After Xiangzi died, I inherited her harem.

Page 11

"It's a set visit, a set visit, but it seems Mu isn't here?"

Minami looked around but didn't see her daughter. Then she looked at Yuu Toyokawa and gave her a meaningful smile.

Everyone knows I'm here, so how could you not know where Wakaba Mutsu is?

Yuu Toyokawa didn't believe a single syllable of what Minami Mori said.

The other person's meaningful smile clearly indicated that they had come to find him on purpose.

"Ms. Mortis is currently in the rehearsal room with her teammates, preparing for the next concert. Would you like me to take you there?"

Taking over the topic without making a sound, Toyokawa Yuu maintained her businesslike attitude.

For the average person, interacting with a famous actress like Minami Mori would likely be quite restrictive due to the difference in their status. If it were someone like Yutenji Wakanagi, they might have already been unable to resist rushing over to hug her leg.

After all, the aura of someone who has been in the entertainment industry for decades and still stands at the top makes it easy for people to feel the gap between themselves and the other person from the bottom of their hearts.

But Toyokawa Yuu was different. He had faced Metis directly, and Metis was someone even the famous movie star in front of him couldn't help but feel fear because of the other's acting skills.

Yuu Toyokawa was waiting, waiting for the other party to take the initiative to bring up another topic and reveal their true purpose.

"Since they're rehearsing, I'd better not spoil the mood and disturb them... By the way, Youyu, you've already seen it, haven't you?"

She sat down on the sofa without any hesitation, showing no awkwardness at all about being in someone else's territory. Instead, she acted as if she were communicating with a junior she had watched grow up, placing herself in a dominant position.

"What have you seen or experienced?"

Despite asking this question, Toyokawa Yuu already knew the answer in her heart.

If there's anything in common between him and this movie star, it's only with Toyokawa Shoko or Wakaba Mutsumi.

Furthermore, having already learned ten years later that he would be collaborating with Minami Mori to "murder" Mutsumi, the other party's claim of having witnessed it could only be...

"Playing dumb won't make you popular, especially when you're talking about Mutsu. Although you've never met her before, as the adopted son-in-law of the Toyokawa family, you shouldn't have missed any information about this person you'll definitely want to win over when you grow up."

The blatant discussion of self-interest suggests that he is completely unconcerned about placing his daughter in the role of a "practice target."

As Mori Minami looked at this junior who had already begun to get involved in matters of profit, her smile grew even brighter.

"So, how do you feel about Xiao Mu?"

"...Silent and reserved, which contradicts the information that he showed strong social talent from the age of three."

Sitting on the sofa opposite Minami, looking at the superstar across the coffee table, even just from the perspective of workplace etiquette, he couldn't sit in his office chair and talk to this legendary senior.

"What if I said that both her cheerfulness as a child and her current silence are acting skills?"

Upon hearing this, Toyokawa Yuu paused slightly, feigning surprise as she looked at Mori Minami with disbelief.

He probably already guessed what the movie star's purpose was in coming to see him.

“That child is a natural-born acting prodigy. If you can help bring out her talent, I would be very grateful. I can also use my connections to help Ave Mujica reach a bigger stage.”

Chapter 20 Even a monster's talent is genuine.

"Acting skills? Although Ave Mujica is a commercial band and does engage in some small theater performances to promote their worldview, they don't seem to have any particularly profound pursuit of acting skills."

So that's what it was about.

Upon hearing Minami's suggestion, Toyokawa Yuu sighed inwardly, but outwardly she still had to pretend to be clueless, even if the other party could see through her act.

There are some things that absolutely cannot be said from the perspective of "Ave Mujica's agent".

“If Mortis’s acting skills reach a level of so high that others cannot cooperate with her, then it will be a problem. Neither forcing others to make an effort that they cannot do nor making Mortis lower her standards to accommodate others is a suitable solution.”

"Sigh, could it be that Qinggao's honesty led to his failure and disappointed Old Master Dingzhi, resulting in him raising a grandson-in-law who only knows how to pretend to be stupid?"

Shaking her head helplessly, Mori Minami didn't even need to scrutinize Toyokawa Yuu's expression to know that the other party was just deliberately giving her the runaround.

As the husband whom Toyokawa Sadaharu had been grooming since childhood and who was carefully preparing for his only heir, Toyokawa Shoko, it was impossible for Toyokawa Yuu not to understand his own hints.

If he were truly that stupid, he would never have had the chance to appear before Toyokawa Shoko.

However, Minami Mori could understand Yuu Toyokawa's act of pretending to be stupid.

Having just been released from the family's "training ground," he seemed to have gained freedom, but in reality, he had to be careful with his every move, otherwise the invisible chains known as the "Darkness of the Toyokawa Family" would snap his neck in an instant.

It's alright. Since Toyokawa Yuu is unwilling to make things clear, then I'll just have to say it myself.

Given Minami's current achievements and status, while she may not be able to directly challenge a large conglomerate like the Toyokawa family, she no longer needs to pay too much attention to certain unspoken rules.

With her gaze fixed on Yuu Toyokawa's eyes, Minami Mori, for the first time, put away her almost perfect smile and unleashed the pressure of being a senior figure in the industry towards the boy in front of her.

“How could I possibly let Mujica stay on Ave Mujica? With such talent, he should become a national superstar who can surpass me… no, a world superstar.”

Standing up from the sofa, Minami walked around to Yuu Toyokawa's back, the crisp sound of her high heels hitting the ground echoing intermittently.

“If I just tell you that all the personality Mu is showing right now is just acting, you probably don’t have any idea. So let me give you a more convincing example – that’s me.”

The sound of fingertips gliding across the back of the sofa, the friction of skin against leather, was so close that it sent shivers down my spine.

"That kid's talent for acting is terrifying. If he really gets serious, he could probably overshadow me in an instant."

"And this... is just something she did when she was three years old."

Mori Minami's voice carried a hint of melancholy and fear. As the mother of Wakaba Mutsuki and also a national-level actress, she was actually afraid of her daughter's talent.

It's a gap in talent and ability. Only those who have witnessed a real, towering tsunami will feel the fear of being swept away on the beach by the next wave, and will never even have the thought of competing with it.

People like Minami would never try to challenge an opponent they can't beat, even if that person is their own daughter.

However, not daring to take on the challenge doesn't mean she has no intention of using it at all.

"But even if he's a monster, that child's talent is genuine."

The melancholy and fear in his voice quickly vanished without a trace, replaced by a sense of ambition.

It was as if they had been waiting and planning for a long time in the dark night, and only when they saw the bright moon hanging in the night sky did they finally realize that the time was ripe.

"Over the years, I have been waiting, not for that child to grow up, but for my position in the industry to be solidified over time, until it has reached a point where no one can easily shake my position unless I take the initiative to challenge it... And how could I possibly challenge my daughter, that monster that is impossible to defeat?"

With her hands on Yuu Toyokawa's shoulders, Minami Mori slowly leaned down, her warm breath brushing against the back of Yuu Toyokawa's ear.

“Now, it’s time to unleash that monster, and I… her mother, the origin of her performing talent, is that dragon tamer who holds the reins. No matter how dazzling she becomes in the future, she will only be my appendage.”

From a young age, Mori Minami couldn't help but smile, as if she could already see the scene of "three superstars from one family" being implied in various ways that "Wakaba Mutsumi has nothing of her own" and "her acting talent is due to her parents".

"People's first impression of her will only be that she is a prodigy trained by actress Minami Mori. No matter how dazzling she becomes, she will only enhance my image until my brilliance fades completely and I disappear from the public eye."

In front of Yuu Toyokawa, Minami Mori didn't seem to intend to hide her thoughts.

The Wakaba family and the Toyokawa family have always been extremely reliable allies, and Wakaba Mutsu and Toyokawa Shoko are childhood friends.

Logically and emotionally, there was nothing to be wary of in Toyokawa Yuu, the adopted son-in-law prepared for Toyokawa Shoko.

"So, Xiaoyouyu, how about you help Auntie out this time?"

As her fingertips lightly brushed against Toyokawa Yuu's chin, noticing the boy's subconscious movement of shrinking his neck, Mori Minami's smile became slightly more playful.

She's quite innocent, which is good; she's easier to manipulate now.

"Don't worry, the villain role that ruins Ave Mujica won't fall on your shoulders, and I will always be your friend. Even if Xiangzi inherits the position of head of the family in the future, I will support you, not Toyokawa. How about that?"

That's a really good deal. If I hadn't been killed by Metis once, I might have actually believed it.

He subconsciously shrank his neck. Mori Minami's movements always reminded him of Hatsune Miku. Toyokawa Yuu always had the illusion that his neck might be snapped at the slightest provocation.

Even so, his voice remained steady and calm.

"Since it was Ms. Minami who proposed the collaboration, I should have no reason to object."

The softening tone brought a glimmer of joy to Minami's eyes, but her next words instantly turned her expression cold.

"But, I refuse."

Chapter 21 There is no need to share victory with the losers.

"But, I refuse."

The confident voice reached Minami Mori's ears, instantly turning her smiling expression cold, and causing her fingers, which were lightly lifting Yuu Toyokawa's chin, to unconsciously tighten their grip slightly.

"Why? This deal shouldn't be too difficult for you to find the right option, Yuu Toyokawa."

He reached out and grasped Minami's hand, prying her fingers off his chin.

He was fine when she was smiling and telling him her plans, but now the atmosphere has become stiff. He's really afraid that Senmina might suddenly twist her neck like Hatsune Miku did, so she can kill him to silence him.

Having experienced two deaths in a short period of time, Toyokawa Yuu no longer truly believed that these people would uphold the bottom line when it came to murder.

"I should be the one asking why, Ms. Minami. Wakaba Mutsumi is your daughter. Your behavior has gone far beyond the scope of 'expectations for a child.' It will only cause her pain."

"That's a strange question, Yu-Yu-Jun. With so many different kinds of Xiao-Mu, how can I be sure which one is my real daughter?"

She broke free from Toyokawa Yuu's grasp and sat back down on the sofa opposite him, her voice no longer carrying the previous smile and gentleness.

Even the way they addressed Toyokawa Yuu changed from calling her by her full name on that one occasion to a way of addressing her as someone of equal status.

"If I had a choice, I would of course want to have a better daughter, and... even just looking at the order of birth, the cheerful Xiao Mu at the age of three is my real daughter."

No wonder you were driven insane by Metis ten years later.

Listening to Minami Mori's amazing speech, which was in no way inferior to Hatsune Miku in terms of god-like ability, even Yuu Toyokawa couldn't help but twitch her eye.

He is now certain that in the incident ten years later where Metis said he "persuaded Wakaba Mutsu to give up the guitar," Minami Mori was definitely the mastermind, and he was at most an accomplice.

So why do I have to die...?

While secretly criticizing Metis's filial piety, Toyokawa Yuu shook her head at Mori Minami, still showing no intention of backing down.

“Please leave, Ms. Mori Minami. I will not agree to your deal, nor will I speak of this matter and disrupt the harmony of your family. Ave Mujica is Xiangzi’s current pursuit, and I will not easily destroy this pursuit.”

It must be said that Xiangzi was indeed a very good excuse. As the adopted son of Toyokawa Yuu, he could use the reason of "for Xiangzi's own good" as a shield no matter what he did.

Yuu Toyokawa rejected Minami Mori's plan to push Mutsuka Wakaba into the entertainment industry by sabotaging Ave Mujica, not only because she didn't want her controlled variable experiment to be disrupted.

More importantly, the appearance of Senmina gave him a way to turn Metis into a usable ally.

He and Ruoye Mu are not familiar with each other right now, they are just manager and band member, but the enemy of an enemy can always become a friend, right?

"Completely illogical, what a pity... But I'm a little curious, Yu Yu, you and Xiao Xiang shouldn't have any feelings for each other yet, right? I didn't expect you to care about her so much."

With her hands supporting her chin, Mori Minami had regained her smile, as if those words that had been so devastating to her daughter's personality had never happened.

"If Xiaomu becomes even more dazzling, the power of the Ruoye family will also rise accordingly. As someone who has gained the friendship of the Ruoye family, your position will become more and more stable. I can't even think of a reason for you to refuse."

That's because I have no reason to share the spoils of victory with the losers.

With a slight lowering of her gaze, Toyokawa Yuu concealed the fleeting pity that crossed her eyes.

He knew very well that Minami Mori could never be a match for the "Multi-Headed Monster".

Even if she successfully "murders" Wakaba Mutsu, she will be defeated by Metis and leave the stage that made her so proud forever in the prime of her life.

Yuu Toyokawa had no reason to cooperate with a doomed loser, as for himself...

He will not lose, even if he has to die again and again, he must win, only in this way can he truly live.

"Because we are a community with a shared destiny, if Xiangzi dies, I cannot live on. So I must ensure her physical and mental health, and at least let her live happily for ten years."

Yuu Toyokawa shrugged. This wasn't an act; it was the truth.

He must bring his deceased wife back to life ten years later to avoid being swallowed up by the darkness of the Toyokawa family.

He even needs to have a good relationship with her, otherwise, if he resurrects a tyrannical man like Toyokawa, how can he live his life?

"Ten years... It seems that what Yu-kun is planning is even bigger than I imagined."

As she carefully considered the number of years that Yuu Toyokawa had mentioned, Minami Mori squinted at the boy in front of her, seemingly making a connection to something.

Alliances based solely on interests, without any emotional connection, are fragile and can easily crumble at any moment due to greater interests.

So, have feelings developed between Yuu Toyokawa and Shoko Toyokawa?

"I apologize for disturbing you today, Yu-kun, but if you change your mind, I can always reserve a spot for you as an ally."

As she stood up from the sofa, Minami even gave a slight bow to Yuu Toyokawa, fulfilling the etiquette of a visitor who is on equal footing with her.

Although the boy in front of her could still be described as a rootless duckweed, only able to use Toyokawa Shoko as a shield to bully others, Mori Minami had already realized that she might be at risk of being defeated by him.

However, it's just a risk; it doesn't mean she'll give up the plan she's been preparing for over a decade.

There remains a huge gap between a risky opponent and an invincible monster.

After closing the office door, Minami glanced at the end of the corridor, where one of the rooms was Ave Mujica's rehearsal room. She did indeed plan to come and see her daughter tonight.

but now……

After hesitating for a moment, Senmina took out her phone and dialed one of the numbers.