My daily life in love is too contrary to my character.

"That makes sense. So what am I going to do? Present an award to my uncle?"

"You want to be the Minister of Culture? That's a bit difficult, but give my family ten years to make arrangements, and it shouldn't be a problem, as long as you only choose me."

"Stop talking, fox. If you keep going, I'll end up on the streetlight too." Shiraishi Zexiu automatically ignored the last sentence.

"Come to the inner garden of the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda." The conversation returned to its original starting point.

"So what am I going there for?"

"I'm bored. My mom is being polite with those rich ladies. I have nothing to do. If I weren't a family member who has to attend, I definitely wouldn't have come."

Hideaki Shiraishi sensed the strong resentment emanating from Chiyoda Ward.

"Alright, I got it. Get ready, I'm off."

"I'll be less annoying to you today. When you're going into the Imperial Palace, just let me know in advance."

"receive."

Shiraishi Sawah scratched his messy hair, then got up and headed for the bathroom with a sigh.

"Shiraishi, are you going out?" Takanashi Yuko asked curiously when Shiraishi Zexiu came out after washing his hair, because Shiraishi Zexiu usually wouldn't wash his hair in the morning if he wasn't going out.

"Yes, her dad is going to be awarded at the cultural festival this afternoon, and she's bored by herself, so she asked me to come and keep her company. Do you... want to come?" Shiraishi Sawa had nothing to hide about Takanashi.

When he was halfway through the last sentence, Shiraishi Sawa realized something was wrong. Takanashi was coming, and Chiyo would definitely give him a sour look. But he still finished the sentence.

"No need, I'll just stay at home," Yuko Takanashi said with a gentle smile, shaking her head in refusal.

If it were the coffee in her mouth, he might not need to add four sugar cubes and creamer, Shiraishi Sawa suddenly thought.

"Okay, I'll trouble you to look after the house, Little Bird."

"Please go early and come back early."

Shiraishi Sawa changed into his own clothes—a gray-black baseball jacket and jeans.

Given Shiraishi Sawa's height, it's extremely difficult to find suitable jeans online; these were made for him by his mother.

After checking his phone to make sure it wouldn't rain today, Shiraishi Sawah changed into casual shoes, waved to Takanashi Yuko, and left the apartment.

The only sounds left in the apartment were the yoga chants on the TV and Mimi chasing and tearing at a toy.

Yuko Takanashi took out her phone, rested her chin on the back of her hand, and looked at the beam of light shining through the crack in the window behind her, with dust motes mingling within it.

A few seconds later, Takanashi Yuuko opened her phone and found the contact Soga Kirei.

"President Su, Mr. Shiraishi will be accompanying Senior Ichijin to the cultural festival this afternoon..."

I am just a small person trying to strive for a better future.

--

Chiyoda is a well-known affluent area and political center in Tokyo. My family owns property there, but because they prefer a quieter and more beautiful environment, they chose to live in a villa complex in Suginami Ward.

After getting off the subway, Shiraishi Sawah followed the map to find a side entrance to the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace is not hard to find, after all, it is a huge building complex with 23,000 square meters of building area. However, once you enter the side gate that Chiyo mentioned on LINE, it is really hard to find.

A clear, azure sky, meticulously depicted clouds, groups of people walking together, trams passing through, pigeons occasionally darting by, and clusters of buildings of varying sizes nestled within, like expensive Lego bricks stacked with exquisite care.

This is the Tokyo that everyone imagines.

The gazes of the tourists passing by, who were originally searching for their own destinations, seemed to be drawn to this boy who was standing there in a daze.

With his fair and handsome face and long legs, he stood out like a spotlight in the vast crowd, making him hard to miss.

"Baby dog, next time, please train your sense of smell properly so you won't get lost by scent."

A voice, full of disdain yet strangely alluring, rang out behind Shiraishi Zexiu, pulling him out of his reverie about counting the floors of the tall building in front of him.

Shiraishi Sawa turned around and stood in front of her, wearing a light blue, wide-necked, loose-fitting sweater and plus-size casual pants.

The relaxed and casual style cannot hide Chiyo's slender and beautiful figure; the subtly revealed curves only add to her charm.

"You don't understand. I'm an anomaly. I sacrificed my sense of direction in order to achieve perfection in other areas."

Seeing the other person's gesture, Shiraishi Sawa followed in her footsteps, saying something.

"The others?" Shiraishizawa Hide hadn't even caught up to stand side by side when Chiyo turned her head, her long hair swaying to one side, revealing her stunning profile:

"Do you have no concept of singing, painting, artistic literacy, or any board games except chess?"

"Hey, don't underestimate me. If I want to, I might be a top singer tomorrow." Shiraishi Zexiu strode forward, letting the two walk side by side.

I still possess three [Designated S-Rank Skill Mastery Cards], giving me three chances to turn the tables and become the master.

"I believe you. The side door is here; remember it next time."

Before the two of them stood a door so small compared to the Kikyōmon Gate of the Imperial Palace; Shiraishi Sawa even doubted that a car could pass through it.

"What's the use of me remembering this? I don't come here often. Besides, I've researched it, and my blood type doesn't match Tian Huang's. It's highly unlikely that I'm an illegitimate child."

"You might as well hope you're an illegitimate son of the Kuramochi family." Chiyo Ichii rolled her eyes at him.

"Why not just come home?"

"Because marriage between siblings is very troublesome, and there's also the public opinion to deal with after the marriage, which will cause me distress," Chiyo said matter-of-factly.

"I have to admit, there might be some truth to what you said."

Chiyo took out a card from her pocket and had it scanned by the guard at the side gate before letting the two people pass.

"Is this a place that ordinary people can't come in?" Shiraishi Zexiu asked.

"Most people usually go through the Kikyo gate."

"I really don't understand why so many people would be interested in such a boring awards ceremony." Although he entered through a side gate, Shiraishi Zexiu's gaze could still reach across the moat and see the dense crowd in the distance.

“It’s really boring,” Chiyo Ichiriki affirmed.

The vegetation in the inner and outer gardens of the Imperial Palace is quite nice, mostly evergreen camphor and palm trees.

Therefore, even in November, when autumn is at its peak, the Imperial Palace is still a lush and verdant place, with a gentle breeze carrying the scent of nature.

Have you eaten yet?

"What do you think? I don't have the habit of finishing lunch at ten o'clock." Shiraishi Sawa narrowed his eyes and looked at Ichiyo with a slightly helpless expression.

"Looks like there isn't any then. Come on, let me take you to have lunch in the inner garden." Chiyo seemed completely oblivious to the sarcastic tone in the voice, tilting her head and waving at Shiraishi Sawa with a half-smile, before leading him onto the bridge.

"I want to eat from the palace."

"It's a pity, it's a bit difficult at the moment, but there should be an opportunity when Emperor Tian's birthday or the New Year."

Even today, the palace remains closed to the public.

Lunch wasn't anything fancy. A few people were gathered in a building that Shiraishi Sawa Hide didn't even look like a cafeteria, eating their lunch quietly.

"The inner garden is quite ordinary. It seems that the imperial family is nothing special. I suggest that the imperial family rule Japan."

After taking a few bites, Shiraishi Sawah lowered his voice and spoke to Ichiyo Ichiri sitting next to him.

"This is my first time here too. I thought it would be good." Chiyo agreed, but pouted to show her dissatisfaction with the food.

"When will this awards ceremony begin?"

"The awards will be given out from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM," Chiyo Ichiriki said, recalling the schedule.

"How many people are you giving them? It's been taking so long."

"Seven in total this year."

"Two and a half hours for seven people?" Shiraishi Sawa, who hadn't seen the festival's award ceremony when he was in Aomori Prefecture, was surprised as he was unaware of the situation.

"They start by talking about all sorts of nonsense and reporting on the changes in the country. Then each award winner talks about their merits, achievements, and level of expertise. After the awards are presented, they have to give an acceptance speech. It takes this long."

"Upon entering Sang, what achievements did Uncle make?"

"He has provided substantial economic support to Japan's cultural industry and has written several books to inspire younger generations." She glanced at Hideki Shiraishi, who seemed hesitant to speak, and nodded.

"I know what you want to ask. Those books were all ghostwritten. They were just used to make it more believable when trying to win this award."

"Next time, you can ask your uncle to have me write it for him."

“This is how a family might die. Here, have some.” Chiyo Ichiri poured the remaining food from her plate onto Hideaki Shiraishi’s already empty plate.

"If you don't want to eat it, just throw it away. Nobody will care. I'm going to the bathroom first. Wait for me."

Chiyo took out a small pack of tissues from her pocket, left one for Shiraishi Sawa, and headed towards the restroom.

The food in the inner garden wasn't particularly delicious, but it wasn't unpalatable either; a single serving of Shiraishi Sawa was just the right amount.

As he continued to feed himself, spoonful by spoonful, Shiraishi Sawa's phone lit up again.

"Shiraishi, come with me tonight to buy a swimsuit."

It's Sugamokuren; this is just the first message.

"Buy it at the department store in Chiyoda."

"Are you free tonight?"

"I'll be waiting for you at the Kikyo Gate of the Imperial Palace after the awards ceremony."

The four messages seemed to be discussing something, yet there was no room for discussion at all.

There are many reasons to refuse, but what is ultimately sent is still:

"I see."

Chapter 249 How I See It From Others

"Let's go." Chiyo Ichiriki said as she returned from the restroom and saw that Hideaki Shiraishi's plate had been completely emptied.

Since someone would be responsible for clearing away the leftover plates on the table, Shiraishi Sawa followed her out.

"Where do we go now?"

"We strolled all the way to the opening ceremony," Chiyo said with a smile.

“I think it would be better to sit at the opening ceremony.” Shiraishi Sawa is quite sensitive to the word 'stroll'.

"Look at you, so full of yourself. You're going to sit here until four in the afternoon. You might as well take advantage of this time to walk around."

"You're right, I'll listen to you."