Chapter 29: It seems that you are the real female ketone!

My eyelids drooped heavily.

Everything in front of me blurred.

I rested my head on my arms, still in the maid outfit.

Ready for a good nap.

It was Saturday.

I hadn’t told Sister Yuan I’d be working weekends.

She thought I only worked after school, Monday to Friday.

I begged her all morning.

Finally, she let me come here.

I’ve lost track of how many days I’ve had dark circles.

These past few nights, Sister Yuan kept me up late with her antics.

Last night, after helping her to bed, I thought it was over.

But soon she was kissing and nibbling my neck and collarbone.

Drunk, she was completely unreasonable.

The moment I tried to speak, she’d silence me with her lips.

No chance to protest.

What?

Why didn’t I push her away?

If I could, I wouldn’t be pinned by her every time.

“Yo, morning!”

“Young Master Lu, those dark circles again?”

The doorbell chimed.

Zheng walked in, grinning wide.

“Mind your own business.”

“Say what you want and go.”

“I’m trying to sleep.”

“It’s work hours.”

“Slacking off, Young Master Lu?”

“Not scared Sister Yan will dock your pay?”

“No customers anyway.”

“I’ll wake up if someone comes.”

“Finish your nonsense, I’m sleeping.”

The weather was great today.

Bright sun, clear skies.

The few pedestrians outside hurried under the blazing heat.

The shop was empty.

Sister Yan rarely came by.

Most of the time, I had this rare peace to myself.

“Important question, Young Master Lu.”

“Is this you?”

Zheng showed me his phone.

A photo of a maid worker leaning over the counter, whispering to a customer.

“These pics are blowing up on the school forum.”

“Teacher Mo being so close with someone?”

“First time we’ve seen it.”

“What were you doing?”

“Does she know it’s you?”

“She definitely doesn’t know it’s me.”

“Why would she talk to me like that if she did?”

“What was she saying?”

“You were so close.”

“Total chemistry.”

“Two gorgeous black-haired girls.”

“A mature, aloof older sister and an innocent, cute JK high schooler.”

“So perfect together.”

“Is Teacher Mo… into girls?”

“You romance-obsessed pig, shipping yuri again?”

“She just said I look like her sister.”

“Asked me a few things.”

“Don’t overthink it.”

“If she heard you, you’d be in trouble.”

I lied without batting an eye.

I’m getting too good at this.

No hint of unease.

Wonder if I could fool Sister Yuan.

“Young Master Lu, what’s it like whispering with the school’s stunning, icy English teacher?”

“Pretty awesome, right?”

“You liking this cross-dressing, posing-as-a-girl perk?”

Compared to what Sister Yuan’s done to me these past nights?

Whispering’s nothing.

No feeling at all.

She’s literally nibbled my ears before.

“It’s whatever.”

“No big deal.”

“I’m never liking cross-dressing.”

“Once I earn enough and quit, I’m done with it.”

“No one’s getting me in these clothes again.”

“Not even God Himself.”

“You heard me.”

“If you’ve got nothing else, get lost.”

“I’m exhausted, I need sleep.”

“Fine, fine, I’m going.”

“My boy’s grown up, doesn’t need his old man.”

“When Sister Yan comes back, let’s see her not dock your pay.”

I ignored his nonsense.

I crossed my arms on the counter.

I rested my head and closed my eyes as the door shut.

Finally got rid of him.

Hope no more customers come.

Let me catch up on sleep.

This job—wearing a maid outfit and getting paid to laze?

Tailor-made for a slacker like me.

If it didn’t involve these embarrassing clothes, I’d do it forever.

Ding-a-ling—

The doorbell rang again.

Who’s disturbing my sleep?

Wait, it’s business hours.

Guess that’s fine.

Su Ye Mi walked in.

She wore a white-and-blue short-sleeved top and light-colored shorts.

Her golden hair cascaded loosely to her waist.

This outfit made her chest stand out more.

Yeah, definitely qualifies as well-endowed.

I put on a polite smile.

I used my soft, feminine voice.

“Good morning, Miss Su Ye Mi.”

“What would you like?”

“M-Maid miss…”

“You… you remember my name?”

“I’m so happy.”

“Just call me Ye Mi.”

“I… I’d like a caramel macchiato.”

“Extra sugar, p-please.”

“Sure, Miss Ye Mi.”

“One moment, it’ll be ready soon.”

Still stuttering like that.

She’s not like this at school.

Why so shy and timid with me in drag?

Her outfit’s pretty cute.

A touch of light makeup.

Paired with her bashful demeanor, she’s even more adorable and pretty.

No wonder Lü Yunhao’s so into her.

If I weren’t used to Sister Yuan’s breathtaking beauty, I might be interested in this Su Ye Mi.

“You alone?”

“Where’s Miss Gu Yuewan?”

“Yuewan had her own stuff.”

“We… we don’t always hang out.”

“I… I wanted to see you alone, maid miss.”

“See me?”

“Do you have something important to say, Miss Ye Mi?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“I… I wanted to ask…”

“Are you and Teacher Mo just sisters?”

“Do you have… any other relationship?”

Me and Sister Yuan?

Besides being siblings—ugh, brother and sister—what else?

Teacher and student?

I looked at Su Ye Mi, her face reddening.

I didn’t get her question.

“S-Sorry.”

“I asked a weird question.”

“Yesterday, when you and Teacher Mo were talking…”

“The way she looked at you, it was like… a lover.”

“I thought you were…”

“If I got it wrong, I’m so sorry.”

“I overthought it.”

Sister Yuan’s really been mistaken for being into girls.

She says she doesn’t care about others’ opinions.

But I don’t want rumors like this about her.

“We’re just sisters, nothing more.”

“You misunderstood, Miss Ye Mi.”

“My sister… she’s just a bit overprotective of me.”

“That’s all.”

“S-Sorry, maid miss.”

“I shouldn’t have assumed about your relationship.”

“It’s fine, I don’t mind.”

“No need to feel bad.”

“Here’s your caramel macchiato.”

Her face still red, she took the coffee.

She sat at a round table nearby, playing with her phone.

For some reason, she kept glancing at me.

When our eyes met, she quickly looked down.

This girl seems to have more to say.

Whatever.

I’ll keep napping.

“Xiao Lu?”

“Xiao Lu, wake up.”

“That’s it for today, you can clock out.”

I rubbed my sleepy eyes.

Sister Yan tilted her head, looking at me with concern.

That was a great nap.

No one bothered me all morning.

“Okay, Sister Yan.”

“I’ll go change—”

Wait, Su Ye Mi’s still here?

Did she sit there all morning?

Waiting for me to finish?

What now?

If she sees me change out of this, how do I keep my cover?

“Uh, Sister Yan.”

“Can I go home in this outfit?”

“I’ll change it back tomorrow.”

“I promise I won’t mess it up.”

“Sure, Xiao Lu.”

“Go ahead, be careful on the way.”

“Thanks, Sister Yan.”

“See you tomorrow.”

I stretched and stood up.

I glanced at Su Ye Mi… and met her eyes again.

“Maid miss, you’re done?”

“Can we walk together?”

“I have something to say.”

“Sure, but is it on your way?”

“I’m heading east.”

“Me too.”

“Let’s go.”

So, Su Ye Mi and I walked down the same street I took with Sister Yuan yesterday.

Her face stayed flushed.

She kept sneaking glances at me.

“Miss Ye Mi, is there something you want to say?”

“Just say it, I won’t mind.”

Her face turned even redder.

She stepped in front of me, facing me.

Her fists clenched at her chest, mustering courage.

“M-Maid miss…”

“I like you.”

“Please go out with me.”

*TL Note: The term “JK” (short for “joshi kosei,” Japanese for “high school girl”) is a common anime/manga trope used in Chinese pop culture to describe a cute, youthful female aesthetic, here applied to Lu You’s maid persona, amplifying the comedic misunderstanding of his cross-dressing role.