Weekend. The night before, Nangong Ruihui had been so excited she didn’t fall asleep until two or three in the morning. There was no way she’d let Mu Yao off easy today—they’d promised to tease him, and she couldn’t soften up first. Even if he acted cute, it wouldn’t work.
Ding-dong—
At 7:30 AM, Mu Yao arrived punctually at her doorstep using the address Nangong Ruihui had given him. He rang the doorbell, hoping she’d greet him personally.
The Nangong Clan residence was massive—Mu Yao was certain it was Jinglan City’s largest villa. On misty mornings, the surrounding fence seemed to vanish into the haze, leaving one in awe.
The heavy iron gate swung open. A petite maid, shorter than Mu Yao, stood there in a black-and-white maid outfit straight out of an anime. A white wristband adorned with a tiny bell and a black bow circled one wrist.
Sadly, Mu Yao’s hope vanished. Nangong Ruihui was still fast asleep in her room, utterly unable to come welcome him.
Mu Yao puffed his cheeks in a slight pout. He’d woken before six, arrived by 7:30—and she’d sent a maid? Clearly, she hadn’t taken their agreement seriously. He’d have to talk to her later.
“Hello! Based on Young Master Ruihui’s description, you must be Mu Yao, right? Please come in~” The maid’s smile was almost cloyingly sweet.
“Ah, thank you for leading the way~”
Yesterday, Nangong Ruihui had gathered all servants with strict orders: not a word about her secret. She’d hidden every feminine item from her room and worn a chest binder to bed, fearing Mu Yao might barge in and expose her.
From outside, the interior remained hidden. Stepping inside, Mu Yao was deeply stunned. Maids moved with purpose—some watering the exquisite garden, others cleaning. A young butler flashed past him, offering a polite smile.
Elegant yet cozy, the porch and foyer stretched north-south. Living rooms and bedrooms featured low windows and hexagonal bay windows. The dining area flowed seamlessly, blending indoor warmth with outdoor scenery.
“We’re here. Young Master Ruihui is inside. Need anything? Find me on the first floor. I’m Xingzi.”
Nangong Ruihui’s room was upstairs. After escorting Mu Yao to the second floor, Xingzi hurried off—lingering too long with a guest would be seen as slacking by the butler.
Mu Yao steadied his breath. A faint tension crept in. Just knowing Nangong Ruihui was inside made his heart pound. How would she face him?
He turned the doorknob. The nervous flutter in his chest stopped abruptly—
*She’s actually still asleep?!*
Unacceptable! As an outstanding maid—no, butler—about to start duty, how could he tolerate his master’s unhealthy sleep schedule? He had to act now.
Without granting her another second of dreams, Mu Yao swept the blanket off with one hand, bent down, and scooped the curled-up Nangong Ruihui into a princess carry. *This should wake her.*
But she didn’t stir. Instead, she sleepily wrapped her arms around his neck, nearly throwing him off balance.
Carrying Nangong Ruihui—slightly heavier than him—wasn’t easy, but not impossible. Biologically male, Mu Yao still had decent strength.
“Dear Ruihui, if you don’t open your eyes, I’ll toss you out the window.”
“Huh?!”
Nangong Ruihui jolted awake. First: someone was holding her. Second: it was Mu Yao. A blood-curdling scream erupted, echoing through every corner of the Nangong residence—
“Ah—!!”
The maids and butlers barely blinked. Their young mistress often shrieked during horror movies. No guest would dare disrespect her anyway—her ninth-dan red belt in judo wasn’t for show.
“What are you screaming for? It’s me…” Mu Yao was speechless. He’d only princess-carried her to wake her—nothing weird.
“I-It’s… Yao… Yaoyao? I thought…” Relief washed over her; her whole body went limp.
“Hey~ For a guy, you scream way too… womanly.”
“Uh…”
…
Mu Yao had grabbed a cheap soy sauce pancake on the way, but Nangong Ruihui insisted he join her anyway.
The kitchen prepared only one portion. Nangong Ruihui shared a slice of honey-dipped toast. Her usual: milk, poached egg, bacon—sometimes swapped for Spanish sausage.
“Ruihui, you’re so sweet. Love you~” Mu Yao blew a perfectly natural kiss.
“Don’t overthink it. I just couldn’t finish it.”
Though she said that, Mu Yao saw right through her. Sharing food *was* her way of caring.
“Young Master Ruihui, here’s the maid outfit you requested.”
A maid approached, holding a sealed package.
“Place it beside her. She’ll change later,” Nangong Ruihui said casually, fork still cutting into her perfectly cooked egg.
“Ruihui… are you really asking me to wear this?”
“What’s wrong? We agreed you’d be my maid for a day. No uniform? That’s unprofessional.”
“Fine. I’ll wear it.”
Afraid of upsetting her, Mu Yao didn’t refuse. Just cross-dressing… though his first time in a maid outfit felt deeply embarrassing. All plans to scold her for not greeting him vanished—melted away by one slice of honey toast. *Pathetic*, he thought.
Changing in Nangong Ruihui’s room, Mu Yao frowned. Why did *his* outfit have extra pieces?
Cat tail? Cat ears? And this thigh ring that looked downright lewd…
“Ruihui~ Did you give me the wrong outfit?”
“Nope. Hurry up and wear it!”
Waiting eagerly outside, Nangong Ruihui smirked. Her masterpiece! Ordered the moment he agreed—a ultra-luxurious “H”-style maid outfit, crafted purely to tease him.
Mu Yao grumbled inwardly. How was he supposed to wear this? So embarrassing… He’d die of shame if others saw. *Honestly, Ruihui…*
Still, he obeyed. The cursed cat tail swayed vividly with every step. After checking front and back in the mirror, fully dressed, Mu Yao stepped out—shrouded in reluctance.
“Wow! Amazing!” Nangong Ruihui gasped. Adorable Mu Yao was so cute he could melt her heart.
