In the lively party buzzing with chatter and laughter, Yu An watched couples helping each other by the grill. Her expression barely shifted.

She sat quietly to the side, sipping juice, occasionally glancing up at the little maid’s cheeks—a trace of disbelief in her eyes.

The little maid moved with quiet grace, tidying things for others.

On her usually pale, serene face…

A blush had actually appeared!

Unbelievable. Truly. That was Yu An’s thought.

Since knowing the little maid, she’d never seen this before.

Always calmly elegant. Sometimes playfully mischievous.

But this shy flush?

Yu An had never witnessed it.

Perhaps because Yu An kept stealing glances, the little maid finally caught her staring.

Wiping sweat from her brow, she sat beside Yu An. “Yu An? Something wrong?”

Without her usual long maid dress, the little maid’s damp, flushed appearance revealed an alluring figure—slim waist, long legs, perky hips, that lingering, captivating blush. Utterly mesmerizing.

*What a great figure…*

Yu An couldn’t help comparing it to her own.

A flicker of envy stirred. Her gaze even turned slightly sour.

Days ago, she wouldn’t have felt this way. Back then…

Qin Cheng hadn’t lifted her up.

Hadn’t called her “fat as a pig.”

Hadn’t told her to lose weight.

She still had a sliver of confidence. But after his words? Her certainty vanished.

“Yu An?”

The little maid waved gently, pulling her from her thoughts.

Yu An had been staring blankly for a while.

“Ah—ah, nothing!” She jolted, flustered hands waving, hastily sucking juice through her straw.

The icy sip cooled her lips and cleared her mind.

The little maid eyed her curiously, then smiled. “If you have questions, just ask. I’ll answer honestly.”

Yu An hesitated, looking at her gentle smile.

She wasn’t really curious—just surprised by the blush. But since asked…

She swallowed lightly. “Um… what did *he* say to you earlier?”

“Him?”

The little maid tilted her head.

“Qin… Qin Cheng. What did he say?”

Yu An’s gaze locked onto her face, nerves taut, missing nothing.

“Oh. He said I looked beautiful today.”

Smiling, the little maid hopped down, waved to Yu An, and returned to help.

In the distance, Qin Cheng beckoned her over.

Leaving Yu An alone, sipping juice in silence.

Watching the retreating figure, Yu An felt dazed.

*Didn’t I look pretty today too…?*

*Suddenly… a little envious.*

…

…

What Yu An didn’t know—

The moment the little maid turned away, the blush on her fair, delicate cheeks deepened, even more alluring.

She had lied.

How could *her* Young Master Qin truly compliment her?

Impossible. That utterly oblivious man would never praise anyone’s looks.

Yet…

His whisper clung stubbornly in her mind.

Even the ever-composed little maid felt flustered.

What Qin Cheng had murmured against her ear wasn’t praise. It was—

“Oops, I forgot~”

…

…

“Even a vase that can’t resist is too pathetic.”

Multiple grills lined the area. Mu Yi and Qin Cheng manned one together.

“Should I owe you a favor?” Qin Cheng flipped a lamb skewer, voice calm.

“Nothing to repay. Seeing the great Young Master Qin flustered was reward enough.” Mu Yi smiled, politely declining.

He still remembered Qin Cheng’s darkened expression. Pity he hadn’t recorded it—endless teasing material, lost.

Qin Cheng chewed grilled lamb.

His gaze settled on Mu Yi’s head.

*Antagonist*

*Would dealing with someone of the same kind be any simpler?*