That’s why they say Yun’er has unparalleled talent in business management.
Just a minute ago, they had been discussing tentatively hiring Lin Zihan as a summer temp for the Ye Family Maid Corps.
The next minute, Yun’er had already kicked off the interview right there at the dining table!
“Miss Lin Zihan,” she said, “please answer the following questions. Regarding your employment with the Ye Family Maid Corps, can you guarantee that you won’t damage any of the Ye Family Residence’s furnishings or decorations during work, and that you’ll report any damage immediately if it occurs?”
“Yes, I can!”
“Second question: Can you guarantee that if you overhear any rumors that sound like they might be Ye Family business secrets while working, you won’t spread them, won’t believe them, and will keep them strictly confidential?”
“Yes! In that case, I’d just selectively go deaf!”
“Very good. Now the final question. Pass this, and you’re hired.”
“I’m ready.”
“During your time working for the Ye Family Maid Corps, can you promise to keep at least three meters away from my sister at all times?”
“Well… I’m afraid not!”
“What a shame. You’re rejected. Please look elsewhere.”
Hey!
Don’t reject her!
Ye Zhibai was speechless. Hadn’t they spent the whole morning on this for nothing?
No, Ye Zhiyun had only used this “interview” to give Lin Zihan a little warning, to make her understand some basic rules from the start.
And the third rule she listed? That was the most basic rule of all—a law of the world!
The law being that the private space Yun’er shared with her sister at home was sacred, absolutely inviolable by outsiders!
Guang Yu could only express that Yun’er was even more formidable than the Deity.
The real Deity was still sleeping on the floor, while Yun’er already had her own “laws.”
Seeing the interview stall as expected, Ye Zhibai timely tilted her head. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulder, shimmering ethereally against the backdrop of the bamboo grove behind her. She didn’t even need to speak; the gesture alone interrupted the “interview.”
Ye Zhibai wasn’t sure why they had suddenly gone quiet, but she seized the chance to speak up.
“Yun’er, even if Zihan gets hired right now, that would be fine, right?”
“In my personal opinion, she’d be fired as soon as she was hired. But since she’s your friend, Sister, the decision to hire is yours, and I’ll just oversee it.”
Oh ho, so that made her an interviewer now?!
Two lifetimes, a full two lifetimes, and this was the first time she’d held such a big position!
Guang Yu chimed in with timely advice: “Quick, quick, Ye Zhibai! Ask her if she’s confident she can add some wasabi flavor to our kitchen meals! Isn’t that the top priority?”
“That’s not a top priority—it’s a top disaster. Shut up and build your tower. Don’t talk.”
If they interviewed by your standards, the world would have ended long ago.
Damn that evil wasabi.
Ye Zhibai looked up, her gaze meeting Lin Zihan’s expectant eyes in midair.
Zihan was brimming with anticipation!
She looked just like an adorable little puppy—a golden retriever, even.
Ahem, such thoughts were terribly rude. Ye Zhibai offered a sincere apology in her heart.
Though she was technically the “interviewer,” friends didn’t need to be so formal.
A frost settled in Ye Zhibai’s pale purple eyes.
With the matter settled, she announced the final verdict of this tug-of-war.
“Zihan, come work at my place starting tomorrow. The pay should be better than here, and it’ll last until university starts. It’s temp work, so it won’t match full-time maids’ wages, but it won’t be too low either. You… uh?”
“Wah… Don’t mind me, these are just tears of joy. I really… ever since I met Little Bai’er, why has life become so blissful? I never knew before that the world was full of color!”
Was your world black-and-white before? Were you living in the Stone Age or something?
Ye Zhibai had experienced Lin Zihan’s mischievous teasing several times by now.
But this time, there were genuine tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
Yun’er would call them crocodile tears.
Lin Zihan wiped her tears, finished the last stuffed pancake on her plate, and balled her small fists with resolve.
She was determined, full of determination!
“Got it…! I can’t betray an angel’s kindness. Tomorrow, I’ll go to Little Bai’er’s—er, the Ye Family Residence—and work hard! But… what exactly will I be doing? Maid Corps… that’s a fresh name. Before the Lin Family fell on hard times, we had plenty of nannies and chefs. Is it the same concept?”
“More or less, I suppose.” Ye Zhibai laughed inwardly; she wasn’t entirely sure herself.
“So… does Little Bai’er have a personal maid right now?”
“?”
Personal… maid?
What was this wondrous, almost otherworldly term?
“Hey.” Yun’er cut her off without mercy. “We don’t have ‘personal maids’ in our family. Distance creates beauty. If anyone, I’m my sister’s personal maid. No one else is needed.”
“Aww~~ Zhiyun, don’t say it like that. ‘Personal maid’ is just a figure of speech, not literal zero-distance clinging. I just mean, if I get to work at the Ye Family Residence, I want to chat with Little Bai’er in my free time, keep her company. We’re friends, after all—we can’t be under the same roof but never see each other, separated by dozens of meters. That’d be so lonely!”
“Glib tongue.”
“I’d rather you call it eloquence.”
Alright, alright, you two great debaters.
You’re always reminding me how verbally challenged I am.
In truth, Ye Zhibai had already planned out Lin Zihan’s role the moment she suggested she come work as a maid.
There was a position at home that had always needed filling but had remained vacant.
With her mind made up, Ye Zhibai elegantly sipped her tea, a spark of cleverness flashing in her cool gaze.
Ahem, don’t ask!
She just felt like striking a pose now that she’d thought of a smart idea!
Little did she know, this behavior struck Yun’er and Zihan as utterly charming.
“Zihan, I’ve got a job for you. Since your family runs a flower shop, do you know how to care for plants and flowers?”
“Flowers…? Absolutely! Little Bai’er, you’ve asked the right person. For example, all the grannies and grandpas in our residential complex come to me for tips on potted plants!”
That impressive?!
Everyone knew the neighborhood grandpas had two signature skills: playing Chinese chess and tending potted plants.
The grannies had two as well: line dancing and tending potted plants.
They all grew plants, yet in that expertise, they sought her advice!
It was clear… Lin Zihan truly had a knack for it, worthy of trust.
This put Ye Zhibai even more at ease.
“Perfect. Then your job is set. There’s a small courtyard outside my room with flower arrangements that need tending. Weeds have sprouted, and five big scallions still need replanting. All that requires attention. I’m usually too busy—not lazy, mind you. One important note: We have a cat at home. It’s not just mischievous; it sleepwalks and often yanks up the plants. I want you to keep the courtyard as is or make it even prettier. Bonus task: If you catch our cat causing trouble, give it a good whack—no mercy.”
“……”
That was a lot of info, but Lin Zihan… sort of got it?
Guang Yu chuckled.
Which cat was this poor thing? See, Ye Zhibai was even hiring someone to beat it!
On second thought—
The cat at home…
Wasn’t that her?!
Danger!
Yun’er had initially thought it was a good fit, but upon reflection…
She spotted the issue!
“Sister! This won’t do. There’s only one path to your room’s courtyard—it goes right through your room. Doesn’t that basically give Lin Zihan free access to your space?!”
“To get to the courtyard, you have to pass through my room… Yun’er, what’s wrong with that?”
“Of course there’s something wrong! Your room is filled with your scent. What right does she have to breathe that…! Wah, sorry… I lost my composure.”
That’s not losing composure.
That’s being a total perv!
Good thing I didn’t have a recorder on, or you’d hear yourself!
You deep-breathe every time you enter my room for that reason? I thought you were just low on vitality and needed some aromatherapy!
Case closed, folks. Next time, spritz some air freshener in there.
Though there were a few hiccups, the matter was quickly settled.
Of course, Yun’er had additional conditions.
Lin Zihan had to work under her supervision, clock in when she arrived so Yun’er knew, and clock out when she left.
Zero blind spots!
Eight-hour shifts, no negotiation.
Pay was three hundred fifty a day, comparable to restaurant work, and Lin Zihan was more than satisfied.
With everything agreed upon, Lin Zihan clasped her hands over her ample chest, dreaming of her new life starting tomorrow.
“Wonderful… Doing what I love, tending flowers, and seeing Little Bai’er every day. But… I’ll have to keep the job even more secret from Mama. She doesn’t want me getting tangled with big families. Little Bai’er, Zhiyun, please understand and help me out! Pretty please!”
“Understood.”
She understood completely.
Ye Zhibai didn’t want to stir up any unnecessary trouble either. Her mother’s condition wasn’t something that could change in just a day or two. The pain inflicted by a great clan might not even be something that time alone could heal.
In that case, it was better not to bring it up at all—and certainly not to let Zihan’s mother worry needlessly.
The food on the table had been completely finished.
All the matters had been discussed.
Finally, Ye Zhibai stood up.
Recalling scenes from some movies, she extended her left hand toward Lin Zihan.
A handshake to signify smooth cooperation ahead—please take care of me!
Life needed a sense of ceremony, after all.
But while Ye Zhibai’s heart felt warm and fuzzy inside, the words she spoke in her usual icy tone came out sounding rather strange.
“Zihan, do your best.”
It wasn’t clear exactly which aspect she was encouraging.
But Lin Zihan knew that starting tomorrow, she would absolutely work even harder!
She gripped Ye Zhibai’s outstretched hand tightly—and not with just one hand, but both.
“Got it, Boss Ye! Starting tomorrow, I’ll be your faithful employee~”
Everyone was focused on the work arrangements. Even Guang Yu, having polished off her lunch, was already pondering that evening’s dinner.
Only Yun’er was different.
“Hands! Hands!”
What she was fixated on was her sister and Lin Zihan’s tightly clasped hands!
Lin Zihan, you rascal! Taking advantage of my sister—one hand would have been bad enough, but two?! Getting an inch and taking a mile—let go right now!
