Housework doesn’t belong to men, nor does it belong to women—it belongs to those who can’t stand the mess.
There’s some truth to that saying.
Like how the house, which seemed reasonably tidy before, suddenly seemed to accumulate endless chores after Max arrived.
Chi Xiaoxue bustled around, not entirely sure what she was busy with, but managing to exhaust herself anyway.
It wasn’t until it was almost time for Xiao Bai to come home that Jiang Yanyi called her in. “Moji, Zhibai will be back from school soon. Take out the yogurt and snacks and set them out.”
“Yes, coming, coming!” Chi Xiaoxue responded repeatedly, scurrying back into the house.
“I’m a brick, moved wherever I’m needed,” she muttered to herself, feeling like the household would truly fall apart without her.
Yesterday, Jiang Yanyi had searched online for ways to address Xiao Bai’s “After-School Bastard Syndrome”:
After returning home, first provide the child with some snacks to eat, helping stabilize their mood, then offer ample care and companionship.
The above can effectively alleviate the symptoms of “After-School Bastard Syndrome.”
Compared to yesterday, however, Xiao Bai’s mood was much more stable today.
Wearing her dark blue little blazer, she sat on a small stool, sipping yogurt, and even proactively asked Jiang Yanyi:
“Dad, are you feeling better today?”
Hearing her dad say he was much better, she smiled with her eyes crinkled.
Jiang Yanyi patted her head, and his own mood brightened as well.
The teacher sent a message in the group chat: 【Today, the students received new textbooks. Parents, please help your children write their names on the textbooks. Remember to bring the Chinese, Math, and Art textbooks to school tomorrow.】
Jiang Yanyi saw the message in the group and asked Chi Xiaoxue to bring Xiao Bai’s backpack over.
Chi Xiaoxue was currently stationed at the dining table, artistically adjusting the presentation of the meal Max had prepared. Hearing Jiang Yanyi call for her again, she grumbled:
“Always calling me for everything. This house would fall apart without me.”
Despite her complaint, she happily carried the backpack over to Jiang Yanyi.
As soon as Jiang Yanyi took the backpack, he sensed something was off. Opening it, he found it completely empty.
“Zhibai, where are the books the teacher gave out?”
Xiao Bai was munching on a large piece of bread, her cheeks bulging as she chewed. “Dunno.”
After speaking, she lowered her big puppy-dog eyes, leaned forward, and took a big sip of yogurt.
Jiang Yanyi had no choice but to contact the AI homeroom teacher, explaining that Xiao Bai hadn’t brought her books home and requesting help checking the surveillance footage.
Usually, after school, unless it’s an emergency, parents shouldn’t disturb the human teachers. Thankfully, the AI homeroom teacher was available 24/7.
Soon, the AI teacher sent over a clip. Before the class was dismissed, the little boy sitting next to Xiao Bai had gathered all her books and packed them into his own backpack.
Xiao Bai propped her chin on her hand, watching as her books were taken away with an utterly indifferent expression. After school, she simply left the classroom with her empty backpack.
Jiang Yanyi had to ask the AI teacher to contact the boy’s parents, requesting the boy’s mother to kindly write “Jiang Zhibai” on Xiao Bai’s set of textbooks and bring them back to school the next day.
The next day, when Xiao Bai was heading to school, Jiang Yanyi reminded her, “Zhibai, don’t bring your bedding home today, but do bring your textbooks back, okay?”
The early-rising child grumpily nodded, took the teacher’s hand, and boarded the school bus.
As expected, when she returned from school, she was carrying a heavy little backpack.
Jiang Yanyi opened the backpack to find she hadn’t only brought her own books but also those of her deskmate, Feng Junjun, and the classmate behind her, Liang Yuqi.
Chi Xiaoxue, sitting cross-legged on the floor, commented with a giggle, “This kid, full of stubborn energy.”
Xiao Bai rolled her big puppy-dog eyes dramatically—school was annoying enough as it was.
On the third day, as Xiao Bai headed to school, her father patiently reminded her again: “Zhibai, don’t bring your bedding home today, and don’t bring other classmates’ books either. Just bring your own books back, okay?”
The reminders grew longer, and the child grew more impatient. Sitting by the window on the school bus, she hung her head in anger, her frustration reaching its peak since starting school.
Once the school bus drove off, Chi Xiaoxue let out a leisurely sigh. “Poor kid.”
Jiang Yanyi asked, “Why poor?”
With a sympathetic look, Chi Xiaoxue said, “Getting up so early every day, working so hard to go to school, only to end up with an empty head, not really learning anything.”
“Hmm, there’s some truth to that.”
Jiang Yanyi nodded. “Then how are your studies going, Moji? Have you learned the Pinyin alphabet chart yet?”
As soon as Jiang Yanyi finished speaking, he turned his wheelchair—only to find the robot had already vanished.
·
Before Max arrived, Chi Xiaoxue had been somewhat resistant. For one, she didn’t want her and Jiang Yanyi’s peaceful world disturbed.
Secondly, and most crucially, Chi Xiaoxue was afraid that compared to Max, she would seem utterly useless. What if Jiang Yanyi changed his mind? That would be the end.
But after spending two days with Max, Chi Xiaoxue now thought robots were amazing.
Not only did Max handle cooking and chores without complaint, but his practical skills were also top-notch. Yesterday, Chi Xiaoxue had casually mentioned wanting a swing in the yard.
In the afternoon, Max drove a pickup truck back with materials and built a sturdy, spacious swing under the porch.
Last night after her bath, Chi Xiaoxue complained how difficult it was to dry her hair.
Max had her relax comfortably on the sofa while he gently and patiently used a hairdryer to dry her hair.
“Max, can you style my hair?” After seeing Xiao Bai off to school, Chi Xiaoxue rushed back inside and immediately went to find Max.
Max set down the thick Complete Book of Woodworking he was holding and focused his icy blue eyes on Chi Xiaoxue.
“Of course, Moji. What kind of hairstyle would you like?”
“I want that elegant, charming, sophisticated lady hairstyle,” Chi Xiaoxue said, clasping her hands together with a look of longing.
Max held the hairdryer in one hand and a round brush in his other dexterous metallic hand. He first curled the hair on either side of Chi Xiaoxue’s forehead backward, blowing it into a natural “八”-shaped fringe, then blew the back sections forward into large C-shaped inward curls.
Moji’s hair was thick and long, and Max patiently styled it strand by strand.
Once finished, her long hair looked glossy, smooth, and had a natural, flowing curve—far more sophisticated than the messy bun Chi Xiaoxue had tied before.
After several days of treatment, Jiang Yanyi was much better, but he still needed an IV drip today.
He sat in his wheelchair now, an IV attached to his left hand, a book in his right, reading.
But for some reason, he felt a bit restless. He’d been staring at the book for a while without turning a page, while the buzzing sound of Max drying Moji’s hair kept distracting him.
When the hairdryer finally stopped, Jiang Yanyi collected himself and lowered his head to continue reading.
Out of the corner of his eye, he kept seeing Moji following Max in and out. Her height only reached Max’s waist, making it look like Max was leading a little kid around to play.
Jiang Yanyi felt inexplicably annoyed. He deliberately called out to his own robot, “Moji.”
But unlike the past few days, when the robot would buzz over like a happy little bee, smiling and asking what he needed, this time she acted as if she hadn’t heard, offering no response at all.
Jiang Yanyi called several times before an impatient reply finally came from the kitchen: “What?”
“Moji, come out with me for a bit,” Jiang Yanyi said.
Chi Xiaoxue was currently learning to make egg tarts with Max. It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to learn egg tarts, but Max was tall, gentle, and skilled—being with him felt very secure.
She was having a great time with Max, but something outside kept calling her, irritating her.
She dashed out of the kitchen, five fingers covered in flour. “What?”
“Come out with me,” Jiang Yanyi said calmly, though his tone wasn’t great.
“What’s the emergency?”
Chi Xiaoxue glanced at the IV bottle hanging from the wheelchair. “Can’t we go after the drip is finished?”
After speaking, Chi Xiaoxue stood there for a while. When Jiang Yanyi didn’t say anything further, she turned and ran back into the kitchen.
“Wow, Max, the tart shells really took shape! Wow, Max, did you add this much sugar? Wow, Max, look, the egg custard is actually puffing up!”
Joyful exclamations kept coming from the kitchen, but to Jiang Yanyi, they only sounded grating.
Jiang Yanyi lowered his head to read, isolating himself from the lively atmosphere.
Just as the IV drip was about to finish, Chi Xiaoxue came to Jiang Yanyi holding a plate of steaming hot egg tarts.
She squatted beside the wheelchair, lifting the tarts in front of him, her eyes curved into happy crescents. “Jiang Yanyi, freshly baked egg tarts. Please have a taste.”
“No appetite.”
Feeling displeased, Jiang Yanyi kept his eyes on the book and pushed the plate away. As his finger touched the edge of the porcelain plate, he quickly retracted it, shaking his hand.
But Chi Xiaoxue couldn’t feel the heat. She held the baking tray just taken from the oven in her palm, sincerely recommending:
“They look delicious. Won’t you really try one?”
Seeing Jiang Yanyi unmoved, Chi Xiaoxue picked up a tart with her fingers, blew on it gently, and hand-fed it to his lips:
“Just a tiny bite.”
Though Jiang Yanyi felt awkward inside, his body unconsciously leaned forward. He elegantly took a small bite from the edge of the tart, closed his mouth, and savored it seriously.
“Is it good?”
“Hmm.” Jiang Yanyi nodded reservedly.
“Max did most of the work. He can do everything.”
“A bit sweet.” He paused, then added, “And cloying.”
“Cloying after just one bite?” Chi Xiaoxue found him a killjoy and pouted as she stood up, carrying the plate back to the kitchen while cheerfully calling out:
“Max, Jiang Yanyi doesn’t want anymore. Keep the rest warm for Xiao Bai to eat when she gets back.”
Jiang Yanyi lowered his thin eyelids and returned to his book, still not turning a page for a long time.
Only when Max finished tidying the kitchen and walked out wearing an apron did Jiang Yanyi look up from his book.
Max was wearing Teacher Zhang’s floral apron, which looked rather comical on him. He was too tall for the standard-sized apron—it hung on him like a flowery belly wrap.
“Max, all done with the tasks?” Jiang Yanyi closed his book and asked in a calm tone.
Max came over to check the IV. In his mechanical, slightly staticky voice, he replied respectfully, “Snacks and fruits are prepared. Zhibai can have them as soon as she returns from school.”
“Hmm, I have something to discuss with you.”
“Certainly, Mr. Jiang. Please go ahead.”
There wasn’t much medicine left in the bottle. Max brought over a tray, preparing to remove Jiang Yanyi’s IV.
Jiang Yanyi raised the back of his hand slightly to make it easier for Max. “Moji is a bit different from ordinary robots. Her learning ability is poor. When you have time, I’d like you to be responsible for tutoring her.”
Max deftly disinfected the skin on the back of Jiang Yanyi’s hand, then used his thick metal fingers to pinch the slender needle, skillfully pulling it out.
The movement was smooth and gentle—Jiang Yanyi didn’t feel the slightest pain.
After removing the needle, Max asked, “Why don’t you directly install a ready-made skill pack for Moji?”
The reason Moji hadn’t been installed with a skill pack initially was because Jiang Yanyi wanted to conduct a learning observation on her.
After discovering Moji’s abnormal data, there was no longer any need for observation, as such data wouldn’t hold reference value even if preserved.
Regarding installing a skill pack, Jiang Yanyi had consulted Yao Tong, who replied that given Moji’s current physical condition, a skill pack couldn’t be installed.
Before installing a skill pack, the body’s data must be normal.
And if the data were restored, Moji might lose her memories from this period.
So things had reached an impasse.
Moji could only learn knowledge slowly and clumsily, like a human.
“Moji’s body is special. A skill pack cannot be installed.” Jiang Yanyi smiled at Max, looking particularly earnest.
Max stared with his clear blue eyes and replied seriously, “Understood, Mr. Jiang. During my stay here, I will be responsible for Moji’s education.”
“Good, I appreciate your effort.” Jiang Yanyi nodded with satisfaction.