Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 375 Walking by the River, Entering the Grave

Before calling Ikuka Yamami, Jun Matsueda walked along the Kamo River for a few minutes.

He could make phone calls from inside the hotel, but considering the possibility that the three girls staying next door might bother him, he chose to go outside.

As Kyoto's most famous river, the Kamo River at night is neither wide nor deep, flowing silently, with nothing particularly special about it except for the relatively loud sound of the water.

The hotel where Jun Matsueda was located was in a bustling area along the Kamo River. Wooden platforms called "cooling beds" were set up on the riverbank, and the lights were quite bright, so you could clearly see the backs of couples sitting on the riverbank.

After the light along the coast began to dim, he took out his phone and dialed his sister's number.

"Hello? Can you hear me, Matsueda-kun?"

The woman's voice reminded Jun Matsueda of his roommate's behavior after drinking.

"Good evening, Sister Yuxiang. Have you been drinking?"

"You had a little to drink with dinner. Are you already in Kyoto?"

"We arrived around noon and are now taking a walk along the Kamo River."

Someone rode a bicycle from the opposite direction from Jun Matsueda. He stepped aside to let them pass. The bicycle basket was filled with vegetables and flowers, and the fresh scent wafted past him.

"The Kamo River," the woman's voice carried a hint of melancholy, perhaps due to the effects of alcohol.

"Aren't there still a lot of couples sitting on the shore?"

Jun Matsuo glanced at the roadside. He was walking on the path along the riverbank. Even though the lights were off, the couple's silhouettes could still be seen on the grassy slope.

"That's right."

Nostalgic laughter rang out through the receiver, drowned out by the sound of flowing water in the darkness. "Back when I was still deeply in love, I was one of the many couples on the shore."

"Sister Yuxiang came here with her boyfriend before."

He didn't use his husband's words—that his sister might have had more than one relationship.

“We had just gotten engaged at that time, and it was also when he decided to retire from the entertainment industry. It took me two months in Kyoto to comfort him.”

A sharp cry of birds rang out from the water, briefly breaking the flow. Jun Matsue left the path and sat down facing the river.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Did you fall into the river?" Yami Ikuka's tone became more alert.

"I'd like to know about Sister Yuxiang's husband's marriage into her family, or rather, how can we get her elders to approve of our relationship?"

The sound of a woman's footsteps and wind chimes came from the other end of the phone; she seemed to have gone outside.

"Looks like Matsueda-kun hasn't seen Maki yet today?"

"Yes, because I came here on vacation with my friends, and my senior has also made arrangements. We should be able to meet during the Five Mountains Fire Sending Ceremony."

He gazed at the couples equidistant from each other on the opposite bank of the river.

Regarding Kyoto, someone wrote in a book that the three greatest misfortunes in the world are the coldness of one's toes, a man's heart, and the couples by the Kamo River.

This is the so-called "Kamo River Equal Interval Rule". These couples who sit side by side on the banks of the Kamo River, regardless of summer or winter, are enough to make young people who are alone feel a great sense of defeat and longing.

Ikuka Yamami cleared her throat. "If Matsueda-kun is dating with marriage in mind, then marrying into your family is your only option. There is no other way."

“However, the Yamami family’s requirements for sons-in-law are a little different from the norm. We don’t have any requirements for the son-in-law’s abilities.” “That’s a bit unexpected.” Jun Matsueda blinked as a few bats flew past him.

"Because our family is large and we have no shortage of heirs, we value character more than ability."

"Those with criminal records, loan records with long-term defaults, or chaotic private lives are all not allowed."

"Matsueda-kun is still very young, he shouldn't have any blemishes in this regard, right?"

"But you seem to be quite popular with girls, huh? You'd better handle that yourself~" The woman's voice carried a hint of mischievousness.

".I see."

Jun Matsuoka stood up and continued walking along the riverbank.

The water narrowed, revealing rocks and sandbars. The silhouettes of several boys were jumping around, making "ga-ga" laughs, which reminded him of kappa.

“But Matsueda-kun will surely ask again,” the woman continued, “then why did my husband stop being an actor?”

"Is it because of the family rules?" He already had a guess. "Is it because we're not allowed to show our faces in public or something?"

"Pretty much." The laughter in Yami Ikuka's voice had vanished. "Professions like actor, singer, voice actor, and idol are not allowed."

"Of course, the Yami family also has businesses involved in the arts and culture industry, but we only handle the operations and never get involved ourselves."

"No one who is a member of the Yami family, whether they were born with the surname Yami or married into the family, is allowed to engage in professions that use their appearance as a selling point."

“Matsueda-kun knows I used to play music, right? Actually, I used to have my own band.”

“That’s not surprising.” Jun Matsue nodded; her older sister’s cool demeanor was undeniable.

“Our band was very popular in high school. Back then, many companies wanted to sign us, and I thought about developing it as a career.”

"But before I enrolled in university, my dad and grandpa talked to me about the so-called 'obligations' and 'responsibilities,' so I gave up on the idea."

“It was a difficult process for me to give up,” the woman added. “In short, I finally gave in.”

Silence fell on both ends of the phone call. Jun Matsue stopped and looked at the old man sitting by the river drinking not far away.

Did his senior sister witness her older sister give in? This thought flashed through his mind.

After a few birdsongs, Yamami Ikuka finally spoke again.

“All members of the Yami family must decide their career path according to the family’s advice, and everyone will eventually work in the family business, with virtually no exceptions.”

"I am currently in charge of managing the performance and equipment business in the family music market. My husband is my deputy, responsible for liaising with other companies."

“I know he doesn’t really want to work in the family business—I spent two months in Kyoto with him, traveling around and being very compliant in bed, but it only made him accept it reluctantly.”

“I know he still watches the TV series and movies he starred in back then. At that time, he was on the rise in his career, and people who knew him believed that he had the potential to become a rising star in the industry, or even a rising star.”

"But I pulled this sun down with my own hands."

"So, Matsueda-kun, do you know what I was thinking when I saw you in Maki's practice room?"

“Another promising young man is about to enter the Yamami family’s grave.”

(End of this chapter)