A Single Person's Infinite Wonderful Life

Li Wei sat down next to her and looked at Machida Sonoko's sleeping face.

It has to be said that the phrase "beauty is food for the eyes" is tailor-made for a beauty like Machida Sonoko. When we first met, Machida Sonoko gave people a sense of competence and decisiveness, but after getting to know her better, Li Wei found that Machida Sonoko was a rather complex and changeable individual, far more complex than girls like Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri. Even Kato Megumi, who is insightful about people's hearts, is a bit less experienced than Machida Sonoko.

“I should leave too…” Li Wei stood up, found a blanket, and prepared to cover Machida Sonoko with it.

Just as she approached Machida Sonoko, the other woman opened her eyes.

"Li Wei-kun, are you leaving?" Machida Sonoko looked at Li Wei with pitiful eyes.

Li Wei felt a pang of pity. The sudden appearance of this expression on the usually capable and decisive short-haired woman was so striking that he could hardly believe they were the same person.

"I'm not leaving for now." Li Wei changed his mind before he could finish speaking. For some reason, he suddenly softened and couldn't bring himself to say that he wanted to leave.

Li Wei draped the blanket over Machida Sonoko and turned on the air conditioner in the room.

Machida Sonoko looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "Li Wei-kun, you heard all the drunken ramblings I said earlier, didn't you?"

Li Wei nodded, not denying it. Some things are hard to pretend to be ignorant of. Although pretending to be ignorant could make things less awkward for both parties, Li Wei didn't like doing so.

The fact that the paperback company wanted to use Machida Sonoko to bind him to their business didn't bother Li Wei. For him, it didn't matter which paperback company he worked for; besides, he wasn't a native of this world and would leave sooner or later anyway, so he naturally disliked trouble. He was doing well at Shinazugawa Paperback, and as long as Shinazugawa Paperback didn't do anything reckless, he wouldn't switch companies.

"The plans of the upper echelons of the library are just their ideas. Sister Yuanzi, you don't need to force yourself because of such a thing..." Li Weiyi said righteously.

Admittedly, any normal man would be attracted to a great beauty like Machida Sonoko, but Li Wei also has his own bottom line. He will give women like Machida Sonoko the most basic respect.

Of course, this kind of respect is only reserved for women who deserve it, and it is a privilege that Li Wei grants to them. If a woman is a "wicked woman," like Ding Minjun and Zhu Jiuzhen in "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Li Wei will not show her any respect and will simply treat her as a "foot-washing maid."

"If I did it of my own volition, would you look down on me, Li Wei?" Machida Sonoko was now reckless, since Li Wei had already heard all her crazy talk, so she might as well just lay it all out.

“I won’t. Because I know how twisted Japanese society is, and it’s impossible for a woman to survive well in such a social structure without paying a price,” Li Wei said.

Every place has its own characteristics. The situation in Japan is somewhat special. The remnants of feudalism have not been eradicated, so the society as a whole has become stagnant and lifeless.

This is precisely why women in Japan are at a significant disadvantage in life. While they outwardly proclaim their respect for women, many jobs and performance opportunities are actually not open to them.

People like Machida Sonoko and Kasumigaoka Utaha, who "broke through the hardship," are extremely rare individuals in the surrounding environment, and are exceptions that cannot represent the group.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Li Weijun. If it bothers you, please pretend you don't know what I'm rambling about, okay?" Machida Sonoko said, clasping her hands together in a pleading manner.

Machida Sonoko knew that some things couldn't be crossed. Li Wei and Kasumigaoka Utaha had an ambiguous relationship, and both of them were key authors for the paperback publisher. If she ruined her relationship with them over this matter, her career would be over.

Sonoko Machida dared not gamble with her career, so she could only beg Levi to pretend he didn't know what nonsense she had said.

Chapter 88. After Sobering Up

The adult world is full of such helplessness. Machida Sonoko had to admit that she did have a special fondness for Li Wei. If it weren't for Kasumigaoka Utaha standing in the way, she probably would have already taken action and actively pursued him.

But the adult world is full of worries. Considering her career, she dared not take such a risk. She knew that she still had five years of mortgage payments left on the apartment she was in. If she lost her lucrative job as an editor at Shinazugawa Bunko, she wouldn't be able to find a better job to pay off the loan.

Faced with a choice between love and reality, Machida Sonoko had to bow her head. After all, people have to make a living, and she was no longer a teenage girl who could risk everything for love.

That's why she was so cautious and even somewhat humble after Li Wei discovered her secret.

Looking at Machida Sonoko's nervous expression, Li Wei said, "I never thought I was so charming. I was quite surprised when I found out that you had feelings for me, Sonoko-nee. At the same time, I was secretly pleased. I'm really awful at 26."

"Those were just drunken ramblings, Li Weijun, please spare me! If Xiaoshi finds out, I'm doomed!" Machida Sonoko clasped her hands together, looking ready to kneel down at any moment.

"I know, I know, it's all just drunken nonsense. Sonoko-nee, you need to calm down now." Li Wei looked at Machida Sonoko's agitated appearance and sensed her strong emotions. If he didn't calm her down at this moment, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause.

Li Wei went into the kitchen, took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator, grabbed two glasses, and poured one for himself and one for Machida Sonoko. "Here you go, Sonoko-nee."

"Thank you. But speaking of which, I'm not a very good drinker. I know I got really drunk before, and I should have been in a daze all night. Why did I sober up so quickly? Do you have a unique hangover cure, Li Wei-kun?" Machida Sonoko quickly changed the subject to avoid making the conversation more awkward.

"It's just a trivial trick. Now that you're awake, Sister Yuanzi, I'll head back now," Li Wei said.

Li Wei also had romantic feelings for Machida Sonoko, but some things cannot be rushed. Machida Sonoko was an adult who had already been tempered by society, not an ordinary high school girl who could be coaxed with a few sweet words, so Li Wei was not in a hurry.

"Um... I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but, Li Wei-kun... could you stay and keep me company?" Machida Sonoko said somewhat shyly, her face flushed with a blush that she couldn't hide, just like a shy young girl. Li Wei nodded and said, "No problem, if you need me, Sonoko-nee, I'll stay and keep you company."

I spoke with Kasumigaoka Utaha on the phone earlier, and she said I didn't need to go back that night; she would tell Kato Megumi. Even if I wanted to stay and keep Machida Sonoko company, it wouldn't be a problem.

Seemingly afraid of an awkward atmosphere, Machida Sonoko turned on the TV and switched to a variety show with the remote. It was a raunchy comedy, perfect for making tired office workers laugh after a long day and easing any awkwardness. The two sat on the sofa, a seat between them. Li Wei, with his multitasking abilities, could watch TV while also keeping an eye on the woman beside him. Despite her mature and sophisticated demeanor, Machida Sonoko, still possessing a youthful charm, was actually a virgin. It just goes to show how deceptive one's appearance can be.

"Li Weijun, are you and Xiaoshi... in that kind of relationship?" Machida Sonoko asked cautiously.

“It’s even more in-depth than you imagined, Sister Yuanzi,” Li Wei said with a smile.

"A boyfriend and girlfriend who have officially acknowledged their relationship?" Machida Sonoko asked. "It's a step further than that."

"Husband and wife!?" Machida Sonoko's voice rose several decibels in surprise. "Sorry, sorry, I was too loud."

Li Wei nodded and said, "It's not just Shi Yu; I have the same relationship with the other two girls, and they get along very well."

Machida Sonoko didn't know what to say. She felt like she was falling behind the times. Today's high school students were much more fun-loving than she was when she was in high school.

She was genuinely curious about how Li Wei managed to get three girls to get along so well, especially one of them, Kasumigaoka Utaha, who was so unconventional.

"Sister Yuanzi, are you curious?" Li Wei asked with a smile.

Machida Sonoko nodded quickly. Now that she knew about this, she realized that Li Wei was even more "dangerous" than she had imagined. She thought about it again and realized that Li Wei, with his strange charm, was irresistible not only to ordinary high school students, but even to a seasoned veteran like herself who had been through the harsh realities of society.

"Those two girls are no pushovers either, being able to get along peacefully with Xiaoshi," Machida Sonoko remarked with a sigh.

“They each have their own unique charm. Shiyu is a year ahead of me, and the other two girls are my classmates, one of whom is in my class,” Li Wei said.

"That's incredible! The three of them didn't even start fighting. Li Weijun, you're amazing!" Machida Sonoko said from the bottom of her heart.

Li Wei himself found it somewhat unbelievable. In the original story, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, who were like two peas in a pod, now had a pretty good relationship. Moreover, Kato Megumi's presence was less noticeable than before. At least Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha remembered that there was someone else by his side.

"What kind of people are those two girls? I'm a little curious, of course, if it involves your privacy, Li Weijun, then just pretend I didn't ask." Although Machida Sonoko was past the age of a little girl, she still had a gossipy heart, and her desire to find out about interesting things was very strong.

“One is the young lady of a prominent family, an incredibly talented doujinshi artist, and was even admitted to Tokyo University of the Arts early. The other, though seemingly unremarkable, is a girl with exceptional writing talent; she’s also a light novel author, and her works are currently published on the ‘Let’s Become a Light Novelist’ website,” Li Wei said.

In Li Wei's view, Machida Sonoko would find out about these things sooner or later, so it didn't matter if she revealed them now. After all, he had no intention of letting Machida Sonoko off the hook.

Chapter 89. The Chaos in Japan's Dating Market

Machida Sonoko said, "The other two girls are also quite outstanding. Although it's a bit strange to say 'birds of a feather flock together' here, it's amazing that three such outstanding girls can get along so well. Li Wei, you're much more impressive than I imagined." "Impressive? Why would you say that?" Li Wei asked.

“You know, girls have a very strong possessive streak. The more outstanding a girl is, the harder it is for her to accept sharing her partner with others. This is the norm in the world of relationships. After all, this isn’t ancient society where powerful men could have multiple partners. That’s why I said, Li Wei, you’re amazing.” Machida Sonoko thought to herself. Even someone like Kasumigaoka Utaha, who has a slightly eccentric temperament, was “tamed” by Li Wei. That’s truly terrifying.

Li Wei said, "I was just exchanging sincerity for sincerity. Strictly speaking, it was a mutual choice and compromise. Although it is immoral from a modern moral perspective, I cannot accept giving up either of them."

Machida Sonoko never expected that Li Wei would have the audacity to say such a thing. However, the opportunity for the three girls to get along well was actually thanks to the previous shark attack incident.

There is great terror between life and death. Death is the most terrifying thing for anyone, especially a bloody death like being swallowed by a shark. Let alone girls, even adult men would be terrified if they encountered such a thing. Those who are less timid might even be too scared to move.

But it was precisely this kind of thing, which is most terrifying to ordinary people, that Li Wei jumped into the sea to rescue them under such dangerous circumstances. This heroic rescue in the face of despair, and the resulting suspension bridge effect, was enough to break down the psychological defenses of most women.

Even if Li Wei had managed to bring the three girls together, there would still have been constant conflicts between them. However, because of the shark attack, the three of them went through a life-or-death crisis together, and a special bond formed between them.

Li Wei still hasn't figured out why the shark attack happened. Generally speaking, shark nets are extremely sturdy; even a large whale caught in one would surely die, let alone a shark. He simply can't understand how such a robust net could be damaged.

Even though some time has passed since this incident, Moriya Beach is still in the eye of the storm, and its popularity has been affected. It is said that the number of tourists has dropped by more than half.

However, for Li Wei, the previous shark attack was a stroke of good luck. Even Li Wei had not anticipated such a low-probability, lucky event at the beginning.

Li Wei did not mention the shark attack.

Machida Sonoko held her glass with both hands, taking a small sip. "Sincerity? I haven't heard that word in a long time. I'd say it's only mentioned in light romance novels. In the real world, with all sorts of clichés, there's practically no such thing as sincerity."

Li Wei said, "It's precisely because the real world is full of all sorts of tricks that sincerity is so precious. Moreover, I have also fulfilled my responsibilities as a husband and as the head of the family. Although we don't have the financial pressure of supporting our family, I will still do my best in that regard."

As a Chinese person, Li Wei was not brainwashed by the extreme male chauvinism of the Japanese, so he did not pick up any of the bad habits of the Japanese.

If some male protagonists in anime are good for nothing except being gentle, then Li Wei is someone who combines the gentleness of a straight man with the strength to support the whole family and provide a safe haven for his partners.

Some male protagonists in anime are just all talk, while Levi is a man of action who proves his words with deeds. This kind of man is unassuming most of the time, but when a girl discovers his true nature, a dramatic turn of events unfolds. Never underestimate the eagerness of Japanese women to get married. The "war" among Japanese women to find a partner who can protect them from hardship is quite fierce. In the real world, polygamy is not uncommon in Japan. Of course, this is irrelevant to ordinary people, since ordinary men can't afford multiple partners.

Therefore, once a "top-tier stock" like Li Wei is noticed, it is followed by large-scale purchases by various women. Don't think this statement is exaggerated. Novels need logic, but reality often does not.

In Japan, men in professions like top doctors, lawyers, bestselling authors, renowned musicians, flight attendants, tax accountants, bank employees, university professors, pilots, and professional baseball players are considered to be at the very top of the dating market. However, their numbers are extremely limited, and the chances for an average woman to encounter such a "high-quality partner" are lower than winning the lottery.

Li Wei is the leading stock among these high-performing stocks, and his competitiveness even surpasses that of professional baseball players.

"Taking responsibility... Japan is currently trapped in a Möbius strip of mutual harm among the lower classes. I haven't heard the concept of taking responsibility in a long time. Anyway, the majority of the staff here at the paperback station are unmarried. For ordinary people, not getting married is the best solution," Machida Sonoko said.

“It’s understandable given the limited circumstances. After all, for ordinary people, the loss of thirty years is a huge blow,” Li Wei said.

After Japan touched the cake it shouldn't have, it was punished severely. As a result, a large amount of Japanese capital fled abroad and invested around the world. On the surface, it seemed to suffer heavy losses, but in reality, it wasn't greatly affected. The real victims were ordinary people. The prolonged economic stagnation created a negative spiral, which ultimately (according to Nori) led to polarization in Japan. The relatively high-income group continued to live a life of luxury and extravagance, while ordinary people settled down with low desires, not dating, not marrying, not having children, and not consuming, which became the mainstream lifestyle for ordinary Japanese people.

This is precisely why the marriage market in Japan has become more extreme and chaotic. Many Japanese women, in order to achieve "upward mobility," are completely indifferent to sharing a partner with other women. For them, as long as they can find a truly high-performing partner, it is much better than monopolizing a worthless one.

But women who are already quite accomplished don't need to climb the social ladder in this way; they can do it on their own merits. And that's precisely why the more successful a woman is, the less likely she is to share her partner—that's the harsh reality.

Machida Sonoko is currently in a limbo, neither particularly good nor bad, and doesn't know what to do next.

Chapter 90. A Decision That Matters to One's Lifelong Happiness

Machida Sonoko downed her drink in one gulp, sighed, and said, her attention no longer on the television: "To be honest, I really envy Xiaoshi for meeting you, Li Weijun. She's so young and so talented. Only someone like Xiaoshi is qualified to be by your side, Li Weijun. As for the other two girls, although I don't know their specific situations, they must be so outstanding that ordinary people can only look up to them, to be able to rival Xiaoshi."

“Sister Yuanzi, you don’t need to talk about yourself like that. A beauty like you, if you just show the slightest bit of desire, many men will fall at your feet,” Li Wei said.

"But, Li Weijun, you're not in this, are you? If it's not you, then it's completely meaningless. It's a pity that I met you, Li Weijun, too late. If I were ten years younger, I might have had the courage to compete with Xiao Shi. Now... I can only watch."

Machida Sonoko shrugged and gave a self-deprecating smile. Compared to the youthful and invincible Kasumigaoka Utaha, she, a "mature woman" nearing thirty, naturally didn't have much of a competitive edge, at least in her own eyes.

“There are always exceptions to everything. Ordinary people must abide by the rules of the game in society, but some special individuals, as long as they are not too high-profile, can be above the rules,” Li Wei said.

Hearing Li Wei's pointed remark, Machida Sonoko fell into thought. After a while, she looked at Li Wei with deep eyes; she probably already knew what Li Wei wanted to do. Although Li Wei hadn't said it explicitly, his words just now were a statement from him to her, and all she had to do was wait for Li Wei to fulfill his promise.

"It's possible to do this?" Although Machida Sonoko is already a member of a family that has won at life, she is the kind of person who grew up in a normal social environment and has always followed the rules since childhood. She has never thought of breaking the rules.