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

Genkawa Yu familiarly bought two cups of warm soy milk and two servings of xiaolongbao from a steaming food stall in Chinese, and then handed them to the girl next to him.

Kato Megumi took the dumpling with a touch of curiosity, taking a small bite of the juicy soup dumpling. Her usually calm eyes revealed a rare hint of curiosity and simple satisfaction that belonged to a girl her age.

"How does it taste?" Genkawa asked casually as they walked, his tone light and relaxed.

"Mmm...it's delicious."

Kato Megumi nodded and earnestly tried to answer in her still somewhat broken Chinese. Although her tone was a little flat, her word choice was accurate and her meaning was clear and understandable.

Genkawa Yu gave her an encouraging smile and began to describe some distinctive old buildings or local snacks they saw along the way, intentionally or unintentionally, in a slightly slower pace.

Kato Megumi listened with utmost concentration, like the most attentive student in class, occasionally repeating a word or two that she found difficult to pronounce in a low voice, or asking questions in extremely short sentences.

She has a good learning ability; in a short period of time, she has been able to use some basic daily conversational phrases quite well.

As they passed a small park surrounded by tall buildings, they were drawn by a noisy sound mixed with strong Shanghai dialect.

A group of elderly people with silver hair were gathered around a chessboard, watching intently as two old men played a game of chess.

The crisp "clatter" of wooden chess pieces hitting the chessboard, along with the heated, rapid-fire arguments in Shanghainese among the elderly, create a vibrant and lively scene of everyday life.

"Get out of here! I want to eat your horse!"

Genkawa Yu involuntarily stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on the crisscrossing Chu River and Han Border, a look of interest in his eyes that Kato Megumi had never seen before.

He stood quietly behind an elderly man with white hair who was watching the battle, completely absorbed, as if his entire soul was immersed in the fierce fighting within that small space.

Upon seeing this, Kato Megumi quietly moved to a spot slightly behind Genkawa Yu, like a plant that wouldn't disturb others, but her gaze involuntarily fell on his exceptionally bright eyes at that moment.

The man before me, stripped of his dazzling stage presence, resembles a big boy who has found his beloved toy.

This stark contrast stirred up even more ripples in Kato Megumi's calm heart.

After the game ended, the old man who lost the game patted his bald head in frustration. He looked up and saw Yuan Chuan You standing next to him, whose outstanding figure and unique temperament could not be hidden even with a mask on, as well as the quiet and beautiful girl beside him.

The old man's eyes lit up, and with a broad smile, he greeted him warmly in Mandarin with a heavy Shanghai accent.

"Young man, you've been watching for quite a while now. How's your chess skill? Want to play a game?"

Upon hearing this, Genkawa Yu's smile deepened, like spring water breaking through ice.

He nodded readily and replied in fluent and natural Chinese, "Alright, sir, I'll play a game with you and learn from you."

He calmly sat down on the stone bench opposite the old man, while Kato Megumi remained silently standing behind him.

The game resumed, and Genkawa Yu played with composure, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes making decisive moves. Not only was his strategy clear, but he could also chat easily with the old man in fluent, smiling Chinese, from chess tactics to the changes in Shanghai in recent years. The old man clearly enjoyed the conversation with this young man, and once he started talking, his laughter was hearty.

Although Kato Megumi couldn't fully understand the fast-paced conversations with their accents, she could clearly sense the genuine relaxation and joy emanating from Genkawa Yu.

She watched as his long, strong fingers with distinct knuckles steadily moved the chess pieces, and listened to his natural conversation with the old man, which was completely unreserved.

In the middle game, Genkawa Yu cleverly created a weakness in a seemingly insignificant move. The old man's eyes lit up, and he seized the opportunity, using his rook and cannon in combination to press forward relentlessly.

"General! Hahahaha!"

The old man shouted triumphantly, slapped his knees hard, and laughed heartily, his wrinkles smoothing out.

"Young man, not bad, not bad! It seems you still have a lot of room for improvement!"

Yuan Chuanyou smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, his tone sincere, "Grandpa, you are a step ahead of me, I am completely convinced."

The old man was in high spirits. His gaze passed over Genkawa Yu and landed on Kato Megumi, who had been as quiet as a painting behind him. A knowing, mischievous smile appeared on his face. "Young man, is this girl your sweetheart? I can tell she's a good girl, gentle and quiet, with delicate features. You should cherish her!"

These words were like a bolt from the blue, causing a crack to appear in Kato Megumi's previously calm expression. Although her face remained largely unchanged, her heartbeat noticeably quickened. When she looked at Genkawa Yu's face, she found that he was laughing.

"Sir, you've misunderstood. She's my friend and my work partner. We just happened to have some free time today, so we came out for a stroll together."

"Friends? Work partners?"

The old man waved his hand dismissively, as if to say, "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice."

"What Ningxin?! You young people just love to play games and deceive yourselves, calling each other 'friends' and 'friends'! I could tell from the way she looked at you that something was off!"

The old man's words carried a mixture of good-natured teasing and unwavering conviction.

Yuan Chuan You smiled helplessly, knowing that explaining this matter would only make things worse, so he stopped wasting his breath and stood up to politely say goodbye to the old man.

Kato Megumi quickly bowed slightly to the old man, then followed in Genkawa Yu's footsteps.

Meanwhile, in the hotel's tranquil space.

Mai Sakurajima took a nap for about an hour on the soft bed in her luxurious suite.

High-quality sleep alleviated the physical fatigue of the past few days to some extent, but the mental turmoil did not subside.

In my mind, fragments of that night on the Bund kept replaying uncontrollably: the damp river breeze, the hazy lights on the opposite bank, the warmth of his embrace, and my uncontrollable tears.

Otherwise, take advantage of this rare day off and ask him to go out for a walk.

After all, the relationship between him and me has improved quite a bit.

An idea quietly sprouted, carrying a tentative courage.

Once the idea took root, it grew rapidly and became hard to ignore. Mai Sakurajima glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table, which showed that it was only three o'clock in the afternoon. Hesitation and struggle tug at her heart for a moment, but in the end, the impulse to get closer won out.

She got up and went into the bathroom, splashed cold water on her face, carefully tidied her slightly messy long hair in front of the mirror, applied a light lip gloss, and changed into a comfortable yet stylish off-white knitted long dress and a light brown trench coat.

Arriving at the door of Yuanchuan You's suite, she stopped, raised her hand, and gently knocked on the heavy solid wood door with her knuckles.

knock knock knock.

There was complete silence inside the door; there was no response.

Mai Sakurajima frowned slightly at her carefully drawn eyebrows, raised her hand again, and applied a little more pressure.

Knock knock knock!

The inside was still like a deserted city, with only her own knocking echoing in the empty corridor.

Still sleeping? That shouldn't be the case.

Sakurajima Mai felt a sense of doubt. After the event just ended, Genkawa Yu was in good spirits and hadn't mentioned going to sleep.

Just as she was hesitating whether to make the call, the door to the next room clicked open, and a young female staff member in charge of coordinating the crew's materials came out. When she saw Mai Sakurajima standing outside Yu Genkawa's door, she immediately stopped and bowed respectfully in greeting.

"Good afternoon, Sakurajima-san."

"Hello, Nakamura-san."

Mai Sakurajima quickly adjusted her facial expression, displaying an impeccable elegant smile, and asked casually.

"Nakamura-san, have you seen Genkawa-kun? I have something to confirm with him about work."

“Mr. Genkawa.”

The female staff member tilted her head and thought for a moment before quickly replying, "He and his assistant, Kato-san, went out together, and it seems they haven't returned yet."

"Going out?"

The girl's perfect smile froze for a moment. Although she quickly recovered, the brief pause and the fleeting surprise in her eyes did not escape the notice of a careful observer.

"Yes."

The female staff member didn't notice Mai's subtle emotional change; instead, she continued talking with a hint of gossip in her voice.

"It's quite a novel thing, actually. This is the first time I've seen Kato-san not wearing her office lady uniform! She changed into a casual outfit today and looked absolutely gorgeous. She's completely different from her usual self; I almost didn't recognize her!"

"I feel like... Kato-san is clearly a beautiful woman, but she always has such a blank expression."

This additional explanation, like a cold needle, unexpectedly pierced Mai Sakurajima's unsuspecting heart.

Did Genkawa Yu and Kato Megumi go out together?

Did Kato Megumi even change her clothes?

The next moment, Mai Sakurajima immediately recalled the day before the scandal, when Megumi Kato skillfully helped the drunk Yu Genkawa change his clothes.

Hmm... what exactly is going on now?

Volume 2 Tokyo Love Story: Chapter 49 Mai Sakurajima: I'm waiting to be the leading lady (2-in-1 5k)

Sunlight in Shanghai filters through the gaps between the high-rise buildings, casting its glow on the path back to the hotel.

Yuan Chuanyou held a cup of iced bubble tea in his hand. A black mask covered most of his face, but the slightly upturned corners of his mouth clearly revealed his relaxed and happy mood at the moment.

Half a step behind him, Kato Megumi followed quietly, also holding a warm cup of taro ball milk tea.

Unlike her usual meticulous assistant, Kato Megumi, though still not showing much outward expression, seemed to have a spark of vitality in her usually calm eyes.

She naturally didn't need to wear a mask, so she was sipping her milk tea, the sunlight outlining the soft lines of her profile, her bob hair gently swaying in the oncoming breeze.

Being able to accompany her like this, not as an "assistant" but as a friend, was an unprecedented experience for her.

Similarly, this is a memory that she will cherish deeply.

As an artist's assistant, Kato Megumi is used to not showing her emotions much, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have any desires in her heart.

However, she understands restraint and boundaries better than anyone else.

Whether that quietly growing feeling will be revealed in one's heart, or never revealed at all, is unknown.

Yuu Minakawa, who was walking ahead, seemed to still be immersed in the relaxed feeling of strolling around the city. Occasionally, he would turn around and comment on the interesting things he had just seen or the taste of a certain snack to Megumi Kato in a relaxed tone.

Kato Megumi mostly just nodded slightly or responded with a brief "um" or "yes," but the aura surrounding her was much softer than usual.

The two returned to the hotel, walked through the lobby, and entered the elevator.

Their figures were reflected in the elevator mirror: one was tall and imposing, his star quality still evident even in casual attire; the other was delicate and serene, revealing a rare youthful charm after shedding his professional suit.

Looking at Kato Megumi in the mirror, Genkawa Yu suddenly felt that it might be really good to let her relax like this once in a while.

Back in the suite, Yuan Chuan You took off his mask, sank into the soft sofa, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Rare moments of leisure always seem to pass by too quickly. Since becoming an artist, he has had very few holidays, and he is basically busy with various things.

Kato Keisei, who followed her in, immediately got to work. She gently placed her half-finished milk tea on a corner of the coffee table, and then began to neatly tidy up the coat that Origawa Yu had casually put down, checking that all the personal items she needed to take on her return trip the next day were complete. Her movements were practiced and silent.

Watching her busy figure, Yuan Chuanyou was about to say, "These things aren't urgent, you should take a rest too," when his phone, which was on the armrest of the sofa, vibrated first.

The screen lights up, displaying the caller ID: Mai Sakurajima.

Genkawa Yu raised an eyebrow in surprise. Didn't Sakurajima Mai say she was going to rest after the morning's activities? Why would she call?

He swiped to answer the call and put the phone to his ear.