In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

Before, Kazusa made it sound so simple, saying that her mother was invited to attend the opening ceremony of a nightclub in which she also had some investment.

I thought it would just be a simple banquet.

But judging from the scale of the event, it seems that things are not so simple.

The driver walked around to the door, respectfully opened it, and Yuan Qianye got out first. He then turned around and reached his hand into the car.

Yoko Touma naturally and gracefully placed her hand in his palm, followed by Kazusa.

“You two hold hands and don’t let go. There are so many people here. Kazusa doesn’t often attend these kinds of events, and I’m worried she might be nervous.”

"Don't talk to me like a little kid."

Even now, Kazusa still harbors resentment over the cruel joke her mother made before she left, which left her completely unprepared and in such a sorry state.

“I think Aunt Yoko is just genuinely concerned about you,” Gen Chiya tried to smooth things over.

"How come I never noticed before that you two were so close?" Kazusa wasn't buying it. The moment she got off the bus and stood still, she quickly withdrew the hand that was resting on Minamoto Chiyo's palm.

Yoko sighed softly at this.

This child is really something. Can't she see that I'm helping her? Or is it that if I don't make it so obvious, she'll be more straightforward?

But there's no way they can not talk too much. On the way here, we were sitting together so close, but we didn't talk much, and there was no sweet interaction at all. We just sat there blankly looking out the window, like a wooden sculpture.

The situation was already precarious with competitors, and it was still plausible to argue that "as long as they're not married, it's fair competition." But if Kazusa waited until this guy settled down and started a family before she finally realized what was going on, it would be too late.

She couldn't possibly go back to doing *that* thing again. Although it might seem exciting from a visual perspective, she absolutely didn't want to see her precious daughter end up like that, given the availability of better options.

Even someone as open-minded as her would feel heartbroken about this.

The three were led by a waiter into the brightly lit hall, through the foyer on the first floor with its dark-patterned carpet, and up the curved staircase to the main banquet hall on the second floor.

The air was filled with the luxurious atmosphere created by a combination of champagne, perfume, and piano melodies.

"Teacher Touma Yoko, it's been a long time." An elderly man in a silver suit with gray hair greeted her naturally.

“Mr. Matsumoto, you’re too kind. It’s been a long time. You look as radiant as ever.” Yoko immediately put on an impeccable social smile and replied familiarly, “Besides, you’re the senior in the industry, so please don’t joke with me.”

Gen Chiya quietly followed beside Yoko, and through their conversation, she roughly understood the other's identity.

The elderly man's name is Koichiro Matsumoto. He is a professor at Tokyo National University of Music and also works for the Japan Piano Instructors Association, where he serves as the head of the review department.

It is worth noting that, after a brief exchange of pleasantries with this senior figure in the industry, Touma Yoko first turned to Minamoto Chiya and gestured for him to step forward, taking the initiative to introduce him first. She emphasized his talent in piano and his achievements in literature before introducing her own daughter.

This action was somewhat counterintuitive. Yuan Qianye realized this but didn't say much, instead using polite language and cooperating actively as a junior.

He then silently observed Kazusa and found that she seemed completely indifferent to the matter. When she noticed him secretly looking at her, she gave him a helpless look, which put him at ease.

After the pleasantries were over, Yoko leaned close to Gen Chiya's ear and whispered more specific information about the old man who had just taken the initiative to greet them.

"In Japan, tens of thousands of piano teachers are PTNA members. Their career advancement and teaching qualification certification are all influenced by Mr. Matsumoto's department. A single evaluation from him can determine a teacher's reputation in the industry."

Furthermore, many young pianists hoping to gain attention in Japan must go through his competition system, which gives him the power to directly send contestants to international competitions or to sideline certain performers.

"I thought that as long as I kept participating in competitions and consistently achieved good rankings to demonstrate my strength, everything would go smoothly, just like Kazusa."

"Although it may sound arrogant for me, as her mother, to say this, Kazusa is not one of the ordinary people. She can be called a gifted player in the field of piano, but how many people in this world have her talent?"

If we compare life to a mountain peak, most people can only reach the halfway point even after a lifetime of hard work. At this point, companions who can support each other and circles that one can integrate into become especially important. After all, society is made up of people and operates based on people.

Even geniuses need to rely on a group to survive. If they are arrogant and isolated, actively cutting off contact with the outside world and losing the support of reality, then no matter how talented they are, it will be of no use.

The clear hints in these words caused Yuan Qianye to fall into a brief moment of contemplation, and he nodded thoughtfully.

Before he could even think about it carefully, Kazusa suddenly squeezed between the two of them from the side.

She appeared expressionless, but there was definitely an aura of unhappiness about her.

But her sudden childlike actions made Yoko chuckle silently, almost unable to hold back her laughter, but also somewhat gratified.

To be jealous of one's own mother... such courage to fight for what you want would be so much better used in the right places.

Seeing this, Yoko immediately stopped talking to Gen Chiya in detail. She spotted another familiar face and calmly led them forward.

Over the next few tens of minutes, under her introduction, Yuan Qianye greeted and met a variety of people, including well-known musicians and film directors, editors-in-chief of mainstream newspapers, executives of top financial institutions, and presidents of accounting firms—all pillars of their respective fields.

What impressed him was that, no matter who she was facing, Touma Yoko could always talk to them with just the right amount of warmth, chatting and laughing as if everyone present was a friend she had known for many years.

Her extensive network and exceptional social skills were on full display at this moment.

Being able to meet so many elites from different fields in such an occasion and observe their words and actions was quite rewarding for Yuan Qianye.

With his current achievements, he can barely be considered to have stepped into this circle, but compared with those well-established families and enterprises, he still lacks some accumulation and foundation.

Therefore, now is a great opportunity to learn.

While he was silently processing what was happening, Kazusa gradually lost patience halfway through. After reluctantly greeting a successful entrepreneur at her mother's prompting, she excused herself by saying she needed to go to the restroom and slipped away.

Gen Chiya watched the direction she left in until the pleasantries with the businessman in front of him came to an end. Then, he politely bowed, whispered something to Yoko, and, seeing the cheerful smile on her mother-in-law's face, went to find Kazusa.

He walked out of the noisy banquet hall and into the relatively quiet corridor. He had not yet seen Kazusa, but he bumped into a familiar-looking woman at the corner.

"Ah, isn't this Yuan? Long time no see!"

The woman paused for a moment, her cold gaze instantly softening before she smiled radiantly.

She is the maid's mother, Hayasaka Nao.

…………

Chapter 103: In the Dim Light

"It's been a long time, Ms. Hayasaka."

Chiya was quite surprised to meet Nao Hayasaka again in such a setting.

This is the third time I've encountered her in a similar setting.

The first time was at the Fantastic Bunko annual meeting, where she accompanied Utaha. Hayasaka subtly created a chance encounter with a clever little gesture, giving him a gentle push.

Looking back now, Yuan Qianye is quite grateful to her. If it weren't for this lady's help, his relationship with the maid wouldn't have progressed so rapidly to what it is today.

The second time was by chance at a ball at the Shinjo Senyan Building. However, since he was accompanied by Yang Nai at the time, the two only exchanged a few pleasantries and then parted ways without having a deep conversation.

Nao Hayasaka gently covered her lips with the back of her hand, her smile gentle: "We really are destined to meet, this is the third time already."

"That's how it is," Yuan Qianye said with a forced smile.

Who said no.

Once, twice, and three times in a row, the occasions of their meetings were so similar that he began to mentally categorize her as a special character reserved for banquets.

"Was Yuan also invited to this opening ceremony?" the lady asked curiously, her gentle tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

Yuan Qianye shook his head: "That's not it. I just came here to broaden my horizons because of my friends and elders."

While refusing, he also gleaned some information from the other party's words; the word "also" revealed a lot of specific details.

Perhaps Ms. Hayasaka came here on her own behalf, or perhaps she came on behalf of the Shinomiya family behind her.

But in any case, she was definitely a guest who received an invitation, just like Yoko.

"I see. Then I won't bother you any longer. Perhaps we can find a place to sit down and have a good chat when we have time later. As for my daughter, I am truly grateful for your care lately. As her mother, I really have to thank you properly."

Nao Hayasaka knew her place and knew when to stop. Without prior invitation or arrangement, she didn't want to stand there awkwardly chatting and waste each other's time. After expressing her goodwill, she prepared to take her leave.

"You don't need to be so polite. Ai... Hayasaka is my friend, and I really enjoy spending time with her. I can learn a lot from her."

That last sentence was the absolute truth, without a trace of flattery or politeness.

Nao Hayasaka's smile deepened.

Unlike the previous two times I saw her dressed as a waitress, tonight she wore a pearl-colored gown, which made her look elegant and dignified.

She bowed slightly, her posture reserved: "Then, if there's a chance later, let's find some time to get together. I hope you'll do me the honor of joining us then."

After she finished speaking, she prepared to leave.

“Ms. Hayasaka—” Minamoto Chiya suddenly called out to her: “Um… actually, I have time tonight.”

He wasn't very familiar with Nao Hayasaka, so his sudden remark was somewhat abrupt.

However, considering that his relationship with the maid had gradually gone astray recently, he couldn't care less about that anymore.

Sometimes it's not easy to ask the person directly. In such cases, it's a good option to try to understand the situation by approaching them from the perspective of someone close to them.

As long as you don't have any bad intentions, it doesn't matter if it gets exposed later.

He met the somewhat surprised look in the other person's eyes as they turned around and continued, "If you have time later tonight, I'd like to talk to you about Hayasaka."

The scrutinizing look in Hayasaka Nao's eyes quickly vanished, and a perfectly poised smile curved her lips: "Okay."

So the two exchanged contact information and agreed to meet at a coffee shop or similar place a little later.

After saying goodbye to Nao Hayasaka, Chiya Minamoto walked through the corridor covered with a dark-patterned carpet and found Kazusa on the open-air balcony at the end.

She was quietly resting her hands on the railing, gazing at the distant neon lights.

A night breeze blew by, gently ruffling a few strands of hair by her cheek.

A young man was talking to her with a fawning expression. When Yuan Qianye saw this, he quickly walked over, casually put one hand on her shoulder, and called her name affectionately.

Such a blatant declaration of ownership was not fooled by others. They thought to themselves, "If you already have a male companion, why didn't you say so earlier? You're just wasting my time." They gave a dry laugh and turned to leave.

Kazusa's suppressed impatience vanished, and she turned to look at him. Besides shyness, there was also a hint of reproach, as if she was complaining about why he had only arrived now.

Yuan Qianye chuckled and said, "Why are you looking at me like that? The moment you finished greeting others with your mother, I came straight here to find you."

Although we were slightly delayed by Ms. Hayasaka, it only lasted a minute or two at most.

Feeling Chiya's warm hand on her shoulder, Kazusa didn't take a step to the side to break free, nor did she directly ask him to let go. Instead, she pretended to naturally turn her head back to face the distant city night view.

From a very early time, as early as when he came to her side with a concerned expression to take care of her when she was in abdominal pain, as early as when he took her to dine together at Tokyo Tower on Christmas Eve, she had already developed feelings for him that she was ashamed to express.

She wanted to stay by his side and get more of his attention.

But from then until now, she has never taken the initiative to say anything explicitly to him.

In the past, she dared not express these feelings until they were sorted out, but now that he already has a girlfriend, she has no chance at all.

Kazusa took a shallow breath and said, seemingly without emotion, "It has nothing to do with that."

"It can't be because of Aunt Yoko, can it?" Yuan Qianye's words still carried a reassuring smile.

Kazusa shook her head reluctantly and remained silent.

"I knew it would turn out like this."