Sister, can I become a maid too?

Chapter 34 Jiang! Yu! Bai—!!!

"They're here."

Hearing Lin Jianxia calling for dinner from outside the door, Jiang Yubai responded and finally stopped talking for the time being.

He turned his head to look at Lin Tingwan, who was still quietly watching him, took a deep breath, and asked seriously:

"So...did you remember everything I just said?"

Lin Tingwan tilted her head, and suddenly seemed to realize something, her eyes lighting up slightly.

She leaned forward slightly, bringing her nose close to Jiang Yu's white sleeve, and sniffed lightly twice, like a small animal confirming its presence.

Lin Tingwan took the notebook, wrote a line, and handed it over:

"It smells wonderful."

These straightforward words startled Jiang Yubai, and his ears involuntarily burned:

"Uh...it's just the smell of laundry detergent. Let's go eat."

Jiang Yubai could handle Lin Jianxia, ​​that little hedgehog, with ease, and even had the energy to tease her a bit, but Lin Tingwan's unrefined and straightforward approach made him somewhat unable to cope.

Lin Tingwan nodded, but didn't move. She reached out and wrote something more on the notebook.

Just as Jiang Yubai was wondering, the notebook was handed to him again.

"Can I hug you now?"

Jiang Yubai: "......."

That's not how it works, that's not how it works.

I just explained to you so carefully the boundaries between men and women, telling you that you can't just make such requests casually.

At this point, you should obediently nod and show an "I see" expression. I will patiently teach you, and you will benefit greatly. Finally, we will reach a consensus.

Even if... even if you really want to hug, you should do it gradually.

For example, they can face difficulties together, support each other, gradually increase their affection, resist the arrangement of fate together, make a grand escape in the sunshine, and occasionally give each other thoughtful little gifts.

During holidays, we might have special storylines and some unique interactions.

Then, in a sparkling moment, you blushed and asked me, "Can I hug you?" And I finally nodded and showed you a special CG.

Instead of me giving a long, heartfelt lecture...

You simply open the notebook and write, stroke by stroke:

"Can I hug you now?"

That's not how it works!

So all that talk I gave was for nothing?

...Well, at least she knows to ask before hugging now, so that's some progress.

Jiang Yubai barely suppressed the inexplicable flutter in his heart, and subconsciously glanced at Lin Jianxia who was serving dishes.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and spoke with a serious expression:

"No, you can't just say things like that."

Lin Tingwan nodded, got up and went out.

Jiang Yubai: "........"

You could have at least held on a little longer, or even just shown a hint of regret.

He sighed for some reason and then went out the door.

-----------------

On the small dining table, a full three dishes and a soup were already laid out.

The stir-fried bok choy is bright green and glossy, the braised pork ribs are red and shiny, and there is a fluffy and golden scrambled eggs with tomatoes on the side.

In the center is a large bowl of steaming seaweed and egg drop soup, with finely chopped scallions and oil floating on top.

Jiang Yubai glanced at the bowl and chopsticks already placed in front of him and couldn't help but tease him:

"Hey Lin Jianxia, ​​you threatened to poison me, but you even set out the dishes for me. Your poisoning service is pretty thorough, isn't it?"

Lin Jianxia was just about to sit down when she heard this and was so angry she wanted to throw him out, bowl and all:

"Jiang Yubai! Are you going to eat or not? If not, get out now!"

"Eat, eat, eat, even if you poison me, I'll still eat it."

Jiang Yubai nodded repeatedly.

Just kidding, his stomach was already growling just looking at and smelling this dish.

Considering Lin Jianxia's culinary skills, he would finish this meal before leaving, even if the sky were to fall.

He picked up his chopsticks but didn't rush to eat them. Instead, he looked at Lin Jianxia with expectant eyes.

Lin Jianxia felt uncomfortable under his gaze and glared back warily: "Why are you staring at me instead of eating?"

"The host should eat first," Jiang Yubai shrugged. "We're just waiting for you to start eating."

Lin Jianxia rolled her eyes at him, then picked up a piece of stir-fried bok choy and put it in her mouth.

Almost the instant she put down her chopsticks, Jiang Yubai had already swiftly reached for the plate of braised pork ribs.

The meat chunks were stewed until tender and flavorful, and the thick sauce coated the rice, giving it a savory and slightly sweet taste.

He squinted his eyes contentedly and quickly scooped up a spoonful of scrambled eggs with tomatoes—the egg drop soup was fluffy, and the tangy tomato flavor melted perfectly on his tongue.

This is real food!!!

"Eat slowly," Lin Jianxia said, feigning displeasure, but secretly feeling a little smug. "Nobody's going to take it from you!"

After all, for someone who cooks, seeing others enjoy the food is already the greatest compliment.

Jiang Yubai swallowed the rice grains in his mouth and finally sighed with satisfaction:

"I'm becoming more and more certain that bringing you in as my... cook was the best decision I've ever made."

Upon hearing this, Lin Tingwan, who was eating slowly, paused slightly, raised her head, and looked at her sister beside her with her clear eyes.

Lin Jianxia froze for a moment, then realized that she hadn't talked to her sister about it yet.

"Um... Wanwan," she began, "Jiang Yubai is moving next door to us."

Lin Tingwan blinked, glanced at Jiang Yubai, and then looked back at her older sister.

Lin Jianxia continued to explain, "So for the next period of time, my sister will probably go over and cook him dinner every day... but it's much easier than helping out at the bookstore."

"Also, you can just tell me what Wanwan wants to eat, since he'll buy all the ingredients anyway."

She glanced at Jiang Yubai: "You said you'd treat us to dinner, right?"

"No problem, you decide what dishes to make. I'm only responsible for buying and eating," Jiang Yubai readily agreed. "Why don't you two come over and eat together? It'll save you the trouble."

Lin Jianxia didn't reply, but just silently rolled her eyes.

—Just kidding, how could my own sister possibly want to eat at your house?

She thought for a moment and then said, "Hey, now that the house next door is all renovated, when are you moving in?"

"Tomorrow morning," Jiang Yubai shrugged. "I don't have much stuff, so we can go grocery shopping together after I'm done packing."

"I'll be cooking lunch too, right?" Lin Jianxia couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"That's obvious, I can't possibly do it myself, can I?" Jiang Yubai said matter-of-factly. "Anyway, I'll start calculating your salary from tomorrow."

Neither of them noticed that Lin Tingwan gently raised her head, her gaze quietly sweeping between her sister and Jiang Yubai, a thoughtful glint in her eyes.

After discussing the moving arrangements for tomorrow for a while, Jiang Yubai helped Lin Jianxia wash the dishes after everyone finished eating.

After all, he had arranged for Lin Jianxia to be his maid, but at least he was a guest today, so he could consider it a way of thanking her for the meal.

After everything was finished, it was already past six o'clock in the evening.

Jiang Yubai stood in the corridor and waved to the two people at the door: "Then I'll be going now, bye-bye."

Lin Jianxia gave a vague "hmm," but her attention involuntarily fell on her younger sister beside her.

Lin Tingwan stood quietly by the door, her gaze following Jiang Yubai's back until he disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Speaking of which, Wanwan today... not only did she not go back to her room after dinner, but she even followed me all the way to the door.

So, what exactly did Jiang Yubai say to his younger sister?

Before she could figure it out, Jiang Yubai, who had already reached the top of the stairs, suddenly stopped, turned around, and spoke with obvious teasing in his voice:

"By the way, it's best not to keep novels like 'After Falling on the Streets, the Domineering CEO Falls in Love with Me' in your room, they'll corrupt your sister."

Lin Jianxia was stunned for a moment, then froze instantly, her ears turning bright red:

"Jiang! Yu! Bai—!!!"