Chapter 31: The Maid’s Predicament

“Ugh… M-master… I’ve changed into the clothes. You may come over now,” Ouyang Xiyue murmured into the phone from within the guest room, a faint hint of shyness coloring his tone.

“Since you’ve already changed, come to the study. Or do you imagine I possess the power of X-ray vision?” Night Xuehui’s voice remained utterly unperturbed.

“This… This is because Night Jia is currently outside. Should she catch sight of me, it would be quite undignified. Xiyue humbly implores you to condescend and grace me with your presence for a look… would that be acceptable?” Ouyang Xiyue, suppressing the anger simmering within him, spoke with carefully chosen words.

“Women are indeed troublesome. Wait there,” Night Xuehui stated, before promptly ending the call.

‘Within the guest room, Ouyang Xiyue simmered with genuine indignation. While he admitted his tardiness had been the initial misstep, he couldn’t fathom why he was being made to wear such utterly mortifying attire. He harbored no predilection whatsoever for dressing as a loli; even if the outfit’s effect upon donning it was passable, it was absolutely, unequivocally impossible!’

‘To atone for his earlier transgression, he had already cast aside his last vestiges of dignity. Yet, how could he possibly allow a junior to witness him in such childish garments? This was an egregious affront to his honor, an indignity he absolutely would not permit!’

****

A series of soft knocks, “Dong dong dong,” echoed from the door.

“I… I’m coming,” Ouyang Xiyue called out. Exercising caution, he peered through the peephole, and only after verifying it was indeed ‘that person,’ did he slowly unlatch the door.

“Master, y-you’ve arrived.”

The moment Night Xuehui’s foot crossed the threshold into the study, Ouyang Xiyue swiftly locked the door behind them. His action was solely intended to prevent Night Jia from unexpectedly barging in, thus averting any potentially awkward situations.

“What is the meaning of this? Locking the door like that—are you perhaps afraid you won’t be able to subdue me in a single move if we come to blows, allowing me to escape?” Night Xuehui quipped, her face perfectly straight, though her tone was half-joking. Her expression was so convincing, it almost seemed as though her words held genuine meaning.

“You must be jesting, Master. How could I possibly harbor such thoughts? Even if such a notion crossed my mind, I would never be a match for you,” Ouyang Xiyue replied, forcing a smile and speaking with extreme caution.

Once Ouyang Xiyue had settled, Night Xuehui began to scrutinize him from head to toe.

Night Xuehui gently stroked her chin, musing inwardly: ‘Not bad at all; quite adorable, in fact. The design for this outfit was originally tailored for me, but upon second thought, to avoid inadvertently revealing my true gender and inviting unnecessary complications, I had him wear it instead.’

“Remarkable, truly! The black and white palette suits you perfectly. I never would have imagined our Lord Xiyue could pull off the ‘loli’ look so convincingly. So, what do you say? How about becoming my exclusive loli? The kind with double the remuneration, of course,” Night Xuehui purred, a characteristically mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Go… *cough*, Master, you jest. Am I not already yours?” Ouyang Xiyue uttered, feeling as though he might spontaneously combust with rage at Night Xuehui’s words. ‘Suitable for dressing as a loli? And become *her* loli? This person! It’s utterly outrageous! If not for the pressing need to request leave this afternoon, I would have long since screamed, ‘Go to hell!”

“Oh~ It seems my little maid possesses quite the awareness. Xiyue, you’re trembling all over—could it be that this guest room is too chilly? If you feel cold, perhaps I should move you to a different one?” Night Xuehui, of course, perfectly understood the true reason for Ouyang Xiyue’s shaking. She merely wished to tease the young man before her, finding his desperate urge to resist, coupled with his fear of doing so, utterly delightful.

Night Xuehui mused inwardly: ‘In recent years, my long-frozen heart seems to have gradually thawed, perhaps owing to my sister’s constant companionship. When I recall the days before my sister’s birth, I felt as though I dwelled in an ice cavern, an emotionless monster.’

‘Yet, ever since my sister’s birth, I’ve realized how much care and effort I’ve poured into her. Ah, is this what it means to feel like family? Compared to my cold and heartless father, my sister, who constantly brightens my days, is undeniably far more endearing. I’ve resolved never to become as unfeeling as my father.’

‘No, what foolish thoughts are these?’ Night Xuehui gazed at the young man before her, and for some inexplicable reason, a faint warmth began to bloom within her chest.

“No, Xiyue is not cold, Master. Xiyue trembles because I am utterly enchanted by this attire,” Ouyang Xiyue declared, his voice strained as he fought to suppress the fury churning within him.

The words had barely left his lips when Ouyang Xiyue sensed a peculiar shift in Night Xuehui. ‘What could this person be thinking? Why has she suddenly frozen entirely?’

A minute passed… then two… and gradually, five minutes elapsed. Observing Night Xuehui still standing motionless, Ouyang Xiyue thought to himself: ‘Well, I’ll be. Has this person suddenly developed Alzheimer’s or late-stage Parkinson’s? Why has she fallen silent so abruptly?’

“Master? Are you quite alright? M-master… Hey, release me at once! Don’t for a moment imagine that merely because I address you as ‘Master’ I genuinely fear you. Were it not for the sake of securing leave, I would never stoop to such subservience!”

Ouyang Xiyue had merely raised his hand, intending to rouse Night Xuehui from her profound contemplation, when, without warning, Night Xuehui abruptly pulled him into a crushing embrace, eliciting his startled outcry.

“Hey! You brute, release me now! Do not lay a hand on me! Let go! Look closely, you scoundrel!!!” Ouyang Xiyue cried, simultaneously raining punches and kicks upon Night Xuehui. To his utter astonishment, however, his furious shouts and physical struggles proved entirely futile.

The only discernible effect, paradoxically, was that Night Xuehui’s grip around him tightened further, becoming ever more constricting, ever more relentless… ‘What in the world is happening? What is this madness?’ Ouyang Xiyue felt as though his waist was on the verge of snapping.

In the tranquil silence of the night, Ouyang Xiyue’s heart felt enveloped by a swirling mist, myriad questions shimmering like distant stars. The normally composed and elegant Night Xuehui, as if manipulated by an unseen force, had abruptly transformed into an unbridled beast, clutching him in an unyielding embrace, her arms tightening like bands of iron with each passing second.

Ouyang Xiyue felt his very body being crushed beneath an invisible mountain, his breathing growing increasingly labored, each gasp of air akin to forcing its way through a constricted passage. He truly believed his ribs were on the verge of fracturing.

“Hey… wake up! Are you trying to choke me to death, for real? Can you hear me? Let go! I can’t breathe… Night! Xue! Hui!” Ouyang Xiyue shrieked, pouring his last reserves of strength into a hoarse cry of Night Xuehui’s name. The sound reverberated through the silent night, laden with despair and desperate struggle.

It was precisely at this critical juncture that Night Xuehui, as if awakening from a dream, slowly regained her composure and clarity. She abruptly recognized the impropriety of her actions and swiftly released her grip.

Nevertheless, Ouyang Xiyue felt a sudden dizzying lurch, his body toppling uncontrollably downwards. Just as he braced himself for an unceremonious impact with the floor, a pair of strong arms swiftly and securely caught him, like the gentle, rescuing hand of fate itself.

Night Xuehui meticulously lowered Ouyang Xiyue onto the plush bed, her movements so tender, as if he were a piece of delicate, precious porcelain.

Following this, she performed an utterly baffling act—she raised her hand and delivered a sharp, resounding slap to her own face, the crisp sound reverberating through the air.

“Xiyue, are you alright? I am truly sorry; I was momentarily distracted and completely lost my bearings… Are you feeling okay?” Night Xuehui’s voice was laced with a blend of anxiety and self-reproach, her brows tightly furrowed, and her eyes brimming with genuine concern.

Ouyang Xiyue, however, felt an overwhelming weariness deep within, as though he had just survived a protracted and grueling battle.

In truth, Night Xuehui’s recent frantic actions hadn’t inflicted significant physical harm upon him. Yet, the mere thought of serving as a maid for such an utterly unpredictable individual made him feel as though his very life hung precariously by a slender thread, liable to sever at any given moment.

He sighed inwardly, convinced that he would not last much longer before this ceaseless torment would see him waste away.

“Alright, I’m not dead yet! I truly never imagined that the usually arrogant Young Master Night would experience such a moment of genuine distress. It seems being choked by you wasn’t a complete loss after all; in fact, it feels rather like a gain! Young Master Night, your personality is certainly… intriguing,” Ouyang Xiyue retorted, catching his breath and observing Night Xuehui’s tightly furrowed brows.

Her tightly furrowed brows gradually softened, and then, a mischievous, wicked smile blossomed on her lips. With a lithe movement, she rose and deftly straddled Ouyang Xiyue.

“Xiyue, I’ve noticed you’re quite courageous.”

Night Xuehui’s lips curled upwards, and she whispered, a hint of wicked amusement in her tone. Before Ouyang Xiyue could even begin to process his astonishment, Night Xuehui swiftly pulled his hands high above his head.

Immediately, a crisp snap of fingers resonated through the air. In that instant, the familiar chains, coiling like spectral serpents, slithered forth and effortlessly bound Ouyang Xiyue’s hands securely.

“Hey! You brute! What are you trying to do?! Release me at once! Do not dare to act so wantonly with me! Otherwise, once I break free from these bonds, I swear I will show you no mercy!”

Ouyang Xiyue resisted with a raw, hoarse cry, pouring every ounce of his strength into an attempt to break free from the heavy chains binding his wrists using his own magic.

Yet, all his efforts proved futile. The chains, akin to a rapacious 饕餮 (TL Note: A mythical beast from ancient Chinese mythology, known for its insatiable greed and appetite), ravenously siphoned away his magical energy. As moments stretched on, Ouyang Xiyue felt his inner magic steadily drain away like a babbling brook, leaving him utterly depleted. Despair filled him; these chains were intent on completely exhausting him. ‘What bizarre phenomenon is this?!’

“Come now, keep resisting. Why the sudden silence, my adorable little maid?” After a brief pause, Night Xuehui looked at Ouyang Xiyue, who had utterly ceased his struggles, and a cunning, wicked smile curved her lips as she teased him.

“You just wait… Once my magic is restored, I will… I will certainly not let you off the hook…” Ouyang Xiyue gasped, gritting his teeth, speaking each word with deliberate force.

“Ohoho, look at your frail state now, yet you still dare to speak so boldly to me. Do you believe I won’t claim you as my own this very day, little maid? You are born so radiant and captivating; if our paths were to diverge and we became strangers, would it not be a pity if you married another? How about you simply become mine now, and we can remain together forever? What do you say, Xiyue?” Night Xuehui leaned in slightly, bringing her lips close to Ouyang Xiyue’s ear, speaking to him in a voice filled with a tingling, suggestive quality.

“Please… Please don’t joke, Master. I understand my mistake… Xiyue won’t dare again, please have mercy on me…” At this moment, Ouyang Xiyue genuinely sensed a hint of danger.

He was consumed by dread, terrified that Night Xuehui might commit some unspeakable act against him. If Night Xuehui were to lift his skirt and discover his unspeakable secret… then his innocence would truly be ruined by her hands.

Once Night Xuehui knew his true gender, it would be as if she held a weapon against him. What if she used it to blackmail him, forcing him to do things against his will? Or, if his true gender were revealed to the world, how could he ever face society again?

Ouyang Xiyue was lost in a whirlwind of anxious thoughts. Of course, such worries were ultimately unfounded; after all, Night Xuehui was not so frivolous, merely playing a small prank.

Night Xuehui gazed at the familiar scene before her, watching as glistening tears once again welled in Ouyang Xiyue’s eyes. ‘Ah, it seems I went a little too far with that joke this time. Oh well,’ she thought, and with a snap of her fingers, the chains silently vanished into thin air.

Night Xuehui rose from Ouyang Xiyue’s body and sat on the edge of the bed, falling into contemplation.

Just now, she had recalled her sister and felt that having only one sister wasn’t enough. Thus, her thoughts had turned to Ouyang Xiyue…

That was why she had been momentarily distracted, embracing Ouyang Xiyue as if by some strange impulse, driven by an invisible force she couldn’t quite explain.