Sister, can I be a maid too?

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 call me 'master' casually."

So, she actually dislikes being called a maid?

There's no need to get so angry. Why not just tell 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.

Chapter 67: He's probably interested in you.

It was drizzling outside the window.

Lin Jianxia looked at the Chinese textbook in front of her, but her mind was not on it at all.

Every time someone entered the classroom, she couldn't help but tense up, carefully discerning them out of the corner of her eye.

After realizing it wasn't that familiar figure, his shoulders slowly relaxed.

She pursed her lips, her grip on the pen tightening and loosening repeatedly.

Lin Jianxia herself couldn't explain her current feelings.

She had originally planned to apologize properly that morning; she had rehearsed those words in her mind countless times, even rehearsing her tone.

But when she finished setting out breakfast and sat down at the table, she hurriedly ran out when she heard the alarm ring.

Thinking of this, Lin Jianxia lowered her eyes gently and sighed inwardly.

—You're so useless, you can't even bring yourself to apologize.

He clearly said those things yesterday...

What should I do if Jiang Yubai walks in with a smile as usual and greets her in that relaxed tone?

Should I keep a straight face, or... pretend nothing happened?

My mind was in turmoil when another figure walked into the classroom.

Lin Jianxia subconsciously glanced at it out of the corner of her eye, and her body stiffened slightly.

.....

Jiang Yubai walked into the classroom with his schoolbag on his back, and habitually looked up at the clock on the wall first.

There are still about ten minutes before morning self-study begins.

Since Lin Jianxia started making breakfast for him, he hasn't rushed into the classroom as soon as the bell rings for a long time like he used to.

He walked to his seat, put down his schoolbag, and then casually tidied up the scattered test papers handed in by his classmates on the table.

After doing all this, Jiang Yubai hesitated for a moment before turning his head slightly to look at his deskmate.

Lin Jianxia was still wearing her blue and white school uniform, her ponytail tied high, her eyes lowered, staring intently at the textbook on the table, as if she was completely unaware of his arrival.

Ah, what an aura of "I don't want to talk to you, can you just go away" hits me right in the face.

Jiang Yubai withdrew his gaze, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.

Forget it, it's better not to go looking for trouble, lest I get humiliated again.

He silently took out the vocabulary list that Lin Jianxia had given him last night, lowered his head, and began to silently recite the words one by one.

Chinese, physics, English, plus a self-study period—the morning classes are as long and tedious as ever.

As soon as the bell rang, several students near the door grabbed their meal cards and rushed out.

Jiang Yubai rubbed his throbbing temples and tucked the Chinese language test paper, which was full of answers, into his textbook.

I don't know if Lin Jianxia will come tonight.

What's going to happen to their study group? Will it fall apart right after it was formed?

The late emperor passed away before his great undertaking was even half completed...

He shook his head, glanced behind him, and got up to walk towards the back of the classroom.

"Hey, Yoko!"

Jiang Yubai grabbed his friend's shoulder, who was about to rush out, and said irritably:

Why are you running so fast? Aren't you waiting for me?

Li Yang was visibly taken aback for a moment, then couldn't help but retort:

"Brother Jiang... can you speak with a clear conscience?"

Jiang Yubai grabbed him and pulled him outside, casually asking:

"how do I say this?"

It would have been better if he hadn't asked, because once he did, Li Yang immediately began to complain:

"Brother Jiang, can you please think about this yourself? Was it me who didn't wait for you?"

“Every time I asked you if you wanted to eat together, you would always answer ‘I have something to do,’ and then take your bowl and go to the corner of the cafeteria.”

At this point, Li Yang subconsciously glanced behind him and asked curiously:

"Hey Jiang, aren't you going to spend today... uh, not spend time with your good friend?"

"...What were you going to say?" Jiang Yubai narrowed his eyes.

“Good friend.” Li Yang said without changing his expression, “Brother Jiang, you understand me. I’ve always felt that your friendship is pure and genuine.”

Jiang Yubai opened his mouth, but then sighed.

Forget it.

Li Yang rubbed his hands together and asked curiously, "So, Brother Jiang, what brings you here to see me today?"

Jiang Yubai glanced at him and said:

"Yangzi, I have a question for you."

"Brother Jiang, please speak."

"It's just..." Jiang Yubai lowered his voice, "You and your friend... have you ever... you know, that kind of..."

He scratched his head, his brow furrowed slightly, as if carefully choosing his words:

"For example, you clearly feel you haven't done anything wrong, you usually get along well with her, and you've helped her a lot..."

"Then one day, she suddenly got really, really angry because of a joke you made—not the kind of anger that's just joking around, but a real anger that's like she's been hurt."

Do you experience this?

Li Yang paused for a moment, then asked cautiously:

"Brother Jiang, did you and Lin Tingwan have a fight?"

“It’s not her,” Jiang Yubai said seriously, “It’s another friend, I’m telling the truth.”

He wasn't lying.

Li Yang looked at him suspiciously for a few moments: "Another friend...boy or girl?"

"...Is there any difference between boys and girls?"

“It’s definitely a girl,” Li Yang shrugged. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come to ask me, Brother Jiang.”