They all have hidden attributes!

Can I open it?

In response to her question, Makoto Takahashi nodded silently.

Nekoya Hina loosened her grip on his hands, untied the ribbon, her movements slightly hesitant, her fingers trembling slightly.

It might be because of the cold, or it might be because they guessed it.

"...Should I open it now?"

She glanced at Makoto Takahashi with a look that said, "Once you open it, you can't take it back," and then opened the box with a "click." The pure gold ring reflected the brilliant sunlight, and the diamonds sparkled.

Nekoya Hina's body jerked violently, and she froze on the spot, her eyes wide open and motionless.

"It might be a bit late to say this now."

Makoto Takahashi picked up the ring and slipped it onto her slender, pale finger; the size was just right.

"Hina, I like you."

Hina Nekoya's clear eyes reflected a golden light, shimmering with moisture.

"This feeling, described as [with marriage as the premise], is absolutely genuine." Makoto Takahashi's eyes were calm and firm.

"What is that?"

Nekoya Hina's face scrunched up, tears streaming down her face: "You're only saying this now? As expected, Makoto is a scumbag."

"But really..."

"--Very good."

She turned her face away and composed herself.

About five or six minutes later, she turned around and flashed a brighter smile than usual: "Great, I like Acheng the most too, ah, I feel like I'm going to die."

"That's an exaggeration."

"Acheng, is this a diamond?"

"Yes."

"Is it very expensive?"

Watching Nekoya Hina raise her left hand, letting the diamonds reflect the sunlight in her greedy pose, Takahashi Makoto sighed helplessly: "If you like it, I can buy you diamonds for a lifetime."

"I'm relieved to hear Acheng say that. It wouldn't be your style if it wasn't a bit serious."

Hina Nekoya's expression completely relaxed, almost to the point of giggling: "Sparkling, so pretty, hehehe..."

Around 9 o'clock, Makoto Takahashi saw the cat house parents walking from the direction of the station parking lot.

In his memory, Nekoya's father was a gentle and kind man, while Nekoya's mother almost always wore her heart on her sleeve and rarely tried to hide it.

Seeing that Yuuji Nekoya's face was only troubled and depressed, and that Asuka Nekoya didn't show any anger, Makoto Takahashi breathed a slight sigh of relief; the situation was much better than he had imagined.

At least you won't be directly scolded or completely unable to communicate.

As for other matters, you can explain the situation clearly and gradually gain the other party's understanding and recognition in the future. Makoto Takahashi has absolute confidence that he can give Haruna Nekoya happiness.

As the cat house parents approached, he stood up from the bench.

Hina Nekoya, who was examining the ring, looked in the direction of Makoto Takahashi's gaze, recognized the familiar figure, and mustered up the courage to stand beside him.

"Uncle Cat House, it's been a long time."

Makoto Takahashi took the initiative to greet her, while Haruna Nekoya felt a little embarrassed. Although she hadn't explicitly said anything, she had revealed some things to some extent.

Moreover, Makoto Takahashi is a recipient of the National Honor Award, and news about him is everywhere. His relationship with the daughter of a chaebol is no secret.

Hina Nekoya's attempt to hide the truth during the school trip was no longer working.

"Long time no see. I'm sure Hina has caused you a lot of trouble."

Yuji Nekoya glanced at his daughter, who dared not speak, and exchanged pleasantries with Makoto Takahashi in a gentle tone. After a few polite words, he invited Makoto Takahashi home as a matter of courtesy.

Their friendliness far exceeded Nekoya Haruna's expectations.

She linked arms with Makoto Takahashi and followed her parents to the parking lot, asking mysteriously, "Makoto, this is strange, could there be some kind of trap?"

The strange words did not escape Nekoya Asuka's ears. She was already a little sullen, and seeing her daughter's devoted look, she turned around and glared at Nekoya Hina.

“No matter what, they are your biological parents.” Makoto Takahashi pinched Hina Nekoya’s cheek.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, the two got into the back seat of the white SUV. After a brief chat, the cat-house father focused on driving.

The cat house mother wasn't as lively as when they last met. Occasionally, she would see her daughter staring at the diamonds and grinning foolishly in the rearview mirror, and give her a reproachful look for being so disappointing.

Makoto Takahashi looked out the car window at the scenery for a while. Once Hina Nekoya came to her senses and started chatting with Nekoya's mother, the atmosphere in the car was no longer dull, and he opened his book to read.

A little after 11 o'clock, the vehicle drove into the village. When Takahashi Makoto looked up, he just happened to see the bus route sign slide past the window.

As soon as I got out of the car and approached the entrance to the cat house, a mouthwatering aroma wafted over, making me feel as if I was being welcomed home.

"Yinna, come and help me prepare lunch." Nekoya's mother put on an apron and headed into the kitchen.

"I'm not going."

"What will happen to a girl who can't cook?"

Today, Nekoya's mother was a bit strict, and Nekoya Hina, feeling suppressed, could only mutter, "A-Cheng's cooking is really delicious," before heading to the kitchen.

Makoto Takahashi gave her a look that said "good luck," and followed the cat-house father into the living room.

After sitting down in front of the kotatsu, the cat-house father made him a cup of tea, then got up and went into the smoking room, closed the wooden door, and sat down inside to smoke.

Takahashi Makoto was inevitably a little nervous. He took a sip of tea, sat up straight, and waited for the other person to speak first.

The light from the lighter illuminated the sliding door a second time before Yuuji Nekoya's voice came from inside.

“Takahashi-kun, when I was young, the National Honor Award was only awarded to those who were deeply loved by the people, had made outstanding contributions, and gave society a bright hope.”

"In that case, I am indeed somewhat unqualified."

Makoto Takahashi candidly admitted, with a self-deprecating smile: "But these kinds of awards have long since become something to boost approval ratings."

“I didn’t mean you’re not good enough. On the contrary, Takahashi-kun, you are indeed very outstanding, and it’s normal for Hina to be infatuated with you.”

At this point, Nekoya Yuuji sighed helplessly and hesitated for a long while:

“Asuka and I talk about these things every night. If this is the happiness that Hina has chosen for herself, we shouldn’t try to stop her. But Hina is our only daughter, and we don’t want to see her go down the wrong path. But if we try to stop her, will she definitely find happiness?”

From his dry voice, Makoto Takahashi could clearly feel the love and genuine worry that the Nekoya parents had for their daughter.

"In other words, if Hina becomes unhappy because of our dissuasion, it is also a tragedy for us as parents."

The cat house parents, being so open-minded, were at a loss for what to do after this happened.

After a moment of contemplation, Makoto Takahashi spoke from the bottom of his heart, attempting to gain the understanding of the cat-man's father:

“I have always cherished my relationship with Hina. I love her smile and therefore do not want to see her bear the pressure of her family.”

"As a result, because I never took that step, she felt troubled, uneasy, and anxious."

"I didn't expect to get your and Auntie Nekoya's approval immediately, but I will definitely accompany her back to Hokkaido during future holidays so that you can witness that her choice was not wrong."

After those resolute words, silence fell over the room.

Compared to Hina Nekoya, who only went home on her way home during a school trip last year, Makoto Takahashi's promise is undoubtedly more convincing.

As long as he takes good care of Nekoya Haruna, at least Nekoya's parents can feel at ease.

A silent stillness enveloped the living room until footsteps sounded outside the door, at which point the cat-house father spoke: "Let's stay here for the night."

"Acheng, we're having beef offal hot pot for lunch! Do you want it with udon noodles or rice?"

When Nekoya Hina opened the bedroom door, she heard her father speaking and shouted without any regard for her parents' feelings, "Great! This time we can sleep in the same bed!"

"I also can."

Makoto Takahashi could already picture the black face of the cat-man's father. He took a sip of tea, stood up awkwardly, and said, "I'll go help in the kitchen."

"I'm with you, which means I have absolutely no talent for cooking." Nekoya Hina clung to his arm affectionately.

Chapter 246 Spring Break Passes By

"Oh well, anyway."

Sitting at the dining table, the cat house mother flashed her familiar, warm smile: "Welcome! Makoto, it's so nice to have you here!"

"Thank you. It's been a while since I last greeted you. I'm relieved to see you in good spirits," Takahashi Makoto replied politely.

Perhaps because Hina Nekoya understood her mother's personality well, Asuka Nekoya's attitude softened considerably when she went to help in the kitchen.

As for the cat-house father, he was more concerned about his daughter's happiness. After thinking about it alone for a long time, he decided to give Takahashi Makoto the most basic trust.

Currently, the atmosphere at the cat house for lunch is generally harmonious, and the awkwardness at first meeting has dissipated.

The lunch on the table was plentiful, including beef offal hot pot, stew, udon noodles, and seafood rice that Makoto Takahashi helped make.

It seems that the cat house's parents never intended to be too harsh on the two of them. When they went to the kitchen, all kinds of fresh seafood filled the buckets, which was not the amount that an ordinary family would keep at home.

"Alright, alright, let's eat."

Nekoya Hina swallowed the saliva secreted by her tongue, then put her hands together in prayer position while holding the chopsticks.

The Nekoya family has this custom, and in order to better integrate into the family atmosphere, Makoto Takahashi naturally wouldn't stand out, so he put his hands together with Hina Nekoya, who was sitting next to him.

"I'm starting to eat."

"I'm starting to eat."

The voices overlapped, and the cat parents, seeing the striking resemblance between the two, exchanged helpless smiles.

The flavorful beef offal hot pot goes well with udon noodles, and the stew is a rich broth mixed with chopped ingredients, making it a perfect dish for early spring.

"Wow, this is delicious."

Nekoya Haruna stuck her rice spoon into the seafood rice and said while eating, "I could never get this kind of seafood at home before. Makoto is really the best."

Makoto Takahashi gently stirred the thick soup with his chopsticks, glancing at her with a helpless look: "Aunt Nekoya's cooking is also very thoughtful, it's just that you're used to it."

"That's right, honey, Hina went to Tokyo and she's definitely gone astray."

Nekoya's mother complained to Nekoya's father, and Nekoya Hina vaguely retorted, "What? I didn't say it was bad."

After lunch, the cat house parents took turns washing the dishes.