Chapter 8: Sure Enough, I’m Still Better, Aren’t I

“If there really is nothing, then why are you sweating so much?”

“Because I just finished cleaning the living room, and I’m still a bit hot.”

“Then why did you run onto the bed?”

“I just wanted to slack off for a bit. I hope you won’t tell the butler, Miss.”

Even as she said this, Jiang Sui pressed her palms together, her expression and tone just like a child caught in the act of a prank.

During their conversation, Luo Yao had already walked up to Jiang Sui, her sharp eyes locked firmly on Jiang Sui’s face.

That gaze reminded Jiang Sui of the supervisors from her previous life at the company—whenever they suspected an employee of slacking off, they would look at them just like this.

It made her feel completely ill at ease.

There was no escape. Jiang Sui quickly realized this, and her hands, which had been lowered, now gripped the blanket tightly.

“Miss, do you really want to know the truth?”

“Speak.” Luo Yao’s tone was calm.

The lazy maid ran back to her room, clothes a little disheveled and expression flustered—Luo Yao was already prepared for the truth behind all this.

“Alright, since it’s your order, Miss, I have no choice but to obey.”

With a sigh, Jiang Sui revealed the secret she had just hidden—

It was an ordinary-looking box.

“What is this?” Luo Yao raised an eyebrow.

“It’s just a little secret of mine. I hope you won’t go telling everyone, Miss.”

Jiang Sui gave a bitter smile and opened it right in front of her.

When Luo Yao saw what was inside, she was stunned for a moment. Then her expression changed dramatically, and she quickly covered her mouth.

“Th-these are…!”

She had to admit, she had lost her composure.

“Some cute accessories. Doesn’t Miss like kittens?”

Inside the box were the little props Jiang Sui had bought: cat ears, Cat Tail, and so on. As she spoke, she put the cat ears back on her head, looking quite adorable.

“You…”

“To be honest, Miss, I’ve loved cosplay since I was little. It’s just that, because of family circumstances, I couldn’t afford the costumes, so I had to settle for these little accessories to satisfy myself.”

Luo Yao’s mouth hung half open, unable to speak.

She also knew why Jiang Sui had come to work at the Luo Family Manor. To be honest, she even felt a bit sorry for this girl. As The Eldest Daughter, who had been pampered since birth, even if she couldn’t truly empathize, she could understand how heavy a burden 1.8 million would be for an eighteen-year-old girl.

And with her broken family, Jiang Sui had to rely almost entirely on herself to pay off that debt.

So, Jiang Sui wasn’t hiding someone in her room—she was simply enjoying her hobby during a break from work.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you just now.”

A strong sense of guilt welled up in Luo Yao, and she immediately apologized.

“It’s alright, as long as you don’t tell anyone, Miss.”

“I even started to suspect you were with…”

“Miss, would you like to try this tail?” Jiang Sui picked up the Cat Tail from the box. “If you don’t like the kind that attaches to clothes, I can recommend the insertable type.”

“Never mind, you keep it for yourself.”

They were both adults. Luo Yao naturally understood what she was hinting at and quickly cut her off.

The biggest doubt in her heart had been dispelled, and The Eldest Daughter’s expression visibly relaxed.

“So what made you suddenly come looking for me, Miss?”

“Actually, I was looking for Brother Lu.”

Luo Yao answered without thinking.

“I walked around for ages and never saw him. I asked a few of the servants, and they said he came up to the second floor. When I passed by your room, I heard some noise and thought he might be here.”

“Miss, you’re such a tease. How could Young Master be in my room?” Even Jiang Sui couldn’t help but laugh at her.

“Yeah, you’re right. Maybe I’m just getting paranoid these past couple of days.”

Luo Yao scratched her head. Probably ever since she smelled that strange fragrance last night, her suspicions had become much heavier.

“I think you’re just too tired, Miss. How could Young Master end up in a maid’s room like mine?”

“Mm, that’s true.”

Luo Yao imagined that scene: the room with only Lu Yunze and Jiang Sui dressed as a cat. Although Lu Yunze wasn’t the type to be ruled by his desires, in that kind of situation, shouldn’t the female lead be herself?

Luo Yao sat down on the edge of the bed. The moment her body touched the quilt, something inside shifted and quickly moved away.

Luo Yao’s gaze moved toward the quilt, but was distracted again by Jiang Sui’s voice:

“Miss, you’re really nice. You’re nothing like the spoiled heiresses in my mind—so gentle.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but it’s just proper upbringing.”

Luo Yao didn’t blush at the praise. Instead, she returned a perfectly polite smile.

“Jiang Sui, since you’re working for the Luo Family now, if you run into any trouble in the future, you can come to me directly. I can’t help you pay off your debt, but for things within my responsibility, I’ll do my best.”

“Really? Anything at all?”

“As long as it’s not excessive or beyond my abilities.”

Then please give up on Lu Yunze, and stay away from him.

If she really said that out loud, Luo Yao might chop her up on the spot.

So Jiang Sui just smiled and brushed off Luo Yao’s kindness.

“But don’t think I’ll cover for you no matter what. If I find out you’re using my name to do bad things, I won’t go easy on you.”

At this, Luo Yao’s expression grew stern.

“Also, be careful when you go out on errands. The last maid in your position disappeared and still hasn’t been found—that’s why there’s an opening for you to take her place.”

“I see…”

The Lan City Missing Person Case—currently a hot topic in Lan City, and a very important plot point early in the original story.

The two chatted a bit more, and Luo Yao stood up to leave. But just then, Jiang Sui’s tightly pressed lips let out a strange moan.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’ve just been sitting too long and my legs are a bit sore.”

Jiang Sui gave a wry smile and patted her “thighs” through the blanket.

“Don’t sit too long and rest up. If you get caught, I can’t cover for you.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Miss.”

Luo Yao left. The moment the door closed, the quilt on Jiang Sui’s bed was flung open, and Lu Yunze emerged, gulping down the fresh air.

“I thought I was going to suffocate.”

Not only had he been covered by the thick quilt, but he also had to press tightly against Jiang Sui’s body to avoid being noticed by Luo Yao.

“Young Master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just stifled.” Lu Yunze tugged at his collar, clearly feeling a wave of heat escape from inside.

Now that only the two of them were left in the room, Jiang Sui returned to her mischievous self, stretching her legs and resting her small feet in front of him.

“Young Master, you were holding me so tightly. Do you really like how soft I feel?”

“N-no, I don’t.”

But the blush on Lu Yunze’s face had already betrayed him. While hiding under the quilt, all he could think about was the pair of beautiful legs in black stockings in his arms, his fingertips sinking into the fine mesh of her stockings, the silky sensation spreading across his skin.

It felt so good that, during the hiding, Lu Yunze couldn’t help but tighten his grip, making Jiang Sui’s breath hitch, the subtle tremble of her skin passing through the stockings to his palm.

What was even worse, Jiang Sui, knowing full well it wasn’t appropriate, still deliberately squeezed her legs together, letting Lu Yunze feel her thighs even more.

Before Jiang Sui could take it any further, Lu Yunze jumped off the bed and straightened his clothes.

“Young Master, you look just like someone who just finished up with me.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Lu Yunze looked at her with helplessness. When he was eavesdropping on her conversation with Luo Yao, he was constantly worried about what outrageous things she might blurt out.

But no matter what, Jiang Sui had helped him avoid disaster in her own way—even if the process had been a bit torturous for Lu Yunze.

“No need to thank me. It’s what I should do as a maid, Young Master.” Jiang Sui once again anticipated his thoughts and spoke up first.

This left Lu Yunze in an awkward position, his half-open mouth not knowing what to say. He felt like he ought to say something before leaving, so his quickly turning mind latched onto the question Jiang Sui had asked earlier.

“I like them big.”

“Hmm?”

“Is that good enough for you?”

Jiang Sui was stunned at first, then her sweet smile took on a hint of grievance:

“If Young Master is going to act like this, you’d be better off just ignoring me. Otherwise, it makes me seem unreasonable.”

Isn’t that the case?

Strangely, Lu Yunze actually couldn’t bring himself to complain to her.

“But…”

That familiar fragrance drifted close again. When Lu Yunze turned his head, he met her pale violet eyes.

“Young Master, does this mean you owe me one, right?”

“Ah, uh…”

“Young Master, remember well how good I am to you. Don’t get tired of me, okay?”

Her fingers slid across his collarbone, making Lu Yunze shiver all over. He responded a few times in a hurry, then quickly walked out of the bedroom.

This time, he wasn’t running, just walking fast.

Back on the bed, Jiang Sui looked up at the ceiling, resting her head on her arms, and murmured to herself:

“He really does like them big.”

Hehe, sure enough, compared to that silly, sweet Eldest Daughter, I’m still better, aren’t I.