After waiting for an hour in the guesthouse, the group chat was still silent.
Jiang Jian Yue grew uneasy, constantly switching over to LINE, anxiously clicking here and there—Could something have happened?
She put on her cashmere coat, wrapped her scarf tightly, and pushed open the door, just in time to run into Yuki Asahi.
“Senpai, I’m a little worried about Kaori and the others… Why don’t we go help look for them?” Yuki Asahi’s face was full of worry.
What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing.
“Let’s go.”
The two of them headed downstairs.
The elderly lady at the front desk, sipping tea, greeted them with a smile, then suggested, “It’s lovely to soak in a hot spring on an afternoon like this. There’s a good one nearby.” Yuki Asahi nodded awkwardly, but didn’t respond to the recommendation.
The biting cold wind, mixed with fine snow, rushed against their faces, instantly sweeping away the guesthouse’s warmth.
The snow was a little lighter than before.
They arrived at the spot by the river where they’d parted earlier, just about to split up and search, when a black MPV slowly pulled up in front of them.
The window rolled down, revealing Koji Hattori’s profile behind sunglasses.
He snapped his fingers out the window at them, his tone relaxed: “Yo~ Is this your ride?”
“We’re heading to Tengu Mountain later. I rented the car,” Koji Hattori explained, then lowered his voice, “Kaori is already in the car.”
Jiang Jian Yue shot a cold look at Saori Saiyonji in the passenger seat.
He shrank his neck instinctively, nearly burying himself in the seat.
I’ll settle accounts with you later!
Without changing her expression, Jiang Jian Yue nudged Yuki Asahi beside her with her elbow, signaling him to get in first.
Opening the door, a wave of warm air mixed with a faint sense of pressure swept out of the car.
The right seat in the middle row was empty; Yamanoi Yayoi sat on the left, casting a worried glance at the back row.
Kaori Onishi had curled herself tightly in the very corner of the back seat’s shadow, her face hidden behind a scarf, revealing only a few tousled golden strands of hair.
Yuki Asahi hesitated between the empty middle seat and the back row, but before he could decide, Jiang Jian Yue squeezed in, directly pushing him into the narrow aisle between the two middle seats.
Jiang Jian Yue sat down without a word, fastened her seatbelt, and looked out at the river—Isn’t it common sense for the first one in to move to the inside?
Yamanoi Yayoi opened her mouth, as if wanting to suggest switching seats, but in the end swallowed her words.
Yuki Asahi froze in the aisle, awkwardly hesitating for a second, then took a deep breath and sat on the other side of the back seat.
He could feel the girl beside him tense up instantly, then watched her bury her face even deeper, leaving only the tips of her red ears showing.
The atmosphere in the car grew heavier still.
The car started smoothly, Koji Hattori turning on some music to try and lighten the mood, but it did little good.
Other than the soft hum of the engine and the sound of tires crunching over the snow, only suffocating silence remained in the car.
Yamanoi Yayoi nervously twisted a lock of hair around her finger, occasionally sneaking glances at the two in the back row.
Jiang Jian Yue simply closed her eyes, breathing steady—It’s not like I’m the one who’s embarrassed anyway.
The five-kilometer drive to Tengu Mountain felt especially long.
The car finally stopped near the Tengu Mountain Cable Car Station, and Koji Hattori began shooing everyone out: “Why don’t you go buy tickets first? I’ll park the car and grab a bottle of water.”
He clearly couldn’t stand the atmosphere inside the car for another minute.
Everyone quickly got out as if granted amnesty.
The cold air rushed into their lungs, bringing a surprising sense of relief.
After getting out, Kaori Onishi instinctively kept her distance from Yuki Asahi, moving to Yamanoi Yayoi’s side with her head bowed, as if seeking protection.
Yuki Asahi stretched a little, still dazed, his gaze unconsciously following Jiang Jian Yue’s silhouette.
Jiang Jian Yue didn’t head for the Ticket Office, but instead turned and walked straight to the passenger seat, opening the door.
Saori Saiyonji, slowly unbuckling her seatbelt, suddenly felt a shadow fall over her, bringing an intangible sense of oppression.
“Saiyonji.”
Her tone was not loud, but colder than the surrounding air.
Saori Saiyonji froze completely, lifting her head to meet those blood-red, emotionless eyes.
Cold sweat instantly soaked her back, her voice trembling: “J-Jiang Jian-sama…”
Jiang Jian Yue’s sharp gaze bore into the boy’s face, not saying a word.
It was obvious Kaori Onishi had already told him what happened; otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a reaction.
Saiyonji’s face turned ghostly pale, lips quivering: “I’m sorry! I’m really, really sorry! I was too full of myself! I, I, I… spread rumors carelessly! I’m sorry!”
He suddenly bowed his head in apology, posture full of regret and fear.
Jiang Jian Yue was silent, thinking: Maybe I went a bit too far scaring him.
After all, he’s just a kid, I really won’t hold it against him…
Plus, he should be apologizing to poor Yuki Asahi for scaring him like that, right?
From the driver’s seat, Koji Hattori sighed, then forced a smile, quickly pleading for Saori Saiyonji: “Saiyonji-kun didn’t mean any harm… He’s just overly concerned with Asahi’s love life…”
“Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Jiang Jian Yue let it go at that.
“Yes! There absolutely won’t be a next time!”
With the oppressive atmosphere on this side temporarily dispelled, another storm was brewing nearby.
Kaori Onishi walked to a relatively secluded spot near the Cable Car Station, taking a few deep breaths of icy air, as if suppressing all her earlier shame and panic.
Yamanoi Yayoi looked at her with concern.
“Kaori-chan, are you alright?”
Kaori Onishi didn’t answer.
Suddenly, she turned around, her gaze passing over Yamanoi Yayoi’s shoulder, locking directly onto Yuki Asahi, who was walking toward them.
Under the heat of her gaze, Yuki Asahi paused, looking somewhat at a loss.
Kaori Onishi’s generous chest rose and fell once, as if steeling herself for something.
The familiar spark of life reignited in her emerald eyes, like a flame leaping in the snowy landscape.
She took a few steps forward, stood in front of Yuki Asahi, raised her face, and declared loudly and clearly, “Yuki-kun!”
Yuki Asahi was startled by her momentum, instinctively replying, “Ah… here!”
“About what happened at lunch…”
Kaori Onishi’s cheeks were already flushed, but her eyes remained unusually firm, not shying away in the least. “When I said, ‘I only like Yuki-kun’—that was the truth.”
She paused, and under Yuki Asahi’s sudden tension, she announced, crystal clear, “I meant it! It’s absolutely, completely true, not a joke, and not just something I blurted out because Senpai scared me!”
“I like you, Yuki!”
“Even if it might trouble you right now, even though I still think Jiang-senpai likes you, and maybe I don’t stand much of a chance…”
Her voice trembled slightly, yet was filled with an unyielding strength as she clenched her fists: “But! I, Kaori Onishi, will never give up!”
“I like you!”
With her declaration finished, the whole world seemed to fall silent.
The mountain wind swept by, stirring up powdery snow along the edge of the steps.
Yamanoi Yayoi stood beside the two, covering her mouth, her glasses wide with shock.
Yuki Asahi was utterly stunned, his mind blank.
He had never imagined Kaori Onishi would confess again, so directly and passionately, in a moment like this.
Seeing the flames of stubborn determination burning in her emerald eyes, Yuki Asahi’s lips quivered.
The only one he liked was Jiang-senpai, and he was very clear about it.
Even hesitating for a few seconds would be disrespectful to his own feelings.
So, he could only cruelly reject… reject her…
Yuki Asahi parted his lips, summoning the courage to speak: “Sorry, I—”
“Aaaahhhh!”
Kaori Onishi, already aware that Yuki Asahi was about to reject her, clapped her hands over her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, shouting loudly.
If she got rejected here, her budding romance would be over before it began…
Right, drown it out with a loud noise!
Jiang Jian Yue, who had been heading to buy tickets, turned around at the commotion: Kaori-chan, wha—what’s with the sudden shouting?
In the distance, Koji Hattori finished parking and walked over, seeing the scene and letting a smile slip: Ah, youth.
Eh?
Wait, does the young lady actually like Yuki-kun or not?
Koji Hattori lowered his head, pulling out his phone to check the answer he’d given Morita Ao a few hours ago. Cold sweat ran down his back.
Damn, what now?
At the foot of Tengu Mountain, the bluish street lamps cast a hazy light over this scene full of embarrassment, apology, anger, and sudden courage of youth.
***
Morita Aoya, having heard about the matter through his lookout, also sensed the seriousness of the situation.
After asking around and receiving Koji Hattori’s reply of “there’s a rumor,” he immediately frowned.
He reported this news to the Jiang Family Head, then fell silent on the call.
“So… Yue doesn’t like that Yuki kid?” the man asked in confusion. “Why did it change again?”
“It’s just a rumor,” Morita Aoya quickly corrected.
“Rumors aren’t good…”
The man spoke with some difficulty, “If Yuki is willing to marry into our family, the children can take the Jiang name… but if it’s two girls, that’s a problem.”
Morita Aoya was so nervous he barely dared to breathe—this concerned the future of the company.
Even though Dawn Resources Group wasn’t a Japanese company, as a Japanese Jiang Family Head, he clearly thought with the mindset of a traditional Japanese business.
“Hmm, looks like we’ll need a backup plan.”
After thinking for a long while, the man said, “Remind Yuki Asahi that I approve of them consummating their marriage before the wedding… A shotgun wedding is also acceptable.”
Morita Aoya quickly reminded him, “At the moment, it seems they… haven’t confirmed their relationship yet?”
“What?”
The man sounded anxious.
“Why didn’t anyone say so earlier… Does that mean Yuki doesn’t like our Yue?”
“He should like her.”
“Then why?”
“Greek yogurt.”
“…”
The man suddenly seemed to realize something, his voice turning cold: “Has Yue ever said herself that she likes that boy?”
Morita Aoya was startled, then realized the young lady had never actually said it…
But surely anyone could see it?
“Even if she hasn’t said it—” “I see.”
The man sighed wearily.
Things like this were common in big corporations—sometimes news changed drastically on its way to the top.
“Notify that boy, tell him to confirm things with Yue as soon as possible. No matter what, homosexuality is not allowed!”
“If he can’t do it, then stick to the original candidate.”
“The child will be returning to Japan soon, it’s time to let them cultivate their relationship… Even if it doesn’t work out in the end, he’ll still be Yue’s biggest supporter.”
“Yes, Family Head!”
I was thinking damn Kaori is pretty damn strong only for her to pull that stunt at the end lmao
Yuki’s about to fight against Yue’s Father own candidate…. Good luck Yuki