They all have hidden attributes!

Entering the mansion, passing through a winding corridor, and arriving at a sliding wooden door, a cold, clear string sound suddenly rang in my ears.

An archer may lie, but the sound of the arrow leaving the bowstring does not lie. Therefore, Makoto Takahashi always believed that Yuki Tatsumi was a person who was warm on the outside but cold on the inside.

Kashima Reiko raised her hand and gently knocked twice on the wooden door, and Tachimi Yuki's sweet voice came from inside.

"Junior Takahashi, please come in."

Kashima Reiko gave her a look that seemed to say, "[Go in yourself]," and then turned and left.

Makoto Takahashi took a deep breath to calm himself, opened the wooden door, and stepped into the semi-open shooting range, where a cool breeze greeted him.

There are no air conditioners or other electrical appliances in the wooden shooting range with a gentle breeze, but the temperature is very comfortable. The bamboo forest on both sides of the archery range is green and translucent, and the slender leaves sway with a refreshing scent.

Wearing hakama, Tachimi Yuki stood barefoot on the clean wooden floor, holding a bamboo bow, her back to him, her short golden hair swaying gently in the wind.

Her shooting style is clean and crisp, possessing a dignified beauty.

Good evening, senior Lijian.

Makoto Takahashi greeted him in a calm tone, his gaze falling on the target 28 meters away. He saw that all of the dozen or so black-feathered arrows had hit the target, and some were even clustered around the bullseye.

He said with a bit of a laugh, "It seems that senior doesn't need much extra guidance. As long as she stops imitating my shooting style, she definitely won't lose to Uesugi-kun."

"That's true, but if it's a match against Takahashi-senpai, he'll definitely lose, right?"

Tachimi Yuki turned around and looked at him, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She trailed off in a teasing tone and said, "Hey, junior, do you want me to beat Uesugi-kun?"

With a nonchalant look in her eyes and her beautiful blue eyes, Makoto Takahashi replied indifferently, "Of course I don't want to be a slave to my senior. Who knows what terrible things might happen."

"The senior only gives perks to the juniors she likes, how could it be bad?"

With that, Tachibana Yuki put down the Japanese bow in his hand, walked to the tea table placed to the side, sat down with his hips pressing against his ankles, and waved with a smile:

"However, of course I will respect my junior's opinion. If he insists on favoring Xiaoye, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Senior, you're trying to lose the match on purpose, aren't you?" Makoto Takahashi sat cross-legged across the tea table from her, his expression nonchalant.

"Why would you think that?" Tachimi asked, feigning confusion.

"After Uesugi wins the match, he'll have no reason to continue playing in the band, right?"

"Hmm~ It seems like you know very well how much I like you."

Seeing her smile happily, Takahashi Makoto's lips twitched slightly, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

With elegant and skillful movements, Tachibana Yuki brewed black tea and said slowly, "Playing in a band is not suitable for you, junior. You should become a world-renowned painter."

Why must I become a painter? Or an artist?

Makoto Takahashi picked up the chocolate on the tea table, unwrapped it, and took a bite: "Even if you have artistic talent, it doesn't mean you have to do this, right? I don't think there are any right answers in life."

"Isn't becoming the strongest creature on Earth the right answer?" Tachimi asked with a smile.

"Of course not, that's just something I want to do."

After a moment's thought, he explained in a more accessible way: "Taking 'The Moon Over the Mountain' as an example, I have never thought of becoming a beautiful jade. If we think about it another way, why should I become a beautiful jade?"

"But this won't work, will it?"

Tachikawa Yuki poured a cup of black tea and handed it to Takahashi Makoto, staring into his eyes as he said, "Junior, this won't get me to agree to Reiko playing in a band."

As long as people have desires and things they want to do, they must act in accordance with certain directions and rules, and cannot be carefree and do whatever they want.

Knowing this, Tachikami Yuki calmly said, "There's also the Japanese Young Artists Group Exhibition. Even if you're exceptionally talented, you can't win an award without my help."

"I don't quite understand what you mean, senior." Takahashi Makoto frowned, thinking she was threatening him, and felt displeased.

"In the Japanese art world, seniority is very important. It's much more complicated than my junior imagined to want to follow the path of a traditional artist."

Amidst the elegant and delicate aroma of black tea, Riki patiently began to explain.

After listening to her recount the various miscellaneous matters of the Japanese art world, and recalling Uesugi Maya's remarks last night and today, Takahashi Makoto quickly understood what was going on, and his expression gradually softened.

"Remember the series of paintings in the art museum? It's not just women who sacrifice happiness in arranged marriages."

Li Jianxing narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, her gentle tone carrying a profound meaning: "Junior brother is just like Henry IV. In order to achieve his goal, he must sacrifice himself and obtain the necessary help."

To win an award at a group exhibition of young Japanese artists, one must have the support of a family of artists. Makoto Takahashi clearly recognized that she was using such methods to bind him.

This is very much in line with Yuki Tachimi's style; she is a very controlling person.

Chapter 46: Starting with the Small Things?

"Hey, junior, how about going to date me?"

Yuki Tachibana swallowed a mouthful of black tea, smiling as she gazed into Makoto Takahashi's eyes, the teacup still resting against her lips:

“This is good for all three of us. Reiko can play in a band, with the support of the Tachimi family. You can do whatever you want in Tokyo, and I don’t need to deliberately lose the game.”

Makoto Takahashi certainly understood the reasoning behind it, and he was not someone who was oblivious to reality.

However, even if someone likes you, you will feel very uncomfortable if you associate with them because of interests or external things. Moreover, in Tachimi Yuki’s view, she is still the prey.

Even if it means losing out on the monthly performance review, I genuinely don't want to agree.

Seeing that Takahashi Makoto remained silent, Tachibana Yuki put down his teacup, smiled, and asked in a gentle tone:

"Junior, are you thinking that after becoming a powerful creature like Kaido in the Straw Hat Pirates manga, you must also crack down on the dark unspoken rules, just like you crack down on arranged marriages?"

“You can do it now. The Lijian family has the ability. As long as we get married, you can do it right now.”

"There are also rumored geniuses who appear only once in a century. You can also experience the fun of suppressing geniuses."

Through her patient guidance, Makoto Takahashi could sense Yuki Tatsumi's feelings for him, and of course, her devilish personality was also fully revealed.

[Angel] is just a beautifying filter in the eyes of passersby. Only those who have truly understood and interacted with Tachimi Yuki can appreciate how cold her heart is.

They clearly have feelings for me, but they only think about controlling and binding me, focusing on interests rather than emotions.

"Senior, I don't like your style, I would even say I hate it." Takahashi Makoto frankly expressed his feelings, without hiding anything or lying.

"Mmm~ But there's nothing I can do about it."

With a smile that didn't fade, and without changing her expression, she said softly, "Art and power have always been inseparable. Of course, most artists are devoted to their own hearts and cherish pure love."

"That's why they are so poor."

"Camille is the absolute protagonist in Monet's works, the muse of art, but in order to ensure the stability of his real life, didn't he still marry Alice?"

She gave examples as if she had prepared in advance, showing that she didn't have time to go to the academy today and had spent a lot of time on herself.

Makoto Takahashi picked up his teacup, took a sip, looked away, and turned to look at the bamboo grove on both sides of the archery path, which was making a soft "rustling" sound. A hint of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

Immediately, you will find that she is beautiful, noble, and extremely wealthy, but unfortunately, this place is not ideal. If you get to know her slowly, the two of you may very well develop a bond.

"Senior, as I just said, I never thought of becoming a gem."

When he said this, there was no trace of reluctance or regret on his face. As a result, the composed smile of the man who was about to leave froze on his face, and his beautiful blue eyes instantly became still.

This is not a lie. Makoto Takahashi's aesthetic talent only thawed after school today. In the past, he had no pursuit of art, but now he only wants to draw [things he likes].

A cool evening breeze carried away the elegant and delicate aroma of black tea. Tachibana Yuki slowly stood up, looking down at Takahashi Makoto, her gentle eyes radiating a subtle sense of danger.

"Junior, you're more complicated than I imagined."

After darkness fell, the bright lights of the shooting range accentuated her slender waist and full breasts, making her appear exceptionally alluring from the angle from which Makoto Takahashi looked up.

A burning desire for control surged within Yuki Tatsumi, spreading like paint splashed on water.

She decided to be more patient and take it slowly.

"How about I change the terms? If you quit the light music club after Saya wins the competition, I will support your artistic career on behalf of the Tachimi family. What do you say?"

Compared to [dating], this condition is incredibly lenient.

But no matter how sweet the voice, how light the tone, or how unique the spoiled young lady's quirks, it cannot change the fact that this is essentially an exchange of benefits.

"You don't really like playing in a band, do you, junior?" Tachimi Yuki pressed.

Makoto Takahashi finished his tea, stood up, and said, "I'll seriously consider it after the archery competition."

Although he was indifferent to playing in a band, he didn't dislike the light music club.

The light music club has air conditioning, lots of books, iced cola, and is secluded.

As the club president, Maya Uesugi is not only beautiful, but she also helps clean the apartment, prepare dinner and bento boxes, and takes care of her own feelings.

Moreover, compared to Tachimi Yuki, she truly understands what respect means.

The downsides are that he is too stubborn, speaks without tact, has a cold gaze, and is occasionally sarcastic.

However, after spending time together, Makoto Takahashi no longer disliked Maya Uesugi as much as he had when they first met. Sometimes he even found her disdainful and contemptuous expressions quite amusing.

After their archery competition concludes, he decides what to do based on Uesugi Maya's attitude at that time.

—If the relationship of mutual exploitation ends in her opinion, she can leave the light music club and exchange her support for the Tachimi family without feeling any guilt.

Conversely, if Uesugi Maya, after winning the match, admits that their relationship goes beyond mere exploitation, then wasting one "test" wouldn't matter, as there will be countless more "tests" in the future.

That being said, she might not win, and the final outcome could be that the two of them go through thick and thin together, serving as slaves to the young lady all day long.

Having made up their minds, Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tachibana bid each other farewell.

"Now that you no longer need guidance on archery, I have fulfilled my promise to you, Kashima-senpai."

He bent down, picked up the unfinished chocolate on the table, took a bite, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, exclaimed, "Ah!"

"By the way, senior, what are your thoughts on Kashima-senpai joining the light music club?"

"all right."

Takahashi Makoto was taken aback by Tachimi Yuki's quick agreement. After a two-second eye contact, she made a condition: "I'll agree as long as you call me by my first name from now on."

It was another case of a [quid pro quo] arrangement, which Makoto Takahashi disliked, but this time he couldn't refuse.

Because the condition was too simple, and he had confidently told Kashima Reiko that he would definitely let her join the light music club.

After a moment's hesitation, Takahashi Makoto tentatively asked, "Sachi-senpai?"

"No need to call me senior, Cheng-kun."

Tachibana Yuki immediately broke into a satisfied smile, a hint of smugness appearing in her slightly narrowed, deep blue eyes: "Dinner is kaiseki cuisine, would you like to stay for dinner?"

Feeling a tightness in his chest and a bit uncomfortable from being slowly boiled like a frog, Makoto Takahashi shook his head and refused, "Thank you, but no need."

Seeing him turn and leave without a second thought, Rikka was actually quite happy.