Today is Monday. Originally, Gao Sijin was supposed to go to the University of Tokyo to meet Professor Oba, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, and after school, visit the editorial department to ask about the anime adaptation’s progress. However, since returning to the apartment yesterday, Tsukiyuki Rio has not let go of Gao Sijin’s body, holding him tightly in her arms.
The distance between the two of them grew smaller and smaller. Her dark-red eyes held a faint twilight hue, breathtakingly beautiful and alluring…
“Rio, can you relax a little?” Gao Sijin said gently. “You’ve been holding me since we came back last night. I’m not going anywhere. Why are you so afraid?”
“Because I’ve seen a world without Gao-kun…” Tsukiyuki Rio buried her head against his chest and whispered. “In that kind of world, I couldn’t survive even a single second.”
Extremely lacking in a sense of security, her eyes glistened. What flowed through her veins was not blood but a maternal, obsessed desire to protect and to love. Gao Sijin didn’t understand why Rio was so fixated on him, but there was certainly a reason. Since returning to the room yesterday afternoon, he had been lying in bed, forbidden from doing anything at all.
Even sitting at the computer to write was not permitted.
He could only lie quietly in bed, sometimes losing himself in debauched revelry, sometimes listening to her barely audible breath. She didn’t simply crave the pleasure of the body; she was merely using this method to affirm the connection between them.
Yu Qingxue had mentioned the fact that she was being kept by Tsukiyuki Rio. After being provoked, Rio indeed, just as Yu Qingxue said, refused to give Gao Sijin even the slightest bit of freedom. During this time, in order to relax her a little, to at least be able to step out of this room, Gao Sijin had painstakingly tried to please her, kissing her slender neck, intertwining his fingers with her bony hand, dancing together in the rhythm of their breaths.
And yet, the fact proved that aside from provoking an even deeper possessiveness in Tsukiyuki Rio, this had no effect. She knew no satisfaction, like a black hole capable of swallowing the entire world.
She was Gao Sijin’s girlfriend—Tsukiyuki Rio.
At noon, silky black hair brushed against Gao Sijin’s skin, unbearably ticklish and causing him deep frustration.
“In a little while, the maids will bring us lunch. Today as well, don’t leave my side, okay?”
“I promise you…”
“Say you love me.”
“I love you.”
“How much?”
“As much as one can love.”
The girl who was normally composed and calm would act spoiled in Gao Sijin’s arms like an immature little girl. Her skin, white as jade, seemed it might break at the slightest blow. Her weight upon him was not heavy; it felt light.
Just stay with her like this.
He did not wish to indulge in a life of idleness either, but he had no choice. He had thought about resisting, but he was also afraid of the deep sorrow in Rio’s red eyes. Only if he stayed would she smile brightly. Moreover, even after learning the truth, Gao Sijin’s love for her had not changed.
Instead, he was sinking deeper and deeper.
Empty his mind and rest well. If this was the fated end…
Clang-clang-clang.
A knock on the door interrupted Gao Sijin’s thoughts. Tsukiyuki Rio furrowed her brows, clearly displeased.
Their world of two needed no extraneous presence.
“Young Miss, I’m terribly sorry to disturb you, but just now, Lord Kyoichi brought Tsukiyuki Uzuki to the Tsukiyuki Group Center.” Morgana’s voice came from outside the door. “Considering that yesterday you were told you would not inherit the position of head of the Tsukiyuki Family, and that today Tsukiyuki Uzuki was taken away at such a critical moment, I suspect Lord Kyoichi may very well install her as the heir.”
Tsukiyuki Rio held Gao Sijin’s body tightly without letting go, like a child afraid of having a toy taken away, nervously glaring at the solid wood door.
“Rio, let’s step out this door. I know Rio is worried about me finding out the truth. Even if you brainwash me again, I will have absolutely no complaints. But I don’t want Rio to become weak because of me. I still prefer the indomitable Rio who has a brilliant smile.”
“I will try my best to become the person Gao-kun likes. I understand. Even if danger awaits outside this door, I will absolutely not be discouraged…”
Tsukiyuki Rio changed into a black kimono and slipped contentedly into her wooden clogs.
Beneath her innocent and pure appearance lay a faintly discernible air of authority. She had thought that in this world line, everything would develop as she predicted. After Tsukiyuki Kyoichi died, she would become the head of the family. The Tsukiyuki Family might face some obstacles after that, but in the end, the Tsukiyuki Family would have the last laugh.
But now, not only had the Gu Family appeared, even Grandfather had betrayed her.
She had already been reborn countless times, so even if she failed again, she shouldn’t care too much…
However, only in this life had she become lovers with Gao Sijin, crossed the forbidden line, and become thoroughly entangled with him.
If she were to be reborn again, would Gao-kun still be the same Gao-kun?
“Young Miss!”
After Tsukiyuki Rio walked out of the room, Morgana immediately bowed and saluted.
“I know Uzuki. She will absolutely not inherit the family head’s position.”
Rio thought about Uzuki’s many personality traits and guessed that she probably would not accept it.
Uzuki had no ambition. Although she had previously wished to become the branch family head, that was merely to help Rio…
If she really became the head of the Tsukiyuki Family, it would mean Uzuki was openly declaring war on her.
She absolutely did not have that courage. Besides, she should also know that only Tsukiyuki Rio could make Gao Sijin happy.
But if she truly had the guts to accept the position, then she’d better be prepared to be assassinated at any moment. The faction within the family that was fiercely loyal to Tsukiyuki Rio would also start a civil war.
Rather be shattered jade than unbroken pottery.
The Tsukiyuki Group Center. A helicopter was parked on the rooftop helipad.
A deep red carpet was slowly laid from beneath the helicopter, extending into the building. On both sides of the carpet stood rows of black-clad men who appeared to be bodyguards. Probably even the president living in the White House did not receive such treatment.
“Please, Lady Uzuki.”
Uzuki walked on tiptoe, as if afraid of dirtying the carpet.
She was extremely nervous.
She was Tsukiyuki Fumiko’s daughter and had accompanied her mother to a series of Tsukiyuki Family meetings before, witnessing a lifestyle of extravagance and debauchery. Although they shared the surname Tsukiyuki, Uzuki always saw those glamorous people as visitors from another world.
Today, everything revolved around her. For a high school girl who had always been a side character, the atmosphere here was far too oppressive and terrifying. Yet, at this point, she had no choice but to enter the building and not be excessively rude.
Following the butler inside, the interior was like a maze. However, they soon arrived at a room equipped with a fingerprint lock. The door was guarded by bodyguards with live ammunition. As the door was pushed open, the two people who entered Uzuki’s sight were Tsukiyuki Kyoichi, the head of the Tsukiyuki Family, and a blond foreigner.
“You’ve finally arrived, Uzuki. Come, sit down quickly.” Tsukiyuki Kyoichi was unexpectedly amiable and kind, which did not quite match the image of him that Uzuki remembered.
