My Boss Transmigrated Into a Maid and I Became Gay - Chapter 20

When Jian Qin handed Lu Ying back her phone, she caught a glimpse of the words “you and the manager,” just as her own phone hit the floor for the second time.

Jian Qin tried to catch it, but her hand grasped thin air. Lu Ying’s phone screen had gone dark by then, so Jian Qin handed it back and knelt to pick up her own. The screen was still on, but the screen protector was a shattered web of cracks spreading from the bottom-right corner.

Jian Qin let out a small sigh. Lu Ying, finally snapping out of her state of complete social paralysis, blinked rapidly and forced herself to stay calm.

Don’t panic, she told herself. No matter what President Jian saw, I can’t be the first one to crack.

Seeing the shattered screen, she apologized profusely. “I’m so sorry, President Jian! My hand slipped. I’ll take it to get repaired at lunch, I’m really, really sorry…”

“It’s fine,” Jian Qin said, peeling off the tempered glass protector right in front of her. She tilted the phone toward Lu Ying. “Only the protector broke. I’ll find a place to get a new one tonight.”

Before she could finish, Lu Ying blurted out, “Let me do it! I’m actually really good at applying screen protectors. I’ll go buy one at lunch!”

Jian Qin looked at her, sensing that the girl needed to do something to alleviate her guilt. She relented. “Alright then. Thank you.”

“It’s no trouble at all, I’m the one who broke it!” Lu Ying said, but as the memory of the novel title on Jian Qin’s screen flashed back, she felt a wave of nausea. Weakly, she added, “President Jian, I’ll head back now. I’ll come find you at lunch…”

“Go ahead,” Jian Qin said warmly. “Don’t let it weigh on you.”

Once the girl had hurried off, Jian Qin tossed the broken glass into the bin and went to the breakroom for a cup of coffee.

It was strange. Why did Lu Ying react so violently to seeing her phone screen? Perhaps she was overthinking it; maybe Lu Ying really did just have a simple case of “butterfingers.”

Unable to find an answer, Jian Qin pushed the incident aside. She had been in an exceptionally good mood lately. Last night, the Young Mistress had told her she liked her, and that “bird’s nest” doctor had provided a potion to cure her allergies.

She had never heard of an allergy being cured like that, so she planned to buy a can of beer on her way home to test it out.

Previously, a single glass of beer would cause red patches on her arms, though they’d fade after a night’s rest. She figured if it failed, it wouldn’t interfere with work tomorrow. If it worked, it meant the doctor from that illusory world was the real deal.

Recalling how the miraculous ointment had healed her burn, she was genuinely hopeful.

There was one other thing making her smile… Jian Qin thought back to the “you and the manager” snippet she’d seen on Lu Ying’s phone.

Lu Ying talks about me to others, she thought with a small, private smile. I suppose I have a place in her life, after all.

*****

While Jian Qin was enjoying her coffee, Lu Ying was sitting at her desk, drenched in a cold sweat. She kept swallowing nervously, her hands resting motionless on the keyboard. She stared at the monitor, having completely forgotten her login password.

The title in the corner of Jian Qin’s screen played on a loop in her mind: Gourmet Galactic: Wealth and Love through Cooking.

How did President Jian know about that novel? Was it a coincidence, or…

She tilted her stiff neck, refusing to acknowledge the other possibility. But the odds of a coincidence were astronomical. Setting aside whether Jian Qin even liked web novels, why was she reading that specific one right after it had been “analyzed” in the Mary Sue world?

Lu Ying clutched her forehead, forcing her brain to entertain the terrifying alternative.

But that’s impossible, she thought. How would President Jian know how to serve an heiress? How would she know where to go or how to follow the plot?

Suddenly, a memory flashed: the first time she transmigrated, Jian Qin had asked if she’d experienced anything “strange” lately.

Was it… really her?

If she transmigrated too…

Lu Ying began to review every interaction they’d had in the book world.

When the review ended, she took a deep breath, typed her password, and opened a Word document.

Forget it.

I’m doomed.

Resignation Letter.

She stared at those two words for a moment, then closed the document.

No. Even if she resigned, she had to get the facts straight first. She wasn’t going to die “confused.” Besides, judging by Jian Qin’s reaction, she didn’t seem to know that Lu Ying was the author of that interstellar novel.

I might still have a chance!

Calming down, she began a deeper analysis.

Hypothesis: The maid in the other world is the real Jian Qin. On the first night, she recognized Lu Ying’s face, which explains why she asked about “strange events” the next morning.

After getting a “no,” Jian Qin continued to transmigrate, spending every night with a Young Mistress who shared her subordinate’s face. This would explain why she was paying more attention to Lu Ying in reality lately.

Then, the plot reached the classroom. Jian Qin heard the lecture, noted the book title, and searched for it in the real world. Lu Ying had kept her personal info well-hidden online, so Jian Qin wouldn’t know she was the author—hence why she hadn’t confronted her.

And the burn? Since it was a physical transmigration, Jian Qin carried the injury to the Mary Sue world. The miraculous ointment healed it there, and the real-life burn vanished—perfectly matching Jian Qin’s comment about it “healing quickly.”

The probability was at 99%. Jian Qin was the maid. But Jian Qin didn’t know that Lu Ying was the author or that the Young Mistress was the real Lu Ying.

But one thing didn’t fit: if the maid was the real Jian Qin, why would she let Lu Ying take advantage of her? She even offered her shoulder to sleep on and carried her when she was tired.

If she just wanted to get back to reality, she could have just followed the bare minimum script. Why go to such lengths?

And another thing—how did Jian Qin know the plot? The Mary Sue story had been deleted after one chapter. The rest only existed on Lu Ying’s phone.

It made no sense.

*****

Tossed by doubt, Lu Ying decided to test the waters at lunch. If the book thing was a coincidence, great. If Jian Qin was transmigrating but Lu Ying’s “Author” identity was still safe, she’d stay under the radar—ideally until the year-end bonus was paid.

She felt a surge of self-admiration for remembering her bonus in such a crisis.

After a morning of distracted work, Lu Ying left Sister Zhuan to eat alone and went to buy a screen protector. Because they were “buy one, get one half off,” she bought two—she and Jian Qin had the same phone model, so she could use the spare later.

Back at the office, the lights in President Jian’s room were still on. Lu Ying knocked, heard a “Come in,” and entered with a smile mask firmly in place. “President Jian, I’m here.”

She walked to the desk, and Jian Qin handed her the phone. “I’ll leave it to you, then.”

With that, the boss went back to her files, offering no further attention. Lu Ying let out a huge breath. She was terrified Jian Qin would watch her, which would have surely resulted in a crooked application.

But this also meant she had no chance to talk.

She cleaned the screen, peeled the backing off the protector, and was about to align it when Jian Qin suddenly asked, “Have you had lunch yet?”

Lu Ying’s eyes were glued to the phone. “Not yet.”

Jian Qin looked up. “I saw Yu Linchuan left already.”

“Yeah, I told her not to wait for me.”

Lu Ying’s focus was wavering; she didn’t dare drop the glass. She held it poised in the air. Seeing Jian Qin go quiet, she was about to press it down when the boss spoke again.

“By the way… do you read web novels?”

“…” Lu Ying tried to sound casual. “I read a lot in school. Now, only occasionally.”

“Have you ever read anything by Ran You Feng?”

Snap.

Lu Ying looked up, her mind a complete blank. She looked down at her hands.

…Dammit. She had snapped the glass protector right in half.

She wanted to crawl into a hole. Just as she started to say, “I haven’t read—”, Jian Qin had already snatched several tissues and was at her side, wrapping the broken shards. “Be careful. Don’t cut your hand.”

For a moment, Lu Ying saw the “Maid-Jian” caring for her. She forgot to maintain her distance from her pen name and allowed Jian Qin to take the shards and drop them into the bin.

Lu Ying offered a dry, hollow laugh and pulled the second box from her pocket. “Good thing I bought two.”

“…” Jian Qin let out a helpless sigh and reached out. “Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”

“No, no, no! I really can do it!” Lu Ying held up three fingers in a vow. “Trust me. This time for sure!”

“…Alright.”

Jian Qin sat back down, pretending to read her documents but secretly stealing glances at Lu Ying. She was becoming more convinced by the minute: Lu Ying had a very strong reaction every time the “novel” topic came up.

Fearing another sudden question, Lu Ying broke into a cold sweat. She applied the protector with trembling hands, buffed it with a cloth, and handed it over. “See? Perfect.”

Jian Qin took the phone. It was indeed a perfect fit. She closed her folder and smiled. “Thank you. Since you haven’t eaten either, let’s go grab a bite. My treat, as thanks for the help.”

“Oh, no need! It was my fault anyway, it was the least I could do.” Lu Ying frantically gathered her things, planning a tactical retreat.

But Jian Qin didn’t let her go. “You haven’t eaten, and neither have I. Let’s just go to the cafeteria and grab something quick.”

Lu Ying felt like crying. When the boss puts it that way, a “no” is basically impossible. With a heavy heart, she followed Jian Qin downstairs.

Because Sister Zhuan had an eye for gourmet food, Lu Ying only ever used the cafeteria when Zhuan was away. Her card had less than ten yuan left on it. Jian Qin, on the other hand, was a regular. Seeing Lu Ying head for the recharge machine, she reached out and pulled her back.

“Use mine. I have more than I can spend.”

In that moment, Lu Ying felt a surge of “Mary Sue Overlord” energy from her boss—as if the Overbearing CEO had just loaded ten million onto her meal card, gripped the lowly clerk’s chin, and smirked:

“Woman… in this cafeteria, you can swipe my card as much as you like.”

*****

“Oh no, oh no, I can see it happening!”

Lu Ying scrambled to escape her own wild imagination, her words tumbling out at lightning speed. “It’s fine, President Jian! I’ll be using the cafeteria more often from now on anyway, I’ll just top up my own card!”

With that, she bolted to the self-service machine and loaded a hundred yuan onto her card.

Jian Qin could only watch helplessly before picking up a tray and heading for the windows to secure a seat first. Soon, Lu Ying arrived with her own tray and sat down across from her.

The cafeteria selection wasn’t bad today. Lu Ying had picked out lettuce in oyster sauce, stir-fried squid, and fried rice noodles. Just as she was about to dig in, she caught sight of the items on President Jian’s tray: sautéed broccoli, steamed pumpkin, and carrot-egg soup. She fell into a stunned silence.

Does President Jian always eat this light?

But in the Mary Sue world, she had finished all the food Lu Ying shared with her. President Jian worked overtime so often; eating this little for lunch simply wouldn’t do.

Lu Ying hesitated, then pushed her plate forward with a slightly flattering smile. “President Jian, do you want to try some stir-fried squid?”

…

Wait.

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized something was wrong. Her smile froze and slowly withered away. Of all the dishes she could have picked, why did she have to choose stir-fried squid?

Was she afraid she didn’t have enough reasons to resign already?

But the squid was so delicious… she just wanted to share good food with President Jian…

Lu Ying’s brain shifted into overdrive, trying to find a way to salvage the situation. Jian Qin looked at her unmasked expression of internal conflict, lowered her head with a smile, and said, “Thank you, but I’m allergic to seafood. You enjoy it.”

Allergic to seafood?

Lu Ying had just found a doctor to cure the maid’s allergies yesterday; if President Jian was transmigrating, wouldn’t she know? Lu Ying felt uncertain again about whether the boss was actually crossing over.

She pulled her plate back, testing the waters carefully. “I’ve never really met anyone with food allergies before… what happens to you if you eat seafood?”

Jian Qin picked up a small piece of pumpkin, her eyes reflecting a memory. “When I was little, I ate some prawns and broke out in hives. Later, I had trouble breathing and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor said I’m allergic to most seafood. I haven’t touched it since.”

Lu Ying pressed further. “Is it that serious? Can it be cured?”

Jian Qin gave her a deep, meaningful look. “No. Prevention is better than a cure.”

“I see…” Lu Ying looked genuinely regretful. “Then you really have to be careful about what you eat.”

“Mm. Do you like seafood?” Jian Qin asked.

“Quite a bit. It’s just that some types are a real hassle to eat…”

As they chatted and ate, Lu Ying’s doubts grew. Her previous analysis had seemed so airtight—it felt like Jian Qin had to be the maid. But after a few probes, it seemed like President Jian knew nothing.

Was I just being paranoid because of a guilty conscience?

Lu Ying finished what was easily the most stressful meal of her life. They went back upstairs together, running into Sister Zhuan just as she returned from a nearby restaurant. As soon as Lu Ying sat down, Yu Linchuan leaned in. “What’s the deal? What were you doing with President Jian?”

“Don’t even ask,” Lu Ying groaned, burying her face in her arms on the desk. “I broke her phone screen, remember? I applied a new protector for her at lunch, and then she invited me to eat…”

Yu Linchuan patted her shoulder. “Young lady, you’ve got guts and a plan.”

“…” Lu Ying’s internal self was weeping. “It wasn’t voluntary.”

Yu Linchuan comforted her, “Whatever, it’s over now. Look on the bright side—half the people in our department would kill for a chance to have lunch with a beauty like President Jian.”

“They’ll get their chance soon,” Lu Ying said listlessly. “President Jian said there’s a team-building event this Saturday. An email will go out this afternoon to count heads. It’s voluntary, at a private party villa.”

Yu Linchuan was shocked. “Seriously? President Jian is going? I’ve never seen her join a team-building event before.”

Lu Ying had only been with the company a few months, so this was her first one. “She said she’d be there. I don’t think she’d go back on her word.”

“How rare,” Yu Linchuan mused, starting to look forward to Saturday. “I’ve never seen her outside of a work context. Have you, Sakura?”

Lu Ying: “…”

Not only have I seen her in casual clothes, I’ve seen her in a maid uniform.

She didn’t dare say that. After a pause, she lied, “Nope, never.”

Sister Zhuan told her about previous team-building events, and Lu Ying summarized them as activities where the food was mediocre and the fun was forced. But when the email arrived from the planning department, Lu Ying checked the catering section.

Outdoor BBQ buffet and indoor hot pot… that actually looks pretty good!

Lu Ying was tempted. Though she felt she should avoid more contact with Jian Qin, the photos of the BBQ were too much… beef tongue, chicken wings, bullfrog, oysters, honey toast… who could say no? She signed up immediately.

She was about to start working when her eyes caught the bag she’d brought that morning. She slapped her forehead. She’d been so worried about being “busted” that she’d almost forgotten to return President Jian’s blazer and umbrella!

She stood up to go to the office, then hesitated. Walking into a superior’s office with a bag like that in front of everyone might look bad. Since she was staying for overtime anyway, she sent a message.

Sakura-chan: Sorry to bother you, President Jian. Are you working late today?

President Jian: What is it?

Sakura-chan: I wanted to return your clothes. I felt it might not be the best time to bring them over now…

President Jian: Give them to me this evening, then.

Sakura-chan: Got it!

*****

At 6:00 PM, the office was mostly empty. Lu Ying finally finished the training materials, printed them out, and knocked on the boss’s door.

“President Jian, the materials are ready. And here’s the blazer and umbrella. Thank you again for yesterday.”

Jian Qin flipped through the documents and smiled. “You’re welcome. Good work.”

Mission accomplished. “I’ll head out now. See you tomorrow, President Jian.”

“Wait,” Jian Qin said, packing the files into her bag. “I’m heading out too. I’ll drop you at the subway.”

Lu Ying instinctively refused. “It’s not raining today, I can walk.”

“I’m going that way anyway.” Jian Qin’s hand paused as she packed. She looked up. “Unless… you already have plans?”

Lu Ying couldn’t lie. “No plans…”

“Then let’s go.”

Somehow, Lu Ying found herself in President Jian’s car once more. On the way, the boss asked her about the new project. Faced with a professional inquiry, Lu Ying forgot her nerves and focused on her work. After being dropped off, she thanked the boss, who waved and drove off.

Lu Ying walked into the subway station, looking back at the spot where the car had been. It had been a day of emotional ups and downs. She was once again unsure if President Jian was the maid.

****

After parking, Jian Qin went to the supermarket and bought a can of low-alcohol beer. Passing the snacks, she saw dried squid and thought of the girl asking her to try some at lunch. She grabbed a bag.

After showering, she sat in her living room in her bathrobe and popped the can. She filled a glass with the frothy beer. Steling herself, she ate some squid and took a few gulps.

After finishing the glass, she waited on the sofa. No reaction. She poured another. By the end of the can, she had finished half the bag of squid. No hives. Just a bit of a buzz.

It looks like my allergies really are cured.

It felt like a dream. In just a few months, miracles had invaded her ordinary life. Finding Lu Ying again, the “Young Mistress” in the other world, and now, a fictional doctor curing a lifelong real-world allergy. It was too much good fortune; it felt unreal.

Jian Qin sighed and went to bed, her head spinning slightly. Her allergy was gone, but her tolerance was clearly still low. She drifted into a heavy sleep.

*****

When she woke up, the room was dark, save for the faint light through the curtains. She was on the soft, comfortable bed. The prompt appeared: 7:00 AM. Wake the Miss. Wash up. Eat.

She froze, looking at the sleeping person beside her.

Did I return to the start of the first transmigration?

She waited until 7:00 AM sharp. “Good morning, Miss. I am here to carry you out of bed.”

Lu Ying woke up instantly. She had gone to bed exceptionally early last night—exhausted by 10:00 PM. She felt the familiar 999-square-meter bed and sat up. “Morning.”

The lights came on. She let the maid pick her up. She was thinking of how to test her when she caught a faint scent of alcohol. It was coming from the maid. Lu Ying wrapped her arms around the woman’s neck and leaned in to sniff her shoulder.

The warm breath on her sensitive skin made Jian Qin’s brow twitch. She quickened her pace to the edge of the bed, set the girl down, and prepared to put on her shoes.

But Lu Ying wasn’t letting it go. She grabbed the maid’s arm. “Have you been drinking?”

Jian Qin was stunned. She had assumed reality-based topics were censored. She tried to say “Lu Ying,” and it was indeed muted. But she found she could answer the question.

“Miss, perhaps you are mistaken.”

“Impossible.” The scent was definitely there. Lu Ying wanted to be sure, so she gave a light tug, pulling the maid toward her.

Caught off guard, Jian Qin stumbled and lunged forward. In a flash, Lu Ying leaned back, and the maid’s arms braced on either side of her shoulders.

Their eyes locked. Jian Qin saw the Young Mistress’s fair face turn a deep, radiant pink. Her eyes became a beautiful, shimmering gemstone-pink, mesmerizing her.

Jian Qin couldn’t look away. The Young Mistress looked back with a look of shy indignation, but her glare was soft and powerless. The girl was so adorable that the emotions Jian Qin had been suppressing finally broke through her rational defenses.

Her throat bobbed. Finally, she reached out her right hand and gently pinched the Young Mistress’s cheek.

“Stop playing around, Miss. It’s time to get up.”

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