In the anime series, Goto Ichiri is actually my childhood sweetheart?

It wasn't until Ryoko said that this was her old self that Goto Ichiri fully understood what this feeling was.

Ryoko is just like this girl, a stubborn person!

I didn't expect that Ryoko and Xiaofeng are so similar. They both like carpentry, and from what she said, it seems that they are quite good at it.

They are worthy of being Xiaofeng’s family!

Her emotions naturally changed from shock to admiration, but -

"Ryoko, why don't you do carpentry now? You obviously liked it so much back then."

This is also the most contradictory question. What on earth did Ryoko go through that made her completely give up this hobby and become a workaholic who is completely different from her in the story.

Ryoko counted the years on her fingers and gestured to Takahashi Kaede and Goto Ichiri.

"In fact, everything was fine until college, but there was an unexpected change."

Ryoko smiled bitterly, as if it was not easy for her to say these things.

"Xiao Feng, I have never told you about my grandparents. Actually, my grandpa died of illness when I was very young, and my grandma was not in good health. She also died of a sudden heart attack when I was in college. Speaking of which, heart disease is really a hereditary disease in our family."

Looking at the words in the medical record, Ryoko seemed to be thinking about something.

"My grandmother passed away, and your mother had no time to take care of me. I had to work and study to make a living, so I fell behind in the carpentry business."

"...So that's how it is. No wonder you never took me back home."

Gao Qiaofeng always wanted to ask, but he always had a bad feeling in his heart and never asked.

"Ryoko, why don't you want to make money with carpentry like Xiaofeng? He made money at school by doing this when he was very young. You should be able to do it too."

Goto Ichiri asked innocently.

"Hahaha, Yili, remember what I said. The older you get, the more you will find Xiaofeng, who grew up with you, incredible. It's not the case that you will think he is ordinary after you grow up. Figures can't be sold just because you can make them. You have to consider who you are selling them to. I didn't have the business sense like Xiaofeng at the time. I didn't connect carpentry with figures at all, so naturally I couldn't make a living with this skill. Moreover, carpentry is really a very time-consuming thing. If it's not done well, all the time spent before will be wasted. At that time, I even had problems studying, so I didn't have the time to consider such things."

Ryoko's words made Goto Ichiri a little at a loss. From childhood to adulthood, Takahashi Kaede always told her not to think that he was so great, because there were many people who were better than him. Therefore, she had a little contempt for Takahashi Kaede.

Does it become more amazing as you get older?

In fact, Goto Ichiri had had this feeling for a long time. When Takahashi Kaede took her to discuss with Asada, she could not get a word in at all and could not understand what the two were saying at all.

Just like a father taking his child to a social event, the child knows nothing about the tricks of a drinking party. The interpersonal relationships between toasts and cups, and the conquests of cities and territories are not as complicated and interesting as Mario in the eyes of the child. He just complains that he is bored outside and wants to go home early. The father comforts the child and apologizes to everyone at the party with a smile.

"Don't listen to her. Greatness is something that is defined by people. I have done so many things, but in my own eyes, none of them are worth boasting about. Don't use me as a standard, and don't use worldly utilitarian goals as a standard. Finding your own goal is the most important thing."

Takahashi Kaede reacted quickly and provided guidance the moment Goto Ichiri began to doubt himself.

To put it bluntly, Ryoko, as a veteran in the workplace, made the conclusion that Takahashi Kaede was amazing based on her worldly perspective. This is indeed one aspect, but on the other hand, Takahashi Kaede hopes that Goto Ichiri can find his own way.

"Don't instill this kind of thinking in her. You are such a bad adult. You yourself have to work overtime and are sent to the hospital."

"Okay, okay, my bad~"

Ryoko smiled and apologized.

"But Ryoko, if it's for money, there's no need for you to fight so hard now. After all, most of my money is in your account, and you know how much it is..."

Changing the topic, Takahashi Feng looked at Ryoko worriedly again. She looked like a frail beauty lying on the hospital bed, but her slightly haggard face still reflected how hard she worked. She faced the computer, numbers, and a bunch of meaningless reports that had nothing to do with her own interests all day long, working hard and attending a bunch of large and small meetings at every turn. If she continued like this, she would get older faster and faster.

He had a very rebellious idea in his mind. In fact, he was very grateful that Ryoko was sick this time. It allowed her to slow down in this tiring social atmosphere and lifestyle. It gave her an excuse to walk out of the graveyard of office animals and feel everything she wanted to feel.

Ryoko was silent for a while, and suddenly laughed out loud with relief.

"I just can't accept it. Even though what I said just now makes sense, in fact, there are classmates in my university club who run things similar to comic exhibitions. If I had chosen to stick to my hobby and put my energy into making comic exhibition peripherals, the outcome now might be completely different."

"To put it bluntly, it was a choice. At the time, I was given two options: to join a company or to focus on my hobbies. I ultimately chose to join a company and enter the workplace. Even if I was skinned alive, I wouldn't complain. After all, it was my own choice..."

"People always have to be responsible for their own choices, don't they?"

"And... to put it in a childish way, Xiao Feng, you put a lot of pressure on me. "Even a kid can do this, how can I give up halfway!" is the truest reflection of my heart. I am not convinced. To put it bluntly, I am not convinced. I don't admit that my choice is wrong. I use overtime to numb myself and stop thinking too much."

After saying these words, Ryoko let out a long sigh, as if she had vented out the stress and dissatisfaction that had accumulated over the years, and she collapsed on the bed, feeling very relaxed.

Takahashi Feng had never seen Ryoko so relaxed.

"Are you convinced now?"

Takahashi Feng smiled and told her that he knew Ryoko had let it go.

"I'm convinced! Xiao Feng, you're so awesome, I'll just eat you from now on! You're not allowed to look down on me!"

Ryoko said this in a coquettish tone, and stood up again to rub Takahashi Feng's face. This time, Takahashi Feng did not dodge and let her rub him.

Chapter 77: Now that we have been sent away, we must talk about love

"Don't say such harsh words. You are not incompetent. You have been in the workplace for so many years and have rich social experience. You also have very sophisticated skills that you have mastered in college. With these two points alone, you will not have to worry about not being able to survive."

Takahashi Kaede massaged Ryoko's shoulders from the side, and Ryoko enjoyed it quietly.

"I'll contact Mr. Chuntian and learn from him how and where to open a store. Then we can work together to open a store that provides customized services. This way, I'll have less pressure and you can do what you like."

Mr. Haruta is a person who appears cold on the outside but is warm on the inside. If you explain things to him clearly, he will definitely help. This is the conclusion that Takahashi Kaede came to after working with him for so long.

A low groaning sound echoed in Ryoko's ears. Although Takahashi Kaede was not old enough and his voice had not changed, the deliberately low voice mixed with attractive content still made Ryoko swallow her saliva inadvertently.

Opening your own shop, carving wood with a chisel every day, delivering the most perfect finished products to customers, and receiving the happiest smiles from others, this can be said to be Ryoko's dream life.

After getting rid of the pressure and burden, it seems that these are no longer luxuries. With Xiaofeng's help, it seems that it is really feasible.

"But I...I haven't made figures for a long time. What if I can't make them? Also, I don't have any experience in opening a store. I'm unsure about the storefront, decoration, design, and operation."

The imagination was so beautiful that Ryoko trembled a little. She looked at Takahashi Kaede for help and asked innocently like a child.

"Leave it all to me. I will teach you how to make figurines if you don't know how. I can handle all the things that need to be done to open a shop. You are a patient now, so just stay at home and I will tell you when everything is done. You just need to practice carving occasionally at home."

It seemed that with his long-term success and rapid progress in his career, Takahashi Kaede himself did not realize how confident he was when he said this.

He just thought about what he was going to do and said, "If it were an ordinary person, he would definitely be questioned. Are you sure you can do this? How are you going to step down if you make a promise so easily and fail to fulfill it?"

But he is Takahashi Kaede, and the two people around him are almost the closest people to him. Ryoko and Goto Ichiri believed him almost without any doubt. After all, most of his actions have been correct.

No one will question him unless he questions himself.

"How about it, Ryoko, can you accept it?" Takahashi Feng looked at Ryoko gently, and time seemed to have gone back to when he was a child and told Ryoko that he would take over the responsibility of cooking at home. The firm and persistent look in his eyes was almost exactly the same.

"Of course I accept it, Xiao Feng, you are so kind to me. I am about to cry——"

Ryoko couldn't help but bury her head in Takahashi Kaede's arms. She didn't want Goto Ichiri to see her crying.

She hasn't experienced this kind of reliability and this kind of feeling of being able to be completely relied upon for many years.

She thought of her sister, Takahashi Kaede's mother. If she were still alive, she would be extremely proud of Takahashi Kaede.

"I'm not going to cry, I'm already crying. Really, don't be so emotional. I know you're very touched, but you still have to control yourself. After all, you have a weak heart."

Takahashi Feng patted Ryoko's back helplessly and gave a slightly apologetic smile to Goto Ichiri beside him.

As she grew older, all her relatives left her. Ryoko's foothold in this society was like a lone boat sailing in the ocean, and the slightest undercurrent could sink her.

She is not a heartless NEET and needs proper emotional release.

When Ryoko's slight sobbing in his arms stopped, Takahashi Feng let Ryoko lie back on the bed and prepared to go out to buy food.

Goto Ichiri came here as soon as school was over, so he must not have eaten anything. Ryoko is also a patient and needs nutrition.

After saying hello to the two people who stayed in the ward, Takahashi Feng went out.

Ryoko used a tissue to wipe away the tears that had just flowed, blew her nose in a very ungraceful manner, and then threw the tissue into the trash can.

"Ryoko, Xiao Feng will definitely get things done, you have to have faith in him!"

Goto Ichiri felt sad when he saw Ryoko was sad, so he encouraged her.

"Of course I'm relieved, he's Takahashi Kaede!"

It seemed that Goto Ichiri had grown her hair long on purpose, and it now fell below her shoulders. Her fair face and cute expression of encouragement made Ryoko couldn't help but laugh at her cuteness.

"Yili, let me ask you a question quietly. Has Xiaofeng been in a relationship at school recently~"

Ryoko narrowed her eyes and carefully looked at Goto Ichiri's reaction.

"No, it's just...nothing, no relationship."

Thinking of what happened to Tanaka Midori, Goto Ichiri wanted to tell her, but considering that Takahashi Kaede might not want Ryoko to know, he suppressed his desire to gossip.

"Is there a girl who confessed to my Xiao Feng? I know this~"

"Hey, Xiao Feng, you told your family about this directly?!"

Goto Ichiri was very surprised. After all, she was almost at the age where she had to close her door tightly and would be annoyed when her parents asked her what she did at school.

Although she wouldn't go that far, she wasn't as close to her family as Takahashi Kaede.

"I want to ask, are you and Xiao Feng in a relationship or something like that? After all, you've been together since kindergarten, so it's normal for you to be curious about this kind of thing at this point."

Ryoko's purpose was exposed. She actually just wanted to know whether Takahashi Kaede and Goto Ichiri had developed any special feelings for each other.

"Ah, Xiao Feng told me this."

Goto Ichiri remembered the time at the library.

“??? Why did he say that to you? Is this kind of thing still communicable?” Ryoko didn’t quite understand.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this…”

Goto Ichiri put his hands in his pockets, thinking about how to bring up the incident in the library appropriately so as not to embarrass her.

After all, she checked all the weird knowledge after she went back. Just as Takahashi Feng said, as long as you check, you will discover a new world.

She couldn't sleep that night, and the scene in the library kept replaying in her mind all night.

"Ichiri, why are you silent? Why are you blushing? Did you do something?"

Ryoko was a little anxious, and the stormy questioning put Goto Ichiri under a lot of pressure.

"No...nothing! I just want to kiss Xiao Feng like we did when we were little. He said I can't make a decision about this now and I have to wait until I grow up to do it, otherwise I will regret it..."

Chapter 78 You will blush too

“Hahahahahaha – that’s exactly what Xiao Feng would say. I can only say that she is worthy of being Xiao Feng!”

Ryoko laughed so hard that she fell backwards. She found it funny to think of Takahashi Kaede saying such things seriously.

I guess he must have been very upset at that time. After all, Xiao Feng is a reserved person. Sometimes, even though he has no expression on his face, who knows what he is thinking.

"He's got a point, but even adults can't guarantee that they can make fighting choices, especially when it comes to relationships."

Ryoko suddenly felt disgusted when she thought about the weird things that happened to her classmates when she was in college.

"Ryoko, have you ever been in love?"

"No, where would I find the time? Maybe there will be a chance in the future, but it's definitely not possible now."

Ryoko suddenly had an idea and smiled wickedly.

"Yili, go down and tell Xiao Feng that you like him and see how he reacts~"

"Hey... Hey, if you ask me to say this... I'll... I'll try..."

I can only listen to Ryoko's words. There is really no other way. I can only give it a try.

Although he thought so, Goto Ichiri's brain was still like a boiling kettle, with steam puffing out of his head and an unnatural blush on his face. He hesitated when answering and his face moved to the side unnaturally.

She is socially anxious and not good at talking to strangers, but Ryoko can be said to be her second mother, and she is afraid even if she doesn't exist.

“So that’s how it is—”

Ryoko looked at Goto Ichiri with eyes that saw through everything, and her whole body froze.

Then she withdrew her gaze, and the pressure Goto Ichiri was under disappeared.

It’s normal to think about it. Xiao Feng may not have reached puberty yet. It’s normal for girls to develop first and then have strange ideas.

All I can say is that fortunately Goto Ichiri was not a brave kid and did not make any mistakes.

When she was in college, she also liked to watch all kinds of works. Some of the rural-themed works were about precocious little girls touching little boys, and the boys were unable to resist because of their slow development. No, the boys in most of the works did not resist. They all inexplicably realized the true meaning of life, and then always cooperated with the girls to find places where there were no people to do bad things.

I am still very reassured by Xiao Feng. Although he is a little shorter now, he is still more independent-minded than the weak male protagonists in those works. He will definitely not do anything that will give me a headache.

"Xiao Feng will come in with food later. Don't have any weird reactions. When they are eating, suddenly tell him that you like me and see how he reacts."

Goto Ichiri looked at Ryoko with a look that said, "Is there really no problem with this?"

"It's okay. I'll explain everything. I also want to see what his attitude is."