Chapter 33: The Maid’s Humiliation

A moment before, the chat logs were as follows:

[Huang Beifeng: Mu Rong Luo Ye, come out.]

[Mu Rong Luo Ye: [sends animated sticker, (No, I refuse.jpg)]]

[Huang Beifeng: Are you sure? Don’t forget what I just recorded.]

[Mu Rong Luo Ye: W-w-what do you want?]

[Huang Beifeng: It’s simple. If you don’t appear before me within a minute, I’ll post it in the class group chat. If you’re still not here after two minutes, I’ll post it on my social media.]

‘What?! You’re actually serious! No, please don’t! I’m coming, I’m coming, I’ll be right there.’

I knew I was walking straight into a trap, but what choice did I have? Could I really just stand by and watch her send that video to the class group chat?

‘Impossible. Even though I had no idea a class group chat even existed, in a situation like this, it was better to believe it was real than risk it being true.’ This was about the last shred of my dignity as a boy, a dignity that was already hanging by a thread. How could I hesitate for even a moment?

‘Hesitate, and you lose. Be decisive, and you give in for free. “Correct character,” written all over my thighs… *Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey*, where did my mind even go?’

Muttering a helpless complaint to myself, I quickened my pace, hurrying towards my room.

‘Our house wasn’t very large to begin with, and there weren’t many places to hide. Couldn’t they just come looking for me, allowing me a little more time to stall? Never mind, never mind. I just had to accept reality. At worst, I’d lose all my modesty and integrity. No one else would know, anyway.’

I glanced at the timer on my phone screen, then at the silver-haired loli who had just burst through the door, panting. Huang Beifeng nodded with satisfaction.

“Quite fast, aren’t we? Looks like you were prepared.”

Seeing the look on my face, as if I were marching to my death, Huang Beifeng and the others burst into laughter.

“We’re not going to eat you, so why the dramatic expression?”

‘Not going to eat me? Then who was it just pinning me down?!’

At that moment, Mu Rong Xin Xue entered, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. “I’m here too. What exactly are you two planning?”

I braced myself to be devoured, figuratively speaking, until not a single bone remained. Yet, the first words that left Huang Beifeng’s lips nearly made me spit out the water I hadn’t even realized I was holding.

“Tonight, you’re our little maid! As a maid, shouldn’t you be a bit more aware? Come on, be a good little maid and call me ‘Master’!”

‘What?!’

‘You… I would sooner jump out of this window than call you ‘Master’ again!’

“Are you sure?”

She held up her phone before me, displaying the interface of her social media. It appeared she was about to post an update, and a video was actively uploading, accompanied by the caption: [Come see my adorable little maid, she’s absolutely precious.]

‘What?!’

‘You win. You’re ruthless.’

“Ma-Master!”

“That’s better, isn’t it? But your voice is too stiff. Shouldn’t it come with some actions, hmm? That’s what makes a proper maid!”

‘What?! You must be dreaming!’

‘No, no, no!’ I pleaded, seeing Huang Beifeng’s finger hover menacingly over the “post update” button. My resolve crumbled once more.

Clenching the lace-trimmed hem of the maid dress, I bowed slightly to them, performing a proper curtsy. Then, deliberately lowering my voice to a soft, saccharine tone, I called out, “Master.”

‘There, satisfied now? Every last shred of my male dignity is gone. Don’t stop me, I’m going to go jump off a crooked tree.’

“How was that, Xin Xue-jie? Did you get it?”

Only then, hearing that voice, did I realize that both of them had been filming me with their phones the entire time.

‘You two, this is truly too much! I’m doomed. Now there’s even more embarrassing footage, more blackmail material. Who knows when they’ll pull it out again to force me into all sorts of utterly humiliating acts. This is all your fault! I’m still going to find that crooked tree. Don’t any of you dare stop me.’

With a look of utter despair, I gazed out the window, imagining tomorrow’s headlines: ‘A certain youth, forced by his older sister and childhood friend to don a maid outfit, succumbed to overwhelming shame and leaped from a window. Despite rescue efforts, he was pronounced dead.’

‘Hmph! That might actually be a good ending, wouldn’t it?’

Just then, Huang Beifeng’s voice jolted me back to reality.

“Little maid, it’s time to make dinner.”

“Alright, Ma—ster!”

I bit out the word through gritted teeth, offered them another slight bow, and turned to leave.

‘If this keeps up, I swear they’ll break me completely! No more thinking about this! Time to cook, time to add salt! I’ll put in so much salt you’ll shrivel up and die of thirst! Chili sauce, here it is! And mustard! I’ll pour it all in, I’ll pour it all in! See if I don’t spice you to death! Since they want to torment me, I wouldn’t mind serving them a table full of ‘dark cuisine’. Ugh, never mind, never mind. I have to eat it too. I’ll just make something simple. Grit my teeth, it’s only for one day. I’ll endure it, and it’ll pass.’

After an excruciatingly awkward dinner, it was time to tidy up the room.

That morning, I had felt as though something was missing while cleaning, and had even sworn an oath, confidently declaring that I would never, ever wear a maid outfit in this lifetime. And now, by evening, that oath had been thoroughly broken.

**** (Unspeakable vulgarities)

Though it fit surprisingly well and was quite comfortable—aside from the constant vigilance required to avoid flashing anyone—it truly suited me. Yet, I wasn’t happy in the slightest. I didn’t even have the heart to play games; it was utterly dreadful. But what could I say? I had no choice!

After expending considerable effort, I finally managed to sort out the messy room. I brought over my quilt and made the bed. As for the empty wardrobe, I’d simply retrieve a few items from Huang Beifeng’s house in a few days.

It was getting late. During my shower, I could finally shed this abominable garment.

‘But Huang Beifeng, you fiend! I finally had a chance to be free of it, and yet you insist I wear it to sleep?! What kind of torment is this?! Why not just make me serve you in bed while you’re at it?!’