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

Chapter 512 Turning Point, The Banquet Incident (Part 1)

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time for the engagement banquet.

"Let's go, You. I've checked the lights, gas stove, and water. I've turned everything off."

At 6:40 PM, in front of Watanabe's house.

By now, the sun had sunk most of its way into the sea, and the entire sky no longer looked like the golden hue of a sunset, but rather a deep blue that resembled that of a movie.

Ryoko Hamabe, dressed in an evening gown, waved to Yu Watanabe in the entryway, indicating that the latter didn't need to dawdle and check anymore, as she had already gone through all the necessary checks before leaving the house.

"coming."

Watanabe Yu responded and slammed his front door shut, then pulled the doorknob back to lock it completely.

Although the smart home door lock will automatically lock after 30 seconds of inactivity, he still prefers to lock it himself.

Firstly, it's safer, and secondly, habits of more than twenty years are not so easy to change.

Taking three steps in two, with the driver's help to open the door, Watanabe Yu got into the car somewhat awkwardly and sat down next to Amamiya Ayana.

That's the good thing about extended luxury sedans: they have plenty of interior space. Of course, you could also call them limousines.
He doesn't know much about this.

"Madam and Master have set off ahead of time; they will be waiting for us at the scene for a while."

After getting into the driver's seat, the driver explained the things the master had instructed him to do, fastened his seatbelt, and started the car.

"Ah."

Watanabe Yu responded without changing his expression, but he still felt uneasy inside.

For someone who received a Chinese education, the feeling of being waited on was really strange.

Of course, it's also possible that he, as a time traveler, wasn't 'degenerate' enough, or perhaps he simply adapted to local customs.

"We expect to arrive in twenty-five minutes." The driver paused. "Would Master Watanabe like some music?"

Genichiro Watanabe didn't have a habit of listening to music, but who knows if his son did.

The master had shown him great kindness, so he would definitely have to do his best in every way, even for such a small matter.

Otherwise, he wouldn't deserve such a high salary.

Strictly speaking, his current monthly salary is already at the absolute ceiling in the industry, and it's even approaching the income of some relatively important positions.

Therefore, he has every reason, both morally and logically, to do a good job.

"unnecessary."

Watanabe Yu refused without even thinking about it.

If it were one of their own drivers, he might listen, but since it's a professional chauffeur this time, forget it.
It's too much trouble to tune to each of my favorite songs one by one.

"Ok."

The driver responded and steered the car onto the main road, then drove smoothly towards the business hotel.

The black luxury sedan drove under the dim yellow streetlights. As the car moved forward, the yellow lights flickered on the roof, reflecting a hazy glow.

"Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time we've attended a dinner party like this together?"

Once the car had safely merged into the main traffic flow, it was Ayana Amamiya, who was sitting in the back seat, who took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Yes."

Ryoko Hamabe nodded and continued the conversation.

"Is Ryoko interested in the dinner party?"

The young lady raised her chin and naturally continued the conversation from where she left off.

"not interested."

Ryoko Hamabe shook her head without even thinking.

She was never interested in the so-called 'high society' from the beginning.

"So why are you so excited?"

Ayana Amamiya, fully aware of the situation, took on the role of the straight man.

Although Ryoko's answer surprised her, it didn't stop her from instantly understanding what Ryoko's subtext was.

Indeed, for a young girl, the most beautiful scenery is not the physical object, but the experience she has shared with the boy she loves.

The 'outcome' may not be that important to them.

"This is the first time that Yu, everyone and I have participated in such an event together. For me, it is a happy and precious experience because I have Yu and all of you by my side."

Ryoko Hamabe frankly expressed her true feelings.

Before she came clean, she might have been a little shy and expressed her feelings in a more demure and subtle way. But now, she can only say that she will be as direct as she can be.

Her aunt and grandmother both told her that if you only do things and don't say them, the effect of your love for someone will be diminished; you can only achieve 100% effect by doing and saying both.

If you're good at talking, then it's 120% or even more.

"What a perfunctory 'you' are."

The young lady pursed her lips and teased Ryoko in a deliberately drawn-out tone.

They have a good relationship normally, and they can be silly and teasing when they want to be. She believes that only in this way can they have a truly good relationship.

The phrase "treating each other with the utmost respect" doesn't apply to them.

"Indeed."

Yuki, who had been silent all along but had been gazing at the street scene outside the window, suddenly spoke up and echoed a comment.

She doesn't have the nerve to embarrass Ryoko at any other point in time.

—Who could blame her, having previously been a freeloader, for being a loyal fan of the latter's cooking?
As Risa-nee said in our Japanese literature class, "He who takes a bribe is bound to be grateful," not to mention that she herself is the type to eat a lot.

"Hmm." Ryoko Hamabe gave a perfunctory reply, and then stated the sentence as if it were perfectly natural, "Yu has always been number one in my heart, so..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the implication was quite clear.

The translation is just three concise words.

So what?
"I surrender."

Ayana Amamiya raised her hands, making a gesture of surrender.

In a sense, she didn't really have the right to tease Ryoko, because she was the same as her; in their eyes, he would always be number one.

It's quite interesting, both she and Ryoko are the kind of people who don't easily trust others, but they especially trust certain people, particularly herself.

She was a complete egoist before, but after meeting him and deepening her relationship with him, she inexplicably became a Watanabe egoist.

She didn't even realize the changes in herself until someone around her suddenly brought them up.

But it's actually quite good.

Because her kindness to him wasn't a one-sided effort; it was a two-way support.

"Aren't you the same?"

Ryoko Hamabe glanced at them nonchalantly, then pouted.

These two are really something, taking turns teasing her. If it were someone else who wasn't love-struck, she wouldn't mind, but the problem is they're both love-struck. It's like, love-struck people mocking love-struck people is just too love-struck... isn't it a little... laughable?

"Let's talk about what we should pay attention to at the dinner tonight."

Hayakawa Yuki coughed lightly and changed the subject.

Compared to the Saintess and Ryoko, she wasn't as thick-skinned. In other words, she was the first to feel embarrassed when discussing these topics.

What should we pay attention to?

Upon hearing this, Ayana Amamiya was taken aback at first, and then looked at Yu Watanabe with some confusion.

She wondered if he had said something strange.

"I didn't say anything."

Watanabe Yu defended himself.

He was truly innocent. He hadn't done anything wrong, but the Holy Maiden was the first to suspect him. Sigh!
It's truly moving!

“Yu didn’t say anything.” Hayakawa Yuki explained for him, “It’s just my first time attending this type of banquet, so I’m a little confused, or rather, I don’t quite understand the specific procedures.”

In her view, such a banquet must have a specific procedure.

As guests, we must follow the basic procedures, but what we do during the meal is another matter entirely.

Incidentally, what she's most looking forward to right now is meeting Maki during the dinner party, and enjoying the fruit and desserts at the buffet.

The desserts at the business hotel she's going to today are quite famous; at least, the reviews she found online are mostly positive, almost unanimously good.

Many people highly recommend the hotel's Black Forest cake, praising its taste as being on par with other established dessert shops.

"There's no complicated procedure." Ayana Amamiya rubbed her temples, laughing and crying at the same time as she explained to Yuki and Ryoko, "Don't take those procedures shown on TV dramas too seriously. There's no such thing as a formal private gathering."

"Or to be more precise, that process is like attending someone else's wedding banquet, listening to the emcee ramble on, and then you cooperate by making some comments."

"Theoretically speaking, there aren't many things to get involved in at an engagement party like this. At most, the couple will bring their daughter and son-in-law to chat with us. As for things like chatting and laughing, your uncle and aunt will handle those."

This is an obvious advantage of having adults in the family.

If there are no adults at home, these social obligations will naturally fall to them.

Everyone knows that maintaining the right distance in such situations is often mentally taxing.

Some people who don't have much energy to begin with can have their emotions completely drained by such social interactions, and may even show signs of extreme fatigue at the end or in the middle of the process.

She's seen quite a few people like that.

"They'll handle it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Hayakawa Yuki repeated herself, somewhat uncertainly.

"Does that mean we just need to focus on doing our own job well?"

She tilted her head, confirming her suspicions.

This kind of experience of being taken to a banquet and having a blast is rare. Of course, "having a blast" is just an analogy; in reality, she knows where the boundaries are.

She came with You this time. If she were to do something outrageous, it would make You and the others lose face, and she would definitely not do such a thing.

She won't let You down!

*
"I've already covered the basics, so you should know what to do next, right?"

At the same time, inside a black limousine, the Kiriyama couple were instructing their son on basic precautions.

Even though they knew this wasn't their son's first time attending a banquet, they knew his personality well, so they would make sure to give him all the necessary instructions.

Incidentally, they can also teach their future daughters-in-law some basic etiquette.

However, neither of them thought Maki would do anything inappropriate.

The reason is simple: Maki has a very good image among them, much better than their silly son.

Rather than thinking that Maki will cause problems, I'm more concerned about what kind of joke Kazuma will make.

"Oh, don't worry, Mom and Dad, this isn't my first time participating in this kind of activity. I know what I should and shouldn't do."

Kiriyama Kazuma looked at his father's serious face and sighed helplessly.

He's not a child anymore, and besides, his dad went into far too much detail, with Maki right there. This childish behavior is just embarrassing for him…

and many more.

He suddenly realized something.

It seems that his parents' meticulous explanation of everything wasn't for him, but rather for Maki, who was attending such a banquet for the first time.

So, I was the one who was completely clueless about romance!

"If you were even half as sensible as Maki, I wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to give you these instructions."

Kiriyama sighed, glanced helplessly at his son, and casually praised his son's girlfriend.

"He's actually alright. Although he can be a bit careless at times, he still pays attention to the details."

Maki Takakura, however, did not kick him while he was down, nor did she accept this statement with a clear conscience. Instead, she softly spoke up for her boyfriend.

"That's why I've always said that you're incredibly lucky to have such a girlfriend."

Kiriyama Shin shook his head, then, as if remembering something, added another sentence.

"When you meet Watanabe later, remember to greet the Eda family member with him. Even if you're not close, it'll be good to get acquainted with him."

He felt he couldn't let go of such an opportunity to make a lasting impression.

"understood."

Kiriyama and Ma didn't complain like before; instead, they nodded obediently.

Just as he himself said, he knew what to say and what not to say at this time, and he also clearly understood what his responsibilities were.

"..."

Maki Takakura fell silent. She looked at her uncle and aunt in front of her, then at her boyfriend. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and took his hand.

She understood what Ma was hesitating about, and she was even more aware of his feelings for Watanabe, but in this situation, they could only pretend not to know.

"This can also help your good brother achieve what he wants to do."

Kiriyama Shin then added this comment at just the right moment.

How could he not understand what his own child was thinking?

At their level, the relationship is based on mutual help and support.

Moreover, they had already helped each other before, even though it was his father, Kiriyama Atsushi, who handled it.

"People praise each other, and people become more important."

He sighed and made his point even clearer.

"So, you understand now?"

"understood."

(End of this chapter)