Sister, can I be a maid too?

In the soft, hazy dream, Jiang Yubai vaguely heard someone calling him.

A warm aroma, a blend of cheese, potatoes, and caramel, wafted into his nostrils—his favorite smell: spicy cheese chicken patties.

He subconsciously sniffed lightly and slowly opened his eyes.

The morning light slanted into the room through the gap in the loosely drawn curtains, making him squint.

In the soft light, a slender figure stood quietly in front of his bed, bathed in a hazy glow.

The girl wore a knee-length black and white dress with a voluminous skirt edged with delicate white lace.

The apron's ties are tied into a cute bow, and the chest is adorned with delicate ruffles, its curves as beautiful as distant mountains in spring.

The light flowed through the folds of her skirt, casting a hazy and gentle glow on the intricate patterns of the fabric.

Jiang Yubai shook his head and looked up blankly.

Is it... Lin Jianxia?

The girl was carrying a white porcelain plate with fragrant cheese and spicy chicken patties on it.

She was dressed in a black and white maid outfit, her profile bathed in sunlight as she lowered her head slightly—delicate bangs, drooping eyelashes, and the tip of her nose and lips softened by the light.

In that instant, Jiang Yubai felt as if she were Venus, bathed in light, who had stepped out of an oil painting.

"Hello...."

Lin Jianxia opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end she just hummed in response.

"Jiang Yubai, get up."

Her voice was soft and gentle, no longer prickly like a hedgehog.

After taking a few seconds to process the scene before him, Jiang Yubai quickly came to a conclusion—

Oh, I'm still dreaming.

This damn Lin Jianxia, ​​dressed in a maid outfit and carrying breakfast, was calling him to wake up in a soft, sweet voice...

If this wasn't a dream, he would have eaten the spicy cheese chicken patty on his bedside table right then and there.

The thought flashed through Jiang Yubai's mind in a hazy state. The morning light made him feel warm all over, and he didn't want to move at all.

He squinted, and the little maid by the bed was still calling to him softly.

Why get out of bed in a dream...?

He yawned lazily, didn't get up, but slowly reached out his hand to her.

The person in front of him seemed to be startled for a moment. After hesitating for a while, she placed the plate in her hand on the bedside table and tentatively reached out to take his hand that was hanging in the air.

The next second, a small gasp of surprise rang out.

Jiang Yubai pulled her slightly, and the slender figure unexpectedly fell into his arms.

He reached out and embraced the slender waist of the person in his arms, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

Actually, when he saw Lin Jianxia wearing this maid outfit before, he had a vague thought that had popped into his head.

After all, the cut and materials of this maid outfit look so high-end, and you can only imagine how good it feels to the touch.

Now he finally knows.

The fabric is cool, smooth, and delicate; even the most precious silks of ancient times could not compare to this. It feels wonderful to the touch.

With a slight clench of the palm, one can feel the soft curve of the girl's waist through the smooth fabric.

Although he knew that this was probably just a sensation simulated by his brain in a dream, Jiang Yubai didn't have time to think about it too much right now.

After all, he wouldn't dare do that in real life.

It's just a dream anyway~

With this thought in mind, Jiang Yubai tightened his arms a little more.

Just as I was about to continue sleeping while hugging the soft, comfortable doll on my body, a sudden pain shot through my waist.

"Pfft!"

Immediately afterwards, she received another cat-like punch to her lower abdomen, and the little maid who should have been quietly staying in her arms began to struggle and move.

Jiang Yubai, who had just been hit by a series of attacks, opened his eyes and looked up in astonishment.

Lin Jianxia had somehow managed to sit up, perched on top of him on the bed, her face as red as a ripe cherry, glaring at him with a mixture of shame and anger.

"No?" he blurted out instinctively, "Why are you dreaming about being a little hedgehog too?"

Upon hearing this, both people in the room were stunned.

Jiang Yubai belatedly realized—was this dream... a little too real?

Lin Jianxia was initially confused by his use of the word "in her dream," but after realizing what he meant, she immediately gritted her teeth:

"Jiang Yubai! Who are you calling a little hedgehog?!"

She knew!

When I gave her that scarf with the little hedgehog print, it wasn't because I thought it was cute; it was more like I was implying she'd prick me, right?!

Thinking of this, Lin Jianxia was so angry that she gave him another cat-like punch.

Jiang Yubai was wide awake now, staring wide-eyed at the girl sitting on his waist, his mind filled with questions.

Is this dream really that real? It's still not over?!

It wasn't that he was slow to react, but rather... he simply couldn't believe that this was actually real.

—What does it mean that Lin Jianxia, ​​dressed in a maid outfit, stood in front of his bed early in the morning, holding his favorite spicy cheese chicken pancake, and gently called him to get up?

These three conditions seem like some kind of chaotic raid scenario, with an absurd feeling that you have to roll a critical success to get them all together.

Do you want him to believe this is real?!

To be honest, if Jiang Yubai had a spinning top like Cobb's in Inception, he would probably throw it on the table and spin it around.

While he was still in a daze, Lin Jianxia had already gotten out of bed in a huff and reached out to straighten her maid outfit, which was a little wrinkled from the fight.

Jiang Yubai sat up and looked at her hesitantly.

To be honest... I don't know why, even though she was so angry, Lin Jianxia still didn't just run away.

He thought for a moment, then tentatively offered the most logical guess:

"You...lost a game of truth or dare with Wanwan?"

Lin Jianxia paused in adjusting her skirt, then slowly narrowed her eyes to look at him.

Even though she didn't speak, Jiang Yubai could clearly feel the murderous aura that was almost solidified.

"I'm sorry," Jiang Yubai immediately slid to his knees, then couldn't help but ask directly, "Then why... are you wearing this outfit again?"

Lin Jianxia paused for two seconds after hearing this, then her gaze returned to his face with a lingering intensity:

"Then tell me first, after seeing me, you didn't say a word, but reached out and pulled me to the bed... what exactly do you want to do?"

Jiang Yubai froze.

He opened his mouth and gave two dry laughs:

"Isn't this just a dream...?"

"Dreaming?" Lin Jianxia's ears turned slightly red, but she still glared at him. "If it really is a dream, what are you planning to... what are you planning to do!"

—What?! The things you do in your dreams are probably the things you truly think about!

Jiang Yubai, that guy, pulled her over and hugged her the moment they met, isn't that...?

Lin Jianxia's ears turned bright red, and she immediately dared not think any further.

Seeing that her expression was getting increasingly strange, Jiang Yubai quickly forced a smile and explained:

"Hey, hey, don't overthink it! I just... I just wanted to test how the fabric of this maid outfit felt!"

"...Do you even believe what you're saying?"

Jiang Yu opened his mouth, then clicked his tongue and said with utter despair:

"Okay, I still want to use you as a pillow to cuddle and take a nap, that's all."

These days, nobody believes the truth, so you have to make up a lie to explain.

What kind of mess is this...?

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianxia felt so embarrassed that she had an urge to turn around and run away.

She bit her lower lip, pretending it was nothing serious, and forced herself to remain calm:

"It's...it's nothing..."

Jiang Yubai did not reply.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Some silences are comforting, while others... are awkward.

The current situation is clearly the latter.

Jiang Yubai finally sat up straighter and cleared his throat:

"Alright, I've explained everything. Now it's your turn to tell me—how did you... come up with the idea of ​​wearing this outfit?"

Lin Jianxia remained silent, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, seemingly lost in thought.

With a sigh of resignation, Jiang Yubai began to unleash the explosive bombs:

"Hey, could it be that you've finally realized how good I am and are planning to transform from a cook into a caring maid to take care of your master's daily life?"

Lin Jianxia was taken aback at first, then her eyes widened, and she stood up abruptly, grabbing a cushion from beside his bed and slapping it at Jiang Yubai's face.

"Who, who wants to take care of you! Narcissist!!"

Despite making a large movement, just as the pillow was about to hit Jiang Yubai's face, she involuntarily reduced her strength and softly slapped it onto his face.

Jiang Yubai didn't even dodge; he simply lazily reached out and pushed the cushion aside.

It's alright, it's alright if it turns into a prickly little hedgehog.

He was afraid that Lin Jianxia would just stare at him with those dark, bright eyes without saying a word, and who knew what she was thinking in that little head of hers.