Sister, can I be a maid too?

She secretly pursed her lips before reluctantly saying "Oh."

Before she could even get up, Lin Tingwan, who was sitting next to her, stood up first and ran to get the kettle.

Grandma looked at her granddaughter's actions with a somewhat surprised expression.

She watched as Lin Tingwan brewed the tea and brought it over, then quietly sat down next to Jiang Yubai. Finally, she couldn't help but look back at Jiang Yubai:

"It's... Jiang Yubai, right?"

“Yes, Grandma,” Jiang Yubai nodded obediently, “Jiang as in Jiangshui, Yu as in Chuanyu, which is the abbreviation for Chongqing, Sichuan Province, and Bai as in black and white.”

"Oh, a nice name." Grandma nodded, her tone kind. "You're Xia Yaya and Wan Yaya's classmate, right?"

“Yes, we are classmates and friends, and we have a good relationship.” Jiang Yubai nodded. “I heard them mention you before, so I thought I would take advantage of the free time during the New Year to come and pay my respects.”

He paused, then added with a smile:

"Besides, we're neighbors. Lin Jianxia and Lin Tingwan have always taken good care of me."

Upon hearing this, both Grandma and Lin Jianxia were taken aback.

Lin Jianxia's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat:

—What neighbor?! I just mentioned to Grandma that I was "helping the neighbor cook," and Grandma kept assuming...assuming it was a girl!!!

—Didn't I tell you not to talk?!

Grandma blinked, seemingly slowly processing what he had just said.

She couldn't help but turn her head away, and only after seeing her own Xia girl's quail-like expression did she slowly turn back to Jiang Yubai.

"Hmm, I remember... Xia said she was helping you cook, right?"

These words surprised Jiang Yubai somewhat:

"Yes, she usually comes to help out when she has free time... Oh, I didn't know she had already told you."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Lin Jianxia suddenly stood up abruptly:

"It's getting late, Grandma, I need to go prepare dinner!"

As she spoke, she glanced quickly at Jiang Yubai, her tone stiff:

"You...you come and help me!"

Jiang Yubai didn't understand what she was up to this time, but she still stood up.

“Then…Grandma,” he blinked, his tone obedient, “you rest first, I’ll help Lin Jianxia out.”

Before he could finish speaking, he felt a force on his hand—Lin Jianxia was already angrily grabbing his arm and slamming her head as she walked toward the kitchen.

The old man watched the two figures disappear through the kitchen doorway, and for a moment he couldn't help but chuckle.

But a little while later, Jiang Yubai jogged back, smiled apologetically at his grandmother, bent down to pick up the bag of seasonings that hadn't been taken in yet, and then turned and quickly went back into the kitchen.

.......

As soon as she entered the kitchen, Lin Jianxia closed the door and locked it with a click.

Jiang Yubai felt that her movements were somewhat familiar, and hesitantly asked:

"Uh... what are you going to do?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jianxia's feigned composure finally crumbled, and she glared at him angrily.

"Jiang Yubai! Didn't I tell you not to talk nonsense?!"

Jiang Yubai blinked:

"........What nonsense did I say?"

"I haven't said anything out of line!" Lin Jianxia took a step forward, glaring at those eyes. "Why did you say you live next door to us?!"

Jiang Yubai was somewhat baffled:

"Don't I live right next door to you? How can this be considered nonsense?"

Lin Jianxia was about to speak, but then paused.

—Yeah, that's right. This idiot doesn't even know what he said to Grandma, or how Grandma misunderstood it...

That's not Grandma's fault, it's not this idiot's fault...

Should I blame myself?

She hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, and finally could only lower her head dejectedly.

"never mind........"

The girl tilted her head away in a huff: "Hey, idiot, what do you want to eat?"

Jiang Yubai's eyes lit up instantly when this topic was brought up.

He coughed lightly, feigning modesty, and said:

"Um... can we still order food? I'm a little embarrassed..."

Lin Jianxia was amused by his words:

"You've brought all the ingredients and seasonings, aren't you a little embarrassed to ask me to order now?"

"Then make stir-fried pork with chili peppers, braised pork belly, and dry-pot potatoes. You can cook the rest as you see fit."

Jiang Yubai rattled off a string of words, shamelessly saying:

"Um... is there anything else I can eat to fill my stomach? I'm a little hungry."

Lin Jianxia glanced at him a few times, then suddenly snorted, turned around and took a plump, round thing from the steamer on the stove, and handed it over.

Here, this is for you to eat, it's still warm.

Jiang Yubai hesitated before taking it, and subconsciously squeezed it:

"...What is this?"

"White steamed buns".

Chapter 169 Foolish idiot who sides with outsiders!

"Look, the vegetables are all washed. Is there anything else I need to do?"

Jiang Yubai shook the water droplets off the vegetables, put them in a basket, and handed them over.

"Could you help me start the fire?" Lin Jianxia said while cutting meat. "Make it a little hotter, I'll be waiting—"

She stopped mid-sentence as if suddenly remembering something, and pursed her lips:

"...Oh, I forgot, this isn't a gas stove. There's nothing else. Go out and chat with Grandma and Wanwan."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu Bai scoffed.

"Who do you think you are? It's just a wood-fired stove. It's not like we've never used one before."

He plopped down on a small stool, looked around, grabbed a handful of flammable pine needles and stuffed them into the stove, then took two bamboo boards and gently placed them on top.

He skillfully lit the lighter, and the pine needles and bamboo board quickly caught fire.

Seeing that the fire was burning brightly, he then took some durable firewood and put it in.

Lin Jianxia paused in her hand as she cut the meat, looking over curiously. Seeing his practiced movements, her eyes widened in surprise.

"You really burned it?"

"Hey Lin Jianxia, ​​I'm not some spoiled rich kid born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I lived in a brick house when I was a kid, okay? Anyone can cook with firewood, right?"

Jiang Yubai rolled her eyes at her, annoyed.

"If I were really that kind of person, the first time I met you, I would have made you serve me tea and water under the guise of collecting rent."

"Tch, it's just starting a fire, what are you so smug about..."

Lin Jianxia wrinkled her little nose, glanced at him, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:

"By the way... why do we have to serve tea and water on our first meeting?"

"Isn't that how it's written in all those domineering CEO novels you read?"

Jiang Yubai added firewood while lazily drawing out his words.

"'The first thing you do when you see her is: Wow, this woman is so beautiful—I want her!' Who's going to try to get close to you? It's just lust at first sight, okay?"

He imitated it so well that Lin Jianxia burst out laughing, almost slipping the spatula into the pot.

She poured the oil and added the meat, letting out a soft hum:

"I'll take that as a compliment on my looks."

"...Can you please not be so shameless?" Jiang Yubai was speechless.

Lin Jianxia ignored that sentence, continued stir-frying the meat, and asked again with a pout:

"Hey, you've come all this way to wish us a Happy New Year, do your aunt and uncle even know?"

These words reminded Jiang Yubai.

"Oh right..."

As he added firewood, he took out his phone and dialed his father's number.

Within seconds, the call was connected.

"Hey Dad, I won't be home for dinner."

Jiang Pinglan's voice came through the phone, showing no surprise whatsoever:

"Okay, be careful. Are you going home after dinner?"

"Of course I'll come back," Jiang Yubai said, both amused and exasperated. "Who stays out on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"

"Okay, I'm relieved to hear that." Jiang Pinglan paused, then asked, "So... where are you now?"

Jiang Yubai blinked, subconsciously raised his head, and met Lin Jianxia's curious gaze.

"Uh... at the home of a classmate I'm close to."

He hesitated.