If one day your brother and your sister brought a guy over to flirt with you—while you’re a guy too—how are you supposed to react?

I was that speechless guy. Watching Yang Honggang walk over, the corner of my mouth twitched. Inside, I was falling apart.

“This here is the face of Xincheng Maid Café—our goddess, Lin Xin!” Ouyang Chen announced, pointing at me with a schadenfreude grin.

Then Yang Honggang’s gaze locked with mine. I hurriedly looked away. I didn’t want to make him swoon. As for being exposed, besides Nan Ling being able to tell me by blood, I couldn’t think of anyone who could recognize me from looks alone.

What shocked me more was Yang Honggang staring at me with a dumb, lovestruck smile. His hands hovered in midair, knees bent—like an animal in heat.

Oh my god. Heaven, earth. Did I just flip his switch? Wait, isn’t that… great? No need to duel him. Sis worries less. Everybody wins.

Sorry, Yang Honggang. For our sake, you’ll have to sacrifice a tiny something. I’ll pay you back someday. Maybe.

Decision made, I cranked my cuteness to max and chirped, “Master! Nice to meet you. I’m Lin Xin, the café’s poster maid. May I know your name, Master?”

“I… I’m… Yang Honggang. Seventeen… I like… fighting! I… I… uh… gah—” His tongue completely tied itself in knots.

Damn! He was so smooth when he confessed to my sister. Why is he stuttering now?

“So, Master Yang, what would you like to eat?” I forced down the roast bubbling up in my chest.

“Yang Honggang, did you fall for Goddess Lin Xin? Why else are you stuttering?” Ouyang Chen teased.

“No, no!” Li Tianming jumped in. “Our Lord Yang Honggang likes President Ling Ling. How could he be interested in Goddess Lin Xin?”

Their perfect tag-team left me speechless. I widened my big eyes and put on a wronged little face. “Does Master not like Xin’er?”

So shy, so shy, so shy—aaah! I was screaming inside.

“Impossible! Miss Xin’er is so cute!” Yang Honggang blurted, face red. “How could Ling Ling compare!”

“Then tell me, Master, where am I better than your precious President?” I teased, forgetting my sister was peeking from behind.

“You… compared to the President… your chest is, uh, more petite. A bit cuter,” Yang forced out.

“Weren’t you challenging Lin Ye for Goddess Ling Ling?” Ouyang Chen smiled.

“Ah!? That was… an accident. Ling Ling’s little brother forced me to fight him!” Yang said, shameless.

“Why did he ‘force’ you?” I asked.

“Because I’m too handsome! I dazzled his sister, so he wants to fight me. He’s a total sis-con,” Yang declared, shameless to the end.

I was instantly speechless. Even shamelessness needs limits. I rolled my eyes and said, playful, “Truth time. Lin Ye is my brother. Ling Ling is my sister.”

“What!” Yang Honggang was struck dumb.

“If you want to duel my brother, then I… I’ll ignore you forever, Master!” I whined coquettishly.

“Okay, okay! I’ll cancel the duel with big bro— Lin Ye! So please don’t be mad, Miss Xin’er!” he yelped.

Success. No need to waste brain cells on how to fight him. Inside, I was ecstatic.

“Um… Miss Xin’er, can I get your contact? So I can find you next time?” Yang asked, blushing.

What do I do? Give it or not? My head was a mess.

“Miss Xin’er, a customer’s calling for you,” Li Tianming said, pushing up his glasses.

“Really? I’ll go! Can’t keep Master waiting!” I answered quickly, then bolted.

Anyway, thanks for the save, Tianming.

“Someone called her? I didn’t hear anything,” Yang demanded.

“Your ears are busted, that’s why,” Li Tianming shrugged.

I rushed backstage, and a man’s voice came from behind me.

“So this is where you were. Disciple, why are you in women’s clothes?” Ye Chen asked.

“Master! It’s a long story,” I said, genuinely miserable to my newly sworn master.

“Enough talk. Come train,” Ye Chen said.

“Uh, Shopkeeper, I’m heading to training,” I told Li Xin.

“You’re leaving already?” Li Xin sounded disappointed.

“I’ll give your pay to your sister. Go, don’t worry,” she added after a moment.

“Mm.” I answered and followed Ye Chen out the back door of the café.

We reached the long-missed hill out back. I asked Ye Chen, “How did you recognize me?”

“Your mana is tiny. I’ve memorized its outline. You can’t escape me,” Ye Chen laughed.

I was speechless. Did he have to be that blunt?