Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

If not, how should we address it?

Riko wanted nothing more than to hang up the phone immediately and run outside to ask Hideaki: "As your wife, how should I get along with your girlfriend? What should I call her when we're together?"

"Right, right! Let me tell you, Hideaki-kun made 9000 million yen yesterday!"

Riko stammered a soft, surprised gasp, so gentle and comforting that it made Tachibana, who felt a sense of pride, feel lightheaded, as if her pores were open.

I couldn't help but want to chat with her a little longer.

But what common topics could they possibly have? It could only be her boyfriend, since she knew him too!

"Wow, really? That's amazing!"

She must love my husband very much... It's a pity my husband is a jerk.

This forced her into becoming the other woman, and he even threatened to dump her... If she knew the truth, she would be very sad...

If my husband abandons me, I will not be able to live... Will she feel the same way?

Riko didn't care at all how much money Hideaki could earn.

What she cared about most was relationships; while she was worried about other things, she verbally agreed with the topics that Tachibana had brought up.

It's true!

Tachibana was immersed in joy and fantasy. She loved that admiring voice. She thought, "She must understand me. I really want to be her friend." "Hideaki-kun is not only good at making money, but he also has a wonderful personality~ He's the kind of person who's usually very domineering, but then suddenly becomes gentle, and even a little mischievous..."

"Uh..." Riko's hand trembled, almost thinking Tachibana was talking about her... She racked her brains for a response, "Wow, that's amazing..."

Riko couldn't help but groan inwardly: I really don't know how to respond, I can only brush her off with "Wow, that's amazing"... Honey, are you done with your work? Come save me... I don't know how to face her...

"Yes, yes!" Tachibana was still basking in her joy. "Let me tell you, not only is Hideaki-kun handsome, but I heard he also has eight-pack abs... uh..."

Tachibana suddenly shut her mouth.

"Tachibana-chan? Are you alright?" Riko asked softly.

“Although we’re boyfriend and girlfriend, we only officially became a couple last night, and we even talked about it on the phone,” Tachibana suddenly thought of Ayako, and her joy cooled down. She regarded Riko as a close confidante and became worried. “I’m so worried that he will be taken away by another woman… Do you know Ayako?”

"Ah, you've been here before. Did something happen?" Riko wondered, thinking about Ayako's personality. Could she have caused trouble for Tachibana?

“I’m so sad. She told me that Hideaki-kun has eight-pack abs… I’ve never even seen them… I’m the one who’s supposed to be Hideaki-kun’s girlfriend.”

Tachibana, who is naive and has no romantic experience, revealed all her innermost thoughts.

"Really..." Riko breathed a sigh of relief, it didn't seem so serious, but she couldn't help feeling a little guilty, after all, she had counted several times herself. "Perhaps, it was at the gym, or on the beach...?"

Riko was immediately annoyed. Why had she blurted out a lie? Was she worried that Riko would be upset?

“It can’t be like that…” Tachibana thought of the 800 million yen investment, Ayako’s flippant laughter, and what the bald team leader had said: “Excellent men are always coveted by countless women.” “Ayako is so annoying, isn’t she?”

"Ah, yes, yes, I also hate her...show-off attitude... um, yes."

Although it doesn't matter to me anymore, Ayako always flaunts her lewd breasts, and Hideaki likes them too. I don't want to talk to her; we'll never be good friends.

"Uh……"

Tachibana suddenly remembered the aggrieved tone in Riko's voice when she first answered the phone and heard her introduction; Riko must also have a crush on Shumei-kun.

Wasn't her behavior just now just showing off? Ms. Riko must be feeling very upset.

She had patiently listened for so long, and even now, to avoid embarrassing herself, she was only offering hints indirectly.

She was so gentle and considerate; I felt so ashamed...

"Riko-chan, where is the supermarket where you work?"

I'm going to bring a gift and apologize to Riko-chan... I'm going to treat her to a big meal and drinks!

"Get off at Nishi-Shinjuku Central Park Station, it's across from the Tokyo Financial Center in the northwest direction," Riko answered instinctively.

"May I visit you?" Tachibana asked cautiously. "When would be a convenient time for you?"

"Huh?" Riko's heart skipped a beat. Although she didn't know how to face it then, she couldn't bear to refuse such a cautious request. "Anytime is fine, right..."

“We can become very good sisters, right?” Tachibana decided to wait until she had some money before visiting him, as her credit card was already maxed out this month.

"If Tachibana-chan is willing... I'll be very happy too..."

Tachibana's little head can't hold too many things; once it gets too much, her head feels swollen.

Now we have questions like, "What is the relationship between Hideaki and Ayako?", "What is the relationship between Ezaki and Hideaki?", "I want to be friends with Riko", "When is the credit card payment due this month?", "Hideaki is coming to see her at noon"...

After that, I chatted with Riko for a few more minutes on the phone, exchanging blessings, and then hung up.

After hanging up the phone, Riko was stunned for a long time.

I find it unbelievable that I said I would be best friends with Tachibana.

However, since we already have the annoying Ayako, the violent Ezaki, the hardworking Chieko, and the mischievous Eri, that's about enough.

With so many women already, adding her wouldn't be a big deal!

After all, with her husband's personality, he'll definitely attract even more women, while Ms. Tachibana has such a good personality... I wonder what Tachibana-chan will decide?

Should I give my husband some advice? I'm going crazy...

"Chieko-neechan, what should I do if Tachibana-san comes to visit me?"

While Riko was on the phone at the cashier, Chieko, being quite perceptive, stood at the cashier to help customers check out. There weren't many customers at that time, and she was also listening in.

“We should definitely treat her well!” Chieko glanced at Hideaki outside the door. “Anyway, Mr. Yamanaka cares most about Mrs. Riko, so you don’t need to worry about anything. Just treat Miss Tachibana as a friend you just met.”

Chieko was truly surprised by Riko's magnanimity, and couldn't help but secretly rejoice in her good fortune. At the same time, she reminded herself not to become complacent.

"But she would be very sad if she knew the truth!" Riko said worriedly.

"Then let's be friends with her first and keep it a secret. When it gets out, just say that Mr. Yamanaka told us not to tell. He definitely doesn't care about this kind of thing."

Chieko suddenly remembered what happened with Hideaki in the massage room last night. For a moment, she vaguely heard Hideaki praising Riko for giving him a delicate beauty, which he was definitely referring to as Riko herself.

Such blunt words were so embarrassing that he almost fainted. In that case, he might have been happy if he had kept it a secret until he became good friends with Tachibana!

"I should ask my husband, but I'm afraid of upsetting him..." Riko said dejectedly, "I'm so useless..."

“Mrs. Riko, please don’t be sad,” Chieko said sincerely. “You are the greatest in my eyes.”

"Sigh..." Riko sighed softly. She understood everything, but she cared too much about Hideaki.

Outside.

Hideaki finished talking with Hiroshi Akiyama about what he knew about Game Freak Studio and detailed information about Satoshi Tajiri, which was pretty much the same as what Hiroshi Akiyama had said.

He then led Hiroshi Akiyama and Shota into the supermarket.

"Riko-chan, who called just now?"

When Hideaki was outside the door, he saw Riko's expression change several times after she answered the phone, and then she glanced at him several times.

It was probably Tachibana who did it. Did she find out the truth? I wonder if she bullied Riko?

"It was Tachibana-chan calling." Riko maintained her composure even in front of strangers.

"Tachibana-chan?" Hideaki asked in surprise. Was that how he was addressing her?

"Tachibana-chan said that her husband made 160 million yen in futures trading this morning. Nomura Securities and Yamaichi Securities haven't called yet, so he should have made about the same amount, right?"

As Riko spoke, she secretly observed the expressions of Hiroshi Akiyama and Shota. Sure enough, their eyes widened, their mouths agape as if they could fit an egg, and their gazes toward Hideaki were filled with surprise and shock.

Riko immediately understood Tachibana's feelings at that moment, and couldn't help but feel proud and secretly delighted: That's my husband! Isn't my husband amazing? Being my husband's subordinate is really great!

"That's about right," Xiuming said calmly. After all, it was something he had already anticipated, and it was earned through his special ability, so there was nothing to be proud of.

As he spoke, he handed the company information of "Future Co., Ltd." to Riko. "Riko-chan, please process the onboarding for Mr. Akiyama and Shota. I will transfer 100 million yen to your bank account later as an advance of one month's salary for them."

"One hundred million yen?" Riko was stunned for a moment. "What about the rest?"

"Do whatever you want with the rest! Spend it however you like..."

"Uh..." Riko was a little embarrassed; she didn't know what to do.

Shota and Hiroshi Akiyama kept their eyes straight ahead, looking very serious, but their faces were twitching to varying degrees.

Meanwhile, Chieko's gaze was already vacant: How envious I am! Should I borrow some money to improve my family's situation...? But never mind, if I upset Hideaki-kun, I might as well just kill myself...

Riko already had experience handling Chieko's onboarding and insurance payments once, only under a different name.

As for the salary, it wasn't much higher; it was based on the industry's normal standards. Commissions and bonuses will be calculated once the company starts making a profit.

The company's registration is still in progress, and the registered capital deposited into the company account is not readily available. So, we'll use Riko's bank card to advance them one month's salary.

Next, Hideaki will go to Sanyo Securities, and then in the afternoon he will go to Game Freak Studio to see Satoshi Tajiri.

Since Hiroshi Akiyama and Shota have officially joined the company, their salaries will be calculated starting today. Even if there is no work to do, I want to show my loyalty.

Xiuming then sent them to the 28th floor to supervise the construction.

Now that there were no outsiders around, Riko resumed her submissive demeanor and cautiously asked, "Honey, Tachibana-chan said she'll be visiting me... How should I address you in front of her?"

"Call me whatever you want," Xiuming said, putting the new company documents into his black briefcase. "Even if you call me 'that scumbag,' 'that trash,' or 'that beast,' it doesn't matter. That's who I am. I like it when you call me that. A little emotional release is good for my mental and physical health."

As Xiuming spoke, he walked up to Riko and gently lifted her fair chin with his index finger. "Say something, so your husband can hear it."

Chieko, standing next to her, was busy with something, looking down as if it had nothing to do with her.

Riko blushed, tilted her head back, closed her eyes, pursed her pink lips, and whispered in short, sharp words, "Scumbag..."

"That's wonderful, like you're being coquettish." Xiuming ran his thumb across her soft lips. "Call me that tonight."

"Ah~" Riko shrank back, wringing her fingers awkwardly, "Okay..."

Chieko, who was busy at work, twitched her ears and stole a glance at Riko, just in time to meet Riko's pleading eyes.

Her heart pounded, and she swallowed instinctively, feeling nervous for the first time in her life.

But Mrs. Riko asked for help, and even if it meant death, she couldn't be disappointed.

After observing many times, Chieko realized that although Hideaki doted on Riko, Riko was never arrogant and was even cautious and "thinking of danger in times of peace".

Perhaps that's why Xiuming is so fond of her! If it were me, I really couldn't do it.

“Um, Mr. Yamanaka, Mrs. Riko doesn’t want Miss Tachibana to get hurt. When we meet her, can we hide our identities? After you tell her the truth, we’ll say that you forced us to hide it. What do you think? Because Mrs. Riko really wants to be friends with Miss Tachibana, and they had a very pleasant conversation on the phone.”

Riko pursed her lips and nodded gently.

She didn't look at Chieko for help at all; in fact, she couldn't help feeling embarrassed and subconsciously stole glances at Chieko's reaction.

However, Chieko's interruption came at just the right time. She had been so embarrassed by Hideaki's interruption that she forgot what she was supposed to do... Fortunately, Chieko brought the topic back on track.