From Dropout to Housemaid-The Upper Crust's Favorite - Chapter 31 - Don't Go Back Tonight

The sound of the hairdryer ceased, and the soft touch on his head vanished. Jiang Xianyu’s voice felt like a bucket of cold water splashed on Su Linyuan’s face. He ran a hand through his hair, the smooth strands falling back into place, obediently.

Jiang Xianyu dared not look again. She put away the hairdryer and returned to the dining table. Su Linyuan sat down as well. They ate in silence, the air thick with awkwardness. Su Linyuan occasionally glanced at the person across from him. As they were about to finish, he spoke up, “The food is delicious.”

His voice was a bit hoarse from not speaking for a while. Jiang Xianyu swallowed her bite and replied, “Thank you, Mr. Su. I will keep up the good work.” Another one of those suffocatingly formal responses from a diligent employee. Su Linyuan felt a twinge of irritation and chose not to speak further.

The meal ended without much flavor or conversation. Jiang Xianyu quickly tidied up the dishes. It was almost one o’clock. She could still make a trip back home. Wanting to maintain some distance and avoid the awkwardness of staying in the villa, she said to Su Linyuan, “Mr. Su, there’s some White fungus lily bulb pear soup in the kitchen for you. Remember to have some this afternoon. I’ll head home now.”

Su Linyuan was absorbed in pressing the TV remote on the sofa, merely responding with a grunt. Confirming he heard her, Jiang Xianyu grabbed her coat and left. From the floor-to-ceiling window, Su Linyuan watched Jiang Xianyu ride away on her E-ride until she disappeared from view. He turned back inside.

With the remote now idle in his hand, he picked up the shopping bag from the coffee table and went upstairs. In the bedroom, Su Linyuan took out the box from the bag. Inside was a bracelet. He had seen Jiang Xianyu wear bracelets before, which prompted him to buy it as a gift for her. Unfortunately, she didn’t accept it. He opened the drawer of the bedside table and tucked the jewelry box inside.

Recalling Jiang Xianyu’s parting words, he, despite having little appetite, went to serve himself a bowl of pear soup. The sweet, refreshing taste of the soup dispelled some of his inner gloom, lifting his spirits considerably.

When Jiang Xianyu returned around four in the afternoon, snowflakes had begun to fall. She entered but didn’t see Su Linyuan, assuming he was upstairs. After putting her things away, she started preparing dinner. As Jiang Xianyu was cooking, Su Linyuan came downstairs.

Seeing him at the kitchen door, she took a moment to ask, “Is the noise bothering you?” Su Linyuan replied, “Yeah, so I came down to check.” In truth, the distance from the first to the third floor couldn’t possibly disturb him, especially with the excellent soundproofing from the house’s renovation.

“Why don’t you watch some TV? Dinner will be ready soon.” Su Linyuan acknowledged her suggestion but didn’t move. He watched the busy woman in the kitchen, his gaze intent. Today, Jiang Xianyu wore a white turtleneck sweater and light blue jeans, her hair braided and draped over her right shoulder. The braid was different from the usual styles, looking quite attractive. Watching her like this, she didn’t seem like a housemaid at work but rather the lady of the house, preparing a meal with care.

Su Linyuan was startled by his own thoughts, quickly shifting his gaze to the TV in front of the sofa. The screen displayed some drama he couldn’t care less about; his eyes kept wandering back to the kitchen.

The sky had turned dark, and the lights were on. Jiang Xianyu brought the dishes to the table.

Su Linyuan stood up to help with the dishes.

Jiang Xianyu hurriedly stopped him, “Mr. Su, this is my job. I can handle it.”

Su Linyuan put down the plate he was holding but didn’t stop. He continued to the kitchen to bring out more dishes.

Jiang Xianyu was momentarily unsure of what to make of Su Linyuan’s actions.

Back at the Su Family’s old residence, Grandma Su would occasionally help out or bring a dish to the table. Was this how they always treated their housemaids?

They ate in silence, Jiang Xianyu glancing at the now white ground outside, quickening her pace.

“Are you in a hurry?” Su Linyuan asked, setting down his chopsticks.

Jiang Xianyu’s face revealed nothing, but there was a hint of urgency in her voice, “It’s been snowing for quite a while. I thought I’d finish up and head back early.”

The snow in Hai City wasn’t like the soft, dry snow up north. The occasional snowfall here was always accompanied by ice and damp cold.

Some roads might already be icing over, and if she left any later, they’d be even more slippery.

Watching the heavy snow outside, Su Linyuan said, “Don’t go back tonight.”

Jiang Xianyu’s hand trembled, and the rib she was holding with her chopsticks fell back into her bowl.

“It’s fine. I’m quick on my E-ride; I’ll be home in about twenty minutes.”

A competent housemaid shouldn’t stay just because the employer was being polite.

She knew Su Linyuan didn’t like outsiders intruding.

Inviting her to stay had taken all of Su Linyuan’s courage.

If it were any other housemaid, he wouldn’t have found it difficult to say. But with Jiang Xianyu, he felt an inexplicable sense of awkwardness.

He genuinely just wanted her to stay because of the bad road conditions… nothing more.

But she refused so readily. He averted his gaze and continued eating, his pace quickening.

Seeing him finish, Jiang Xianyu began clearing the table, and Su Linyuan insisted on helping.

Once the table was cleared, Su Linyuan spoke, “If you’re not staying, you should head back. You can wash the dishes tomorrow.”

Jiang Xianyu looked at him incredulously.

He had a mild case of germophobia, and she feared he wouldn’t resist washing the dishes himself. He had done it before.

Su Linyuan was at a loss, “I promise I won’t touch them.”

In the end, Jiang Xianyu still went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

At this point, a little more time didn’t matter.

Once everything was done, Jiang Xianyu hurriedly put on her coat, changed her shoes, and left.

Su Linyuan’s words of caution were cut off by the closing door.

Outside, the snow had accumulated. Jiang Xianyu, wearing her helmet, gloves, and scarf, wobbled as she mounted her E-ride.

Through the window, Su Linyuan watched her unsteady figure and couldn’t help but step outside.

“Are you sure you can manage? If not, don’t push it.”

Hearing the commotion, Jiang Xianyu quickly braked. The rear of the E-ride skidded, but she deftly steadied it with her feet.

Snowflakes landed on her helmet and scarf, and her small face turned towards him with a puzzled look.

Su Linyuan took a few steps into the snow to reach her.

“Are you sure about your riding skills?”

Seeing Su Linyuan in his thin clothing, Jiang Xianyu’s eyes showed concern, “I’m fine. You should go back inside; it’s too cold out here.”

Saying this, she waved him off and rode away, fearing her resolve might waver.

This time, she managed without any mishaps.

Su Linyuan gritted his teeth and returned to the living room.

The house was warm, and the sudden change in temperature made him sneeze.

“I don’t know where she gets that stubborn streak from,” he thought, feeling a headache coming on from dealing with Jiang Xianyu’s attitude.