In Gao Sijin’s opinion, the most delicious part was still the dessert after the meal. Compared to the main course, it was the black tea and cake that truly awakened Gao Sijin’s palate. The sweet flavor lingered between his teeth, smooth and delicate, just like first love.
When the bill came, the two girls politely insisted on paying, each vying for the check.
“Senior Qingxue, please let me handle the bill.”
“Shouldn’t a junior student obediently listen to her senior? Besides, looking after junior students is a senior’s duty.”
Though their exchange seemed like casual conversation, Gao Sijin faintly detected the scent of gunpowder between them. If this were a real shuraba, it might actually be a good thing — that would mean Tsukiyuki Rio actually liked him.
“Stop fighting, you two. Give me some face. I already said today was my treat.” Gao Sijin pulled out his bank card and coolly handed it to the server.
It was merely a single month’s living expenses. That much money was something Gao Sijin could easily afford. If that gesture could further increase Tsukiyuki Rio’s affection for him, then a mere 120,000 yen was ridiculously cheap.
So why was his heart bleeding?
In the future, he absolutely had to write a masterpiece of his own. Once he had money, most problems in the world would resolve themselves.
The parting gifts were chocolate candies and some exquisite little cards. ESqUISSE’s service was impeccable; in Gao Sijin’s view, it deserved a perfect score.
By the time they left the restaurant, it was already 8:30 PM.
In the evening breeze, Tsukiyuki Rio in her black kimono seemed draped in a layer of black gauze. Her fair, luminous skin in particular was like glowing, smooth jade, drawing sidelong glances. Even the bustling Ginza seemed lackluster in comparison.
Gao Sijin was utterly captivated by her breathtaking beauty, unable to tear his gaze away.
Her slightly open collar revealed glimpses of her collarbone and chest, inviting unbidden thoughts. Her long, snow-white, beautiful legs were also faintly visible beneath the hem of her kimono.
If he were to embrace her without permission, he would be seen as a pervert, wouldn’t he?
Gao Sijin didn’t know everything about Tsukiyuki Rio, but she was clearly the kind of girl from a strict, well-bred family. He didn’t want to be disliked by her, so he suppressed the urge to hold her.
“Gao-kun, thank you for treating me today. I will definitely return the favor another day.”
“There’s no need for anything in return. Just being able to dine out with Rio today was already a tremendous blessing.”
The three of them headed towards the parking lot.
Yu Qingxue walked quickly without looking back, soon putting distance between herself and the other two. Her high heels clicked loudly, as if she were sulking.
Tsukiyuki Rio, in contrast, still wore her usual serene smile, completely indifferent to Yu Qingxue’s cold attitude. There was a hint of smugness at the corner of her lips, like a victor returning from a triumphant battle.
After dinner, it was time to part ways with Tsukiyuki Rio.
The two sat in the back seat.
“By the way, where does Rio live?”
“I have many homes, almost everywhere. I have properties in all of Tokyo’s 23 Wards, and also private villas in Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tochigi. But my favorite home is the summer villa in Karuizawa.”
Tsukiyuki Rio spoke without the slightest hint of showing off, simply stating a fact.
“That’s an excessive level of Versailles.”
“What does Versailles mean?”
“Never mind. It seems you are a true affluent young miss in every sense.”
Just hearing about such a family fortune made his legs go weak, yet Tsukiyuki Rio maintained a completely ordinary expression. She had the face of a rich person who would ask, “Why don’t they just eat cake?”
Perhaps to Tsukiyuki Rio, money was already an entirely irrelevant concept.
“Then can we go back to Bunkyo Ward together?”
“Of course we can. Just thinking about all the topics I can discuss with Gao-kun makes me incredibly happy.”
Yu Qingxue gripped the steering wheel and floored the accelerator, as if indulging in impotent rage.
Along the way, Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio chatted and laughed, seemingly closing the distance between them further. Through the conversation, Gao Sijin discovered that Tsukiyuki Rio was an extremely innocent child, like a flower steeped in honey — delicate and easily broken.
Having attended a girls’ private high school, she had always lived within the circle of wealthy young ladies. She couldn’t understand the hardships of the world. She didn’t know why some homeless people lived under bridges, nor could she fathom what the corporate slaves, running themselves ragged to make a living, were even striving for.
In her worldview, everyone lived in an earthly paradise. The numbers in her bank account just seemed to sprout extra zeros without her noticing.
“Rio.”
“What is it, Gao-kun?”
Meeting those innocent dark-red eyes, Gao Sijin couldn’t bring himself to reveal the truth. He hesitated for a moment, then simply smiled at her. Tsukiyuki Rio immediately returned the smile.
“Gao-kun’s smile is really cute.”
“Your smile is beautiful too, Rio.”
“Right, Gao-kun, don’t forget we still have our date this weekend.”
“That’s the one thing I couldn’t possibly forget.”
Gao Sijin wanted to reach out and stroke her hair, but his hand stopped mid-air. Their relationship hadn’t reached that level of intimacy yet. Even though they had a date planned for the weekend, in Gao Sijin’s view, Tsukiyuki Rio was more interested in his writing than in him as a person.
To his surprise, Tsukiyuki Rio suddenly reached out, took hold of his hand, and placed it on her smooth, silky hair. She giggled.
“If Gao-kun wants to touch it, I can let you pet it too.”
This child is way too understanding.
“Rio, I like you…”
“I like Gao-kun too.”
Gazing into her large, glistening eyes, Gao Sijin wanted to tell her that his “like” was romantic love, different from simple fondness.
But considering how innocent Tsukiyuki Rio was, maybe she didn’t even understand what romantic love was.
If he asked her, “Where did you come from?”, she might answer, “The stork brought me.”
“By the way, earlier in the restaurant, I said I had graduated from virginity. Do you know what virginity means?”
“Of course I know something like that. I’m not a child,” Tsukiyuki Rio said with a pout.
“Then explain what ‘graduation from virginity’ means?”
“It’s…” Tsukiyuki Rio pursed her lips, her small face blushing bright red. “It’s… that. Gao-kun, you’re really mean. Although there are many things I don’t know very well, I definitely know what virginity means. In the girls’ private high school, we had physiology class lectures too…”
Yu Qingxue drove while listening to Gao Sijin and Tsukiyuki Rio’s conversation. If she hadn’t received professional training, she would definitely have burst out laughing by now.
The young miss was too good at acting. So she was truly playing the spotless white lotus, huh? Really making her play the villain every single time?
The woman who manipulated everything was now desperately pretending to be pure in front of Gao Sijin. If it weren’t for Yu Qingxue cherishing her own life, she really wanted to shout the truth to Gao Sijin — to tell him not to fall for this bad woman’s tricks.
