I Am the White Moonlight that the Former Movie Queen Secretly Loves - Chapter 11

The cleaning industry requires no technical skills and has minimal age restrictions. As long as one is in good health, they can do the job regardless of age.

However, the wages are significantly lower compared to other professions. Even if you work diligently and keep every corner of the building spotless, the monthly salary won’t exceed 2,500 yuan.

Because of this, experienced cleaning aunts wisely avoid overly demanding clients like the owner of the penthouse on the 8th floor, where the hygiene standards are excessively strict. After all, the effort and reward simply don’t balance out.

Qi Sijia was the exception among them. In just one morning, she had not only trimmed the withered branches and swept the fallen leaves in the garden, mopped the marble floors, but also meticulously wiped down the long-unused advertisement board at the stairwell with a damp cloth.

At noon, Aunt Cai found some free time and came to Building 8, intending to personally guide Qi Sijia.

But after a quick inspection, she was stunned to find not a single footprint on the marble floor of the lobby.

In the garden, every petal retained just the right amount of dewdrops—not a single flower missed.

Turning around, she saw Qi Sijia wearing a gas mask and rubber gloves, looking even more professional than a disease control worker. A metal bucket hung from her wrist, the water inside sloshing violently as she walked. Yet, she moved as steadily as if on flat ground, not spilling a single drop all the way to the elevator. She stopped a meter away from the supervisor.

Qi Sijia lowered her eyes and asked, “Did you need something?”

She wasn’t fond of being interrupted while working, especially when Aunt Cai’s gaze carried such obvious intent.

Normally, Qi Sijia would have turned and walked away. But remembering the purpose of taking this job—to exercise and gradually adapt to being around people as a form of “fighting poison with poison”—she suppressed her discomfort and asked without emotion.

Aunt Cai cleared her throat and adopted a managerial tone. “How’s the work going? Can you finish on time?”

“Of course,” Qi Sijia replied without hesitation.

The offer of “Let me help you” died on Aunt Cai’s lips. She forced a smile—awkward, but her goal wasn’t work-related anyway.

“Xiao Qi, you don’t seem very old.”

“Twenty-five,” Qi Sijia said, glancing at the elevator stuck on the 28th floor. She mentally calculated the time and answered perfunctorily.

“Wow, so young!” Aunt Cai clicked her tongue and reached for the bucket in Qi Sijia’s hand, only to be deftly avoided.

Unfazed, she took two steps closer. “At your age, you could practically be my daughter. Why did you choose this line of work?” What a waste of those long legs and arms.

Qi Sijia thought for a moment and answered earnestly, “I like it.”

Bullshit.

Aunt Cai: “…”

If any of the other older aunts had brushed her off like that, Aunt Cai would’ve lost her temper. But this time, she had her own agenda. For one, the property manager, Xiao Su, had specifically asked her to look after Qi Sijia. Secondly, it was rare to have a young woman join the team.

Though she hadn’t seen Qi Sijia’s face without the mask, her figure and demeanor were no less refined than the picky, elegant penthouse owner in Building 8.

Aunt Cai happened to have a son at home.

A perfect age match.

“Twenty-five isn’t young anymore. Back in my hometown, girls your age who aren’t married are already considered old maids. Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“My son is about your age.”

Aunt Cai casually flipped open the slimmest photo of her son, where the man was wearing an oversized black T-shirt.

“See, handsome, right?”

Qi Sijia, determined to use social interaction as a “fight poison with poison” method to treat her social anxiety, glanced at the photo expressionlessly and replied honestly, “Thick waist, bloated butt—looks like a shiny winter melon.”

Most adults don’t like hearing the truth. Out of the corner of her eye, Qi Sijia noticed Aunt Cai’s face visibly darkening. She paused mid-sentence, thinking to herself, Socializing is such a hassle.

Then, as usual, she mentally ran through the textbook methods of social correction from her interpersonal communication studies.

After a moment of deliberation, Qi Sijia solemnly amended her statement: “He looks quite nice.”

Aunt Cai: “…”

“Pfft—”

Su Wan couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, covering her mouth.

She and Meng Jiang had been standing by the elevator for a while now, having overheard the entire conversation between the two cleaning ladies in front of them.

It was the first time she’d heard such uniquely blunt sarcasm, and she just couldn’t help it—

Only after laughing did she notice that the goddess Meng Jiang beside her remained as steady as Mount Tai, even frowning slightly.

Su Wan suddenly felt uncertain. “Sis, I didn’t mean to laugh on purpose—”

Meng Jiang didn’t respond, lazily lowering her eyelids. “Let’s talk upstairs.”

Her tone was light, giving away little emotion.

Having been by Meng Jiang’s side for several days now, Su Wan knew that this indifferent tone of hers was even more nerve-wracking than outright anger.

Su Wan was here today to apologize. She had specifically leveraged her uncle’s connections at Lantai to get close to Meng Jiang, hoping to secure another chance to continue as her assistant.

But now, her efforts had backfired.

Realizing this, she vaguely sensed the consequences her impulsive behavior might bring.

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she glanced at the two cleaning ladies ahead. Sure enough, after Su Wan’s interruption, both Qi Sijia and Supervisor Cai’s gazes had snapped toward Meng Jiang.

Meng Jiang had just returned from Lantai, still dressed in her retro Hong Kong-style makeup and outfit. Because Su Wan had blocked her at the production team earlier, she hadn’t had time to change.

A red dress, curled hair, layered with a deep V-neck white blazer, and the same pair of stilettos she’d worn for the show.

Given Meng Jiang’s status, no matter where she was, protecting her privacy was second nature.

Su Wan watched as Meng Jiang lowered her head, pressing down the black-and-white rabbit fur beret with the back of her hand. A wide mask covered her face, revealing nothing of her appearance. But if the two cleaning ladies at the entrance were even slightly familiar with the industry, her outfit alone might be enough to give her away.

Realizing the trouble her laughter had just caused Meng Jiang, Su Wan’s scalp prickled with dread. She hung her head and blurted out in panic, “For my uncle’s sake, could you not fire me? My uncle is from Lantai—”

Most people would find it incredibly rude to name-drop and make demands so carelessly, especially in front of others.

Qi Sijia had read in her interpersonal communication studies that the most effective way to handle forced social interactions like this was to coldly turn and walk away.

But she noticed that the elegantly dressed woman in front of her didn’t do that. Instead, her words were even more polished and graceful than her appearance.

“Su Wan—” Meng Jiang lifted her eyelids, glancing at her from under the brim of her hat. Though there wasn’t a trace of warmth in her eyes, she didn’t lash out, giving Su Wan enough dignity as she repeated calmly, “We’ll talk upstairs.”

Only then did Su Wan finally detect a hint of firmness and displeasure in Meng Jiang’s tone.

The two women entered the elevator one after the other. Qi Sijia had no intention of riding up with them, so she sidestepped, ready to leave quickly. But as she looked up, her gaze unexpectedly met the strikingly beautiful phoenix eyes of the woman wearing a black-and-white striped fur hat.

Qi Sijia visibly froze, rooted to the spot. There was something inexplicably familiar about the way this woman lifted her eyes.

Instinctively, Qi Sijia raised her head, wanting to steal another glance. As the elevator doors slowly closed, their eyes locked once more in midair. The woman narrowed her gaze, clearly displeased by the scrutiny. Through the protective goggles, Qi Sijia saw the woman’s expression visibly cool.

–

Only after the elevator doors shut completely did Manager Cai finally drop her facade.

Qi Sijia’s earlier words had thoroughly offended her, and Manager Cai didn’t even bother to share the passcode for the top floor before walking away without a backward glance.

As a result, Qi Sijia had to take another elevator, which didn’t go all the way up. She was forced to climb an extra floor via the fire escape.

Yet, as she pushed open the fire exit door, fate had it that she ran into the same two women again.

Su Wan, who had earlier blurted out an awkward apology, now looked deathly pale.

“Sis, sis, listen to me—”

“Go on.”

“Please give me another chance. I won’t laugh out loud next time.”

“I’m sorry.” Meng Jiang’s voice was quiet, but her tone was entirely different from downstairs.

Stunned by her sudden coldness and two-faced attitude, Su Wan’s eyes reddened. “I’ve admired you for years.”

“I never thought you’d be like this—one face in public, another behind closed doors. You’ve really perfected your persona.”

Su Wan took a step back, unwilling to back down. “If you’d already decided to fire me, why didn’t you just reject me outright at the studio or downstairs? What’s the point of wasting each other’s time?”

Meng Jiang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she turned back into the room, fetched a pack of tissues, and handed them to the emotionally distraught Su Wan.

“There were other people watching earlier,” Meng Jiang said calmly. “I figured you’d be embarrassed.”

The air fell silent for several seconds.

Su Wan stood frozen, momentarily speechless.

Only then did it dawn on her—last night, when it was just the two of them in the room, Meng Jiang had indeed fired her without mercy. But today, in front of others, even when Su Wan’s behavior had clearly angered her, Meng Jiang had held back her temper to spare Su Wan’s dignity.

So this was the woman she had idolized for years, the one she’d even pulled strings with her uncle to get close to.

The only regret was that she hadn’t been a competent assistant.

Realizing the full picture, Su Wan burned with shame, her ears turning crimson. She couldn’t even bring herself to apologize.

Reading her expression, Meng Jiang smiled faintly. “Alright, since you came all this way, I can’t let you leave empty-handed.”

“Take out the trash for me, will you?”

“Huh?”

Su Wan’s eyes instantly brightened. “Yes, yes! Thank you—”

“Thank you, sis.”

Qi Sijia adjusted the mop bucket and straightened up just in time to see Meng Jiang seeing Su Wan off.

She didn’t fully understand why Meng Jiang had chosen to end their conversation with such a casual request, but it was clear that those simple, friendly words had stopped Su Wan’s sobs. In fact, Su Wan even looked somewhat at peace.

Qi Sijia had no habit of pretending to understand things she didn’t. When faced with the unfamiliar, she preferred to learn firsthand.

She discovered that the top-floor resident, who was seen by others as moody, picky, and harsh, had a set of social strategies more effective than anything written in books.

Qi Sijia noted it carefully in her mind, a faint smile creeping into her eyes.

Unbeknownst to her, Qi Sijia—wearing a gas mask and wrapped up tightly—looked nothing like a cleaning lady to Meng Jiang. Instead, she seemed suspiciously like a paparazzo. To Qi Sijia’s delight, on her very first day of work, she had learned a new approach to social interactions from a stranger.

But she had no idea that what she saw as a pleasant surprise, Meng Jiang interpreted as a paparazzo who had just snooped into her private life and was now preparing to expose her scandals.

Leaning against the doorframe, Meng Jiang scrutinized the mask on Qi Sijia’s face, her delicate brows slightly furrowing.

“New cleaning lady?”

Qi Sijia thought for a moment and corrected her, “Just a cleaner, not a lady.”

Meng Jiang: “…”

Wasn’t that the same thing?

“That gas mask on your face is quite interesting. Does the cleaning company provide those as standard equipment?” Meng Jiang’s tone was unreadable behind her own mask.

Qi Sijia completely missed the probing in her words. Perhaps because she had personally witnessed that this person wasn’t the picky, unapproachable resident others had described, she felt none of her usual resistance to social interactions for the first time.

Behind her goggles, Qi Sijia actively curved her lips into a smile and said, “I prepared this myself.”

Her lips carried a faint trace of amusement. Though her expression was hidden, it was clear she wasn’t lying.

Having acted for so many years, Meng Jiang could tell genuine expressions from fake ones—whether it was obsessive fans, paparazzi, or even award-winning actors like Nie Cong standing before her.

Clearly, this one… didn’t seem like the former.

Meng Jiang gave her another glance and was about to close the door when her peripheral vision caught the seemingly unremarkable rubber gloves on Qi Sijia’s hands. On the back of those disposable gloves was a bold “DD.”

A luxury brand from House of D.

The corner of Meng Jiang’s lips curled, and she suddenly laughed.

“I’m a bit particular about cleanliness. Heard of that?”

Qi Sijia nodded.

Meng Jiang smirked meaningfully. “Then do a good job.”

Qi Sijia thought for a moment, then nodded again. “Thanks for the reminder. I’ll work diligently.”

Meng Jiang, who had expected her to back down, was left speechless: “…”

Meanwhile, Qi Sijia was momentarily distracted, remembering that her purpose in taking this job was to improve her social skills.

After a brief silence, she finally spoke up. “By the way, may I know your name?”

…

Meeting the cleaner’s obscured gaze through the goggles, Meng Jiang stared silently for a few seconds before frowning and looking away.

Through the protective lenses, it was impossible to discern the other’s intentions.

But whether it was an act or not, there was no need to waste time or words.

Could a paparazzo meticulously perform a cleaning lady’s duties?

Of course not.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips before the door slammed shut in Qi Sijia’s face.

She heard the other’s light, dismissive refusal:

“No.”