I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"Too slow! You actually dared to walk over so leisurely!"

"Your dad isn't a train, why would I be in such a hurry to get on him?"

As he spoke casually, Tenkuji Yu reached out and touched her head.

Mana Natsukawa tried to dodge, but he still slapped her head with his palm and rubbed it hard twice.

"You bastard brother-in-law!"

Her fair face flushed instantly, and her little leather boots slammed down on his instep. Tenkuji Yu's expression remained unchanged; she simply said lightly:

"If you don't let go within three seconds, I'll lift you up high in public."

"..."

I'm terrified! This guy really dares to do this!

For the sake of her own reputation, Mana Natsukawa could only take several steps back with a humiliated expression, tears welling up in her eyes.

—How infuriating! I've done so much for them, and all I get in return is to be treated like a toy?!

This world is indeed ruled by evil people, and good people never have a good ending!

"What are you thinking about? Let's go."

Without looking at Mana's expression, Yuu Tenkuji walked past her, his voice chuckling as he pushed open the shop door.

"Also, I can't be a bodyguard. At most, I can listen to your troubles or problems and think about how to help you solve them."

"If you want to enjoy the same treatment as your younger sister, you'd better work harder on your older sister, really."

The bell rang crisply as he stepped into Starry Sky, leaving Mana Natsukawa outside the store staring blankly at his retreating figure, speechless for a long time.

"...What kind of sister-level treatment is this? Who cares about that kind of thing? You stinky sister-obsessed girl, you'll tell your older sister on me sooner or later."

After muttering a few words with her lips pouting, she couldn't help but take a step forward and follow him, gently tugging at his sleeve.

"Which way are you going? My dad's here! Don't wander off if you don't know the way!"

"Alright, alright, then I'll have to trouble you to lead the way."

"Humph!"

Chapter 143 It's time to meet the parents.

In a corner of Starbucks, a handsome man sat upright on a dark green sofa, holding a porcelain white coffee cup.

Behind the rising steam, his smile was calm and kind. He looked no more than thirty-five years old, but his demeanor had the maturity and composure of someone in their forties or fifties.

His hair was jet black without a single white strand, his designer suit accentuated his good physique, and the expensive watch on his wrist shone with an air of both wealth and humility. He practically embodied the words "upper class," giving the first impression of a company president or board member.

That's certainly true.

Ryoji Natsukawa, the head of the Natsukawa family, owns several multinational corporations and has made outstanding achievements in both politics and business. On the surface, he has no blemishes or scandals, making him a rare model entrepreneur.

"Nice to meet you. Would you like a coffee? It's on me."

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Tenkuji Yu sat down opposite him and turned to Natsukawa Mana, who had just walked over, and said, “Order me an iced Americano extra large, served in a takeaway cup. Your father is treating.”

"..." Her small chest heaved like the tide. After taking a deep breath, Natsukawa Mana glared at him fiercely, then turned to the bald man in sunglasses and said, "Yasuka, did you hear that!"

The burly bodyguard nodded and obediently went to the counter to order.

As for Natsukawa Mana, she originally wanted to sit next to Tenkuji Yu, but after making eye contact with her father, she pouted and went to another empty table with a displeased look on her face.

"Okay, I won't interrupt your conversation!"

After she left, Ryoji Natsukawa shrugged and said with some helplessness, "That child, Makoto, is perhaps because I've been too indulgent. Compared to her sister, she's really too wild."

“Indeed, if children this age are not properly taught, they will suffer greatly in the future,” Yuu Tenkuji agreed. “After all, parents and bodyguards cannot stay by her side all the time. If something really happens, there will always be a day when it is too late to protect her.”

“I’ve learned my lesson. She really should tone down her temper.” Without any disdain or perfunctoriness, Ryoji Natsukawa nodded seriously, then looked him straight in the eye and smiled. “Is it because you reprimanded her before? Mana seems to listen to you quite a bit, which makes me a little jealous.”

Yuu Tenkuji sighed helplessly: "There's nothing we can do. After being provoked like that, it would be unmanly to do nothing, right? Masuzu is right here too, so let's just put an end to her sister's arrogance."

Now that we've mentioned Zhenliang, we've said enough of the preamble.

"You haven't introduced yourself yet, have you? I'm Ryoji Natsukawa's father." He took out a gold-rimmed business card holder from his pocket and handed him a business card.

Tenkuji Yu glanced at it, then took out his wallet and pulled out a business card with a date stamp, handing it over.

"I have long admired your name. My surname is Sky Temple. This is my business card."

"Oh? A high school student's business card? This is the first time I've received one." Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Ryoji Natsukawa took the business card and carefully scanned the information on it. "Yunzora Network Co., Ltd... Is it involved in internet technology?"

Tenkuji Yu said calmly, "Yes, I have a bit of talent in this area. You can come to me with any cases related to network security and website setup. You can find my technical certification mark on 'those websites'."

Ryoji Natsukawa understood immediately and solemnly put the business card into his pocket: "I will, and I look forward to cooperating with you."

Tenkuji Yu carefully observed his expression.

Regardless of this person's character, at least in his interactions with others, Yuu Tenkuji believed that he was impeccable and showed little sign of pretense.

Even when facing a high school student who was still wet behind the ears, Ryoji Natsukawa maintained the attitude of a business receptionist from the very beginning, distant but not indifferent, just like when he was facing his own child—this had almost become his instinct.

"You're even more amazing than I imagined, Tenkuji-kun."

“Likewise, Mr. Natsukawa.” After a half-second pause, resting her elbows on her legs and supporting her chin, Tenkuji Yu spoke bluntly, “Before we met, you must have investigated my background. In return, I also know a little about you… So let’s skip the small talk and probing. I have dinner with friends later, so it’s better for both of us to get straight to business.”

"Tsk tsk, am I really talking to a high school student? It's amazing to see such a talented young person like you in Japan."

He shook his head in admiration, and after offering his flattery, Natsukawa Ryoji looked directly into his eyes and asked with a smile:

Are you and Masuzu in a serious relationship?

"Of course, I mean the kind of serious idea where I can get married and have kids right after graduation." Without the slightest hesitation, Yuu Tenkuji answered decisively.

“You’re only seventeen, don’t you think it’s naive to say things like this now…” Raising an eyebrow as if amused, Ryoji Natsukawa carefully considered his words. “You have a long future ahead of you, and no one can be sure what will happen in the future.”

"The vows we made as children were all lies, is that what you're trying to say?" Meeting the other person's noncommittal gaze, Tenkuji Yu shrugged.

"Think what you want, things may change or they may not, but it's enough to believe in it for now... Isn't love something that's happening right now?"

After thinking for a moment, Ryoji Natsukawa gave a wry smile: "You're right, I thought the same thing when I was young, but now..."

"The interests outweigh personal feelings, so there's nothing we can do, right?"

"..."

This statement was so incisive, it could even be said that it directly stated his thoughts, that Natsukawa Ryoji was speechless for a moment, and could only look at Tenkuji Yu with a faint smile in surprise, causing the air to fall into a moment of silence.

Click.

Yasuoka placed the iced Americano on the table, then quietly withdrew, conveniently blocking Natsukawa Mana's curious gaze.

"Are you trying to use a political marriage as an excuse to persuade me to leave Zhenliang?"

Yuu Tenkuji picked up his coffee, took a sip, and said calmly, "Give up. Unless you send someone to assassinate me, I will protect her freedom to make her own choices, no matter what means I use."

"Is protecting her a matter of having the freedom to choose... instead of taking her away from me?" Instead of mocking this presumptuous statement, Ryoji Natsukawa asked this question.

“You are her father, and I am her boyfriend—neither morally nor legally, I have this right.” Tenkuji Yu met her gaze calmly and said with a smile, “Unless, she asks me to elope with her.”

Ryoji Natsukawa paused for a moment, seemingly giving up on something, and sighed softly.

"What a difficult son-in-law... I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that Zhenliang has a boyfriend like you."

Chapter 144 Even if you let him go, he might not let your daughter go.

"It's certainly a good thing for her, but it might not be so for her father who wants to use her for a political marriage."

Tenkuji Yu smiled and said, "Although my assets can't compare to yours, and I don't have the connections you've accumulated over the years, I can still support a girlfriend who doesn't eat properly and whose only activities are watching JoJo and cursing her boyfriend."

With little change in expression, Ryoji Natsukawa pointed out the problem: "However, before the summer vacation you were still supporting yourself and your sister by working part-time, but after the summer vacation you suddenly changed drastically... Ryo is the 'jewel of the Natsukawa family,' do you think that given your past economic situation, you have any value that would make her abandon the Natsukawa family?"

“If the Xia Chuan family has nothing that she can cherish, then even with my past economic circumstances, there is still value in keeping her by my side.”

Tenkuji Yu turned to look into his eyes: "Besides, you also mentioned the past... I should satisfy you quite a bit now, right? As a son-in-law."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have referred to himself as a "difficult son-in-law" just now.

"..."

It felt as if he were facing a monster that could see through people's hearts. It had been a long time since Natsukawa Ryoji had experienced this frustrating feeling of having his conversation rhythm taken over and his thoughts being beaten to a pulp.

He subconsciously interlaced his fingers, gently rubbing his fingertips, and pondered before speaking: "Indeed, whether it's your outstanding performance in sports, your surprising progress in results, or your terrifying strength that completely dominated the field just now, I had a good impression of you before we met and talked... If the person you like is not Zhen Liang but Zhen Na, perhaps I wouldn't have come to find you specifically, and I would have just let you two develop your relationship."

Sorry, I'm not interested in blonde, twin-tailed, flat-chested lolis.

Tenkuji Yu kept these words to herself, but out of politeness, she didn't say them aloud.

"However, I want you to know something... My business will expand further in the future, and the number of countries I will enter will gradually increase, right? So in my plan, she will first go to a university abroad, and after graduation, she will frequent various high-society places, make connections, and create as much benefit as possible for the Xia Chuan family. Then I will find her a good match and let her get married."

He readily revealed the script he had written, but it was the life that Natsukawa Masaki had been given a predetermined path in.

If Yuu Tenkuji hadn't appeared, perhaps everything would have gone according to his plan?

"Just as I expected." Tenkuji Yu pursed his lips, his face expressionless.

"You don't seem very surprised?" Natsukawa Ryoji asked instinctively, then couldn't help but smile wryly. "That's right, you saw through my intentions long ago, and you came prepared for this meeting, didn't you?"

Tenkuji Yu took a sip of coffee: "After all, in Masami's eyes, you're the kind of person who puts profit first."

"That's what she said? That's a real misunderstanding. If I didn't care about them, why would I have let them transfer to schools in Japan?"

Ryoji Natsukawa said innocently, "If you're born into the Natsukawa family, this is something you can't avoid... I believe Ryo was already prepared for this, but it's only after you were born that she started to resist and refuse to accept it."

"So, you're planning to let her go without me?"

Tenkuji Yu's lips curved slightly, his tone was calm and composed, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Don't say that, think about it calmly—with your qualities, you can find more and better girls, and have more relationships." Xia Chuanliangji did not waver, but began to persuade him with reason.

"I won't stop you from dating. After all, who hasn't had a youth? It's just that you two are from different worlds. Zhenliang will be creating benefits for the Xiachuan family abroad, while you can become a sports star, or even climb to a high position in the police department through kendo. Five or ten years later, you will eventually go down very different paths."

"People's hearts change, feelings change, that's only natural. If you're both eighteen and still insisting on getting married, then I'll try to consider more possibilities... As for now, I don't think we're on opposite sides. As long as you can protect her 'value,' she'll be in your care for the time being until she goes abroad to study at university."

Ryoji Natsukawa smiled amicably, his tone becoming lighter: "Well, this compromise was made out of respect for you, you know? I've said I admire you, there's no need for us to argue over such a trivial matter."

There are no permanent enemies, only permanent benefits.

Yuu Tenkuji understood that Ryoji Natsukawa was a mature adult and a businessman to the extreme—he could even use his daughter as a bargaining chip and comment on her value, so shaking hands and making peace with a high school student was nothing to him.

In comparison, Haruno's mother was a truly good person, while Asuna's mother was merely a short-sighted opportunist, fundamentally very different from him, and in some ways much more difficult to deal with.