Tokyo: Love Begins with Controlling the Rich Girl

“You’re lying.” Ayase Yuki looked up at him, her eyes behind her glasses full of laughter. “Sho-kun knows perfectly well, and he knows it better than I do.”

Shimada Sho asked in confusion, "How would I know?"

“Because…” Ayase Yuki seemed to want to say something, but stopped herself after starting to speak.

She paused for a moment, then seemed to think of a new reason, "Because Xiangjun has said a lot of ancient Eastern sayings."

"Is there?"

Yuki Ayase counted on her fingers, “A gentleman’s word is as good as his bond, it is impolite not to reciprocate, one should help those in need…” Every single one of these phrases was spoken in Chinese, and the pronunciation was quite standard.

Shimada Sho's heart skipped a beat.

“Sho-kun should know more than just these few sentences, right?” Ayase Yuki looked at him intently. “Sho-kun should be very familiar with the contents of this book.”

"You're overthinking it." Shimada Sho looked away. "I only know a few lines; I learned them from watching TV dramas before."

He didn't even know if he had said it or not.

I think I mentioned it when I was talking to Yuki Ayase, but I didn't pay attention to it since it was just something I said casually.

“Is that so?” Yuki Ayase suddenly smiled.

Shimada Sho frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing." Ayase Yuki walked briskly downstairs with her hands behind her back, her voice drifting back, "Actually, there are many things that Sho-kun hasn't said, but if you don't deny it, it means you really understand these things."

"..." Shimada Sho was speechless, unsure how to respond.

He simply pretended not to hear and quickly followed Ayase Yuki.

When she got to his side, she suddenly took out a book and handed it to Shimada Sho.

He looked down and saw a children's book, the beautifully covered "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

Shimada Sho glanced down at the book in his hand. "You're buying this kind of book for your aunt?"

“I bought this for Sho-kun,” Ayase Yuki said matter-of-factly. “My aunt is a patient and can’t look at something so mentally taxing.”

"I don't want to watch it either."

"Just consider it keeping me company, Sho-kun." She leaned closer, hugged Shimada Sho's arm and shook it, saying in a coquettish tone, "I'll buy it and look at it myself, Sho-kun doesn't need to look at it, just come with me to buy it."

Shimada Sho felt he couldn't handle her coquettishness.

"...Let's go, pay the bill."

Yuki Ayase immediately beamed and hugged his arm even tighter.

When it came time to pay, Shimada Sho paid before she could.

The four books together cost only a little over nine thousand yen, which is much cheaper than clothes.

"Let's go, Sho-kun, I'm hungry." As they walked out of the bookstore, Ayase Yuki rubbed her stomach. "Let's go eat."

What would you like to eat?

"Hmm..." She thought for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the street before landing on the entrance of an elegantly decorated shop, "Sushi!"

Shimada Sho followed her gaze.

It was a shop called "Sushi Sushi". The storefront wasn't big, but it looked quite stylish.

"Let's go."

The two entered the store and were led by a staff member to a seat by the window.

The interior is decorated in a classic Japanese style, with wooden tables and chairs, warm yellow lighting, and a calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall.

The air was filled with the aroma of vinegared rice and fresh seafood.

Shimada Sho picked up the menu and flipped through it, while Ayase Yuki rested her chin on her hand and watched him.

"What would you like to eat, Xiangjun?"

"You order, I'm not picky."

"Then I won't be polite." Ayase Yuki took the menu and skillfully ordered a few items.

The clerk made a note of it and then turned and left.

"Have you been here before?" Shimada Sho asked, somewhat surprised. She seemed very familiar with the menu.

“Yes, I’ve been here once before.” Yuki Ayase nodded. “The chef’s skills are excellent, especially the tuna belly, which melts in your mouth. Sho-kun, you must try it.”

Shimada Sho nodded, his gaze inadvertently sweeping towards the kitchen.

It was at that glance that his movements suddenly stopped.

The person who came out of the kitchen to deliver the food was a young girl wearing a white chef's uniform and a hat.

Short hair to ear length, fair skin, and clean, clear eyes.

Nozomi Sasaki.

She was carrying a plate of sushi and was carefully walking towards another table of customers.

Shimada Sho's eyes widened.

He never expected to meet her here.

Does Nozomi Sasaki work at such a high-end sushi restaurant?

Moreover, she was clearly dressed as a chef, not a waitress.

Is this someone learning how to make sushi?

A series of questions arose in my mind.

Shimada Sho instinctively wanted to raise his hand to greet him.

But after delivering the food, Nozomi Sasaki only paused slightly as she passed their table.

Her gaze lingered on Shimada Sho for a moment before turning to Ayase Yuki.

The two looked at each other, and Nozomi Sasaki gave a slight bow.

A polite, courteous bow, devoid of any extraneous emotion.

Then, she turned around and walked back to the kitchen with the tray.

There was no unnecessary communication throughout the entire process.

He didn't even call out Shimada Sho's name.

"..."

Shimada Sho stared at her departing figure, momentarily stunned.

This shouldn't be happening.

How could she not recognize herself?

Chapter 162 The Date Is Cancelled

Shimada Sho helped Sasaki Nozomi out of a predicament and even held an umbrella for her on a rainy day to walk her home.

She clearly said something like, "Please take care of me from now on, Shimada-kun."

I even gave him a thank-you gift.

Although we haven't met many times, it's not to the point where we wouldn't recognize each other even face-to-face.

what happened?

"Does Xiangjun know that girl?"

Yuki Ayase's voice pulled him back to reality.

Shimada Sho turned his head and found her resting her chin on her hand, looking at him leisurely.

"Just an ordinary classmate," Shimada Sho replied dismissively.

"Is that so?" Ayase Yuki's tone was emotionless. "But she doesn't seem to want to talk to Sho-kun much."

"..."

"Did Xiangjun do something to upset someone?"

"No."

Shimada Sho himself was also confused.

He carefully recalled the scene of his last meeting with Nozomi Sasaki.

It was on the bus that he held an umbrella for her and walked her home.

Although she cried at the time, she still thanked them properly in the end.

I told him I'd treat him to something to eat next time we meet.

The atmosphere at that time didn't seem like someone was angry at all.

But the way she looked at him just now was definitely strange.

Gone was the usual timidity and nervousness; there was only a faint, deliberately distant sense of alienation.

It was as if they didn't know him at all.

"What are you thinking about, Sho-kun?" Ayase Yuki's voice rang out again.

"It's nothing." Shimada Sho snapped out of his thoughts. "Maybe she's just not feeling well, since she's at work."

"Mm," Yuki Ayase responded, without asking any further questions.

But in the brief moment when Shimada Sho wasn't paying attention, her gaze lingered for a moment in the direction where Sasaki Nozomi had disappeared.

One sushi dish after another was served.

Yuki Ayase was generous when ordering, with each piece of tuna belly, sea urchin, salmon roe, and conger eel being as exquisite as a work of art.

"Xiangjun, open your mouth."

Yuki Ayase picked up a piece of tuna belly and handed it to Sho Shimada.

"I'll do it myself."

"Xiangjun helped me so much just now, so now I'm helping Xiangjun. It's only fair that we return the favor."

It's a matter of reciprocity.

Shimada Sho looked at her hand holding the chopsticks, and finally opened his mouth.

The fish melts on the tongue, filling the mouth with the aroma of oil.

It truly melts in your mouth.

"Is it good?" Yuki Ayase tilted her head, her eyes sparkling as she waited for his evaluation.

"good to eat."

"Then another one." She picked up another piece, this time sea urchin.

This time, Shimada Sho didn't refuse and simply opened his mouth to catch it.

The sweetness of the sea urchin and the slight sourness of the vinegared rice blended perfectly, and he couldn't help but nod in approval.

"I'm glad you like it, Sho-kun." Ayase Yuki smiled with satisfaction before starting to serve herself.

The two then began their meal.

Yuki Ayase would occasionally pass Shimada Sho something she thought was delicious.

At first, he wasn't used to it.

But with Yuki Ayase's persistent feeding, it eventually accepted.

Midway through, at Ayase Yuki's urging, he even picked up a piece and handed it to her.

After it was placed in the bowl, she looked flattered and asked, "Xiang-jun, you actually put food on my plate?"

"...reciprocity is key."

"Mmm!" She nodded vigorously and happily ate the piece of conger eel.

It seems I've completely forgotten that I was the one urging Shimada Sho to do it.

The atmosphere naturally became pleasant during the meal.