Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

Tachibana raised her head slightly, her eyes blurry with tears.

Hideaki continued, "Because Ayako is pretty, has a good figure, and knows how to be grateful and give back, and she gave me so much money, I'm not at a loss."

Tachibana's closed lips trembled as she parted slightly, then closed again. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she closed her tearless eyes, her head drooping as if drained of all strength. She mumbled, "Whatever makes you happy... Well, then I can only cry for our future..."

"You have even less reason to cry about our future."

Tachibana slowly raised her tear-streaked face again.

Hideaki counted on his fingers and continued, "I'll take the money from her, and then I'll take you to buy Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci, Dior, Fendi... go to Wako Department Store to buy jewelry and diamonds... go to Mitsukoshi Department Store to buy jewelry and watches... and also to Shiseido beauty salons and cosmetics, eat omelet rice and curry rice at Michelin-starred restaurants, and eat top-quality sushi at Kyubey... right?"

With each count of Hideaki's fingers, Tachibana's gaze twitched. Finally, she stiffened her neck, turned to a cluster of luxury stores in the distance, then slowly turned back, her face contorted with conflict and pain. She covered her face and said:

"I don't think what you're doing is right."

"What's wrong with that? She knows you're my girlfriend, and she knows I'll spend money on you. This Chanel outfit you're wearing is..."

"No, stop talking, I... I really want to tear this dress off..." Tachibana hesitated, tugging at the hem of her skirt, but didn't dare to tear it too hard—it was just too expensive. She asked softly, "Does she... does she like you too?"

"I don't know about that. It's hard to define when it comes to feelings. There are too many people who change their minds."

After all, according to the mainstream ideology of today, everyone's outward appearance is a carefully crafted skin. Peeling back the skin reveals the same "evil." It's just that many people have never had that skin peeled back and have lived their whole lives wrapped in "Schrödinger's skin."

"So, do you like her?"

"Not bad. Didn't I just say? She's good-looking, has a great figure, and knows how to give back, plus she gave so much money..."

"Stop, stop talking, let's change the subject!"

Tachibana covered her ears with both hands, not wanting to discuss Ayako with him anymore. Hideaki's indifferent attitude made her, as his girlfriend, feel utterly undignified, as if she were being forced to sell herself for a luxurious lifestyle.

Tachibana's thoughts were in complete disarray. After sorting them out for a while, she finally remembered her earlier question, looked up at Hideaki's face, and asked, "Can you tell me why you live under someone else's identity?"

“If I had my own identity, I certainly wouldn’t need someone else’s. I’m not stupid, why would you ask such a silly question?” Xiuming said casually, glancing at his watch, pulling Tachibana along and walking towards the restaurant across the street. “Our reservation time is almost up, let’s go into the private room first and chat while we eat.”

Ginza Kyubei, as one of Japan's top sushi restaurants, is favored by political and business elites and is a must-choose place for entertaining guests.

At Kubei, the premium eel bento box is the go-to choice for inviting important clients. It not only demonstrates sincerity and respect but also adds prestige. It's usually difficult to book during mealtimes, especially lunchtime (the lunch eel bento box is cheaper than the dinner eel bento box, even the wealthy feel the pinch).

It's unclear whether Suzuki used his own money or went through the company's accounts.

"Then...can you tell me your former name?"

The two walked to the restaurant entrance, and Tachibana asked in a low voice.

"Another stupid question. I didn't even have an identity before, so how could I have a name... Room 1314."

Tachibana opened her mouth, then pressed her lips tightly together.

Xiuming handed the reservation order to the welcoming waiter, and the two followed the waitress in a floral kimono to the private room.

The interior design is purely Japanese, featuring sliding doors, low tables, and private room staff.

Because it was a pre-booked reservation, Xiuming arrived at the restaurant right on time. As soon as the two sat down, the young female waitress quietly asked if they were ready to eat.

Then, two waitresses came in carrying black lacquered wooden stacked lunch boxes with a rather dignified and luxurious style, placed them on a small table, and opened the lids in an orderly manner.

The waiter explained the "three ways to eat eel" while plating dishes and handing chopsticks to Hideaki and Tachibana...

Grilled eel with a crispy skin, tender and succulent flesh, and a perfectly balanced sweet and savory sauce...

You know what, you really shouldn't believe it.

Xiuming finished eating and used a toothpick to clean between his teeth.

Tachibana was still eating in small bites, putting a little fish into her mouth, glancing at Hideaki with her eyes half-closed, chewing twice, then picking up a little more fish with her chopsticks, putting it in her mouth again, glancing at him again, repeating this process over and over again, as if she had endless grievances to express, or as if she was planning some decision in her mind.

"I've picked out all the fish bones, so eat it in big bites. Fish tastes better when you eat big bites." Xiuming said, tossing the toothpick into the stacked lunchbox.

"It doesn't taste good at all."

Tachibana only ate half of it before throwing her chopsticks on the low table and glaring at Hideaki like a sulking child.

Xiuming took her chopsticks and pulled the lunchbox in front of him. "Shall I eat?"

Tachibana moved her lips, tilted her head, and said, "If you don't mind the mess, then eat it..."

Xiuming walked around the low table and sat down next to her. He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and brought it to her lips. "This high-class eel lunchbox shouldn't be wasted. You've eaten too little. Eat some more, and I'll eat the rest."

The fish was pressed against her lips, and Tachibana had no choice but to open her mouth and bite into it. She stole a glance at Hideaki, and her hand, hidden at her side, unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt. She said, "I, I think you, you don't like me."

During the meal, she secretly sorted out the questions about Riko, but Hideaki had completely glossed over them by subtly changing the subject. How could someone like two people at the same time?

According to "The Guide to Dating," when a boy falls in love with a girl, he is devoted to her and will have no interest in other girls, and may even dislike talking to them.

Tachibana silently reflected on her current state, and it was just like that. She had no feelings for any other men right now. At work, she would avoid male colleagues who were overly attentive to her and didn't want to talk to them.

This is true for young men and women in their first love.

“No.” Hideaki picked up another piece of fish and held it to Tachibana’s mouth. After she took a bite, he continued, “Your definition of liking someone is different from mine, which is why you mistakenly think I don’t like you. It’s a bit cheesy, but that’s the truth.”

Tachibana's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively asked, "Really?"

“Of course it’s real! Otherwise, why would I spend so much money on you? Buy so many designer brands? Here, have another bite,” Xiuming continued after Tachibana took a bite of fish. “Look, I’m even feeding you, indulging your little whims and satisfying your little vanity. If other women did this, I would have slapped them across the face long ago.”

"I..." Tachibana froze, her wide eyes glazed over. "You...you're clearly my boyfriend, yet you like Riko, and you might even like Ayako, whom I hate..."

"Look at society now, you girls are all so materialistic, so focused on money. A successful person once said that if all women's criteria for choosing a man was that he had to be able to recite Tang and Song dynasty poems, then the vast majority of men in society would be able to recite them perfectly. But if all women's criteria for choosing a man was that he had to be rich, without considering his character... You see, that's exactly what I am. Actually, I'm a total simp! I've been forced into this state by women. Is it my fault?"

Chapter 115 Forgot about time...

“But…” Tachibana stammered, her lips trembling, “I didn’t force you! You, you can’t do this to me…”

"Oh right, you're an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire!" Xiuming used black bamboo chopsticks to scoop a piece of fish into his own mouth, then picked up another piece and held it to her lips, chewing as he said, "Blame it on you being too cute, making me like another one. Here, have another bite..."

"Is it wrong for me to be cute...? No, stop feeding me!" Tachibana was both embarrassed and annoyed. Why did they have to praise her for being cute at a time like this? She wasn't happy at all... "You annoying, fickle guy, saying it so confidently, don't you have any shame?"

"What's the point of having a sense of shame now that I'm rich?" Xiuming put down his chopsticks, picked up his orange juice glass, and brought the rim to her lips. "After all, everyone admires rich people. Once I become a celebrity, even my farts will smell sweet. I'm even planning to publish an autobiography called 'Making Money, But Ruining One's Character.' Do you think anyone will buy it? It'll definitely be snapped up like crazy!"

"You..." Tachibana hesitated for a long time, not knowing how to retort. She subconsciously took a sip of the orange juice that was offered to her lips, but regretted it as soon as she swallowed it. She angrily pounded her leg and shouted, "You're rich, so what if you're so great!"

“I’m not only rich, but I’m also a bad person.” As Xiuming said this, he gently placed the chopsticks horizontally into the stacked lunchbox with both hands and slowly closed the lid. “But I’m not proud at all, after all, this is the kind of person I hate.”

He handled himself with such care, as if he were handling a precious, fragile object—he clearly didn't care what he said, as if it were nothing but nonsense.

He showed absolutely no remorse whatsoever.

"You..." For the first time in his life, Li Hua felt a violent urge, wanting to clench his aching fist and smash it into his face, to break his nose. He hesitated for a long time, but still couldn't bring himself to do it. He angrily punched the straw mat cushion beside him and shouted, "Then tell me! How do you define 'like'?"

"I'll spend money on whoever I like." Xiuming's expression was incredibly smug. "Of course, it's not just any woman I can like. You're pretty good. Since we've finished eating, let's go buy some jewelry! I'll pay for it."

Tachibana is so thin-skinned that Hideaki almost burst out laughing.

"You, you, you..." Tachibana panicked and lost her composure. Her mind went blank, and she suddenly stood up, punching Hideaki in the face with her clenched fist, making him stagger.

The entire private room suddenly fell silent.

Everyone was stunned. The young waitress in the kimono widened her eyes and covered her mouth with her hands.

Xiuming propped himself up on his arms and sat up straight, then touched his face, which hurt a little... He blinked, looked up, and said, "I'm your boyfriend, and this is how you treat your boyfriend?"

If it were Riko, she would never do such a thing. She even has violent tendencies. We have to move her seat back and have her sit at the same table as Ayako.

"I...I was so angry..." Tachibana's pent-up anger dissipated, and she pulled out a tissue to hand to Hideaki, stealing a glance at his face. "If you, you, if you don't like other women anymore, I, I won't hit you anymore..."

Hideaki's incredulous expression gave Tachibana a strange feeling that Hideaki seemed to have backed down... She wanted to apologize, but subconsciously didn't want to appear weak...

"You're really arrogant..." Hideaki took the tissue Tachibana handed him, about to wipe his face, but then realized he hadn't been hit and wasn't bleeding, so he just crumpled it into a ball and threw it at Tachibana's forehead. "I won't change! Everyone says love is free, so what if I like a few women? I work so hard to earn money so I can like a few more, right? Otherwise, what's the point of all that money? Can you even spend it all by yourself? You're so selfish!"

"I...I want to break up with you..." As soon as Tachibana finished speaking, she felt all her strength drain away and sat down heavily on the cushion, suddenly feeling a heavy weight in her chest.

She regretted it.

"If we break up, we'll break up, but you'll regret it."

"I..." Tachibana wanted to slam her head on the table, but seeing Hideaki's face, she wanted to hit him again... Tachibana forcibly held back, suppressing her heartache, and said loudly, "If you don't change, I, I will never regret it!"

“In that case, let’s go through a ‘cooling-off period’ for now! That is, let’s not break up for the time being,” Xiuming said, picking up his black briefcase containing company documents and standing up. “Go back and think it over carefully. When you’ve figured it out, come back and apologize to me. Then I’ll see if I can spend money on you again.”

It's about time; I should go check out Game Freak Studios.

Seeing her pale face and trembling body, as if she were about to faint at any moment, I gave her a way out so she wouldn't collapse.

"Then I'll listen to you for now..." Tachibana breathed a sigh of relief and quickly accepted the offer.

She couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if they really broke up. After all, she was now his "rightful" girlfriend, and other women were just third parties... But Xiuming's indifferent attitude made her heart ache. "I, I'll ask you one more time, do you, do you like me?"

“I’ve spent money on you.” Hideaki opened the sliding door, gesturing for Tachibana to come out, and then said, “Money is my life.”

"Oh……"

Tachibana was secretly pleased; he seemed very sincere and probably cared.

The dating guide says that whoever gives in first loses. Although I accidentally gave in just now, he seems to be giving in too. I need to learn to push him and make him admit his mistake...

The two walked out of the restaurant.

Tachibana silently recalled the tug-of-war techniques in "Love Strategy," the first of which was "silent treatment"—whoever spoke first lost.

Hideaki was taking the train to Chiyoda Ward when Tachibana followed him like a ghost, asking, "Aren't you working this afternoon? If you're not, come with me on a sales trip and broaden your horizons."

Ha~ He lost! Tachibana couldn't suppress her smile, tilting her chin up as she said, "Are you inviting me?"

"What kind of weird habit is this?" Xiuming frowned, raised his hand and tapped her on the forehead, then turned and left. "Go if you want, or don't."

Tachibana froze for three seconds before reacting. Hideaki was already far away. She stomped her foot and shouted, "I'm not going! I want to...break up...with you... Humph...I won't break up..."

She was worried that Xiuming would hear her, huff and puff, and go to the company in a huff.

As soon as I got back to the office area, the elevator doors opened and a large group of people swarmed around me.

Tachibana stood frozen at the elevator entrance, completely bewildered.

"Wow~ Tachibana-chan! Your dress is so pretty~ Did your boyfriend buy it for you?"

"It's the latest Chanel model; I checked the price, it seems to be around 170 million yen~"

"Your boyfriend is amazing..."

The group of female colleagues was bustling about, their faces flushed with excitement, their eyes shining with undisguised envy and a strange joy.

"You guys?" Tachibana asked instinctively, but didn't know what to ask.

"Everyone, please don't crowd around the elevator! Quick, please ask Tachibana-chan to sit down... coffee! coffee! Shoulder massage..."

Tachibana was surrounded by a group of inexplicably excited female colleagues and sat down at her original workstation.