The evening glow streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, casting a golden halo around her.
The fatigue on her face seemed softened under the warm light.
“What’s wrong?”
Yuki Asahi stared for a moment, asking subconsciously.
“Nothing.”
I want you to say you’ll like me forever a hundred times.
The emotional fluctuations of menstruation made her restless, and Jiang Jian Yue knew her own thoughts were unreasonable, making them hard to voice.
In the end, this unspeakable feeling turned into silent frustration directed at herself—she just wanted to be alone.
“It’s ready.”
Yuki Asahi stood up a little awkwardly, patting the cushion.
“Try it. See if it’s comfortable?”
Jiang Jian Yue shook her head lightly.
“Move your stuff… over here.”
“Now?”
Yuki Asahi was taken aback.
“Or what?”
Yuki Asahi looked at her obviously unwell face, concern in his eyes.
“Oh.”
He wanted to stay, but he knew Jiang Jian Yue didn’t like others seeing her weakness.
“Then I’ll be back soon!”
He picked up his jacket.
“You must lock the door. If anything happens—no, I’ll come right back.”
He nearly ran out of the entrance, the door closing softly with a “click.”
The apartment fell silent again.
Jiang Jian Yue could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the newly laid cushion.
The springs provided good support, but she still felt her body sinking endlessly.
So cold.
So much pain.
So hungry.
She curled up, burying her face in the pillow that still carried the scent of new fabric.
Money…
Yuki Asahi’s little savings had already run out.
What about the more than six hundred thousand monthly rent next month?
What about the washing machine and refrigerator?
What about tomorrow’s meal money?
She couldn’t really expect Yuki Asahi to work every day to support her, let alone count on some body-devouring being falling from the sky.
Jiang Jian Yue opened her eyes, a glint of determination flashing in those icy pupils.
She raised her hand, and with a thought, the Nikon D850 camera and several lenses appeared in her hand.
It had captured the snow of Hokkaido, recorded Yuki Asahi’s smile—but in the adult world, memories couldn’t be eaten for meals.
And in theory, memories are stored in store cards.
She used her phone to take photos of the camera and lenses.
Her movements were slow, and her fingers trembled slightly as they touched the cold body of the device.
She opened a second-hand trading app and began editing the product information.
[Nikon D850, 98% new, shutter count less than 5,000. Comes with hand grip.]
[AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR, perfect lens, no dust or mold.]
[AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, same as above.]
Her finger stopped in the price column.
All together, the original price had long surpassed a million yen.
She took a deep breath and entered a number far below market value—just for a quick sale.
[Bundle price: 800,000 yen. Tokyo area can meet in person.]
She tossed her phone aside, collapsing back onto the bed and wrapping herself tightly in the blanket.
It’s fine… Sell it, and I can earn it back again later.
So-called adults don’t hesitate when it’s time to let go.
Jiang Jian Yue closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.
Only by sleeping could she escape hunger and pain.
***
On the other side, Yuki Asahi was sitting on the train home.
Even at dusk, the train car was crowded.
He was squeezed by the door, clutching his phone tightly.
On the screen, his bank account balance displayed: 98,350 yen.
This wasn’t even enough to buy a basic refrigerator.
His heart was filled with anxiety and… a strange excitement.
He was going to live with Yue.
He had to take responsibility—handling the necessities of life, he even felt an illusion that they were already married.
What am I thinking!
Yuki Asahi! Senior Jiang hasn’t even agreed to be your girlfriend yet!
He immediately searched on his phone for part-time jobs with “high school student, daily wage, high salary,” but most of the results looked suspicious.
“I have to work harder.”
He muttered softly.
The train stopped at Shinjuku Station, and a large crowd of office workers poured in.
Yuki Asahi was pushed further inside.
At that moment, a gentle yet steady voice sounded beside him.
“Excuse me, are you Yuki Asahi-kun?”
Yuki Asahi was startled and looked up.
Standing before him was a man in a high-end gray suit, with an elegant air and handsome face.
He looked young, but his gray eyes were deep as an ancient well, radiating a calming sense of tranquility.
A polite, gentle smile was on his face.
A strip of medical bandage was wrapped around his exposed right hand, while a low-key watch adorned his left wrist.
Yuki Asahi’s heart stopped.
That face!
He recognized it instantly—
Nine-Tails Seiji!
At Lake Toya, when Yuki Asahi secretly glanced at Jiang Jian Yue’s phone on the bus, there had been a photo of this man.
Jiang Jian Yue’s fiancé!
Yuki Asahi tensed up, subconsciously taking a defensive posture.
He thought the other would come to provoke or humiliate him.
“You…”
“Ah, it seems I wasn’t mistaken.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s smile remained, even taking on a hint of apology.
“Sorry for startling you. I’m Nine-Tails Seiji.”
“I know who you are.”
Yuki Asahi’s voice was a little dry.
Nine-Tails Seiji seemed to notice his tension.
He raised his uninjured hand, making a reassuring gesture.
“Asahi-kun, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
He glanced at the crowded car and sighed.
“Actually, today I’m doing some… research.”
“Research?”
Yuki Asahi was stunned.
“Yes.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s gaze shifted to the passing lights outside the window.
“It’s one of my interests after work—to observe.”
“Today’s topic is observing young people like you—what you do after school, what you worry about.”
“I… I’m just going home.”
And it’s winter break now, hey!
“Of course.”
Nine-Tails Seiji smiled.
“Actually, I’m very happy to meet you here, Asahi-kun.”
His tone suddenly became sincere.
“I already know about Yue—about Jiang Jian Yue sharing an apartment with you.”
Yuki Asahi’s wariness shot up again.
“So what? That’s her own choice!”
“I know.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s face showed no anger—only concern and helplessness.
“I truly admire her courage.”
He spoke softly, his gaze falling on his bandaged right hand, a bitter smile crossing his lips.
“Yue’s will is very strong—sometimes even intense.”
Yuki Asahi noticed his hand and felt a stir in his heart.
Could it be…
“Asahi-kun, I may not be what you think.”
Nine-Tails Seiji looked straight into his eyes, those gray pupils filled with “sincerity.”
“I’m not your enemy.”
“What?”
“I can’t refuse that engagement either.”
A lie.
Nine-Tails Seiji’s voice was low.
“What I’m worried about is Yue’s safety. Her father… the head of the Jiang Family, is a very strong-willed man.”
Another lie.
“He thought driving Yue out would ‘let her experience reality,’ but he doesn’t realize that only pushes her into more danger.”
Lie.
Nine-Tails Seiji fabricated falsehoods with an unchanged expression, as easily as breathing, crafting lies that fit the public’s perception of the “darkness” in powerful families.
These words nearly mirrored Yuki Asahi’s own worries.
Yuki Asahi was utterly stunned.
This Nine-Tails Seiji—not only did he not blame him, but was worried for Yue?
“I tried persuading the family head, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Nine-Tails Seiji sounded a bit weary.
“What worries me more is that Yue, in order to prove herself, might do something irrational—like getting involved with the gray areas, or doing things that hurt ordinary people…”
“I…”
“Asahi-kun, I know things must be tough for you right now.”
Nine-Tails Seiji cut him off, as if seeing through his predicament.
“Yue is too proud. She would never ask me, or anyone but you, for help. So…”
He took a simple black business card from his suit’s inner pocket and handed it to Yuki Asahi.
“This is my private contact information.”
Yuki Asahi didn’t reach for it immediately.
“I hope you’ll accept it.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s voice was earnest.
“I’m not trying to give you charity, nor interfere in your lives—I just hope that… when you encounter real trouble you can’t solve…”
“Please, for Yue’s safety, contact me.”
“I won’t tell her father. I just don’t want to see her get truly hurt.”
Nine-Tails Seiji’s stance was humble.
His “gentleness” and “consideration” were plain for Yuki Asahi to see.
He didn’t seem like the high and mighty rival Yuki Asahi had feared.
He was more like… a reliable older brother also worried about Yue.
The train’s chime sounded—the station had arrived.
Yuki Asahi hesitated for several seconds, then finally took the business card.
There was only a string of numbers and the four characters “Nine-Tails Seiji” on it.
“Thank you, Mr. Nine-Tails.”
He bowed slightly.
“But… I think we can solve things ourselves.”
“I sincerely hope so.”
Nine-Tails Seiji gave a gentle smile.
“Take care of her, Asahi-kun.”
Yuki Asahi nodded, squeezed off the train, and looked back at the car.
Nine-Tails Seiji stood by the window, smiling and nodding at him.
Even after the train left, Yuki Asahi was still clutching the cold business card, his heart a jumble of emotions.
So…
He misunderstood.
Mr. Nine-Tails… seems like a good person?
Inside the train, the gentle smile faded from Nine-Tails Seiji’s face, replaced by icy indifference.
***
Yuki Asahi pushed open the door of the Amuro Residence and, seeing the shoes at the entrance, judged that no one was home.
Returning to the bedroom, he casually slipped the black business card into a book.
He didn’t want Yue to see it and misunderstand.
Yuki Asahi shook his head, pushing thoughts of Nine-Tails Seiji aside.
The priority was to pack up and move over—take care of Yue!
But…
How was he supposed to move all this stuff?
Just as he was agonizing over it, his phone suddenly rang.
It was the number the agent had left earlier.
Yuki Asahi assumed the screening was finished, so he answered without thinking:
“Ah… Hello! Is this Mr. Yuki?!”
The voice of the agent on the other end was a bit panicked.
“It’s me, what is it?”
“Mr. Yuki, something big has happened!”
“It’s about Room 2103 that you and Miss Jiang rented… the landlord… the landlord…”