These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

I pushed Soft Ice back into the depths of my mind, wiped the water off my face, and resumed the conversation as if nothing had happened.

“He might not seem like it, but Ethan has a bit of a thing for little girls, doesn’t he?”

“I think Young Master Ethan’s more of a universal lover. No matter the body type, as long as it’s someone he truly likes, I believe he could accept them all.”

“Hehehe... that’s not wrong. Ethan really does give off the feeling that he could accept anything.”

“That’s because Young Master Ethan is just that open-minded. ‘Even if he witnesses something abnormal, he’s able to accept it completely’—when it comes to tolerance, he’s truly one of a kind in this world.”

Seeing that I had calmed down, Shirley continued wiping me down. Once she finished the front, she moved on to my back.

“After all, Young Lady, you once tried to hunt down Young Master Ethan, even revealed your true nature to him... and yet he still chose to accept you. Hehehe. If it were any other man, he probably would’ve run away without a trace.”

“Hmph... that’s because Ethan’s a fool who can’t tell what’s important and what’s not.”

Even if someone were to tell him the world was ending tomorrow, he’d probably still go about his day according to his usual schedule.

And just then, I remembered—it was Shirley who first told Ethan when my birthday was!

“Come to think of it, this is all your fault, Shirley. Why did you have to tell Ethan about my birthday? That boring party wasn’t something he needed to be invited to...”

Let’s be honest—that so-called “birthday party” was nothing but a negotiation meeting dressed up with a name. The guests were all big-name politicians and businesspeople, just pawns to help ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ that person expand her network. My birthday party was just a convenient excuse...

“Yes, yes, I was too nosy. But as your maid, I simply hoped you could enjoy your birthday a little. That was just a small, humble wish of mine.”

“Enjoy? I didn’t feel happy at all!”

“Really not even a little? Oh my... did I overstep again? In that case, I suppose I should go tell Young Master Ethan not to come today, so you won’t be bothered—”

Shirley placed her hand on her cheek and turned to leave the bathroom, as if she were actually about to notify Ethan not to come.

“Don’t!”

Panic surged in me. I turned around immediately, trying to stop her—but my foot slipped. I nearly fell, but Shirley caught me just in time.

Ugh... she totally expected this to happen, didn’t she?

“Hehehehe~ So, do you want him to come or not, Young Lady? If you don’t say it clearly, how am I supposed to understand~?”

That teasing smile curled her lips and eyes like crescent moons, mischievous and wicked...

Ugh. Whether it’s Soft Ice or Shirley, they only know how to piss me off...

But even if I’m angry, there’s nothing I can do about Shirley. Out of everyone, she’s the only one I’m truly helpless against.

All I can do is stew in frustration alone... sigh...

“Ugh... Shirley, I hate you. You’ve completely destroyed my dignity.”

“Hehehehe, don’t worry, Young Lady. I’m the only one who knows this adorable side of you~”

“Adorable? Where?”

“Right there—both your ears are bright red.”

“Ugh...!”

“If you could show this honest and cute side in front of Young Master Ethan, without switching personalities, I bet he’d fall for you instantly.”

“Don’t joke about that! Showing this kind of side to Ethan...? Hehehehe... impossible!”

Even just suppressing Soft Ice’s emotions when I’m near him is already hard enough.

To let him see me like this—losing all elegance and composure?

Heh. What a joke.

I’d be so humiliated I’d want to kill him... and then myself.

(You're so dishonest. Love is all about taking the initiative to gain the upper hand~)

Shut up!

“...Sigh...”

I really am like a little girl in front of Shirley—completely powerless. That mask of a smile doesn’t always work.

I thought I’d matured enough... but clearly, I still have a long way to go.

Reading my mood again, Shirley gently stroked my hair and comforted me softly.

“Hehehe~ Don’t be discouraged, Young Lady. To everyone else, you’ve already perfected elegance. It’s only when it comes to Young Master Ethan that there’s still some room for growth.”

“Is that so...”

It’s true. Around Ethan, I really do lose control easily...

“But, Young Lady, you haven’t asked me to monitor Young Master Ethan at all recently. Are you okay with not getting first-hand intel on him?”

“Hehehe, I need to give Ethan a little breathing room too, don’t I? If I act like I know everything about him, it’ll only scare him away.”

If you cling too hard to someone, it only makes them feel smothered, restricted—like they’ve lost their freedom.

And once that annoyance or dissatisfaction sets in, the relationship is doomed.

Even if Ethan is the type who tends to give in—no matter how unreasonable I am, he’d probably still accept me, just like he does with his “sisters”...

But I don’t want to become that kind of girl in his eyes. Ethan belongs to me—but he also belongs to himself.

I absolutely don’t want him to see me as some deranged, obsessive stalker of a girlfriend. Hehehehe...

“Only stalkers obsessively collect information. Shirley, do you really think Ethan would like me if I were like that?”

“Well, that’s... certainly up for debate.”

Just then, Shirley paused mid-wash, as if sensing something. She wiped her hands with a towel, pulled a phone from her maid apron, and turned to me.

“Oh my, speak of the devil—Stalker Girl’s calling. Young Lady.”

“...Lan Hua? Put her through.”

Shirley held the phone to my ear.

『Hiyoo~ Good morning, Lianbing~ Ah, today’s your birthday, isn’t it? Let me wish you a happy birthday first~ Happy birthday~』

It’s Lan Hua...

But this tone of voice...

Way too cheerful.

That usual nervous, unstable tension in her voice—gone. She sounded composed and relaxed.

Has something changed in her?

『Since it’s your birthday, Lianbing, I thought I’d give you a big present~ That’s why I’m calling you first thing this morning~』

“My, how flattering. Hehehehe. So, what kind of gift has you so excited to give it to me, Lan Hua?”

『It’s a super special gift! Listen carefully, I’ll only say it once!』

Sounds like the “gift” is some kind of information.

『Ethan didn’t head to your birthday party. Instead, he went to Jiang Xueqing’s house. Right now, she’s on top of him—about to do something naughty~ Wow, super dangerous, right?』

“...”

Heh. So she’s come to stir the pot, huh?

“Telling me this out of the blue... you’re clearly trying to cause trouble, aren’t you?”

『Aww~ don’t make me out to be some scheming villain~ I’m only telling you this out of kindness, you know?』

“Hehehehe, well then, thank you so much for the news... Lan Hua, classmate.”

『You’re welcome~ After all, we’re good friends, aren’t we, Lianbing... classmate?』

Oh dear... So now we’re officially “opposing sides,” huh?

I always knew this day would come—just didn’t expect it so soon.

Looks like something “interesting” happened in the days I wasn’t watching Ethan...

『Well then, I’ve delivered my gift~ Whether you accept it or not is up to you, Lianbing~ Hope you don’t disappoint me~ Fufufu... Now I won’t interrupt your morning bath. Bye-bye~ Hope you have a delightful day~』

Click!

The call ended.

“Hehehehehe...”

Things just got interesting, didn’t they?

“Shirley, get my clothes. I’m heading out.”

I flicked my hair back and turned to leave the bathroom, but Shirley didn’t follow.

“Shirley?”

“Young Lady... might I offer you one piece of advice?”

“What? Don’t tell me you’re trying to stop me?”

“Because if you go... I believe you’ll deeply regret it.”

“Oh?”

Has Shirley already seen how this will play out?

In other words, if I go, something bad is bound to happen? Hehehehe...

Even so... I still have to go.

I can’t not go.

If it were someone else, I might’ve just let Ethan pay the price afterward. But Jiang Xueqing...

I can’t look the other way.

“Hehehehe... Life is full of regret and bitterness. If everything went smoothly, wouldn’t that be boring? Don’t you think so too, Shirley?”

Shirley didn’t seem surprised by my answer. She smiled wryly and replied:

“Mm... yes. Sometimes, knowing the outcome in advance only makes the process duller...”

She even predicted that she wouldn’t be able to stop me?

You really are amazing, Shirley...

“I’ll go prepare your clothes now.”

“Pick one that’ll make Ethan lose his mind at first glance, okay? Hehehehehe...”

“Don’t worry—leave it to me.”

Shirley smiled again, wrapped me in a towel, and followed me out of the bathroom.

A moment later...

Having already given me Jiang Xueqing’s address, Shirley stood by the side door, waving.

“Then I wish you a successful ‘hunt’ today.”

“Oh my, whenever you send me off like this, things always seem to go my way. Could it be you’re actually an angel in disguise, Shirley?”

“Maybe I’m the exact opposite of what you think~ Hehehehe...”

“Yeah, when you’re being wicked, you’re worse than a devil!”

“Yare yare... that’s the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.”

“...I’m heading out, Shirley.”

“Yes. I’ll be waiting for your victorious return.”

With a smile, Shirley bowed. I nodded, then turned and departed.

I didn’t ask Shirley to drive me. I didn’t take a car.

Because I was escaping.

Escaping from the birthday party that was about to begin.

That party, those gifts—I had no interest in any of it.

“Es rappelt in der Kiste, Es rappelt im Karton, Mir doch egal...”

All I want for my birthday...

Is Ethan.

I want him to deliver his gift to me, his girlfriend, with his own hands.

Hehehehehe~