The next morning, Gao Sijin didn’t wear his usual casual clothes. Instead, he was dressed in a full suit and tie. The bespoke suit perfectly accentuated his tall, upright figure, its cream-colored fabric impeccably spotless.
“Will this do?” Gao Sijin asked somewhat nervously.
“Today, Gao-kun looks even more handsome and refined than usual.” Tsukiyuki Rio couldn’t help but wrap her arms tightly around him, clinging with all her might. Deep within her dark crimson eyes lurked a captivating, inscrutable gleam.
“How should I behave at the family banquet?”
“Gao-kun doesn’t need to do anything. Just stay obediently by my side. Absolutely no one will disturb us. And if anyone dares to gossip—whoever it is—I will not forgive them.”
Her slender, delicate body pressed tightly against him, while her murderous intent felt like a tangible blade, its cold edge exposed. Beneath the appearance of a fragile woman lay the true nature of a tyrant: those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish.
At breakfast, Yu Qingxue and Uzuki sat at the table as the maids prepared the meal. The servants were humble and reverent, their attitude even more cautious than usual. The maids who could remain at Tsukiyuki Rio’s side all possessed top-tier skills in reading moods.
They could all tell that today’s family banquet would be anything but peaceful.
“Does Gao-kun not have an appetite?” Tsukiyuki Rio’s gaze fell upon his plate. The dishes he usually enjoyed were barely touched. He was taking small, slow bites, his eyes tinged with a trace of complexity—a look that reminded Rio of the Gao Sijin from before his memories had been tampered with.
Back then, he was full of resistance and often wore a similar expression.
“What’s wrong, Gao-kun?” she asked, feigning concern. “Could it be you’re not hungry?”
“Haha, don’t worry. I’m just afraid I’ll accidentally stain the suit while eating. I remember this one is pretty expensive.”
“How adorable. There’s no need to worry about stains, you know. In the wardrobe, I’ve prepared other formal outfits for you, and each one fits perfectly.”
Gao Sijin gave a grateful yet perfunctory little nod.
From start to finish, his gaze had been fixed on Uzuki. The pale, pretty face beneath her blunt bangs looked markedly different from usual. She was troubled too.
“Uzuki, today you’ll stay home obediently and write. Don’t go anywhere.”
Uzuki lifted her head and forced a bitter smile that made Gao Sijin’s heart tremble.
She wasn’t the timid, hesitant Uzuki from before. Deep in her eyes, a smoldering flame lurked.
Although Uzuki had long been a victim of bullying at home and school, she was fundamentally a girl with a tough interior beneath her gentle exterior.
“I want to see what Uzuki writes when I get back.”
Uzuki offered a faint smile.
“You still haven’t promised me. Before Rio and I return, Uzuki has to stay home. Didn’t we agree on this yesterday?”
Uzuki lowered her small head and averted her gaze. Tsukiyuki Rio pretended to be indifferent, but kept assessing Uzuki out of the corner of her eye, analyzing her every word and gesture.
“I hope you won’t do anything foolish.”
“Alright, Cousin Rio. I won’t do anything foolish. I’ll only do what I believe is right.”
Uzuki raised her head. This time, her gaze didn’t waver, nor did it hold any self-pity. It was a look Rio had seen more than once—only those who have resigned themselves to life and death wore such an expression.
Perhaps the position of family head would have to be claimed through violence and bloodshed.
After breakfast, Gao Sijin repeatedly urged Uzuki not to go out, to stay home and write. Uzuki agreed thoroughly, nodding again and again.
“Gao-kun, it’s time to go. And Qingxue, Morgana, Emilia, you’ll all be coming today as well…”
When Gao Sijin saw Yu Qingxue also changed into a classical British-style maid uniform like Morgana and the others, he feigned surprise—even though he already knew she was Rio’s Head Maid.
“Qingxue, I didn’t expect you’d look so striking in a maid outfit.”
“Master, please don’t tease me,” Yu Qingxue replied coyly, a smile filling her face.
Tsukiyuki Rio narrowed her eyes.
Unlike last time, this time Rio brought along the mansion’s most combat-capable maids, their weapons already stowed in the trunk. She had no intention of an all-out brawl with Tsukiyuki Kyoichi today, but making complete preparations in advance was absolutely necessary.
The drive was long.
Gao Sijin sat with Rio in the back seat, and a powerful sense of déjà vu swept over him. It felt as if he had once traveled this road with Rio before—though those memories should have long been erased.
The cityscape gradually faded away as the Mercedes-Benz sedan drove into an unnamed mountain.
“Have I been here before?”
Rounding the winding mountain road, Gao Sijin saw a straight stretch flanked on both sides by bamboo forests—a place far from the tumult of the world, utterly deserted.
“Gao-kun has indeed been here…” Rio did not hide it.
The last time he had tried to play the clown in order to slip out of her control, he had been so ridiculously adorable. That had also been Gao Sijin’s first official meeting with Tsukiyuki Rio’s parents.
This place was the Tsukiyuki Main Family estate.
The Tsukiyuki Zaibatsu was a world-class conglomerate, but whenever a major event occurred within the family, members would gather here for secret meetings.
“For the last short stretch, we’ll go on foot.”
The car stopped near the bamboo forest, and Gao Sijin took Rio’s small hand as they got out.
Back at the apartment in Bunkyo Ward, Uzuki did not obey.
“I’m sorry, Sijin, but I’ve steeled my resolve. Please don’t blame me…”
At the apartment entrance, the man who had been waiting for Uzuki bowed deeply. Had Gao Sijin been present, he would have recognized him as the bartender from the tavern a few days prior.
“Let’s go, true leading lady. It’s time to face your stormy waves.”
“And you are?”
“Just a surname Gu—the Gu of ‘lonely and widowed.’ Young lady, if you want to capture a man’s heart, an ordinary JK sailor uniform might lack impact,” said the man surnamed Gu, resting his chin on his hand. “Fortunately, I’ve already arranged a fashion designer for you.”
“Tang Yicai, Tang Ercai.”
Two twin girls with buns in their hair stepped forward. Both possessed lovely faces that rivaled top idols’.
“Go arrange some suitable outfits for this young lady. Work quickly, and wear a smile.”
“Yes, Mr. Gu. We’ll arrange it right away.”
