned the necklace to her at this time meant that she wanted her to sell it to supplement her income.

But she didn't do that. Instead, she used it to support me and gave it to my mother as a gift.

I have to accept this favor.

I nodded emphatically, said no more, and turned to walk into the yard.

I had only taken two steps when I suddenly stopped and turned back to look at her.

"What?" Su Qing raised an eyebrow at me, looking puzzled.

"Thank you," I said solemnly.

With a serious expression and solemn tone, I said, "Su Qing, thank you so much for today."

Su Qing was visibly taken aback for a moment, then rolled her eyes dramatically, but a barely concealed smile crept onto her lips as she feigned disdain and said:

"Are you sick? Why are you suddenly being so serious and cheesy?"

After saying that, she turned around and prepared to walk towards the car.

I quickly called out to her, "Hey, since you're already here, come in and sit for a while before you leave."

Su Qing paused, turned back, and looked at me with a half-smile: "Weren't you just worried about how to explain our relationship to Auntie? Aren't you afraid of the awkwardness now?"

I smiled wryly and said, "You've already called me boss, so what's there to explain?"

"So I have to keep playing your employee?" Su Qing narrowed her eyes, with a hint of teasing.

I joked, going along with her words, "Otherwise what? You're my employee, after all."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing lightly kicked my shin and glared at me playfully.

"Get lost! You want a beating, don't you?!"

I laughed and dodged away, then greeted her, "Okay, stop fooling around, come inside quickly. I'll make you some homemade chicken soup tonight, so you can taste the flavors of our countryside."