The careful makeup Mother had applied vanished like mist, exposing her weary true face. A mirror materialized, reflecting the dark circles under her eyes and fine lines around her mouth.
"In front of family, there's no need for that faade," Rei Ao said kindly but firmly.
Looking at her own reflection, the walls around her heart began to crumble.
At that moment, Yukino and Haruno walked in with the final dishes. Seeing their mother's unadorned appearance, both girls' expressions flashed with shock.
"Mother"
Haruno set the plate down, hurried over and took her mother's cold hand.
"I knew something was off about you."
Yukino, seeing her mother so worn, teared up.
"Why did you bear it all alone? Aren't we a family?"
Mother tried to force a smile but failed.
"It's the Yukinoshita family's you both have your own lives."
"That's not what I want!"
Yukino suddenly raised her voice, eyes shining with tears.
"What I really want is a life with you in it, not one where you shoulder everything alone, drifting further away!"
Haruno crouched, hugging Mother's shoulders.
"We can face difficulties together, like a real familyplus there's Rei Ao-kun."
Mother looked at Rei Ao. He gave a soft grin.
His prismatic eyes exuded a vast cosmic glow. "Mother-in-law, do you love Yukino and Haruno?"
She took a deep breath and nodded. "Of course."
"Then do you trust me, your son-in-law?"
"I"
She seemed to guess what he intended to say, words catching in her throat.
Rei Ao stood. For a second, the living room air distorted.
"In that case, tell me: what do you want done with those parasites who dare threaten my family?"
Mother stared, stunned. "Youyou can fix this?"
"Easily."
He snapped his fingers, and a holographic display of intricate business networks and several red-highlighted names appeared in midair.
"These are the masterminds, an enemy faction hostile to the Yukinoshita family," he said, turning to her. "Will you let me handle it?"
She glanced at her two daughters. Yukino nodded firmly. "Mother, trust Rei Ao-kun."
Haruno teased with a wink. "Mom, Rei Ao's pretty amazing, you know!"
That taut string in Mother's mind loosened at last. She felt an unprecedented relief, almost out of her own control, and softly nodded.
"Thenplease, Rei Ao-kun."
Rei Ao's eyes lit up.
"As you wish, Mother-in-law."
He raised a hand lightly, and an invisible ripple spread forth. Mother wasn't sure what exactly he did, but at that moment, she felt the crushing weight on her shoulders disappear. Her phone rang abruptly. Mother answered it hesitantly.
The housekeeper's excited voice echoed: "Ma'am! A miracle happened! Everything's resolved! The bank just called to say they'll extend loans unconditionally; the broken supply chain got restored, the canceled contracts too"
She slowly lowered the phone, gazing at Rei Ao in awe and gratitude.
"Now" Rei Ao smiled, extending a hand. "Shall we enjoy this meal together as a family?"
Yukino and Haruno supported Mother on each side, leading her toward the dinner table. Mother eyed the steaming home-cooked dishes and, in that moment, realized this was truly the 'Yukinoshita family'not some coldhearted business enterprise but a home with love, warmth, and laughter.
"Mother, try thisI made it with Rei Aotogether," Yukino said, uncharacteristically serving food onto her mother's plate.
Haruno playfully piled salad onto Mother's dish: "Here's my favorite secret recipe!"
Mother took a bite. The taste spread gently over her tongue, somehow reaching her heart's depths. She couldn't hold back tears. Not that the food was any culinary masterpiece, but because for the first time in so long, she felt that sense of homecoming. Rei Ao quietly observed, satisfaction glinting in his iridescent eyes.
For him, preventing a business crisis was a trivial flick of the wrist, but mending a family's bonds was well worth his personal involvement.
~~~
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Chapter 715: Sell the Yukinoshita Enterprise?
In the Yukinoshita family's dining room
A crystal chandelier cast a warm glow onto the elegant tableware. To Rei Ao's left sat Yukinoshita Yukino, and to his right Yukinoshita Haruno. Directly opposite him sat the current head of the Yukinoshita familyMrs. Yukinoshita.
"Mother-in-law, what do you think of the flavor of this beef stew?"
Rei Ao smiled as he cut a piece of meat that parted under his knife as if it were butter.
Yukino gave a small nod. "Rei Ao-kun made it himself."
Haruno winked in a playful manner. "It's quite rare, you know. Rei Ao-kun never cooks for me or Yukino. We must be benefiting from Mother's presence."
Mrs. Yukinoshita dabbed her mouth elegantly with a napkin. A trace of warmth she rarely showed graced her face.
"It's very good. I hadn't realized you were this skilled at cooking."
Her gaze swept over her two daughters, finally resting on Rei Ao.
"This house hasn't been so lively in a long time."
Rei Ao could feel that this woman, known for her strictness, had let down some of her defenses.
He was gradually learning that she wasn't as cold or unfeeling as she seemed. As the head of the Yukinoshita family, she bore unimaginable burdens. But now, things had changed.
"Speaking of which"
Rei Ao set down his utensils, meeting Mother's eyes directly with his iridescent gaze.
"Mother-in-law, have you ever thought about not being the head of the Yukinoshita family?"
The air in the dining room instantly froze. Yukino and Haruno both paused, startled at such a direct, nearly offensive question. Mother's fingers trembled slightly, but she soon steadied herself. Raising her teacup, she hesitated a moment without speaking.
"Rei Ao-kun"
Yukino said quietly, frowning.
"No, it's a good question."
Mother placed her cup down, the porcelain clinking crisply on the tabletop.
"It's just I've never really thought about it."
She glanced toward the window's afternoon light.
"From as long as I can remember, I was taught to devote my life to the Yukinoshita name. Simply posing that question is a luxury for me.
And I raised Yukino and Haruno the same way."
Rei Ao noticed a fleeting uncertainty in her eyesthose invisible chains called "duty" and "tradition."
"Mother"
Haruno's usual bright smile was subdued.
"Have you never wanted to live just for yourself?"
Mother paused, then gave a small laugh.
"What's gotten into you both today? Collaborating to probe my deepest thoughts?"
Though it sounded lighthearted, her gaze flickered unsteadily. She truly had never considered this. Yukino and Haruno exchanged a glance but opted to let Rei Ao handle itthat was their plan.
After dinner, Yukino and Haruno went to clear the table, leaving only Rei Ao and Mother in the living room.
Mother stood by the tall windows, her figure appearing lonely.
"Mother-in-law, you're exhausted by all this, aren't you?"
Rei Ao walked over, speaking softly.
"All those endless social events, business negotiations, the power plays in the familydon't you find them tiresome?"
Mother didn't deny it. She only responded in a low voice:
"This is my responsibility as head of the Yukinoshita family."
"Responsibility shouldn't be a cage," Rei Ao said, iridescent eyes gleaming like stars.
"Yukino and Haruno have grown up; they have their own lives. You've poured decades of your life into the family. Perhaps it's time to consider your own happiness."
Mother turned, her expression complicated.
"Rei Ao-kun, you knowthis afternoon, seeing Yukino and Haruno playing in the garden, I suddenly realized how much I've missed out on."
Her voice shook slightly.
"As a mother, I can barely recall what they loved most when they were little."
Rei Ao smiled gently.
"It's not too late to make up for that."
"But the Yukinoshita family"
"Sell it," She stared at him, taken aback. "W-what?"
"Sell the Yukinoshita enterprise," he stated calmly. "Instead of letting it keep strangling you, let it go."
She raised a hand in protest, though Rei Ao lightly tapped her cheek.
Surprised, she felt a comforting warmth. Rei Ao produced a mirror, facing her reflection.
"This is"
Mother stared at the mirror, now seeing a face with smoother, more youthful skin.
"That's the real you."
He had wiped away the weariness from her complexion.
Rei Ao chuckled, "Yukino and Haruno want to see this version of younot the exhausted version."
""
By now, she was almost numb to Rei Ao's miraculous powers, but each new display still shook her. Then he continued, "Mother-in-law, you wouldn't want, in the decades or centuries to come, for Yukino and Haruno to remain young while you"
"Huh?"
She blinked. "You're saying that in a hundred years, my daughters would still beyoung?"
Rei Ao shrugged.
"They're my women. Of course I'll grant them everlasting youth. It's not difficult for me."
""
Realizing this, she opened her mouth but was speechless with shock. She had tried her best to overestimate Rei Ao's abilities, but this? Eternal youth was something he could casually promise?
After a moment, Mother collected herself. Though overwhelmed, she chose not to ask more about it, sensing the boundaries. But obviously, his words had shaken her thinking.
Yet still she shook her head.
"It's not that simple. The Yukinoshita family's enterprise is my life's work. I can't just hand it over to unreliable people; at the very least, it should go to someone suitable."
This was respect for her own accomplishments.
Rei Ao gave a cryptic smile. "But what if I said I have the perfect candidate?"
Raising a hand, he conjured the chat group's interface out of thin air.
~~~
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Chapter 716: Entrusting the Yukinoshita Enterprise to Shinomiya Kaguya...
In the Yukinoshita family's dining room, conversations on the chat group scrolled by incessantly, with various avatars flashing. Even when Rei Ao wasn't around, they would chat among themselves.
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Drinking alone again tonight, sigh"
Yuigahama Yui: "Shizuka-sensei, please stop drinking so much! It's bad for your health!"
Machida Sonoko: "Sigh, lonely older folks have to be careful with strong liquor."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Hey! What do you mean by that?!"
Hyoudou Michiru: "So, has Rei Ao-kun not come back yet?"
Rei Ao: "I'm back now, actually."
Hyoudou Michiru: "Eh?!"
Rei Ao: "Haha, I returned yesterday."
After a brief greeting, he got straight to the point.
Rei Ao: "@Shinomiya Kaguya, interested in acquiring a family business? Quality assets, a solid management team."
The group fell silent at his sudden announcement.
Shinomiya Kaguya: "Rei Ao-kun, what does this mean? Why so out of the blue?"
Continuing to type, Rei Ao said,
Rei Ao: "My mother-in-law wants to retire, planning to sell the family enterprise. I recall you need to strengthen your position in the Shinomiya clan?"
Hayasaka Ai: "True. Lately, the young masters in Kaguya-sama's family have been stirring up trouble. If she could get her own network of businesses under her belt, it'd be a huge help in contending with her brothers."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Wait, you guys are suddenly talking about something massive. Also, who's this mother-in-law again?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "@Sawamura Sayuri, @Sakurajima Ai."
Sawamura Sayuri: "Eh? Not me."
Eriri: "Our family doesn't have a big business either."
Sakurajima Ai: "Mine's already disposed of."
Kobayashi: "Then which mother-in-law does Rei Ao have left?"
Miura Yumiko: "Another one. @Yuigahama Yuiai, what do you think?"
Yuigahama Yuiai: "Uh, my family's totally normal."
Yuigahama Yui: "Yumiko, you know our situation at home."
Rei Ao: "All right, enough guessing. It's the mother of Yukino and Haruno."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "? What happened?"
Seeing the message, both Yukino and Haruno emerged from the kitchen, speaking at the same time.
"Mother, you're selling off the family business?"
"Huh? How do you twoknow this?"
Mother looked at them confused.
"Sigh, I guess I overlooked that," Rei Ao said, then directly invited Mother into a sub-group of the chat.
[Ding! You have selected "chat group sub-group" and granted it to Yukinoshita Fuyuka!]
"Oh?"
Rei Ao's eyes lit up; evidently, he now learned Yukinoshita-mama's actual name.
The moment she joined the sub-group, the chat group's interface unfolded before her, and knowledge about the chat group flooded her mind.
Mother gazed at it all in disbelief. "Th-this is?"
After a bit of timeand with Rei Ao plus Yukino and Haruno explainingMother finally accepted the chat group's existence.
"You two already knew Rei Ao-kun could?"
Mother looked silently at her daughters.
Haruno chuckled: "Of course! Actually, Yukino was the first to find out. So it's because of our dear Yukino that we can all enjoy the chat group, oh~"
"Nee-san"
Yukino glared at her sister.
"Rei Ao-kun You never cease to amaze me"
Mother sighed, unsure what to think of her son-in-law.
"Haha, it's my honor to surprise you, Mother-in-law."
Rei Ao grinned. "Anyway, let's talk about your affairs. That Shinomiya Kaguya in the group is the heir of the Shinomiya conglomerate, currently in a power struggle within her family. If your business is entrusted to her, it'll be managed well, and it'll also help a friendkilling two birds with one stone."
Mother took a deep breath, trying to handle this surreal scenario. She knew of the Shinomiya family, a mighty giant that dwarfed Yukinoshita.
Megumi Kato: "I see there's a new member in the group, Yukinoshita Fuyuka. That must be Yukino's mother?"
Yukinoshita Fuyuka: "Hello everyone, I'm the mother of Yukino and Haruno, pleased to meet you."
She maintained her poised demeanor.
Yuigahama Yui: "Hello, Auntie!"
Yui: "Mrs. Yukinoshita? This is surprising, welcome."
The group all greeted her warmly. Mother felt both touched and unsettled by this show of hospitality.
"Mother."
Yukino gently held her hand. "Rei Ao-kun is helping you. If you truly want to let go of the Yukinoshita burden, this is the best chance."
Haruno drew close, speaking seriously for once: "We're grown. We don't need you to sacrifice everything for us. We just want you to be happy, too."
