They all have hidden attributes!

Kashima Reiko raised her eyes and met Takahashi Makoto's gaze with a calm look, her tone unusually trembling: "I wavered, twice, but I still couldn't abandon Sachi."

She was the one who most hoped that Makoto Takahashi wouldn't make a choice. For Reiko Kashima, the past days of growing up with Yuki Tatsumi could not be summarized as a master-servant relationship.

"I will protect this relationship," Kashima Reiko said with a determined tone.

The aroma of black tea filled the air, and the accumulated stress gradually dissipated.

Makoto Takahashi picked up his chopsticks, placed the apple and braised chicken cutlet into his bowl, and said to Yuki Tatemi, "You can make any requests you have, including Reiko's."

Whether driven by greed or ideals, he must make a statement.

"I like Reiko, and Sachi is also very special to me. Maybe I have a little trouble balancing ideals and reality."

At this point, Makoto Takahashi slowed his speech again, emphasizing his belief word by word: "But I will do everything I can, and I will do my best even for things that seem far-fetched."

Faced with his sudden words, neither Tachimi Yuki nor Kashima Reiko could readily agree; they had to think carefully before giving a reply.

"Let's eat first," said Tachimi Yuki, picking up his chopsticks casually.

"I'm sorry, I was too willful," Makoto Takahashi said.

“That’s not true.” Kashima Reiko categorically denied his statement.

For all three, facing complex interpersonal relationships was a test. As a result, Tachimi Yuki and Kashima Reiko both chose to back down to some extent to avoid getting entangled in endless disputes.

As the atmosphere gradually quieted down, after dinner, Tachikami Yuki helped tidy up the table and went to the kitchen with Kashima Reiko to wash the dishes.

Makoto Takahashi opened the washi paper sliding door, and the light from the tatami room shone into the courtyard. The wind from the night sky carried the soft rustling sound of osmanthus leaves rubbing together.

He sat on the veranda, pondering whether he was right.

The answer is that when faced with their pure feelings, there is no need to think. If we leave regrets because of running away, it would not be in line with our ideals.

The only thing I need to do is to do my best to bring happiness.

silence.

I don't know how much time passed before I heard soft footsteps behind me, and a soft touch pressed against me, enveloping me in a delicate floral fragrance.

Feeling the warmth emanating from his body through the fabric of his clothes, Makoto Takahashi asked Yuki Tachimi in a gentle tone, "Do you acknowledge her loyalty?"

There's no need to ask whether she saw Kashima Reiko's feelings.

"I'm more concerned about how you feel."

Yuki's voice returned to its usual light and sweet tone, and the young lady's verbal tic was as adorable as ever.

"Cheng-kun, you can't escape now, can you?"

She made no attempt to hide her desire to control him, to which Takahashi Makoto gave a speechless laugh: "Mutual control is fine too."

Is that all? he wondered.

Since meeting today, Takahashi Makoto has been unable to figure out Tachimi Yuki's attitude and cannot see her true thoughts.

What exactly happened?

She's clearly my girlfriend, but...

Makoto Takahashi doesn't think Kashima Reiko is special enough. Anyone who likes someone will have a possessive streak, not to mention that Tachimi Yuki herself is extremely controlling. Will she really accept this result from the bottom of her heart?

"Cheng-kun, are you considering dating me with marriage in mind?"

Yuki Tachimi wrapped her hand around his chest, pressed it against his heart, and whispered in his ear, "As long as Reiko is still working for the Tachimi family, it's only a matter of time."

In her opinion, it was inevitable that Kashima Reiko would fall in love with Takahashi Makoto.

Handsome, talented, well-connected, kind and considerate... It would be strange if Kashima Reiko didn't like a male homeowner like that.

"Is the situation still under your control?" Takahashi Makoto raised his hand to stroke the cheek that was close to his ear.

"The most important reason is, Chengjun, of all the endings, the one I can least accept is losing you."

Tachikami forcefully pushed him onto the wooden floor of the veranda, came up above him, and looked down at him with deep affection.

Her short, golden hair fell down, casting shadows that obscured her pure and lovely face, but the emotions surging in her eyes alone evoked a sweet feeling deep within one's heart.

She brushed her hair aside, slowly leaned down, and pressed her face close to Makoto Takahashi's until they could feel each other's breath:

"Isn't that enough, Mr. Cheng?"

"What?" Takahashi Makoto asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

"It's okay. I told you, I won't refuse your request, and I'll take care of your feelings for everyone."

Seeing the gentle smile on his face, he felt a sense of relief. Then, the sweet fantasy he had been holding deep in his heart quickly flowed through his veins and burned throughout his body.

This was the first time in his life that Makoto Takahashi had so longed for another person.

Feelings that went beyond liking or being in love swelled within him, and upon realizing this, all he wanted to do was kiss Yuki.

"But it's not without its costs."

A sly smile played on Li Jianxing's lips as she gently poked his heart with her finger, saying, "If you just talk to Leng Zi, she'll definitely accept your so-called ideals unconditionally."

"You know her way too well, don't you?" Takahashi Makoto said with a wry smile.

"How long do you think we've known each other? I've spent more time with Lengzi than with my mother."

Tachibana Yuki tilted her head slightly, the movement strangely sexy: "I don't want to lose to her, but I can't let you get away with it, really."

"So?" Takahashi Makoto could hardly contain the anticipation in his eyes.

"From now on, either you'll be obedient to my every command, or you'll be so strong that I have nothing to say to you, understand?"

Li Jianxing revealed a dangerous smile that made people's hearts flutter, and a system panel popped up in front of him.

[Assist Card - Nemesis]

She tolerated your philandering.

[Reward: Lv.1 Photographer]

[Mu Qiang: When activating the skill, the effect level is increased by 1 level by default, meaning that using a Lv1 skill will actually have the effect of a Lv2 skill.]

I first unlocked this hidden attribute on the way to Kamakura, when I wrote a whole notebook of lyrics for Hakiyo.

Makoto Takahashi closed the system panel, shook his head, and feigned ignorance: "I don't understand."

"For example, art."

"Xing, I love you."

"Oh, um."

When Makoto Takahashi suddenly kissed her, Yuki Tachibana gasped in surprise, and then they embraced tightly under the osmanthus tree where tiny white blossoms were falling.

Feeling as if in a dream during a passionate kiss, Makoto Takahashi came to his senses to find himself lying on the tatami mat in the second-floor bedroom, in the middle of three futons laid out side by side.

— Kashima Reiko broke the silence by saying the bath water was ready, so he took a bath first and then went upstairs to his bedroom to wait.

wow-

The door slid open with a powerful sound. Takahashi Makoto looked up and saw two pairs of delicate, fair feet stepping into view, their snow-white calves glistening with moisture.

"Cheng-kun, today is Rei-ko's birthday, after all."

Wearing a light blue two-piece pajama set, Tachimi Yuki gently nudged him and asked Kashima Reiko, "Where's the hairdryer?"

"The third drawer on the left."

Kashima Reiko dried her hair with a towel and said expressionlessly, "I don't care."

"It can't be today, no matter what. Otherwise, what will we do to celebrate our anniversaries in the future?"

Tachikawa took a hairdryer out of the closet drawer, plugged it in, and used a cushion brush to comb her hair: "Sunday night, Mom is missing you a bit."

The hairdryer was high-end and made no noise. His girlfriend's sweet voice was clear, but Takahashi Makoto still couldn't quite understand it.

"So what do I need to do now?" he asked blankly.

"You're so stupid." Tachimi Yuki gave him a troubled look.

Kashima Reiko was more direct. She knelt down on the bed next to her and forcefully pushed him to the far left: "I want to sleep in the middle. Come to the main house for dinner on Sunday night."

"okay."

Makoto Takahashi felt a slight pang of regret, but considering there was plenty of time in the future, he didn't mind tonight.

While drying her hair, Tachikami followed him with her eyes: "By the way, Makoto-kun, I'm very angry about the dirt that Sayo has on me."

"Why bring this up all of a sudden?" Takahashi Makoto suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Because you've gotten a little too cocky."

Tachikawa Yuki put down the hairdryer, walked over, and stepped on his abs through the blanket: "If I'm not mistaken, back in Chiba, the thing that Sayo had leverage over you was Reiko's affair, right?"

"Yes," Takahashi Makoto frankly admitted.

Why did she know first?

"Guess."

"You mean, Sayo knows you better than me and Reiko?" Tachikami asked with a smile, but the smile on his lips was more dangerous than ever before.

Makoto Takahashi swallowed hard, then decisively raised his hands in surrender:

"I'm sorry, I was too arrogant."

"Chengjun is very sensible."

Li Jianxing let him go, lifted the blanket, and lay down on the rightmost side of the bedding.

After Kashima Reiko lay down between the two of them, she said in a sweet, coquettish voice:

"I'm turning off the lights, goodnight."

The overhead light went out, plunging the room into darkness, with a faint scent of citrus shower gel wafting through the air, bringing a sense of calm.

As Makoto Takahashi lay in the bedding, just as he closed his eyes, a soft, warm hand reached out and took his hand.

Regardless, the dust has finally settled.

Saturday, October 9.

The sound of bicycles on the street drifted through the open window. Makoto Takahashi opened his eyes. The tatami mat, illuminated by the sunlight, was empty, as if everything from last night had been an illusion.

Finally, did you forget to cut the cake?