Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

While Riko was still lost in thought, Sophia walked angrily to the chair, plopped down between Riko and Midori, pulled Riko into her arms, and said to Midori, "If you keep bullying Riko-chan like this, I, I, will have Hideaki deduct your salary."

Sofia almost blurted out "Fire her!", but Umezu Midori seemed quite capable at work, and considering she knew nothing about company operations and had no right to interfere, she could only threaten her. After all, Umezu was bullying Hideaki's sister, and even if Hideaki saw it, he'd be angry. As her sister-in-law, how could I not help? Riko is so kind, she accepts me as her sister-in-law…

“How am I bullying her? I’m just getting close to Riko-chan!” Umezu Midori opened her eyes wide with a smile, then changed the subject and couldn’t help but retort, saying with a grin, “Even if you deduct my salary, it’ll be Riko-chan who tells Hideaki-kun, your word doesn’t count.”

When it comes to this kind of thing, no matter who it is, except Riko, Midori Umezu will not back down an inch. Even if it's Ezaki, she dares to challenge him.

Sofia was stunned, as if she hadn't reacted yet.

Riko, who was being held in Sofia's arms, was also completely bewildered.

Chieko, who was standing to the side, immediately understood. She secretly poked Midori Umezu's lower back with her finger and quickly interjected, "Riko-chan manages the company's finances and is responsible for distributing salaries. Many employees try to curry favor with Riko-chan and hope that she will pay them in advance... Hideaki-kun often considers Riko-chan's opinions. Yes, that's how it is."

Chieko was the clearest-headed of them all. She knew that Riko was always worried about causing trouble for Hideaki because of herself, and had no idea how important she was to Hideaki.

She also gained a general understanding of Midori Umezu's personality and temperament. As long as she didn't make things difficult for her, everything would be fine. Great... Sophia is so naive. If she finds out the truth later... Actually, it's not a big deal. Hideaki-kun will handle it anyway, since Sophia's mother has cooperated...

“Oh,” Sofia nodded blankly, then continued, “Even if you’re trying to please someone, you can’t do it like this. It’s so weird. Can’t you see that Riko-chan doesn’t like it? Seriously.”

Umezu Midori rolled her eyes and was about to speak when Chieko quickly said loudly, "It's lunchtime! Hideaki-kun is out. Shouldn't we go eat? Oh, I'm so hungry."

Riko and Chieko had originally planned to have a meal together after they finished moving Sophia's house, but before they could finish, Sophia's mother went to the hospital, and they didn't even have time to eat lunch.

Xiuming hadn't eaten either, so they decided to eat at the hospital cafeteria.

However, Sophia's mother needs to be taken care of in the ward, so someone needs to stay.

“I’ve already eaten,” Midori Umezu waved her hand and continued, “I’ll take care of Auntie, you guys go ahead!”

Midori Umezu had eaten at Ayako's villa. She ate alone at noon and with Ayako in the afternoon. Since Ayako had swindled her out of 50 million yen, and she figured she would never get it back, she told Ayako that she would give her 50 million yen to buy a bowl of udon noodles she made, and that would be the end of it.

It was quite an effort to test Ayako's attitude. To her relief, Ayako actually made her a bowl of noodles, though she added a lot of vinegar. She gritted her teeth and endured the sourness to finish it.

He even lowered his stance and praised Ayako's cooking skills. Ayako cursed him as "crazy" and ran upstairs, never to come down again.

After Hideaki and the others left, Midori Umezu smiled and pushed open the ward door, taking off her black trench coat to reveal an exaggerated bust size that was only slightly smaller than Ayako's.

“Auntie, Sophia and the others have gone to the restaurant for dinner. I’ve come to keep you company.” Meijin Midori said, hanging her coat on the hanger.

She was still wearing Ayako's clothes: a beige knit top with a loose V-neck, sleeves that went past her fingertips, light and soft, subtly revealing the outline of her underwear. She wore a wrap skirt, a dark brown soft leather piece, a high-slit mid-length style, without stockings, and white flat shoes, also from Ayako.

"How long have you known my womanizing son-in-law?"

Sophia's mother's gaze lingered for a moment on Meijin Midori's exaggerated bust, then swept over her slender waist and smooth legs, filled with a sense of powerlessness, and she thought to herself: "A vixen."

"It's been about three or four years, I can't remember exactly."

Meijin Midori lied through her teeth, moved a small blue plastic chair, and sat down next to the hospital bed. "Auntie, you're amazing! How did you know?"

Meijin Midori chuckled inwardly: She spoke so aggressively and even put herself in her own shoes. She's obviously trying to support her daughter and put me down... Oh well, she's a patient, I shouldn't stoop to her level, lest I get so angry that my stitches come undone.

And since they know everything, they still say this, so they seem quite satisfied with Hideaki… Hideaki-kun is amazing. Should I introduce him to my parents too? Or maybe not, I'm divorced… This is fine as it is…

"Sigh..." Sophia's mother sighed, thinking to herself: I can tell what you're going to say just by looking at your butt. You're trying to please Riko like a lapdog, and you've made a mess of things and become a pervert. You idiot... But I definitely can't say it.

Sophia's mother gently placed her hand, which was still attached to an IV drip, on Meijin Midori's hand and said, "You are a good child, smart and beautiful. Sophia is so silly, I'm really worried that she will be bullied in the future. If I die, can you take care of her for me?"

Just now, when Xiuming went out and opened the ward door, their conversation in the hallway came through. Sophia couldn't beat her, and that silly daughter was quite unfriendly to her.

"what?"

Sophia's mother's sudden change in attitude caught Meizu Midori off guard. It was really difficult for a patient who had just undergone surgery to be entrusted with such a task... Meizu Midori subconsciously looked away and forced a smile, "Auntie, you can live to be a hundred years old, please don't do this. I'm just a nobody, I can't do anything, I've always been so careful, afraid of being kicked out, it's so hard for me too."

Midori Umezu didn't want to take on such a big promise; she just wanted to live her own quiet life.

"Don't be modest, you are the best. Chieko wouldn't dare to offend you."

Sophia's mother's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately realized a bad situation: there were others! How many? Even this woman who could control Sophia so completely was afraid of her, how powerful must she be?

"And then there's the particularly wicked Ayako Miyamoto, who has the audacity to covet Riko's position. Can you even imagine?"

Sophia's mother didn't say anything, but thought to herself: Of course I've thought about it, but unfortunately Sophia is not up to par.

Umezu Midori continued,

"There's also Yoko Ezaki. She's a ruthless female yakuza boss who kills without blinking an eye. Even Hideaki-kun has to treat her with caution, fearing that Yoko Ezaki might bully Riko and break off their relationship."

Sofia's mother paused for a moment, then asked, "What's so scary about her? After all, she could be dumped at any time."

“Isn’t that scary?” Midori Umezu blurted out. “Hideaki-kun cares about Riko the most. He doesn’t care if Yoko Ezaki bullies me.”

“That is indeed quite scary…” Sophia’s mother was slightly worried about her daughter. She only believed a small part of what Midori Umezu said and would only feel at ease if she saw it for herself. “I’m already like this, why would I be afraid of the underworld? I’m not afraid of anyone.”

"There's also Funakawa Yoshiko, who always gives me a sinister feeling. She has a very capable bodyguard, who's incredibly good at fighting... I'm all alone, I can't do anything..."

“But I have no choice. After all, you’re the only one I know,” Sophia’s mother said, holding onto Meijin Midori’s hand tightly. She then played the victim and said, “Can’t you even grant the last request of a dying person? You can lie to me, after all, I won’t live much longer and I won’t know anything after I die.”

Umezu Midori was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead. She got off the small stool, knelt down by the bed, and held Sophia's mother's hand, saying, "Auntie, I really can't protect Sophia. You've come to the wrong person. The one you should be looking for is Riko. Actually, Sophia is doing a very good job right now. As long as she protects Riko, she'll always be safe. You've seen it yourself, that slippery Chieko is doing just that. Riko can't live without her anymore; she consults her about everything... Please, let me go!"

"Sigh, I'm going to die with my eyes open... You can leave now, I want to be alone."

Sofia's mother murmured in a tearful voice, then tilted her head to the other side, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

Meijin Midori is a person of her word, which is a good thing. Whether she agrees or not is irrelevant. At least when she wants to make things difficult for Sophia, she will remember that there is someone here who once entrusted her with something. At that time, Sophia will definitely feel very guilty and restrained.

Before I'm discharged from the hospital, I need to meet all of that brat's girlfriends...

Although Sofia's mother hoped that her daughter would have a proper future while raising her, she has come to terms with things as they have developed, as if it were a blessing from heaven.

Having once worked as a prostitute, she had hoped to meet a kind person who could help her escape her misery. She was quite receptive to this kind of relationship. Moreover, if Sophia hadn't met Xiuming, she probably would have followed in her footsteps.

She worked tirelessly for the first half of her life to support Sophia's education, and Sophia worked tirelessly for the second half to pay for her medical treatment. I can't even imagine how terrible Sophia's later life will be...

"Auntie, please don't do this, okay?" Mei Jinlu was almost in tears when suddenly an idea struck her. She pulled up her leather skirt, revealing a swollen, red handprint on her once pristine buttocks. She continued, "I'll call Ayako and ask her to come over. Please ask her! She's really good at hitting... Look, she beat me up like this..."

Midori Umezu believed she understood Hideaki. Judging from the people Hideaki associated with, their tempers might be a bit bad, but their character was at least acceptable. After all, Riko's personality was completely like a little lamb, and she couldn't let wolves into her home.

Since that's the case, no woman can resist the card Sofia's mother has played. Taking this opportunity, I'll drag Ayako, who swindled me out of 50 million yen, into this mess. It'll both relieve some of the pressure and make her suffer…

Midori Umezu doesn't care about Sophia's existence; as long as she can continue living her simple life with Hideaki, she doesn't mind having a few more.

Judging from the mother's attitude, it can be inferred that the daughter is not aggressive at all. If she continues to bully them, she will soon be kicked out by Xiuming.

Sophia's mother was also stunned. Sophia's delicate skin had been beaten like this... Sophia couldn't withstand such a beating.

"Then give her a call and ask her to come over."

Sofia's mother said calmly that she had also been planning to meet them all: "I don't believe they would dare to hit me..."

(You can check back on December 15th for the limited-time free offer on Qidian.)

Chapter 200 Miyamoto's Brother-in-Law

(Free for a limited time on December 15th, rich people can do as they please)

Midori Umezu ran out of the ward and used a landline at the nurses' station to call the mobile phone that was still in Ayako's bedroom.

When Midori Umezu received Hideaki's call, Ayako had just entered the bedroom. After hanging up, she secretly ran away without telling Ayako.

A moment later, Ayako answered the phone.

"You didn't secretly go to Xiuming to complain, did you?"

At that moment, Ayako was standing in front of the full-length mirror in the dressing room. She was only wearing two white strips of fabric underwear, the kind that Ezaki often wore for custom orders—very narrow and very small. She was holding up a super transparent white silk camisole dress in front of her, comparing it to her body. Her mobile phone was perched on her shoulder, held between her head and arm. She stared at the mirror, tilted her head, and continued, "Even if you told me, I won't pay you back."

She decided to go to see Xiuming that night and pick out her favorite outfit.

Do you know Sophia?

Umezu Midori ignored the problem that could easily break the relationship. Considering that Ayako might not know about Sophia's situation, she started with an opening remark.

"How would I know about her?" Ayako said casually, tossing her white stockings and camisole dress onto the mattress. She then picked up a black stockings and camisole dress, but as soon as she unfolded it, she suddenly realized what she had done, dropped the dress, grabbed her cell phone, and screamed, "Could it be that that womanizing bastard has found another girlfriend?"

"Haha, you guessed right, she's a foreigner, and very cute." Midori Umezu chuckled.

"You don't need to tell me, I can tell just from the name... I'm hanging up now..."

Ayako was so angry her chest trembled. She was about to hang up on Midori Umezu and then call Hideaki to give him the order to get rid of the suddenly appearing Sophia when her finger was just on the hang-up button. She suddenly realized what she was doing, sneered twice, and said, "Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to use me as a pawn? You don't dare to do it yourself, so you're using me to get rid of her, is that it?"

Ayako hated any woman trying to steal her Hideaki, including Riko, Esaki, and even Midori Umezu who was on the phone… She vowed to get rid of them all, including this suddenly appearing Sophia. But being told this by Midori Umezu made her feel like she was being used, which made her very uncomfortable.

She silently planned that once she had driven Sophia away, when Hideaki asked about it, she would say that Umezu Midori had betrayed her, that it was her bad idea, and that she was cunning and treacherous.

As for his actions, he had told Xiuming from the beginning that no matter who he contacted, he would dismantle the house one by one, and Xiuming did not express any objection. This can be considered as having obtained Xiuming's tacit approval.

In other words, if Xiuming really drove a woman away, he had no reason to blame her; the only one to blame was that woman for not being firm enough.

"How could you think like that?" Umezu Midori covered the microphone, and continued in a frank tone,

"I don't mind if Xiuming has several girlfriends. After all, I'm a divorced woman. I'm just grateful that Xiuming accepts me. Unlike you, who are so ungrateful. I'm just concerned about you. You're so petty. What if Xiuming suddenly brings Sophia home and you catch them? If you get jealous and lose control, you might choke her and pin her to the ground. What if Xiuming hates you then? I'm just preparing you mentally. After all, with such big breasts, your brain can't always be that big, right?"

Umezu Midori's barbed explanation left Ayako breathless with anger. The straps of her bra, wrapped around her chest, nearly snapped from her heavy breathing. She rested her right forearm on her chest and took a few more deep breaths.

As expected of the sales manager, I really can't argue with her over the phone. Anyway, she'll be back to stay tonight, so I'll just put her in a chokehold and pin her to the ground... Since she's not afraid of being beaten, I'll just tickle her. There's always a way to work with her.

Ayako's anger subsided considerably after thinking about this, and she didn't want to waste any more time chatting with her, so she asked directly, "Where is she? Tell me!"

"Let me explain first. Sophia doesn't know about our relationship with Hideaki yet. She even thinks Riko is Hideaki's sister..."

Midori Umezu told the truth about the information she knew, selecting the useful details, except that Sophia's mother had just had surgery and wanted to see her, only mentioning that Sophia's mother was hospitalized.

Of course, to prevent Ayako from arriving late, she was also given a subtle reminder that Hideaki, Riko, and Chieko were also at the hospital, but had gone out for dinner. She told them to hurry up if they wanted to come.

Although Ayako is petty and prone to violence, Umezu Midori, through the experience of being beaten by her, has become completely certain that she has a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and every slap she delivers reveals her guilty conscience.

I'm not worried at all about her doing anything outrageous.

Bringing Ayako over was just to share some of the pressure and, incidentally, to let her vent my frustration about being swindled out of 50 million yen.

Sofia's mom is really something, she could definitely make Ayako cry...

"I knew Riko was an idiot... Never mind, let's not talk about her."

Ayako didn't want to talk about Riko behind her back, because as soon as she did, her jealousy would erupt, and there would be nothing good to say. It was better to talk about her behind her back than to talk about her in front of Hideaki and Riko, calling her an incompetent wife who couldn't even control her husband. That would seem more honorable, and she could also make Riko cry, feel ashamed, and make her willingly step down from the front line...

However, she couldn't tolerate Umezu Midori's existence either. She was annoyed just seeing her and continued in a threatening tone, "You just wait! Once I get rid of her, you'll be next. Now tell me where she is!"

"Do you think I'm easily scared?" Midori Umezu snorted twice, then hung up after giving the address and room number.

Tokyo Medical University Hospital is also not far from Ayako's villa; it's only a five- or six-minute walk away.

After throwing away her cell phone, Ayako jumped onto the mattress and started picking out clothes.

If the goal is to compete for a woman's affections and drive her away, then one should dress up beautifully to make the other woman feel inferior, ashamed, and acknowledging her own inadequacy, which would be ideal. Taking action is only a last resort.

To overwhelm her in terms of presence, if she were a foreign girl, she'd probably have a lot of breasts... Xiuming always does so many strange things... she clearly likes it...