Chapter 18: The Foolproof Plan and a Maid Cafe Fantasy

‘How could I possibly do that!’

Xiao Xi immediately shook his head. Just yesterday, he had been severely punished by his sister for sneaking out, and now he was expected to go back again today? It was as if he was enjoying the thrill of repeatedly breaking out of prison.

‘No, absolutely not! If I go back this time, my sister will surely tie me up and lock me in the basement. I might not even get food anymore! There’s no way I’m returning!’

“Oh, it’ll be fine, I have a foolproof plan!” Gao Meiyou, the senior, seemed utterly confident. “When you enter, just stand by the door and observe your sister’s reaction. The moment she shows an excited reaction, you immediately bolt out the door, understood?”

“But the door is really heavy,” Shi Meng, standing nearby, interjected. “Our house has one of those high-tech security doors. It’s very sturdy, big brother… you probably can’t just snatch it open, can you?”

Shi Meng had thus raised an objection to the battle plan.

****

Xiao Xi and Gao Meiyou exchanged a speechless glance at Shi Meng before turning back to continue their discussion.

“Normally, a man’s running speed should be faster than a woman’s,” Gao Meiyou pointed out, emphasizing her words. “So, Xiao Xi, you don’t need to worry about being caught. Just run with all your might! We’ll be there to meet you. Once you’re out, come straight downstairs to find us, and then we’ll execute phase two of the plan. Understood?”

Xiao Xi nodded, then paused. ‘Wait… what’s phase two?’

“You’ll know when the time comes!” Gao Meiyou seemed to have seen through Xiao Xi’s doubts. ‘Seriously, Gao Meiyou, are you absolutely sure you can’t read minds?’

Xiao Xi remained somewhat conflicted. Shouldn’t a battle plan be explained thoroughly, all at once? Taking things one step at a time, Xiao Xi wasn’t sure how he was supposed to act.

Besides, this first step had so many loopholes. For instance, while it was normal for an average man to outrun an average woman, Xiao Xi racing against his sister… he wasn’t very confident.

Even if he had a head start by the door, he still felt a sense of danger. Would his sister chase him out? It was hard to say for sure, and what’s more, there was another possibility.

“What if my sister is blocking the door right when I open it?” he fretted. “If I get subdued the moment I open the door… I’ll definitely end up in the dark room!”

“No way?” Gao Meiyou looked incredulous. If Xiao Xi opened the door with his own key, how could his sister coincidentally be standing right there, blocking his way?

“What if my sister can hear me coming up the stairs?” Xiao Xi countered. “I mean… my footsteps or something?”

“Are you treating her like a psychic or a dog?” Gao Meiyou muttered, speechless. ‘Could anyone truly distinguish who was coming up the stairs just by their footsteps? Impossible…’

“I can!” Xiao Xi declared, puffing out his chest proudly. “My sister’s footsteps, my little sister’s footsteps, Aunt Shi’s footsteps—I can tell them all apart!”

****

‘That’s actually quite an impressive skill. Xiao Xi, you’d really make a good homemaker… and honestly, you do have a bit in common with a dog.’

Gao Meiyou grumbled silently in her mind. ‘Alright, since things had come to this, even if Xiao Xi really got ambushed at the door by his sister, Gao Meiyou wouldn’t care anymore!’

‘Time to give it a shot!’

Gao Meiyou genuinely refused to believe it. If Xiao Xi was a superman, could Shi Yuan be one too? ‘Don’t forget, they aren’t blood siblings. Shi Yuan and Shi Meng are the actual sisters!’

Judging by Shi Meng’s demeanor, Gao Meiyou doubted Shi Yuan could be all that clever herself!

‘Charge!’

****

The group arrived downstairs at Xiao Xi’s building. Gao Meiyou led Shi Meng to a secluded spot and even summoned her family’s driver to prepare a car for them.

The plan was for Xiao Xi to hop right into the vehicle the moment he ran down, leaving his sister no chance to find him.

“Remember, bail if things go south!” Gao Meiyou patted a still-nervous Xiao Xi. Xiao Xi let out a breath.

This first mission was being taken so seriously, with even a car involved, that it couldn’t help but remind him of a spy thriller movie.

‘Quite thrilling, actually…’

‘Calm down, calm down, everything will be fine.’

Xiao Xi took a deep breath, opened the car door, and walked towards the building. The scene was incredibly dramatic, making Gao Meiyou think of Lin Chong’s poignant journey to Mount Liang on a snowy night.

It seemed quite similar; Xiao Xi, too, had to climb the stairs.

After climbing two flights of stairs, Xiao Xi suddenly realized, ‘Why didn’t I just take the elevator?’

****

It was a bright, sunny afternoon when Xiao Yuan found herself at a maid café, having been enthusiastically recommended by her group of girlfriends.

There was no need to question why a group of girls would be so captivated by a maid café; these women all shared certain niche interests.

The girls were getting close with the maid waitresses, and because they were all female, they occasionally indulged in some playful antics. Only Xiao Yuan, the long-haired young lady from a wealthy family, sat quietly.

She wasn’t an aloof and refined recluse who looked down on her friends’ behavior. Rather, she simply hadn’t encountered anyone who piqued her interest.

In her eyes, the girls here were merely common beauties, offering no real amusement. Until…

Xiao Yuan spotted a short-haired maid standing timidly, looking very nervous. It was clear at a glance that they were a newcomer.

Her interest was suddenly sparked. She beckoned, calling the maid over.

“What’s your name?” Xiao Yuan asked with a playful smirk. The maid nervously clutched her skirt hem, stammering out their stage name in a soft voice: “Xiaoxi.”

“Your short hair is so cute~ Big sister really likes you. Come, sit next to me~”

“N-no… um… Master, I… I’m actually a boy!” Xiaoxi replied, distressed. He had only been coerced into a summer job by a relative who owned the maid café, and dressing as a maid… it was too humiliating.

“Oh~” Xiao Yuan’s interest intensified. “Isn’t that even better? Come on, sit down. Big sister wants to have some real fun with you~”

‘Mmm…’

Before Xiaoxi could even react, Xiao Yuan leaned in and kissed his cheek.

****

‘Ah~’

‘What a wonderful story!’

Shi Yuan lay blissfully on her rattan chair, setting down the manga. ‘Short-haired Xiaoxi-chan is amazing! So cute, absolutely irresistible!’

‘Hiss~ I feel like this story is surprisingly fitting for Xiao Xi and me, even the protagonist’s name sounds similar~ I wonder what Xiao Xi would look like with short hair? Would he be as cute as the artist drew him? I really want to see it~’

‘Hmm~ But what if I don’t get used to him with short hair? I was the one who insisted Xiao Xi grow his long hair out, after all~’

‘Mmm~’

His sister writhed on the rattan chair like a caterpillar. ‘Such a cute Xiao Xi~ Just thinking about it makes me so happy! Too bad that guy ran off. Hmph, when he comes home tonight, I’ll definitely give him a good punishment.’

‘He can’t possibly not come back, that guy… Hmph~ My little tsundere, my tsundere wife, when are you coming home~’

Shi Yuan sighed happily, quietly waiting for Xiao Xi to return. Just as she was about to pick up the manga to re-read it, suddenly… the door opened!

Xiao Xi—or, more accurately, short-haired Xiao Xi wearing a wig—abruptly stood before Shi Yuan.

****

“I’m… back…”

‘Why does my sister look so ecstatic?’

“Xiao Xi!” Shi Yuan jumped up in delight. “We really do have a telepathic connection! So cute~ Like a tomboy!”

“No, no, no, I’m a real boy, hey! Sister, what are you doing? Stop it…”

Xiao Xi explained, his face a mask of confusion. ‘Something’s wrong. While I wasn’t ambushed at the door, why is my sister so excited the moment she sees me? She’s about to pounce! She’s really about to pounce!’