"Cough, cough... Cough, cough, cough!!"
The Sakura family, Main Residence, deep courtyard.
Inside a certain wooden cabin, Sakura Ji clutched the edge of the bed, coughing with great difficulty.
The courtyard was completely empty. The faint sound of car engines drifted over from the distance, making him realize that soone was leaving.
Just like his relatives had done over the past many years.
At this mont, it was dusk.
The mont the setting sun vanished, the thick shadows of the sky seed to congeal bit by bit, finally falling heavily, yet without making a single sound on the floorboards.
The next mont, the room's door slowly opened, revealing a robust shadow outside.
On the bed, the coughing Sakura Ji raised his eyes to glance at the shadow by the door and spoke mildly.
"You are late... Heh, you are all the sa. You think I am old and neglect . It does not matter anymore..."
The shadow at the door stepped into the room and spoke in a muffled voice.
"I would not dare, Family Head."
"What is there not to dare? Even my most highly regarded son wants to separate from the family... The other branches are also watching, waiting to see when I will collapse so they can carve
up..."
In this world, no great undertaking could be accomplished without cooperation.
Just as an emperor needed ministers to help govern his empire, the Sakura Family Head also needed people to help him build everything that belonged to the Sakura family.
However, ever since his youth, Sakura Ji had been an extrely suspicious man.
He feared the thoughts of others, constantly guarding against people using their own ideas to betray him.
This fear only grew more profound as his possessions and power expanded.
Consequently, he went from only trusting his siblings, to only trusting his children, and finally to not even believing his own children...
But things still needed to be done by others. At this mont, if Sakura Ji did not even trust his own children, who else could he trust?
He set his sights on the next generation.
He kept Sakuramiya Hitomi and the other grandchildren by his side, ostensibly to teach them, but in reality, they were more like hostages.
At the sa ti, he attempted to use education and rules to restrain the third generation of children, establishing their loyalty to him.
In the end, that was exactly what he did.
Unfortunately, when his intentions were exposed, it instead birthed a deep disappointnt within his own children.
Because of this, in his frail and unhealthy twilight years, the very thing he had always feared was finally born.
Betrayal.
"I have been targeted by the people of the Feather Gang in Linn."
The shadow seed to know the aging Sakura Ji inside out, and thus cut straight to the chase.
"...What Feather Gang? Why do I have no impression of them?"
"Your older brother Sakura Jun... Oh no, Kuroha Junichiro, founded the Black Feather Syndicate. After you eliminated him, your nephew and your Dragon Country niece-in-law went to Linn and founded that gang."
The shadow stepped forward and half-squatted beside Sakura Ji, explaining.
"After I followed your orders and eliminated your niece-in-law, known as 'Mama Bai', an adopted daughter she took in started coming after . She has been searching for
all these years."
"...With your skills, why not just eliminate her?"
The shadow remained silent for a second before speaking frankly.
"I cannot eliminate her."
"..."
Seeing Sakura Ji fall silent, the shadow finally stated his purpose.
"Did you not want
to investigate whether your son is cooperating with Ye International? I would like to use this opportunity to ask you to arrange a channel for
to lay low and avoid her."
"Cough, cough..."
Upon hearing this, Sakura Ji could not help but cough even more violently.
The shadow before him remained motionless, rely watching him quietly in the dark.
It was not until a long while later that Sakura Ji spoke, his face full of gloom.
"You do not need to verify this matter anymore. Sakura Youzhu's betrayal is already set in stone... But I have another task for you. If you succeed, I will arrange for you to travel far away."
"Speak."
"Betrayal requires a price to be paid. This matter will not end just like this."
"Nas?"
"Yan Huan... Sakuramiya Hitomi..."
Hearing this, the perpetually expressionless shadow revealed a hint of surprise.
"Yan Huan?"
"What, can you not do it?"
"No, I just think it is a bit of a coincidence."
"Wha— Cough, cough, cough, cough!!"
Right at this mont, a burst of soft footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the door.
"Grandfather, I brought your dicine..."
It was Sakura Ji's little grandson running over.
"Huh, why is the door open?"
The little boy held a cup of hot water in one hand and a dicine box in the other.
He walked up to the open bedroom door and took a look inside.
However, inside, there was only Sakura Ji lying on the bed coughing.
Hearing the little boy's voice, Sakura Ji raised his gloomy eyes. He did not take the dicine, but simply spoke in a deep voice.
"Go, get the phone. Call your father, your second uncle, and your eldest aunt. Tell them to co over... right now!"
"Vroom..."
On the road, several vehicles were heading towards the city center: two sedan cars, a black MPV, and a white Porsche bringing up the rear.
In that MPV sat several mbers of the Study Group.
"Vice President Sakuramiya, is this matter... just over like this?"
Inside the car, An Le glanced at Sakuramiya Hitomi and asked with so concern.
Hearing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi shook her head and explained patiently.
"If you are referring to the issues between my family and the Main Residence, that has only just begun. But if you are referring to whether I will leave Linn, then that is already settled."
"...That is good then."
Hearing this, An Le nodded as well and withdrew her gaze.
"Well then, congratulations to you..."
As for Bai Yi sitting in front... She scoffed, revealed an extrely an smile, and delivered her congratulations in a flat, deadpan tone.
No matter how naive she was, after seeing the ridiculous scene just now where Yan Huan and Sakuramiya Hitomi worked together to stand against her family, she would have to be a truly divine person to not realize anything.
"Um... so, why are we suddenly leaving?"
"..."
Just as this thought popped into Bai Yi's head, the words from Spencer beside her made her involuntarily take a deep breath.
Fine, although Bai Yi also did not quite understand exactly what had happened.
Ye Shiyu seed to understand, but she was playing the expert, acting all aloof like 'you cannot discuss ice with sumr insects' and refusing to say a word.
However, while she, a little idol, might not understand the affairs of the Sakura family, she, as the Patron of their alliance, still knew a thing or two about alliance matters.
At this mont, Bai Yi's suspicious gaze quietly wandered between Sakuramiya Hitomi and An Le.
She sensed that their originally "unbreakable" alliance seed to have developed a slight crack at this mont.
As for Ye Shiyu and Yan Huan, they were sitting in the back, occupied with their own matters.
Ye Shiyu was holding her mobile phone, waiting for a ssage, while Yan Huan sat beside her, waiting together with her.
"Ding~"
After quite a while, the phone chid softly. Ye Shiyu glanced at it before turning to Yan Huan.
"Mama says it is fine. Rest assured, Xiao Huan."
"That is wonderful..."
After receiving Aunt Ye's reply, Yan Huan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he quickly cast a sidelong glance at Ye Shiyu, who had locked her phone screen and was staring straight ahead. After a second of silence, he spoke up.
"I am sorry, Sister Shiyu."
Hearing him say this, Ye Shiyu turned to look at him, tilting her head slightly as she asked.
"Xiao Huan, why are you apologizing?"
"Because just now, I revealed your identity to that old man without getting your permission first..."
Although essentially it was not leveraging Ye Lan's power, but rather using it as solid evidence to confirm the cooperation between Sakuramiya Lily and Ye International.
But since he did act first and report later, he still felt he had wronged Ye Shiyu.
However, upon hearing this, Ye Shiyu shook her head and replied.
"I was very happy when Xiao Huan admitted to an outsider earlier that I am your older sister. Besides, we are family, right?"
"..."
Hearing these words, Yan Huan fell silent for a mont.
Even though Ye Shiyu was inarticulate, Yan Huan actually understood her aning:
Since they were family, there was no need to keep such clear accounts between them.
It was just that at this mont, listening to Ye Shiyu's words, he suddenly recalled what she had told him before they ca.
She had said she only joined the Study Group because she wanted to go on the school trip to the Sakura Country with him.
As a result, she had not gotten to enjoy anything at all on this trip. First, it was disrupted by An Le, and then it was disrupted by the affairs of the Sakura family...
Moreover, he had actually kept his guard up around Ye Shiyu just now. After all, she had been staring at him faintly earlier, probably looking for an opportunity to deeply control him again.
Therefore, hearing Ye Shiyu's words actually made Yan Huan feel a bit guilty towards her.
He could only conclude that prejudice in the human heart was a massive mountain.
'Yan Huan, oh Yan Huan, how could you think like that? Maybe Sister Shiyu has truly turned over a new leaf?'
"..."
Just as Yan Huan was reflecting on his mistakes, the gaze of Ye Shiyu beside him swept over faintly, landing on the wrist that Sakuramiya Hitomi had hugged earlier.
Just as she had said, she genuinely considered Xiao Huan as family.
'But since we are family, should he not refrain from stepping up for another family's girl?'
'And letting another family's girl hug his arm while making what sounded like a "declaration of ownership"... that is truly inappropriate.'
'Therefore, he must be punished.'
'Besides, Xiao Huan also apologized just now, which ans he has realized his mistake and is willing to accept punishnt...'
Thinking this, Ye Shiyu's initially calm as an ancient well expression finally wavered, and she began to pant slightly.
She had not used her hypnosis on Xiao Huan for quite so ti, and holding back was making her truly uncomfortable.
Mainly, he had just happened to give her the perfect excuse.
'First of all, Sakuramiya Hitomi's side betrayed the alliance first, so she cannot bla
for not abiding by the treaty.'
'Secondly, Sakuramiya Hitomi acted in such a dishonorable manner, boldly parading around in front of
and staging this drama to snatch Xiao Huan away...'
With the perfect circumstances aligned, Ye Shiyu, who had originally quit, grew restless once again.
"..." 'However, I need to figure out what to do with those nuisances first.'
With this in mind, Ye Shiyu took a deep breath, gripped her phone tightly, and secretly scrutinized the back views of Sakuramiya Hitomi and An Le.
"Screech~"
But just as she raised her eyes, the car ca to a halt.
Everyone was slightly stunned. They looked at the streetscape outside, which appeared to be the suburbs, unsure of what the next arrangent was.
"Click, clack..."
The next second, the car door opened, revealing Sakura Lan standing outside with an indifferent expression.
He first glanced at Sakuramiya Hitomi before looking at Yan Huan.
"Let us go. Mama is here, and she is waiting for you."
Hearing this, Yan Huan was taken aback at first, and then his imdiate thought was:
'They are finally here.'
He massaged his shoulders and stepped out of the vehicle. Looking up, he spotted a couple standing in front of a black sedan car ahead.
First was Sakuramiya Lily. She still wore her beautiful yet traditional hairstyle and a black kimono, looking at Yan Huan with a beaming smile.
Standing beside her was a handso middle-aged man wearing a suit and spectacles, possessing an elegant and refined aura.
As soon as he saw Yan Huan step down, he looked the young man up and down.
Sakuramiya Lily, beside him, rolled up her sleeves and introduced with a smile.
"Darling, this is the Yan Huan I told you about."
"..."
After scrutinizing him for a few monts, the man withdrew his assessing gaze and smiled.
"Hello. Little Lily ntioned you to , saying you are very excellent."
Yan Huan instantly realized that this man was Sakuramiya Hitomi's father, Sakura Youzhu.
"Father! You ca too..."
Sure enough, the mont she heard the middle-aged man's voice outside, Sakuramiya Hitomi hopped down first. Standing prettily beside Yan Huan, she greeted him.
Sakuramiya Lily held up her folding fan to cover her smile, while Sakura Youzhu looked at the handso boy and beautiful girl standing together and could not help but nod in approval.
A barely noticeable hint of satisfaction appeared at the corners of his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed girl bounded down from behind Yan Huan.
She also stood beside Yan Huan with her hands on her hips, looking at him curiously.
"Yan Huan, who is this?"
"..."
Seeing an extra girl appear next to the originally well-matched boy and girl, Sakura Youzhu's smile instantly froze.
He blinked and was about to speak again, only to see a reserved girl slowly step down behind Yan Huan.
"Umm... Hello, Uncle and Auntie..."
"..."
The mont he saw An Le step down, Sakura Youzhu's frozen smile imdiately collapsed a bit further.
After several seconds of silence, he adjusted his glasses to steady his mind, preparing to speak once more.
"...Huh? So, where are we right now?"
Another one ca down!
Seeing that breathtakingly beautiful girl with starry eyes stretching as she stepped out of the car, subconsciously taking her place beside Yan Huan as well...
The smile on Sakura Youzhu's face completely vanished, replaced by bewildered astonishnt.
"Buzz..."
Following that, a pale hand grasped the car door, allowing its owner, a tall and cold girl, to slowly step out of the car.
Ultimately, she too ca to stand beside Yan Huan.
"..."
Sakura Youzhu opened his mouth. This ti, he couldn't hold back at all, and he hastily turned his head to look at his wife.
However, he saw Sakuramiya Lily holding her folding fan, her smile equally strained as she whispered.
"Did I not tell you? This young man is great in every way, and he is very popular with won..."
"..."
"Auntie Sakuramiya, you are finally here..."
Inside a shrine, the priest served hot tea and slid the door shut.
Inside the room, there were only the Sakura couple and Yan Huan.
"It is not exactly 'finally'. Auntie just did not expect you all to act so quickly~"
While Sakura Youzhu looked at Yan Huan with a slightly foul expression, Sakuramiya Lily beside him swayed her folding fan, still looking at him with a blooming smile.
"You only arrived last night, yet you could not wait to cause a commotion today. Hitomi's father still had other business in Tokyo, but we hurried over as fast as we could."
"Then Auntie, you should have at least dropped a hint... Saying nothing and only bringing it up at the very end is honestly a bit..."
Hearing this, Sakuramiya Lily could not help but sigh, speaking with a touch of resentnt.
"It could not be helped. Auntie was under a lot of pressure too~
"On one hand, I had to deal with the Spencer family keeping a close eye on you, and on the other hand, I had to prevent the Main Residence from finding out the news in advance...
"It is all because my husband is useless. If he could have protected the children and
well, I would not have had to..."
At this point, Sakuramiya Lily covered her mouth and began to sob dramatically.
Sakura Youzhu's face darkened, and he coughed lightly.
"I only hesitated for a day or two, is there a need for this..."
"Hehe~"
Hearing this, Sakuramiya Lily finally dropped her affected expression.
"What is the use of talking about this now? Having the children do on our behalf what we were originally supposed to do, how truly embarrassing~"
Her expression grew slightly more serious as she looked at Yan Huan.
"However, Yan Huan, do you understand now?
"Our Hitomi grew up in that kind of environnt.
"While I do not expect you to simply write off the things she did to you before, I do ask that you at least try to understand...
"Furthermore, she is firmly choosing to stay in Linn now all for your sake~"
Hearing these words, Yan Huan was taken aback.
He looked at the woman in front of him and could not help but ask.
"Auntie, did you invite
to the Sakura family just so I could learn more about Sakuramiya's childhood?"
"Yes, and also to keep Hitomi emotionally stable while experiencing such a dramatic upheaval in the family... After all, she truly suffered a lot under her grandfather when she was little."
But since they were on the topic, Sakuramiya Lily blinked and asked in return.
"What did you think it was for?"
"...Nothing."
Yan Huan rubbed the space between his eyebrows, thinking to himself that he might have been reading too much into conspiracy theories.
He hadn't expected that Auntie Sakuramiya's true intention was actually to resolve the major problem caused by Sakuramiya Hitomi's previous peeping incident.
If he thought carefully about all this commotion, he should have known that it shouldn't have been left for the younger generation to handle.
However, at least the result should be the sa, right?
When Yan Huan was bantering with Sakuramiya Hitomi earlier, he genuinely felt as though he didn't care as much about her spying on him anymore.
After all, she had also turned over a new leaf.
'Hmm?'
'Why is it "turned over a new leaf" again?'
"..."
"Alright, do not dwell on what just happened. Even though it was a bit reckless, what is youth without a little recklessness?"
Seeing Yan Huan still looking slightly stunned, Sakuramiya Lily smiled beamingly and opened her folding fan once more.
"In the past, I directly drove a car through the gates of the Main Residence to smash them and take Hitomi away."
Beside her, Sakura Youzhu adjusted his glasses and spoke.
"Leave the rest of the matters to us adults."
"Mhm, you all can proceed to regroup with the main group and continue the school trip. Or, if there are any places the few of you want to visit on your own, I will have Sakuramiya Kagami take you out to have a good ti during this period."
"Places we want to visit..."
Yan Huan began to ponder, but at that mont, Sakura Youzhu's phone rang again.
Sakura Youzhu glanced at the caller ID marked 'Older Brother', then glanced at his wife beside him.
Sakuramiya Lily imdiately understood. Smiling, she said to Yan Huan.
"You can take your ti to consider it, but we still have so things to keep us busy, you know... If you have any plans, just tell Sakuramiya Kagami, and he will arrange it."
"It is a troubled ti right now, Yan Huan. After your school trip ends, leave the Sakura Country and head back to Linn."
Yan Huan nodded. Seeing the couple stand up, he imdiately rose to see them off.
"No problem, Uncle and Auntie."
Sakura Youzhu changed his clothes and headed outside.
Sakuramiya Lily walked behind him. She cast a glance at Yan Huan and followed her husband out.
They exchanged a few words with Sakura Lan and Sakura Fei at the door, before leaving together in a vehicle.
Obviously, due to the previous events, the matters keeping them busy were not minor at all.
"..."
Yan Huan shook his head and turned to walk back into the shrine.
The priest of the shrine was a friend of Sakura Youzhu, so they could lodge here temporarily without needing to stay at a hotel.
The shrine was huge, and Yan Huan could finally enjoy the privilege of having a room to himself.
"President, your room is the second one on the second floor. The shrine staff have already taken your luggage up."
The shrine was so large that Yan Huan could not imdiately find where everyone else was.
Opening Plane, there was only a ssage from Sakuramiya.
He asked around and learned that they were still unpacking in their respective rooms, planning to et up at dinner.
Thus, Yan Huan had no choice but to head back to his room to unpack his own luggage.
The second floor of the shrine was also built of wood. Even with the lights on, there was a gloomy atmosphere.
Yan Huan narrowed his eyes, counting the doors.
When he reached the second room, he pressed the door handle and pushed the door open.
He was just about to take a deep breath to relax and organize his thoughts.
However, when he raised his eyes, what he saw...
Was a bright phone screen rippling with a deep purple vortex.
"Vmm!!"
Seeing that long-absent yet incredibly familiar screen... one that even gave him a touch of PTSD, Yan Huan was instantly dumbfounded.
But the mont he was stunned, the vortex acted like an abyssal maw, beginning to devour every sensation in Yan Huan's body.
Yan Huan's eyes instantly clouded over, and his entire body froze in place.
Only after confirming Yan Huan's reaction did the screen slowly pull away...
Revealing behind the phone screen, Ye Shiyu, with a slightly flushed face, panting.
"I am sorry... Xiao Huan... I truly could not hold back anymore..."
Reviews
All reviews (0)