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{Chapter: 358 Maid!}
Qiao Siying came panting, jogging slightly as she caught up to Lin Yuan, her breath ragged but her expression filled with urgency and a touch of frustration. Despite her refined appearance, she looked a little flustered—her long blonde hair slightly tousled, cheeks flushed, and elegant dress clinging lightly to her form from the exertion.
She had understood perfectly well what Lin Yuan meant earlier when he warned her to leave quickly. After all, the moment Lin Yuan revealed himself in that chaotic fake concert venue, the crowd had erupted into a frenzy. Nearly every person there had transformed into a die-hard fan within seconds, eager to get close to him.
Lin Yuan wasn't just any singer. He wasn't one of those celebrities who regularly performed at events or showed up at fan meets. In fact, he was mysterious—almost elusive. Very few people had seen him in person, and the rarity of such a sighting only added to the frenzy. Seeing him was like witnessing a shooting star—you had to seize the moment.
Fans surged forward in a chaotic tide, wanting autographs, selfies, handshakes—anything. But what Qiao Siying didn't expect was that Lin Yuan had already foreseen this reaction. He had vanished like smoke, leaving behind only her—an unfortunate soul who appeared far too familiar with him.
And just as she had feared, the mob had turned its attention to her.
All eyes landed on Qiao Siying, and their expressions said it all: she clearly knew him. She must know where he went. Maybe she had his number. Or was she his manager?
"No! I don't know him! I really don't!" she had cried out, trying to escape the unwanted spotlight.
She'd bolted from the venue and, in her desperate attempt to escape, found a narrow, dim alley nestled between two buildings. It was inconspicuous, secluded, and just the kind of place one might find solace from prying eyes.
As she turned into the alley, she let out a sigh of relief.
But then—
"What took you so long?" a familiar voice asked, calm and amused.
There, leaning casually against the wall, stood Lin Yuan, a slight smirk dancing on his lips as though he had been watching the entire chase unfold like some delightful comedy show.
Qiao Siying came to an abrupt halt, nearly stumbling from shock. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, perfectly composed and looking as if he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Meanwhile, she herself was flushed, breathless, and far from her usual elegant self.
She stared at his teasing expression, and her frustration instantly flared.
Today, she had worn a refined western-style dress, matched with a delicate necklace that lay gracefully against her chest. Her fair skin and long golden hair gave her a regal, aristocratic charm. But now, her sophisticated look had been marred by the chase. Her light makeup had smudged slightly, and sweat glistened at her temples. She looked like a disheveled heiress rather than the graceful lady she had intended to be.
Lin Yuan's teasing made it worse.
"What's the matter, Dubai Princess?" he said with a lazy smile, arms crossed. "Are you running from a wedding? Why do you look so flustered?"
Qiao Siying's pink cheeks instantly turned red—this time not from running, but from sheer embarrassment. Of course, she remembered her own words. She had once boldly declared that if Lin Yuan turned out to be the original singer of 'Blue and White Porcelain,' then she would call herself the Princess of Dubai.
Well, here he was. The very singer she idolized.
And she—definitely not royalty—was now being mocked for it.
Too humiliated to respond to that jab, she shifted the blame.
"I blame you!" she huffed, brushing back her windswept hair. "It's your fans who nearly tore me apart."
But after a moment of hesitation, her expression softened. She looked away for a second, biting her lip, clearly struggling to say what came next.
Still avoiding eye contact, she mumbled, "But… thank you. Thank you for shutting down that scammer. If you hadn't stepped in, I… I really don't know what could've happened..."
Her voice trailed off, and her fingers nervously twisted the hem of her skirt. It was rare to see Qiao Siying, normally sharp-tongued and proud, appearing this awkward and subdued.
She was truly grateful. Lin Yuan had kicked down the fake performer when he charged at her with a knife. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he might have saved her life.
But it was also difficult for her to accept that the man she had repeatedly argued with, mocked in her mind, pushed her to tears, and even dreamt of scolding, was now her unexpected savior.
She stood there, red-faced and silent for a beat, then finally continued with a more formal tone: "I really mean it. Thank you for your saving grace. I owe you one."
Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "Tell me how I can repay you. Whatever it is, I'll do it. I don't want to owe you something like this."
Even if Qiao Siying held disdain for rich second-generation heirs, she was still a person of integrity. She understood justice and gratitude. And today, she had seen a different side of Lin Yuan—one that left her conflicted and intrigued all at once.
When Lin Yuan heard Qiao Siying's stubborn words, he chuckled softly and leaned against the side of the booth. "I don't want anything too difficult," he said with a playful glint in his eyes. "But didn't I tell you earlier? If I turned out to be the original singer of 'Blue and White Porcelain', you'd have to become my maidservant."
He smiled even more teasingly. "Well then, just follow through on what you said. Be my maid."
"Impossible!" Qiao Siying snapped, her expression shifting into one of embarrassment and indignation.
"This request won't work. Let's change to something else!"
Although her voice was firm, a trace of panic danced in her bright eyes. As the proud eldest daughter of the Qiao family—a high-profile returnee from overseas—Qiao Siying had always been the one giving commands, not the one taking them. Her identity, beauty, and intelligence were the source of her pride, her belief in feminism and now this man wanted her to play the role of a maid? Even if it was just temporary, it was absolutely unthinkable.
She remembered how Lin Yuan had teased and bullied her multiple times before, and each incident had left her feeling frustrated, defeated, and out of her depth. But still… she also remembered his calm confidence, his grace under pressure, and his voice—his stunning, ethereal voice that had captivated her heart during that concert. And more importantly, he had just saved her from a deeply embarrassing situation.
Lin Yuan smiled again, this time with a bit more mischief. "Do you still remember that little bet we made back at the Yue He Equestrian Club?" he asked casually. "You and I raced with Tang Bowen that day—and you lost. You still owe me a favor, remember?"
Qiao Siying frowned slightly, then slowly nodded. "Yes… I remember."
"Well, I'm just now deciding on the favor I want," Lin Yuan said smoothly. "My request is for you to be my maid. Not forever, of course. Just for two or three days. You don't need to wash dishes or scrub the floor. Just stay by my side, serve me some tea, and follow basic instructions. Consider it an immersive cultural experience."
His tone was light, almost joking, but the underlying intention was clear.
The thought of this golden-haired, proud, and dazzling heiress in a maid outfit, pouring tea or calling him 'Master' with that reluctant look in her eyes—it was a hilarious and strangely satisfying image.
Qiao Siying's lips trembled slightly. "No… I mean… that's too much!"
"Then what? Are you backing out?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow knowingly. "I thought you were someone who honored her word."
"I'm not backing out…" she quickly interjected. Her face was flushed, her eyes avoiding his. "It's just… I need time to think about it. Your request is too outrageous!"
She fiddled nervously with the hem of her skirt, her breath catching slightly. Clearly torn, she finally turned around with a huff and said, "I'll think about it and decide whether your request is acceptable."
Then she stormed off, her long, blonde hair swaying behind her as she exited the hall.
Lin Yuan watched her leave with a relaxed smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
She said she would "think about it," but to Lin Yuan, that was already a victory. He knew Qiao Siying well enough to understand what her hesitation meant. If she really didn't want to comply, she would have rejected him outright. The fact that she didn't was proof enough that she was already halfway convinced—just embarrassed to admit it.
He folded his arms, enjoying the thought of what was to come.
Then, with a soft chime in his mind, the system panel appeared before his eyes.
Qiao Siying's favorability had skyrocketed.
[Ding! Qiao Siying's favorability +1! Reward: 100 counterattack points!]
The mechanical voice of the system continued to ring as the favorability score steadily climbed.
Her affection for him had surged all the way to 30 points—and it was still rising.
"She must still be thinking about today," Lin Yuan muttered under his breath.
And he was right.
In her car parked outside the venue, Qiao Siying hadn't started the engine yet. Her hands rested on the steering wheel, but her gaze was fixed on her phone screen.
She had pulled up the concert video again—the one with Lin Yuan singing 'Blue and White Porcelain'.
Her fingers hovered above the pause button as she watched, entranced by the familiar voice and elegant figure under the stage lights.
"This voice… was really his," she murmured softly.
There was something about the way he sang that pulled at her heart every time, and now that she had confirmation it was him, it stirred her even more deeply.
Her cheeks burned as she recalled the teasing conversation from just moments ago.
"He actually asked me to be his maid…!"
She bit her lip, unsure whether to laugh or be angry, her heart beating faster than she liked.
Qiao Siying closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat.
She didn't know what kind of spell Lin Yuan had cast on her, but one thing was certain—she couldn't get him out of her head.