I practiced as a monk alone in Japan.

Chapter 138 So, together?

"Thank you all for coming to my birthday party tonight. Everyone here is a friend, or someone I've known since our parents' generation. Please feel free to enjoy the food and drinks tonight, and let me know if you need anything. Please forgive me if there's anything I haven't done well in terms of hospitality. Thank you again."

On stage, dressed impeccably and with a sweet and gentle smile, Karen Saionji gracefully cut the cake.

Below the stage, heartfelt or polite birthday wishes were being offered to the girl.

For most people, it wasn't a grand event, but simply another form of social interaction within their social class. Naturally, there was no question of sincerity or lack thereof.

No one would spoil the fun at this time.

But Karen Saionji on stage had no idea that while she was carefully cutting the cake, a thunderous roar was already echoing in the hearts of those below.

It seems unrelated to the story of this night, yet it also seems closely connected.

The girl's eyes were wide open, and the boy's smile revealed no flaws. It was supposed to be a joke, but for a moment, Asagiri Rin felt as if there was fifty percent truth in it.

I didn't propose to you!

She couldn't help but argue.

Seeing her beautiful face gradually flush red, Tsukino Gen blinked. "So, you were trying to hook me by saying something that's so easy to misunderstand?"

Who's trying to hook you?

During their time together, it was always unclear who was being misunderstood.

Who is it that always speaks unclear and unreasonable words, acts irrationally, and then tries to renege on their debts afterwards?

She couldn't be bothered to argue with Gen Tsukino about these issues.

He scoffed, "You're far from being qualified to marry into our family."

"I have no intention of marrying into another family. A man born between heaven and earth, how can he live a life of subservience to others?"

"nerve!"

Asagiri Rin cursed in an annoyed tone.

Just then, the lights came on, and some things couldn't be hidden, like the slight burning sensation on my cheeks. The moment he reached out his hand, I almost lost control.

When the lights came on, the other person had already withdrawn their hand, as if nothing had happened. They were just standing there, looking at each other, and exchanging a few words.

That's it.

The boy looked at the other person mischievously, "Why don't you try begging me?"

"Get lost. I'm going to the bathroom, move aside."

The girl stormed past him, and Tsukino Gen didn't say anything more.

He simply sat on the sofa in the hall, quietly watching the people inside clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, imitating the social activities of their parents' generation.

After greeting everyone, Saionji Karen finally came to Tsukino Gen's side.

She looked at the boy curiously, "Where is Xiao Lin?"

"Going to the bathroom."

"You two are really something. You came together, but you never seem to spend much time together. Either you go to the bathroom, or she goes to the bathroom. What's wrong with you? Are you two so incompatible?"

The teasing girl sat down lightly next to Tsukino Gen, at a safe and pressure-free distance, a position that was also unlikely to cause misunderstandings.

"That's why young girls are easily shy."

Gen Tsukino laughed easily.

Saionji feigned surprise as she looked at the boy, "So, it really is all thanks to you for taking care of Rin all this time."

"There's no way around it, men in this society have to shoulder more responsibility. If they do too much, it's taken for granted; if they do too little, they're seen as scumbags."

"Pfft. You're innocent now."

Saionji's smile grew even brighter.

It was much more interesting talking to this boy; he didn't constantly bring up topics like parents, company, or recent training programs. While these topics seemed like displays of status, Saionji had absolutely no interest in them.

Talking to this boy is easy, no matter the topic, especially since you can see his face while you're talking.

It was so refreshing and pleasant.

"Doesn't the senior need to entertain the other people?"

Tsukino Gendo asked.

Saionji shook her head. "I've taken care of everyone who needs to be taken care of. It's not like I have to cater to everyone's feelings just because it's my birthday. I'm tired too, which is why I don't want to celebrate my birthday."

Besides some young people, Tsukino Gen also saw a lot of adults, who seemed to be their parents, taking this opportunity to connect and deepen their relationships.

"At this stage, even children's birthdays become a arena for social interaction and self-interest."

"That's true, but it's alright. I don't feel like I've been treated unfairly. After all, I've enjoyed better things than most people since I was a child, so it's only natural that I have to sacrifice some things. For example, the right to be innocent and naive, and fewer opportunities to make mistakes."

"That's something you nobles always talk about."

Saionji looked over with a smile, "Tsukino-kun is good in every way, except that he speaks too directly and doesn't consider other people's feelings."

"I take care of other people's feelings, but who takes care of mine?"

Gen Tsukino blinked innocently, appearing strangely obedient.

"I think Xiao Lin was quite considerate of your feelings tonight."

Saionji's casual remark silenced Tsukino Gen.

Indeed, he felt it.

For example, when they went up to the second floor, the moment when Asagiri Rin was most likely to lose her temper, she actually calmed down.

Although no kind words were said, the fact that there were no misunderstandings, no questioning, and no outbursts of anger is enough to prove a lot.

After a moment of silence, Tsukino Gen said, "She's never actually been stupid."

"You're just prone to getting emotional when it comes to your own affairs, right?"

Saionji Temple was all smiles.

Tsukino Gen squinted at her, "Senior, to be honest, you're just like one of those NPCs in anime who can see through the plot, or rather, the screenwriter. It's not good to seem so smart."

Saionji laughed and said, "It's okay, I'll play dumb when the time is right. I know that overly smart girls aren't liked, you know." "Not really."

"But Tsukino-kun, I'm quite surprised."

"Ok?"

Gen Tsukino looked at the other person strangely. The young girl holding the champagne glass took a small sip and then said.

"You acted way too quickly after you found out about the conflict between Izumi and the others and Rin, even faster than I expected. Are you in such a hurry to stand up for her? Or... is Tsukino-kun trying to make amends for something?"

Gen Tsukino could sense the probing look in the other's eyes, but he didn't care and remained as calm and collected as ever.

"It was just a coincidence, and I didn't do anything on purpose."

The girl shook her head indifferently, "Whether I know the answer or not isn't that important to me, but I think Rin really wants to know the answer. If you answer with that kind of excuse, she'll probably be very disappointed."

"I have no obligation to meet everyone's expectations. Even if they are disappointed in me, that is not a responsibility or pressure I should bear."

Yes, I've said it before: I'm not a good person, I'm a rotten one. It's foolish to have expectations of myself, and it's only natural to be hurt by myself and disappointed because of myself.

"That's true, but I've always felt that Tsukino-kun's way of speaking is so ruthless that he seems to want to kill the other person, but the things he does always seem to bring them back to life."

"It's not as amazing as you say, and I don't particularly like contrasts."

Gen Tsukino directly denied it.

"is it?"

"Well, I just hope I didn't cause any trouble for my senior tonight."

"You still care about me?"

Saionji couldn't help but laugh as she spoke.

Gen Tsukino replied matter-of-factly, "After all, it's your birthday, it wouldn't be good to make it too ugly."

"Yeah, have you considered the possibility that I might not be able to handle the situation?"

Gen Tsukino did not answer.

The answer is already clear, so let's just end this ourselves.

However, it was clear beforehand that this step would not be necessary.

Holding a champagne glass, Karen Saionji slowly stood up and said with some regret.

"What a pity. If we could have seen the whole story from God's perspective, knowing everything about the plot and everyone's inner thoughts, it would have been a very romantic story, wouldn't it?"

"There's no such thing as that much romance."

"Alright, she should be back soon. I'll get back to work now. Have a nice evening."

Saionji Karen smiled sweetly, like a blooming peach blossom, and raised her wine glass to Tsukino Gen. Then, with a graceful turn, like a professional ballet move, she exited the stage with ease and grace.

As she said, Asagiri Rin soon returned to the scene.

She spent quite a while in the restroom, but she didn't offer any explanation.

What's there to explain? Did I spend too much time adjusting my mindset? And did I also sort out some questions that I couldn't understand?

She looked at the boy lounging on the sofa and asked, "Do you find this place interesting?"

Gen Tsukino shook his head. "It doesn't mean anything. Just like you said before, it's a circle I can't fit into, a world that has nothing to do with me."

It's not that he can't fit in, but rather that he has no interest in joining; otherwise, with his face alone, there would probably be quite a few people interested in him.

However, Asagiri Rin did not say these words aloud, but simply said, "Then let's prepare to leave."

"Aren't you going to stay a little longer?"

He subtly glanced in one direction, where the young man who had called himself Aoki Shin was, along with several of his friends. They seemed to be chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves immensely. However, Tsukino Gen clearly noticed that the other man would occasionally glance in their direction.

"What's the point of staying? Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, no one will take you home."

Asagiri Rin urged impatiently.

The boy stretched and then stood up.

"You talk as if you're the only one willing to take me home. Believe me, I can hitch a ride in a heartbeat."

The girl stood still, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Then why don't you give it a try?"

Gen Tsukino stepped forward and said, "But I just like your car. Nothing else, it's comfortable."

"nerve."

Asagiri Rin didn't need to greet anyone; she stepped out of the hall first in her red-soled high heels, followed closely by Tsukino Gen.

The two got into the car one after the other.

Gen Tsukino looked at the other person, "Where are you going? Don't tell me it's going drinking again."

Then, Rin Asagiri, sitting in her seat, awkwardly took two tickets out of her bag and looked out the window with an unnatural expression.

"I don't know what's wrong with Saionji. She insists there's a good movie she doesn't have time to see and wants me to take care of it for her."

She paused, but didn't hear a response from the boy.

The girl frowned, bit her lower lip, then let go, turned her head, and looked at Tsukino Gen with a "what's the use" attitude.

"Want to come to the movies with me?"

The boy curled his lips into a smile, reached out, and took one of the cards.

"I'll go with you to take the photos."

Kittens are really nasty when they hiss.

But when she says "please, please," she's really cute.

He thought so.

……

(End of this chapter)