Chapter 8: Things Not Suitable for Children

Lin Xiaoxiao had classes in the afternoon, so she visited the hospital in the morning.

Her grandma’s condition had stabilized slightly, but surgery was still needed soon.

Looking at her grandma’s kind face, Lin Xiaoxiao’s thoughts drifted to the past.

When she was little, her parents were busy with work, so she lived with her grandma.

Back then, what annoyed her most was her grandma confiscating her New Year’s money, claiming to “save it” for when she grew up.

To get her to do chores, her grandma would promise a small “labor fee.”

Lin Xiaoxiao often bickered over whether sweeping earned fifty cents or a yuan, only to realize later she got nothing.

Once, she desperately wanted a toy everyone in class had except her.

In her only regretted act, she stole a few yuan from her grandma to buy it.

She thought her grandma would be furious, but instead, her grandma said nothing and took her to the store to buy every version of that toy.

From then on, Lin Xiaoxiao never stole again. In high school, when her grandma secretly slipped money into her backpack, she vowed to let her grandma live well.

But now, she felt powerless to do anything…

In the afternoon, after class, Lin Xiaoxiao returned to the dorm to pack.

Her roommates were reluctant—not everyone disliked her feminine appearance.

Some even teased, “Bro, you smell so nice…”

“Xiaoxiao, you’re really moving out?”

“Where are you going?”

“Is it because we’re too loud playing games?”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s eyes flickered with guilt, and she mumbled, “I rented a place outside. Don’t worry, it’s not about you guys.”

“You know my grandma’s not well. Moving out lets me take better care of her.”

Hearing this, her roommates couldn’t argue, though they dreaded losing their “dad” who woke them up and brought them food.

“Xiaoxiao, you better come back often.”

“We still need to carry you in games.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s lips twitched. Carry her? More like drag her down!

She grabbed her suitcase and a large bag, ready to leave.

Her roommates’ eyes widened, about to offer help but stopping. Despite her delicate look, their roommate was surprisingly strong.

At the freshman dorm party, she’d popped bottle caps with her bare hands like it was nothing, leaving a lasting impression.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yang was heading to a KTV with his buddies when he paused.

A friend followed his gaze and asked, “Zhou Yang, you know that short-haired beauty?”

Zhou Yang glanced at the effeminate figure’s back and looked away, saying flatly, “What, you interested? Oh, if you don’t mind that she’s a guy…”

His friend waved his hands.
“Nah, I don’t have those hobbies. But that guy looks like a girl, no?”

*

After settling her things in her room, Lin Xiaoxiao checked the time—it was time to make dinner.

She was, after all, the Zhou family’s maid, and these were her duties.

Tying on an apron, she started cooking, just as Zhou Ting walked in.

Her body trembled, last night’s memories flooding back, and she hurriedly looked away.

Zhou Ting found her reaction amusing and lingered a bit longer.

This made Lin Xiaoxiao think of something. Biting her lip, she walked over under his puzzled gaze and crouched before him.

Zhou Ting froze, his mind jumping to inappropriate thoughts, but before he could get excited, she said, “Lift your foot…”

Zhou Ting paused.
“What are you doing?”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Ch-changing your shoes…”

Zhou Ting’s eyes flickered with disappointment, then he pulled her up.
“No need to grovel like that. But if you’re into it, I don’t mind.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s face burned, glaring as she struggled slightly.
“I’m not…”

She wasn’t a masochist—how could she enjoy this?!

Zhou Ting raised an eyebrow, eyeing the “boy” in the apron, and said disapprovingly, “This look is boring.”

Lin Xiaoxiao blinked, looking at herself, not seeing the problem.

Zhou Ting didn’t dwell on it, changing the subject.
“Cooking?”

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, recalling Zhou Yang’s complaints yesterday, and said apologetically, “Sorry, my cooking’s average. If you don’t like it…”

She was mostly grateful to this man, aside from that relationship…

Zhou Ting, catching her drift, said, “It’s fine. Your food’s good. If that brat doesn’t like it, too bad. He didn’t starve before you cooked.”

“Oh, don’t make his dinner tonight. He’s out with his buddies.”

Lin Xiaoxiao hesitated.
“Is that okay?”

Zhou Ting, now in slippers and on the sofa, turned on the TV. He paused at her question, countering, “Why not? He’s an adult. He should know what to do.”

Lin Xiaoxiao thought Zhou Ting was too hands-off with Zhou Yang—maybe that’s why he turned out like this.

But it wasn’t her place to judge, especially at her age.

Zhou Ting, however, teased, “What? Already wanting to be the lady of the house and discipline that brat?”

Lin Xiaoxiao froze, her brain crashing.
“N-no way! That’s not what I meant…”

Why did she open her mouth?!

Discipline… if that happened, wouldn’t she… No, why was she even thinking this?

Zhou Ting hadn’t expected such a big reaction and said, “Just a joke. Go cook. It’s gonna be a long night.”

Lin Xiaoxiao’s heart raced, guessing what he meant, and fled to the kitchen in a panic.

But now, she was filled with worry. She knew her orientation—such things were painful for her.