The two changed shoes at the entrance.

"I'll go cook dinner. I'll call you when it's ready."

"Mm."

Shiyue nodded and headed straight upstairs. Yichen walked toward the kitchen.

Shiyue entered a room on the second floor. It was a European-style bedroom, complete with a dressing table, wardrobe, bed, and bathroom. Every piece of furniture looked expensive—this was part of the villa, after all. Yichen had given her this room for convenience.

Closing the door, Shiyue unbuttoned her uniform, unzipped her skirt, and placed the school outfit on the bed. She walked to the wardrobe, took out a cute maid dress adorned with white lace, and put it on. Dressed, she left the room, moved skillfully to the cleaning supplies closet, grabbed her tools, and began today’s work.

Meanwhile, Yichen was busy in the kitchen.

*(My sister’s coming back tomorrow… Oh right, I haven’t asked when she’ll arrive.)*

Lin Zixuan was Yichen’s older sister by eleven months and his only remaining relative. Seven years ago, an accident had stolen Yichen’s memories and taken both their parents. Since then, the siblings had relied solely on each other. To support Yichen, Zixuan started working young—but unlike typical stories, she quickly earned a fortune. Their lives turned affluent almost overnight. They’d bought this villa three years ago.

Now, Zixuan worked constantly outside, while Yichen attended school. She rarely discussed her job, so he seldom asked. He only knew she held a high position at Skyvoid Group.

Unconsciously, dinner was nearly ready. Yichen set down his tools and went to call Shiyue. He climbed to the third floor, following the light, and found her on the terrace.

The European-style terrace held neatly trimmed grass and plants, with a marble table and chairs at its center. Through the glass doors, Yichen saw a bucket on the stone table. Shiyue, in her maid outfit, wiped vigorously with a cloth.

*If the schoolboys knew their idol—the campus flower—was cleaning like a maid here,* Yichen thought, *they’d storm my door with weapons.* But it wasn’t his doing; things had just unfolded naturally.

To reach the table’s center, Shiyue leaned forward, one hand braced on the stone, the other wiping. The pose accentuated her lovely curves. Yichen’s gaze locked onto her. Sensing his stare, Shiyue’s cheeks flushed slightly. Her expression tightened with tension, but she said nothing and kept wiping.

Snapping out of it, Yichen stepped onto the terrace.

"Shiyue, dinner’s ready."

"Mm, got it." She didn’t look up, nearly finished with the table.

Suddenly, Yichen spotted her elbow drifting toward the bucket. Unaware, Shiyue kept moving. He hurried over to shift it. She was bent over, back to him, when she felt his approach and turned curiously. Her elbow jerked closer to the bucket as she rotated. Yichen sped up—but tripped over a small stone stool. He lunged forward.

Half-turned, Shiyue saw him flying at her.

"Yichen!?"

She gasped. The bucket stayed upright, but Yichen pinned her to the grassy ground.

"Sorry, Shiyue, are you okay?" Yichen asked in alarm.

Shiyue stayed silent. Her collar had loosened, exposing most of her shoulder. Her cheeks burned crimson. Her dark, bright eyes shimmered with moisture as she stared at him.

Puzzled by her strange expression, Yichen missed the details. Shiyue’s breathing quickened. She pursed her lips, shut her eyes tight, and turned her face away—her slender, fair neck fully exposed. The scene looked like an assault; she was tense and scared but didn’t resist.

Yichen only noticed her odd look. Then he felt his hand gripping something soft and elastic. He squeezed slightly. Shiyue’s body trembled faintly. A soft whimper escaped her. Her face reddened further; her eyes squeezed shut.

"Sorry!" Realizing what he held, Yichen jumped up and pulled her to her feet.

"Ah, n-no, I’m fine," Shiyue stammered, hastily adjusting her clothes. Her face stayed flushed.

Shiyue worked here due to her family’s poverty. She only came Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 9:00 PM—but her monthly pay supported a whole family. Cleaning wasn’t just labor; the villa’s expensive furniture demanded careful methods. Once, she’d vowed to pay for any damage. *A lifetime wouldn’t cover it,* Yichen had thought privately. But he’d never actually hold her accountable.

They walked to the second floor. Yichen waited while Shiyue stored the bucket. Then they descended together.

At dinner, Yichen served two light dishes and soup suited to Shiyue’s taste. Afterward, she resumed cleaning. Yichen loaded the dishwasher and returned to his room to study.

Time slipped by. By 9 PM, Yichen still scribbled diligently. He studied hard for one goal: joining Skyvoid Group after graduation, where his sister Lin Zixuan worked. Their hiring standards were impossibly high. His current grades fell far short—but he refused to quit. If he kept improving, got into a good university… he *would* make it.

*Knock knock.*

"Come in."

Shiyue entered with a black tray, placing a cup of goji berry and chrysanthemum tea on his desk. She’d showered and changed back into her uniform. A fresh, clean scent lingered around her. She leaned over to see his math problems.

"How’s studying going?"

Yichen stretched, frowning at the equations. "Hmm… these are tricky."

"Let me see."

"For this one, substitute this formula… then expand it and plug into this function…"

Shiyue focused intently on teaching. Her ample chest occasionally brushed his shoulder. The sensation was startlingly clear. Yichen fought to ignore the touch and her scent, straining to follow her words.

"...and that’s it. Got it?"

She straightened up. Yichen sighed inwardly in relief.

"Mm, you’re really smart, Shiyue. Thanks."

Her face flushed again.

"I’ll head back then."

"Oh, Shiyue."

"Mm?"

"My sister’s returning this weekend. So… uh, I can’t keep you company then."

Shiyue froze. A trace of disappointment flickered across her face before she nodded. "Mm, I understand. Spend it with her." She turned to leave.

"Let me see you out."

"I can manage alone." She didn’t look back.

"Alright. Be careful."

Yichen knew Shiyue kept her distance despite their closeness. If she refused his escort, she’d stick to it. Disappointed but silent, he sighed and returned to his books.

Shiyue left the villa and walked toward home. Her neighborhood was a 20-minute walk away—a run-down area of old buildings, filled with elderly residents and poor families. Nothing like Yichen’s luxury.

She walked silently, her earlier smile gone. Her family was poor; his was wealthy. She only earned this money to support them.

Suddenly, she stopped. Turning back, she gazed at Yichen’s distant lights. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Reluctantly, she looked away and continued walking. A self-mocking smile touched her lips. She knew exactly what she’d felt when he’d pinned her down.

"I… am such a detestable woman."