When Mai Sakurajima heard Luo Shu's words about "a grown-up version of you," she was utterly shocked.
Although she knew Luo Shu probably wouldn't do that, the implied meaning in his words was too strong—so strong that she didn't dare take the risk.
A person shouldn't... at least they really shouldn't...
Just as Mai Sakurajima was stunned into silence, Luo Shu quietly sent her another message through the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System.
In her consciousness, a sudden pop-up window appeared, making Mai instinctively glance at its contents.
[Luo Shu: Your mum's really pretty~]
Mai fell silent for less than a second before immediately backtracking:
"I was just joking earlier."
"We've only just started dating. Talking about marriage and all that is... way too soon for now."
"Mai?" Airi Sakurajima blinked in confusion. Sure, the pace was a bit fast, but wasn't the conversation going well?
Even if it didn't work out, getting a promise wouldn't hurt—so why was her daughter acting foolish now of all times?
Faced with Airi's bewilderment, Mai only responded with a pleading look that screamed, 'Please, just stop talking.'
'If this keeps going, we won't be discussing my wedding—it'll be yours, Mum!!'
Stunned by her daughter's expression, Airi ultimately chose to stay silent.
Although she wasn't clear on what her daughter was worried about, given that Mai Sakurajima was involved, she thought it over and ultimately chose to trust her.
Yet if something could make the girl this tense, had there been something off just now...
As Airi Sakurajima thought this, she suddenly recalled the earlier conversation between Mai Sakurajima and Luo Shu.
Hadn't he just complimented her beauty?
'Wait, I'm beautiful?'
In that instant, Mai Sakurajima seemed to understand something, yet didn't dare confirm it, forcing herself to calm down.
'People shouldn't—no, at the very least, they really shouldn't...'
After a moment's silence, Airi Sakurajima spoke up:
"If you two have your own ideas about this, then you can decide for yourselves."
Having said this, Airi Sakurajima stiffly maintained her composure as she addressed Luo Shu:
"Luo Shu, may I call you that?"
Luo Shu glanced briefly at Airi Sakurajima before replying with a professional smile:
"Of course, madam."
At this point, Airi Sakurajima casually added:
"Mai has always been very strong-willed since childhood. Often, her approach to things can be a bit extreme, so I hope you'll be patient with her going forward."
[Mai Sakurajima: Let me translate—what this means is roughly 'This child would never accept such outrageous behaviour, so you'd better give up now!']
[Mai Sakurajima: Put that way, you should understand, right? Knife emoji]
After glimpsing the message Mai Sakurajima had sent via the system, Luo Shu's smile remained unchanged as he replied to Airi Sakurajima:
"I'll take good care of Mai, madam."
"Good. In that case, I won't disturb you any further."
With that, without waiting for either of them to respond, Airi Sakurajima hastily gathered her things and left.
Watching Airi Sakurajima's slightly flustered retreating figure until she disappeared through the exit, Mai Sakurajima finally turned back and pinched Luo Shu's arm in frustration:
"Are you satisfied now?"
"My mother definitely just realised your filthy thoughts!"
"Couldn't you have left her with at least a decent impression?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu turned to look at her and countered:
"But why should I leave a good impression?"
"Well, because—"
Before Mai Sakurajima could finish her sentence, Luo Shu murmured:
"Mai, do you think I would ever marry you?"
Mai Sakurajima froze.
She stared blankly at Luo Shu for a long moment before rationality finally returned. Calmly, she said:
"You're right. You really wouldn't marry me..."
Though Mai Sakurajima dearly wished for an exclusive romantic relationship, unfortunately, such a thing had become impossible after signing the Familia contract.
Even in modern religions, there were nuns and shrine maidens who devoted their entire lives to deities, let alone when the man before her was an actual god.
Applying religious ethics to their Familia relationship, Mai Sakurajima was now effectively a shrine maiden who had taken vows of celibacy.
Marriage had never been an option to begin with.
At this realisation, Mai Sakurajima sighed in mild vexation:
"But this means dealing with Mother in the future will be quite troublesome."
Her mother had just urged her to take the initiative and secure Luo Shu as her wealthy husband.
Now that marriage was off the table, wasn't this a dead end from the start?
At that moment, Luo Shu subtly hinted:
"Perhaps you could let her think you've become my mistress?"
Japan was a society where power reigned, and scandals about tycoons' illegitimate children were commonplace. Thus, an unofficial wife—a mistress—was already an open secret everyone tacitly acknowledged.
Though it was an unspoken norm, Mai Sakurajima didn't hesitate to lightly punch Luo Shu's chest with her small fist and roll her eyes, saying:
"Do you really think that's possible?"
"I think it is." Luo Shu raised his hand, attempting to grab Mai's wrist, but she dodged.
Pulling her hand back, Mai smirked at Luo Shu and said:
"Even daydreams should have limits, oh mighty god."
With that, she propped her cheek on one hand, tilting her head as she asked Luo Shu:
"But even if we use the mistress excuse, my mother might not accept it..."
"Then you can just scare her with my little performance earlier."
Luo Shu mimicked Mai's tone and said:
"Mom, if you keep making me angry like this, I'll tell Luo Shu you're willing to join our family."
After delivering the line, Luo Shu grinned mischievously at Mai:
"Go ahead and try it. I guarantee it'll work."
Mai was speechless for a moment before bursting into laughter and scolding:
"You're seriously such a pervert!"
After berating Luo Shu, she covered her mouth, unable to hold back her giggles, as if already picturing Airi Sakurajima fleeing in panic.
Still laughing, Mai said:
"Even if she annoys me sometimes, you can't just scare her like that."
"Then what?" Luo Shu glanced at her. "Do you have any other way to keep your mother in check and make her behave?"
Mai froze at that, recalling her mother's relentless ambition. It suddenly struck her that she really had no way to counter Airi Sakurajima.
From childhood, she had grown up under her mother's control, and after all these years, she still didn't know how to resist.
The only protest tactic she had was running away from home.
Realising this, Mai actually began considering it seriously:
"So... it seems the only way is to use you to scare her..."
Mai hadn't forgotten how her mother, pressured by the zaibatsu, had agreed to send her out for business dealings.
Though she'd eventually met Luo Shu, preventing things from getting worse, she had personally experienced her mother's emotional manipulation.
In such circumstances, even Mai wasn't foolish enough not to take countermeasures.
And Luo Shu's earlier prank was clearly the biggest deterrent.
At this thought, Mai gave Luo Shu a strange look:
"Be honest—did you plan to scare her from the start?"
"Does it matter?" Luo Shu countered.
Hearing this, Mai Sakurajima carefully studied Luo Shu's smiling face before sighing:
"Indeed, it's not important."
As she spoke, Luo Shu suddenly felt a cool sensation on his lips as Mai's eyes filled his entire vision.
Only when both were satisfied did Mai lean back, her face flushed as she turned away with a soft 'tch', then shot Luo Shu a reproachful glare:
"Don't be so rough next time."
With that, she walked past Luo Shu and said:
"I'll pay the bill. Assuming no surprises, I'll go home this afternoon to explain things to Mother. You must have other plans?"
Luo Shu replied calmly:
"No need. I've already paid."
"Eh?" Mai froze mid-reach for her credit card before realisation dawned: "When you went to the restroom?"
Her expression turned somewhat resentful as she eyed Luo Shu:
"Don't just steal a girl's joy of paying the bill!"
"Then you can treat next time," Luo Shu replied with a smile.
"Fine." Mai sighed before waving over her shoulder: "I'll message when I'm home safely. Bye~"
Luo Shu waved back, watching her leave before exhaling deeply. Patting his thighs, he stood up:
"Right, parental meeting done. Time to check on the witch situation."
Muttering to himself, he added:
"Best slip back quietly while everyone's busy."