Tokyo: They say it's just dating, but they're serious about it.

“Okay, I’ll try my best. After all, work is more important… Oh, by the way!” Xiaobaihe changed the subject and said, “I still don’t know what your boyfriend’s name is. Since we’re so familiar with each other, it would be too formal to introduce him when we meet.”

“His name is Fugaku, Uchiha Fugaku,” Mikoto said without hesitation, since that was how Katsuhiko introduced himself when they first met.

Eiyo, who was next to him, was still covering her mouth and nose, blinking rapidly. She turned her head to look at Katsuhiko, who was sitting at the long table, and her eyes seemed to say, "Is it you?"

“Such an uncommon surname…” said Xiaobaihe.

"Yeah, it is quite obscure. I was quite surprised when I first heard it!"

Mikoto tightened her grip on the microphone, not wanting to talk about this topic anymore. After all, if she talked too much, she wouldn't remember how she made up the story before, and if she was asked again, it would be easy to make a mistake. So she immediately changed the subject to Katsuhiko and said, "Sayuri-chan, after the welcome party, you're going back to Okubo Apartment with Mr. Takenaka, right? Since you're giving him the cold shoulder, what are you going to do tonight?"

“Of course we’ll sleep separately, and I won’t speak to him until he apologizes.” Sayuri’s tone was very determined.

Mikoto was about to hang up, but after rolling her eyes, she decided to kill the conversation and asked in a low voice with a mischievous smile, "What if he contacts you?"

“No matter what he wants,” Little Lily didn’t quite understand, “we won’t give it to him until he realizes his mistake.”

"But what if he insists? I mean, he just insists, he just insists... Just imagine, what would you do if your husband insisted on having sex with you?"

"Uh..." There was a moment of silence on the phone. Suddenly, Xiaobaihe said loudly, sounding embarrassed and annoyed, "Why are you saying things like that again? It's so annoying, I'm not talking to you anymore..."

The phone went dead.

Mikoto plopped back down on the small stool, leaned back in her chair, let out a long sigh, and said with a vacant look in her eyes, "I feel like I can't hold on much longer..."

"Oh?" Eiyo's flushed face hadn't faded yet. She stared wide-eyed at Mikoto, then pointed at Katsuhiko and asked, "Are you breaking up with that bad guy? Who is Uchiha Fugaku?"

Mikoto smiled, shook her head without answering Eiyo's question, and said, "Sayuri-chan went to learn from Mrs. Kudo because of today's setback. She'll become more and more powerful. You should think about how to protect yourself."

Eiyo secretly touched the booklet. The pressure was indeed quite great. Mrs. Kudo was terrifying, but... careless Kotoha-chan, how did you end up in the front row?

Although she does share a deep bond with Kotoha, for some reason, she feels a secret sense of relief and relief... If she had a choice, she would rather keep Kotoha and push Mikoto out to take the fall.

After all, she was closer to Kotoha, and Mikoto's tone was infuriating, giving off a condescending vibe. She really wanted to put her down.

Of course, now that everyone is gathered together and sees each other every day, this scene is just the beginning. Who knows who will be exposed next to bear the brunt of Sayuri and Mrs. Kudo's bullying rage?

Eiyo had a sudden inspiration and thought of Kanzaki Yumi. When she realized the danger, she would pull Kanzaki Yumi out to take the place of her.

Her mood instantly brightened.

“We’re about the same size, so you don’t need to worry about me.” Eiyo pouted, then continued, “It’s already seven o’clock. When are you going to call Uchiha Fugaku?”

Yingdai guessed that Mikoto had made up a name.

“Didn’t I tell you? I can’t guarantee he’ll come, he’s very busy,” Mikoto shrugged, then asked, “Have you and your cheating boyfriend made up?”

"We broke up." Eiyo glanced at Katsuhiko, tilted her chin up, and waved her hand. "I've found someone better."

"You two still have time to scheme against each other?" Sheng Yan said, leaning back. "I have to leave at 7:30. Time waits for no one."

Yingdai's face stiffened, and she said to Mikoto, "That scumbag wants to stand by and watch, but he's really capable of doing it. I really want to kick him to the curb... Let's talk about this!"

In the current situation, we've encountered a common "powerful enemy," and there's absolutely no chance of defeating them, since they're the legal wife... How frustrating...

Mikoto stopped smiling, rubbed her temples, and said to Katsuhiko, "Sayuri-chan asked me to tell you to bring Kotoha-chan along when you go to the yakiniku restaurant. She said Mrs. Kudo specifically requested her. What do you think?"

“Since my mom specifically asked me to meet my girlfriend, I definitely have to bring her along. Call Qinye quickly and ask her to come over so we can discuss this together.”

"How dare you say such a thing?" Yingdai held her head in her hands, her eyes wide, looking both angry and amused.

Mikoto smiled helplessly and dialed the phone number for Kotoyo's family.

The call was answered after just one ring, and Mikoto turned on speakerphone.

With a tone of exasperation, Yingdai spoke first: "What did you do? You're so careless! How did you get caught red-handed?"

"What could I do?" Qin Ye's voice was filled with shame and grievance as she whispered, "He insisted on..."

Mikoto burst out laughing.

“If you really want it, then… never mind,” Eiyo suddenly remembered what Mikoto had just said to Sayuri, and her face turned red as she continued, “Come here quickly, let’s discuss how to deal with this. That irresponsible scumbag said he doesn’t care.”

Qinye said softly, her voice trembling with tears, "I don't want to go."

"Kotoha-chan, you can't not come," Mikoto said, suppressing a laugh. "Mrs. Kudo specifically asked you to come and keep her company. If you don't come, you probably won't have another chance to sit at the table in the future."

Katsuhiko craned his neck and said, "Maybe this will turn out to be a blessing in disguise, come on!"

"Katsuhiko-kun, you're here too? Okay then, I'll be right there..."

Five or six minutes later, Qin Ye rode her bicycle to the door, her forehead covered in sweat, panting heavily, and her face flushed.

She wore a beige knitted sweater, a brown knee-length skirt, and brown leather shoes. It was a new outfit, but it was quite wrinkled, and her hair was a bit messy.

When she reached the door, her face contorted with anxiety, then she bit her lower lip and pushed open the glass door.

Three pairs of eyes fell on Qin Ye at the same time. Qin Ye awkwardly scratched her toes and lowered her head to say, "Um, I'm here. How should we discuss this?"

Mikoto burst out laughing again, walked around the cashier, and pulled Kotoha to sit down at the long table next to Katsuhiko.

Katsuhiko immediately stepped back to make room for Eiyo, who was walking over. He helped her sit down and said, "You three talk, I'll listen in."

As Yingdai sat down, she clenched her fist and punched Shengyan in the stomach.

The three women sat down and stared at each other.

This is the first time I've ever experienced something like this. It's awkward and embarrassing, and I don't know how to start.

"Twenty minutes left." Katsuhiko took a bag of potato chips from the shelf, tore open the bag and ate it, reminding her, "The welcome banquet is in a private room. I bet the seat of honor will be given to Eiyo, after all, she is a great lawyer who did a lot of work, so she has done us a favor."

"If I don't want to sit in the seat of honor, won't I be put on the hot seat?"

Yingdai was startled and almost jumped up. "Although it's a welcome banquet, everyone knows that this is to deal with your problem with Kotoha-chan. Kotoha is sitting, I'm not. You have to take responsibility for the trouble you caused."

Kotoha blushed and whispered, "Even if they punish me, they're still officially welcoming Mr. Kudo. You can't avoid it."

"You still have the leisure to make fun of me?" Yingdai pinched Qinye's leg again in exasperation, then turned to look at Meiqin and said, "Go sit down."

"As someone who's just there to accompany you, I naturally have to sit by the door and serve you tea and water."

"Mikoto-neechan, isn't this a bit much?" Kotoha grabbed Mikoto's arm and shook it, glancing at her meaningfully. "If Katsuhiko-kun doesn't care, you have to help me."

Qin Ye's expression practically screamed, "You're also my legal wife... otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do..."

"I really can't help." Mikoto rubbed her forehead, looking troubled. "I thought Mrs. Kudo wouldn't care, but I didn't expect her to get involved. I'm barely able to protect myself."

"You're different." Qinye was so envious of Mikoto's status as a legal wife.

"What's different about her?" Eida felt that Qinye, who was very close to her, was siding with outsiders a little.

“She…she is…” Kotoha didn’t want to lie to Eiya, but if she did, she worried that Eiya would turn around and report her. Eiya was a lawyer, and she would probably lose Katsuhiko for two years…

"I just knew Sayuri-chan a few years earlier!"

Mikoto quickly interjected, then changed the subject, saying, "Well, Mr. Takenaka just said that you might actually benefit from this misfortune. I know Sayuri-chan very well; she's just too concerned about her husband and worried about being cheated on. Actually, as long as you don't take up Sayuri-chan's time, everything should be fine."

"It's as if you can rest easy," Yingdai said disdainfully. "Don't you know how powerful Mrs. Kudo is? She observes everyone, and you can't escape her notice."

"I just sat by the door, serving tea and water to the waitress without saying a word to her."

"No, you have to speak up for me," Qinye said, pulling on Mikoto's hand again. "They're going to bully me during dinner later."

"It's just mealtime, just bear with it and it'll pass quickly."

Mikoto secretly regretted that her casual remark of "husband" had been taken advantage of by Kotoha. If she continued to maintain her "secret wife" identity, she would probably be taken advantage of forever... How difficult...

"Is this how you women discuss things? Making excuses, asking for help, fighting amongst yourselves, and even threatening each other," Katsuhiko chuckled, licking the potato chip seasoning off his fingers, and continued, "Five more minutes, let's reach a consensus quickly!"

Chapter 58 Seating at the Banquet

It's only a ten-minute walk from the convenience store to Marukichi BBQ restaurant, so Katsuhiko wasn't in a hurry and strolled along leisurely ahead.

A step behind him was Yingdai, her oval face tense, exuding a cold and arrogant air, though her eyes seemed nervous.

Walking a step behind Eiyo was Mikoto, looking annoyed with a furrowed brow and a cautious glance back at Kotoyo.

Kotoha lagged three steps behind, walking slowly with her head down, occasionally glancing at Mikoto.

The three of them failed to come up with any countermeasures during their pre-battle meeting.

Although a common and formidable enemy was already in sight, they each had their own ulterior motives.

As he approached the door, Sheng Yan added, "From now on, I will be a bit cold to you all. I hope you can understand. After all, we have two elders, and we still need to maintain proper etiquette."

After hearing Katsuhiko's attitude, Eiyo felt extremely frustrated and uncomfortable.

She knew, of course, that there was nothing she could do about it. After all, her status was what it was: a legal wife is protected by law, while a girlfriend has no legal rights whatsoever… If only there were a way, she could also be a legal wife.

She even "maliciously" hoped that Sayuri would stand up for herself and file for divorce from Katsuhiko, and that she would become Katsuhiko's lawyer. She would then quickly get Katsuhiko into the ward office before Kotoha and Mikoto could react, register and get the documents stamped... At that time, she would have the power of life and death over the two of them in her hands. Just thinking about it made her excited... She always felt that Mikoto was too high and mighty. Everyone was of the same status, and she didn't know where Mikoto got her confidence from.

Mikoto didn't mind Katsuhiko's precautions, since that was her plan from the beginning: when Sayuri was around, she would play the supporting role and even hoped that Katsuhiko would "speak harshly" to her so that she could remain more discreet.

Now that Qinye's secret has been exposed, she's already discovered her biggest secret, which is quite upsetting... She'll probably drag her into this during dinner later, and I wonder if there's any way to get this leverage out of her...

Qin Ye was the most nervous at the end; the purpose of this welcoming banquet was definitely aimed at her.

She expressed some understanding of Sheng Yan's attitude. A married man's girlfriend, without any insurance, is completely helpless in such a situation, unlike a legal wife with multiple insurance policies, whose life and death are left to fate.

Of course, although I was so nervous that my hands and feet were cold, I wasn't desperate.

This is a test that we have to grit our teeth and face. Just as Mikoto said before, if we run away, we won't have a chance to be served.

Success or failure doesn't really matter, but you must have the courage to step onto the table.

Anyway, Katsuhiko treated me incredibly well; I've actually experienced that firsthand, and he was my first love, which gave me a little bit of confidence.

There's another layer of insurance: Mikoto's big secret is already in his hands. If he's cornered and has no way out, he can try to get Mikoto out of the predicament.

I'm so jealous, so envious of her legal wife status... As for exposing it, that's definitely out of the question, it's too serious, but I can use it to my advantage and live off her for life... Should I probe her background and ask for legal wife status too? She'd probably be extremely wary and try her best to stop me...

By the way, I almost let it slip just now. I wonder if Sister Yingdai suspects anything...

Ten minutes later.

Sayuri was already waiting at the entrance of Maruyoshi BBQ restaurant.

She stood straight, her hands clasped together and placed flat on her lower abdomen.

Her black hair was all piled up on top of her head, styled into a woman's bun, and adorned with a silver hairpin.

She was wearing the white kimono embroidered with pink cherry blossom petals that Mikoto had given her before.

It perfectly complemented her petite and delicate figure. The pink belt gathered at her waist accentuated her already large and mature bust, lifting it high and making her waist and hip lines very obvious. Her hips were round and full, and the tight skirt hem reached her feet. She wore wooden clogs and white cloth socks.

She wore exquisite makeup, her fair chin was slightly tilted back, and her pink lips were pursed into a line. She had a serious yet cute look, which gave her a bit of the air of a first wife...