Chapter 56: The Maid’s Debut and a Peculiar Request

It was the second day of the Taisugi High School Cultural Festival.

It also marked the official opening day of the festival!

Early that morning, Qin Dong arrived in the classroom ahead of schedule, awaiting the arrival of her classmates.

The previous evening, she had already discussed various pastry designs with several classmates who were skilled in baking, and this morning, they were set to begin preparing the ingredients and production.

‘Hmm… the ingredients needed to be ready first. With the official opening at two in the afternoon, they would have to return an hour early to start baking chiffon cakes and other items.’

‘As for the puddings, they could be taken to the school store to chill in their refrigerator.’

As she mused over the plans, her classmates began to arrive one by one.

They gathered on the podium, which had been transformed into a makeshift kitchen, and after a brief discussion, they commenced their preparations.

“Oh, right, what about the ovens?”

One of the boys suddenly inquired.

“That’s right, Class Monitor, where are the ovens?”

“Our homeroom teacher said he’d bring his from home,” Qin Dong replied.

“Once he gets back to school, we’ll help him carry them up.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a dull thud echoed from the classroom entrance.

It was the sound of something heavy hitting the floor.

Everyone spun around in unison, only to find Wang Changgeng, their homeroom teacher, standing at the doorway, bearing a striking resemblance to Lu Xun.

At his feet rested a large, transparent plastic container, revealing substantial items such as an oven, an electric griddle, and a mini-fridge within.

Several students immediately crowded around, opening the box to inspect its contents.

The box contained an exhaustive array of cooking tools, rivaling Doraemon’s four-dimensional pocket.

With these tools at their disposal, making pastries would be considerably easier!

‘But… how did their homeroom teacher manage to carry all of this by himself?’

‘Had he considered substituting for the physical education teacher?’

“I’ve reviewed your menu,” Wang Changgeng announced, “and I feel the variety of pastries offered is a bit limited, so I intend to lend a hand and prepare a few more kinds.”

“Teacher, you make pastries too?”

Wang Changgeng’s lips curved into a slight smile as he retrieved a pink apron adorned with bunny patterns from the box, expertly tying it around himself.

“It’s just a personal hobby,” he remarked.

“Enough talk, let’s begin!”

Pfft—

Returning to the classroom that morning, Zhong Tian, upon seeing their homeroom teacher Wang Changgeng dressed in a pink bunny apron, nearly lost his composure and burst into uncontrolled laughter.

“Hahahahahahaha—”

Li Jianren, who had just entered behind him, held nothing back, erupting into a hearty laugh.

His laughter ignited a chain reaction, much like a spark touching a powder keg, causing all the assembled students to burst into simultaneous mirth.

Homeroom teacher Wang Changgeng, however, seemed unfazed, joining in the laughter with everyone.

“What, an old man like me isn’t allowed to have a girlish heart?”

“Of course you can!”

“It’s just… genuinely hilarious, though.”

“It’s oddly adorable, hahaha.”

Amidst the joyful laughter, the final preparations for the Cultural Festival commenced.

****

Zhong Tian wasn’t particularly skilled at making pastries, and since he was slated to be a maid in the afternoon, he legitimately spent the entire morning lounging in Li Jianren’s dorm room.

After lunch, Zhong Tian took his usual nap, waking up promptly at one o’clock.

He had slept forty minutes less than usual, as he needed to change into his costume and head back to the classroom ahead of time.

At this hour, the school was largely deserted.

Clad in his maid outfit, he simply exited through the main door of Li Jianren’s dorm.

Given that the maid attire was a long dress, Zhong Tian had no choice but to slow his pace, making his way leisurely back to the classroom.

The campus was almost entirely devoid of students at this time, and in such a tranquil setting, Zhong Tian found himself feeling a peculiar sense of novelty and comfort.

Even the midday sun’s heat seemed far less oppressive.

Inside the classroom, Qin Dong and a few others were making their final preparations.

Upon seeing Zhong Tian enter the classroom, everyone paused their movements.

Qin Dong had initially intended to strike up a conversation, yet finding herself at a loss for words, she simply gave Zhong Tian an awkward wave in greeting before resuming her tasks.

Zhong Tian paid it no mind, as they were indeed not well-acquainted.

He settled down at one of the ‘dining tables,’ his gaze drifting out the window.

While he was lost in thought, several maids and butlers began to arrive in the classroom one after another.

Li Jianren was the last to arrive, having had to make an extra trip because he’d forgotten to change his clothes.

As two o’clock approached and the academic building grew increasingly lively, Zhong Tian felt a surge of nervousness.

He rose from his chair and quietly retreated to the very back of the classroom.

Bzzzt—

“Good afternoon, everyone!”

A passionate male voice suddenly boomed from the classroom’s loudspeaker, startling Zhong Tian.

“It is now two o’clock in the afternoon, and the preparation period for all classes has concluded.”

“I hereby declare the Taisugi High School Cultural Festival officially open!”

No sooner had the broadcast ended than the academic building erupted into a hubbub of activity.

Wu Rui and Wu Chang’an swung open the classroom door, while Lin Han and Jiang Nanjin drew back the curtains along the corridor-facing windows, allowing sunlight to flood the room and brilliantly display the meticulously decorated classroom to all.

As soon as the classroom door opened, numerous students streamed inside.

Most of the students expressed admiration for the classroom’s decor, as well as the elegant demeanor and appealing looks of the butlers and maids.

Wu Rui and Jiang Nanjin were the quickest to get into character.

With smiles, they welcomed guests, guided them to their seats, and presented them with menus.

Even the somewhat shy Lin Han and the usually reserved Wu Chang’an did their best to entertain the guests.

Within mere minutes, all the seats in the classroom were occupied.

Zhong Tian, however, remained rooted to his spot.

‘He wanted to help, but the sheer embarrassment was overwhelming…’

Observing Zhong Tian standing motionless with a blank expression, Li Jianren instantly understood.

He nudged him with his arm.

“How about we go outside and drum up some business?”

“What? Are you crazy?” Zhong Tian retorted in a hushed voice.

“Besides, our classroom is already full, what customers are we going to drum up?”

“There’s no such thing as too many customers.”

“We could just have them queue outside and wait.”

“Would people really be willing to?”

“Why wouldn’t they? With your looks, just standing out there, you wouldn’t even need to say a word, and people would flock in.”

Zhong Tian fell silent.

Li Jianren had a point.

‘Rather than standing idly inside, it would be better to stand by the entrance and contribute something to the class.’

“Alright.”

Zhong Tian agreed, then took up a position beside the classroom entrance.

No sooner had he taken his place than he drew the attention of numerous passersby.

“Wow, what a gorgeous maid.”

“Oh my, what’s her name? She’s absolutely stunning.”

“Holy moly, step on me, big sis!”

“Damn, a pervert.”

“Oh, I guess I’m one too, then. Never mind.”

Zhong Tian’s current feelings mirrored precisely his experience during that summer’s cosplay event on the street: a mix of shame and utter bewilderment.

However, thanks to the aloof demeanor he was currently feigning, the surrounding crowd merely lingered, observing and discussing, without anyone daring to approach him.

At that moment, Li Jianren also stepped out of the classroom.

He shouted loudly, “The café is currently full.”

“If you’re willing to queue, once you enter, you can take a photo with a maid or butler from our class, requesting a specific pose!”

“And that, of course, includes this classmate!”

This classmate, naturally, referred to Zhong Tian.

Upon hearing this, Zhong Tian was instantly dumbfounded.

‘They could do that?’

As he stood there, bewildered, the crowd before him swiftly formed orderly queues at both the front and back classroom doors.

‘It actually worked wonders?’

Li Jianren glanced back and gave Zhong Tian a thumbs-up.

Zhong Tian maintained a taut expression, offering no response.

“Whoa, how did so many people suddenly appear?”

Lin Han, who had just stepped out, was taken aback by the sheer size of the queue at the entrance.

She looked left and right, then addressed Zhong Tian.

“Um, Zhong Tian, there are quite a lot of people, so I need to go help prepare more pastries.”

“I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you with serving the guests…”

‘Zhong Tian sighed inwardly, realizing that he would, after all, have to work.’

‘Never mind, it no longer mattered…’

Without uttering a word, Zhong Tian politely led four guests into the classroom, seated them at the newly vacated tables, and then stood silently beside their table, awaiting their orders.

“It seems there are quite a few pastry options.”

“Hmm… then we’ll all have a pudding and an iced coffee, and two chiffon cakes to share.”

“Understood.”

Zhong Tian responded softly, jotted down the order in a small notebook, tore off the page, and delivered it to the podium.

According to the established work procedure, he should have engaged the guests in conversation and lighthearted banter at this point.

However, Zhong Tian felt he couldn’t bring himself to do so, preferring instead to stand below the podium, awaiting the plating of the coffee and pastries.

Moments later, Zhong Tian, carrying a tray laden with pastries and coffee, moved with graceful steadiness to the guests’ table, setting the items before the four individuals.

Just as Zhong Tian picked up the tray, preparing to leave, he was called back by a few boys.

“Excuse me, could we take a photo first?”

Zhong Tian took a deep breath.

“You may.”

The group rose and followed Zhong Tian to the back of the classroom.

The first three took their photos quickly and simply, just regular headshots.

They seemed quite shy, daring not to ask Zhong Tian to strike any particular pose.

The last person handed his phone to a friend, then stood firm, declaring as if having made a profound decision, “Please, step on me!”

Having said this, he lay down on the floor, much to the astonishment of everyone present.

“Excellent, come on, step on my chest!”

‘Huh?’

‘…’ Zhong Tian stared at the boy lying on the floor, utterly stunned.

He tentatively asked, “Are you… truly alright with this?”

“I’m fine!”

Seeing his resolute and expectant expression, Zhong Tian suddenly felt an impulse to forcefully step directly onto his face.

‘Ahem, perhaps I should just step on his chest instead.’

Zhong Tian bent down, slipped off his round-toed shoes, lifted his long skirt with both hands, and gently placed the tip of his foot, clad in a white ankle sock, onto the boy’s chest, slowly pressing down.

“Ah, I’m dead.”

The person beneath his foot let out a strange sound, seemingly utterly satisfied.

The onlookers either burst into laughter or engaged in excited discussions, and the joyous atmosphere even made Zhong Tian blush a little.

He quickly put his shoes back on and moved aside to compose himself.