Great, we're doomed now!

"As expected, the training intensity is still not high enough. I'll make a cane out of Gundam alloy later!"

Having made up his mind, Ye Shouyi walked out, dressed in a loose bathrobe, his hair still damp.

dong dong dong~

I had just lain down on the bed when there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Lord Ye Shou."

Liuli walked in carrying a wooden tray containing several bottles of clear essential oils, aromatherapy products, and clean towels.

Surprisingly, she wasn't wearing a maid outfit today, but rather a light beige loungewear dress with the hem just past her knees. Her long hair was loosely tied back in a ponytail, revealing her smooth neck and rosy cheeks, making her look like a professional masseuse.

With a hint of shyness in her eyes, the maid walked lightly to Ye Shou's side.

"I recently learned massage. You must have had a long day of training. Let me help you relax." Her voice was lower than usual, with a slight tremor, as if she were looking forward to something.

Ye Shou raised his eyelids slightly, somewhat surprised:

Her tone and gaze... are very similar to those before they became a couple, but she had clearly become quite "aggressive" in her daily life, yet now she's suddenly reverted to her old self...

Is this some kind of role-playing game?

He lay down on his side and casually asked, "Oh? When did you learn that?"

“I saw you always staying up late to handle official business and looking very tired, so I secretly followed the tutorial for a while.” Liuli walked to the bedside, put down the tray, and with her fingertips trembling slightly, lifted Ye Shou’s bathrobe. “You should change into this loose-fitting nightgown first; it will be more comfortable.”

She picked up a neatly folded cotton pajama set from the side; the fabric was soft and gentle on the skin.

Ye Shou raised his hand to cooperate, and Liuli's fingers inadvertently touched his skin. The warm touch made her cheeks blush even more, and she quickly lowered her head, but her movements became even more delicate.

—You seem to be in a good mood, Miss Maid.

Perhaps drawn in by this action, Ye Shou felt a tickle in his heart, and his body temperature slowly began to rise.

"Excuse me."

She gathered her skirt, knelt down, and first helped Ye Shou change into slippers, then removed his bathrobe. During the process, she didn't dare to look up at Ye Shou's waist, her face flushed with embarrassment. Then, she stood up with her eyes closed and carefully put on Ye Shou's pajamas. When her fingertips traced the muscle lines of his shoulders, she deliberately softened her touch and slowed her breathing.

"call……"

"call!"

Both of them exhaled a breath of hot air at the same time, but Liuli seemed to finally relax after being tense, while Ye Shou was trying hard to suppress something.

"Please lie down and turn over first."

After changing her clothes, Liuli unscrewed the essential oil bottle, poured some into her palm, and rubbed her hands together to warm them. A faint lavender scent wafted out, carrying a calming warmth.

She bent down and gently placed her hands on Ye Shou's back, kneading it slowly, gradually increasing the pressure.

The maid's technique wasn't very skillful—she was probably deliberately hiding her lack of ability.

Ye Shou knew that she would not stop until she had mastered everything she learned. Even in matters of love, she was full of inquisitive spirit. Her strong thirst for knowledge and extraordinary perseverance were the strongest Ye Shou had ever seen.

Although Liuli's movements were clumsy, she was extremely attentive, her fingertips precisely landing on the sore muscles, gently pressing and massaging them.

From shoulders to back, every part is carefully taken care of. The massage oil is slowly pushed onto the entire back, and the warmth of the palms spreads along the skin.

"Hey!"

The maid sat down gracefully, lifting her short skirt with both hands, and placed her hand on his thigh. Then she leaned down again and began to gently massage the back of his neck. Her breath brushed past him, carrying the unique fragrance of a young girl.

The maid would occasionally steal a glance at Ye Shou's relaxed profile before quickly lowering her head again, her fingers groping furiously. The girl's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a hint of unconcealed joy lingered in her eyes.

—She is enduring.

Patient maids always get to taste the most delicious cakes; some things become more addictive the longer they are baked.

"Hmm...not bad."

Ye Shou closed his eyes, feeling the comfortable touch on his back. His tense muscles gradually relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "The craftsmanship is not bad, better than I expected."

"It's better for you to get some rest than anything else." Liuli's voice softened, and she adjusted the pressure in her hands.

In this atmosphere that was gradually becoming sweet, Ye Shou remained silent for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes, as if he had remembered something, and slowly said, "Speaking of which, how did Jianzi and the others end up working as interns at the company? And as your assistants?"

"This……"

Liuli paused for a moment, the maid went into work mode for a split second, then returned to normal, only pressing a little harder.

Ye Shou knew that this was a sign that she was emotionally unstable and was starting to think about how to deal with the problem.

“There’s been so much work going on with the company and TPC lately that I can’t handle it all by myself. I need an assistant to help me out.”

She paused, then lowered her voice: "You have many secrets that you can't let outsiders know. Miss Miko, Miss Asuna, and Miss Kei are all people you trust. They should be the most reliable and would never leak any information... After thinking it over, these three are the most suitable."

"It's as if you're thinking of me."

Ye Shou turned his head to look at her. Liu Li's cheeks were still flushed, but she deliberately avoided his gaze. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the bed sheet, and her fingers unconsciously tightened.

"That's all?" Ye Shou raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly teasing. "Why do I feel like you have other intentions?"

"No," Liuli immediately retorted, but her voice lacked confidence, and her cheeks flushed even more. "I just need someone's help, I have no other intentions."

"Oh?" Ye Shou suddenly reached down and grabbed her wrist, which was pressed against her waist.

"what!"

Liuli's hand stiffened, as if she had been burned and tried to pull it back, but Ye Shou held it firmly.

The maid hurriedly stood up and got off the bed, but he pulled her along, causing Liuli to lose her balance and stumble forward, falling to the edge of the bed.

Ye Shou propped himself up and leaned closer to her, his nose almost touching her forehead. He could clearly see her reddened earlobes and panicked eyes, while the maid's wrist was tightly gripped, preventing her from escaping.

"Really not?" Ye Shou's voice was low, with a magnetic quality that seemed to possess a magical allure. He gently squeezed her wrist with his fingertips, as if playing with a child.

"Liuli, when did you learn to lie to me?"

“I would never lie to my master… This is all what I think, without a trace of falsehood.”

Liuli's heart was pounding, her breathing became rapid, her eyes darted around, her left hand instinctively braced behind her, and her body leaned back slightly, but Ye Shou pressed down on her shoulder with his other hand, preventing her from retreating.

"I...I really didn't..." Her voice was barely audible, and her cheeks were burning hot.

The shyness in her eyes could no longer be hidden, mixed with a hint of panic at being seen through, and a hint of expectation that she herself was unaware of.

“You are someone I taught. The most sophisticated lie is ‘partial truth’—do you think I don’t know that?”

Looking at her like this, Ye Shou couldn't help but laugh. He gently ran his fingers across her cheek, the touch slightly cool. "Not telling the truth? Then you should know... how disobedient maids are treated, right?"

"No..." Liuli pouted, looking somewhat aggrieved, "I really didn't mean any harm... Master, you have to believe me."

"Alright then." Ye Shou narrowed his eyes. "I still have other work to finish today. You can go now."

"what?"

The maid instinctively wanted to object, but seeing Ye Shou's subtle look, she quickly shut her mouth and said somewhat reluctantly, "Okay... I'll make you a cup of hot tea. Although your work tonight is important, please take care of your health."

"Hmm." Ye Shou smiled slightly, watching the maid leave dejectedly.

-

Inside the study, Ye Shouzhen was working on documents when Liuli brought in a cup of tea. After putting it down, she silently walked behind him and began to massage his shoulders.

Her pressure was initially even, her fingertips gently pressing along the meridians of her shoulders and neck, perfectly relieving the soreness from sitting at her desk. "Master, you've had so much to do lately, you must be exhausted."

Liuli's voice was steady, revealing little emotion.

Ye Shou hummed in response, without looking up, his fingertips still gliding across the paper: "You're being unusually attentive today, is there something you want to tell me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Liuli pressed her hand on her shoulder with unexpected force, her fingertips even tightening slightly, as if she had some pent-up energy.

"No... Master is so mean."

"Ok?"

Ye Shou frowned slightly: "You used too much force."

Liuli quickly composed herself, but this time it was as light as a feather brushing against her, almost unreal, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

"I'm sorry, Master." Her voice was lower, tinged with barely perceptible panic.

Ye Shou put down his pen and turned to look at her:

She usually addresses people by their first names, but today she called him "master" so many times... something's wrong.

Are you playing some kind of game?

The girl lowered her eyes and her eyelashes trembled slightly. Her usual calm and capable demeanor was nowhere to be seen, and she was clearly hiding something on her mind.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted."

"N-nothing, I'm just a little tired." Liuli avoided his gaze, her movements becoming increasingly chaotic, the force sometimes light and sometimes heavy, completely without any method.

Ye Shou reached out and grabbed her wrist, which was suspended in mid-air. Liu Li froze, as if she had been nailed to the spot.

"Speak up, or tonight... you won't get any reward." Ye Shou's tone was teasing, but there was also an undeniable sense of pressure.

"It's really nothing, Master, please let go of me. I still need to continue massaging your shoulders." Liuli struggled for a moment, trying to pull her hand back, but her tone was somewhat weak.

"Stubborn?" Ye Shou chuckled, gently stroking her cheek with his finger and shaking his head. "You're such a beauty, why did you have to become a thief? Let me ask you, what are the basic principles of a maid?"

"...I'm at your service with all my heart."

"I'm very confused right now, and I'm waiting for your answer."

"I didn't—um."

Liuli was about to retort, but she shut her mouth after seeing Ye Shou's eyes.

She knew that although Ye Shou spoiled her, there was always a rule between them, no matter how close they were. It wasn't a master-servant relationship, but rather a relationship between a man and a woman.

While playful banter is fine normally, when Ye Shou shows this kind of expression, Liu Li can no longer try to fool him.

"Are you willing to talk now?" Ye Shou looked at her with a smile, but still gently held her wrist, not letting her break free.

After a while, Liuli's eyes reddened slightly before she spoke with a hint of resentment and anger: "I... I just wanted to get a little revenge."

Ye Shou was taken aback, clearly not expecting this answer: "Revenge against whom, Qianhua? Why?"

"She knows perfectly well... I've always wanted to stay close to my master, but I always cling to you!"

Liuli's voice was filled with grievance and indignation: "A few days ago, she even called me on purpose, saying that she wanted to steal my job. It was obviously a show of defiance against me!"

She stole the time that should have been mine to spend with my master, so I'll make her taste the bitterness of being 'betrayed' by her best friend!