Chapter Fourteen

Yu Xingyue lay on the bed and said, "Teacher, thank you for your trouble." In this context, "trouble" was a unique term coined by Yu Xingyue; he was naturally introverted and, wishing to remain polite without relying on standard phrases, he had invented his own vocabulary.

He sat up, curious to see if there was anything in the room worth noting. Beyond the computer on the desk, there was little of interest—except for an item in the closet that might lead to some rather skewed thoughts: a maid outfit. Yu Xingyue pulled it out and examined it; it appeared brand new, likely purchased recently.

"Oh! I didn't expect the teacher to have such hobbies. Could it be that she is a... no, no, let's not go there; it would be ungentlemanly." Just then, the door opened. Liu Haili had finished her shower and came to check if Yu Xingyue was settling in, only to find him holding the maid outfit with a strange look in his eyes.

"Xingyue-kun, you brought your own maid outfit? I didn't realize you were a cross-dresser." Upon hearing this, Yu Xingyue realized it wasn't Liu Haili's. If not hers, then whose was it?

"It's not yours, Lizi? Actually, I was just trying to hang my clothes in the closet when I found this. It's my first time seeing one; where I come from, almost no one wears these out in public," Yu Xingyue explained.

Liu Haili put her hands on her hips and laughed. "Since you found it, it’s yours. I would die before wearing it—it’s so embarrassing. But you have a nice figure and lovely curves; you’d look great in it." She looked at him with eager anticipation, clearly wanting him to put it on.

"How about a bet, Lizi?" Yu Xingyue proposed.

"What are you betting?"

"If I’m not the top student in the class by the end of the semester, I’ll wear the maid outfit in front of everyone. Conversely, if I am the top student, you have to wear it in front of the whole class. Not a bad deal, right?"

Liu Haili smiled. "We’ll see if you actually study hard. Under my tutelage, you’ll be top of the class, but I’ll make sure to distract you. I really hope to see that embarrassed look on your face when you wear it, ha-ha!"

"Teacher is truly wicked. But what about the customers downstairs?" Yu Xingyue asked the important question. If Liu Haili was here, who was managing the shop?

"Someone is starting work today, a girl. I hope she’ll be alright. There are quite a few creeps in the internet cafe; I don't know if she can handle them." Truth be told, she was worried about leaving a girl alone downstairs. Liu Haili prepared to head down to check, and Yu Xingyue, feeling the same, decided to follow along—if they were to be colleagues, they should get to know each other.

Liu Haili returned to her room to change. Two minutes later, she emerged completely transformed. Yu Xingyue could hardly believe his eyes; he hadn't realized his teacher had such a hidden side. Leather pants and a leather jacket accentuated her physique, and while her makeup was light, it only served to enhance her beauty.

"Wow, Teacher, you look so cool. This is the most impressive I’ve ever seen you."

"As the owner of an internet cafe, one must have some presence. If I appeared as a weak woman, everyone would think I’m an easy target," Liu Haili replied.

"I see. Then I suppose you don't need me anymore? You look quite intimidating on your own," Yu Xingyue joked.

"That won't do. I’ll actually feel less secure without you. Come to my room; I’m going to put some makeup on you." She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward her room.

"Lizi, no! I don't want makeup! It makes me feel less like a man." Yu Xingyue resisted fiercely. Someone had once told him that men who wear makeup are "sissies," and there was no explaining your way out of that label; once branded, that was it.

The more he resisted, the more excited Liu Haili became. "Oh, Xingyue-kun, makeup isn't as scary as you think. One day, all you boys will be using it. Say no more—your face is mine now." As the door slammed shut, Yu Xingyue’s wails echoed, though the soundproofing was so good that not a peep reached downstairs.

Some time later, Liu Haili went downstairs to check on the shop and called out, "Xingyue-kun, don't hide in the back. With my makeup, no one will recognize you—especially not your classmates."

Yu Xingyue poked his head out and touched his face. It felt heavy with several layers of cosmetics. When he had looked in the mirror earlier, he hadn't even recognized himself; the reflection looked like a complete stranger.

"Lizi, you were too brutal. If you make me do that again, I don't think I can handle it. Makeup is torture for me," he pleaded.

"Let's go. I’ll show you around the cafe. Be careful tomorrow; I have matters to attend to and will be back late. Your shift starts at nine in the evening, got it?"

Yu Xingyue nodded. "Understood, Teacher. What about my colleague?" He scanned the room, seeing only customers.

"She’s at the front desk. Go say hello. Remember, you must use a pseudonym. In this place, danger lurks, and a fake name is your best protection," Liu Haili said sternly.

"I see. I’ve already picked one out." Yu Xingyue walked to the front desk with a grin. Liu Haili wondered what name he had chosen that made him so happy.

Yu Xingyue approached the counter. The girl behind the desk looked up and asked, "Are you here to browse or something?"

He felt as though he had seen her somewhere before. He couldn't quite place her because of her makeup, but the familiarity was nagging at him.

"My name is Victor Hugo. We’ll be colleagues starting tomorrow. Please take care of me." Yu Xingyue extended his right hand. He couldn't help but chuckle at himself; everyone associated "Hugo" with "Victor." It was self-deprecating humor—he wasn't a great writer like the real Victor Hugo, just a student who liked to read.

The girl looked him up and down, then shouted to Liu Haili, "Boss, come here. Did you actually hire this guy?" She wasn't sure if he was a new employee and assumed he was just trying to flirt.

Liu Haili walked over, and Yu Xingyue pulled back his hand, realizing the girl didn't like to shake hands. Liu Haili explained, "Yuqin, he is indeed our new hire, starting tomorrow. I’m just showing him the ropes today. I hope you two will support each other. Right, Victor?" She patted him on the shoulder, struggling to suppress a laugh herself. She thought he was quite narcissistic—did he choose the name because he thought he shared Victor Hugo’s intellect?

*Yuqin?* The name reminded him of Xiaqin Yumei. He suspected that the girl at the desk was actually her, using "Yuqin" as a pseudonym by simply reversing the characters. Fortunately, she didn't recognize him, thanks to the makeup.

"Yuqin, what a lovely name," he said. He wasn't certain yet, but if she was Yumei, she would surely know Liu Haili. Calling her "Boss" during work hours was fine, though he hadn't thought about their private interactions.

"Whatever. I know you're starting tomorrow. Boss, show him around," she said, returning to her work. Yuqin came across as cold and indifferent. Yu Xingyue didn't press the matter, observing her with a complex look; perhaps that was just her personality.

He decided to talk to his teacher after her shift and ask about Xiaqin Yumei. She seemed to know everything about every student; surely, no one understood them better than she did.