In her previous life as a seasoned workhorse, Jiang Sui knew one truth well.
To get close to the boss, besides having a silver tongue, you had to prove your ability.
As luck would have it, Jiang Sui excelled at both.
As a maid, she never dawdled on her tasks, completing each one perfectly and quickly. Slacking off? During her breaks, she had no work to do, so she could slack off with peace of mind. And given Luo Yao’s sweet and naive personality, Jiang Sui only needed to put on a serious face and throw in a compliment or two to make her bloom with joy, naturally winning her favor.
Her previous actions had been too frequent, making Luo Yao paranoid for a long time, which tied Jiang Sui’s hands.
Over the past year, Jiang Sui had been lying low, making Lu Yunze more familiar with her while also lowering Luo Yao’s guard.
Luo Yao even gave Jiang Sui an important task:
“Help me keep an eye on Brother Lu’s surroundings. If any strange woman gets close to him, report to me immediately.”
To this, Jiang Sui responded with the same gentle smile:
“I will not let Miss down.”
‘Strange woman? I haven’t seen any. I’m your most beloved maid of the Luo family; how could I possibly fall into the category of “strange woman”?’
It was thanks to this year’s effort that Jiang Sui was one of the few servants allowed to accompany Lu Yunze and Luo Yao when they set out for Donghai City.
Unlike Lu Yunze, who got seasick, Jiang Sui hadn’t felt the slightest discomfort since boarding the ship. She even had spare energy to tail Lu Yunze.
Especially when Lu Yunze and Luo Yao were together, Jiang Sui watched them from not too far away.
She didn’t disturb them, just kept staring and staring until Lu Yunze and Luo Yao parted ways, then she withdrew her gaze.
Once Luo Yao was gone, it was her time to perform.
To conquer a man, you always start with his weakest point.
So Jiang Sui directly brought up Lu Yunze’s seasickness.
Seeing Lu Yunze sit up, the girl shook the drink in her hand, as if asking him with her eyes:
‘Want a drink?’
Lu Yunze blinked.
“Did you make this yourself?”
“Yeah, the drink vendor over there was really nice. He taught me how to make it when I said the young master needed it.”
The girl shook the lemonade again; the ice cubes clinked crisply.
Although it was already October, the temperature hadn’t fully dropped. Plus, the sky was clear and the sun beat down on the deck. Occasionally, someone would complain about the heat.
No one could resist a cold glass of lemonade at a time like this.
Lu Yunze was tempted, but he didn’t act.
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Sui tilted her head.
“Does the young master really not want to drink?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Lu Yunze slumped back into his chair.
“I feel like I don’t have the strength.”
After the surprise, the discomfort of seasickness hit him again. Because he had gotten up too quickly, his brain was slightly oxygen-deprived, making the dizziness even worse.
“The young master really won’t drink? I heard lemonade can help with seasickness.”
Jiang Sui crouched beside him, tugging at his clothes like a kitten.
“Come on, just one sip~”
Lu Yunze covered his eyes with his arm.
“Stop bothering me. Drink it yourself. Don’t always think about me.”
If Lu Yunze could have looked into her eyes at that moment, he would have seen a pair of eyes filled with strong dissatisfaction and resentment.
‘When did a tool dare to disobey the master’s orders?’
Hearing this, Jiang Sui immediately puffed out her cheeks.
Nothing major had happened this past year. It seemed that life had been too comfortable, making Lu Yunze rebellious again.
Jiang Sui started to contemplate how to stage a good drama herself, using her own life to reawaken Lu Yunze’s sense of crisis.
Or… be direct: tie him up somewhere secluded and give him some proper training.
Just as Jiang Sui’s little schemes were brewing, the reclining Lu Yunze let out a sigh and reached out a hand to her.
“Give it here. I’ll have one sip.”
“Really?”
Jiang Sui didn’t rush. Her cherry-red lips curled into a sly curve.
“Would I lie to you?”
Lu Yunze chuckled.
“If the young master finishes it all, there’s a reward.”
Lu Yunze took the lemonade, his mind racing: ‘Reward? Just for drinking a beverage, there’s a reward?’
Sometimes he felt that Jiang Sui’s desire for control was getting stronger.
Sometimes he felt like he was being choked.
“Hmm?”
Lu Yunze took only a small sip, then his eyes widened as he smacked his lips.
“Actually… not bad.”
It looked like ordinary lemonade, but the texture and taste were surprisingly good. After the first sip, he wanted another.
Lu Yunze suddenly perked up, downed the remaining lemonade in one go, and let out a long breath.
“How is it?”
“…It seems, I really do feel a bit better.”
Lu Yunze was amazed himself. He never thought such a small glass of lemonade could have such a miraculous effect.
‘Is this another field of knowledge I don’t understand?’
“Not all lemonade has this effect. That drink vendor has been in the business for thirty years. It’s his secret recipe, apparently.”
Lemonade with a secret recipe?
Lu Yunze wanted to laugh, but he had to admit, after drinking it, he felt much more energetic. His stomach stopped churning, his dizziness faded, and his whole body felt refreshed.
He shouldn’t have hesitated so long.
“By the way, what’s the reward you mentioned?”
Lu Yunze was already looking forward to her producing a second glass of lemonade.
One glass had refreshed him; if he had another, he figured he wouldn’t have to fear seasickness at all.
Seeming not to expect him to be so eager, Jiang Sui’s pale purple eyes narrowed slightly, as if she was being mysterious.
“What is it?”
“Young master, lean in a little.”
“Ah, okay.”
She crooked her finger, as if about to reveal some earth-shattering secret.
Lu Yunze prepared himself and leaned his face toward her.
Then—
A moist, soft touch landed on his cheek.
Lu Yunze was dumbfounded. He straightened up and stared at her in shock.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t the young master like it?”
Half of his reaction was within Jiang Sui’s expectations; the other half was her surprise at his strong response.
“You…”
Lu Yunze touched the spot where he had been kissed, momentarily unable to speak.
“What’s wrong, young master? It’s not like this is our first time doing something like this. Why are you so shy?”
Jiang Sui covered her mouth and chuckled.
“I gave you my first time, and yet you act so resistant. You’re such a scumbag. How heartbreaking.”
Her expression changed faster than flipping a book. She made a motion of wiping tears, looking pitiful.
Just then, a passerby eating ice cream walked by and stopped upon hearing Jiang Sui’s “scumbag” comment.
“Tsk, tsk, kids these days…”
Lu Yunze’s face turned red.
Not because Jiang Sui had left lipstick stains on his cheek—she hardly ever wore lipstick.
Her tender kiss reminded him of the time almost a year ago.
Lu Yunze never imagined that his first kiss wouldn’t be for the girl from his childhood, nor for Luo Yao, but for a girl he had known only half a year.
Did he like it? Of course he did—very much.
Now a year had passed, and before sleeping, Lu Yunze would still find himself touching his lips, savoring that taste.
Seeing the little maid’s crying becoming more convincing, he quickly comforted her, saying he really liked the reward.
“Does the young master want more?”
Jiang Sui immediately smiled, her earlier sobbing seeming like an illusion.
“Can I have a refill?”
“It’s free. Doesn’t the young master want it?”
As she spoke, Jiang Sui actually climbed onto the chair.
More precisely, she climbed onto his body.
Like a kitten that loved to cling to its owner, her knees, clad in black silk stockings, rested brazenly between his legs.
The natural fragrance of the girl overwhelmed the salty sea air, invading Lu Yunze’s nostrils.
Her warm breath drew closer, and Lu Yunze grew more nervous.
The smile on Jiang Sui’s lips became more pronounced, and her cherry-red lips moved closer.
Just at this critical moment, Lu Yunze suddenly said:
“I meant, can’t the lemonade be refilled?”
“No. That vendor said one person can’t drink too much, or it’s bad for health.”
Jiang Sui’s expression immediately fell. Disinterested, she climbed off him.
“I see. That’s a pity.”
Jiang Sui took two steps back.
“Since the young master has recovered his spirits, my task is done. Please continue to enjoy the trip.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Lu Yunze alone.
The tourists on the deck were all dressed in casual beachwear. Her maid uniform made her stand out like a bright star.
Lu Yunze touched his cheek again, closed his eyes, and in his mind, all he could see was the image of her lying on top of him just now.
He felt a sense of lingering desire.
Lu Yunze shook his head vigorously, deciding to enjoy the cruise’s activities to drive away the unpleasant mood.
As for Jiang Sui, after leaving Lu Yunze, she stopped after turning a corner.
The sea breeze blew her hair, but she didn’t bother with it. Instead, she also touched her lips, as if she could still feel the sensation of Lu Yunze’s cheek.
She had to admit, after crossing that hurdle, her resistance to such things had indeed lowered.
To keep raising Lu Yunze’s affection, she would have to make more sacrifices.
Thinking back to when she first crossed over, if she saw herself now, she would surely curse herself as “shameless.”
‘How low will my bottom line sink?’
Jiang Sui sighed, tossing a transparent pill in her hand.
That whole “secret recipe lemonade” was just her playing Lu Yunze.
Everything was an illusion from drinking her “secret recipe,” but it was enough to sustain him through the remaining two hours to reach Donghai City.
“Lu Yunze’s hometown, huh.”
Jiang Sui smiled softly.