Sister, can I be a maid too?

If only we had a time machine.

What the girl didn't realize was that, in that chaotic state of mind, she was worried about this and that...

But they didn't think of the most important thing: their salary.

After rinsing the last bowl clean, Lin Jianxia took off her apron and walked out of the kitchen.

Looking at the tightly closed study door, the girl hesitated for a moment, but finally picked up her schoolbag and gently pressed the doorknob.

The door creaked open gently.

Lin Jianxia looked up and saw that the furnishings in the study were as usual.

Under the warm yellow light, Jiang Yubai was sitting at his desk, writing something with his head down, seemingly doing a problem.

Hearing the sound, he glanced up, then quickly looked back at the exam paper, his expression calm and revealing no emotion.

Lin Jianxia pressed her slightly flustered chest, walked to the chair next to him as usual, and took out the test paper and exercise book from her schoolbag.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she steadied her breathing and tried to make her voice sound more natural:

"Um...did you memorize yesterday's vocabulary?"

"I memorized it."

Jiang Yubai nodded and picked up the vocabulary list from beside him, handing it to her.

"Oh... then I'll start the questioning." Lin Jianxia said softly.

In the small study, only the sounds of questioning and answering echoed.

After the quiz was over, Lin Jianxia handed the newly compiled vocabulary list to Jiang Yubai.

Then the two of them did their homework and practice tests, and then exchanged papers to correct each other's work and explain their weak points.

It seems no different from before.

But the air was much quieter than usual, and the two spoke very briefly, their questions and answers carrying a dull, businesslike tone.

The scratching sound of the pen tip across the paper was exceptionally clear, and the occasional gust of wind from outside the window only made the room feel even quieter.

After explaining the last question, Lin Jianxia looked at the test paper in her hand and took a deep breath.

No.

This can't go on any longer.

Whatever the outcome... she has to say it.

The girl mentally encouraged herself, as if she had made up her mind, and turned her head away—

"River......."

"Lin Jianxia".

Lin Jianxia paused, meeting Jiang Yubai's serious gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely, “what happened yesterday was my fault.”

Seemingly finally realizing what she had heard, Lin Jianxia stared blankly at Jiang Yubai and uttered a questioning sound:

"Huh...?"

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

Thank goodness, I finally got it out.

Jianjian's aura is really strong...

Jiang Yubai couldn't help but feel a little sad.

I originally planned to apologize right at the beginning, but I've dragged it out until now.

Is this the intimidating aura of a cold, aloof tutor? It would be perfect if he wore glasses.

Hmm, thinking about it that way, maybe we should change the uniforms too...

Pooh!

Jiang Yubai coughed lightly, clearing his mind of the strange thoughts, and said seriously:

“I thought about it carefully when I got back yesterday, and it really is my problem.”

“We’ve only known each other for less than a month, and the jokes I made... were really a bit too forward.”

Lin Jianxia was somewhat bewildered.

Wait a minute... Shouldn't this be her problem? How come it's the other way around...?

“In this situation, it’s really not fair for us to continue like this,” Jiang Yubai softened his tone. “If you don’t want to, let’s forget about the cooking we agreed on before.”

"Anyway, this month is almost over, so I'll pay you your salary for the whole month in full."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianxia's eyes widened instantly, and she almost instinctively blurted out:

"No, no!"

"..."

Jiang Yubai blinked, somewhat surprised by the guy's intense reaction.

Lin Jianxia pursed her lips, somewhat incoherently speaking:

"What about Wanwan? What about me?"

So that's what you were worried about.

“It’s alright,” Jiang Yubai waved his hand dismissively. “You are you, and your sister is your sister.”

“I quite like her, so you don’t need to worry about that. I’m not moving out. I can just spend some time over every day to chat.”

Seemingly realizing that his words were somewhat ambiguous, Jiang Yubai added:

"It's... the kind of affection you have for your younger sister."

But Lin Jianxia doesn't have time to dwell on these words right now.

She lowered her gaze somewhat flustered, opened her mouth, and spoke in a muffled voice:

"Yesterday... I overreacted yesterday. It had nothing to do with you. I'm the one who should be apologizing..."

After saying this, she felt a lump in her throat and her nose sting.

The apology words that I had rehearsed repeatedly in my mind were now impossible to utter.

Why...why are you being so petty...?

Lin Jianxia lowered her head and remained silent, while Jiang Yubai, sitting opposite her, was completely bewildered by her appearance.

No, why are you apologizing to me?

What does that mean? She didn't do anything wrong at all...

But then, as if he had thought of something, he blinked.

Oh right....

If Lin Jianxia loses this job, she'll probably have to find another one to pay rent.

Holy crap, this is a disaster.

How did he go from being a sleazy boss who harassed his employees to a heartless boss who maliciously fired his subordinates?

This subordinate, for the sake of making a living, has to swallow his pride and apologize to his boss...

"Well, if you don't want to, you can continue," Jiang Yubai quickly tried to salvage the situation. "I'm just asking for your opinion."

Lin Jianxia trembled and raised her small face:

".....real?"

No, why does it feel like I'm about to cry?

"Really, really," Jiang Yubai's lips twitched, "I wish you would stay. I haven't had enough of your cooking yet, okay?"

Lin Jianxia looked at him, seemingly still a little dazed.

Seeing this, Jiang Yubai softened his tone and explained earnestly:

"Since you are willing to stay, I assure you that I will never say anything like that again...inappropriate."

"As for titles like master or maid, I will never mention them again."

He shrugged and continued:

"Our relationship is simply that of landlord and tenant, or at most employer and employee. Now you should be able to rest assured, right?"

Don't worry... What do you mean, don't worry?

Although she didn't quite understand what he meant, Lin Jianxia nodded subconsciously.

"Okay~ it's settled then," Jiang Yubai snapped his fingers, "See you tomorrow."

Oh yeah, there's still food to eat, that's great!

Xia Jianjian still has a good temper.

Lin Jianxia stood up groggily, walked to the door, paused, then turned back, hesitatingly saying:

"Then... shall we stick to the way we always have?"

"Ah, yes."

Jiang Yubai packed his things and casually replied:

"Same."

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

It wasn't until she stood in the corridor, feeling the cool evening breeze brush against her cheeks, that Lin Jianxia belatedly realized what was happening.

So... she and Jiang Yubai...

So they've made up?

As if a stone weighing on her heart had been gently removed, she unconsciously pursed her lips, a slight smile playing on her lips, and even her steps became lighter.

I'm sorry.