Chapter 123 – Master! Welcome Home!

Lin Xi wanted to switch roles with Zhao Xinning. She would be the manager, while Zhao Xinning played guitar.

But she immediately spotted a problem.

Zhao Xinning wasn’t in Class 1.

Even if Lin Xi tried to bring her in as a guest player, Zhao Xinning was already participating in her own class’s performance.

Lin Xi would never make things difficult for a good friend, so she didn’t even bring up such a selfish request.

Instead, she obediently began practicing.

…

“Congratulations, Xi! You’ve gone from beginner to expert!” Zhao Xinning said with a cheerful laugh, clapping her hands.

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration.” Lin Xi set down the guitar she had been plucking away at for over an hour. “I’d say I’ve only just gotten started…”

Beginner to expert? More like beginner to an early grave…

Playing the guitar wasn’t hard, but playing it well certainly was.

Zhao Xinning wasn’t the only one encouraging Lin Xi. Yang Shanshan and Huang Haiyao also told her that she already sounded quite convincing despite having only just picked it up, which meant she was clearly talented.

Encouragement from her friends and teacher dispelled Lin Xi’s thoughts of becoming a “deserter.”

All she could do now was grit her teeth and go through with it.

By the time they finished practicing, Su Xiangxue, who had been completely absorbed in arranging the song, had completed a preliminary version.

She said she would take it home and polish it, and by tomorrow, everyone would be able to practice with the arrangement.

Finally, they left the activity room together beneath the evening glow.

Lin Xi felt wonderfully happy.

As expected, the most important thing about an all-girl band was keeping things lighthearted and fun…

…

After saying goodbye to Zhao Xinning, Lin Xi unlocked the door and stepped inside.

For a moment, she thought she had entered the wrong house.

Is this my home???

Is this really my home???

Why are there suddenly three beautiful girls in Maid outfits here?!

“Master! Welcome home!” the three beautiful Maids declared in unison.

The scene felt so surreal that Lin Xi gently pinched her arm.

Yep. She wasn’t dreaming.

Unless this was a dream within a dream straight out of Inception, she was definitely still in the real world.

“Lu Yi, Qin Ling, Thor… Just what are the three of you up to???”

The three of them looked so adorable in their Maid outfits that Lin Xi was practically seeing hearts, but she still thought it best to get an explanation first.

What if their Maid services came with a fee? She wouldn’t be able to afford it even if she sold everything she owned.

After all, not everyone could afford to hire a Neko Maid, a Fox-kin Maid, and a Dragon Princess Maid!

Lu Yi and Thor both looked perfectly at home. The former worked part-time as a Maid at a cat-ear café, while the latter had been a professional Maid in A City.

Only Qin Ling lowered her head bashfully and muttered, “I can’t do this anymore. This cosplay is way too embarrassing!”

Covering her face, she fled to change her clothes.

Lin Xi: “???”

“Is anyone willing to explain what’s going on here?”

“Thor, weren’t you staying at the Safe House? Have your injuries already healed?”

“Thank you for your concern, Master!” Thor twirled happily in place, her skirt flaring around her.

She was showing Lin Xi that there was absolutely nothing wrong with her.

“The Dragon Clan possesses extremely powerful regenerative abilities. On top of that, Qin Ling and the others took excellent care of me, so I’ve already made a full recovery.”

“Congratulations on your recovery,” Lin Xi said. “But… you’re calling me Master? I don’t have the money to hire you.”

Thor immediately exclaimed with great emotion,

“You saved my life, Master.”

“I can never repay your kindness!”

“I want to be your Maid for the rest of my life!”

A life debt? Together forever? She was ticking every trope box. Lin Xi took half a step back.

Thor panicked. “Master, did you seriously just take half a step back?”

“Such a tiny gesture, yet it hurts so much-“

Lin Xi panicked. “Stop! Don’t start playing BGM for this!”

“Thor, I already told you I don’t expect you to repay me.”

“A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring,” Thor declared. “I insist on repaying you! I’m going to be Master’s Maid for the rest of my life!”

Lin Xi was speechless.

Setting aside Thor and her insistence on repaying her, Lin Xi turned to Lu Yi.

“Are you here to repay me too???”

“I’m here for free food,” Lu Yi replied.

Lin Xi was speechless again.

Thank goodness. This Neko was perfectly normal. All she wanted in life was still food and sleep…

Lu Yi explained, “After we finished rehearsing the play Cat-Ear Maid Cafe at school, I went back to the Safe House in this outfit.”

“Thor said she wanted to become your Maid, so she asked me to bring her to your place.”

“Wait,” Lin Xi said. “How did you get in?”

“Shi Yu has a key,” Lu Yi replied.

Oh, right. Lin Xi had almost forgotten that Shi Yu had always kept the spare key to her apartment.

“Qin Ling, what are you doing here?” Lin Xi asked, turning to Qin Ling, who had already changed back into her own clothes.

Qin Ling replied, “Didn’t you ask me to teach you guitar? I happened to be free today, so I came over with them to give you some hands-on instruction.”

“Then why were you wearing a Maid outfit too?”

“Those two forced me into it!”

Lin Xi fell silent.

A realization suddenly struck her.

Good grief. Not a single person in this apartment was human.

They were all high-level disasters from the Dark Realm.

“Of course I’m happy you came,” Lin Xi said, “but you should at least let me know in advance.”

“Thank goodness Xinning didn’t come in to sit for a while. If she’d seen all three of you, I would never have been able to explain it.”

“I sincerely apologize, Master. I am willing to accept any punishment!” Thor said, lowering her head.

Lin Xi had no intention of blaming her and told Thor not to worry about it.

“Thank you, Master! You are truly magnanimous!” Thor stepped forward and took Lin Xi’s backpack from her. “Please allow me to serve you properly.”

Lin Xi stared at her.

The full dragon-service package, huh???

That was way more than she could handle. “You really don’t have to, Thor. I-“

Before she could finish, Thor began massaging her shoulders and legs.

Lin Xi fell silent.

That felt good~

As expected of a professional Maid-

“Hey, don’t get too caught up enjoying yourself,” Qin Ling said as she sat down beside Lin Xi. “Do you still want to learn guitar or not?”

Qin Ling had even brought her own guitar along.

Of course Lin Xi wanted to learn. Qin Ling was an outstanding guitarist, and Lin Xi couldn’t wait to pick up a few tricks from an expert.

Meanwhile, Lu Yi was devouring one bag of chips after another while constantly complaining that she was hungry.

She really had come here just to mooch a meal…

Lin Xi decided to make dinner for everyone first. Everything else could wait until they had eaten their fill.

Thor immediately volunteered. “Master, please leave dinner to me!”

“I’ll show you just how terrifyingly powerful my ‘Maid skills’ are!”

Thor brimmed with confidence. She intended to show Lin Xi just how capable she was in every possible way.

She had come here today specifically to earn Lin Xi’s approval.

When she said she wanted to be Lin Xi’s Maid for life, she meant it.

Lin Xi had never been waited on like this before, so she honestly wasn’t used to it.

“All right, then. I’ll leave it to you.”

“There’s no need to be so polite with me.” Beaming, Thor headed into the kitchen and got to work.

Lin Xi resumed her guitar lesson with Qin Ling.

Off to the side, Lu Yi continued inhaling bag after bag of chips…