Tokyo: Starting with taking on his wife's debts

"Don't be so nervous. As long as you listen to me, I won't hurt you. Now, let's work together! Look up at me."

As he spoke, Hideaki got up from his seat, walked around the dining table, and stood next to Riko.

Riko slowly tilted her head back, her reddened eyes filled with fear, like a primary school student who hadn't done her homework being called out by the teacher, or like a thug pointing a gun at her head.

Xiuming continued, "Please tell me more about your deceased, poor husband! For example, his way of speaking, his personality and hobbies, his habits, and how he treated you. I need to imitate him."

"He...he never yells at me." Riko's voice was weak and feeble, as if she was about to burst into tears.

Do you mean I was being mean to you?

"without……"

“I’m glad you think that way,” Xiuming gently patted her shoulder, startling her, and then asked, “Besides this issue of attitude, please continue with the other information.”

"I... I can't remember."

"He's the person closest to you, how could you not remember him? Do you think you've been a good wife?"

"I'm sorry! I really can't remember," Riko cried, clutching her empty rice bowl. "We only lived together for a month after we got married, it's been so long, I can't remember..."

"Weren't you childhood sweethearts? What was he like when you were little? Weren't you college classmates? Didn't he ever write you a love letter?"

"We hadn't talked much, but after graduation he suddenly proposed to me, and I said yes..."

Xiuming suddenly shouted, "You idiot woman! Didn't you check his finances before you got married?"

"Sorry……"

Riko cried out and slid off the chair, collapsing to her knees on the ground.

Sigh! I shouldn't scare her anymore; she looks so pitiful... I'm really worried she'll burst out laughing.

Xiuming rubbed his temples to compose himself, then gently helped her sit down in a chair and said in a kind tone:

"Okay, okay, please stop crying. Let bygones be bygones. Let's look forward and cheer each other on, okay?"

Riko didn't respond; she just lowered her head and sobbed softly.

It looks like we won't get any information out of them...

Xiuming patted her back gently to help her catch her breath and asked softly, "Do you have a wedding video at home?"

Riko continued to cry, wiping away her tears with her head down.

You probably didn't hear that, right?

Xiuming leaned down beside her ear and whispered, "Do you have any DV or AV cameras for recording everyday life?"

To Hideaki's surprise, Riko turned her back to him and continued to cry.

Why does it look like she's being coquettish?

Xiuming, unable to bear it any longer, slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Answer me!"

"Hiccup~" Riko let out a burp in fright, tilted her head back in a daze, and then pointed to the master bedroom with trembling hands, "It's...it's in the bedside table, in the...second drawer..."

She had heard it, but refused to answer.

Has she cried herself silly?

Or was I too gentle, making her forget her situation?

Xiuming almost laughed in anger. He raised his hand, bent his index finger, and smacked her on the forehead. He walked towards the master bedroom, turned back, and said irritably, "Clean up the dining table before I come out, or I'll hit you."

Mrs. Riko was very obedient. Before Hideaki even stepped into the master bedroom, she had already started tidying up. She even broke a plate, which startled her so much that she knelt on the floor, crying as she cleaned up, "I'm sorry..."

The broken plate cut her index finger, but she didn't realize it and kept cleaning up.

Chapter 9 Mr. "Three Good"

Xiuming was taken aback, then took two steps to her side.

Riko covered her face in fright, curled up into a ball, and cried, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to... Please forgive me..."

The blood from her index finger smeared on her face, mixing with her tears as it flowed down her chin.

Xiuming hissed, "Don't move!"

Mrs. Riko was very obedient. Her body trembled, as if she was holding her breath and dared not cry.

Xiuming grabbed her right hand and examined her index finger. At the second joint of the index finger, there was a red crack, like an open, sharp mouth.

These kinds of cuts on joints are not only difficult to heal, but also extremely painful. Fortunately, they weren't very deep and didn't cut any major blood vessels; they were just slowly oozing blood.

She was sitting on the ground, and it's unclear whether she sat on a shard of broken porcelain and pricked her buttock.

After all, she was only wearing a thin pair of wide-leg pants.

This is really killing me...

Speechless, Hideaki had no choice but to put his left arm under her legs and lift her up with his right hand, carrying her into the Japanese-style room and gently placing her on the tatami mat.

Then I unwrapped a band-aid and was about to put it on her finger when I thought back that I should clean and disinfect it first.

Do you have iodine at home? Hello?

Riko was initially trembling with fear when Hideaki suddenly picked her up.

But once inside the Japanese-style room, Hideaki gently placed her on the tatami mat and examined her wounds by pinching her fingers; by then, she had stopped trembling.

Xiuming frowned, sighed, and finally carefully peeled off the band-aid.

She lost her fear and just stared blankly.

Xiuming held up his index finger and waved it in front of her eyes: "Are you stupid?"

"Ah~" Riko's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, still feeling a little dazed. She hadn't heard what he said at all, only that her face was burning hot. "What? What... what are you saying..."

"Iodine solution! Do you have iodine solution?!"

"Ah, iodine? Iodine... iodine, it's in, it's in that little... little box."

Xiuming took out iodine from the first-aid kit and applied it to her wound with a cotton swab, glancing at her suspiciously with a tilted head.

Her face was as red as a monkey's bottom, her eyes darting around nervously, her eyelashes fluttering as she glanced at him before quickly looking away, leaving only her bright red profile and ears visible.

Xiuming wrapped a band-aid around her finger, glanced at her sideways, and asked suspiciously, "Hello?"

"Huh? What? What? What, what happened?"

Did you steal my money?

Riko froze, turned her face back, her eyes filled with anxiety, and said, "No."

"Don't take it seriously, I'm just kidding," Xiuming grinned, holding her hand in his palm and fiddling with her other fingers, asking, "Why do you have so many little cuts on your hands? Did you get them from doing handicrafts?"

Her fingers were slender, and the skin on the back of her hands was delicate and fair, but there were many shallow, tiny wounds on her palms.

"Hmm~"

Riko's hand trembled, as if she reflexively tried to pull it back, but she only twitched it slightly. Whether it was because she remembered the fear of being dominated, the fear of being beaten, or some other reason, she did not pull it back and then it went limp in Hideaki's hand.

She bit her lower lip tightly, lowered her head deeply, and let out that chilling, trembling nasal sound.

Xiuming gasped and quickly tried to distract himself.

A newly made red cloth doll is placed on the tatami mat.

It looks like it's made of a puppy, sewn... um... how should I describe it?

Horrible to look at? Unbearable to look at? Bizarrely shaped?

At least you can tell it's a puppy, which is already pretty good!

"Wow, this puppy is so cute, did you make it?"

Xiuming picked up the plush toy and continued praising it, "You're amazing! If you went into retail and set up a stall, you'd probably have tons of customers! I'd definitely be the first to support you!"

Riko glanced at it, closed her eyes, and whispered, "That's a little tiger..."

"Really? That's quite impressive, considering you managed to turn a tiger cub into a puppy. Could it be... never mind! You're such an idiot."

When I praised her against my conscience, she actually opened her eyes wide and showed surprise.

I fear this kind of person the most...

Xiuming changed the subject and reluctantly threw the tiger dog back.

Riko froze, her surprise still lingering on her face. She lowered her head, covered her face, and let out a muffled groan of grievance.

"I... I didn't want to either... If I can't finish on time, they won't refund the 1000 yen deposit. I rushed to finish it, so it turned out like this... If I had more time, I... I would definitely finish it."

I need to deliver the goods downstairs before 3 PM. It's 1:45 PM now. I'll get 200 yen for each finished product, which is only enough for a one-way train ticket from Shinjuku to Ota.

Xiuming examined the doll again; she was clearly a novice, and there were small needle marks on her hands, which confirmed that she had never touched a needle and thread before.

She is still a strong-willed child.

Xiuming followed up by asking, "Are you sure you can do it well?"

"Of course."

Riko sat up straight, but lacked confidence; she was still a stubborn child.

"How long?"

Riko lowered her head and remained silent for a long while before whispering, "One week... two weeks, I guess..."

"Well, for an idiot, learning it in two weeks is already quite impressive."

Hideaki nodded in agreement, then asked, "What about the 1000 yen? That's our family's money; I'd be heartbroken if we lost it."

Riko's body went limp again, and she lowered her head, saying, "I guess I can only use it as tuition!"

"I'm very pleased that you have this kind of attitude. Hmm... Even though you're an idiot and lost your 1000 yen deposit, I don't care. Shouldn't you give me a 'good review' for my 'magnanimous,' 'noble,' and 'considerate' qualities?"

"what?"

Do I even need to give this a good review? I'm already so upset...

Xiuming's face darkened.

How terrifying… Riko’s heart skipped a beat. “Here you go! I’ll give you a good review!”

Three-Good Achievements Achieved: Exquisite skills in crafting handmade art pieces.