On the way ho, Aoyama Xiu Xin called Yanchuan Xianyou, and with utmost respect, hoped he could help him visit the Asai family the day after tomorrow to propose a marriage.
Since he had not officially taken office yet, Yanchuan Xianyou was currently quite free and readily agreed. Moreover, he suggested that Aoyama Xiu Xin set the engagent for next June.
Aoyama Xiu Xin expressed his doubts.
Although he wasn’t in a hurry to get married formally, he didn’t mind getting engaged earlier. That way, he could use the status of being the Asai family’s future son-in-law to his advantage.
"Because I think next year you might get another promotion. If you wait until your position is higher before getting engaged, it will make the occasion look better and prevent so idle gossip."
Yanchuan Xianyou’s tone was light and breezy as he responded.
"Hey!" Aoyama Xiu Xin was overjoyed. Yanchuan Xianyou’s words were as good as gold. If he said Xiu Xin would get a promotion next June, then it was certain to happen. By then, a promotion and an engagent would bring double joy. "I’ll follow Brother Xianyou’s arrangents."
Next June, he would be twenty-five. A twenty-five-year-old Senior Police Director can no longer be described rely as promising.
You would need connections at high places for that to happen.
Knowing that without significant achievents or a powerful patronage to promote out of turn, relying solely on climbing the ranks with seniority for an ordinary police officer to beco a Senior Police Director, would take at least seven years of service.
By next June, he would have only worked for two years. With a single sentence from Yanchuan Xianyou, he would save at least five years of hard work.
Aoyama Xiu Xin was extrely focused on speeding up his career advancent.
Because his goal was not just to reach the top at the Police Headquarters, but to resign after achieving this and then run for an elected office to start a political career. The younger he was when he entered politics, the more opportunities he would have to go further.
"Strength cos from within. Establish so comndable achievents; otherwise, even if I want to help you, there would be no justification." Yanchuan Xianyou instructed with an unruffled tone.
After all, forcibly promoting soone without rit to a high position would incur the wrath of others.
Aoyama Xiu Xin replied firmly, "Hey!"
Right now, he was filled with the fighting spirit, determined to be at the forefront when it ca to claiming credit in major cases!
Around ten minutes later, Aoyama Xiu Xin arrived ho.
He pressed the doorbell but got no response. However, the living room light was on, so he had no choice but to use his key to enter.
"Ah! You’re ho, Xiu Xin."
About ten minutes later, Aoyama Haruko ca downstairs in a pink strap dress, toweling her damp hair.
"Big sister, let help you with that and, while I’m at it, there’s sothing I want to discuss with you," Aoyama Xiu Xin said as he stood up.
"Sure, thank you, Xiu Xin." Aoyama Haruko smiled amiably, ca downstairs to et him, handed him the towel, and then sat down on the sofa.
Aoyama Xiu Xin went behind the sofa to help Aoyama Haruko dry her hair, and couldn’t help reconsidering how Aoyama Sosuke could allow such a stunning wife to live separately in two places. From another perspective, he thought his older brother was quite ruthless.
"Xiu Xin, didn’t you say you had sothing to tell ?" Aoyama Haruko waited for a while, and when he didn’t start talking, she curiously took the initiative to ask.
"Oh." Aoyama Xiu Xin, who had been preoccupied with thoughts of Nai Zi, finally regained his focus and said, "Big sister, I’ve been seeing a girl for a while. She’s deeply devoted to , insisting on marrying no one but . I really had no choice but to reluctantly ask a friend to help visit her family to ask for her hand in marriage the day after tomorrow."
"If things work out, the elders of both families will definitely need to et and set the engagent date. So, could you please inform big brother to clear his schedule for two days next week to co to Tokyo?"
Regardless of anything else, Aoyama Sosuke was his older brother and the head of the Aoyama family. He definitely needed to et with Asai family mbers; otherwise, it would be trendously rude.
"Ah!" Aoyama Haruko was caught off guard, gasping before suddenly turning around. Her movent was so abrupt that the clothing, unsupported by a bra beneath, almost ca loose. Her mind was a bit in a whirl. "That’s too soon! You haven’t even told us anything about this girl yet."
She felt a mix of surprise and happiness, and for so reason, a bittersweet feeling she didn’t quite understand crept into her heart.
"She is my superior, Asai Ayumi. Her father is the Senior Police Director at the Shinjuku Police Station, and your husband is a county councilor in Kanagawa Prefecture," Aoyama Xiu Xin introduced succinctly.
Aoyama Haruko pondered for a mont, blinked, and said, "Her family background seems quite a match for ours."
After all, in her view, not only was the Aoyama family part of the Imperial Family, but her brother-in-law was a police officer, and her husband a county councilor. There couldn’t be much difference between their family conditions.
"Indeed." Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t elaborate on the Asai family’s background, otherwise his sister-in-law would be unnecessarily anxious.
Aoyama Haruko looked a bit conflicted but also relieved. "Our Xiu Xin is going to start a family, too."
"Uh... that’s still so ti away, a long way off. Neither of us is in a hurry to marry," Aoyama Xiu Xin said awkwardly under his sister-in-law’s maternally glowing gaze.
"I’ll call your brother right now." Aoyama Haruko took a breath, then moved to a spot closer to the phone stand, picked up the receiver to dial, and gently spoke after the call connected, "Darling, it’s Haruko."
"What is it?" Aoyama Sosuke sounded impatient.
Aoyama Haruko had always been compliant and was used to this temper of his. She wasn’t upset at all, instead, she happily reported, "Xiu Xin is planning to discuss an engagent with a girl he’s been seeing for a while. I hope you can co back next week to et the girl’s family and set the engagent date."
"Hm?" Aoyama Sosuke was also taken aback and after a mont asked, "That guy isn’t with you right now, is he?"
Aoyama Haruko looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin, and after seeing him shake his head slightly, she said, "Xiu Xin isn’t here."
"Damn it! That guy!" Aoyama Sosuke’s tone suddenly beca domineering and tough, and he cursed, "Such a big issue and he only tells now, does he even consider his brother? If I were at ho, I would definitely teach that bastard a lesson!"
Uncontrollably, the image of Aoyama Xiu Xin beating him up previously surfaced in Aoyama Haruko’s mind, and the corner of her mouth twitched, "Husband, you must co back, okay?"
"How is the girl’s family?" Aoyama Sosuke asked, then without waiting for Aoyama Haruko’s reply, he mocked, "Forget it, he’s just a lousy Patrol Chief, probably couldn’t find a decent match. If he asked to step in, maybe I could even introduce him to a County Councilor’s sister."
"Uh... Husband, Xiu Xin has been transferred back to Police Headquarters, and he’s now a Police Inspector, an Inspector, you know, not Assistant Inspector." Aoyama Haruko explained, then added, "His girlfriend is his superior, I rember she’s also an Inspector, her brother is a County Councilor like you, and her father is a Senior Police Director."
"......" Aoyama Sosuke found himself speechless as if sothing was stuck in his throat; after a mont of silence, he sneered, "I never expected that guy would live off a woman, what a disgrace to the Aoyama family. But the girl’s family is not bad, barely a match for our Aoyama family. I’ll be back next week."
Though the family of Aoyama Xiu Xin’s girlfriend was better than he anticipated, he didn’t take it too seriously, thinking they were only slightly better off than his own.
"Hey!" A cheerful smile appeared on Aoyama Haruko’s face, and then she quickly asked, "Is there any particular dish you’d like to have, Husband? I can go ahead and..."
"Beep~ Beep~ Beep~" The line had already been disconnected.
Hearing the busy tone from the handset, the smile gradually froze on Aoyama Haruko’s face, she sat there holding the handset, biting her red lips, speechless for a long ti.
"Sister-in-law?" Aoyama Xiu Xin called out to her.
Aoyama Haruko then snapped back to reality, forcing a smile, "Husband is still as busy as ever."
What a loyal lackey, Sister-in-law!
Aoyama Xiu Xin really couldn’t understand it—truly couldn’t understand it.
But he very much did understand!
.............
June 3rd, Wednesday, clear weather.
In the morning, the trial for Mikami Yasuko’s murder began, and the area outside the Tokyo District Court was packed with reporters waiting for news.
Today Asai Youki didn’t go to work, and Asai Zexi also made a special trip back from Kanagawa Prefecture because Yanchuan Xianyou had indicated he would visit today.
It was a formally notified visit.
Therefore, the father and son had postponed their work for the day and were waiting at ho to receive Yanchuan Xianyou.
After all, Yanchuan Xianyou was the only male of his generation in the Yanchuan Family, and his every move could represent the entire family; he could not be taken too seriously.
At ten in the morning, Yanchuan Xianyou arrived.
"Xianyou-san." Asai Zexi personally greeted him at the door; when they were children, he used to call Yanchuan Xianyou his younger brother, but now he didn’t dare do that.
With his grandfather’s death, and Yanchuan Xianyou’s grandfather in a high position, a sad wall had built up between these childhood friends.
"Brother Ze Xi." Yanchuan Xianyou still smiled and addressed him as brother, not taking the hand Asai Zexi extended but embracing him instead, "Long ti no see, I’ve been wanting to catch up with you, but knowing how busy you are with work, I didn’t want to disturb you."
"If you invite , Xianyou, no matter how busy I am, I would postpone the work," Asai Zexi replied with a smile.
"Alright, that’s your word." Yanchuan Xianyou let go of him, then walked into the house with an even brighter smile. "Uncle Asakai, you still look so young! Eh, isn’t Aunt here?"
"She heard you were coming and went to buy groceries herself, we’re eating at ho for lunch," Asai Youki warmly welcod him: "Don’t stand there, please, have a seat."
The three of them sat down and reminisced about the past, the atmosphere was quite harmonious, until Yanchuan Xianyou suddenly put down his teacup.
The Asai father and son knew that the main event was about to start.
"Uncle, Brother Ze Xi, the truth is, in addition to wanting to see you today, I’m here concerning Ling’s marriage," Yanchuan Xianyou said solemnly.
Asai Youki and Asai Zexi were montarily stunned by his words; they had guessed the purpose of Yanchuan Xianyou’s visit before but had not expected this.
Asai Youki was the first to react, "Does Xianyou an... you want to act as a matchmaker for Ling?"
"Exactly." Yanchuan Xianyou nodded, saying with a beaming smile, "Ling isn’t young anymore, and it’s ti to settle her marriage. I have a very good friend, Uncle, you know him too, Aoyama Xiu Xin, whose ability you are familiar with. The Aoyama family’s ancestors were part of the Imperial Family, and I believe he will surely restore the family’s glory. Ling marrying him wouldn’t disgrace the Asakai family."
"You’re talking about Aoyama Xiu Xin?" Asai Youki was both shocked and angry, shocked that Yanchuan Xianyou would intercede for Aoyama Xiu Xin revealing a close relationship.
Angry because that bastard Aoyama Xiu Xin had stealthily won over his daughter, probably right under his nose, and he hadn’t noticed at all!
Asai Zexi was also a mix of shock and anger; no wonder Aoyama Xiu Xin had so readily agreed to his proposal a few days ago—he had been playing him all along.
He had already given the promised one billion yen yesterday.
Damn it, what a scam!
If only Japan promoted anti-fraud apps.
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