After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Page 162

Furthermore, if it weren't for her, Toyokawa Yuu and Toyokawa Shoko, who were originally just a couple who were only together for the sake of it, wouldn't have developed such a deep affection for each other. At least, they wouldn't have ended up like this, with one of them passing away and the other even planning to commit suicide together.

But things have come to this point, and there's no stopping now; we can only go down this path to the bitter end.

Even if Toyokawa Yuu resents herself in the future, at least... you have to be alive to resent someone.

If he died with resentment towards himself, then it would be too cruel for him.

"Ruomai, I need to go out for a bit. Could you please clean this place for me? ... From now on, I'm afraid I'll have to rely on you to clean this place."

Her tone suggested that she was about to dump all the office cleaning duties on Yutenji Ruomai, but the person being instructed understood that this guy probably had no intention of returning to this office... or even this city.

Of course, I'm not referring to Hachiman Kairin planning to commit suicide with Toyokawa Yuu. Even though this lady in a suit usually has a cold face and acts like she's all business and self-disciplined, Yutenji Wakami has known her for ten years, so how could he not know what kind of person she really is?

Her calm and reliable side was already exposed ten years ago when Toyokawa Yuu chose Toyokawa Shoko. The fact that she can still maintain this demeanor now is just to create the illusion that the man is still by her side, urging her on.

Ultimately, Hachiman Kairin's greed and possessiveness are no less than anyone else's; it's just that what she wants is so strange that others can't understand it.

However, in Yutenji Wakana's view now, Hachiman Kairin's active approach to Toyokawa Yuu at this critical juncture is indeed tantamount to courting death.

"Are you crazy? You still plan to go see him at a time like this?"

Her pale hand slammed heavily on the table. Yutenji Wakame opened her pinkish-purple pupils wide and stared at her friend of ten years.

"It was one thing before, but now the Toyokawa family has declared that Yuu Toyokawa died a double suicide. They definitely won't let him live. You know those people better than I do. Do you think they'll still care about those dirty things you did together back then?"

Now, Yutenji Wakanagi was truly speechless.

Of course she knew that Yawata Kairin had been harboring feelings for a married man for ten years, and that her thoughts had been an open secret for ten years.

But there's really no need to risk your life like that.

She has so much now, so many things she has longed for but could never have. Is she really going to give it all up for a man she's barely seen in the last ten years?

As a shrewd businesswoman, Yawata Kairin must understand the importance of value for money.

Now he's even actively getting close to Toyokawa Yuu; this behavior is absolutely stupid.

"...Perhaps I went mad a long time ago."

Looking at Yutenji Wakana standing in front of her, seemingly intending to stop her, Hachiman Kairin remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her tone sincere.

"From the moment I couldn't win Yuu's favor no matter how much I tried to befriend her, from the moment I started to scheme and use Hatsune's identity to blackmail her into creating opportunities for myself, I guess I really went crazy."

Sunlight streamed through the windows into the office, making the mess even more glaring.

Yutenji Wakana stared blankly at Hachiman Kairin, who seemed to have made up her mind, but whose determination would be laughable if she actually explained it. Suddenly, she felt a chill creep up from the soles of her feet.

Even without listening to what Hachiman Kairin said next, she could guess what she was probably trying to say.

She didn't want to listen, but Hachiman Kairin didn't give her a chance to refuse.

"Ruomai, please, help me one last time. I'm the one who got him into this mess. Even if I have to give up everything, I want to help him and spend the rest of my life repaying him."

So, what this means is that you want to benefit from everything, right?

Reflected in her eyes was her friend, who was already in a state of confusion, and a hint of disappointment flashed in Yutenji Wakame's eyes.

Giving up everything? Does that mean I'm actually among those who are giving up?

Just like when you abandoned Hatsuko, who had always trusted you, and sold her identity to the branch family in order to squeeze into the circle that allowed you to get close to Toyokawa Yuu.

Xiangzi was right all along, you really are...

Feeling that she had lost the strength to speak, Yutenji Wakana nodded slightly, seemingly giving up on the idea of ​​continuing to persuade her.

"If this is your decision, I'm too lazy to try to persuade you anymore. Anyway, you people never listen to good advice... What am I to you?"

“I can’t go directly to Yuu yet, but those people won’t be so wary of you since you’ve never been involved in that circle before… Please, like we agreed, help me take Yuu to that safe house. From there, I’ve already arranged everything for you to leave Tokyo. Soyo will also come up with some distractions to draw attention to you.”

The disappointment in Yutenji Wakana's eyes just now could not escape the notice of Hachiman Kairin.

She had prepared herself for rejection, but when she heard that Yutenji Wakana was still willing to ask what she needed her to do, Hachiman Kairin couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised and immediately told him her plan.

In such a short time, there's no time to make any plans. Even if you have some ideas in your mind, there's no time to prepare.

At best, it was only with the addition of Nagasaki Sase that Hachiman Kairin was able to grit her teeth and push things in the direction she originally envisioned.

"Understood, I'll go now... And you, are you planning to wait for me there until I bring Yuu Toyokawa there?"

With his eyes closed, Yutenji Wakana didn't even look at Hachiman Kairin's face, adopting an attitude of "whatever you say, I'll do my best to help you complete it."

"No, don't go now. Wait until this afternoon... I'll go help Soyo fulfill the conditions she set first, and then she'll really help."

After confirming that Yutenji Wakanagi would still stand by her side, Hachiman Kairin hurriedly left the office that once belonged to Ave Mujica.

Before leaving, she reminded Yutenji Wakana to remember to clean up for her.

"I'll leave this to you to tidy up, Ruomai."

Watching Hachiman Kairin's departing figure, Yutenji Wakamu, whose shoulders had been barely straightened, gradually slumped, and the disappointment in his eyes grew stronger.

"What? So that's what you meant when you told me, Xiangzi... It seems I need to visit some people too."

.................................................. ......................

The villa belonging to the Wakaba family is acting a little strange today.

The gate on the outer courtyard wall was wide open, as if welcoming someone's arrival, but the door to the villa was gently closed, preventing any view into the villa.

Standing outside the wall, Yutenji Wakame looked slightly conflicted, hesitating whether to go in.

She wasn't sure if coming here was the right choice, but now, apart from here, she couldn't seem to find a better person to help her fulfill her so-called entrustment.

Hachiman Kairin made a mistake: Yutenji Wakanagi was not unfamiliar with the Toyokawa family.

She might not be as familiar as Hachiman Kairin, with whom she used to conspire, but there are some people she can still contact.

Now, the gate of the courtyard wall is wide open, and the door to the villa is slightly ajar, making it seem as if someone is deliberately waiting for them.

If I go in now, wouldn't that be like walking into a wolf's den?

However, it seems there isn't a better option.

Taking a deep breath, Yutenji Wakame walked into the courtyard and gently pushed open the slightly ajar door.

"Yuu Toyokawa must die, but Hatsune Toyokawa must live."

As soon as he entered, Yutenji Wakana heard a voice with a hint of laughter, but the words uttered were chilling.

Mori Minami was sitting on the sofa with her phone in her hand when she saw Yutenji Wakana push open the door and wave to her with a warm smile, gesturing for her to come and sit down.

However, the retired actress's greeting ended there. Although her smile was warm, she clearly had no intention of ending her phone call because of Yutenji Wakana's arrival.

On the contrary, Minami Mori didn't even try to hide Yutenji Wakana's thoughts.

Not only did they not lower their voices at all, they even turned on the speakerphone, allowing Yutenji Wakana, who had just arrived, to hear the conversation clearly.

"Is it necessary, Minami? I feel that sending them both down to join the family head wouldn't be a bad option. Anyway, we've already ruled today's fire as a suicide for love by Toyokawa Yuu. As one of the parties involved, keeping Toyokawa Hatsune alive might actually cause unforeseen complications."

[Foolish! Toyokawa Hatsune is still a descendant of Old Master Sadaharu, even though she's an illegitimate child and doesn't have Toyokawa blood in her veins. She was personally brought back to the family by the head of the household, so lineage-wise, she can barely be considered half a member of the main family... Toyokawa Yuu definitely can't be kept, but if Toyokawa Hatsune knows what's good for her, she'll be a very good puppet.]

Do you really think Toyokawa Hatsune will know what's good for her...?

The sound on the other end of the phone was noisy, as if many people were arguing about the point that Minami had just made, but no one completely refuted it.

It seems that although Senmina Nami has been staying at home for several years at her daughter's request, she is not really living a life of complete isolation.

Senmina did not get involved in these arguments, but listened quietly, waiting for a moment when she could speak freely.

"Of course it's necessary. Although we will confirm that You Yujun committed suicide for love, and judging from his behavior, he did have such thoughts, there will always be outsiders who don't believe it and then make a fuss about it."

Gently stroking the blonde, red-clad doll in her arms, Mori Minami waited until the argument gradually subsided before speaking again.

Although she still looks young, and ten years have barely left any mark on her, some facts remain unchanged.

Now that Toyokawa Shoko has taken power or even passed away, Mori Minami, the mother of the other half of Toyokawa Shoko's mother, actually holds a very high position and seniority within the Toyokawa family.

Even though her surname isn't Toyokawa.

"Push up Toyokawa Hatsune, who has no blood relation to the Toyokawa family and is practically a half-head of the family, and then help her make some unforgivable mistakes. That way, we can rightfully set things right and take over everything that Shoko and Yuu-kun left behind, right?"

That's what they say, but who can guarantee that Toyokawa Hatsune will obediently listen...?

"That's what you need to consider. I have to keep a close eye on my precious daughter. I can't let her know that Youyu is still alive, and I can't let her go out... If she teams up with those outsiders in the company, you'll find it troublesome too... I only want the share that my daughter originally owned; you can divide the rest among yourselves."

This time, no one refuted Minami Mori's words.

Ruoye Mu is neither Toyokawa Hatsune, who was kicked out of her home for several years, nor Toyokawa Yuu, who has stayed at home for years without ever leaving.

As the other half of Toyokawa Shoko, she relied heavily on Wakaba Mutsu when managing the family business.

Among the many businesses left by Toyokawa Shoko, Wakaba Mutsu could not control everything, but if she raised her arm, many people who did not belong to the Toyokawa family would respond to her.

With someone taking the lead and there's profit to be made, few people would refuse such an opportunity.

"You're right, Minami, but there's still something I don't understand... Did Toyokawa Yuu stay overnight at your place with Mutsumi-san last night?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before an older voice finally voiced some doubt.

However, it wasn't a questioning of Minami Mori's proposal, but rather a questioning of her stance.

Why did you choose to stand with us instead of helping Ms. Mutsumi or Yuu Toyokawa?

"Of course... so that my daughter won't regret it for the rest of her life because of an unromantic man."

The fingertips that were pinching the doll's hair tightened slightly, but Mori Minami's tone remained unchanged.

“My daughter is exceptionally talented; how could she be so demeaning as to waste her life on a married man?”

written request for leave

I'm not feeling well, my head is foggy, and I can't seem to finish writing. I'm taking a day off and will update 10,000 words tomorrow.

(This last part is a string of characters and doesn't need to be translated.)

Chapter 150 Still Wants to Give Everything for Xiao Xiang (11,000 words)

Finally ending her call, Mori Minami put down her phone and looked at Yutenji Wakana, who had come to visit as expected, her smile still bright.

"It's Miaomeng! You haven't been here in a long time. But Xiaomu is in her room and wants to be alone, so I'm afraid she can't come down to entertain you."

For the first time in a long time, someone used the name they hadn't used in ages, but Yutenji Wakana didn't show much joy on her face.

“It’s alright. I didn’t come here to see Mortis, and I didn’t prepare any words to comfort her.”

Sitting opposite Minami Mori, Yutenji Wakana gently shook her head. Her expression lacked its usual laziness or playfulness; instead, a hint of disappointment flashed across her face from time to time.

But what disappointed her was neither this person nor this place.

"Did you know I would come?"

"I probably knew when I saw that little girl named Nagasaki take Yuu-kun and Hatsune away from the fire. I was also quite interested in what happened between you two back then, so I've been following along."

Gently stroking the doll that Yuu Toyokawa had given her the night before, Minami Mori's smile remained unchanged. In her golden eyes, which were identical to those of Mutsuka Wakaba, gleamed a shrewdness that her daughter lacked.

In fact, Senmina knew very well that compared to the other branch families who had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, she did not have any competitive advantage. At most, she only had a little more say because of her seniority.

Therefore, in that "spoils-dividing meeting" just now, she did not express her intention to participate explicitly. Instead, she used the excuse of looking after her daughter to remain on the sidelines in a rather ambiguous manner.

Of course, she knew even better that if Toyokawa Yuu really died, then if an internal purge were to begin in the future, the first person to be targeted and pushed out as a scapegoat would be herself.

However, this is also a necessary risk...

Gently stroking the doll in her hand, a complex expression flashed across Minami's face.

Moreover, compared to those people, he is not without advantages. For example, the complicated relationship between these children is known only to him, the one who was the one who was causing them trouble, apart from the parties involved.

“That girl from Nagasaki will definitely contact Hailin, and then Hailin will ask you for help, and you will most likely come looking for me.”

Chihaya Aine, Nagasaki Sosei, Hachiman Kairin, Toyokawa Hatsune, and her own daughter... These people, who are now considered powerful and influential, or those who have recently been in contact with Toyokawa Yuu, might be noticed by those people, but they will definitely not come into their sights together.

Those people's eyes were all fixed on Toyokawa Yuu, who had now been declared dead from a double suicide and could not possibly be allowed to live under any circumstances, and they were unlikely to notice the private communications between these people.

Especially Yutenji Wakana, who has little fame and capital, is seen by outsiders as a street performer who has been sponsored by Hachiman Kairin because of past relationships.

But sometimes, even ordinary people can be surprisingly capable.

"Ms. Minami, what you just said..."

Recalling the words she had just heard, Yutenji Wakana's expression turned somewhat pale.

Looking at the woman in front of him, who was practically his mentor in acting, Yutenji Wakame hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.

She never expected that what Senmina was plotting behind the scenes would be so blatant.

"It's all true. Even if I don't say it, those people already have the answers and plans in their hearts. It's just that no one is willing to take the initiative to speak up and be the one to take the blame. So I have no choice but to give them a push."

"...Do you harbor such resentment towards Toyokawa Yuu and Mortis for forcing you to leave the entertainment industry back then?"