The atmosphere was very heavy.
The driver had been sent away by Saionji Ryuichi to wait, leaving only three people in the car.
Seeing that both her newlywed husband and the man she had a deep understanding of looked displeased, Takagi Kachiko—
No.
She should now be called Saionji Kachiko.
Her heart, like the two men's, tightened.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
"Why did Great-Aunt hurt Ryuichi? Ryuichi, is there something you haven't told me?"
"Don't worry too much. If Ryuichi has any trouble, I can help."
"..."
In the back seat of the car.
Kachiko's gaze was fixed on her newlywed husband, Saionji Ryuichi, but Saionji Ryuichi didn't seem to be in the mood to talk to her, his brows tightly furrowed.
The evening air was cool, and passersby hurried along. Because the glass was specially made, they couldn't see anything inside the car, but the people inside could clearly see them moving.
After staring at the scenery outside the car window for a long time, Saionji Ryuichi sighed and softly said to his wife beside him:
"Kachiko, you should get out of the car first. I have something I need to discuss with Hoshino-kun alone."
"This..."
Saionji Kachiko didn't want to leave, but her husband's tone was firm, so she obediently got out of the car.
As she passed Hoshino Jun, she deliberately avoided him, keeping her distance.
Noticing this, Saionji Ryuichi said with a slight apology, "I'm sorry, Hoshino-kun. Kachiko is being thoughtless."
"Ahem, it's fine."
Hoshino Jun's mouth twitched. He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "So, what are you planning to do? How will you deal with Chairwoman?"
Saionji Ryuichi's face was ashen, and he looked somewhat dejected:
"I don't know either. If it were Yamada Tsukasa, I could still contend with him, but my Great-Aunt... I really can't think of a way to deal with her."
As he spoke, his gaze occasionally darted towards Hoshino Jun, carefully observing the changes in Hoshino Jun's expression.
Unfortunately, Hoshino Jun remained consistent.
There were no flaws.
The two were silent for a while before Hoshino Jun spoke again: "Since you can't think of a solution, I should go."
"Anyway, the information I needed to give you, I've already given it to you in advance. That's all I can do."
Hoshino Jun smiled faintly and nodded slightly at him, then prepared to get out of the car.
"Hoshino-kun, you can't leave." Saionji Ryuichi grabbed Hoshino Jun's arm and said with a gloomy face, "I know you called me here because you definitely have a plan, right?"
He didn't believe Hoshino Jun would just deliver information and leave.
What would be the point of that?
"Chairwoman is your Great-Aunt. If you have no solution, what solution could I possibly have?"
Hoshino Jun shrugged helplessly, indicating he was powerless: "Ryuichi-kun, you think too highly of me."
"Hoshino-kun!"
Saionji Ryuichi clearly saw that Hoshino Jun, that bastard, was deliberately putting on airs and playing hard to get, which annoyed him greatly.
But for Little Aunt's sake, Saionji Ryuichi had no choice but to humble himself and say in a low voice:
"As long as Hoshino-kun can help my Little Aunt completely overcome this difficulty, then in the future, if Hoshino-kun needs my help, I will assist without hesitation."
"Right now, Hoshino-kun, I, Kachiko, we are all in the same boat. Hoshino-kun should be able to trust my sincerity."
Hoshino Jun and Kachiko's special relationship could ruin Saionji Ryuichi's reputation.
It was a handle he willingly handed over, and also a warning he gave to Hoshino Jun.
He was so unprincipled towards himself; if Hoshino Jun abandoned him, he would retaliate even more unprincipledly.
And this threat happened to align with Hoshino Jun's goal.
What Hoshino Jun wanted was for Saionji Ryuichi to be unprincipled about everything except Saionji Ayako.
The wind was roaring.
The plane trees on both sides of the road rustled.
Hoshino Jun's face was dark. He clenched his fists and stared intently at Saionji Ryuichi: "Are you threatening me?"
Watching his fist, as big as a sandbag, creak, Saionji Ryuichi's stomach already started to ache. He loosened his grip somewhat fearfully, but a moment later, he mustered his courage and looked directly into Hoshino Jun's eyes.
Why would a handsome, gentle, and sunny man be a violent maniac who casually hit people?
Saionji Ryuichi didn't understand, but for Little Aunt's sake, he had to negotiate with this violent maniac.
"If you want to think that, it's not impossible."
"I! Am threatening!"
[Ding!]
[Detected malicious intimidation from Saionji Ryuichi!]
[Choose not to pursue, and acquire a C-rank favor debt.]
Twenty-first time accumulated.
Not pursuing!
When the time comes, a sudden burst of wealth.
[After evaluation, Saionji Ryuichi is unable to repay this favor debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his aunt, "Saionji Ayako".]
There was no clock in the car. The two remained motionless, gazing at each other.
Time gradually slipped away, and they didn't know how long it had been.
After an unknown period of silence, Hoshino Jun finally sat down again, enduring the humiliation to utter a sentence: "I'll only ask you one question: For your Little Aunt, would you dare to use some methods against your Great-Aunt?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Saionji Ryuichi stammered, somewhat confused by Hoshino Jun's words.
Harm Great-Aunt?
Wouldn't that be seeking death?
Saionji Ryuichi really wanted to refute this joke, but it was clear from Hoshino Jun's serious expression that he wasn't joking.
"What do you want me to do?"
"You tell me first, do you dare or not."
Hoshino Jun shook off Saionji Ryuichi's hand, patted his sleeve, looking very disgusted, as if dust had gotten on his sleeve.
Being grabbed by a self-disciplined person was truly unlucky.
"I, I... I..."
Saionji Ryuichi bit his lip, lowered his head, and tried to remain calm: "I dare, as long as it's not too taboo. Tell me, what should I do?"
For Little Aunt, what's wrong with taking a risk?
It can't be that he wants me to kill Great-Aunt, right?
If I make some small mistakes, then, even for Little Aunt's sake, Great-Aunt will eventually forgive me.
"Good, as long as you dare." Hoshino Jun stared at him with an amused look, a hint of a smile appearing between his brows.
Tomorrow's strong medicine is in place. I hope Chairwoman Yamada can handle it.
"We've always been passively defending Vice Chairman, which isn't the best choice. We need to take the initiative."
"In China, there's a saying: 'Strike one punch, save a hundred.'"
Listening to Hoshino Jun's earnest teaching, Saionji Ryuichi nodded, half-understanding.
"..."
After hearing Hoshino Jun's deployment for tomorrow, Saionji Ryuichi felt a surge of apprehension.
'Fortunately, this scoundrel isn't going after Little Aunt, otherwise, I don't know how Little Aunt would block him.'
'It's a good thing I formed an alliance with him.'
While breathing a sigh of relief, he also felt some confusion.
"Since you're going to treat my Great-Aunt like this, why didn't you accept Yamada Kaoru back then?"
Facing Saionji Ryuichi's question, Hoshino Jun merely smiled.
"Haven't you already discovered my special preference?"
Your self-proclaimed special preference.
Saionji Ryuichi thought of Kato Nana, and then of his newlywed wife, Kachiko.
Oh, right!
Great-Aunt also shares the same attribute as them.
As for Yamada Kaoru and Little Aunt, forget about marriage, they hadn't even dated in this lifetime.
No wonder Hoshino Jun would be attracted to Great-Aunt, while ignoring Little Aunt and Yamada Kaoru.
'Hoshino Jun and Great-Aunt... thinking about it... it actually feels quite exciting.'
'It could rival Kachiko.'
"Whew!"
Letting out a long sigh of relief, Saionji Ryuichi was now completely assured of Little Aunt's safety. He grinned and said, "To our pleasant cooperation."
"Pleasant cooperation." Hoshino Jun nodded: "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Hoshino-kun, you just wait here."
Saionji Ryuichi stopped Hoshino Jun, then stood up and walked to the car door a step ahead of Hoshino Jun.
He then said with a smile, "Hoshino-kun, isn't it your special preference at play? Why don't you let Kachiko satisfy your desires today?"
Oh, this...
Again?
Hoshino Jun was almost led astray and didn't know how to communicate with Saionji Ryuichi. He looked at him with a meaningful gaze.
This old tortoise, so besides Saionji Ayako's side, you're really letting loose, aren't you?
Is this to satisfy Hoshino Jun?
This is clearly to satisfy yourself!
However, with someone offering a free gift, Hoshino Jun naturally wouldn't refuse. It's better to take advantage of a good deal than to miss it.
"..."
After getting out of the car, Saionji Ryuichi found Kachiko squatting by the roadside picking flowers. The girl's face was somewhat troubled, as if she was worried about something.
Hearing footsteps approach, the moment she looked up and saw Saionji Ryuichi, she smiled happily.
"Ryuichi, are you done talking?" Kachiko's eyes were filled with love for her beloved.
Today was probably her happiest day; she had finally married Saionji Ryuichi.
Although it was just a secret registration, and no one around them knew yet, for the girl, it was enough.
"Kachiko, you have to help me." Saionji Ryuichi's voice was somewhat subdued.
Kachiko's heart, along with his words, grew anxious: "What's wrong, Ryuichi? How can I help you?"
Saionji Ryuichi lowered his head and said bitterly, "You heard it. Great-Aunt wants to teach me a lesson. Now only Hoshino Jun can help me, Kachiko—"
"Please, go beg him for me. He has a good impression of you."
Upon hearing this, Kachiko's expression instantly changed. She looked at Saionji Ryuichi in disbelief.
"Ryuichi, what's wrong with you? I'm already your wife, how can you still ask me to go be with Hoshino-kun?"
"Kachiko, just because we're married, does that mean you don't care if I live or die?"
Saionji Ryuichi suddenly roared in anger, "Then it would have been better if we hadn't gotten married."
Kachiko's pretty face instantly became difficult to read, and the flower she was about to pick for her husband was unconsciously crushed in her tightly clenched palm.
"Ryuichi, don't say that."
"I'll help you then."