Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

This is a vicious conspiracy.

They tried to use Toyokawa Shoko to pry open Sankaku Hatsuka's mouth.

Sanjiao Chuhua was in a fierce struggle. She certainly didn't want Xiangzi to be hurt, and she didn't want him to be taken advantage of by anyone. But...what would happen if she really told the secret?

If her relationship with Toyokawa Sadaharu were to be exposed, wouldn't that be another kind of hurt for Xiangzi? Could Xiangzi bear the feeling of betrayal... of blood ties?

Furthermore, would these people really help Xiangzi? Or did they simply want to use this secret as a weapon to attack Toyokawa Sadaharu, and Xiangzi was just a high-sounding excuse in their mouths?

She knew too well the internal struggles within these wealthy families, which were full of filth and calculation, and had no so-called warmth or morality at all.

"There really is no special relationship between Mr. Toyokawa Sadaharu and me. I have no answer for what you want to know."

Mrs. Kageyama's brow furrowed slightly.

"Miss Chuhua, you have to think it through."

Her voice was a little colder:

"Some opportunities, if missed, will never come back. Do you think we can't find out if you don't tell us? It's just a matter of time. But if you are willing to cooperate, we can guarantee that after the matter is completed, we will give you a generous reward so that you can live a truly free life in the future."

"free?"

Sanjiao Chuhua seemed to have heard a joke:

"Being used as a tool by you, and then receiving your so-called 'freedom' as charity? Sorry, I don't want that."

She knew very well that once she spoke, no matter what the outcome, she would completely lose the possibility of living a peaceful life.

And Xiangzi will inevitably be drawn into a deeper vortex.

Xiangzi wouldn't want her to do that.

Mrs. Kageyama's patience seemed to be exhausted. She sighed:

"In that case, we can only get the answer in our own way."

Even in the end, the Toyokawa family's collateral branch was unable to extract any clear information from Mikado Hatsuka regarding her relationship with Toyokawa Sadaharu. The girl's silence and stubbornness exceeded their expectations.

But for them, it doesn't matter anymore.

As long as we can get her biological samples, the truth will come to light sooner or later.

...

The cold electronic sound repeated monotonously in the headset. There was no girl's voice as usual, no subtle breathing, and no rustling of turning pages.

Shoko Toyokawa took off her monitoring headphones irritably and rubbed her swollen temples.

A few hours ago, the monitoring at Triangle Chuhua was completely silent.

"Is it Grandpa?"

Apart from Toyokawa Sadaharu, Xiangzi couldn't think of anyone else who would attack Chuhua.

"If Toyokawa Sadaharu's goal was to get Sankaku Hatsuka to leave Ave Mujica, then his goal has already been achieved. There's no need to do anything more. It could be someone else."

"other people?"

"That's something you'll need to verify yourself, Miss Xiangzi."

Jiujo Renji's tone was still relaxed:

"After all, you are no longer the eldest daughter of the Toyokawa family who could only passively accept arrangements, right?"

There was an indescribable subtle meaning in his words.

Xiangzi was silent.

Yes, she is no longer the same as before.

Under the intentional or unintentional "teaching" and "training" of Kujo Renji, she learned many things that she had never touched before - how to collect information, how to analyze the situation, and how to use the limited resources at hand.

Those methods that once made her feel uncomfortable and even resisted have now become her weapons to protect herself and the things that are important to her in this world.

Xiangzi took a deep breath:

"I'll find out."

After hanging up the "spiritual link" with Kujo Renji, Xiangzi sat in the dim room and began to think calmly.

First of all, we need to rule out Toyokawa Sadaharu as a suspect, or in other words, find evidence that he is not the mastermind behind this incident.

This is not easy, but Kujo Renji's reminder is not unreasonable. This direct and almost provocative disappearance does not conform to my grandfather's logic.

So, who else would do something bad to Chuhua, or want to achieve some purpose through Chuhua?

Xiangzi's fingers tapped lightly on the cold table, his brain working rapidly.

She began to sort out Chu Hua's interpersonal relationships and the interests that Ave Mujica might be involved with. Was it entertainment industry intrigue? Business rivals? Or...

A thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

A branch of the Toyokawa family.

This force has been lurking in the shadows, eyeing the master's position.

If the collateral branch wanted to shake my grandfather's position or gain more benefits from him, then starting with the people around her, creating chaos, or trying to find something to hold against her would undoubtedly be a "smart" choice.

Chu Hua, as the lead singer of Ave Mujica and having a close relationship with her, naturally became an easy target.

This guess made Xiangzi feel a chill.

In the following time, Xiaoxiang began to test his own guess.

She retrieved surveillance footage from downstairs of Chuhua Apartment and several nearby intersections.

This is not difficult. The name of the Toyokawa family, or in other words, some secret channels she established in the personal name of "Toyokawa Shoko", are enough to make the relevant property management departments and some security companies cooperate.

She did not alarm anyone in the Toyokawa family.

A large amount of surveillance footage was played simultaneously on several screens in front of her. Xiangzi's eyes were focused, screening out useful information at an astonishing speed.

Her fingers tapped quickly on the keyboard, marking suspicious times and vehicles.

Soon, she captured Chu Hua's figure on the surveillance camera at a street corner.

The image was a little blurry, but it was recognisable as her.

Not far behind her, there were a few sneaky figures.

Immediately afterwards, a black Maybach stopped by the roadside. Chu Hua seemed to have a few words with the person next to the car, and then got in.

Maybach.

Xiangzi's pupils contracted slightly.

Although this type of vehicle is not uncommon among wealthy circles, considering the time and place it appeared, as well as the behavior of those people, it is obviously not an ordinary pick-up or drop-off.

She immediately informed Yamamoto Ryuichi of the vehicle's model, color, and the time and place of its appearance, and asked him to check it out.

The Yamaguchi-gumi's information database integrates some public and semi-public business information, vehicle registration information, and some gray area information.

Soon, she got the answer.

Toyokawa Kageyama, a capable woman in the Toyokawa family's side branch, is known for her deep scheming and ruthless methods. She has always been one of the representatives of the side branch who actively advocates challenging the authority of the main family.

“It’s them…”

Xiangzi clenched his fists, and his knuckles turned white from the force.

Although there is no direct evidence to prove that Chuhua is in their hands, the appearance of Toyokawa Kageyama has firmly pointed the suspicion to the Toyokawa family's side branch.

It seems that the mice can't hold back any longer and start to take action.

Their goal is probably not just as simple as Chuhua.

They wanted to use Chuhua to deal with themselves or with grandpa.

Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath.

But unfortunately, she is no longer the young lady who only relies on others.

I, Toyokawa Shoko, can achieve what I have today thanks to my own efforts.

"Lian Si, help me!"

Learning to humble yourself and ask for help from others, how can this not be considered a form of growth?

........

PS: This chapter has 4,000 words, and there will be an update later, and it will be published before 12 o'clock.

Chapter 136 Leave it to me next

The morning mist, like an ambiguous veil, enveloped the estate of Toyokawa Takaaki, a prominent figure from the Toyokawa family's side branch.

The air was filled with the moist scent of grass and trees, as well as an invisible sense of oppression that was incompatible with the tranquility.

Standing outside the carved iron gate, Toyokawa Shoko rang the doorbell, a sound that seemed a little abrupt in the overly quiet environment.

After a moment, the door opened.

A middle-aged man who looked like a butler appeared behind the door. His hair was combed meticulously, his dark suit jacket was ironed flat, and even the buttons on his cuffs had an exquisite luster.

His demeanor was respectful, yet with a trained aloofness, as if he were simply following a procedure.

"Excuse me, who are you?" He bowed slightly.

"Toyokawa Shoko."

Xiangzi gave his name:

"I'm looking for Mr. Toyokawa Takaaki."

She paused deliberately, recalling the other person's identity in her mind.

Toyokawa Takaaki, Toyokawa Kageyama's elder brother, is one of the backbones of the side branch.

According to Kujo Renji's analysis, he is the person most likely to lead the incident concerning Sanjiao Chuhua.

On the butler's almost expressionless face, his eyebrows seemed to move imperceptibly.

"Ms. Toyokawa, please wait a moment."

He did not show much surprise or enthusiasm at Xiangzi's last name, but just whispered his request through the internal communication device.

The wait wasn't long, but every second felt like being scrutinized by invisible eyes. Finally, the butler reappeared and gestured "please."

"Mr. Xiaoming, please come in."

Xiangzi was "invited" into a spacious reception room.

The decoration here is of the kind of calm and classical style that is deliberately created, with dark solid wood furniture, heavy curtains, oil paintings hung casually on the walls and porcelain placed in the corners, but because it is too deliberate, it seems to lack real heritage.

Toyokawa Takaaki, a man about fifty years old, with a well-maintained face but the signs of time engraved in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, was sitting on the single sofa in the main seat of the room.

He was wearing comfortable home clothes, with a cup of steaming tea on the low table in front of him, and he was slowly flipping through a financial newspaper in his hand, as if Xiangzi's arrival was just a bird that occasionally flew past the window in the early morning, not worth his attention.

"Xiaoxiang..."

Toyokawa Takaaki didn't even raise his eyes, his voice was as flat as if he was treating an uninvited distant relative:

"What a rare visitor."

The word "Xiao Xiang" carried the familiarity of an elder to a younger person, as if reminding Xiangzi that no matter how she struggled outside, in this mansion representing the family's power, she was still the little girl who needed to rely on the protection of her ancestors.

Xiangzi didn't care about the subtlety of the address. She looked directly at Toyokawa Takaaki and spoke in a voice that was neither humble nor arrogant, as if stating an established fact:

"Mr. Xiaoming, I think you know why I'm here. Sanjiao Chuhua is my friend and the lead singer of Ave Mujica. I hope you can let her go."

Toyokawa Takaaki finally put down the newspaper in his hand, a faint smile on his lips, but that smile did not reach his eyes at all:

"Oh? Miss Chuhua?"

He drawled out his words, as if savoring the name:

"She's a guest here and everything is fine. Xiaoxiang, did you misunderstand something? Our Fengchuan family has always been a family of etiquette. How could we do something like forcing a guest to stay?"

He downplayed the matter and disguised "house arrest" as "being a guest", which was a disgusting hypocrisy unique to the upper class. Of course, he seemed to have no intention of concealing the fact itself, as if he felt that it would be harmless even if he admitted it.

"Is it really a 'visit'?" Toyokawa Shoko sneered.

Toyokawa Takaaki picked up the teacup and took a sip slowly and leisurely.

"It's common for young people to have some minor conflicts, quarrels, or their phones to run out of battery. Xiaoxiang,"