They are really too low!

It doesn't seem so; Father's shoes are lying right next to him.

Toyokawa Shoko looked puzzled. Then, her father's voice came from the living room. He seemed to be talking to someone and was very excited.

Has someone come to visit?

Remembering his grandfather's words, Toyokawa Shoko tensed up immediately, a flash of anger in his eyes. His father had become like this, did his grandfather still want to force him to do something?

Toyokawa Shoko took off her shoes, leaving only a pair of clean white socks, and without caring about anything else, ran straight into the living room.

As she approached the living room, Toyokawa Shoko's mood worsened; she could even hear her father complaining and blaming himself.

"father!"

Toyokawa Shoko immediately looked towards the living room, where she saw her father sitting on a worn-out sofa, looking agitated and talking incessantly. Opposite her father sat a very handsome young man, not the guest she had imagined.

When she finally saw the boy clearly, the reusable bag in her hand suddenly fell to the ground, and tonight's groceries rolled all over the floor.

"You you you you you you..." Toyokawa Shoko was so shocked she couldn't speak, because the boy in front of her was Hoshino Mi, how could he possibly be here!

When Toyokawa Kiyoko saw that his daughter had returned, his previously excited expression became somewhat awkward.

"Xiangzi, you're back." Toyokawa Kiyoko quickly concealed his expression, while explaining for Hoshino Mi beside him, "This boy isn't a bad person. He's a friend I just made. His name is Hoshino Mi, and he's a student at Toyonosaki."

Toyokawa Shoko was still stunned. Hoshino Mi was friends with her father?

"Hi, Toyokawa-kun," Hoshino greeted him with a smile.

Toyokawa Shoko twitched the corners of her mouth. For some reason, seeing this guy's smile made the veins on her forehead feel like they were about to explode.

“Hoshino-kun came to visit a friend, but his friend gave him the wrong address and he accidentally found our place,” Toyokawa Kiyotaka explained. “At first, he startled me, but after we chatted for a bit, I invited him in to sit for a while.”

“That’s right, Uncle is a very good person.” Hoshino nodded.

Without saying a word, Toyokawa Shoko walked straight to Hoshino Mi's side, then forcibly grabbed him, and regardless of whether Toyokawa Kiyoko showed any surprise, she took him directly to her room.

It's called a room, but it's really just a tatami room. There's hardly any furniture, it's very simple, and it doesn't feel like a girl's room at all.

Hoshino had only glanced at her a few times when Toyokawa Shoko stopped.

"Why are you here?" Toyokawa Shoko turned around and looked at him coldly. "Was what Xiaomu told you correct?"

“I came to see Ayanokouji-kun; he lives nearby too,” Hoshino explained patiently. “I thought it was this building, so I ran upstairs to knock on the door. I didn’t expect it to be your father who opened the door, but I didn’t know he was your father at first. I am…”

"Enough!" Toyokawa Shoko's forehead veins were practically bulging. "Did you come all this way just to see me make a fool of myself?!"

"What kind of joke do I want to see?" Hoshino asked, quite surprised.

"Of course... of course it's everything you're seeing right now!" Toyokawa Shoko gritted her teeth, but couldn't get the words out.

Living in such a place, with her father Toyokawa Kiyotaka constantly drinking, the living room and bedrooms filled with bottles of alcohol, Hoshino felt ashamed when she saw this.

“That’s strange. I didn’t see anything funny. Wasn’t she just a little girl trying to make a living?” Hoshino thought about what she had just seen. “She had collected a lot of supermarket discount cards, and the kitchen was very clean. There was hardly any mold on the floor and walls, the refrigerator was full of food, and there was a notebook with her utility bills. You could tell she was very attentive.”

"Why are you peeking at these things!" Toyokawa Shoko said, her face flushed. Besides calculating utility bills, her notebook also contained a lot of information about job postings.

He definitely knows what jobs he applied for!

“I just glanced at it when you put it on the table,” Hoshino smiled. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I used to have a much worse life than you.”

Shoko Toyokawa was speechless for a moment; she suddenly didn't know what to say.

Perhaps it was because this guy acted too calmly, speaking to her in the same tone as usual, without deliberately comforting her or feeling sorry for her, as if he had simply come here as a guest.

Shoko Toyokawa slowly calmed herself down, but there was still something she couldn't understand.

"Why are you talking to my dad so... so..." Toyokawa Shoko couldn't find the right words for a moment. Seeing Toyokawa Kiyoko and Hoshino Mi talking so excitedly, she felt very awkward.

“Maybe it’s because I’m a stranger?” Hoshino thought for a moment. “Sometimes, certain things can only be said to strangers.”

Actually, he didn't do anything. He just asked Toyokawa Kiyotaka why he was drinking, and with a little prompting, the latter couldn't help but tell him.

The more suppressed the emotions, the more they are unable to help but speak them out, regardless of who the person they are confiding in is.

Toyokawa Shoko was somewhat unconvinced, even though her relationship with Toyokawa Kiyoko was better than Hoshino Mi's. But remembering that she had been in the same situation before, she simply shut her mouth.

Because, to be honest, this guy looks pretty good and gives off a very approachable vibe, it's no wonder that Dad accidentally fell for it.

"What did you talk about with your father?" Toyokawa Shoko asked expressionlessly, her expression revealing nothing about what she was concerned about.

“Yes, it’s about your past,” Hoshino said. “However, he didn’t say much, he just missed your mother very much.”

Toyokawa Shoko turned her pretty face slightly. She looked down on her father now because the more decadent Toyokawa Seikako became, the more disappointed she felt.

“Don’t you find it disgusting?” Toyokawa Shoko said. “A father who drinks all day long seems to know nothing but complaining and blaming himself.”

“Everyone has moments of giving up on themselves.” Hoshino sighed. “We all know what the right thing to do is, but sometimes, people feel sad, grieve, retreat from themselves, and think about simply giving up the struggle.”

Shoko Toyokawa was silent for a moment before saying, "You mean, you want me to watch Dad continue like this?"

“I’m trying to tell you that this kind of thing is perfectly normal,” Hoshino replied.

Toyokawa Shoko didn't speak. Of course she knew. It was precisely because she knew that she stayed here, wanting to tell Toyokawa Kiyoko that his daughter was still by his side.

"Do you want to cheer up Mr. Toyokawa?" Hoshino asked.

"Am I supposed to just watch my father continue down this path?" Toyokawa Shoko was a little angry. Wasn't that obvious?

“Okay, I have an idea.” Hoshino took a deep breath. “I’ll make a sacrifice. If I accidentally get you pregnant, he should cheer up again.”

Toyokawa Shoko was stunned for a moment. Seeing his matter-of-fact attitude and the lack of any shame, she immediately bulged her veins again.

Chapter 116 Should I stay overnight?

Before long, Hoshino sat obediently next to Toyokawa Shoko.

“Dad, this is my friend.” Toyokawa Shoko said expressionlessly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand that he would be coming to visit us today.”

Toyokawa Kiyoko scratched his head, confused, and asked, "Is that Ayanokouji-san Shoko?"

“Of course not, Ayanoji-kun is a friend of mine at school, he’s a star player on the school basketball team.” Hoshino hadn’t finished speaking when she continued, “Toyokawa-kun is different, we are…”

“We met through playing in a band, and we haven’t known each other for very long.” Toyokawa Shoko subtly pinched him, interrupting his speech.

Yes, the method was very discreet; Toyokawa Kiyoko didn't see it.

Upon hearing this, Toyokawa Kiyoshi's expression became unnatural. His daughter making friends should have been a good thing, but he couldn't feel happy about it.

He had just told Hoshino a lot about himself, and it turned out that Hoshino was his daughter's friend. He even suspected that Hoshino knew his identity from the beginning.

Toyokawa Kiyoshi then fell silent.

"One of the reasons I came here today was indeed for Toyokawa-kun, but Uncle just treated me as a complete listener." Hoshino smiled. "At my age, anything I say would be like showing off my limited skills in front of an expert, so I won't say anything."

"Heh heh heh, I have no face to stay here any longer if the younger generation sees me like this, so useless." Toyokawa Kiyoshi stood up unsteadily, wanting to return to his room.

"If Uncle wants to drink, I'll bring you some next time," Hoshino said, watching his retreating figure.

Toyokawa Kiyoko paused slightly, but ultimately left the living room without looking back.

Toyokawa Shoko was a little angry. She knew her father was an alcoholic, yet this guy still brought alcohol with him. She thought he was on her side.

"What exactly did you talk about with my dad?" Toyokawa Shoko was very interested in the content of their conversation.

“It’s nothing, your uncle just misses your mother a lot, and I was listening to him nagging.” Hoshino paused, “Sorry, I brought up your mother again.”

"It's okay, I don't care anymore." Toyokawa Shoko pursed her lips, since she still had the dolls her mother had left her.

More than that, she still cared about Hoshino Mi.

"This is the cake I bought for you." Hoshino pulled the cake from the table to her face, then unwrapped it. "There's not much to say, but I wish you a happy life."

Actually, Toyokawa Shoko had noticed the cake from the beginning, but seeing Hoshino Mi there was so shocking that she didn't have the energy to focus on anything else.

"Where's Xiaomu?" Compared to the first time, Toyokawa Shoko was no longer surprised by his gift.

"She should be home, what's wrong?" Hoshino suddenly realized, "Are you wondering if she got a share of this cake?"

Toyokawa Shoko remained silent because she wasn't sure if Hoshino Mi meant what she imagined.

“She didn’t come over, so I bought it for you separately.” Hoshino Mi handed the fork to Toyokawa Shoko. “Let’s eat and talk.”

"What do you want to talk about?" Toyokawa Shoko asked, holding her fork and remaining motionless.

“Mana is having a concert this week, and she’ll be playing the piano on stage. I expect it will be quite popular,” Hoshino said. “Her manager told me that if Mana likes it, the agency will arrange a piano teacher for her.”

"Are you planning to let me be this piano teacher?" Toyokawa Shoko understood immediately. She was currently just a temporary tutor hired privately by Junda Mana, and Junda Mana paid her the salary she wanted.

If it were an agency hiring her as a piano teacher, the situation would be different.

Putting aside the salary for now, the first thing is that this job will be stable.

A long-term, stable job with short working hours is quite tempting for a student like Toyokawa Shoko.

“It’s not a problem for students, because it’s Mana’s opinion, and the agency will compromise.” Hoshino Mi ate her cake, looking completely unconcerned.

“I don’t want it.” Toyokawa Shoko said calmly, “I can’t keep accepting your help.”

"Okay, you don't have this job next week. Where are you planning to go?" Hoshino asked. "Are you going to deliver newspapers? Or work as a customer service representative at a company?"

Shoko Toyokawa gritted her teeth; he had indeed deliberately peeked into her notebook.

If I had known he would come, I would have just hidden the notebook.

“You should accept generous help from your friends. Are you trying to admit that you won’t be able to repay it generously in the future?” Hoshino Miyu said quietly. “I don’t think the heiress of the Toyokawa Group should be a child who lacks confidence.”

"There are no rich young ladies here!" Toyokawa Shoko retorted instinctively; she had already left that house!

“Okay.” Hoshino nodded. Apart from her appearance, the girl in front of him did not really have any qualities that would qualify her as a rich young lady.

Toyokawa Shoko was very angry, but she couldn't explain why she was angry, so she just sullenly ate a bite of cake.

"But if your uncle goes back, will you go back with him?" Hoshino asked.

Shoko Toyokawa was silent for a moment. To be honest, this was her idea from the beginning.

Because Toyokawa Kiyoko left the Toyokawa family, as his daughter, she couldn't stand by and do nothing, so she ran away from home with him.

If Toyokawa Kiyoko can go back, she will go back with him, since there is no reason for him to stay outside alone.

If we go back, can everyone and the band go back too?

Toyokawa Shoko felt a sense of confusion. Could something that she had personally ended be repaired?

“Uncle is now driven by a vengeful mentality. When there is a huge gap between his real self and his ideal self, he will experience a severe cognitive split,” Hoshino said. “In order to protect themselves, most people will resort to self-deprecation, believing that they are inherently incapable. The greater the setbacks they face, the more they will doubt their abilities.”

"Of course, there are many reasons for self-abandonment, but in essence, it is often just self-reproach. Because it is self-reproach and self-punishment, no matter if you scold him or try to comfort him, he will not suddenly realize his mistakes. Instead, he will run away. The more you push him, the more he will hate himself and become more self-abandoning in revenge."

"If you want him to get back on his feet, there is only one way: help him believe in his abilities again, help him find a goal to strive for again, and help him regain his self-confidence."

Toyokawa Shoko was still thinking about going back, but after hearing so much, she couldn't help but feel that what he said made a lot of sense.

So, the girl asked with a hint of anticipation, "Is there a more specific way?"

“Didn’t I just say that?” Hoshino said with certainty, “As long as I get you pregnant, Uncle will definitely cheer up again. No father can stand his daughter dating a blond boyfriend.”

Toyokawa Shoko's face darkened. She suspected that she must have gone too far and failed to blow the guy's head off.

"If your daughter is even more depraved than him, would he still have the nerve to continue wallowing in self-pity?" Hoshino smiled. "Sometimes, it's better to let reality slap him in the face and wake him up."

Toyokawa Shoko remained expressionless; she would never get pregnant with Hoshino Mi's child.

"Do you owe a lot of money?" Hoshino asked, not continuing the previous topic.

"Didn't he tell you?" Toyokawa Shoko glanced at him sideways.

"No, we really didn't talk about anything." Hoshino said helplessly, "I found it online. I thought you and Mutsu were both students at Tsukinomori, so you must come from well-known families. That's why I searched your names."

He then found the Toyokawa Group.

And the most explosive news recently is that the Toyokawa Group is involved in land fraud, with losses amounting to tens of billions of yen.

While not comparable to Evergrande's trillion-yuan debt, the loss of tens of billions of yen is still staggering.

“We lost a lot of money, but I don’t know exactly what happened. Grandpa only told me that the Toyokawa family had kicked my father out.” Toyokawa Shoko gripped the fork in her hand slightly, as if she was thinking of the scene from back then.

"And then you came out too?" Hoshino looked at the girl's kneeling posture, her feet wrapped in white socks slightly curled up. There was no furniture here, so the two of them could only sit on the tatami mat.

“I can’t just stand by and do nothing,” Toyokawa Shoko replied.

Hoshino turned his gaze back. It seemed that the Toyokawa Group had placed all the blame for the losses on Toyokawa Kiyoko. No wonder the blow to Toyokawa Kiyoko was so huge.

However, something is suspicious.

He had searched for information about the Fengchuan Group. Fengchuan Qinggao was a son-in-law who had married into the family. His wife had recently passed away, and he was suddenly involved in a multi-billion dollar case. As the person in charge, he was directly dismissed.

Although the idea of ​​a son-in-law living with his wife's family might sound like he's living off her, in Japan, a son-in-law is essentially an adopted son who can inherit the family business. This is very common, and many political and business figures gain political resources and family support by becoming sons-in-law or adopted sons.