I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

"I'll go ask for instructions right now."

Ji Xiaolu picked up her phone and ran to her mother's studio. At this time, her mother was usually painting, so it was almost impossible to reach her by phone, because her mother didn't know how to use a mobile phone and couldn't stay in a room with a phone all the time.

"You're going to help that girl named Yukinoshita Koyuki, right?"

"Hmm... Although it feels a bit strange, I didn't expect her to call me. Also, she's not Yukinoshita Koyuki, she's Yukinoshita Yukino.

"Well, it doesn't matter whether it's Yukino, Koyuki, or Haruno. Go ahead, it's not good to keep the girls waiting. Take a short break, consider it a day off for you."

The old woman, who was painting Miss Reiko's naked body with a paintbrush, said without looking up.

"Well then, Mother, and Miss Reiko, I'll be going now."

After saying goodbye and instructing the other servants to prepare the car, Miss Reiko was unlike Kazusa, who would be flustered when Himeko entered the studio. She even playfully blew Himeko a kiss. Putting that aside, Himeko got into the car and drove away directly, in the same Cayenne as before.

Author's Note:

PS: Eleventh update.

Chapter 100: What a hassle! [Taeko Yukinoshita] is allergic to cats.

The only park that Himekoji could think of was the Chiba City Park where she met Yukinoshita in the rain a little over a month ago. Moreover, both times, there were cats involved. Even the most oblivious person could sense that Yukinoshita must have encountered a problem related to cats, which was why she dialed the "Strong Summoning Hotline" that Himekoji had given her.

Otherwise, Himekoji couldn't imagine that Yukinoshita, who is so strong-willed, would call him while crying.

Not long after, Himekoji, who had been speeding all the way, parked the car and jogged towards the statue where the two had met that day.

The weather had been gloomy for several days in a row, with only a light drizzle each day. The rest of the time, it was just sultry heat and gloom. Even when it rained, it felt like the rain itself was hot. Getting wet only made me irritable. I hurriedly bought a cheap umbrella at a convenience store, but as soon as I went out, the rain stopped. This left me feeling frustrated and resentful. It was definitely not a good day to go out.

As they drew closer, it was still the same place, not a single bit moved. The only difference was that Yukinoshita didn't bring Mr. Pan's umbrella today. She was even wearing the exact same clothes as that day, which gave Himekoji a strong sense of déjà vu, as if Yukinoshita Yukino had never left and was always there waiting for him, waiting for his rescue.

In front of her was a large corrugated cardboard box, the kind commonly used by moving companies. Himeko could even hear the cats meowing. Yukinoshita must have heard Himeko's footsteps too, but she didn't turn around. She just squatted there obediently, looking at her cats with reluctance, occasionally reaching in to tease them a little. Her other hand would wipe the corner of her eye from time to time, letting out a few crystal tears.

"Hey."

Himekoji, who had come up behind her, took a moment to calm her breathing.

"...fufu" Yukinoshita adjusted her breathing, trying to appear as if she had never cried before. She suppressed her voice and whispered, "The cats... I'm counting on you from now on."

"Huh—? You're not...?"

"I can no longer have them. I am not a good owner and I am not capable of protecting them forever."

Yukinoshita picked up the box and stood up unsteadily. Because she had been squatting for too long, her legs went weak and she almost fell over. Himekoji grabbed her and helped her up. Yukinoshita almost fell into his arms. She struggled to lift her head, her eyes were red, and there were two tear tracks on her snow-white cheeks that had not yet dried. Even her soft eyelashes still had half a tear hanging on them.

"Please... sit over there for a while."

Himekoji pointed to the bench near the statue, then turned her head slightly. How did Yukinoshita suddenly become so lovable? Being looked at like that suddenly made her feel a little embarrassed.

So, Yukinoshita hugged the large cardboard box full of six cats tightly, scratching one side of the box with her fingertips. It was clear how reluctant she was to part with it. The strong sense of incongruity of her petite figure hugging such a box made Himekoji feel very uncomfortable.

It wasn't that he was unhappy with Yukinoshita, but rather with the person who caused it.

Moreover, the instigator, Himekoji, could easily guess who it was with that head of white hair: Yukinoshita Taeko, originally named Aozaki Taeko. She changed her surname after marrying Yukinoshita's father. She was the daughter of the wealthy Aozaki landowner family in Chiba Prefecture. Her family was in business, while Yukinoshita's father was in politics. Their union gave rise to the third largest real estate company in Chiba Prefecture—Yukinoshita Shoji. (Secondary setting)

Her father made the decisions about things outside, and her mother made the decisions about things at home. She had always been a person of her word since she was a child. She was kicked out of the house because a servant put an extra half spoonful of sugar in her Chinese medicine. She was also forced by her curiosity about matters between men and women to almost cause a death in front of her male and female servants. Fortunately, she was stopped at the time.

"What does it mean that I can no longer keep cats?"

"Because Mom... Mom said she was going to throw them out of the house... and she wanted me to throw them out myself."

Yukinoshita lowered her head and sobbed. Himekoji handed her the tissues he had brought earlier. Yukinoshita thanked him in a barely audible voice, took the tissues, and silently wiped her face.

"So you took them all out of the house again? You originally planned to put them back here and wait for someone to adopt them, but in the end you called me... That's how it is."

"You're the one who told me to call you, but after I got through, I inexplicably regretted it, so I was silent for a long time before hanging up."

Yukinoshita's mood calmed down a bit. The cats were playfully scratching at the corrugated cardboard box, sharpening their claws. The mother cat, who wasn't very old, and her five kittens were all pure white. After more than a month of pampered care at Yukinoshita's house, the mother cat had long since recovered her spirits, and the five kittens were also very lively. Although their fur hadn't fully grown in yet, their babyish voices and appearance were truly adorable.

Himeko doesn't dislike cats; as for pets, she just doesn't have a particular favorite. Otherwise, she would have gotten one long ago. But she never expected her mother to choose a duck...

“My mother is allergic to cats and has hated them since I was a child. I heard that she even fired a servant who liked cats because of this. When I wanted to keep a cat at home, my mother scolded me terribly. When I went to high school, I moved out, but my mother still did not agree to let me keep a cat in her apartment. My mother does not want to step into any place where there are cats.”

Yukinoshita was recounting her experiences to herself. Himekoji leaned back, looking up at the dark clouds. The clouds were low and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

"You live alone and keep a cat, and your mother still cares about you?"

"She brought her sister to see me today... and she's still angry."

Without a doubt, the omitted part of the process in Yukinoshita's life must have been a severe scolding from her mother.

“My mother was already very unhappy when I insisted on moving out. She said that if I didn’t throw all the cats out, I would have to go back to my parents’ house.”

"This is a little troublesome..."

Ji Xiaolu rubbed her white hair and sighed softly. There were solutions, but they all seemed too drastic. The simplest and most direct way would be to destroy Yukinoshita's family company, bankrupting both her parents and reducing them from upper-class to commoners. Her mother would then be nothing more than an ordinary woman, solving the problem at its root. However, this wouldn't be helpful to Yukinoshita; it would actually hinder her. So, a compromise...

Author's Note:

PS: Twelfth update.

Chapter 101 Unexpectedly, [Kido Mariya] answered the phone instantly.

What would Hachiman do? Would he try to persuade Yukinoshita's mother? Or would he continue to raise the cats for Yukinoshita? Neither is very likely. Allergies can cause an instinctive aversion, which is completely different from simply opposing a dance party. Besides, she's still angry right now. How could he persuade her? If Hachiman were to raise six cats, it would be too much of a burden for him.

"Just a little? You, Himekoji, are really capable, with connections everywhere."

"I wouldn't say I have connections everywhere, but I can still get things done in Japan."

"Your statement is dangerous, Himekoji."

"If I solve it the way I do, the problem can be solved, but the consequences will be very troublesome."

"any solution?"

"For example, how about sending someone to kidnap your sister, take shameful photos, and then use those photos to threaten your mother into agreeing to let you keep a cat? Your sister is your mother's darling."

"Pfft—, Himekoji..." Yukinoshita was amused by Himekoji's sudden interruption, but then she straightened up and stared at Himekoji with red eyes, saying, "Can you please stop being so reckless every time? Why do you always spout yakuza-style talk... really, sigh—" (Yakuza, pronounced yakuza, is the collective name for designated violent groups in Japan, essentially legal organized crime.)

Yukinoshita shook her head and rubbed her forehead, looking troubled.

To force the eldest daughter to agree to let the younger daughter keep a cat—only Himekoji could come up with such a wild idea. But it is indeed feasible; we just need to talk to the old man about it.

Forget it, I can't do something that harms others and myself. In the business world and in politics, it's better to have one more friend than one more enemy. Kidnapping should only be used at the most critical moment. Otherwise, Ji Xiaolu will definitely get a severe scolding from his father. Although he is not afraid of being scolded by his father, his father's future will be in danger. This red line is absolutely not to be crossed, and it's not worth it.

It just so happens that the Gidou family is currently targeting Yukinoshita's family, so either...

"Wait a moment while I make a phone call."

"You're not really planning to kidnap my sister, are you...?"

Hesitation was evident beneath the snow.

"How could that be? I was just saying, that's a last resort," Ji Xiaolu said, taking out her phone and dialing Ju Ye's number. The other party answered in less than three seconds, which startled Ji Xiaolu, who suddenly felt a little excited for some reason.

Ju Ye, my little angel, answered my call right away! Yay! So happy~

"Long time no see, Juye. What have you been up to lately?"

"It's alright, Haruto-kun. Why did you contact me so suddenly...? Are you planning to ask me out? I'm taking a bath right now~"

Over there, Ju was taking a bath with Jasmine's help. She casually dangled her smooth calves out of the foamy tub, her alluring collarbone peeking out from the bubbles. Her wet blonde hair clung tightly to her fair, delicate shoulders, her skin so smooth it seemed to break at a touch.

"Well... please let me, cough! I mean, there's something I want to ask you."

"The thing is—? My measurements?"

"Ahem, no, that's not it. Speaking of which, I already... cough cough, it's something else, about the Yukinoshita family."

"Oh, so it's her. What advice does the young master of the Himekoji family have for me?"

Ju also adopted a formulaic tone, and her feigned expression became less pronounced.

"Because I recently heard that your operations have encountered a slight problem..."

"Those problems are within a manageable range, so you don't need to worry too much."

"I have never doubted the competence of Gido Trading Company, but I intend to make a small suggestion."

"What's the suggestion?"

"Is there something wrong with your phone? Is it being tapped?"

"Everything's fine here. There's no eavesdropping. Jasmine is the only listener. What about you?"

"I also have the second young lady of the Yukinoshita family here."

Upon hearing Himekoji address her as the second young lady of the Yukinoshita family, Yukinoshita herself pursed her lips slightly and scratched a few lines on the corrugated cardboard box with her fingertips.

"Oh my, are you on a date? Seriously, you're leaving me behind to go on a date with Yukinoshita's older sister. I'm not helping you with chores next semester, you know."

"If we were on a date, I wouldn't be talking about these things with you."

Himekoji got up and led Yukino away. He pointed in the direction of his car. Yukino hesitated for a few seconds, then resolutely stood up, picked up the cat carrier, and followed him.

"Wait a moment, let me find a place where we can talk in peace."

"Yes, I will wait quietly." Two or three minutes later, Himekoji returned to the car. Yukinoshita and the cat box sat in the back seat. Only then did Himekoji dare to speak freely: "Recently, because of a small agreement, I have had some interaction with the Yukinoshita family. So, Mariya, would you be interested in cooperating with us once, along with the Yukinoshita family?"

"Does that second young lady have the right to speak?"

Ju asked with great suspicion.

"Of course—no," Ji Xiaolu shrugged. "But she doesn't need to have a say. How about we make a three-way joint venture for her family's building materials company?"

"...Haruto-kun, are you joking?"

"Of course I'm not joking."

"If I were you, I would just smash their house to pieces, leave them nothing, and in the end, everything they have would be yours."

"Tsk tsk, terrible comment."

"We also plan to take it on little by little. After all, her father's term of office is not over yet, and it would be a loss for us to make things difficult for our businesses in Chiba Prefecture."

So you're not interested?

“What interests me most is taking over this part of her family and then forming a joint venture with you. To be honest, forming a joint venture with the Yukinoshita family is not on the Gido family’s agenda.”

"Ducks, ducks... they really are trying to maximize their profits."

"Of course~, I just can't understand why Haruto would want to partner with Yukinoshita's family to make a building materials company."

"So it was all just for a small agreement."