Sister, can I be a maid too?

Jiang Pingtao coughed lightly:

"Son, I was actually on your side at first, but now—"

Qin Huiyi, standing to the side, also chimed in quietly:

"Actually, I believe everything you said before, but if you say you locked yourself in a room with a young girl to study English..."

She clicked her tongue: "If you're going to make up a lie, at least make one that sounds plausible, okay?"

"What, you two don't trust your son's character?"

“No, not at all,” Qin Huiyi shrugged. “We just don’t believe you can learn English.”

Jiang Yubai: "?"

No, these days nobody believes you when you tell the truth?

Although he and Lin Tingwan didn't actually practice English in bed...

But he and Lin Jianxia were genuinely memorizing vocabulary words!

“Son… I’ve met those two girls before. They’re both nice girls. If you want to get to know them better, we have no objection.”

Qin Huiyi paused, her tone softening:

"But they are about to take the college entrance examination. You need to know what is important and what is urgent, and you need to be able to handle things properly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yubai's lips twitched:

"Mom, I'm taking the college entrance exam too..."

Qin Huiyi clicked her tongue:

"Everyone has their strengths. If you really can't learn English, then so be it. You're not planning to go abroad anyway."

"My parents' attitude has always been very clear: you just need to do your best in your studies, but you must never have any problems with your character."

She glanced at her son sideways and slowly added:

"But you two are locked in a room learning English... isn't that a bit insulting to your parents' intelligence?"

Jiang Yubai remained expressionless, his voice low and somber:

"It's no longer a question of character; it's a question of your trust in your son."

Ok?

Seeing his self-righteous demeanor, Qin Huiyi blinked, feeling somewhat unsure of what to do.

She nudged Jiang Pingtao, who was happily eating beside her, and said irritably:

"Stop eating! Make up your mind right now. Did your son lie or not?"

Jiang Pingtao didn't stop peeling the crayfish, but he glanced up at Jiang Yubai and casually said:

"You've already said all this, and he still hasn't admitted it."

"I think... he might actually be telling the truth."

Qin Huiyi was taken aback and turned to look at Jiang Yubai:

"Really not?"

"Really, no!" Jiang Yubai said irritably. "Why would I lie to you here?"

“The school has set up a new scholarship for progress, and we happen to be in the same study group. She tutors me in Chinese and English, and I tutor her in math and physics.”

Qin Huiyi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands and beamed with joy:

"Oh my, what a lovely girl!"

“Son, you’re really lucky. You have twin sisters, one helps you with the housework and the other tutors you.”

Actually, these two are the same person...

However, Jiang Yubai couldn't directly mention treating the illness, so he could only let Lin Tingwan take credit for her sister's work.

He nodded and said helplessly:

"So, it really is just a friendship. Where did you go from what you said before, Mom?"

"Okay, okay, my friend," Qin Huiyi nodded. "By the way, is there anything you're lacking where you are? Are you short of vegetables?"

Jiang Yu waved his hand: "No need, no need, there's a vegetable market downstairs."

He paused, then, as if remembering something, stroked his chin and said:

"Oh right, it seems there's something Mom can really help with..."

"Speak, speak, just say it!" Qin Huiyi waved her hand. "I'll even let them waive this year's rent."

"...No need for that."

Even if I asked, Lin Jianxia probably wouldn't agree.

He snapped out of his reverie and said:

"It's just that... their room doesn't have air conditioning. Do you think it's possible to find someone to install one?"

"No air conditioning?" Qin Huiyi thought for a moment. "Right, Jinxiu New Village is an old neighborhood..."

"No problem, I'll go and let them know, and they should be able to come and install it in the next day or two."

Jiang Yubai stroked his chin and added:

"Well... let's just say it's a renovation project for old residential areas in the neighborhood. Don't even mention that the landlord specially installed it for us."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huiyi looked him up and down as if he were an alien, and exclaimed "Whoa!"

"You've learned to be shy now?"

"...What does it mean to be shy?"

Jiang Pingtao, who was eating crayfish and listening silently, raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly:

"Son, your style of doing things is quite like your dad's back in the day."

Jiang Yubai turned his head away helplessly:

"What are you doing here to join in the fun again?"

“You know what,” Jiang Pingtao waved his hand, “Even though your mother is raking in rent like crazy, I’m like a nobody…”

He took off his gloves, and a hint of elation appeared in his eyes:

“Back then, your mother was so poor that she could barely afford to eat, and I was the one who helped her in every way I could.”

Qin Huiyi glared at him:

"Why bring up old, trivial matters!"

"Hey, I'm just passing on some experience to my son." Jiang Pingtao chuckled and leaned back on the sofa. "Back then, what excuse didn't I use?"

"Win a free bottle in a lucky draw at the convenience store, get an extra gift with purchase at the supermarket, or have too much food sent from home by a classmate..."

"Anyway, we just send things to her in different ways, while also taking your mother's feelings into account."

"She kept giving me gifts... and then she became my wife."

Qin Huiyi blushed and lightly patted his arm:

"Oh dear, what nonsense are you spouting in front of your son!"

Jiang Yubai watched his parents' public display of affection with a blank expression, and after a long while, he finally spoke softly:

"Dad... since you're so kind, I do have a favor I'd like to ask for your help with."

Jiang Pingtao was taken aback, and a sense of foreboding suddenly rose in his heart:

"........What's up?"

“It’s nothing,” Jiang Yubai shrugged. “It’s just that when I went to their house before, the tea there was absolutely awful.”

"I remember you had tea in your room, Dad, something like pre-Qingming Longjing..."

"I'll take some over...you don't mind, do you?"

Jiang Pingtao: "......."

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

Before leaving, Jiang Yubai looked down at the spoils in his hand and nodded in satisfaction.

In his left hand he was carrying a jar of pre-Qingming Longjing tea that he had taken from his father's collection, and in his right hand he was carrying several boxes of imported pastries that he had gotten from his mother.

The bag was also filled with some souvenirs the two of them had brought back from their trip—truly a case of taking advantage of every opportunity and reaping a rich harvest.

"Okay, all equipment is ready."

He weighed the contents in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Pingtao stood at the door and urged, "Aren't you sure you don't want to stay for a meal before you leave?"

"Dad, you can fool outsiders with that, but do you want to drag me into this mess?"

Jiang Yubai turned around and teased.

"You should enjoy Mom's cooking all by yourself."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huiyi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but laugh in anger:

"Hey you brat, how dare you talk like that?"

"Your mom raised you with such care and hardship, and now that you're all grown up, you're starting to complain about my cooking, huh?"

Jiang Yu clicked his tongue and said sincerely:

"Mom, you've tasted Lin Jianxia's cooking before. Honestly, how does your cooking compare to hers?"

Qin Huiyi was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly glared at him:

"Get out of here!"

"Got it!"

Jiang Yubai happily went out the door.

Watching her son's departing figure, Qin Huiyi stroked her chin and suddenly spoke: