I really just want to grind for entries related to crossover anime/manga.

Thinking of this, Mai Sakurajima's heart beat even faster, a mixture of annoyance, helplessness, and a hint of secret sweetness.

She quickened her pace, almost jogging, as if trying to escape the tremor in her heart caused by his seemingly shameless yet incredibly hurtful words.

Genkawa Yu followed behind her at a leisurely pace, keeping a step's distance.

After a while, Mai Sakurajima suddenly stopped and turned around. The night wind blew her long hair. She looked at Yu Genkawa, who had followed her. Her eyes, which were still slightly red from crying, shone brightly in the night and under the lamplight.

"If I keep walking, will you keep following me?"

She asked, her tone carrying a hint of childish sulking and probing that she herself was unaware of.

Yuan Chuanyou walked up to her, stopped, and looked directly into her eyes. Without any hesitation, he answered decisively.

"of course."

Two simple words, yet they carry immense weight.

The night was gentle, a breeze from the river caressed their faces, and the lights on the opposite bank intertwined behind them to create a dazzling backdrop.

The two stood on the bustling riverside walkway, gazing at each other.

Sakurajima Mai looked into Genkawa Yu's black eyes, which seemed to devour all light. There was no mockery, no perfunctoriness in them, only a calm seriousness and persistence.

The invisible layer of ice that had previously stood between the two, due to tears, arguments, and obstacles in reality, seemed to have quietly melted away in this brief conversation and the exchange of firm gazes.

At this moment, those complex emotions seemed to be somewhat dispersed by the night breeze on the Bund, leaving only clear reflections in each other's eyes and a silent understanding quietly growing.

"Hmph, then you can come along."

Mai Sakurajima's lips curved upwards in a barely perceptible, tiny arc.

She didn't say anything more, but turned around and continued to stroll along the riverbank, though her pace noticeably slowed down.

Genkawa Yu watched her retreating figure, which had become a little lighter, and a faint smile flickered in his eyes.

He took a step forward, maintaining the distance between them as they walked side by side.

The two of them blended into the enchanting night view of the Shanghai Bund.

The road ahead is still long, and the real challenges remain, but at least for this moment, under the starry sky of this foreign land, two hearts that were once separated seem to have drawn a little closer together.

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 48 Kato Megumi and Genkawa Yu's Summer Holiday (2-in-1 6k)

The promotional events in Shanghai were increasingly successful, generating a far greater response from fans than expected.

Following the enthusiastic atmosphere of the first fan meeting, the cast and crew of "Alice in the Land of the Dying" held several subsequent promotional events in Shanghai, each drawing huge crowds, with scalpers driving up ticket prices several times over.

The media's cameras and the fans' enthusiastic shouts turned every event venue into a sea of ​​joy.

Genkawa Yu is undoubtedly the most dazzling presence in this storm. His fluent Chinese ability easily broke down language barriers, allowing him to establish a wonderful, almost zero-distance intimacy with his fans in China.

He is no longer a foreign idol on a distant screen, but someone "one of our own" with whom we can communicate freely in a common language and even understand their unique humor.

Whenever he picks up the microphone and speaks fluent and clear Chinese in his magnetic voice, the roar from the audience is so loud it could almost lift the roof off.

At the event, in addition to Mai Sakurajima's existing loyal fanbase in China, Yu Genkawa gained a massive influx of new fans in just a few days thanks to her unique charm, and the "Yu fans" group expanded at a visible speed.

The third event, which was also the last large-scale shopping mall atrium event in Shanghai, reached a fever pitch.

Despite doubling the number of security personnel and forming a human wall to stand ready, it still couldn't completely suppress the fans' enthusiasm. The circular corridors on each floor of the mall were crowded with eager young people, and countless mobile phone screens lit up like stars, focusing on the center of the stage.

Today, Yu Genkawa chose a navy blue casual suit with subtle patterns, which maintained the propriety of a formal occasion while exuding a casual and approachable vibe.

He was interacting with a male fan who was lucky enough to be selected to go on stage, answering profound questions about the human choices made by the characters in the play under extreme circumstances.

“Actually, I think the most fascinating thing about this character is not the great sacrifice he made,” Genkawa Yu nodded slightly, explaining in clear and penetrating Chinese, his gaze sincerely meeting that of the male fan who was a little flustered from excitement, “but that even in dire straits, he still tried to hold onto that small piece of 'human' softness in his heart.”

His interpretation was not only precise, but also carried a literary philosophical thought, instantly striking the softest part of the hearts of many audience members and triggering a deeper resonance and thunderous applause.

The male fan nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with the excitement of being understood.

Mai Sakurajima stood gracefully beside him, wearing a light cherry blossom-colored dress. Her face always held an impeccable smile, and she would add a few words at just the right moment between Yu Genkawa's explanations. The tacit understanding between the two seemed to be innate.

About two hours later, the group photo was taken, bringing the event to a successful close.

Backstage, the fatigue from the days of running around was gone from the faces of Director Aoyama and the representatives of the "Burning Series," leaving only an excited glow from the huge success.

Several near-perfect performances, especially the powerful effect brought by Yu Genkawa's "secret weapon," filled them with almost blind confidence in the conquest of the Xia Kingdom market for "Alice in the Land of the Dying."

"Gentlemen, you've worked hard!"

Director Aoyama slapped his hand hard, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement.

"The last game was impeccable! Everyone must be exhausted after working non-stop these past few days!"

"The good news is that we have a full day and a half to rest. We don't need to gather until tomorrow afternoon to head to the airport to return to Japan. Everyone, get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow morning is your free time. Go and experience the charm of Xia Country!"

This news was like a refreshing rain, causing the team members, who had been on edge for days, to burst into heartfelt cheers and applause.

The high-intensity, high-pressure publicity work has indeed drained everyone's energy, making this unexpected holiday all the more precious.

Back at the hotel, Genkawa Yu took off his suit jacket, still warm from the outside heat, and tossed it onto the sofa armrest. He then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his tightly fastened shirt, feeling the cool, dry air from the central air conditioning enter his body.

He strolled into the living room and found Kato Megumi already there.

She was facing away from him, leaning over the large desk, her slender and focused figure sorting through several thick stacks of documents.

On the desktop, the laptop screen glowed faintly, and scattered around it were densely packed schedules, media briefings, copies of contracts, and various unprocessed receipts.

Kato Megumi was still wearing her signature business suit, revealing her fair and slender nape. Even during the time when everyone was relaxing, she seemed to automatically maintain a work state of being ready to go at any moment, like a finely wound-up gear.

Upon hearing Genkawa Yu's approaching footsteps, Kato Megumi immediately straightened up, turned around, and wore her usual calm and gentle expression.

"Mr. Genkawa, this is your flight confirmation for tomorrow's return trip, the VIP airport access arrangements, and a preliminary work schedule for the first week after returning home. Please take a look."

"..."

Genkawa Yu took the stack of papers, then walked to the single sofa next to him and sat down, his gaze falling on Kato Megumi's delicate but always expressionless face.

"Kato."

He spoke, his voice gentler than when handling official business, carrying a hint of tender concern, "There's not much work to do for the next day. Since you've come all this way to Xia Country, why not take a break and get some rest?"

Kato Megumi was completely unprepared for the suggestion. A strange light flashed in her calm eyes, and she almost reflexively wanted to refuse.

"...Um, Genkawa-san, I still have some final analysis of promotional data and expense reports to organize..."

"Work is never-ending."

Genkawa Yu interrupted her, a relaxing smile spreading across his face.

"Kato, ever since you became my artist assistant, you've been on call almost every day, handling every little detail. You've really worked hard."

He said with a smile, "If I work you out, I won't be able to explain it to President Kato. Wouldn't I be branded as someone who exploits his employees?"

Upon hearing this, Kato Megumi fell into a brief silence.

She looked into Yuan Chuanyou's smiling eyes. This wasn't the first time; Yuan Chuanyou had told her to rest several times before.

After a moment of silence, Kato Megumi did not directly agree or refuse, but instead raised her eyes and asked in a very soft tone, "Mr. Genkawa, is there anything you want to do during your break?"

This question made Yuya Genkawa pause for a moment.

He leaned back on the sofa and began to think seriously. Ever since that night on the Bund when he embraced the emotionally distraught Mai Sakurajima, the frozen ice between them had indeed begun to crack, and their relationship had eased considerably.

But that subtle and complex feeling still exists. At the end of today's event, Mai Sakurajima said she felt physically and mentally exhausted and wanted to rest quietly by herself.

Then I won't bother her.

Yu Minakawa decided to respect her privacy and went on to find his own enjoyment.

"Me..."

Genkawa Yu smiled slightly, his tone carrying a rare hint of languor and longing.

"Then take this opportunity to wander around the streets of Shanghai, be an ordinary tourist, stroll aimlessly, and enjoy some truly relaxing time of your own."

Upon hearing this answer, Kato Megumi's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately spoke, even a little faster than usual.

“Um, Genkawa-san, I’ve been using my spare time to learn Chinese lately. If possible, I’d like to go out with Genkawa-san so we can try communicating with the locals and get some language practice.”

Now it was Genkawa Yu's turn to be pleasantly surprised. He immediately sat up straight and looked at Kato Megumi with great interest, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

"Oh, Kato, you're learning Chinese? When did you start?"

"I've only just started learning."

Kato Megumi lowered her eyelids slightly, avoiding his probing gaze that held a smile.

"This is a very good thing!"

Genkawa Yu was genuinely happy, and his smile became even brighter. "For language learning, the environment is crucial. That's perfect. Today, it's just the two of us. Let's go out for a walk together. You can treat it as an immersive practice and relax. I'll also have a chat partner."

His quick agreement and sincere encouragement filled Kato Megumi with satisfaction, so she nodded gently.

"Then I'll go change my clothes first."

"it is good."

Genkawa Yu smiled. Although Kato Megumi usually wore the OL uniform that belonged to an assistant, she was still a girl after all, and of course she needed to dress up when going out.

He sat on the sofa, waiting for the other person to change.

About twenty minutes later, when Kato Megumi reappeared in the living room, even Genkawa Yu, who was used to seeing her in professional attire, couldn't help but be amazed.

The girl wore a soft, light blue cashmere knit cardigan over a simple, pure white cotton lining, paired with well-fitting light-colored straight-leg jeans and clean white canvas shoes.

Her face was still bare, without any makeup, but her overall demeanor seemed to have changed, transforming her into a pretty girl next door.

"It suits you perfectly."

Yuan Chuan praised him with a smile, his tone sincere and without any impurities.

"Thank you."

Kato Megumi pursed her lips slightly, a faint blush appearing on her fair cheeks, but it quickly disappeared.

Yuan Chuan You himself had already changed into a black casual hooded sweatshirt without any logo and dark gray sweatpants. He only wore a mask, completely covering his highly recognizable face, trying his best to blend into the crowd.

Instead of choosing popular tourist attractions like the Bund or Nanjing Road, they wandered aimlessly through the vibrant streets and alleys, like two truly local leisurely folks.

The two walked together through the quiet Shikumen buildings that exuded a sense of history, passed through a chic neighborhood filled with the rich aroma of coffee and baking, and also stopped with great interest to observe the bustling traditional market.