My love index is at its maximum.

Tazaki Tsukasa pondered... she might be treating him like food now.

[Triggering emotion: Appetite!] Hoshino Hanami's stock index rose 50 points; current stock price: 500.

Ok.

I can only say that you are truly something else; you are always thinking about food.

Tazaki Tsukasa couldn't help but smile, a bright smile blooming on his handsome face.

[Triggering Emotion: Happiness~! Hoshino Hanami's stock index rose 50 points, current stock price 550]

[Triggering Emotion: Exclusivity~! Qichuan Stock Index rises 50 points, current stock price 53]

[Triggering Emotion: Immorality~! The Kichikawa Kurikushi Index rose 50 points, current stock price 60]

As he walked towards Hoshino Hanami's spot, Tazaki Tsukasa took the opportunity to observe the expressions of the other customers in the café. Everyone who saw him seemed to be distracted to some extent, which was likely due to some unspeakable emotion.

However, there was no notification in the system, which clearly means that only stocks listed on the main index will receive a special notification, and each time the sentiment is triggered, the stock price will rise by 50 points.

As for why Hoshino Hanami can trigger it twice while others can only trigger it once, there is no answer yet. Let's just assume that it's an exclusive buff for the main heroine.

Sitting down next to Hoshino Hanami, Tazaki Tsukasa naturally took her hand and placed it on the table.

With a smile playing on her lips, Kurisu looked at her cousin's son without saying a word.

He looks even more handsome now than when we met at the villa entrance.

His handsome face carried a gentle smile, and his eyes were like clear spring water. He exuded the charming demeanor of a young master from a noble family, making people want to get close to him from the bottom of their hearts.

As she watched, Kurisu's cheeks flushed, and she couldn't help but squeeze her legs together under the table.

Hoshino Hanami glanced at the hateful woman, then couldn't help but pinch Tazaki Tsukasa's waist with her other hand, conveying with her eyes, "Help me scold her."

Tazaki Tsukasa's expression turned serious, and he was about to speak.

"Xiao Si..."

Kurisu Kawakami spoke first, pointing to the table across the room: "Yui is watching you."

Tazaki Tsukasa turned his head to look, and saw the blonde girl watching the birds eating breadcrumbs on the lawn. Her white riding outfit fit her perfectly, highlighting the beautiful curves of her chest, and her blonde hair shone brightly.

“That child is shy,” Kurisu Kuri said with a soft laugh. “She was staring at your two hands clasped together the whole time.”

Hoshino Hana kept a cold face for two seconds, then let out a smug "humph" from her nostrils and smiled with her lips pursed.

Kurisu Kawakami continued, "Yui is very pretty, isn't she?"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded slightly.

indeed.

Yui Kikawa has a very beautiful face and a great figure. With her blonde hair and blue eyes, she always looks like a princess who has stepped out of a castle.

No normal man could resist a girl like that.

Tazaki Tsukasa turned his gaze back, and Kurisu Kichikawa stared into his eyes and continued, "Change your surname back, and you can marry Yui after you come of age. The Kichikawa family's trillions of assets will be managed by the two of you together in the future. If you want to go into politics, that's fine too. You can start as a ward councilor and become the governor of Tokyo before you turn forty."

She spoke at length, her tone gentle and unhurried.

“It’s quite attractive,” Tsukasa Tazaki replied.

Hoshino Hanami yawned.

Kurisuki laughed happily: "That's good. You don't need to worry about your family having any objections. Anyway, that's what your grandfather originally planned. The difference is that before, you were just a mascot, but now you can help Yui share the burden. How about it? Money, power, and beauty are all within your reach. And Yui is your first love. Don't you think that's great?"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded: "Great."

Hoshino Hanami stood next to him, and a gentle breeze blew through the gaps in the bushes, causing her soft, straight hair to flutter and brush against his cheek.

It's itchy and has a refreshing scent.

Tazaki Tsukasa chuckled lightly, then suppressed his laughter and looked at Kurisu Kawakami: "Auntie, you've got one thing wrong."

"Oh... what is it?"

Tsukasa Tazaki raised Hoshino Hanami's hand: "My first love wasn't Yui, it was her."

Hoshino Hanami squinted slightly and smiled sweetly.

Across the table, Yui Kichikawa's eye twitched almost imperceptibly. Her coffee had gone cold. She took a deep breath, looked up at the sky, and could clearly feel the sun's heat.

Kuriyama Sakura lowered her head, staring at the fine foam on her coffee while secretly being wary in her mind—this guy is a liar, I must never trust him again!

Kurisu picked up the cup and brought it to her lips, only to realize that the coffee inside was already empty when she was about to drink. She chuckled and put the cup down, looking at Tsukasa Tazaki: "So, you're not planning on going home?"

Tsukasa Tazaki nodded and said calmly, "That house has everything, but it lacks the person I like."

One hand was being held, while the other was placed properly on her knee.

Hoshino Hanami smiled quietly. The dazzling sunlight fell, and her happy face looked like a glass ornament, so beautiful that it made one's heart skip a beat.

Chapter 128 A Midsummer Afternoon

"Fool……"

"Fool……"

As she walked out of the coffee shop and down the corridor leading to the horse farm, Hoshino Hanami cursed Tazaki Tsukasa every two steps.

Tazaki Tsukasa walked briskly without saying a word.

I passed a bench along the way where a mother and child were resting.

Hoshino Hanami clenched her fist and punched his shoulder. Tazaki Tsukasa smiled at her, and she opened her arms and said, "Hug."

Tsukasa Tazaki reached out and put his arm around her waist, then kissed her slightly pouting lips.

"Eek..." The child next door immediately buried his head in his mother's arms.

Kuriyama Sakura, who had been walking alongside the two, unconsciously and automatically distanced herself by more than three meters. The mother and daughter, Kichikawa Yui, followed behind her at a leisurely pace.

Upon entering the racecourse, uniformed staff greeted him. Looking out through the fence, Tazaki Tsukasa saw a dozen tall and handsome racehorses being led to the starting lawn. They were already saddled and ready to go.

While Hoshino Hanami was completing the formalities, Tazaki Tsukasa casually picked up a brochure from the table.

Printed on the cover is a rather sophisticated promotional slogan.

Not everyone who can ride a horse is a nobleman, but every nobleman can ride a horse.

Tazaki then flipped through a few pages, which described Tori Horse Farm as a ranch and equestrian club that also trains and races horses. The vast grounds included four riding arenas of varying sizes, three pastures, and two riding trails.

The horses kept in stables are mainly divided into two types: English Thoroughbreds and Hanoverian Warmbloods. The former are primarily racing horses, while the latter are used for skill-based competitions such as show jumping and equestrian events. As for the price of the horses, it varies from tens of thousands to millions of pounds depending on their pedigree and health.

Putting aside any notion of status or prestige, the price alone makes it seem very aristocratic.

After completing the rental procedures, the three of them each led a horse to the entrance of the leisurely riding route.

In the past, when Hoshino Hanami came to the horse farm, she always chose to race in the laps. This time, however, she specially chose a more leisurely riding style to accommodate Tazaki Tsukasa, who had never ridden a horse before.

"Actually, I can ride horses..." Tsukasa Tazaki protested slightly. Compared to leisurely riding for fun, he was more looking forward to the exhilarating feeling of galloping on horseback.

Although he had never ridden a horse before, he had already reached a proficient level, which was considered top-notch among ordinary people. He had planned to show off today, but it turned out he could only do casual riding...

“But I don’t want to sweat today.” Hoshino Hanami took out her phone and urged him to get on the horse: “Hurry up and get on, I want to take some pictures.”

There's no other way but to give her whatever she wants today.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and gently patted the horse's neck.

The horse shook its head, let out a long neigh, and affectionately nuzzled his palm with its head.

Okay.

Affinity is indeed effective on animals as well.

With his feet in the stirrups, Tsukasa Tazaki mounted his horse.

His movements were handsome and dashing, reminiscent of a noble knight.

Everyone, including staff and other tourists, looked over, and in an instant, countless malicious gazes lingered on him.

Tazaki Tsukasa ignored all of that and instead gazed intently into the distance.

With a "click".

Hoshino Hanami took a picture of this scene that made her feel very satisfied.

Tsukasa Tazaki turned around and asked vainly, "Isn't he handsome?"

"Super cool!" Hoshino Hanami gave a thumbs up. "Just like a knight!"

Kuriyama Sakura rolled her eyes at the two of them, mounted her horse, spurred it on, and trotted forward into a tree-lined path.

Just as Tsukasa Tazaki was about to follow, a commotion suddenly arose behind him. He turned around and saw Yui Kikawa riding out on a sturdy, exceptionally majestic Hanoverian Warmblood.

With her outstanding looks alone, she could easily become the center of attention, not to mention the horse she rode, which looked very valuable.

Judging from the whispers of the crowd, it was clear that these were horses kept here by the Kichikawa family, and their price was around three million pounds... or more!

After just one glance, Tsukasa Tazaki turned around, squeezed his legs together, and walked into the tree-lined path on both sides.

Hoshino Hanami also mounted her horse, and the two of them rode slowly.

The sky was clear and bright, and a flock of jays flew over the green branches overhead. Occasionally someone would pass by, but the two men didn't seem to care.

I walked to a small river. The water flowed slowly, and a row of willow trees grew along its banks. The water was clear, and I could see small fish swimming gracefully at the bottom. Long, bright green willow leaves drooped over the surface of the water.

A landscape as beautiful as a painting on pottery.

The two dismounted and strolled along the riverbank.

It was summer, and the riverbank was overgrown with weeds and bloomed with unknown flowers. The tall grass, reaching up to the knees, swayed comfortably in the wind whenever it blew.

As they walked, Hoshino Hanami suddenly stretched and let out a comfortable groan: "I don't want to move anymore. How about we stay here for the afternoon?"

"no problem!"

Tsukasa Tazaki tied up the two horses, and the two men hid under the shade of a birch tree by the river, their bodies pressed tightly together.

"That's where we're going to sketch tomorrow." Hoshino Hanami pointed to the distance, where a small flood control dike could be seen between the birch tree trunks, with a small lake below it.

Several small yellow boats floated on the lake, and many people were fishing there.

"Tomorrow, Sakura and I will be drawing on the flood control embankment. If you're bored, you can come fishing with Dad there. Shikami is there too... Oh, right, where's Shikami?"

Hoshino Hanami looked at Tazaki Tsukasa in shock, as if she had suddenly remembered something: "Didn't we bring her with us when we came to Baba?"