"Don't worry, I'm not angry," Zhou You said softly, pulling his gaze away from Ning Mengmeng.

He'd caught an unusual scent on her. Something about this girl felt... off.

Maybe she wasn't as delicate, soft, and harmless as she appeared?

Zhou You made a mental note, then approached with a smile and tentatively placed a hand on Ning Mengmeng's head.

True to expectation, she flinched slightly—but didn't pull away.

"There, there. Good girl. Don't be afraid."

"..." Ning Mengmeng narrowed her eyes slightly, feigning contentment as she played along.

*So Brother likes girls with a docile personality?*

Realizing this, she deliberately let out a cute little squeak, then hastily covered her mouth as if flustered.

Setting aside everything else, she really did look like an innocent little white rabbit.

Zhou You smiled. When Ning Mengmeng wasn't looking, his eyes narrowed just a fraction.

*A friend of Youzi's? Should I get involved?*

*...Better observe a while longer.*

He withdrew his hand just as Chen Youzi pushed the private room door open with her hips. Oblivious to the tension, the cheerful girl set down the tray and *pat-pat-pat* arranged the food.

"Brother~ Time for magic!" Chen Youzi chirped, grabbing the ketchup bottle.

"..."

"Please, spare me," Zhou You pleaded. He'd just been mocking those cringey customers outside—now karma struck fast.

He tried to stop Youzi; she resisted. In the tussle, ketchup splattered all over his shirt.

"Brother, sorry! Let me lick it clean!" Chen Youzi leaned in close.

Zhou You: "???"

"I'll wipe it off in the restroom."

He bolted. Ning Mengmeng blinked at Chen Youzi in confusion.

*I only joked about meme-worthy apology tropes... Youzi, you actually went for it?*

*...Was that on purpose?*

*Youzi's sharper than I thought.*

Ning Mengmeng felt a flicker of regret. She shouldn't have shared those "questionable" tips. Normal people wouldn't act on them—but Chen Youzi? Definitely not normal.

Zhou You found the restroom after asking a maid. Dampening tissues, he scrubbed until only a faint red stain remained.

Voices drifted from outside. One sounded oddly familiar.

"Manager, why go in there?"

"Don't ask. Guard the door. Say it's being cleaned."

*Click...*

"Just stepping out—" Zhou You started, but a tall woman in a traditional maid outfit pushed inside.

"Someone's still in here! I haven't left!"

"That's the point," Yun Mingyue said, closing the distance in three swift strides.

*Tap-tap... tap-tap-tap... tap...*

Cornered in the stall, Zhou You had zero room to move. Yun Mingyue arched a leg clad in white thigh-highs between his, her hand braced on the tank behind him.

"Sister Hua?" Zhou You swallowed hard. Being pinned by a stunning older woman in a men's restroom was... indescribable.

"Why this outfit?" he asked—part deflection, part genuine curiosity.

The maid dress clashed with her aura. One word from her, and she'd flip the script. Who'd expect service? More like "maggot master" with every breath.

*...Though some might enjoy that?*

Her slender fingers lifted his chin. Even in maid attire, Yun Mingyue's queenly presence was undeniable.

"This maid café is mine."

*So she knows I'm meeting Chen Youzi and Ning Mengmeng.*

*Neither shares my surname... yet I called one my little sister?*

*Tch. "Little sister"?*

"I'm here for inspection," she said. (Truth: she rarely visited—and never changed into uniform.)

"Can you let me out first?" Zhou You was backed into a corner.

"Little brother."

Her thigh brushed his. Fragrant breath warmed his cheek; pink lips hovered inches away. "Don't you like it?"

"You're tempting me to commit a crime," Zhou You said slowly, dead serious. Physically, he held the advantage.

Yun Mingyue caught his meaning. A flicker of hesitation rose—then vanished.

"What will you do? My staff guards the door. No one enters without my word."

Zhou You moved. In one motion, he seized her arms, flipped her around, and pinned her against the wooden stall door.

*THUD!*

The sound startled the maids outside.

"What's Manager doing? So loud!"

"Intense~~ Thrilling~~"

"Wish I could peek..."

Inside, Zhou You held Yun Mingyue's wrists high. Their eyes locked.

*Do you dare go further?*

She parted her lips slightly. Tongue flicked behind pearly teeth. A teasing smile, eyes brimming with unspoken allure.

*Is she a fox spirit?* Zhou You thought, heart pounding. *No wonder scholars lost control... anyone would.*

"Heh." He chuckled softly, mimicking her earlier gesture—cupping her chin, leaning close.

Yun Mingyue's eyes widened. Pupils trembled. She tried to pull back but couldn't. Lips pressed tight, she slowly closed her eyes.

Genuinely nervous. Nothing like her usual composed older-sister self.

Seconds stretched. No kiss came.

*Click...*

Camera shutter. Then Zhou You's voice: "Sister Hua."

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes.

He'd stepped back, jogged outside, and waved his phone. "You looked wonderfully compliant just now. I'll take my leave."

Yun Mingyue: "???"

She stared blankly after him. After a long pause, her eyes narrowed into sharp slits.

"Your skills have improved," she murmured. "To think you'd actually get the upper hand on me."