I'm in a real religion, why are all the people who confess to me girls?

After replying with an OK emoji, Tianyin put her phone away, ready to wait for the show to begin.

While Amane was waiting for Ichinose's reply, Ayanokouji and Yuki had already started chatting. Yuki was the one who initiated the conversation. She was the first to realize that the only common topic between her and Ayanokouji was the White House, so she began to desperately try to find something to talk about.

As a result, they ran into several obstacles when talking about life at the school, which initially puzzled Xue. Usually, they should be able to talk more about such everyday topics.

However, having come from the White House, she quickly realized that Ayanokouji didn't want to talk too much about life at the High School, so she changed the subject and talked to Ayanokouji about the difficulties and misunderstandings she encountered after leaving the White House.

Sure enough, this topic resonated with Ayanokouji, who then took the initiative to talk about the various problems he encountered in junior high school.

Their relationship, filled with laughter and conversation, continued to warm up.

Amane took out a hazelnut chocolate that Kiryuin, the baker, had given her when she went to buy bread that morning. She unwrapped the chocolate, put it in her mouth, tasted the bitterness on the outside, and then bit it hard.

The sweet taste revived her spirits considerably, and a series of fragmented thoughts began to connect.

First of all, this girl named Yuki, who comes from the White House, even though she has an almost perfect reason to explain her appearance here, it is still too abrupt in Tianyin's eyes. Tianyin definitely does not believe that she has no connection with Yagami and Tianze.

Judging from the way Yuki interacted with Ayanokouji, Amane deduced that Yuki was probably one of Amasawa's people, or at least that Amasawa had suggested something to her or used Yuki.

After all, revealing one's identity right away is too incongruous with the plans of Yagami and the conservatives, and is more similar to the risky plan of Amaze to directly confess to Baiyin.

Therefore, Tianyin guessed that Xue must be related to Tianze.

Iwasaki Eri, a first-year student in Class B, happens to be in the same class as Hayasaka. Maybe she can ask Hayasaka to keep an eye out for this snow...

Just as Amane's thoughts began to drift to other things, Yuki, who was having a pleasant conversation with Ayanokouji, suddenly stopped talking.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Noticing Yuki's unusual behavior, Ayanokouji immediately thought of her health and quickly asked her what was wrong.

It wasn't that Ayanokouji cared so much about Yuki, but rather that he knew very well that if it were just a simple conversation and both parties chose to keep it a secret, then the content of the conversation would forever remain an unknown past.

No matter how much Sato expresses her dissatisfaction, she can get away with it by lying. But if Yuki suddenly faints, Ayanokouji won't be able to explain it no matter how many mouths he has.

So when Ayanokouji noticed that something was wrong with the snow, his heart jumped.

"Kiyotaka, you've really changed. You've become even gentler than before."

"I don't consider myself a particularly gentle person. Xue, if you're not feeling well, we can chat again next time, okay?"

Ayanokouji had no more information to get from Yuki and planned to end this pointless conversation while Yuki was feeling unwell.

However, this made Yuki mistakenly believe that Ayanokouji was worried about her health, and even her pale face flushed red.

"Kiyotaka...I...I've always admired Ayanokouji Kiyotaka!!"

Admiration?

Similar to a fan meeting their idol?

Unfortunately, Ayanokouji did not want to become an idol. Just as he was trying to correct Yuki's mistake, Ayanokouji suddenly remembered a news report he had seen about a fan who confessed to her idol but was rejected, and then committed suicide in grief.

Then, considering Xue's current poor health...

Is it really the right thing to deny her admiration and longing?

Ayanokouji couldn't get the answer to this question, and even if someone did tell him the answer, he probably wouldn't be able to judge whether it was right or wrong.

After much hesitation, in order not to upset Yuki too much, Ayanokouji could only nod with a smile.

This smile is a communication skill he learned in junior high school. At first, people criticized his smile for being fake, but now Ayanokouji can easily smile just like a normal person.

Seeing Ayanokouji smile and nod at her, Yuki could no longer hold back her tears.

Tears welled up and slid down her pale, slightly sickly-red face.

Mistaking Ayanokouji's words for encouragement, Yuki took a deep breath and made up her mind to confess her feelings to Ayanokouji directly.

Perhaps Tianze is right; sometimes people just need the courage to face their own hearts.

Encouraged by Ayanokouji, Yuki also mustered up the courage to confess her feelings to him.

"I know that saying this might lead to rejection since it's our first meeting after reuniting... but I still want to try. I really can't give up if I don't try. Kiyotaka, please go out with me!!"

Yuki's confession was so sudden that it caught Ayanokouji completely off guard. He then realized that he had misunderstood Yuki's meaning. Fortunately, he had anticipated that she would confess to him, so Ayanokouji had prepared a corresponding response.

"I'm very sorry, I already have a girlfriend, so it's impossible for us."

A perfectly standard answer.

Most girls who confess their feelings will run away crying when they find out that the guy they love already has a boyfriend.

Or they'd be so embarrassed they'd want to disappear... In short, it's rare to find a girl who can keep going after being rejected like that.

But Yuki is that kind of girl, and she also has the qualities that Ayanokouji would ultimately choose her.

"I know, Kiyotaka, your girlfriend is a girl in your class named Sato Maya."

Yuki's calm response made Kiyotaka Ayanokouji feel something was wrong. After investigating that he had a girlfriend, did Yuki really confess to him just to give herself an explanation?

"You know I have a girlfriend, so why did you confess to me? You should know very well that in this situation, there is only one correct answer for me."

"No, it should be said that Kiyotaka had no reason to refuse me."

Xue's tone became confident, and her previous weak expression disappeared without a trace.

When girls fight for 'love', they always unleash unimaginable power.

Tell me about it.

Ayanokouji's attitude turned cold. He had no impression of Yuki to begin with, yet she was now brazenly saying that he had no reason to refuse Yuki.

This can only mean that the visitor has ill intentions.

It seems that Xue has some information that even he doesn't know.

"Let me start by talking about myself. The reason I entered the White House is not because I am an illegitimate child. On the contrary, I am the eldest daughter of the Iwasaki family and the heir to the Iwasaki family. I entered the White House only because I wanted to become a 'genius' who could support the family. Unfortunately, I failed, but that does not affect my status in the family."

As Yuki spoke, she secretly observed Ayanokouji's changing expressions. When she saw that Ayanokouji was not surprised by her identity, Yuki was not annoyed at all, but rather very happy.

This shows that Ayanokouji was unaware of her identity yet was still able to have a close conversation with her, indicating that Ayanokouji's affection for her did not stem from her family background. Therefore, the reason why Ayanokouji ultimately rejected her becomes obvious.

Yuki identifies the biggest obstacle on her path to confessing her feelings as the girl named Sato.

"The Iwasaki family controls one-third of the country's automobile manufacturing industry. Of course, I'm not saying this to show off, but I learned through some channels that Ayanokouji-sensei has arranged for assassins from the White House to expel you from school. If the Iwasaki family is protecting you, Kiyotaka, even Ayanokouji-sensei wouldn't be able to take you away from our family."

Yuki's proud yet firm tone made Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's eyes widen slightly.

He had guessed before that his father would definitely try every means to bring him back, since after losing the prestigious Tianyin brand, the White House would most likely only be able to promote him as the new brand.

Otherwise, those tycoons and powerful figures would never entrust their children to such institutions.

It's impossible to reopen the White House, which has been closed for three years, by relying solely on adopted orphans; Ayanokoji Atsuomi knows this better than anyone.

What he needs now is a genius! Whether natural or artificial, he needs a talent to get everything back on track as he plans.

His first target was naturally Amane, but after angering the Miyako family, Ayanokoji Atsuomi had no choice but to send this child, who had never received fatherly love, back to that white room.

The arrival of snow proves that Ayanokouji Atsuomi has begun to launch an attack on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka at all costs.

"Even if... even if you're worried, Kiyotaka, we can go abroad. Our family has a lot of assets overseas. We can live abroad. No matter how much influence Ayanokouji-sensei has in the country, it won't be effective abroad, right?"

It must be said that Xue made full use of the knowledge she learned in the White House.

For the first time, a wavering appeared on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face.

Compared to the temporary protection promised by Amane, he only needed to date Yuki to use the Iwasaki family to escape to live abroad. Moreover, Yuki is the eldest daughter of the Iwasaki family, and they certainly wouldn't really leave him alone. In other words... as long as he gets Yuki, he will gain true freedom!

This discovery caused a crack to appear in Ayanokoji's previously resolute heart.

"It happened."

Amane, who had been watching the commotion from the shadows, immediately sensed that something was about to go wrong when she realized that Sato had arrived.

The kind of fun she wanted to see was two girls arguing and even fighting and tearing each other's clothes over a boy, but she never expected that Xue would have such an amazing trump card.

Moreover, Amane had based all her plans on the premise that Ayanokouji would never waver. Who knew that Ayanokouji would waver now? What if Ayanokouji agrees to Yuki? Wouldn't that be equivalent to Class 2-A being raided?

Using such a reason to try and abduct Ayanokouji is something that Amane cannot accept, and Sato certainly cannot accept either.

"And that girl named Sato Maya can't help you at all. Her family situation is average, she has debts, and she's already facing difficulties in life. In addition, she dated three boyfriends in junior high school, and all three of them were the kind of delinquents in school. She doesn't deserve someone like Kiyotaka!"

"If you, Qinglong, are willing to abandon her and date me, I can give their family a large sum of money to help them pay off their debts and ensure that their whole family will be well-off for the rest of their lives. I believe that compensation is enough, right?"

As she spoke, Yuki gently tiptoed and cupped Ayanokouji's bewildered face in her hands, then kissed him.

Just then, Sato appeared from where he had been hiding not far away.

"Kiyotaka, what are you doing?"

Chapter Thirty-Nine: My Hand Slipped

Sato's appearance instantly turned the previously harmonious atmosphere upside down. Sato's tone and expression clearly indicated that she was on the verge of exploding in anger. If provoked slightly now, it wouldn't be difficult for Yuki to do something outrageous.

The problem is that Ayanokouji is right next to her. The impression Ayanokouji left on Yuki in the past was too deep. She doesn't want to gamble on whether Ayanokouji's opinion of her will change in order to provoke Sato and achieve a fatal effect.

"Kiyotaka, could she be Sato-san?"

Yuki returned to her frail appearance from the beginning, and even deliberately took a step behind Ayanokouji, but her face remained quite calm and she did not show any fear.

Such a move was considered very clever by Tianyin. Xue knew very well that when in conflict with an angry woman, the weaker party was more likely to be favored by the opposite sex. However, if she acted too much, it would make the person who was helping her feel disgusted, and in the end, it would lead to a loss.

Of course, the most important point is that everyone comes from the White House. Although each person may have different strengths and expertise, they all generally follow the same teaching method.

A girl like Sato, let alone just being angry, could easily be dealt with by Yuki, who had been lying in a hospital bed receiving treatment for years.

The rigorous training he received from a young age had long since instilled muscle memory in his body. In addition, the instructors were all fierce-looking on a daily basis, so Sato's angry expression was simply not enough to compare. If you had to make a comparison, you could only say that Sato's angry expression was actually quite cute.

"What are you pretending for? I know you recognized me the moment I showed up, didn't you? You weren't like this when you were trying to persuade Qinglong to abandon me. Don't you think it's too late to start playing the innocent little girl now? And... you're not qualified to call me Qinglong! Get your facts straight!"

As Sato was speaking, he reached out to grab Yuki's collar, but just as he was about to succeed, Ayanokouji grabbed his wrist.

"Maya calm down."

Ayanokouji already knew what Yuki was planning to do, but he didn't think that Ayanokouji Atsuomi's assassins could have any effect on him. After all, he was the only one who survived from the same period, and his inherent pride wouldn't allow him to bow down to those defective people.

The most valuable information is when it is unknown. Once it is known, even the most valuable information becomes worthless in an instant.

In Ayanokouji's view, Yuki was no longer of any value in terms of intelligence. However, what concerned him was the plan she proposed. Ayanokouji had never intended to get married to Sato from the beginning, and even if nothing unexpected happened, their relationship would have ended the moment they graduated.

Thinking it over carefully, accepting Yuki's proposal might be very beneficial to him and also greatly helpful to Sato's future. However, Ayanokouji knew that Sato was completely unable to accept any of his statements that favored Yuki. Therefore, Ayanokouji planned to take Sato back first to calm her down and then try to help her understand how Yuki's promise would affect her and her family.

After confirming that Sato fully understands, Ayanokouji will give Sato the power to decide whether to break up or continue dating, leaving it to her to decide their fate.

Therefore, he absolutely could not allow Sato to be expelled from school due to school violence or intimidation, and he certainly could not let Yuki get hurt.

If Sato were expelled from school for bullying, she would automatically lose all her assets, and Yuki would never pay such a high price for someone who has already lost her value.

If Sato were to harm Yuki, things would become even more complicated. From Yuki's words, Ayanokouji could tell that Yuki's father doted on her very much. If he knew that his daughter, who had just been discharged from the hospital, had been beaten, who knows what the other party would do.

Ayanokouji is currently powerless to protect Sato, so even though he knows his actions will cause Sato to misunderstand, he must prevent things from escalating further.

"Calm down? Calm down!! Calm down!! Kiyotaka, you've been telling me to calm down all day long! How can I possibly calm down in this situation? She just kissed you! And you didn't even put up a fight. Do you even remember that I'm your girlfriend?!"

Sato, who originally intended to vent his anger on Yuki, was stopped by Ayanokouji. Finally unable to control his emotions, Sato began to vent his feelings on Ayanokouji.

Ayanokouji knew that Sato's endurance had reached its limit, and if she wasn't allowed to vent, she might do something terrible. So, while Sato was venting, Ayanokouji just listened quietly with a blank expression.

But this action only made Sato angrier. Ayanokouji, who had never had any experience in love, had no idea that what Sato needed most in this situation was a sense of security rather than absolute rationality.

Ayanokouji chose to stand by indifferently when Sato needed his security the most, an act that Sato undoubtedly equated with betrayal.

"Now, Maya, you can calm down and listen to me..."

"What's wrong with you? At a time like this, you're still telling me to calm down? Now! Right now! Tell me, do you still love me?"

"of course."

Ayanokouji answered without hesitation, but that didn't mean he understood what liking someone meant; it was just that, based on his judgment, this was the best answer Sato wanted to hear.

"If you like me, then go tell that guy 'there's no future for us.' Only actions can prove your feelings."

After hearing the answer he wanted, Sato took the opportunity to suggest that Ayanokouji prove his stance.

Sato's approach is quite common, but for Ayanokouji, who needs to consider his own interests, it's not something he can decide on immediately.

Seeing Ayanokouji hesitate, Yuki immediately guessed what he was thinking. She didn't care that Ayanokouji was using her to maximize his own interests, nor did she care whether Ayanokouji liked her after they got together. As long as he stayed by her side, that was enough.

Having already discerned Ayanokouji's psychology, Yuki naturally couldn't tolerate Sato scolding her future boyfriend or even her future husband.

"Kiyotaka, just do as she says. She's very emotionally unstable right now. If you don't hurt me, she probably won't let it go. I don't want to cause you any trouble, so... please refuse me. That way, I can finally give up completely."

Yuki pretended to be in pain and closed her eyes, acting as if she was waiting for Ayanokouji to reject her.

This tactic of feigning retreat is precisely Xue's trump card. She knows that Ayanokouji is hesitant, so she uses words like "let her give up" to provoke Ayanokouji into making a quick decision. If she gives up, Ayanokouji may not be able to use her in the future. In this way, both the initial promise and Ayanokouji's own future security will vanish in an instant.

If Yuki had never appeared, Ayanokouji wouldn't have been so attached to these things, since they were things he could hardly obtain. But now that these precious things were within his reach, the gains and losses made it impossible for Ayanokouji to make a decision on his own as he used to.