They all have hidden attributes!

"The car I rode in..." Uesugi Maya set out breakfast, a look of reminiscence on her face.

After a moment's hesitation, as if suddenly remembering something, her face instantly turned cold. She reached out and snatched the envelope, taking out the invitation inside and unfolding it:

Ah, Saionji.

The cold laugh was devoid of any emotion, so flat that it lacked any intonation or rhythm.

Makoto Takahashi stared intently at Maya Uesugi, and seeing the unsure expression on her face as she smiled, he felt a pang of unease.

"So you really were planning to have me take you along?" he asked casually.

"It's not important, you're not allowed to go."

Maya Uesugi casually tossed the envelope into the trash can next to the dining table: "I threw away that Italian suit from last time, and there's no time to order clothes that match my status."

The excuses were somewhat superfluous, sounding like they were just meant to dispel any last vestiges of hope in Makoto Takahashi.

"Maya——"

"Have a meal."

What I meant to say was—

"So annoying, go to hell."

Maya Uesugi interrupted him impatiently, her weary caramel-colored eyes swirling with restlessness.

Makoto Takahashi originally wanted to tell her to rest today, but after seeing Maya Uesugi's performance, he felt that she absolutely had to go to the charity gala.

She has always taken good care of me, so if I can resolve the issue once and for all and let Uesugi Maya get what she wants, it would be a great way to repay her kindness.

At least meet her father and do what you can.

As Takahashi Makoto pondered, he picked up a slice of ham with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. Sitting opposite him, Uesugi Maya was eating breakfast with her head down, her face covered by a shadow, making it impossible to see her expression.

On Maya Uesugi's birthday, she was just as stiff as she is now. Even though she didn't shed tears or suppress her smile, she looked like she would break if touched.

In an irreconcilable silence, the two finished their breakfast.

"I'm sorry, please don't mind me. I might have been a bit too harsh on the Uesugi family."

After calming down, Maya Uesugi stood up to clear the table and said in a steady tone, "It's nothing. Anyway, instead of donating the money, we should use it as funding for the band's activities."

Before Makoto Takahashi could reply, she took the tableware and went into the kitchen.

How could you not care?

The fact that Hell Girl actually said "I'm sorry" is absolutely an unprecedented event.

There's no way to just leave Haki Night unattended.

Makoto Takahashi sighed helplessly, took out his phone, and sent a message to Yuki Tachimi.

[Takahashi: I'll come find you later]

[Tatsumi: I don't know whether to be happy or sad]

[Tatsumi: Makoto-kun, didn't you hate trouble the most?]

[Tatsumi: Pretend you know nothing, Saya won't be affected at all]

[Takahashi: It's troublesome, but I don't like to run away from things. I'm just a bit lazy at times.]

It felt like ages before Yuki finally replied.

[Tatsumi: I've always been here]

After closing the chat window with Yuki Tachimi, Makoto Takahashi announced the good news of profitability in the band's group chat. Considering that they also earned money from YouTube views, everything was going well for the band.

NiceFold's current achievements are largely due to the team leader's efforts. In order to ensure that the team leader takes care of her health, Makoto Takahashi took the liberty of asking for leave for her without permission.

After announcing that he was free to do whatever he wanted today, Makoto Takahashi got up and went into the kitchen. Leaning against the door frame, he watched Maya Uesugi washing dishes in front of the sink.

"I've asked the band for you to take a break. Get some rest. Let the band members make their own arrangements."

"The allocation plan isn't finalized yet. I originally planned to hold a meeting today to discuss it," said Uesugi Maya, meticulously wiping the white porcelain plate without looking up.

"There will be thunderstorms this afternoon, which is not a good time for band activities. The traffic will be terrible."

"Then let everyone take a break."

"I'm going back to sleep a little longer. I have a lunch appointment with Miss. See you later."

Makoto Takahashi turned and left. Maya Uesugi turned to look at his back, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh, unable to say a word.

Back in his apartment, Makoto Takahashi set his alarm and lay down on his comfortable, soft bed for a nap.

In a daze, he heard the sound of rain and faint thunder outside the window. He regained consciousness from his slumber and slowly lifted his eyelids, which were still struggling to close.

Through the gap in the curtains, one could see thick, leaden-gray clouds; the torrential rain had blurred and darkened the streetscape.

The weather forecast is as inaccurate as ever; it clearly said that there would be thunderstorms in the afternoon.

As Takahashi Makoto pondered this, he turned off his phone alarm, which hadn't yet gone off, and chatted with Tachimi Yuki while going downstairs to take a taxi to the Minato Ward.

Upon arriving at the Tachimi family's company building, Kashima Reiko waited at the reception desk on the first floor.

After a brief greeting, under her guidance, Makoto Takahashi took the private elevator to the top floor, to an office decorated in a minimalist style.

In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, Tachimi Yuki sat on the sofa, gazing at Tokyo Bay in the wind and rain. Beside her was a cup of steaming black tea, the fragrance of flowers and honey intertwining under the bright, warm yellow light.

"Sister Xing, is there anything you really need to say in person?"

Makoto Takahashi stopped beside her, sat on the single sofa next to the coffee table, picked up the chocolate that was tossed on the coffee table, unwrapped it and took a bite.

"Because charity galas are just so boring."

Tachibana Yuki tilted her head and looked over, a slightly troubled expression on her face. Her shoulder-length blond hair shone with a luster: "Silent auction, piano performance, networking party, and volunteer chef teams can be hired for a fee. There's absolutely no need to attend."

“I want to broaden my horizons,” Makoto Takahashi said.

"Honestly, Cheng-kun, you clearly don't like these kinds of social occasions, do you? And there are older, unfamiliar women who are difficult to deal with."

The seemingly casual tone concealed a powerful resistance.

Makoto Takahashi met her gaze with a calm look, and his expression and determination were reflected in Yuki's clear, azure eyes.

After a moment of silence, she sighed, her sweet voice tinged with helplessness: "Chengjun, actually, neither you nor I were originally qualified to attend this charity gala."

"So, art is just a pretext, and the Uesugi family has ulterior motives for inviting me?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"I'm not sure, since the invitation used an elegant nickname."

Li Jianxing picked up his black tea, took a sip, leaned back slightly on the sofa, and patiently explained the situation to him:

"However, the participants in this dinner are all people who carry the torch. For example, my mother, and people like the Superintendent General of Police."

"I'm not sure if Uesugi Satoshi is trying to elevate your artistic talent in this setting, or if he simply wants to repair his relationship with his daughter. Is he putting pressure on you? Or does he genuinely value you? Who knows what he's thinking?"

"Does Chengjun dislike conflict? What if the other party has ill intentions? What will you do in that situation?"

"Turning the invitation is the best option."

She considered many things from Takahashi Makoto's perspective and ultimately came to this conclusion.

"Charity dinners are informal invitations, and it wouldn't be impolite to refuse them bluntly. Besides, you're an artist, so being a little aloof is no big deal."

Hearing Tachikami Yuki say this, Takahashi Makoto clearly understood her concerns.

To be honest, he hadn't considered whether the other party had ill intentions, but Ritsuki was unaware that he possessed a system, and his starting point for thinking prioritized [not wanting you to suffer any injustice].

I didn't expect the young lady to be so protective of her own; it's kind of cute.

Especially considering that she had never shown any sympathy for Uesugi Maya, who had suffered repeated defeats, Takahashi Makoto deeply felt how much Tachimi Yuki valued and cared about him in comparison.

"No matter what the other party's intentions are, I don't want to run away."

Makoto Takahashi looked at her calmly and said slowly, "Since we're playing in a band together, I can't just ignore her pained expression."

He wanted to resolve the family issues that Uesugi Maya had vaguely hinted at once.

"Xiaoye won't be going with you. She never attends these kinds of social events." Tachikami frowned unhappily, his eyes slightly cold.

"I know."

"Chengjun, haven't I made myself clear enough?"

"I'm not here to argue with you."

Makoto Takahashi pondered for a moment, then sat up straight and turned his head to look at the churning dark gray clouds outside the French windows:

“I’ve always believed that there are no right answers in life, and it doesn’t matter what kind of person you want to be. As a friend, since Maya has a goal, I should give her a push when she wants to run away.”

No matter what, he was Uesugi Maya's first friend.

"Even if her beliefs are foolish?" Tatsumi asked.

Seeing Takahashi Makoto nod slowly, she suddenly remembered the seemingly foolish yet righteous remarks he made when they went to see the Medici paintings together.

"I just can't do anything with you, Cheng-kun. I don't dislike your childishness, though."

Yuki Tachibana put down her teacup, got up from the sofa, walked to the desk on the side, picked up the tablet: "Before you become powerful enough to make any capricious request and have the whole world fulfill it, I will protect you."

As she spoke, a glint of wisdom flashed in her bright blue eyes, and Takahashi Makoto instinctively sensed that the young lady had some wicked intentions.

"I'll go with you tomorrow night. I'll have Lengzi write a reply email for you. Bring a female companion. You shouldn't have forgotten the etiquette we learned at the birthday party last time, right?"

"I didn't expect it to come in handy so quickly, otherwise I would have really embarrassed myself," Makoto Takahashi joked.

"While those old guys probably won't bully a junior like you, it's always better to be prepared. What if he really isn't afraid of losing face? You should also prepare another suit; for this kind of informal occasion, the vehicle can't be too fancy, otherwise it won't be humble enough..."

Rinjitsu arranged everything in an orderly and meticulous manner, which made people feel very reassured.

"Don't worry, Chengjun, with me here, I will never let you suffer any injustice."

While her protectiveness was endearing, Makoto Takahashi always felt something was off.

"Do you think I'm bad?" he asked, puzzled.

"No, in chess, protecting the king is just as important as attacking. I will control the situation."

The young lady's controlling nature seems a bit too strong.

Chapter 96 Body Temperature on a Thunderstorm Night

As night fell, the weather worsened.