How to raise a random guy's wife

The phone screen displays a virtual image of a black-haired woman in a classic long dress, moving with great gestures, her hair ornaments and delicate earrings swaying lively with her body movements.

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at it and immediately had a rough idea of ​​the price in her mind.

Most virtual avatars cost around 60,000 yen.

Such a beautiful and highly articulated piece is basically top-tier in the industry, costing at least 500,000 yen or more.

This is still a friendly price; if the artist is more famous, the price will double.

"Alright," came the ethereal, elegant voice of the virtual idol from the phone, "If you want faith, then believe. I don't really care. Number of followers? Whatever. When I had many followers, you weren't even born yet..."

"That's a dangerous statement," Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but say. "Don't viewers like watching pretty girls? This makes her sound like an old lady."

Machida Sonoko has a different opinion: "In the setting, she is an ancient water god. This is part of the setting. Nowadays, there are fewer and fewer virtual idols who faithfully portray the characters."

“Speaking of which,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said curiously, “why have you suddenly started enjoying watching these kinds of live streams lately? You don’t even watch anime.”

“Because it’s really interesting,” Machida Sonoko said, organizing her thoughts. “How should I put it… We’re both in the 2D world, but anime and manga always end, right? And they don’t even react to what you say. Isn’t it more interesting to have a character who looks the same as you and interacts with you?”

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded. "That makes a lot of sense, but I don't understand."

"You'll understand when you get to my age."

"It's fine if you don't understand." Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly remembered, "Speaking of which, isn't this the water god that Sora is so interested in? He's already debuted."

"Yeah, I thought he was just an ordinary streamer, but I didn't expect him to talk about such interesting things."

As if to verify Machida Sonoko's statement, the water god brought up the topic of faith and superstition.

"Faith and superstition are pretty much the same. Outdated faith is superstition, while superstition that evolves with the times is faith." The Water God casually discussed topics that could easily provoke controversy. "Faith is easy, recognizing superstition isn't difficult either. The hardest part is recognizing it and then embracing a new life with a better attitude, instead of just muddling through with a faith that has become superstition. You believed I could become a famous idol, and you persisted in supporting me, and then I became a big idol. Was that your power or my power? Believing it was the result of your help and my efforts combined is the power of faith. Believing I was born a big idol and could succeed even without your help is superstition."

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. "It actually seems quite interesting."

“That’s what I mean…” Machida Sonoko looked at her phone screen.

"Breaking free from superstition is even simpler. I graduated on the spot, and my beliefs and superstitions ended there," the Water God continued. "The question is, what happens afterward? To support other virtual idols and derive happiness and satisfaction from them is to find a new faith; to blindly believe that I will fail because of my own failure is superstition. Replace me with anyone, anything, or even a bowl of noodles or a glass of water, and it's the same. It's all about belief. Relying on belief to achieve one's own 'admiration' is faith; becoming 'deluded' because of belief is superstition—it's that simple."

"I feel like this could be used in a novel," Kasumigaoka Utaha said enthusiastically. "Send me the link later."

Machida Sonoko remarked, "I've reached my age so quickly."

"Not yet." Kasumigaoka Utaha changed the subject impatiently. "Speaking of which, the recent negotiations have been progressing smoothly. It would be better to let Sora Ao make a move occasionally to give them a warning."

"Now you don't mind relying on them?"

“Using their abilities is also a kind of ability.” Kasumigaoka Utaha understood this principle a long time ago with the help of Kobayashi Megumi. “Of course, the most important thing is the smooth progress of creation. If I don’t have any ideas for a new book, I’ll probably still be stuck in a dead end.”

“You wouldn’t have said something like that before.” Machida Sonoko smiled with satisfaction. “However, it’s better for Sora to make fewer moves. Although things are going well right now, there are already some bad rumors circulating in the industry.”

"Bad rumors?"

“After Hui became president, Sora Ao took action less and less, and her reputation gradually improved—or rather, she was gradually forgotten.” Machida Sonoko paused. “But this time… many people were frightened.”

"Is it really that serious?" Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a little strange. "It's just that some dirt was revealed and she made a threat, right? Okay, it's a lot of dirt."

"Don't you know?"

"Ok?"

"Hosoya is sick."

"That's gratifying..." Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned. "No one will suspect that Sora Ao was the one who did it, will they?"

"Because the illness is very strange, there are now rumors that Sora Ao has cursed Hosoya."

"Put on a curse?" Kasumigaoka Utaha laughed out loud. "How could such a thing be possible..."

"Nothing is impossible. Casting a spell is actually a very simple thing." The voice of the Water God came from the phone screen, as if he was discussing the issue of spells with the real-time comments. "Spells are not as mysterious as you might imagine. Everyone casts spells in their lives, every day."

Machida Sonoko looked at her phone screen.

"When someone calls your name, and you turn your head to look in the direction of the sound, that's the most basic application of a spell," the water god explained. "Being scolded by your boss and returning home dejected, suffering from insomnia at night, is also the power of a spell, what's known as 'cursing.'"

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced sideways. "Is she talking about psychological suggestion?"

"Words can affect a person's mind, and the mind can affect the body. If a person has a positive mindset and a clear conscience, they can laugh it off even if they are treated with malicious words." The Water God paused and smiled slightly. "But if a person has a dark mind and has done many bad things, even a simple sentence can plunge them into endless fear, leaving them exhausted and eventually causing them to fall ill and never recover—such a thing is possible."

Chapter 774 Family Games

"Hmm..." Kobayashi Sora's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes on the sofa.

Today is a day off, but Kobayashi Sora hasn't completely stopped working. As always, she's collecting and organizing information for any eventuality.

However, since I'm not at the company, I have more freedom in my schedule.

Since the work wasn't particularly urgent, Kobayashi Sora, feeling exhausted, took a short nap.

When Kobayashi Ran is not at home, Kobayashi Sora's physical strength is greatly depleted.

When Xiaolin Lan comes back from her maternal grandmother's house, I have to chat with her, listen to her happily share the games she and her grandmother played, and make her delicious food. This takes a lot of energy.

Previously, Kobayashi Sora could work at a high intensity and high efficiency all day long, but now she has to take a nap to relieve fatigue and recover.

If you're taking a nap, you can't go to the bedroom.

The bed in the bedroom is so comfortable that you can easily fall asleep for a long time without realizing it.

If it lasts too long, it will not only affect your rest at night, but also make you feel more tired.

The sofa is a better choice; you can basically sleep for a while and then wake up automatically.

Even without setting an alarm, sleep time can be limited to one hour.

Upon waking up, Kobayashi Sora felt the pressure on her body.

She initially thought it was rice cake lying on her, but later realized it was Kobayashi Ran.

Xiaolin Lan obediently lay on him; Xiaolin Kongqing's broad chest felt as comfortable as a big bed to his daughter.

Her tiny hands clutched his clothes, and her soft little face pressed against him, looking a bit flat from Kobayashi Sora's perspective.

Her beautiful eyes, which were usually wide open, were now peacefully closed, her thick eyelashes curving and reflecting a mesmerizing light in the sunlight.

Kobayashi Sora could hear her daughter's long, deep breaths and feel her warm breath seeping through her clothes.

Kobayashi Sora was a little reluctant to wake her.

"Are you awake?" Kobayashi Megumi noticed that Kobayashi Sora had opened her eyes and asked softly.

"Hmm," Kobayashi Sora lowered her voice as well, "Did I sleep for a long time?"

"It's about the same as usual." Kobayashi Megumi patted Kobayashi Sora's head. "You look really tired. You slept so soundly that even Ranlan lying on top of you didn't wake up. Has work been difficult these past few days? Or...?"

Kobayashi Megumi suddenly realized something, her face flushed, "Um..."

"It's probably because I stopped working out for a while." Kobayashi Sora noticed the cute blush on Kobayashi Megumi's face. "I'll get back to normal once I'm less busy."

"Hmm..." Kobayashi Megumi bit her lower lip lightly, "Want some soda?"

"think."

"Wait a minute."

Megumi Kobayashi took a Ramune soda from the refrigerator, skillfully opened it, inserted a straw, and went to Sora Kobayashi's side, holding the straw to his lips.

Kobayashi Keita knew Kobayashi Sorao very well. Kobayashi Ran was sleeping soundly on him, and Kobayashi Sorao would never wake his daughter up just to get up.

Kobayashi Sora tilted her head, taking a satisfied sip of her cool soda.

An ice-cold soda after waking up is just so wonderful.

Especially the kind that my wife feeds me.

Kobayashi Sora's cheeks puffed up, which amused Kobayashi Megumi, who couldn't resist poking them.

"Gulp..." Kobayashi Sora paused for a moment while drinking, and looked up at Kobayashi Megumi with a puzzled expression.

“I suddenly realized,” Kobayashi Megumi blinked, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips, “that now, no matter what I do to you, you can’t say a word or resist.”

Xiao Lin Kong Qing: "..."

Kobayashi Megumi put the Ramune soda aside, her smile widening.

Kobayashi Sora could only return a helpless gaze.

Ah... that's the expression.

Kobayashi Sora, who always seemed to have the upper hand in front of others, only showed a helpless expression in front of Kobayashi Megumi, which always captivated her.

She was just saying it casually, but seeing his adorable expression, Kobayashi Megumi couldn't quite control her sudden impulse.

Kobayashi Megumi crouched down beside the sofa, aimed at Kobayashi Sora's ear, and whispered, "Whoosh~"

The warm breath wafted around, and Kobayashi Sora's expression was clearly somewhat unnatural.

"You can even hold back like that, Daddy's amazing~" Kobayashi Megumi lightly flicked her fingers, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and gently tickled his face with the end of the hair. "How about this?"

Kobayashi Sora pursed her lips, trying her best to keep her body completely still.

"Daddy is amazing." Kobayashi Megumi stopped teasing him and gently kissed him on the cheek. "This is a reward."

"Eh~" Ran Kobayashi said, "Just a kiss on the cheek?"

"Hmm?" Kobayashi Sora looked down at her smiling daughter. "When did she wake up?"

"Daddy just woke up, and Lanlan woke up too~" Little Lin Lan climbed all over Little Lin Kongqing, hugged his neck, and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "Daddy is so good!"

Kobayashi Sora felt that all her perseverance had been worthwhile.

"Daddy, Daddy!" Little Lin Lan looked at Little Lin Kong Qing with her bright, sparkling eyes. "Let's play a game!"

"Okay," Kobayashi Sora asked, "What does Lanlan want to play?"

“We can’t move.” Xiao Linlan had a great idea. “Daddy can’t move. Let’s see who can make Daddy move, Lanlan or Mommy.”

Xiao Lin Kong Qing: "..."

"Great!" Kobayashi Megumi laughed happily. "It sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!"

"Daddy, hang in there!" Ran encouraged him, while reaching out to scratch Sora's ribs. "Scratch that itch!"

Kobayashi Sora thought it was time to take a break and admit defeat.

“Lanlan just praised Daddy as great,” Kobayashi Megumi reminded him, “If you give up easily, you can’t be considered great.”

Kobayashi Sora: "..." I've been seen through.