At Zhong Yan's home, the air conditioning was practically running 24/7. This made the indoor temperature incredibly pleasant—especially for those who'd spent hours under the blazing sun. For them, this place was nothing short of paradise.
Even Ellen couldn't help but show a rare expression of contentment the moment she felt the cool air inside.
She then sat on the couch, casually pulled a few tissues from the box, and started wiping the sweat from her forehead.
At the same time, Zhong Yan handed her a glass of iced water, perfectly easing her immediate discomfort.
"I mean, Ellen, that outfit you're wearing is..." Zhong Yan couldn't help but take a long, appreciative look at Ellen in her maid outfit.
Even though he'd seen her wear it before, he'd never taken a good look. Now that he had the chance, he practically wished he could activate a Sharingan to absorb every detail of the maid uniform into memory.
"Someone said he wanted to see me in a maid outfit." In response to Zhong Yan's question, Ellen took a sip of the iced water, her tone nonchalant.
Hearing that, Zhong Yan immediately remembered—Ellen had promised him she'd wear a maid outfit for him.
What he didn't expect, however, was that she'd show up unannounced. It was a surprise, to say the least.
"You, looking like this..." Zhong Yan stared intently at Ellen. His slightly predatory gaze made her squirm a little. Her cheeks flushed, she turned her head to the side, letting out a few faint, bashful hums—textbook tsundere behavior.
"Ellen, you know, I've never asked you for anything in my entire life." Zhong Yan suddenly lunged forward without warning and grabbed Ellen's hand.
The sudden contact made her already flushed cheeks burn even hotter. Her lips parted slightly as she gazed at Zhong Yan's serious expression, her eyes shimmering.
"You..." Zhong Yan was just about to speak when, unexpectedly, Ellen, having caught on, pulled a massive pair of gardening shears from under her maid skirt and stabbed them forcefully into the floor in front of him.
Seeing the sharp blades, Zhong Yan immediately backed off. If she hadn't deliberately avoided any vital areas, Kamui might've auto-activated and phased him out of existence.
Like, seriously—how the hell did she even pull those garden shears from under her skirt? Could the legendary 2D pocket dimension actually exist in this world?
Zhong Yan didn't have time to ponder that, because Ellen had already stood up from the sofa and yanked the shears out of the floor.
"I suggest you don't get any ideas about me. Otherwise, I won't mind trimming you a little." As she spoke, Ellen fiddled with the shears a few times, sending chills down Zhong Yan's spine.
He quickly explained, "I-I-I... I'm just feeling a little sleepy and wanted you to put me to sleep, that's all."
That was a lie. He had been about to make an inappropriate request. But in a moment of desperation, he changed his story.
Hearing that, Ellen's expression softened slightly. She set the gardening shears aside, put one hand on her hip, and said, "You didn't seriously think I'm your actual maid, did you?"
After a short pause, her tone shifted dramatically: "Alright, fine. Since you've helped me before, I'll be your personal maid for today. Please, get in bed, Master."
Zhong Yan took a deep breath upon hearing her words, then leaned back onto the bed and rested his hands on his stomach, waiting for her to begin the bedtime service.
Seeing the expectant look on Zhong Yan's face, Ellen pursed her lips, feeling a mix of emotions.
It wasn't that she didn't want to help him fall asleep—it was that... she didn't know how.
The Victoria Housekeeping Co. had a clear warning: if you needed sleep-assistance services, do not choose Ellen.
So now, watching Zhong Yan lying motionless on the bed, Ellen had no idea what to do. After a long silence, she slowly climbed into the bed and lay down beside him.
Zhong Yan's bed was full of his scent. For Ellen, it was like a natural stimulant. Just lying there satisfied her senses—and her entire being—in a way she'd never experienced before.
What's more, the owner of that scent was lying less than half a meter away from her. All she had to do was stretch out her hand to touch what had once been unreachable.
Her thoughts began to unravel, pulling her back to the moment they first met.
She never would've imagined that the guy who had once seemed so unimpressive would become an irreplaceable part of her heart.
"Zhong Yan..." After a long silence, Ellen finally spoke. Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible—only Zhong Yan, lying beside her, could hear it.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, Zhong Yan opened his eyes.
Ellen was lying right in front of him. They were so close; He could clearly hear her breathing—and even their heartbeats seemed to sync.
They simply stared at each other. After a moment of silence, it was Zhong Yan who reached out first, gently pulling Ellen into his arms.
Perhaps it was the atmosphere, but Ellen let go of all her usual pretense. Like a docile kitten, she gently rubbed her head against his chest.
After a brief embrace, they moved on to the next phase. Zhong Yan released Ellen, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss on her lips.
The tender touch flooded his mind with stimulation, leaving him teetering on the edge of clarity and chaos.
Ellen's tail seemed to pick up on her master's current state as well, thrashing around wildly—nearly smacking Zhong Yan in the head several times. Luckily, she was aware enough to avoid disaster.
As for Pei, who'd just been doing the dishes not long ago—it quietly walked into its charging dock after witnessing the scene on the bed, pressed the power-off button, and activated the auto-start-on-full-charge setting.
Meanwhile, on the bed, the two of them embraced again after the kiss.
"Master, it's time to sleep." Ellen's voice trembled in Zhong Yan's arms. The blush on her face had spread throughout her body, causing her temperature to spike.
Especially when she felt the warmth of his chest, her heartbeat and breathing quickened uncontrollably.
At the same time, a never-before-seen thought emerged in her mind.
She wanted to break through that invisible wall between them.