Sister, can I be a maid too?

The fingertips paused suddenly just before touching the wrist.

The girl hesitated for a few seconds, but finally quietly moved down a few inches.

Jiang Yubai was looking up at the supermarket's zoning signs when he suddenly felt a soft, smooth touch on his palm.

He was slightly taken aback and subconsciously looked down.

A cool and soft little hand slipped silently into his palm and gently took his hand.

Jiang Yubai stared at the small hand for a long time, his gaze moving up the sleeve of the down jacket and finally landing on the girl's fair profile.

—Wait, what happened to holding hands?

But Lin Jianxia didn't look at him; instead, she raised her small face and stared intently at the guide sign.

Only the sliver of the earlobe peeking out from between the off-white scarf and the stray strands of hair was a translucent red.

"Hey."

Jiang Yu waved his wrist, then hesitated and said,

"Hey Lin Jianxia, ​​the position of your wrist... is a bit unusual, isn't it?"

Lin Jianxia pursed her lips, finally raised her eyes to glare at him, and that familiar exasperation in her tone resurfaced:

"What are you doing? There are so many people here. What if you get lost if we only hold each other's wrists?"

She hesitated for a few seconds, then mumbled something:

"Besides, just holding hands is like a parent taking care of a child... I don't want that."

"Don't overthink it, it's not like a couple holding hands... just consider it a reward for your good performance today."

Jiang Yubai: "?"

—Is that another explanation?

Does holding hands really have a difference between the "interlocking fingers" style for couples and the "just slipping in" style for friends?

Jiang Yubai, who had no experience in holding hands, was a little unsure.

However, that little hand was indeed quietly resting in his palm, cool and soft, and it felt very comfortable to hold.

Never mind, I don't feel much difference between my wrist and palm.

Since it's a reward...

Thinking this, Jiang Yubai suddenly had a wicked idea and gently pinched his fingers.

The girl beside him visibly trembled.

Lin Jianxia bit her lower lip, staring at the sales guide sign, without saying a word.

Jiang Yubai was surprised and gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips again.

"........."

Lin Jianxia finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned around to glare at him angrily:

"Jiang Yubai!"

—I've already held hands with him, but why are his little hands still so dirty!

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yubai asked innocently. "I just wanted to ask... after looking at them for so long, do you know where to buy couplets?"

Lin Jianxia glared at him angrily, then suddenly pulled her wrist away.

"Hey hey!"

Jiang Yubai quickly took her small hand, his tone quite serious.

"With so many people, what if someone gets lost?"

Feeling his hand settle down and stop moving around, Lin Jianxia finally calmed down a bit, but she still squeezed his wrist hard, unwilling to admit defeat.

Even though she had used force, Jiang Yubai didn't even flinch, and even looked down at her with a hint of curiosity.

Lin Jianxia was completely at a loss, so she could only grit her teeth and pull him forward:

"Let's go! Buy some couplets!"

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

It has to be said that holding hands by the heart and holding hands by the wrist do seem to have some differences.

In the past, when Lin Jianxia would grab his wrist in the food street, he would want to eat takoyaki, while Lin Jianxia wanted to eat squid. Often, Lin Jianxia would grab his wrist and lead him in that direction.

And now, the girl's slightly cool and soft little hand is safely in his palm, and he can take her wherever he wants.

In particular, some things don't even need to be said. Just a gentle pinch is enough for Lin Jianxia beside him to pause for a moment, and then she will obediently follow, understanding perfectly.

To be honest, Jiang Yubai was starting to like this feeling.

However, as they filled the shopping bags with couplets, paper-cut window decorations, snacks, and fruits, plus the ingredients needed for the New Year's Eve dinner, the two of them simply couldn't carry it all with one hand.

So Jiang Yubai pushed a shopping cart ahead, and Lin Jianxia followed closely behind, looking around curiously.

Actually, she rarely shops in such large supermarkets.

Previously, most of the ingredients needed were bought at the farmers market, and daily necessities could be found at the convenience store downstairs.

The experience of slowly browsing through rows of shelves while pushing a cart like this was quite novel for her.

However, as she strolled around, Lin Jianxia suddenly noticed...

Why is my shopping cart getting so full?!

After Jiang Yubai put another steak in, she finally couldn't help but speak up:

"Jiang Yubai...do you want to buy this much?"

Jiang Yubai glanced at her, nodded, and said casually:

"Yes, I'm worried this isn't enough. It would be so embarrassing if guests came to visit during the Chinese New Year and there were no dishes on the table."

Lin Jianxia nodded as if she understood, glanced around the car, hesitated for a moment, and then tentatively pointed to the corner of the shopping cart:

"Do we really need to buy so many pairs of these Spring Festival couplets?"

Jiang Yubai's expression suddenly stiffened, then he coughed casually:

"Well... better safe than sorry, better safe than sorry."

Lin Jianxia simply said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions.

—Maybe... Jiang Yubai's house has many doors.

The girl thought to herself.

Seeing that she didn't press the matter further, Jiang Yubai secretly breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject:

"Aren't you going to buy something while you're at it? Aren't you going back the day after tomorrow?"

"I...."

Lin Jianxia blinked her eyes.

"I'll buy it later..."

"Afterwards?" Jiang Yubai asked, a little puzzled. "Why buy it later? Isn't it a good time to buy it now?"

Lin Jianxia moved her lips, but swallowed the words back. Finally, she ran to the side, grabbed a box of cookies, threw it into her shopping cart, and said seriously:

"All right."

Jiang Yubai chuckled: "Is this what you eat for Chinese New Year?"

"Mmm." Lin Jianxia nodded.

—No way! If I buy something else now, he'll definitely say something like, "Consider it a perk," or "I'll pay for this little bit," and then I'll just pay the bill together…

She was prepared to put up a strong resistance, but unexpectedly, Jiang Yubai stared at her for a few seconds and then suddenly chuckled:

"Alright, we'll buy it later... That should be enough for now, let's go."

Jiang Yubai pushed the shopping cart toward the checkout counter, but after a few steps, he realized that the person behind him hadn't followed.

Turning around, Lin Jianxia was still standing there, looking blank and unresponsive.

"What, not going anywhere?" Jiang Yubai stopped, amused. "Or did you suddenly remember you wanted to buy something?"

"N-nothing..."

Lin Jianxia then came to her senses and quickly followed him, but her gaze was still somewhat unfocused, occasionally glancing at him furtively.

—Strange...why did they let her go so easily this time?

Lin Jianxia only breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the supermarket and Jiang Yubai hailed a delivery truck to deliver the New Year's goods to Jinxiu New Village.

—Thank goodness, the only thing I should have written down in my little ledger is that box of cookies, right?

After piling the New Year's goods together in the corner of the living room, they let Wanwan watch TV in the living room for a while, while Lin Jianxia went back to her room to start packing her luggage for going home.

I said I was going home for the Chinese New Year, but I didn't really have much to bring.

A few changes of clothes, some daily necessities, and a few review materials were all that was needed to fill a small suitcase.

After tidying up the room, Lin Jianxia glanced around, but her gaze was drawn to the box peeking out from under the bed.

That maid outfit, which she had only worn once and declared she would only wear once in her life, lay there quietly.

I'm leaving the day after tomorrow... right...?

Lin Jianxia blinked and unconsciously touched the scarf around her neck.

She hesitated for a moment, glanced at the large box, and a thought flashed through her mind almost inexplicably:

or.......

Chapter 160 The Little Maid's Morning Wake-up Service

".....white."

"Jiang Yu..."

"Jiang Yubai, wake up!"