They all have hidden attributes!

With Kotoha Tatsumi present, it seemed that the atmosphere between Maya Uesugi and Yuki Tatsumi was quite good.

However, they were clearly talking about a topic that he shouldn't be involved in, so Makoto Takahashi decided to eavesdrop for a while longer to learn from Kotoha Tatsumi's methods of easing tension between the two.

"That's what I mean. People shouldn't ignore each other's opinions and should communicate well with each other. You two should too," said Tachimi Kotoha.

“Saya has never listened to people properly, it’s too much,” Tachimi Yuki said.

"Heh, I won't take things away from others or make demands on them unilaterally like you do," Uesugi Maya sneered disdainfully.

Both of them actually had problems, but now they have both made positive changes, which makes Makoto Takahashi proud.

"What are you thinking, Xiaoye? You can treat me as Xiaocheng's mother if you want, tell me what you think," Tachimi Kotoha interjected.

"I'm exploring a lifestyle where two people can accept each other's strengths and weaknesses."

Uesugi Maya lowered her eyes and answered in a slightly childish voice, "It's not good for his burden to be too heavy. I hope we can reduce some of the unnecessary burdens, share the load, support each other, and live together."

Respect each other, trust each other, accept each other completely, and face difficulties and the future together.

It was undoubtedly the truth, and it was the happiness she wanted to strive for.

Unfortunately, this statement did not receive the blessing of "Takahashi's mother".

"Xiaoye, there's no benefit in doing things against your will."

Kotoha showed no sign of pressure; her voice remained gentle: "Impeccable love doesn't exist."

"How does this sound any different from using Chengjun's favor to set restrictions for him?" Tachimi Yuki seized the opportunity to retaliate.

Her words were somewhat sharp, but Uesugi Maya would seriously consider the advice from an elder.

Well done! I'll see my mother soon!

Makoto Takahashi coughed lightly, raised his hand to knock lightly on the sliding door, stepped onto the tatami mat, and entered the lobby.

Uesugi Maya looked up and stared at him. When she saw him, her delicate face flushed a light red, and her body temperature gradually rose.

The level of shame is worlds apart from saying those things to Tachimi Yuki and Tachimi Kotoha, compared to being overheard by the person in question.

[Forget about it!]

Uesugi Maya glared fiercely at Takahashi Makoto, but he ignored her and greeted Tachimi Kotoha: "Good morning, Mother."

"Good morning, Xiaocheng. Xiaoxing said you two are moving out to live together. Is that true?"

In Kotoha's eyes, there was a meaning that said, "[If you're being coerced, just blink, and your mother will stand up for you.]"

“It was my idea. I hope you won’t be lonely living alone in the main house.” Takahashi Makoto walked over to Tachimi Yuki and sat down next to her, picking up some pastries from the table for breakfast.

"Knowing that my mother is lonely, I hope she will remember to come back often for dinner and visit the children who live alone. I look forward to that too," said Kotoha Tatsumi, relieved.

"I would never force Cheng-kun." Tachikami Yuki rolled her eyes at her mother, annoyed.

"Are you two going to live together?"

Maya Uesugi stared intently at Makoto Takahashi, her brows furrowed, a hint of unease flickering in her beautiful caramel-colored eyes: "When was this decision made?"

Tachimi Yuki brought up the matter of living together specifically to tell Uesugi Maya.

Seeing Uesugi Maya's unpleasant expression, Tachibana Yuki revealed a soft and sweet smile, and relaxed into Takahashi Makoto's arms: "Of course it was yesterday."

The loving atmosphere was so dazzling it almost blinded Uesugi Maya.

She bit her lip, trying hard to suppress the various impulses surging within her, and shot him a blatant look of disgust, her gaze like a knife.

Makoto Takahashi calmly picked up his hot tea, swallowed the pastry in his mouth, and asked Yuki Tachibana, "Will there be many customers today?"

"My mother's friend and my friend are all girls. If you don't like them, you can go and have fun."

Yuki Tachibana, in a good mood, tightened her grip on him, her eyes slowly narrowing: "However, Hanaori and Nekoya will also be coming to wish us a Happy New Year, so it would be better to wait for them to go out together?"

"I'm going to stroll around the Imperial Palace. The streets nearby have a great New Year's atmosphere. I'll come back to find them later." Takahashi Makoto put down his teacup and patted her head.

After bidding farewell to Kotoha, he left the hall, slowing his pace as he walked along the corridor.

Standing at the exit of the mansion, breathing in the cool air, I soon heard familiar footsteps behind me.

Neither too light nor too heavy, each step was steady and deliberate.

Makoto Takahashi turned around and saw Maya Uesugi walking towards him with a tense face and an atmosphere as turbulent as a blizzard.

The temperature was very low. She was wearing a black wool coat with her hands in her pockets, underneath which was a white turtleneck sweater. Her beautiful legs, outlined by dark blue jeans, extended down to a pair of black knee-high snow boots.

"Do you two really need to live together?"

The voice was clear and cold, like a windless winter night, without any hint of loneliness.

But her cold, caramel-colored eyes were devoid of warmth; contempt, disdain, sarcasm... none of the usual colors surfaced, indicating that Uesugi Maya was not calm.

Makoto Takahashi didn't answer, but simply reached out his hand to her.

Uesugi Maya looked down at the hand he offered, hesitated for a moment, then took it out of her pocket and held it, her attitude still indifferent.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Takahashi Makoto took her hand and walked with her under the clear sky.

"I...isn't this a given?"

Uesugi Maya habitually wanted to be stubborn, but hesitated before saying it, and changed her mind: "Yes."

It felt as if a drop of black ink had fallen and stained the pure, flawless snow, causing me to feel a strong sense of exhaustion and resistance.

Her long black hair swayed slowly in the cold wind as she wrapped her coat tightly around herself, keeping the warmth within her slender and soft body.

"Are you angry?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"No."

Disappointed?

"No, it's just a bit of dissatisfaction, not disheartening or something unforgivable."

Uesugi Maya calmed down and adopted a serious attitude towards communication: "I want to know the reason. You have rejected her many times in the past."

"Because I'm dating Sachi, this is an important decision I made myself."

Makoto Takahashi smiled gently and turned to her with unwavering eyes: "Yo, I won't spoil you forever."

"Tsk."

Uesugi Maya clicked her tongue in disgust, then frowned as if reflecting: "I think I've spoiled you too much. You're clearly not going to starve."

"I only learned that recently," Takahashi Makoto explained nonchalantly.

The two walked hand in hand out of the Ritsuken House and slowly strolled along the street, soon arriving at the nearby shopping street.

"The opportunity that led me to become acquainted with Xing is right here."

Makoto Takahashi pointed to a dessert shop on the roadside that mainly sells chocolates, his tone slightly nostalgic: "It was the rainy season. I wanted to go to an art exhibition, but I wasn't familiar with the roads around here, so I hitched a ride with the young lady."

Uesugi Maya remained silent, staring coldly at him.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

Takahashi Makoto felt that the map of Yan was a bit short, and it wasn't the right time to reveal the true intentions.

Just as she was considering whether to continue reviewing her romantic history, Maya Uesugi switched to a sarcastic tone and asked impatiently, "And then?"

Sensing her agitation, Makoto Takahashi was completely bewildered.

They were talking normally just now, why did they suddenly get all worked up?

He looked up and met Uesugi Maya's gaze, squeezing her soft hand tightly: "I know it's not good to talk to you about other girls, but I just wanted to tell you that we also have deep feelings for each other."

"I don't want to hear you say nice things about her."

Uesugi Maya emphasized, her face turning cold with displeasure, "I can let the others go, but I know very well what kind of person she is."

"They suddenly became strict," Takahashi Makoto said, looking up at the sky.

"Tsk." Uesugi Maya frowned as if she found it troublesome.

Entering a specialty restaurant, the two sat down at the counter. The menu included classic Japanese "one soup and three dishes" as well as Western breakfast items such as bread, salad, coffee, and hamburgers.

Maya Uesugi had breakfast at home, while Makoto Takahashi ordered himself a taco, fried egg toast, and coffee.

While waiting for the food to be served, he pondered how to start the conversation with Maya Uesugi. He couldn't continue the topic of Yuki Tachimi, and everything he tried to say would feel abrupt.

If this arouses Uesugi Maya's suspicion, it will be difficult to find such a good opportunity again.

—Whether it's repairing the relationship between Uesugi Maya and Tachimi Yuki, or taking a crucial step, this is a rare opportunity for Takahashi Makoto.

If Uesugi Maya gives in, we can achieve a breakthrough in one fell swoop.

Makoto Takahashi crossed his fingers and shielded his face, staring silently at the kitchen through the glass, racking his brains for a way to start the conversation.

Dating is really not easy.

Maya Uesugi was also deep in thought, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.

Yesterday, Aunt Jingzi, who took care of her when she was little, was still concerned about whether she had won a man's heart through his stomach, and today she learned about this...

"Your coffee has been a while, please."

The restaurant waiter brought coffee, placed the paper cup on the table, and his energetic voice interrupted their thoughts.

Maya Uesugi picked up her coffee, took a small sip, and glanced at Makoto Takahashi, who looked preoccupied.

Could it be that he can't get rid of his own cooking?

Thinking of this, Uesugi Maya couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips and tentatively said, "It seems you won't have a chance to come for dinner in the future."

Makoto Takahashi also sees the topic of [food] as a good opportunity.

He put on a troubled expression, his voice sounding quite troubled: "To be honest, I am a little reluctant to part with it."

"Just [a little]?"

"Okay, it's so delicious that we can't give it up."

Makoto Takahashi let out a reluctant sigh, then turned to see Maya Uesugi's smile tinged with smugness. He carefully cleared his throat.

“We plan to move to the vicinity of Tsurumizawa to reduce commuting time so we can spend more time together.”

"Heh." Uesugi Maya sneered.

In her view, this was Takahashi Makoto testing her, asking if she was interested in moving together so she could easily get free meals.

If I refuse, how can I take him away from Tachimi Yuki?