Chapter 6: Catching a Ride with My Best Bro
Today’s part-time shift felt a bit strange. Lin Muqing thought that all the other maids around her were acting weird. Especially Sister Yu, who was also acting odd.
When she tried asking about it during a break, she didn’t get any clear answers. Instead, she just got an even stranger smile.
Even by the time her shift ended, Muqing still hadn’t figured out what was going on.
“Um… Sister Yu, I’m heading home now.”
If someone asked her what the happiest time of day was, it had to be clocking out after work.
Right now, Muqing was standing in the break room. She had already changed out of her maid outfit and was now wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts, something cool and comfy, and not girly at all.
After all, Muqing really didn’t like wearing girls’ clothes.
Wearing a maid outfit was only for work and earning money, so in her mind, that didn’t count as crossdressing, according to Muqing.
“Huh? You’re not eating dinner here tonight?”
Sister Yu, still in her maid outfit, greeted her and asked with a bit of surprise.
“Ehehe~ I brought this.”
As she spoke, Muqing held up a lunchbox. Inside was her employee meal. Today she planned to bring it home and eat there.
Three dishes and a soup—way better than what she could cook by herself. It’d be a shame not to eat it all.
“Alright then. Be careful on the way home.”
Sister Yu gave her a gentle smile, then put down her cup and walked toward the break room door.
“Okay~”
Muqing cheerfully packed up her things and headed toward the back door of the cafe, planning to ride her little bike home.
This cafe was a pretty special place. The staff benefits were amazing, and the opening hours were super relaxed. Sometimes they didn’t even open at all and just gave everyone the day off.
Because of that super chill business model, Muqing once wondered how this place was even making money.
But that wasn’t her concern. She just needed to show up, do her work, and earn that super high hourly wage. Plus, she got a free meal, what more could she ask for?
By the way, even though it was a “maid cafe,” there weren’t any weird or sketchy services. The most they did was draw something with ketchup on an omelet rice. That was it.
“Heading home?”
Just as Muqing stepped out of the break room and was heading toward the back door, Ye Ziming suddenly appeared in front of her. His tall figure completely blocked her path.
A moment ago, Sister Yu had messaged him, saying that Muqing had clocked out and was bringing her dinner home.
As soon as he got the message, he walked out of the office and happened to catch Muqing right outside the break room.
“Yup! Are you heading home too, boss?”
Muqing had to tilt her head up a bit to see Ye Ziming’s eyes. She smiled as she spoke to him.
“Yeah. I’m going that way too. Want a ride?”
He smiled softly, pretending it was just a casual offer as he spoke gently to her.
“Huh? That’s okay. I have my bike.”
Muqing was a little surprised. She knew her deskmate came by car today, and honestly… she did want to ride in his car.
Compared to biking home, riding in her best brother’s car sounded much easier and more comfortable.
But after thinking about it, she decided to forget it. Even though her little bike wasn’t worth much, Muqing still wanted to take it home, just in case someone stole it.
“No worries. No one’s going to steal your bike here,” Ye Ziming said. Then he paused and added, “But the road near your house is pretty dangerous at night for biking.”
In just two sentences, he had guessed exactly what Muqing was thinking. She felt a little embarrassed and thought, Looks like I can’t really say no now...
“Well… okay then.”
After hesitating for a second in her heart, Muqing finally agreed.
Her brother had already offered so many times. If she kept saying no, wouldn’t that be kind of rude?
So in the end, her body was more honest than her words. It knew which option was easier.
“Come with me.”
Ye Ziming turned around, hiding the smile on his face, and walked toward the back door of the cafe.
The back door was connected to the kitchen. Muqing happily followed behind him, thinking that her luck today was amazing, someone was actually giving her a ride home.
After walking through the back door, she saw a small car parked nearby. She recognized it. It was Ye Ziming’s family car.
This wasn’t the first time she’d gotten a ride from him. Back in their first year of high school, she’d often caught a ride home with him since it happened to be along the way.
She lived in a low-income neighborhood, while Ye Ziming lived in a high-end community. Normally, the two places wouldn’t have much connection, but as luck would have it, that high-end community had been built after tearing down part of her neighborhood.
Which led to another issue, her neighborhood was about to be torn down too.
There was no set date yet, but it would definitely happen before the college entrance exams. In other words, Muqing would soon be without a home.
She shook her head. That problem’s still a bit far off. Worst case, she’d just rent a room near the school until the exams were over.
“Hey, I want to ask you something.”
Right before getting in the car, Muqing hesitated and spoke.
“Go ahead.”
Ye Ziming placed his hand on the car door and turned to look at her calmly.
“When… when you saw me in a maid outfit, weren’t you surprised? Or maybe… uncomfortable?”
She’d been wondering this ever since the afternoon, but hadn’t dared to ask. She was scared the answer would make her feel awful.
But after weighing it all in her heart, she decided to just ask. After all, this was her good brother. He probably wouldn’t think badly of her, right?
“Nope.”
Ye Ziming answered without much emotion, his expression calm and steady.
But to Muqing, those words made her feel like a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. She felt relieved.
“Mm-hmm! That’s good!”
She nodded happily. Seeing that her bro had already opened the car door for her, she quickly got into the car.
When she sat down inside, she noticed the driver’s seat was already occupied by Ye Ziming’s family chauffeur and butler. She greeted him casually.
“Uh…”
The butler looked a bit confused at first, then quickly turned into pure shock.
Because his young master had gotten in from the other side and told him to drive home.
He was stunned.
As the butler, he knew very well. His young master almost never let anyone else ride in the car.
Except that one skinny boy from before…
And now, his young master had brought a girl into the car. And from the looks of it, they seemed to be pretty close. You could even call it intimate.
“Uncle Liu, what’s wrong?”
Seeing that the car wasn’t moving, Ye Ziming asked.
“Ah, nothing! Buckle up, we’re heading out now.”
Snapping back to his senses, Uncle Liu quickly responded and started the engine, driving the car toward the neighborhood.
At that moment, he felt a bit happy. His young master had made a new friend and even… a girlfriend?
But he also felt a bit worried. Wasn’t this considered puppy love at their age?
Should he report this to the master and madam?
That… was the real question.