Chapter 14: The Princess’s Intervention and a Maid’s Dilemma

Amidst the bustling life of Saint Sea Academy, the crisp ring of the student council office phone cut through the air.

“I am Saint Spirit Princess Liuli Ling. I have heard that my Xiyue caused some damage at your esteemed Saint Sea Academy and requires compensation. I shall pay this sum on his behalf.”

From the other end of the line, the voice flowed like a clear spring, imbued with an undeniable nobility and grace.

Indeed, it was Ling’er who was making the call.

Ever since learning of Ouyang Xiyue’s predicament, her heart had been adrift, like a rootless duckweed, unable to find peace.

She repeatedly mused, calculating that if she were to cover the compensation for Xiyue, he would surely be profoundly grateful to her in the future.

“Oh, so it is Princess Liuli Ling. Even if you intend to pay on his behalf, you must personally visit our academy.”

“These are the rules of Saint Sea Academy. We request that the Princess either visit in person or entrust the funds to Ouyang Xiyue, allowing him to handle the matter himself. We hope for your understanding.”

Ye Xuehui’s voice remained steady and respectful, and with that, she promptly ended the call.

Having ended the call, Ye Xuehui’s face, which had been as placid as a lake, now rippled with subtle waves of thought.

She furrowed her brow slightly, a silent contemplation unfolding in her mind:

‘Ouyang Xiyue, to possess such a hidden identity, to be someone close to the Saint Spirit Princess. No wonder my previous investigations yielded no clues. This matter, it seems, is growing increasingly intriguing.’

Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Ling’er listened to the incessant ‘beep-beep’ of the disconnected call, and a surge of anger immediately flared within her.

Her delicate brows shot upwards in a furious arch, and she huffed indignantly,

“That scoundrel, how dare he hang up on me! What Saint Sea rules? To this princess, they are nothing more than a worthless scrap of paper!”

“It has been too long since I last saw Xiyue; this is the perfect opportunity to pay him a visit.”

****

The following day at noon, the school bell rang, signaling the end of classes, and the campus erupted in a joyous clamor.

Ouyang Xiyue returned to his dormitory, his face etched with worry.

Earlier, his classmates’ incessant questions had swamped him like a rising tide, and Ye Xuehui’s teasing had felt like daggers in his back.

At the mere thought of Ye Xuehui’s infuriating demeanor, he unconsciously puffed out his cheeks, resembling an adorable little hamster.

Pushing open the dormitory door, Ouyang Xiyue froze in an instant.

Beside the bed sat an ethereal figure, her silhouette graceful and slender.

Her golden hair, radiant as sunlight, and her peerless beauty, capable of toppling kingdoms, made her seem like a fairy descended from the heavens.

“Ling’er? What brings you here?” Ouyang Xiyue asked, bewildered.

Suddenly, as if a thought had struck him, he turned to glance at Shangguan Yun, who stood nearby.

Shangguan Yun, however, had covered her face with her hands, her expression obscured.

Upon seeing Shangguan Yun’s demeanor, Ouyang Xiyue instantly understood everything.

His almond-shaped eyes widened in indignation, and he fumed,

“Oh, Shangguan Yun, you wretched girl! Last night I specifically told you not to tell Ling’er about this, and yet you secretly snitched!”

“Hmph! Ouyang Xiyue, you caused such a huge mess, and you expect Yun’er not to tell me?”

“Are you perhaps planning to sell yourself into servitude to repay the debt?”

Ling’er’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her tone laced with both concern and reproach.

“No… that’s not it, Ling’er. I just didn’t want to worry you.”

“For so many years, your kindness towards me has been as vast as a mountain. I am no longer the weak, helpless child I once was; I can resolve my own problems.”

Ouyang Xiyue lowered his head, his voice imbued with a hint of both determination and guilt.

“Enough, Xiyue, let us not speak of this matter further.”

“That small sum of money, I will pay it.”

Ling’er gently stroked Ouyang Xiyue’s shoulder, her voice soft and tender.

“No, absolutely not! Ever since I arrived here years ago, you have always looked after me. I cannot allow you to worry about me any longer.”

“The trouble I caused, I will bear it myself.”

Ouyang Xiyue lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with stubbornness and resolve.

With those words, he spun around and swiftly exited the dormitory.

With a few swift movements, Ouyang Xiyue reached the rooftop of the academic building.

A gentle breeze caressed the air, and cherry blossom petals drifted down like pink snow from the expansive sky.

As he gazed at the beautiful scenery, his heart was nonetheless heavy with sorrow:

‘Ling’er, I’m sorry. I know you mean well, but I am no longer the person I once was. Though I may not be truly powerful, I can still take care of myself. But this compensation of seventeen million gold coins—where am I to find such a sum?’

Ouyang Xiyue’s brows knitted tightly together, his mind a tempest of frustration.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind.

He hastily pulled out his phone, opened his browser, and typed in, “Can minors hunt demonic beasts?”

However, the search results were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the flame of hope in his heart.

The webpage starkly stated: [Minors are not permitted to accept missions.]

“Is heaven truly forsaking me?” Ouyang Xiyue murmured to himself, his voice thick with helplessness and despair.

Just as he was racking his brain for a solution, Ye Xuehui’s stern face abruptly appeared in his mind.

Yet, at the mere thought of becoming a maid, he shook his head repeatedly.

“No, absolutely not. I am a boy, and though I have worn female attire for many years, I have never forgotten my true identity.”

“Just imagining that maid outfit fills me with shame.”

However, the immense pressure of the compensation, coupled with his reluctance to trouble Ling’er further, caused Ouyang Xiyue’s inner turmoil to surge like tempestuous waves.

After an intense internal struggle, he finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind:

“So be it, then. Repaying the debt is paramount; I’ll just have to take things one step at a time.”

Not long after, Ouyang Xiyue arrived at the student council office.

Ye Xuehui regarded him with an expressionless face, her voice chilling as she spoke,

“Ouyang Xiyue, have you come to repay the debt?”

Ouyang Xiyue remained silent for a moment, then, biting his lip, he spoke with difficulty,

“No, I… I agree to be your maid, but could you possibly advance me sixteen million eight hundred thousand gold coins first? I still have two hundred thousand myself. Would that be acceptable?”

“Very well. Whether you contribute your two hundred thousand or not is irrelevant.”

“This is no small sum of money, so until you have worked off your debt, you must follow my arrangements. Is that clear?”

Ye Xuehui’s gaze was sharp, like a hawk’s, as she stared intently at Ouyang Xiyue, as if trying to pierce through his very being.

“I can follow your arrangements, but if you ask me to do anything strange, I will absolutely not obey!”

Ouyang Xiyue lifted his head, his eyes flashing with a hint of stubbornness and wariness.

“Heh, rest assured. I have no interest in your flat figure.”

As Ye Xuehui spoke, her gaze subtly swept over Ouyang Xiyue’s chest.

“Go to hell!” Ouyang Xiyue’s cheeks flushed crimson as he cursed angrily.

Yet, in his heart, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Ye Xuehui still possessed some semblance of humanity; otherwise, he truly wouldn’t know what to do.

Though he spoke with defiance, Ouyang Xiyue’s heart remained heavy with apprehension.

After all, for a boy to become a maid was not only humiliating but also increased the risk of his true identity being exposed.

However, with things having come to this, he could only wait and see how events unfolded.

Should Ye Xuehui dare to make any excessive demands, he vowed he would not easily forgive her.

“In that case, come to my home every weekend during the holidays.”

After Ye Xuehui finished speaking, she tossed a postcard to Ouyang Xiyue.

Ouyang Xiyue caught the postcard, then turned and departed without a backward glance.