My daily life is getting weird because I am caught between being in a band and being an idol.

"...unjustified self-sacrifice, finding plausible excuses for your actions, and making everyone owe you something."

Chaoyang scratched his head in distress, but still couldn't understand what Xiangzi was trying to express.

I have no choice but to reveal my true nature.

"Toyokawa, aren't you overestimating me? I just like pretty girls. I wouldn't do this if I were a guy."

But for some reason, Xiangzi felt a surge of anger.

"Here we go again. So, since you like it, what have you actually done?"

"Well, we're all minors. If I really did something that would land me in jail, I'm very aware of potential dangers and I know the law well. For example, last night, you were planning to send me in, weren't you?"

"So, besides me, you really have no chance to do anything? ... You still don't understand why I'm angry. You're just too condescending. The worst thing about you, store manager, is that you don't like owing people, but you like making others owe you, and you always find some excuse to sever ties and refuse the favor."

...In adventure or detective stories, the great detective heroes who save everyone happily accept their reward, or settle their debts by resolving their past regrets and sins. But you... are essentially denying that you did it, neither accepting money nor expressing any regrets or lingering issues. This only makes the person who wants to repay the favor feel incredibly indebted.

Chapter 65 (R?Q)? I like it~ It's capable~~

After listening to Xiangzi's string of words, Chaoyang frowned and felt a surge of irritation.

"...You're such a pain... Then just work hard to repay me... My kindness to them is just an investment in the future; I'll squeeze them dry to give me tons of gold coins later."

After hearing these words, Xiangzi stared at the rising sun, as if to say, "See? It's the same old story."

Chaoyang is also very troubled.

You don't understand anything at all. I have a system that pays me, but unfortunately I can't tell you.

"Fate has already marked the price of every gift, you know that. Anyway, I'm sure I didn't lose out... Did you just tell me these trivial things? You're surprisingly quite altruistic."

Xiangzi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, seemingly to compose herself. After a moment, as if she had made up her mind, she looked at the rising sun again, her eyes revealing a hint of determination.

"...I can't control what others think...but I must pay off my debts. Please let me join your brokerage firm to help."

Chaoyang thought about it for a moment.

"But you're just a high school student, are you sure you want to come and help out at my company?"

"...Aren't you underestimating me...?"

"No, not at all. You managed the store very well while I was away, handling orders and accounts perfectly. But office work isn't just about routine tasks; it also involves dealing with many other complex situations. As a former heiress, are you capable of handling it?"

"Of course I can."

Xiangzi's tone was full of confidence, and then she calmly added.

"Besides, with your current abilities, you've probably reached your limit in managing the company, right? Why don't you hand over most of the tasks to me?"

Xiangzi spoke without any politeness, and Chaoyang didn't know whether he should trust her or not, but if he forgot that she was actually just a high school student.

"...Your way of speaking is really infuriating... But I'm genuinely having trouble coordinating concert arrangements right now, and I'm planning to find someone capable within the company... Are you sure you can handle it?"

Xiangzi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a rare smile.

"If you put it that way, I'm not sure I can handle it. After all, I find it hard to care about other people's things."

She paused for a moment, then, as if remembering something, continued.

"How about this, we sign an equity incentive plan agreement, whereby you transfer 10% of your shares to me. But for me to actually acquire these shares, I must achieve a certain goal. For example... the company's accounts must turn a profit within two years, how about that?"

"Haha, you're really smart. If the company can't pay off its huge debts, those shares are useless to you. As far as the betting agreement is concerned, it seems you're not at a disadvantage. After all, if the company fails to pay off its debts, you'll have to bear some responsibility if the company goes bankrupt. But never mind, these shares are really worthless now. In that case, I'll agree to the agreement."

After listening to Chaoyang's words, Xiangzi pinched his handsome chin and thought for a moment.

"...Indeed, I have to admit you have a point. As far as the betting agreement is concerned, I haven't suffered any losses. Although it can't be written into the formal terms, I can verbally promise that if I fail to achieve the target, you can order me to do anything you want."

Anything? That kind of thing, that kind of thing... Ugh, my head is starting to wander into fantasies.

"Well, what you're thinking of is also possible. After all, I don't think verbal additions to this agreement will be effective."

The elderly woman from Chaoyang immediately denied it.

"How could that be? I wasn't thinking about anything. If I had to say, I was considering how people's livelihoods would be affected after the consumption tax increases next year... Hmm, in that case, you don't need to help out at the store anymore. You can be my secretary for now. After all, it wouldn't be good to appoint you to any position if you're just a high school student and don't produce any results. You can act as my secretary."

"It doesn't matter, as long as I have actual command authority, that's enough. I don't care about empty titles... So let today be my last day working in this shop."

Just then, Chaoyang stared at Xiangzi, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

"...I'm sorry, but the topic of the agreement isn't over yet. Since you've made your request, I also need to state my conditions."

"......?"

"I want you to move out of your current home now and live alone. I will pay for your rent. If you don't agree, then everything I just said is off, and we can pretend nothing happened."

Silence fell over the store again after these words were spoken.

In the silence, Xiangzi finally broke it, speaking coldly.

Why do you have to meddle in my private affairs?

"Because I like you~ Hehe, but it seems you don't quite agree with that reason. If I had to say, it's probably because I already know."

"What is this? Just because you know it, you have to do it?"

It was as if it were asking the rising sun, or perhaps asking itself.

Xiangzi fell into deep thought, his gaze briefly drifting away as he pondered, his long eyelashes swaying quietly with each blink.

Chaoyang answered her directly.

"That's right, at least that's my reason for acting now. It's only natural and justified. Helping those in distress is our duty, especially when it's a beautiful young girl."

Xiangzi quickly turned his gaze back to the rising sun.

"Then I suggest you find a job as a volunteer at the UNHCR. That's incredibly foolish."

After saying that, Xiangzi left the kitchen and went into the bathroom, apparently to change his clothes.

"And what's your answer?"

Chaoyang pressed her for answers before she closed the door.

"...I'll try to find a place to live this week."

. .

"Manager~~? Did you make a PV for me!?"

You can tell who it is just by hearing their voice when they're focused on their work.

"I can't believe it! There are so many people talking about me online now!!! Some are even saying I'll be the next number one idol in the school~~"

Chaoyang, who was chopping vegetables, put down the knife, wiped his hands, and said.

"Hehe, it's as if the world has taken notice of Fujita Kotone in an instant."

Qin Yin suddenly felt embarrassed.

"Hehe, that's too much! The hype will die down soon."

Chaoyang shook his head and spoke.

"So we need to find a way to maintain the buzz. I didn't tell you before, but we're having a concert this month... and I've personally chosen you to be the headliner."

"This...so suddenly?...But...however..."

"It's okay, just be as cute as you are in front of me."

Faced with praise, Qin Yin finally couldn't hold back any longer and started jumping around.

"Yay~ Shopkeeper~~ You like it?~~ You're~ capable?"

Chapter 66 Independence.

"Cough, cough."

Xiangzi coughed a few times to remind himself that he was still there.

"Ahaha~ Toyokawa-san~ Ohayo~ Um, please take care of me today as well."

"Ah."

Xiangzi glanced at Qinyin indifferently and nodded vaguely.

"Ms. Fujita, I have a suggestion... Instead of being happy, it would be better to practice more right now."

"Ah...yes, yes, I'm sorry."

Because of her inferiority complex and Xiangzi's inherent air of a young lady, Qinyin subconsciously lowered her head to admit her mistake, but she immediately realized that she didn't need to do that and straightened up again.

However, I also sensed something was off.

She's acting so strange today... She usually doesn't care what I do, so why is she meddling?

Thinking this, I went into the bathroom to change my clothes.

When they came out, Chaoyang seemed to sense her confusion... Actually, he had heard her thoughts and began to explain.

"Ms. Toyokawa will no longer be working at the shop, but will be helping out at the agency, so you will likely have close business ties in the future."

"Is...is that so...?"

Qin Yin was slightly startled, then moved closer to Chao Yang, covered her mouth with her small hand, and asked in a low voice.

"Hey, is it okay, manager? Letting a high school student participate in the operation of the agency."

"Don't underestimate Toyokawa, she's very capable."

...Hmm... The store manager probably doesn't just want a pretty female secretary, does he...? Like this kind of thing... Like that kind of thing...

. .

The scene imagined by the sound of the piano.

Xiangzi was wearing a fitted office lady suit, and her black high heels made a crisp sound as they stepped on the floor.

She walked gracefully to the office door, slowly closed and locked it, and deliberately let out a soft laugh.

Chaoyang looked up at her from behind his desk, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Xiangzi approached, placed her hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, exposing her long neck to the light, and then slightly lifted her skirt, tearing a slit in her black pantyhose.

. .

"Snapped!"

Chaoyang immediately chopped at the sound of the zither, mainly because the imagery of the zither was so vivid that he almost couldn't help but have those thoughts himself.

"Manager! What are you doing?!"

Qin Yin covered the top of her head with both hands, looking at the rising sun with some annoyance.

"Your expression clearly indicates you're thinking the wrong thing. I'll punish you for this. Okay, get back to work. You're not getting paid for nothing."

Qin Yin immediately pouted and became unhappy.

"The store manager is probably just feeling guilty and trying to get away with it."

"I don't care what you do, but please don't project your own assumptions onto me, thank you."

Xiangzi closed his eyes and waited for the opening time to arrive. He was too lazy to watch Chaoyang and his Pokémon flirting, and just casually added this sentence.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yin toned down her adorable demeanor and absentmindedly wiped the table as she left the kitchen.

Just then, the store door was opened again.

"Ah... Hello, excuse me."

Aine entered, and as soon as she came in, she saw Kotone. Knowing that Kotone seemed to be the one who had surpassed her, she hesitated for a moment before greeting her.

"Hello~ Are you here for a meal or to see the manager?"

Qinyin immediately switched to "business mode" and enthusiastically inquired about Aiyin.

"I... I'm here to see the store manager... or more accurately, the producer."

"Is that so? The manager is in the kitchen, please come in."

Although she could see it perfectly well, Qin Yin still made a symbolic gesture of invitation to express her friendliness.

When Chaoyang saw Aine coming over, he thought of Qiansheng from before.

Is it possible that everyone in Pastel* wants to ask him to treat them to a meal?

"Um... Producer, are you busy?"

"You're not here? Are you busy too?"