Elf: Rewriting the script, starting with Black Stocking Hanako

Hanako's lips curled into a smile upon hearing this.

She leaned close to Joey's ear, her voice low but carrying the calm composure of someone who had been through it all.

"method?"

Hanako chuckled softly.

"Joey, let me tell you the truth."

"When I was with Jiang Chuan, no one taught me any methods."

"He's just bold."

"Extremely daring."

Joey looked up at Hanako.

Hanako's gaze became somewhat distant, as if she were recalling some past events, and the smile on her lips deepened.

"Back then in Pallet Town, he woke up in the middle of the night and said he wanted to drink water."

"In the end, they even came to my room."

Hanako paused here.

Her tone carried a hint of reproach, yet also a touch of sweetness.

Do you know how daring he is?

Joey shook his head, but his eyes remained fixed on Hanako.

Hanako pursed her lips, her voice becoming even softer.

He was standing right in front of me, looking at me.

"He didn't say anything either."

"Just watch."

"My heart was pounding. I wanted to ask him what he was doing there, but before I could even speak, he leaned down."

"His hand was on my waist, and through the thin layer of my nightgown, the heat of his palm made me tremble all over."

I pushed him, but he wouldn't budge.

Hanako leaned close to Joey's ear and, mimicking Jiangchuan's tone, said those sweet words.

When Joey heard this, he felt as if he had been electrocuted, the numbness spreading from his ears to the soles of his feet.

She instinctively shrank back, but Hanako held her arm, preventing her from escaping.

"At the time, I thought, how could this person be so bold?"

"But I only understood later."

"If he hadn't been so bold, none of what happened between us might have ever happened."

Hanako gently patted Joey's shoulder with her fingers.

"So, Joey."

"If you ask me for my method, my method can be summed up in just four words."

"Be direct and bold."

Joey bit her lip, her fingers gripping the cup tightly.

Hanako's words were like a key, unlocking a drawer in her heart that had been locked for a long time.

The drawer was filled with her secretly hidden thoughts, her unspoken desires for Jiang Chuan.

But there is still one problem.

A question she dared not ask aloud.

Hanako could tell from her hesitant expression that she had already guessed most of what was going on.

"Are you trying to ask me and Xiaoxia what our opinion is on this kind of thing?"

Joey suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Hanako smiled.

"I've been there, and I can tell you're wearing your little thoughts on your sleeve."

Joey lowered his head, his voice muffled.

"I...I know this isn't right."

"You've been traveling around Jiangchuan for so long."

"What am I compared to this?"

"Wouldn't it be too awkward to just barge in like that?"

Hanako pulled her closer.

"Joey, you can't say that."

"Then let me ask you!"

"What do you think holds a large family together?"

Joey thought for a moment.

"Based on feelings?"

Hanako nodded, then asked again.

"Is one person's feelings enough?"

Joey shook his head.

"A person's emotions are always limited."

"But what if there are more people?"

"With more people supporting us, more people contributing, and more people working together to push this family forward..."

Hanako's voice was gentle and soft, but every word she spoke was firm and resolute.

"What's wrong with that?"

Joey was stunned.

Hanako continued.

"This is not just my opinion."

"Xiaoxia thinks so too."

"Jiang Chuan thinks so too."

"This is our shared philosophy of coexistence among the three of us."

"It's nothing shameful."

Joey's eyes felt slightly hot.

Hanako saw her expression and knew that her words had struck a chord with her.

But this is not enough.

She needs a more compelling example.

Hanako picked up her glass, took a sip of juice, and her tone became more casual.

"Actually, there has been a precedent before you."

Joey blinked.

"precedent?"

"Um."

Hanako nodded.

"You know the Gym Leader of Saffron City, right?"

"Naza?"

"Yes, Naz."

Joey's pupils dilated slightly.

Hanako continued with a smile.

"There's one more, someone you might know better."

"Miss Officer Jenny."

Joey froze completely.

"Miss Officer Jenny?"

Her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

"Which Officer Jenny?"

"Officer Jenny of the Wilderness District".

"It's not the one from Crimson Lotus Island, don't be nervous."

Hanako patted the back of her hand.

But Joey was far from calm.

Even if it's an Officer Jenny from another place, it's still Officer Jenny.

Like the Joy family, the Officer Jenny family is a very important force in the League. The girls in the family receive almost the same education and follow the same rules from a young age as she did.

Officer Jenny has joined too?

Even someone like Officer Jenny can set aside her pride and break free from constraints to pursue what she wants.

Joey's fingers trembled slightly.

It's not because I'm afraid.

It was because of an excitement I had never felt before.

The thing that had been weighing on her heart all along, the heavy shackles called "Joey Family," suddenly felt lighter at this moment.

Miss Officer Jenny can do it.

Then she's Joey.

Is it possible to do that?

Hanako saw the light in her eyes and knew she had struck the right spot.

"So, Joey."

If you want to do it, then do it.

"No one will stop you."

"No one will look down on you."

"On the contrary."

"You are welcome."

Joey turned his head and looked at Hanako.

The tears welling up in her eyes finally spilled out, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

"Hanako-nee..."

"Thank you, I understand."

"I want to do it, and I know how to do it."

Hanako smiled and nodded.

"It's okay."

"It's all as it should be."

She casually added a comment.

"We're family."

Joey was taken aback.

"Huh? A family?"

Hanako's smile froze for a moment.

But she's a woman who's seen it all, and she quickly resolved this minor mistake.

"Ah, I mean..."

She patted Joey on the shoulder, her gentle, encouraging smile returning to her face.

"Go for it, Miss Joey."

Follow your heart.

Joey looked at her and nodded vigorously.

The hesitation and timidity in his eyes were gone.

Instead, there is a sense of certainty.

A firm conviction that comes from having made a decision.

When dinner was completely over, Xiaoxia came back from the balcony with her full stomach. Togepi was still snoring softly on Hanako's lap, while Pikachu and Eevee were nestled on their cushions, refusing to move.

Jiang Chuan paid the bill and led the three women out of the store.

The lights on the hot spring street were still bright, and the sea breeze on my face carried a slightly salty dampness.

Jiang Chuan walked in front, Xiao Xia followed beside him, and Hua Zi walked behind with her arm linked with Joey's.

Joey didn't say much along the way, but her gaze kept falling on Jiang Chuan's back, intentionally or unintentionally.

Hanako saw it all, a smile playing on her lips, but she didn't say anything.

Jiangchuan's pre-booked hot spring hotel is located at the end of the hot spring street, nestled against the cliffs by the sea, making it the best-located hot spring spot on the entire Honglian Island.

The wooden gate leads to a dry landscape garden with neatly arranged pebbles, the light from the lanterns casting a warm yellow glow.

After passing through the courtyard and walking along a corridor, you will arrive at a separate hot spring area.

This area was leased by Jiang Chuan, so it offers excellent privacy.

There are two spring pools in the courtyard, one large and one small, both built with natural volcanic rocks. The edges of the pools are paved with smooth pebbles, and the rising steam creates a thin layer of white mist in the night.

The men's and women's pools are located on either side of the courtyard, separated only by a row of low green bamboo. They are not really screens, but rather just for show.

Unlike last time when we had to put up a curtain, this time it's much more spacious.

Jiang Chuan changed into a yukata and went down to the men's pool first.

The spring water was at the perfect temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, with a faint sulfur smell. Soaking in it made all the pores on my body feel relaxed and refreshed.

He rested his arm on the stone by the pool and looked up at the starry sky.

Red Lotus Island is far from the mainland, and the night sky is exceptionally clear, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky like a river paved with broken silver.

He was feeling quite comfortable.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

It was very light, stepping on the cobblestones, but Jiang Chuan had the power of wave guidance, so even without sound, he could sense it.

Jiang Chuan turned around.

Miss Joey was standing there.

She changed into a plain white bathrobe with a light pink belt around her waist. The neckline was slightly open, revealing a small patch of her fair collarbone.

The humid mist swirled around her, making her figure appear somewhat hazy.

Her hair wasn't completely down, but it was loosely tied into a bun at the back of her head, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears, damp with moisture and clinging to her cheeks.

Her face was red.

Jiang Chuan glanced at her and knew she wasn't on the women's pool side.

He raised his hand and kindly pointed to the other side of the yard.

"Miss Joey, your pool is over there."

You've gone to the wrong place.

Joey didn't move.

She stood there, her hands clasped together in front of her, her fingers twisting the end of her belt, twisting and loosening it repeatedly.

His lips were pressed tightly together, as if he were struggling with himself.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Chuan withdrew his hand from mid-air.

Oh?

He raised an eyebrow slightly, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Something's going to happen tonight.

really.

Joey took a deep, rapid breath, as if to bolster his courage.

She lifted her foot and took a step forward.

Another step.

The walk was unsteady.

Stepping on the cobblestones, my feet slipped a little, and my body swayed slightly.

She slowly approached the edge of the pool, stopping just two steps away from Jiang Chuan.

Those eyes lifted up and looked at Jiang Chuan.

His eyes were misty, glistening with tears, and held a kind of unwavering determination that only appears after making a great decision.

"I know."

Her voice was very soft.

"I didn't go to the wrong place."

Jiang Chuan leaned against the pool wall, looking up at her, the smile on his lips undiminished.

"Oh?"

Joey took another deep breath.

"I...I came here to find you."

I want to ask you a question.

Jiang Chuan looked at her with a smile.

"What's the problem?"

"Go ahead and ask."

"Miss Joey."

Joey stood there, the hem of her yukata swaying gently in the hot spring breeze.

Her hands gripped the end of the belt so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She remembered what Hanako had said.

I recall those direct and bold words.

I was reminded of things that Officer Jenny could do.

She exhaled.

Then he raised his eyes and looked directly into Jiang Chuan's eyes.

That night.

"You said you'd give it a try."

"What exactly... are we going to try?"

Even Joey himself found it unbelievable when he said those words.

She actually said it.

She actually said those words to Jiang Chuan's face.

Jiang Chuan's eyes lit up when he heard this.

I was pleasantly surprised.

That night, Joey's drunken escapades were interrupted by a phone call.

He thought that Joey's good opportunity to get drunk had passed, and that the matter would just be over.

Unexpectedly, Joey took the initiative to bring the topic back.

He quickly realized what was going on in his mind.

Hanako and Joey went out alone for quite a while during dinner.

After returning, Joey kept her head down, her ears red, and dared not look at him.

It seems Hanako has struck again.

Hanako-neechan, oh Hanako-neechan.

You're really good at providing assists.

Jiang Chuan mentally gave Hanako a thumbs up.

But on the surface, he did not show the slightest urgency.

He did not answer Joey's question.

He simply raised his hand and beckoned to Joey.

"Come here, I'll tell you."

Joey bit her lip.

A faint white mark appeared on her lower lip from being bitten, but it quickly regained its color.

She took a step.

One step, another step.

Walk to the edge of the pool.

We walked to a place just an arm's length away from Jiangchuan.

Jiang Chuan watched her feet step on the stones by the pool and silently activated a sliver of his superpower.

A very light trace.

So light that no one would notice.

Joey suddenly slipped.

"ah………"

She gasped and leaned back.

Jiang Chuan instantly stood up, wrapped an arm around her waist, and firmly embraced her waist.

Then gently pull it along.

Joey was dragged into the pool by him.

With a thud.

Water splashed up, wetting Joey's hair and her bathrobe.

She flailed around in the water in a panic, her hands instinctively grabbing Jiang Chuan's shoulders.

Warm water flowed over her lower abdomen, over her waist, and gently rippled across her chest.

She was held tightly in Jiang Chuan's arms, so close that she could smell the faint scent of spring water on him, mixed with his unique masculine aroma.

Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode.

"What...what are you doing!"

Joey looked up at Jiang Chuan with a panicked expression.

Jiang Chuan looked down at her, a smile playing on his lips.

"To answer your question!"

Joey's heart raced even faster.

"what?"

"Should we...should we be in the hot spring pool?"

Her voice was trembling.

His body was trembling.

Jiang Chuan didn't loosen his grip on her waist, but raised his other hand and gently patted her side.

That position is right below the ribs, at the thinnest and most supple part of the waist.

His fingertips traced a small circle on her waist through her damp bathrobe, the pressure very light.

But Joey went completely limp.

"Yes, it's alright. There are hotel rooms available later."

Joey's pupils dilated instantly. What happened next?

She was actually somewhat prepared for the answer to the question.

She thought Jiang Chuan would only give a perfunctory answer.

But now it seems.

It seems we need to delve deeper into this question.

Joey bit her lip, her fingers gripping the fabric of Jiang Chuan's bathrobe tightly.

Her eyelashes were trembling.

Her lips were trembling.

But her eyes did not dodge Jiang Chuan's gaze, nor did she back down.

There was tension, fear, and shyness in it.

But there's also a kind of unwavering determination to go all out.

She remembered what Hanako had said.

"The same kind of sweetness, if you don't taste it when it's placed in front of you, may have already expired by the time you want to taste it."

She didn't want it to expire.

She didn't want to regret it later.

She's here tonight.

They were determined to come and taste this sweetness!