Sister, can I become a maid too?

Chapter 49 Pure Friendship

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Jiang Yubai stood there, stunned, not realizing what she had just heard.

A few seconds later, he spoke incredulously, "What did they say I... am?"

Li Yang, still with that dignified and solemn expression, nodded:

"Brother Jiang, you heard right, they all say—you're the principal's son."

Jiang Yubai: "......."

"No," he laughed angrily, "where did this rumor come from?"

At this point, Li Yang even stopped copying his homework and began analyzing it with great interest:

"Brother Jiang, they said someone saw it with their own eyes—on the day you finished your punishment run, Zhang Shishi personally waited for you at the classroom door and even handed you the principal's phone."

Jiang Yubai: "?"

"They didn't hear what you said clearly, but they all felt that you sounded very impatient."

"And then... as everyone knows, Dong Chengze didn't just receive a warning, he was transferred to another school. What's the difference between that and expulsion?"

Jiang Yubai's lips twitched:

"No, what does what happens to Dong Chengze have to do with me?"

"Brother Jiang," Li Yang shook his head, "Even though they spread rumors first, you still flipped their table!"

"Flipping the table wasn't enough, you went to the playground and ran five laps as if nothing had happened, but Dong Chengze just opened his mouth and had you and your bedding all kicked out of the school."

"Plus, with Master Zhang looking like she was facing a major crisis, and even personally handing you your phone, it's no wonder some people think you're the principal's son."

At this point, Li Yang paused, then looked at him with a hint of suspicion:

"Speaking of which, Master Zhang usually has a stern face, but she actually had a pleasant expression when she saw you..."

"Brother Jiang, you're not really the principal's son, are you?"

"Get lost, get lost! If I were the principal's son, I'd fire you first." Jiang Yubai rolled his eyes dramatically.

What is all this nonsense? And you're making it sound so convincing.

"Didn't we already say it would be 'based on the wishes of the student and their parents'? Getting caught spreading rumors in front of your crush and classmates, and losing face so badly, isn't it normal to want to transfer schools?"

As for the rest... well, he was just unlucky to run into the leaders who came down for an inspection.

After giving a casual explanation, Jiang Yubai asked again:

"Any other rumors?"

Li Yang hesitated for a moment: "Others? Brother Jiang, what type are you talking about?"

What type?

Jiang Yubai thought for a moment: "So... me and Lin Tingwan, is that right?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yang's lips twitched, his expression becoming rather subtle:

"Brother Jiang, do you want the truth or a lie?"

Jiang Yubai narrowed his eyes: "What's a lie?"

"...The truth is, absolutely not. You two are completely innocent, so there's nothing anyone can say about it."

What does that mean? What does it mean that we are completely innocent?

Jiang Yubai said irritably:

"And what about the truth? The truth is, the rumors about the two of us are flying everywhere?"

"Heh, heh," Li Yangqian chuckled twice, "The truth is... there really are no rumors."

"Really not?" Jiang Yubai was taken aback, frowning. "That's strange. Why were they all staring at me when I came in this morning?"

"Brother Jiang, don't rush, let me finish."

Li Yang suppressed a laugh, as if he was holding back something:

"Although you and Lin Tingwan arrive early every day and the other arrives right before the school bell rings, today you've both entered the classroom together for the first time ever."

"Although Lin Tingwan never pays attention to anyone, Brother Jiang, you keep bringing her snacks and passing her notes whenever you visit, and the key is that she actually takes them."

"Although Brother Jiang, you acted impulsively for the sake of your beloved, even overturning the table of the person spreading the rumors..."

Li Yang looked sincere:

"But! Everyone still firmly believes that your relationship is purely platonic, really."

Jiang Yubai: "......."

He stared at Li Yang speechlessly, and Li Yang finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Hey Jiang, who would dare spread rumors about you two now? The last person who did it was already expelled from school, okay?"

"Even if you two really did kiss in the grove, everyone will firmly believe that Lin Tingwan got sand in her eyes, and you were just blowing it out for her, Brother Jiang!"

Jiang Yubai didn't want to talk to him anymore, so she threw down a sentence and turned to leave:

"Get lost, we're just innocent classmates."

Well, this is fine too, as long as no one is gossiping behind my back.

"Hey, Brother Jiang, take care!"

Li Yang waved with a smile, finding the whole thing incredibly amusing.

He was laughing when his expression suddenly froze.

Oh no, my exam paper!

-----------------

After morning self-study, the weekly flag-raising ceremony is held as usual.

As Jiang Yubai listened to the passionate speech by the student representative on the podium, his gaze idly swept across the playground.

Lincheng No. 3 Middle School does not mandate students' attire, except for Mondays when the flag-raising ceremony is held.

The summer heat hadn't completely subsided by mid-September, and with the sun shining particularly brightly today, the girls around us, dressed in their summer school uniforms, looked especially refreshing and eye-catching.

As he looked around, his gaze unconsciously fell on a certain figure again.

Lin Jianxia stood at the middle and back of the class line, her posture as upright as a newly sprouted bamboo.

Her blue and white school uniform accentuated her long neck, and her high ponytail swayed gently in the morning breeze, the ends of her hair gleaming softly in the sunlight.

It does seem... kind of good-looking.

So throughout the entire flag-raising ceremony, Jiang Yubai's gaze remained openly and consistently fixed on that high ponytail swaying gently in the wind.

After the flag-raising ceremony.

In the classroom.

Lin Jianxia looked warily at Jiang Yubai beside her, feeling that there was something strange about the guy's eyes.

Jiang Yubai thought for a moment, picked up the draft notebook, quickly wrote a line, put a small bread on it, and pushed it over.

Lin Jianxia skillfully took the small bread and glanced down at it.

"Your ponytail is a bit low; it would look better if you tied it higher."

?

What does that mean?

What does it mean to look good with your hair high up?

What! You think I can just tie it higher because you tell me to?

Lin Jianxia pushed the notebook back expressionlessly and turned her head away, ignoring him.

Jiang Yubai didn't seem to care, and took out a math test paper and started twirling his pen.

"....."

But... what if the needle went astray?

Does this look really bad...?

Lin Jianxia wanted to take a look, but there was no small mirror at hand.

After hesitating for a few seconds, she secretly glanced to the side—Jiang Yubai was looking down at correcting mistakes in his questions, seemingly not paying any attention to them at all.

...It was just fixing my hair, definitely not because of what this guy was babbling on and on.

Thinking this, she bit her lower lip, reached out and loosened the hair tie, and quietly moved her ponytail up a few centimeters.

Just as I put my hand down, a very soft laugh came from the side.

Lin Jianxia's ears turned bright red.

Jiang Yubai withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, feeling that much of his resentment about going to school on Monday had dissipated.

Just then, the front door of the classroom was pushed open.

Master Zhang walked into the classroom carrying a stack of exam papers, placed them on the podium expressionlessly, and glanced at the whole class.

"The results of last week's weekly tests are out," she said seriously. "The feedback from the teachers is that the overall results are not ideal."

She paused, her gaze lingering for a moment on several students who had lowered their heads and were avoiding eye contact:

"Let me emphasize again—the seating arrangement is not to make it easier for you to chat, much less to allow some people to 'help each other' copy homework."

"The seating arrangement is designed to encourage and support each other, so that you can improve your grades."

Master Zhang adjusted her glasses, her gaze sweeping over every face in the audience:

"After discussion within the grade level, we decided to introduce a 'learning partner points system'."

"Starting today, each pair of deskmates will become fixed study partners. Each month, a comprehensive evaluation will be conducted based on the progress made by each pair in their weakest subject and the quality of their completed assignments."

"After each major exam, in addition to individual rankings, we also add a ranking of the progress made by study partners."

"At the end of the semester, the top five pairs in terms of points will receive additional rewards—including a special progress scholarship from the school."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint commotion arose from below.

Jiang Yubai raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Lin Jianxia beside him.

No, what's the school up to now?

From what I'm hearing... he and Lin Jianxia are not only classmates now, but they're also tied together in terms of points?