Uchiha Ryo shook his head. "I was just stating a fact. But speaking of which, why do you want Yukino-san to move back home, Auntie Yukinoshita?"
Yukino's mother: "Does a mother need a reason to want her child to come back home?"
Uchiha Ryo: "It's also normal for a fledgling bird to want to leave the protection of its elders and soar into the sky alone."
Yukino's mother looked at Yukino.
"What do you think?"
Yukinoshita Yukino, who had been silent since entering the room, came to Uchiha Ryo's side.
"I... don't want to go back."
Yukino's mother: "But what can you learn by staying here alone? What have you accomplished in this half-semester of so-called independence?"
"....."
The atmosphere became quiet again. Suddenly, a phone rang. Uchiha Ryo smiled awkwardly, then took out his phone and walked towards the washroom.
Closing the door, Uchiha Ryo answered the call. On the other end was Shinomiya Un'yo, who hadn't been heard from in a long time.
"Young friend Ryo, ever since you made Shinomiya Oko accidentally 'get into a car accident' and end up in the hospital, I've swallowed about 80% of Oko's businesses. Next, should I target Shinomiya Seiryo directly? Or..."
Uchiha Ryo: "You can put the civil war on hold. After all, the Shinomiya family's business is a huge behemoth. The waters run deep, and you might not be able to handle it."
"Instead of defeating all your competitors, why not develop yourself? And... consolidate the power of the Shinomiya branch families."
Shinomiya Un'yo's eyes lit up. "Branch families, do you mean the Shijo family?"
Uchiha Ryo remembered that in the original story, as the old family head was about to pass away in the middle to late stages, the young masters of the Shinomiya family fought so hard they almost caused the Shinomiya family to split and go bankrupt. In the end, Shinomiya Kaguya even had to marry into the Shijo family to get their support.
Although the Shijo family wasn't as good as the Shinomiya family in every aspect, they were united, and stronger than the divided Shinomiya young masters.
If Shinomiya Un'yo could secure the Shijo family in advance, then his position as family head would be almost guaranteed.
Hanging up the phone, Uchiha Ryo walked out casually.
Yukino's mother was still sitting there sipping tea, while Yukinoshita Yukino sat with her head down, lost in thought.
Yukinoshita Haruno looked at Uchiha Ryo curiously.
"Ryo-kohai is very popular. Was that a female classmate calling?"
Uchiha Ryo looked at Haruno helplessly. "Not a classmate, a business partner."
"Oh?"
Yukino's mother looked up. "Is Ryo-kun already developing his own career? That's impressive. May I ask what your business partner does?"
Uchiha Ryo sat back on the sofa. "Well.... Auntie should know him. He's the one who spoke at the banquet last time.... The third young master of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Un'yo."
As expected, Uchiha Ryo has a close relationship with the Shinomiya family. I just don't know what his position is.
Uchiha Ryo's expression suddenly became serious. He didn't want to be led by the nose by Yukino's mother. Since Shinomiya Un'yo had called to ask about the next step, he might as well drum up some support for him.
"Auntie Yukinoshita, standing in your position, you should be able to guess that the Shinomiya family has been a bit turbulent recently."
Yukino's mother remained unmoved. "Is that so? But what does that have to do with my Yukinoshita family?"
"Does it not matter? I think all the powers in the entire Tokyo area are overshadowed by the huge behemoth that is the Shinomiya conglomerate."
Uchiha Ryo held up three fingers. "Three years. Within three years, I think the Shinomiya family will undergo a complete change. That will be the time to choose sides."
Shinomiya Oko, Shinomiya Seiryo, Shinomiya Un'yo. If nothing unexpected happened, the old head of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya Gan'an, would suffer a cerebral infarction in a year and die of illness within three years.
At that time, the Shinomiya family would completely launch a battle for the family headship. In this chaotic war, only those forces second only to the conglomerates, like the Yashajin family, the top brass of the police and military, and some business giants, could stay completely out of it.
Those medium-sized enterprises and families would inevitably be affected. They would either choose the right side and lean towards the new family head, or be affected by the struggle between the Shinomiya brothers.
The Yukinoshita family was only a local councilor in politics, and although they had a well-known company in business, to be blunt... it wouldn't be difficult for the Shinomiya family to support another one.
Yukino's mother also became serious. "So, Ryo-kun is Shinomiya Un'yo's man?"
"No, Shinomiya Un'yo and I are partners. He can't control me."
Yukino's mother smiled. "I believe you.... Shinomiya Un'yo has changed a lot recently. He must be influenced by you or someone behind you."
Uchiha Ryo didn't speak, and Yukino's mother suddenly stood up.
"The vortex of the Shinomiya family is too big, and we haven't decided whether to intervene yet. Besides, the old Shinomiya head is still in good health. When exactly the things you said will happen is also a question."
"But thank you for the reminder, Ryo-kun. We will be careful not to be swallowed by the vortex. Yukino."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked up at her mother.
Yukino's mother: "Since you don't want to go home, then just stay outside for now."
"Eh?!"
Both Haruno and Yukino looked surprised. Their mother was persuaded so quickly? But Uchiha Ryo only talked about the Shinomiya family's vortex. What did that have to do with Yukino?
Yukino was confused, but Haruno suddenly realized and looked at Uchiha Ryo helplessly.
No wonder you said 'not for the time being.' So you were setting a trap for Mother from the beginning.
And Yukino's mother had no choice but to fall into this trap. First of all, they would have to choose a side sooner or later. And since they couldn't contact the three young masters of the Shinomiya family at all, they could only trust Shinomiya Un'yo, whom Uchiha Ryo stood with.
But neither Yukino's mother nor Haruno could take the initiative to curry favor with Shinomiya Un'yo. Then the only way for the Yukinoshita family to protect themselves was to leave Yukino with Uchiha Ryo.
This would represent that Shinomiya Un'yo's side would not have designs on the Yukinoshita family.
But Yukino was just the youngest daughter after all, and she had no power or influence in the family. Once the victor of the vortex leaned towards Shinomiya Oko or Shinomiya Seiryo, it would be easier for Yukino's mother to withdraw the Yukinoshita family.
"In that case, I'll leave my daughter in your care, Ryo-kun. Haruno, let's go back."
Yukinoshita Haruno nodded. "Mhm, then goodbye, Yukino-chan. By the way, take this. Have fun tomorrow."
Watching her mother and sister leave, although Yukino didn't think that deeply, she also understood that it was the conversation between Uchiha Ryo and her mother just now that changed the outcome of her having to return home.
"Thank you...."
Uchiha Ryo waved his hand. "No need to be polite. I haven't told a single lie since I walked in the door. I was just stating the facts. It was all Auntie Yukinoshita's own choice."
"But if you really want to repay me...."