After he finished changing and walked out of the room, he just happened to receive a new message on his phone.
[Nagasaki Asuna: Kaito-kun, is it convenient to leave now? I've already arrived~]
Ms. Nagasaki's vehicle was a very low-profile black Maybach.
To show respect, and partly out of personal intention, she didn't call a driver to do it. Instead, she personally came to pick him up.
Thinking of that handsome face like something out of a dream, Nagasaki Asuna became a little absent-minded.
Due to her status and position, she was never lacking so-called 'pretty boys' around her.
Some were brought by business partners for entertainment, others came to her on their own, not wanting to work hard, so they volunteered themselves.
But she had rejected all of them.
Despite being divorced for many years, she had always remained clean and self-disciplined, wanting to leave all her love for her daughter, Soyo.
However, she always had one worry.
Soyo was a good child. Beautiful, gentle, obedient, and sensible.
Despite her young age, she was not only skilled at cooking but also very good at taking care of people.
But such a perfect Soyo wasn't without weaknesses.
Since junior high, she had been attending an all-girls school. One couldn't say her contact with boys of the same age was zero, but it could only be described as barely existent.
Worrying about her child's marriage was the natural instinct of every mother.
'Nowadays, boys are already few, and excellent boys are even more rare!'
Now, she had finally encountered a peerlessly beautiful boy with flawless looks who also possessed mysterious magical abilities. His desirability went without saying.
Not stepping in personally was already an expression of her deep motherly love for Soyo.
She could give the best to Soyo, but other women wouldn't be so kind.
'But it doesn't matter!'
'You and I, mother and daughter united, what rival can stand in our way?'
'Soyo, don't worry!'
'Mom will help you win over your husband!'
'Starting with tonight's invitation!'
Tonight's destination was the tower of Roppongi Hills Residence Building B.
Compared to domestic tycoons' preference for rock gardens and courtyards, many wealthy people in Tokyo preferred high-rise towers.
High floors offered good views, which was one reason. The strong earthquake resistance was another. Add to that the excellent location, close to hospitals, schools, convenient transportation, and daily life. Along with 24/7 security, swimming pools, gyms, libraries, and all sorts of facilities.
There were many advantages, and only one disadvantage: expensive.
Kaito had casually checked online. Two years ago, there had been a sale record here. 41st floor, 120 square meters, with a final transaction price of 988 million yen.
Standing downstairs, looking up, the towering building seemed to pierce the clouds. Indeed, it gave a majestic and magnificent feeling.
Though it couldn't compare to the Cloud Mist Immortal Palace of the Courting Death Sect, it was another kind of beauty belonging to modern society.
Ms. Nagasaki parked the car skillfully and was about to take Kaito upstairs when she suddenly remembered something and apologized, "Sorry, I forgot to buy something. Kaito-kun, can you go up first? It's the 42nd floor. I've already spoken with Soyo, just ring the doorbell directly."
Kaito nodded slightly and agreed.
[The Nagasaki home]
'This is kind of troublesome'
Thinking of her mother, who was rarely home, today not only skipping the company but even personally driving to pick someone up, with an impatient look on her face.
The brown-haired girl absentmindedly twirled a lock of hair near her ear, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
As a child from a single-parent household, it was her mother who had raised her.
The hardships and efforts over the years, Nagasaki Soyo had seen them all, so she had always been an obedient and well-behaved child.
If her mother had truly rekindled hope for love and wanted to marry a man she liked, though a bit uncomfortable, Soyo wouldn't object. She'd try her best to accept the new family member.
Because her mother had the right to pursue happiness.
But
Judging by her mother's behavior now, she was clearly deeply infatuated.
Having learned from her mother's divorce when she was a child, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but plan ahead.
If the uncle arriving later turned out to be a good person, then fine. No need for great talent, just don't let her mom down.
But if he turned out to be a scumbag who toyed with women's feelings, or worse, if he was only with her mom because he was after her wealth.
[ Shoutout to Zekenation, Nefasturis, Dersbyth, Nick, Whitewolf, Flying_Dutchman for joining patreon. Thank you very much.]
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Chapter 57: The Boy I Like Is Actually My Stepfather?
It wasn't rare. A single woman still full of charm and rolling in wealth was, in the eyes of some ill-intentioned men, undoubtedly a walking lump of gold.
'But, it doesn't matter!'
The girl's eyes were full of determination.
If the soldiers come, block with generals; if water floods, cover with earth.
No matter who the other party was, she would protect her mother from getting hurt.
Ding
The doorbell suddenly rang, and Nagasaki Soyo's heart gave a jolt.
'He's here!'
'The man who has bewitched my mother!'
The smile on the girl's pretty face vanished without a trace.
Soyo took a deep breath, her steps heavy, slowly walking toward the front door by the entrance.
"Good evening, I'm Nagasaki Soyo, welcome to my"
Her voice abruptly stopped.
How should she describe the boy in front of her?
Nagasaki Soyo tried to use those beautiful phrases to describe him, but it didn't work.
The way his stunning brows and eyes curved slightly, it just made her feel no.
Empty adjectives were too pale.
They couldn't express the starlight in his eyes, nor describe the spring breeze at the corners of his lips.
No matter what word she used, none could compare to even a fraction of the amazement he brought.
But that still wasn't the most shocking part for Soyo.
The boy in front of her was indeed beautiful, 'But why does he look a bit familiar?'
"Nagasaki-san?"
Kaito was also a bit surprised, "You and Ms. Nagasaki are family?"
"Kurumizaka-kun?", Soyo's voice sounded a little lost, as if her brain hadn't caught up yet.
Currently known information:
Kurumizaka-kun = the boy I like.
The guest visiting tonight = my future stepfather.
Kurumizaka-kun = the guest visiting tonight.
'Which means'
'The boy I like is actually my future stepfather?'
Soyo was dazed and didn't know where she stood, as if a wave had come crashing down on her, knocking her senseless.
'No no way, there must be some kind of mistake?'
'Mom is already a forty-something-year-old auntie, while Kurumizaka-kun is still in the prime of youth!'
'No matter how you looked at it, the age gap between them was impossibly large, and they don't match at all when standing together! Rather than a couple, they looked more like a mother and son!'
'I must be mistaken! Kurumizaka-kun might have just come over for a normal visit!'
Soyo didn't want to believe such a cruel truth. She took a deep breath, trying hard to show a sweet smile, "Go-good evening, in any case, please come in first."
As she spoke, she bent down and took out a brand new pair of men's slippers from the shoe cabinet, then naturally knelt on the floor.
"No need," Kaito declined her help in changing shoes, changed into the slippers himself, and walked into the living room with Soyo.
The Nagasaki residence was quite spacious, with two floors, about 360 square meters in size, with large floor-to-ceiling windows. Standing by the edge of the balcony, one could take in the splendid night view of bustling Tokyo.
When Soyo couldn't sleep, she would sometimes sit by her bed, looking at the flickering lights in the distance. Her mood would lighten a bit, as if the gloom in her chest had also dispersed.
But now, she had no such mindset at all. Her head filled with a mess of thoughts, she walked to the kitchen, absentmindedly made two cups of hot Earl Grey tea, and then returned to the living room.
She pushed one cup toward him and gave a gentle smile, trying to casually probe for information, "I didn't expect the person visiting tonight would actually be Kurumizaka-kun Mom deliberately kept it secret for a long time. It's the first time I've seen her look so excited."
"Speaking of which, how did you two meet? Could it be something related to a supernatural incident? Was Mom in danger?"
Soyo hadn't forgotten what happened in the Tsukinomori High School.
The ghost senpai's existence had shattered her worldview and made her realize for the first time that this world wasn't so simple.
'If Mom and Kurumizaka-kun are connected somehow, that is the most plausible explanation.'
"No, nothing like that," Kaito paused, then added, "We just met by chance and got along well."
On the way here, Ms. Nagasaki had pleaded with him not to tell her daughter what happened at the company, so she wouldn't worry.
If Soyo asked, he should just say they met by coincidence and got along.
Since the danger had already been resolved, and besides, it was someone else's family matter, Kaito truly wasn't interested in saying more, to avoid further trouble.
But these words chilled Nagasaki Soyo to the core.
'Met by chance?'
'And got along well?'
How was that any different from subtly saying, ["Your mother and I have mutual feelings for each other"]
'Kurumizaka-kun, get a grip!'
'Mom is already a woman in her forties, while you're still young and dazzling!!!!'
'Calling this a cougar relationship won't even do it justice!'
'This is clearly forbidden love!'
'And Mom, seriously! Even if Kurumizaka-kun is naive and inexperienced, aren't you an adult?'
'Making a move on a kid at least twenty years younger than you, how outrageous can you get?'
'When you were in college, Kurumizaka-kun had just been born!'
If a forty-year-old man dated an eighteen-year-old high school girl, people would usually condemn the man as morally corrupt, using his experience to deceive an innocent young girl.
Similarly
An eighteen-year-old pretty boy dating a forty-year-old auntie, even as her daughter, Nagasaki Soyo couldn't bear to watch anymore.
The gentle and strong image of her mother from the past was gradually fading.
Taking its place was a cold and terrifying woman, whose icy voice warned her, ["Soyo, he's your father now. Get rid of those delusions!"]
Soyo still wanted to try one more time. At the very least, she couldn't just stand by and watch her mother head down the path of copper-digging.
She forced out a smile and gently said, "Kurumizaka-kun, what exactly do you admire about my mom? Maybe she's not as great as you imagine?"
'Even if it is mutual affection, there must be something specific he likes, right?'
She admitted her mom was indeed still attractive and well-maintained in her forties. But wasn't she just as good?
Not only had she inherited her mother's youthful beauty, she even surpassed it, with a figure even better than her mom's.
Not to brag, but even at a prestigious noble school like Tsukinokori High where rich girls were everywhere, she was still among the top students.
'If Kurumizaka-kun only likes my mom's appearance, then in order to stop her from going down this path, I can totally take her place.'
'If Kurumizaka-kun likes my mother's status and wealth'
'No no no, that seems unlikely.'
The Nagasaki family did have a bit of money, but even within Japan, there were countless families wealthier and more powerful, let alone abroad.
'With Kurumizaka-kun's looks, he can easily become the husband of Queen of some country. There is absolutely no need to choose my mom.'
'Surely, he isn't uninterested in wealth or looks and just purely likes my mom as a person, right?'
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Chapter 58: I Dont Approve of This Marriage!
'What's so great about Miss Nagasaki?'
'Does her generosity with money count?'
Kaito pondered for a moment, then finally said, "If I have to say something... I guess it's her personality."
Although they hadn't interacted much, Miss Nagasaki gave him the impression of someone with a very easygoing nature.
"Easygoing" didn't just mean generous, it referred to a bold and carefree personality. Being around her felt very comfortable. She was somewhat similar to Teacher Hiratsuka.
And she didn't have Teacher Hiratsuka's hot-tempered martial-artist rage either.
'Personality?'
Soyo felt her vision go dark, nearly fainting.
'The worst-case scenario has happened, Kurumizaka-kun really doesn't care about money or looks. He is only interested in my mom as a person!'
She fidgeted with her fingertips in frustration, a subconscious habit of hers when panicking, and forced a smile, "B-But mom's age"
'She is more than twenty years older!'
'Not five or six, not just ten or so, but at least twenty years older!'
"Age?", Kaito looked at her strangely, "She's only in her forties, not that old, right?"
'Miss Nagasaki was in her early forties. Even from a human life expectancy perspective, that was still in her prime.'
Not to mention, Kaito had lived over four hundred years in his previous life. In terms of age, Nagasaki Asuna could be his great-great-great-granddaughter.
'Only in her forties?'
'Could it be that, in Kurumizaka-kun's eyes, being forty is actually just right?'
"It's not about old or not it's just, she's like", Soyo's head buzzed, and her words came out incoherent, she didn't even know what she wanted to say.
Just then, there was a clack from the entryway. Nagasaki Asuna walked in carrying two bottles of very high-end sake, laughing heartily, "Soyo, mama's home! Did you treat Kaito-kun well?"
Seeing her mother's figure, Soyo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She first apologized to Kaito, saying she'd be excusing herself for a moment, then grabbed Nagasaki Asuna, who had a clueless expression, and pulled her into the kitchen.
