Crossing over, and then being blocked by a rich JK.

Chapter 471 Refusing to admit defeat

At the same time, outside the exit of Baishan Station of Duying Subway.

Eda Ikumi parked the car at a designated parking spot, engaged the handbrake, and turned on the hazard lights.

The rain is pouring down like it's being dumped out of the ground. Without turning on the hazard lights, you can't see any cars at all, given how thick the rain is right now.

Where are we?

She took out her phone and typed a question.

[Arrived at the station, exiting now (cat head making a peace sign.gif)]

I'll be waiting for you outside; the car with its hazard lights flashing is mine.

【ok】

Putting her phone away, Eda Ikumi closed her eyes and pretended to doze off.

Although the task of guiding her cousin onto the right path fell on her shoulders, due to her work and her cousin's studies, this task has been 'postponed' until now.

It wasn't until today, or more precisely, at 9:20 this morning, that my aunt finally contacted her.

For the next month, my cousin will live with her, and my aunt will cover all living expenses during that time.

She had mentioned that they were all family and there was no need to be so calculating, but her aunt was stubborn and wouldn't budge no matter what she said, so in the end she had to compromise.

My aunt said that while they are indeed a family, sometimes the closer you are to a family, the more you need to be clear about things.

Her daughter's visit wasn't just for two or three days, or even a week or two, but for a whole month. The expenses were considerable, and as an elder, she couldn't and wouldn't take advantage of her younger sister.

Ugh.

“Eda Akane.”

Ikumi Eda sighed unconsciously, her brows furrowed in worry.

When she first asked Watanabe for guidance, she was full of enthusiasm, but as time went by, and with the occasional complaints from the director and several married colleagues, her enthusiasm quickly cooled down.

Teaching people is not such a simple matter. The only thing that can bring a naughty child back to normalcy with just a few words is the hypnotic power found in adult comics.

But life isn't an adult comic book. There aren't that many obsessive women who become nauseating at the slightest touch, nor are there those mobile apps that can make people obey with just a slight shake.

Therefore, I have a headache.

Although her aunt allowed her to use violence when necessary, it was still a difficult task.

You can't just beat someone in the morning, beat them at noon, beat them in the evening, beat them five days a week, and then rest for two days, can you?

That wouldn't be correcting thinking; it would be heading in the direction of training punching bags.

Moreover, given Jiang Tianqian's rebellious nature, such violent methods will only make her more and more rebellious.

Are all children from single-parent families this difficult to raise? Or is it just that my aunt's daughter is unique in this situation?

Boom boom boom!
Just as she was wallowing in self-pity, a knocking sound suddenly rang out at the window.

After glancing to the side and confirming that it was her cousin, Jiang Tianqian, she unlocked the car. Jiang Tianqian, who was holding an umbrella outside, immediately opened the door as well, then quickly closed the umbrella and got in, before closing the door again.

"Sister Yumei! Please guide me for the next month!"

Jiang Tianqian turned her head and revealed an exceptionally bright smile.

Of all her relatives, Yu Mei was the one she got along with the best.

Compared to other relatives, Sister Yu Mei was much more considerate and never made too many demands on her.

During family gatherings, Yu Mei never asks about her academic performance; she only focuses on her school life, such as whether she's happy at school or whether the food in the cafeteria is good.

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Eda Ikumi put aside her unnecessary worries and smiled as well.

Regardless of whether things go smoothly or not, at least the moment of saying hello was a good start.

"Fasten your seatbelt."

"ok~"

After glancing at Akane Eda to make sure she had fastened her seatbelt, Ikumi Eda released the handbrake, started the car, and drove into the empty lane.

Compared to the past, Tokyo is unlikely to experience traffic jams today, at least not before peak hours.

Did you bring your personal belongings?

After driving smoothly for a distance, it was Ikumi Eda who started the conversation.

She needed to start by making small talk and subtly probe Qian's attitude.

"I brought it. I sent it to the address you gave me. If all goes well, it should arrive this evening. If not, it will arrive tomorrow morning."

As Jiang Tianqian spoke, she turned her head and pressed her face against the car window, gazing at the receding rain scene outside.

"The rain is so heavy."

She sighed.

A hint of melancholy inexplicably flashed across those bright eyes.

"The weather forecast says this rain is expected to be one of the three largest rainstorms of the year."

Eda Ikumi picked up the conversation.

She said she wanted to subtly probe, but in reality, she hadn't figured out how to do it at all.

This thing definitely can't be too stiff; it has to be more natural.

But that's the problem. She hadn't thought of an opening line at all, let alone what would make it natural.

"By the way, is Sister Yumei busy with work lately?"

Suddenly, Jiang Tianqian asked this question.

"If I had to say, it wouldn't count." Eda Ikumi paused. "It's mainly because I was just busy."

After having a free meal at Watanabe's place, she worked for quite a while. There was always something to do at the station, from interrogating suspects to arresting suspects at night. Every day she was like a wound-up toy, with no free time at all.

I've had a bit more free time lately.

“It’s very hard.”

Jiang Tianqian sighed.

"Yes, it's very hard."

Eda Ikumi echoed, her face full of emotion.

As she finished speaking, the car fell into a brief silence.

"My mother asked me to come here this time, probably not just because she's busy with work and doesn't have time to take care of me, right?"

After a silence of three and a third minutes, Jiang Tianqian, just like when she got on the bus, took the initiative to start a conversation.

She's not stupid; she's grown up and can see clearly what her mother wants to do.

"more or less."

Eda Ikumi was a little surprised, but she still continued the conversation.

Her attempt at 'subtle probing' this time seems a bit embarrassing.

The conversation, from the beginning to the present, has been centered on the younger Qian.

She seemed... well, she never really had the upper hand.

"She probably thinks I'm rebellious, so she wants you, Sister Yumei, to persuade me, right?"

Akane Eda turned her head and stared intently at Ikumi Eda's profile.

"……Yes."

After hesitating for a moment, Eda Ikumi gave an affirmative answer.

When facing family and friends, she is not good at hiding things or lying.

"Does Sister Yu Mei think I'm rebellious?"

"Issue Akane then asked."

"well enough."

Ikumi Eda gave an ambiguous answer.

"I want to hear the truth."

Eda Akane emphasized it once.

"Hmm...that's true, a bit."

Eda Ikumi thought for a moment, then gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

Sure enough, she wasn't suited to subtle hints in this kind of situation. So, she might as well be more honest. Once things were out in the open, perhaps they wouldn't be so hard to say.

"I just don't want to listen to her bossy remarks anymore."

Jiang Tianqian sighed, then looked away and lowered her eyes.

She felt no love from her mother, only constant control and harsh demands. Even though she had done everything her mother asked, her mother was still not satisfied.

Her mother's demands were like an endless staircase. Every time she met a demand, the standard would rise, and so on, without end.

She is really tired.

"Ah."

Ikumi Eda didn't spout any grand principles; she simply gave a heartfelt "hmm."

She knew that what Qian needed right now was not someone to tell her what to do, but someone to listen to her.

However, the actual development of the situation far exceeded her expectations.

"So, I'm sorry, Yumi-nee, I definitely can't listen to you about this."

Qian didn't elaborate further, but instead uttered this sentence in a natural tone but with a firm expression.

have to.

No wonder Mom and the others promised such generous terms. So the difficulty of persuading them has risen from normal to difficult, right?
Or, from another perspective, perhaps her mother never expected her to succeed; her intention from the beginning was to make her fail.

Tsk!
How despicable!
But she won't give up so easily!

“I didn’t intend to persuade you, nor could I. It’s difficult for people to understand each other, let alone persuade someone. Besides, as you said, you’re not a child anymore and you have a certain ability to discern and judge.”

As Eda Ikumi spoke, she gently applied the brakes in advance.

The car gradually slowed down and then came to a smooth stop in front of the traffic light with the red light on.

“So rather than trying to convince you or subtly hint at something, I’m more concerned about how you’ll get to school,” she paused, “and how you’ll plan your route home from school, and what about dinner.”

"When it's my turn to be on duty, I can't leave work and go home on time."

The first principle of persuasion is not to try to persuade people, but to first build rapport, then eliminate distance, and finally have a heart-to-heart talk. Winning hearts and minds is the best approach, rather than using forceful methods.

Not to mention, with her thick skin, she also had someone to cover for her.

Although she had done someone a favor, she gained far more than she lost.

"I already figured out the transfer routes before I came to school. As for dinner, I can buy a half-price bento at the convenience store."

Akane Eda gave an answer.

She had already planned these things out long ago.

"A convenience store bento box..."

Eda Ikumi seemed to be deep in thought.

"Sister Yumei, the light's green!"

Jiang Tianqian reminded her of something.

"Ah."

Coming to her senses, Eda Ikumi raised an eyebrow, glanced at the traffic light, and then gently pressed the accelerator.

"I think I should reconsider the half-price bento. It's not necessary to be so frugal. Although we can't have big meals every day, we can still manage at a family restaurant."

She paused, then added another sentence.

"Also, I know someone who's an amazing cook. I'll take you to his place in a few days to treat yourself!"

One favor is an indebted debt, and two favors are also an indebted debt.

Anyway, the debt is too much to bear!
"Isn't this not good?"

Jiang Tianqian's tone carried a hint of rejection.

She really didn't want to go to a stranger's house for a meal.

Firstly, it's inappropriate, and secondly, it would be too much of a bother to others, and it would also restrict my own freedom of movement.

"It's alright, leave it to me, they're easy to get along with."

Ikumi Eda gave her a guarantee.

*
Inside the teachers' office of the second-year students at Chengnan Private High School.

"What did he say? Repeat it again."

After listening to Ishikawa Natsumi's report, Yasuhara Risa's eyes widened and her brows furrowed.

"He said that this time we need a very large venue, an entire floor."

Natsumi Ishikawa repeated Yu Watanabe's request.

"No, where am I supposed to apply for it for him?"

When she heard that Watanabe Yu had a good idea, she breathed a sigh of relief and felt a sense of relief.

Although she doesn't have many ideas, this guy is a genius at coming up with ideas!

This year's school festival should be a sure thing.

But after hearing his specific requirements, her heart sank to the bottom.

He's really bold; he asked for an entire floor right off the bat.

"Watanabe said that one floor of the activity room has been empty, and we can apply to the school for permission."

Natsumi Ishikawa faithfully conveyed Yu Watanabe's meaning.

"The problem is..." Risa Yasuhara took a deep breath, composed herself, and first asked about the specific reason, "What does he need such a large area for?"

"Haunted house".

"Haunted house?"

Risa Yasuhara frowned. In her mind, haunted houses were outdated. School festivals were held every year, but the results were always quite poor, with most schools coming in last place.

"Yes, it's a new type of haunted house. Customers who participate will receive a hint and then follow the hint to complete the corresponding tasks and unlock the corresponding ending."

After looking around for a while and confirming that only Anhara-nee and the teacher of Class B were in the teachers' office, Ishikawa Natsumi lowered her voice and said those words.

She believed this was a secret, and that only people from the two related classes, Class C and Class B, should know about it.

"Like making a movie?"

Risa Yasuhara's tightly furrowed brows relaxed considerably.

She instinctively sensed that there was something special about this thing.

"Yes, it's the kind with a script and different branching storylines. Watanabe said it can be understood as a more interactive murder mystery game."

Natsumi Ishikawa nodded.

"Script-killing?"

Risa Yasuhara repeated the three words, her eyes full of confusion.

"It means there is a script, and 'customers' need to play the roles in it."

"Hmm... okay, who should write the script?"

Watanabe.

"He said how long it would take to get it out."

"I said, the latest is the day after tomorrow."

After he finished speaking, the teachers' office fell into a brief silence, filled with people looking at each other in bewilderment.

"What do you think?"

Risa Yasuhara looked at Miyuki Komura, the person in charge of Class B.

“I think it has potential. We can start by writing the application report.”

Miyuki Komura is not one to hesitate; she was already tempted when she heard the words "with script."

As a horror movie enthusiast and haunted house lover, she was acutely aware of how ahead of her time Watanabe's approach was.

When should it be submitted?

Risa Yasuhara pretended to be confused even though she knew the truth.

"After reading the script."

Miyuki Komura provided the answer.

"Row."

Risa Yasuhara nodded, then looked at Natsumi Ishikawa.

"You also need to submit the personnel arrangements and the list of required props as soon as possible so that we can move on to the next step more quickly."

The more formalized the process, the more efficient it will be in practice.

This is something she experiences deeply every year.

"it is good!"

Natsumi Ishikawa nodded slightly and agreed.

(End of this chapter)