Coming out of the apartment building, Mu Siyi clutched her hand and never let go.
After walking not two steps, she suddenly tilted her head, corners of her mouth curling very high.
“Jiejie, you dressing like this walking the streets, what do you think passersby are thinking in their hearts?”
“…Don’t know.”
“I guess, they’re all thinking, this soft fluffy little girl wearing a maid outfit, wouldn’t she be the exclusive little maid of the tall girl beside her?”
Mu Yan didn’t pick up.
Mu Siyi instead locked her hand even tighter, coming to her ear pressing her voice laughing.
“Otherwise you call me Master once? Anyway in the shop you also call guests that, what’s one more of me? Look you’re still wearing the work uniform now, calling once how fitting.”
“…Dream on.”
“Dream on?”
Mu Siyi raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t think I don’t know, when you serve coffee you cold-faced say Master your latte, I heard crystal clear by the window. Others can hear, I can’t hear?”
“That’s work.”
“Now also counts as work.”
She shook their clasped hands, smiling with a face of slyness.
“You’re wearing the work uniform, equals still on the clock. Me, I’m your exclusive master today.”
“…Dream on.”
“You only know this one sentence.”
The plane trees in the old city blocked most of the sunlight, gold-fragment-like light spots falling on the sidewalk.
A short girl in a maid outfit being led by the hand by another tall girl walking forward, the turning-head rate was outrageously high.
A middle-aged man riding an e-bike passed, slowing to glance twice, the handlebars tilting and almost slamming into a trash can.
Mu Siyi even waved at the person, smiling shouting, “This is my family’s.”
The uncle looked bewildered twisting the throttle and leaving.
Mu Yan expressionlessly watched the person ride far, turning her head looking at her.
“…Can you restrain a bit outside.”
“Restrain what? What I said isn’t false either.” Mu Siyi laughed even happier, deliberately dragging the tone.
“You originally are my family’s. My family’s jiejie, my family’s maid, my family’s exclusive little maid.”
“Mention the three words little maid again and I’m going back.”
“Go back where? Back to the shop or the old rental apartment? Oh wait, you have a new home now. You going back is even better, anyway I’ll follow. Your house has no one else, I can call however I want.”
Mu Yan’s footsteps paused, staring at her for two seconds, didn’t speak, turned her head continuing forward.
Arriving downstairs of the apartment, Mu Siyi craned her neck glancing at this dusty little building, exaggeratedly wa-ing.
“Loft eh! Jiejie you live this big alone? Rent expensive? That little money from your part-time enough? Not enough I can sponsor you… no, I’ll just move over and split the rent with you.”
“…No need. I have savings.”
“Having savings can’t just waste either. Extra roommate so good, can also accompany you talking. Me moving over that’s called win-win.”
“Was your math taught by the PE teacher?” Mu Yan slanted her a glance. “Win-win is both sides profit. I only have losses.”
Mu Siyi pretentiously covered her chest, a look of being wounded, yet her hand still firmly clutched hers not letting go.
Going upstairs, Mu Yan pulled out keys to open the door.
The lock clicked, Mu Siyi immediately poked a head from behind her looking in, floor-to-ceiling windows bright and spacious, sunlight spreading on light wood-colored floor, goose-yellow sofa paired with two same-color throw pillows, succulents on the windowsill arranged neatly, a white coffee machine on the bar, a few small paintings hanging on the wall, a pothos hanging from the stair railing.
She stood at the doorway looking for a good while, then turned her head looking at Mu Yan.
“Jiejie, you did all this?”
“…Casually did.”
“Casually?” Mu Siyi reached out pointing, from pillows to succulents to the paintings on the wall, volume even raising a bit.
“This is called casually? You living alone tidied this good-looking? Did you secretly hide interior design skills not telling me?”
She took off her shoes stepping onto the wood floor, tiptoeing turning a circle, touching the cushions, poking the succulents, finally plopping into the sofa, hugging both goose-yellow pillows into her arms, comfortably sighing.
“So soft… Jiejie where did you buy this sofa? I also want to buy one. Forget it forget it, later I’ll just come sit at your house.”
Mu Yan stood at the entryway looking at her.
“Shoes.”
“Ah?”
“Put them on the shoe rack. Don’t throw at the door.”
Mu Siyi paused, sitting up from the sofa, a face of are you serious expression.
Mu Yan looked back at her expressionlessly.
“Jiejie, when I was at my house you never managed how I placed shoes.”
“That was your house. This is my house.”
“Fine fine fine, little maid housekeeper is pretty strict.”
Mu Siyi reluctantly climbed up, picking up the shoes going to place them on the shoe rack.
Turning around, seeing Mu Yan still wearing the maid outfit standing there, her eyes turned, laughing open again.
“Since arrived at your house, master coming shouldn’t you entertain a bit? …No, now should call little maid.”
Mu Yan’s vigilance instantly maxed out.
“…What do you want to do again.”
“First turn on the AC. Where’s the remote?”
Mu Yan walked to the coffee table picking up the remote, beep pressing the switch.
Cold wind whooshed out, Mu Siyi immediately crowded in front of the vent, opening her arms facing the wind, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
“Ah～ alive again! Just now walking that stretch almost heat-killed me. Your house AC is even stronger than mine.”
She turned her head waving at Mu Yan. “Jiejie come closer, stand beside me. Your body is cool, be an auxiliary cooling for me.”
“…”
“Don’t stand that far, closer. Right, just here. Mm, comfortable.”
Mu Siyi one hand resting on her ice-cold arm, the other fanning herself.
The two stood side by side at the AC vent, one expressionless wearing maid outfit, one squinting eyes face full of enjoyment, someone passing by not knowing would think it was some performance art.
Mu Yan stood a few seconds, just wanting to shift away, Mu Siyi spoke again.
“Little maid.”
“…Don’t call little maid.”
“Then call exclusive maid? Forget it still little maid rolls off the tongue.”
Mu Siyi blinked at her. “Little maid, go downstairs buy a bottle of iced cola for master.”
Mu Yan turned her head, using those ripple-less eyes looking at her.
“…You go yourself.”
“I’m not going. I’m the guest, you’re the host, where is there reason to make the guest run errands.” Mu Siyi said with perfect justification.
“Besides I was received by you from so far, the road all heat-ruined me, shouldn’t replenish? Isn’t there a convenience store downstairs from you? Go go, my treat.”
She fished a crumpled ten-yuan note from her pocket, stuffing it into Mu Yan’s hand.
“Remember the change.”
Mu Yan lowered her head looking at the paper money crumpled into a ball in her hand, then looked up looking at that smiling face of hers.
“You go yourself.”
“Little maid not obedient? Then have to deduct wages.”
“You have no wages to deduct.”
“Then I’ll issue them now.” Mu Siyi counted on her fingers.
“Ten yuan a month, room and board included, living at your house. This treatment, where to find?”
Mu Yan set the ten yuan on the coffee table, turning toward the kitchen.
“…There’s some in the fridge.”
“Then why didn’t you say earlier!” Mu Siyi immediately followed, lying on the bar watching her open the fridge door.
“Wow, your fridge stuffed this full? Eggs milk juice cola… and Yakult? You drink Yakult?”
She imagined the picture, puffing a laugh. “This face of yours drinking Yakult, thinking about it is funny.”
“…Not me drinking. Prepared.”
“Prepared for who? For me?” Mu Siyi picked up a bottle of cola shaking it, eyes sparkling. “Did you already know I would come?”
“…Don’t know. Just in case.”
“Just in case I come?” Mu Siyi dragged the tone laughing.
“So Jiejie moving to a new house, originally planned to call me over right? Just embarrassed to say. Jiejie you’re so good.”
Mu Yan closed the fridge door, didn’t pick up.
Mu Siyi also didn’t chase asking, twisting open the cola drinking a sip, leaning on the bar crossing her legs scanning the living room a circle, gaze landing on that row of succulents on the windowsill.
“That row of succulents all watered by you?”
“…Mm.”
“You can remember to water?” Mu Siyi raised an eyebrow. “You even don’t notice when the hair tie breaks, can still look after these flowers and plants?”
“…You manage too wide.”
“Okay okay, not managing not managing.”
Mu Siyi set down the cola, walking to the windowsill looking pot by pot.
“This pot growing well, this pot a bit wilted, this pot watered too much. Jiejie your succulent raising level is average. Doesn’t matter, later I’ll help you manage. You just responsible for paying rent!”
“…Division of labor unreasonable.”
“Where unreasonable? You put out money, I put out effort.”
Mu Siyi patted her own chest. “Your money is my money, my effort is still my effort. Perfect.”
“Where’s the logic.”
“At my place.”
After finishing the cola, Mu Siyi suddenly bounced up from the sofa, charging straight toward the stair opening.
“Second floor is the bedroom right? I’ll go look!”
“Wait. That’s the bedroom.”
“Bedroom so what? Last time you slept in my bed I didn’t say anything. All girls, looking once won’t lose a piece of flesh.”
Words not fallen, the person had already thud thud thud run upstairs.
Mu Yan stood downstairs, watching her back disappear around the corner.
“Jiejie!” Mu Siyi’s voice floated down from the second floor. “You living alone, why put two pillows?”
I feel like it.
“There’s even a goose-yellow throw pillow! Same set as the sofa ones right!”
The voice still transmitting down, carrying a bit of excitement.
“Beside the pillows even folded pajamas! Pink! And cat ears! Even cuter than the rabbit pajamas I gave you last time! Jiejie! Did you specially prepare them for me!”
Mu Yan stood at the stair opening, expressionlessly staring at the steps.
Two seconds later, she stepped with steady paces going up, seeing Mu Siyi sitting on her bed, holding that cat-ear pajama set in front of her face measuring.
“…Came with buying the sheets.”
“Who are you fooling. Buying sheets comes with cat-ear pajamas?”
Mu Siyi hugged the pajamas in her arms, smiling until her eyes curved into crescents.
“Jiejie, thank you for specially preparing pajamas for me.”
“…Not prepared for you.”
“Then prepared for someone else? Jiejie you have another little sister?”
“…No.”
“Then isn’t it for me.”
Mu Siyi set the pajamas on the bed, standing up walking in front of her.
She was half a head taller than Mu Yan, standing close always had a bit of looking-down posture.
“Jiejie, you prepared this much, were you already looking forward to me coming to stay?”
“…Just in case.”
“In case I come?”
“…Mm.”
Mu Siyi bent down, bringing her face in front of her, noses almost touching.
“Jiejie, you’re really the most stubborn-mouthed person I’ve met. Even more twisted than me.”
“…Shut up. Go downstairs.”
“Don’t rush.” Mu Siyi’s gaze swept toward the wardrobe. “Let me look at your wardrobe.”
“No.”
“Just look once.”
“No.”
“How does little maid talk to master?”
“This is my house. You’re not my master.”
“Then who is?”
Mu Yan used those ripple-less eyes staring at her for a few seconds, in the end still losing the battle.
“…Look then go downstairs.”
“Okay!”
Mu Siyi yanked open the wardrobe door, glancing at the clothes hanging neatly, puffing a laugh, pointing at one of them looking back at her.
“Isn’t this the pink shirt I helped you pick at the mall last time! You really wore it! And this pair of wide-leg pants, this midi skirt, all ones I chose!”
“…The ones you picked can wear. Just kept them.”
“Then this one?” Mu Siyi’s finger moved to a white lace-edged top. “This one I haven’t seen. You bought it yourself?”
“Mm.”
“Taste is okay. Looks like following me shopping, aesthetic improved a lot.”
“…Look up.”
“Look up what… wow.”
Mu Siyi looked up seeing the neatly stacked maid outfits on the upper layer of the wardrobe, eyes instantly brightening three times.
“You even brought the work uniform home! Jiejie, are you addicted to wearing maid outfits?”
“…Shop’s. Brought back to wash.”
“After washing still have to wear. Anyway you’re wearing it now too.”
Mu Siyi winked at her. “Little maid, go downstairs pour a cup of water for master. Just drank cola still a bit thirsty.”
“…Pour yourself.”
“Jiejie, can the Yakult at your house be drunk? I want to drink a bottle.”
“Just now calling little maid, now calling jiejie. Which one do you want to call.”
Mu Siyi tilted her head thinking, smiling with a face of wickedness.
“Like both. Which does Jiejie want me to call?”
“…Call jiejie.”
“Okay little maid.”
Mu Yan turned walking downstairs.
Mu Siyi followed behind, laughing until her shoulders shook.
Back in the living room, Mu Siyi leaned on the sofa drinking Yakult, watching Mu Yan standing by the window tidying that row of succulents.
Sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the room quiet for several seconds.
“Jiejie.” She suddenly spoke. “Can I stay here tonight?”
Mu Yan turned her head.
Mu Siyi half-lying on the sofa, head against the pillow, Yakult bottle raised in her hand, a face of taking it for granted.
“…What about your mom and dad’s side.”
“Just say I’m staying overnight at Jiejie’s house. They definitely won’t oppose.”
Mu Siyi shook the bottle.
“They really like you. Last time after you finished eating and left, Mom nagged several days, said you’re sensible, just too thin, told me to take you home to eat more. I even said just let you move in, Mom said no, can’t disturb other people’s life.”
“…I didn’t say I want to move.”
“So me coming to stay is the same. Just one night.” She blinked at Mu Yan.
“Your house AC so sufficient, sofa so soft, plus cat-ear pajamas, not worse than a five-star hotel. No, better than hotel, hotel doesn’t have exclusive little maid.”
Mu Yan was silent for a few seconds.
“…Not leaving?”
“Not leaving.”
“…You know I only have one bed here.”
“Know. Just saw it. Two pillows one bed, just right for two people.”
Mu Siyi said with perfect justification.
“Didn’t you already prepare the pillow for me? Don’t waste it.”
Mu Yan looking at this taking-it-for-granted appearance of hers, suddenly realized one thing.
Her inviting the person into the house, and actively delivering herself to the door, seemed to have no difference either.
“…I’ll go make dinner.”
“Make what dinner, order takeout! Celebrate you moving to a new house!”
Mu Siyi had already pulled out her phone swiping the takeout app.
“Want to eat what? Hotpot? Barbecue? Last time that Japanese place? No, Japanese doesn’t deliver takeout… then barbecue! My treat! Using your money!”
“…Why using my money.”
“Because you’re my jie. Jiejie treating little sister to barbecue, isn’t that heaven’s law and earth’s principle?”
Mu Yan looking at her lowering her head flipping the menu, suddenly grew a deep sense of powerlessness.
“Jiejie, do you eat spicy?” Mu Siyi asked without raising her head. “How about ordering extra-spicy chicken wings?”
“Don’t eat.”
“Then mildly spicy?”
“…Whatever you want.”
“Okay, then extra-spicy. Your portion I’ll cover. Order you a grilled corn, you slowly gnaw.”
Mu Yan walked to the sofa side sitting down.
Mu Siyi very naturally leaned onto her, hugging her arm pressing close, the cool silky touch against her own hot skin, comfortably sighing.
“Jiejie.”
“…Mm.”
“You moving to a new house, the first to know is me, the first to come is me, the first to stay overnight here is also me. Right?”
“…Right.”
Mu Siyi raised her head looking at her.
Sunset pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, dyeing the entire room warm orange.
“Then good.” She smiled.