Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

As Xiuming reached the main entrance, Shiraishi Hitomi stood at attention abruptly, stammering, and then bowed sharply at a ninety-degree angle, saying, "You, you must have had a long journey."

Perhaps because she had bowed so deeply, her face was flushed red. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and when she stood up a little, her previously excited expression seemed to be trying her best to remain serious. Then, she raised her slender right index finger and touched her glasses frame.

She's starting to look more and more like a teacher; she has a talent for acting.

"Shiraishi-chan, keep up this style, it's fantastic."

Funakawa Yoshiko watched coldly from the sidelines...

"Okay, okay." Shiraishi Hitomi's serious expression stiffened for a moment.

Riko, Chieko, Ai Iijima, and more than 30 employees were all undergoing training on the 28th floor of the building across the street, with Misako as the instructor.

Hideaki didn't want to go upstairs because he needed to go to the hospital to see Katsuya Yagami later; the matter of Jiro Fukai was the priority.

However, before going, I had to satisfy Funakawa Yoshiko's thieving desires and, incidentally, ask for a good review, hoping she's still dreaming about how to learn Jeet Kune Do, which she can never seem to master...

Then, I made a phone call upstairs using the landline at the cashier.

A strange woman's voice, probably a new employee, then passed it on to Riko.

"Riko-chan, come down quickly, your husband has brought you a friend."

"Oh, honey, you're back!" Riko's voice rose slightly in surprise. Then she seemed to whisper "sorry" to those around her a few times, before saying in a joyful whisper, "Okay, okay, I'll be right down..."

While Hideaki was on the phone, Funakawa Yoshiko stared intently at Shiraishi Hitomi, occasionally letting out a cold laugh, which made Shiraishi Hitomi's face turn pale and her fingers twist together, but she still maintained a serious expression.

"Why are you staring at her? Does she owe you money?" Xiuming couldn't stand it anymore. Wasn't this bullying an honest person? This was Riko's employee!

She immediately hung up the phone, pointed to the women's products section, and said, "What are you still standing there for? Go buy your daily necessities, and don't forget to come back and pay her..."

"Ho ho ho..."

Funakawa Yoshiko gave Shiraishi Hitomi the same strange laugh as Ezaki had given her before, and after laughing, she slowly walked toward the shelf area.

Funakawa Yoshiko, having been involved in the yakuza before, didn't seem particularly intimidating standing next to someone like Umezu Midori, who seemed fearless. However, when facing Shiraishi Hitomi, who was just an ordinary citizen, her fangs were revealed.

If she dares to bully Riko, I'll make her pay... First, I'll show her how much I spoil Riko, Xiuming's scheming plan.

Just a few minutes later, the revolving glass doors of the building across the street turned, and the transparent glass panels reflected the sunlight back in.

Riko seemed to be glowing as she trotted out.

Her previously long, curly hair was cut short, becoming a short, ear-length bob that resembled natural curls.

If she puts on a cold face, she should give off the vibe of a powerful career woman.

She wore a black blazer with a turned-down collar, the cut was neat and elegant, and it was slimming and flattering. She paired it with black straight-leg trousers that covered her high heels.

She ran across the one-way street, her little face flushed and her eyes shining.

Xiuming walked to the door and opened his arms. Riko paused, her already rosy cheeks turning even redder. She looked around, head down, and slowly walked towards Xiuming, whispering, "Honey... there are... so many people watching... oh dear~"

Xiuming strode over, picked her up around the waist, spun her around three times, kissed her flushed face, and exclaimed, "Whose lovely wife is this? I've kissed her, she's mine now!"

"Honey...there are so many people, I'm so embarrassed..."

Riko's forehead also turned bright red, and she buried her hot face in Hideaki's neck.

"Why did you decide to get your hair cut here?" Xiuming asked.

“Ms. Ezaki also has short hair. I... I want to learn from her…”

Previously, Hideaki said that he wanted Riko to learn company management from Ezaki, and that their business cooperation would be closer in the future. After careful consideration, Riko finally took Chieko and Misako's advice and cut her hair short.

Misako's reasoning was that short-haired women appear capable and assertive, while Riko was already gentle, and long hair would make her seem too gentle, which might cause some employees to underestimate her...

Chieko agreed with Misako's suggestion...

Of course, in Hideaki's eyes, Riko is cute whether she has short or long hair, and she's all soft and cuddly.

Chapter 172 The Ring

Just as Riko ran out of the revolving door, Funakawa Yoshiko, who was picking out sanitary napkins in front of the shelf, spotted her.

Okay, she's a very cute wife, and her figure is alright... but definitely not as good as...

Uh……

Funakawa Yoshiko instinctively tightened her grip on the sanitary napkin bag.

In terms of figure and looks, they're about the same...

However, when you pay more attention to the temperament they exude,

She looks like someone who's easy to bully, and I can't beat her in that respect.

Funakawa Yoshiko was secretly pleased with herself.

If I give her a cold laugh, will it scare her to tears?

I really want to try it...

Then, when Riko ran up to Hideaki and peeked shyly at him, her heart sank: What was she doing?! How could she be so seductive? That scumbag was grinning from ear to ear…

How did they manage to create such a natural, shy charm...? Could I do that...? I'm afraid not...

Forget it, I'll have to be patient, I'll find an opportunity... to hide Xiuming... I'll show weakness first...

While Funakawa Yoshiko was silently making her decision, Hideaki took Riko's soft little hand and led her into the supermarket.

When Hitomi Shiraishi bowed to greet her, her eyes behind her black-rimmed glasses glanced at Riko's hand, which was being held by Hideaki.

Riko flinched as if by reflex, her face flushing bright red. She lowered her head and bowed to her, saying, "Ms. Shiraishi, please, please don't be so polite. We're all, we're all sisters..."

Even if she cut her hair short and changed into a powerful businesswoman outfit, making her look professional and capable, she still couldn't change her gentle and easily bullied nature.

That won't do. Being too polite to subordinates will only make them take advantage of you.

After all, Riko is already the president of a large company with fifteen chain stores, and the property rights of fifteen prime locations are all under her name, making her worth several billion yen.

What if someone suddenly encounters financial difficulties and asks her for a loan?

After all, people who need to borrow money will first think of honest people who are easy to bully, good-tempered, and easy to talk to.

"Stand up straight!"

Hideaki grabbed Riko's shoulders with both hands and straightened her up. Then he said to Shiraishi Hitomi, "Keep bowing to President Riko and say, 'President Riko, thank you for your hard work. We are grateful for your care. We can never repay your kindness.'"

"what?"

Shiraishi Hitomi opened her mouth, her gaze behind her glasses showing a hint of hesitation: She doing such a childish thing... it doesn't matter, whatever, it's fine, after all, she's getting paid!

The question is, is President Riko sure she can handle it? She's very shy; she'd be incredibly embarrassed and feel ashamed in such a public setting…

But thinking about it carefully, it feels like I'm bullying the president. It's so exciting, but is it really something a cashier like me can do?

Riko tilted her head back, her eyes filled with shame and embarrassment, and whispered with trembling lips, "Honey...no...please don't...it's too embarrassing..."

Of course, after these few days of training, Riko has been able to exude some of the aura of a company president, whether she is holding morning meetings in the supermarket or attending Misako's training class on the 28th floor. She has also become more accustomed to the role of company president and is acting with composure and confidence.

Given his position, the employees not only had no disrespectful thoughts, but were also very grateful and felt lucky to have such an approachable and gentle boss.

However, Hideaki's request is just too childish.

What kind of company president requires employees to shout like that? Isn't that just self-aggrandizement? It's utterly shameless...

"Shout! Shout it!" Xiuming said, taking a step back with a stern face.

He devised a strategy based on his own ideas. Which businessperson isn't thick-skinned? Those with thin skin get taken advantage of.

The reason you feel ashamed now is simply because you have a low threshold for embarrassment.

Why do children laugh so easily? Because they have little life experience, haven't heard many jokes, and have a low threshold for laughter.

Why is it that a virgin's first time is always... huh... unsatisfactory? Because they haven't experienced it. Those who haven't even watched porn, and then they just learn about sex in a sex class, are practically fragile.

This requires training.

Hitomi Shiraishi bent over in a flash, her face flushed red from trying to suppress her laughter. Glancing at Riko's red face, she shouted, "President Riko, thank you for your hard work! Thank you for taking care of me, President Riko! I can never repay your kindness, never repay it! Never repay it! Never repay it..."

As Shiraishi Hitomi finished shouting, she got excited and clapped her hands. Then, the other employees in the store, looking surprised and bewildered, also clapped and shouted.

"It's not over yet... it's not over yet..."

Riko frowned and closed her eyes.

Just bear with it, it'll pass... How embarrassing...

"Okay, okay, stop shouting."

Hideaki discovered that using the training methods he had experienced before to toughen Riko up was completely ineffective; her personality was locked in.

As Riko was about to cover her face and squat down in embarrassment, Hideaki quickly helped her up, then tapped Shiraishi Hitomi on the forehead with a finger and said irritably, "Don't make a fuss, I'll settle the score with you later."

Putting aside the fact that Hideaki instigated it, she was just taking the opportunity to bully Riko; she was almost laughing to tears.

This is the first time I've discovered that this clever little devil is quite mischievous.

Hitomi Shiraishi chuckled sheepishly and whispered, "I'm so sorry, President Riko is just too cute, I couldn't help myself..."

Riko immediately puffed out her cheeks and whispered, "If you keep bullying me like this, I'll deduct 100 yen from your salary."

Her fierce yet endearing demeanor, combined with her approachable nature, is quite appealing.

"President Riko, please, please let me go," Shiraishi Hitomi said, her hands clasped together in a pitiful expression. "I promise I'll never do it again, please~"

"Alright then... this won't happen again..." Riko glanced up at Hideaki with trembling eyelashes, her face seemingly saying, "I'm amazing, aren't I?"

Hideaki raised an eyebrow involuntarily, subconsciously hoping that Riko could handle things on her own when he was not around.

However, I'm probably overthinking it. I'm never not around, so I'll just let her be. From now on, she'll play the good cop, and I'll play the bad cop.

Besides, she used to occasionally act quite poised and graceful, like when she greeted the old lady.

After all, too much control would put unnecessary pressure on her.

“Riko-chan has grown up, and your husband is very pleased,” Hideaki said seriously. Then, he changed the subject, pointed to the women’s products shelf, and under Funakawa Miko’s prying gaze, he slapped his forehead as if he had just remembered, and continued, “Oh dear, look at my brain, I’m so happy to see Riko-chan that I almost forgot about Miko-chan.”

Funakawa Yoshiko tightened her grip on the sanitary napkin bag, pursed her lips, lowered her head, and took small, quick steps to the cashier.

Then, facing Riko, he lowered his head slightly and his eyes fell on the gold ring on Riko's right ring finger. He then extended his right hand and said softly, "Mrs. Riko, hello. I am Yoshiko Funakawa. It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope to work with you in the future."

Funakawa Yoshiko appeared very cautious.

Hitomi Shiraishi, standing behind the cashier, widened her eyes in surprise and shouted in her mind: It's fake! President Riko, don't be fooled by her, she just threatened me.