Tokyo: Let the wicked women pay the price!

Fujino and Takanashi remained silent, listening to the family members chattering and criticizing Yui.

This also helped them understand the young lady's situation.

"You idiot! You don't understand me at all!" Upon hearing her brothers' accusations, Yukinoshita Yui immediately grabbed a thermos from the small table and threw it at them.

If that thing hit you, you'd probably at least break a bone.

Although Yukinoshita tried to dodge, her movements were no match for the kettle's rapid acceleration.

At the critical moment, Fujino dodged and stopped the kettle in mid-air.

"I understand." Fujino, holding the kettle in one hand, looked at his still-shaken older brother and said in a low voice, "Sir, staying here will only worsen Miss's condition. Let's go outside to talk."

He then gave Kotori a wink, signaling her to steady Yukinoshita Yui.

Koki Takanashi hesitated for a moment before nodding.

......

In the hospital's lounge.

The three members of the Yukinoshita family, with solemn expressions, sat opposite Fujino.

"Dr. Fujino? Let me introduce myself first. I am the current head of the Yukinoshita family, Yukinoshita Heiji, former governor of Chiba Prefecture, and now a member of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly." The old man stroked his long beard. "And also Yui's father."

Fujino took out a notebook and quickly scribbled notes: "However, judging from her age, Ms. Yui is probably... a daughter you had late in life?"

"Not bad." Heiji nodded authoritatively.

The older brother stepped forward and shook hands with Fujino lightly, saying, "I still want to thank you for blocking my little sister's water bottle for me, otherwise I might have ended up in the hospital too."

"I am Kenta Yukinoshita, the eldest son of the Yukinoshita family. He currently works for the Chiba Prefectural Assembly. Nice to meet you."

Yui's second brother interrupted Kenta's self-introduction: "I am Yukinoshita Shota, the second son of the Yukinoshita family, and the president of Yukinoshita Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. Nice to meet you."

Fujino solemnly noted down the names of these high-ranking individuals in his notebook: "And what about Ms. Yui?"

"My younger sister is only a junior in college this year, and she is still studying at Japan Women's University."

Upon hearing President Shota's introduction, Fujino quickly did some calculations: "That means Ms. Yui is 21 years old now, and you and Mr. Kenta are approximately 45 to 48 years old."

Fujino tapped his fingers lightly on the table as he rested his hand on his forehead in thought.

The age difference is too big. Strictly speaking, the two older brothers are old enough to be Yui's sugar daddy.

"Lord Heiji, if I may ask, with sincere eyes, twirling his pen, 'Madam... she's an elderly mother...'"

He saw Master Heiji sigh and say, "A perceptive doctor indeed."

"Shota and Kenta's mother has passed away."

"Yui's mother is my second wife."

Seeing that both young masters nodded, Fujino pursed his lips and imagined a soap opera about a stepmother being disliked by her eldest son at home.

The old man is over sixty, and his two older brothers are in their prime. There's probably also a storyline involving their dislike of their stepmother and younger sister.

However, even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes, and he had no intention of getting involved in such troubles.

Moreover, these three...

Fujino shivered.

Knowing too much will get you encased in cement and sunk into Tokyo Bay.

Suddenly, the door to the lounge was pushed open.

Saki led a beautiful woman into the lounge. She glanced at Fujino, bowed, and left without a word.

Fujino wanted to press Saki for answers, but he had more pressing matters to attend to.

"Hello, ma'am, who are you?"

The woman seemed not to hear Fujino's words, and looked at Heiji with teary eyes: "Master, I didn't teach Yui well, it's my fault."

Fujino circled something on the paper; it seemed this was the stepmother.

The woman suddenly knelt down in front of Heiji, hugged his knees, and cried bitterly.

Shota and Kenta each took one arm and helped their stepmother, who was about their age, to her feet: "Get up quickly, Auntie."

Fujino watched this heartwarming scene of the family with great interest.

Even though they didn't call her "mother," Fujino could tell that Shota and Kenta treated their stepmother with respect.

At least on the surface, that's how it seems.

This may differ somewhat from his soap opera speculation.

"Gentlemen, excuse me for interrupting just a moment," Fujino glanced at his watch and couldn't help but interject, "Let's talk about Ms. Yui's situation first."

Have you noticed anything unusual about her lately?

The four people stared at each other, and said almost in unison.

"certainly."

"It's been like Yui has been hiding something from us since last week."

"This kid is always glued to his phone, I wonder who he's chatting with."

"My younger sister is of dating age, but I haven't interfered with her."

"Yui-chan, she..." Mrs. Yukinoshita's reaction was somewhat unusual. "She pulled me aside and said some incomprehensible things."

She looked up, her face full of worry: "Could this be the reason?"

Fujino's pen never stopped: "Madam, please elaborate."

Seeing that his wife hesitated, he added, "This may be related to Miss Yui's mental state."

"She said..." Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced at her husband and stepson, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "She felt that she had been wronged."

"Feeling wronged?" Fujino squinted. "Where? At home? At school?"

"At home."

"At home?" Heiji's eyes widened, and he slammed his cane heavily on the ground in anger. "At home, who made her suffer any injustice?"

"So young, and already a liar!" He glared at his wife, his beard bristling. "Is this the good daughter you raised?"

"Cough cough cough—"

Seeing this, Shota and Kenta quickly supported Heiji's back and chest, but their words implied that they were trying to exonerate the lady.

"Dad, that child seems to have some mental issues. Please don't be angry with Auntie."

Kenta nodded, then shook his head: "At home... everyone treats her well, feeding and taking good care of her. They don't question her buying luxury goods, and she has plenty of pocket money. How could she be aggrieved?"

Fujino was also somewhat puzzled.

It's really hard to empathize with the young lady's troubles.

But he wasn't a novel reader; he was a doctor.

He had to force himself to think from the patient's perspective.

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the most basic survival needs are definitely not something Yui needs to consider.

The problem might lie on the second layer.

It is also the most common need that teenage girls talk about most often—love and recognition.

Her current volatile temper may also be due to related medical conditions.

After listening to the four men for a while without getting any other useful information, Fujino put away his notebook and said, "Gentlemen, I have a basic understanding of the situation on your side."

"I will have our most professional assistant professor in Kobe diagnose the case, so please rest assured."

"Our department will treat Ms. Yui's condition as the most important matter. We will hold a large meeting to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan."

Upon hearing Fujino's solemn promise, the four members of the Yukinoshita family bowed slightly and expressed their gratitude earnestly.

"I'm counting on you for everything, Fujino-kun."

He stood at the hospital entrance, watching the Yukino family slowly walk away.

Fujimi couldn't help but sigh secretly.

Is this the power of the wealthy?

Even the University of Tokyo Hospital had to put aside other patients and focus on treating them.

If they really can't cure Yui, they'll probably have to pay with their lives for this woman.