Why is my anime art style so weird?

Hua Ling could tell that the young man really liked the music box, so she immediately started introducing it to him with a big smile.

"Sir, this music box was made by the famous 19th-century Swiss craftsman Beck Bradrick. It would be the perfect birthday gift for a girl!"

Your girlfriend will be thrilled! I guarantee it!

Unexpectedly, the blond youth's face immediately turned bright red, and he waved his hands repeatedly in refusal.

"No! She's not my girlfriend! We're just...just colleagues in the student council...that's right, just colleagues!"

A hint of doubt flashed in Hua Ling's eyes, but she still introduced it with a normal expression:

"This music box would be a wonderful gift for a girl. If you don't believe me, you can listen to the sound of the music box."

As Hua Ling spoke, she wound up the music box.

A clear and melodious tune immediately rang out from the music box, melodious and pleasant, involuntarily conjuring up the image of the desolate night.

Upon hearing this voice, Xu Ming involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

Is there anything else you need?

Manager Mota quickly asked.

"fine."

Xu Ming waved his hand.

However, no one noticed that on the opened box lid, among the ring of gems, the tenth gem from the front had a fleeting, eerie green luster.

On the other side, the blond youth seemed quite satisfied with the tone of the voice and quickly said:

"I'll take this one. How much does it cost?"

Seeing that the deal might actually go through, Hua Ling's eyes lit up with joy, and she became even more attentive.

"Cheng Hui, the total is 60 yen. Would you like me to wrap it up for you?"

Upon hearing this number, the young man's face showed a pained expression. He gritted his teeth and said:

"Please wrap this up for me, thank you."

"Sir, will you be paying by card or...?"

Xu Ming had already left by then, so the rest of the conversation was no longer heard.

He just felt that the blond youth looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, and the music box always gave him a strange feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

However, he was in a hurry to deal with the matters at hand and didn't think much about it.

However, what Xu Ming didn't notice was that Shiina Mashiro, who had been half asleep, unconsciously heard the music box and her body trembled violently, her eyes revealing extreme fear.

She immediately hid next to Xu Ming, seemingly trying to use his body to avoid something.

Chapter 148 Mother's Kindness and Daughter's Filial Piety

Manager Mota quickly escorted the two to the store entrance.

Watching Xu Ming and Shiina Mashiro get into the car and slowly drive away, Manager Mota finally couldn't help but tug at his collar and let out a long sigh.

He stood outside the store for a while before returning inside.

At this moment, Hua Ling ran over to boast about her achievement.

"Manager! Manager! I've finally sold that music box that we couldn't sell before!"

"Hmm~ Well done."

Manager Mota seemed preoccupied and gave a perfunctory reply.

Karin lowered her head in disappointment, but the thought of receiving a prize of nearly 6 yen cheered her up again.

At that moment, Manager Mota suddenly came to his senses.

"What music box?"

"It's that music box you've always kept on the shelf. I thought it was pretty, so I moved it outside. I didn't expect it to sell so quickly today, and it even made 60 yen! 60 yen!"

Unlike other businesses, antique shops store their most valuable items in a separate storage room. They only offer catalogs for customers to choose from, and only bring out the actual items when they confirm that the customer intends to buy.

The items displayed on the shelves outside generally don't fetch high prices, so selling a music box for 60 yen is definitely a big profit.

However, Manager Mota was completely baffled.

"I don't display music boxes outside. The only two music boxes in the store that were used by the British Royal Family are sealed in a safe in the storage room."

"Hey~ But I just sold one..."

For a moment, the two looked at each other in bewilderment...

Inside the Mercedes, Xu Ming contacted Kato Megumi using his mobile phone.

After thinking for a moment, Kato Megumi offered her suggestion.

"The Shigemitsu Group is a precision parts manufacturing company that has emerged in recent years. Shigemitsu Katsuichi was originally just the manager of a small machinery factory. Later, he married the illegitimate daughter of a member of a collateral branch of the Mitsubishi family and received some support from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. After that, the Shigemitsu Group gradually developed..."

Xu Ming immediately realized that this was a nouveau riche who had climbed up the social ladder through nepotism, and that his purpose in buying antiques was mostly to appear cultured.

"I've already tracked down his whereabouts."

However, I have some bad news for you: Katsuichi Shigemitsu happened to be flying to England this morning.

"This……"

Xu Ming gave a wry smile.

"It seems you'll have to wait two more days, Ming."

"That's all we can do."

Xu Ming hung up the phone, and Miss Shrine Maiden escorted the two of them to the apartment building.

Xu Ming then contacted Aoyama Nanami and obtained the address of the hotel where she was currently staying.

After sending Shiina Mashiro over, Xu Ming returned home.

As soon as the door was opened, a wonderful aroma wafted towards me.

My older sister sat gracefully at the table, with a plate in front of her bearing a steak that exuded a rich aroma.

Erina, with her silver hair, was wearing an apron, dressed like a virtuous wife and loving mother, and was busy in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, their beloved little piglet was hiding in the corner, staring at the steak on Shiyu's plate, its saliva flowing like a flood from the corner of its mouth, forming a puddle on the floor.

Xu Ming stared in astonishment at the two women and a pig in his home; this was the scene he saw as soon as he returned.

"Ah, Dad, you're back! Please wait a moment, this steak will be ready soon!"

When Erina, who was busy at work, heard the door open, she immediately turned to look at Xu Ming and said affectionately.

"I am back."

Xu Ming answered subconsciously, then stiffly changed into his slippers, walked to the dining table, and sat down opposite Sister Shiyu.

"Sister, why are you back?"

Xu Ming sat for a while, then looked hesitantly at the smiling Kasumigaoka Utaha and asked in a low voice.

"What? This is my home. Can't I come back?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha twirled the knife in her hand, looking at him with a playful expression.

Xu Ming stared at the gleaming knife, instinctively shuddered, and quickly shook his head.

"No! I was just a little surprised..."

Then Xu Mingzheng wanted to ask his sister about her experiences these past few days.

At that moment, Erina came out of the kitchen and placed a plate of steak, which was faintly emitting steam, in front of Xu Ming.

"This is Dad's portion, please enjoy!"

Xu Ming's thoughts were abruptly interrupted.

Seeing Erina looking at him expectantly, Xu Ming quickly put aside his distracting thoughts, picked up his knife and fork, cut a piece from his steak, and put it in his mouth...

boom!

A giant tsar bomb exploded in Xu Ming's mind!

How delicious this is!

The moment the steak was put in his mouth, the meat seemed to melt instantly, releasing all its essence.

The aroma of toasted butter, the rich flavor of beef juices, the oaky notes of red wine, and a subtle hint of blood—all these flavors, combined with the stimulating aroma of black pepper, explode like a bomb.

In terms of both taste and aroma, this steak is the best Xu Ming has ever eaten, bar none.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Ming had devoured the steak in front of him.

"How are you, Dad?"

Erina clenched her fists and looked at him expectantly.

He looked like a child who had scored 100 on a test and desperately wanted encouragement and praise from his parents.

Xu Ming quickly gave a thumbs up.

"It's delicious!"

"Great!"

Erina immediately beamed with joy.

At that moment, her older sister, Utaha, waved to Erina.

"What is it, Mom?"

Erina immediately and obediently went to her sister's side.

Then, her older sister actually reached out and stroked Erina's head, saying "Yoshi~ Yoshi~" as if coaxing a child.

Erina lowered her head obediently, her face slightly flushed, and let Utaha stroke her.

A deep mother-daughter bond emanated between the two, and even the air seemed to be filled with pink flowers.

However, this scene of motherly love and filial piety left Xu Ming dumbfounded.

Can you imagine a tall, dark-haired beauty gently stroking another silver-haired beauty who is not much shorter than her and looks to be around the same age, while the other girl looks like she is enjoying it?