Sister, can I become a maid too?

Chapter 66 A Morning Without Lin Jianxia

After saying goodbye to her younger sister through the door, Lin Jianxia hurriedly went into the bathroom.

Warm water poured down from above, gradually wetting the hair.

Lin Jianxia closed her eyes, letting the water droplets trickle down her eyelashes.

It was as if her delayed emotions had finally caught up, and only now did she realize... what she had just said.

Almost instantly, a strong sense of regret welled up in my chest.

—Wasn't what you said just now too much?

She even had an urge to turn around and apologize immediately.

But as soon as she turned to the side, her beautiful eyes dimmed again.

What's the point of apologizing now that the words have already been spoken?

Perhaps... people will think I'm just saying things against my conscience because I'm afraid of losing my job.

Lin Jianxia scooped up a handful of warm water, gently patted her cheeks, and tried to calm herself down.

Amidst the gentle patter of water, she finally dared to calm down and confront the question she had always been unwilling to consider.

In fact, until just now, she had been avoiding the question, unwilling to think about where the tangled mess of emotions in her heart came from.

I don't know... why I treated Jiang Yubai this way.

Everything was clearly moving in a positive direction.

Mingming found a job she never dared to dream of before, and her younger sister's condition is improving day by day. Mingming...

Mingming finally had someone to talk to.

So what exactly is the reason...?

Why do I feel so choked up and uncomfortable when I hear the word "maid"?

Why do people slow down after leaving the school gate, secretly hoping that someone will catch up with them from behind?

Is Jiang Yubai that kind of person?

Is he the kind of guy who takes advantage of kindness and tries to make her humble herself and serve him tea and water under the guise of helping her?

Is he the kind of person who kicks someone when they're down, secretly calculating his reward, and waiting to see her bow down?

no.

She knew perfectly well what was going on in her heart.

Jiang Yubai has been very, very good to her and her sister. Those jokes and teasing were just casual remarks and had no malicious intent.

Why does it still feel like there's a small pebble stuck in my heart, making me feel stuffy and a little breathless?

.....

Perhaps it's because... she hates how she is now.

I hate needing help from others, I hate having to carefully calculate every penny, and I hate having to nervously test the other person's reaction before even making a simple agreement like "studying together."

What she wanted was to stand before him as equals, to joke and play around like ordinary classmates, instead of always being placed on the side that needed to be taken care of.

She wanted to get the two thousand yuan scholarship so she could use the money to buy her younger sister a new dress.

I want to buy Jiang Yubai a small gift.

Instead of what he does now, where he skimps on lunch and then finds an excuse to pay himself more.

She didn't want it to be like this...

Good intentions come at a price; they pile up layer upon layer, heavy and suffocating her.

But what can she use to repay it?

Should we make the food more delicious? Or should we clean his house more thoroughly?

Or... should she pay it back herself?

She didn't want it to be like this.

She didn't want Jiang Yubai to actually treat her like a maid.

but--

The more you try to break free from this dependence, the more unconsciously you will move closer to where he is.

Like right now, I should be more assertive and independent, but something keeps nagging at my mind...

He still handed over the note with a smile.

Jiang Yubai said she was like a little hedgehog, and he wasn't wrong.

She understood his kindness towards her and Lin Tingwan, and was grateful for all the help he had given the two sisters...

But whenever Jiang Yubai makes a joke, and that feeling of being 'given a handout' surges up, she can't help but raise a soft layer of thorns.

Even though I know I shouldn't, I just can't control myself.

It seems that as long as you stab someone first, your own pitiful self-esteem will suffer less damage.

The sound of water pattering, the rising steam.

Lin Jianxia slowly squatted down and buried her face in her arms.

...It's so awkward.

-----------------

the other side.

Staring blankly at the tightly closed door in front of him, Jiang Yubai sat there in a daze, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

According to his envisioned script, Lin Jianxia should have picked up a pillow and hit him a few times to express her dissatisfaction, then he should have made some jokes and teased her, and finally she should have reluctantly agreed to a raise.

Maybe I can get another massage.

Yes, perfect.

But he never expected Lin Jianxia's reaction to be so...intense.

Judging from her expression just now, she was definitely angry.

Jiang Yubai frowned slightly, looking somewhat troubled.

No... why is that?

Lin Jianxia has been like this ever since the weekend, but he doesn't even know what he did wrong.

He figured he hadn't owed anyone wages or anything...

My gaze fell on the English test paper in front of me, but my thoughts drifted back to the conversation we had just had—

"Jiang Yubai, I'm not some kind of maid..."

"It's not because I'm short of money that I'll accept a raise without feeling guilty..."

"It's not like I have to obediently come over and massage your shoulders or serve you tea and water just because you, as the 'master,' call me that casually."

So, she actually disliked the title "maid"?

There's no need to get so angry. You could have just told him.

Jiang Yubai stared at the densely packed letters on the test paper and for the first time felt that English reading comprehension was... a little easier to understand than Lin Jianxia's thoughts.

However, at least one thing is certain.

He and Lin Jianxia... has this turned into a falling out?

Thinking of this, Jiang Yubai leaned back in his chair, looked at the ceiling, and sighed heavily.

......

......

Early the next morning.

Awakened by the familiar alarm clock, Jiang Yubai slowly opened his eyes and couldn't help but yawn.

He glanced at the time, then slowly got dressed and washed up.

When his hand touched the doorknob, he suddenly stopped.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he gently turned the doorknob and went out.

On the dining table, the prepared breakfast was still steaming hot, as if the little cook had only just left.

Turning my head, I saw that the living room was quiet and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Jiang Yubai looked at the empty dining table and sighed softly in his heart.

That's true, things have already gone that far... How could Lin Jianxia possibly wait for him to go to school together as usual?

but......

Jiang Yu blinked, feeling that today's breakfast might be more lavish than usual.

A porcelain bowl holds steaming hot shiitake mushroom and shredded chicken congee, accompanied by a small dish of golden fried dumplings, two or three delicate custard buns, and a small dish of neatly sliced ​​apples.

What, is this an emphasis on being strictly in official business?

Oh well... I only like her because she's a great cook anyway.

As long as there's no poisoning, everything is negotiable.

With a self-deprecating smile, Jiang Yubai shook his head, picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful of porridge, and put it in his mouth.

You know what, it's as delicious as ever.