Chapter 22: The Maid’s Early Morning Arrival

The morning sun had just begun to spill across the window, and Shangguan Yun watched the clock on the wall, its hour hand having just reached seven.

She glanced at Ouyang Xiyue in the room, asking with concern, “Lord Xiyue, where are you off to, rising so early?”

Ouyang Xiyue let out a soft huff, pouting, his face etched with petulant displeasure as he chided, “Hmph, if it weren’t to help you compensate for the damages, why would I forgo my leisure on this beautiful Sunday to work?”

Of course, this dissatisfaction was merely an act he put on.

He had already meticulously prepared his excuses in his mind, fearing only that the girl would secretly complain to Ling’er.

If Ling’er were to rush over in a flurry, she would undoubtedly cling to him relentlessly; how then could he work in peace and earn money?

Shangguan Yun lowered her head, her fingers shyly touching, and spoke with deep remorse, “Wuwuwu, it was all because of me, Lord Xiyue, I am truly, deeply sorry…”

Ouyang Xiyue waved a dismissive hand, saying casually, “Alright, alright, just stay put in the dorm, don’t wander off.”

With that, he picked up a package and turned to leave.

The package, in fact, contained the maid outfit Ye Xuehui had sent someone to deliver.

Upon receiving it, he had nearly been discovered by Shangguan Yun; fortunately, his quick reflexes allowed him to swiftly conceal it beneath his quilt, thus narrowly escaping detection.

Ouyang Xiyue, clutching the business card tightly, let his gaze fall upon the address printed on it, and he thought to himself, ‘It should be just ahead.’

For some unknown reason, he felt his heart pound, his feet seemingly nailed to the spot, unable to move.

He lightly patted his cheek, silently encouraging himself, ‘Why am I so nervous? Calm down, calm down…’

He slowly made his way to the door, hesitated for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to press the doorbell.

Yet, after a considerable wait, there was still no movement from within.

Ouyang Xiyue couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, ‘That Ye Xuehui, he wouldn’t stand me up, would he? Is he not home, or still lost in dreams? On such a cold day, I can’t possibly keep waiting here.’

He pulled out his phone to check the time; it was barely eight o’clock.

The biting morning wind, sharp as a knife, sliced through his thin attire, and his legs, clad in over-the-knee socks, felt an icy chill to the bone.

“Ugh, fine, I’ll just give him a call.

What if he’s still asleep? I’ll urge him to hurry, otherwise, in another half hour, I’ll surely freeze into an ice sculpture,” Ouyang Xiyue grumbled impatiently.

The call connected, and a series of ‘beep-boops’ sounded in the receiver, yet no one picked up.

Ouyang Xiyue inwardly complained with exasperation, ‘This guy, he can’t actually still be sleeping, can he?’

Just as he was brimming with annoyance, the call suddenly connected.

–Th-that… Ye Xuehui?–

Ouyang Xiyue probed cautiously.

After their last encounter, Ye Xuehui had already cemented his image in Ouyang Xiyue’s mind as a “ruthless and heartless demon king.”

He feared his abruptness would provoke the other party, and the image of Ye Xuehui erupting in fury involuntarily flashed through his mind, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

From the other end of the line, a girl’s voice suddenly asked, “–Hello? Who is this?–”

Ouyang Xiyue froze for a moment, then hastily double-checked the dialed number.

‘That’s right, it’s Ye Xuehui’s number.’

‘What on earth is going on? Why is a girl answering the phone?’

–Excuse me, isn’t this Ye Xuehui’s phone number?– Ouyang Xiyue asked timidly.

A brief silence fell on the other end of the line, broken only by a few rustling sounds.

–Hello, Ouyang, have you arrived?– A familiar voice came through the phone, and only then did the stone weighing on Ouyang Xiyue’s heart finally drop.

–Yes, I’m here, right outside your door.

I rang the doorbell several times, but no one answered, so I called.

If it’s not a good time, I can just go back and return when you’re free.– Ouyang Xiyue spoke at a rapid pace, as if afraid of delaying Ye Xuehui.

Ye Xuehui helplessly patted his head and said, “–Oh no, you’ve misunderstood.

The door’s open, come in.

Go to the first room on the left on the second floor.–” With that, he hung up the phone.

A sense of unease still lingered in Ouyang Xiyue’s heart as he secretly speculated, ‘Could Ye Xuehui be engaged in something… indescribable? Could this seemingly refined and noble young master lead such a chaotic private life?’

The more he thought, the more frightened he became, yet he still summoned his courage and pushed open the door.

The grand hall inside was empty, and only then did he let out a long sigh of relief.

Gently closing the door, he surveyed the retro and elegant decor, silently marveling, ‘So Ye Xuehui actually has rather good taste.’

Following the winding staircase to the second floor, he saw four rooms arrayed in a row.

He walked to the first room on the left, politely knocked, and softly said, “Excuse me.”

The door slowly opened, and the sight before him instantly froze Ouyang Xiyue in place, his mouth unconsciously gaping into an ‘O’ shape.

He saw a small loli, appearing two or three years younger than himself, straddling Ye Xuehui, their posture exceptionally intimate.

“Ye Jia, stop messing around.

Get down, we have a guest,” Ye Xuehui said with a helpless expression.

The small loli, Ye Jia, heard the voice and turned her head to look at Ouyang Xiyue at the doorway, her eyes filled with ill will.

She sprang down from Ye Xuehui, stepping forward with a gaze full of wariness and hostility.

Approaching the still-stunned Ouyang Xiyue, she demanded, “A woman? Who are you? Why are you at my brother’s house so early on a Sunday? Speak!”

Ouyang Xiyue was jolted back to his senses by the sudden interrogation.

He forced himself to appear calm and said, “Hello, I am the maid Young Master Ye hired.

My apologies for disturbing you.

Please, continue, I’ll excuse myself.”

With that, he turned to leave, but Ye Xuehui called out to him.

“Wait, you’ve misunderstood.

She’s my younger sister, still clinging to me even at her age.

Ouyang, go to the third room on the left; I’ve already prepared it for you to change clothes there.” Ye Xuehui got off the bed, holding Ye Jia with one hand, and looked at Ouyang Xiyue with a helpless expression.

“Alright… alright.”

Ouyang Xiyue hastily replied and quickly turned to leave.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, ‘So the usually aloof Ye Xuehui has such a tender side; he’s truly a doting brother.’

Only then did he recall that Ye Xuehui had just called the little girl Ye Jia, and thinking of them as siblings, Ouyang Xiyue was reminded of his own younger sister.

Lost in thought, he had already reached the third room on the left and began to change his clothes.