Faced with the blackened heroine, they actually stopped time

Sometimes smart people make people fear or even hate them.

Oreki Gen looked at the woman steadily. Now that there were only two of them, there really seemed to be no reason for disguise. Moreover, with this woman's keen insight, any extra disguise might become a flaw and would be superfluous.

"I don't like to say nice things, although I cannot deny that I sometimes lie for my own sake...but I don't lie about feelings. Those words are true."

Sakuraba Izumi's eyes flickered slightly.

"Really? Then do you think your identity matches that of my daughter?"

It seems to be a simple matter of marrying well.

This also seems to be the most unpleasant mountain between the two people.

“It’s indeed a mismatch.”

"Then you have such an idea, even to date her across classes. Don't you think it's a little ridiculous?"

Oreki Gen looked at Sakuraba Izumi. There was no mockery on her face, because he knew clearly that what the other party said was the truth and there was no intentional insult to him. In the eyes of most people, such actions and thoughts were indeed ridiculous.

Her beautiful eyes looked over and she continued, "It's not that I mean anything else. I think you understand what it's like to get along with someone when a man is in a weak position. How much do you have to endure, and how long do you have to tolerate? I think you might say that you can bear it. It's true that this is the case for a while, but you also know Jianyue's personality. Can you guarantee that you can bear it in the long run?"

Oreki Gen shook his head.

“I don’t think too much about the future.”

"Really? Young people don't need to worry about the consequences, or have you never thought about going further with her?"

Sakuraba Izumi chuckled, as if mocking the short-sightedness and ignorance of a young man.

But the boy also smiled and looked at her.

"If we worry too much about the future, we will miss the beauty of the present. This is our best time, our most youthful time. So if we can't concentrate on the present and enjoy every minute with Jianyue, no matter what the future holds, I will regret the blind busyness and anxiety now."

This sentence was something Sakuraba Jianyue had not expected.

She frowned slightly.

“Is this the point of view that Oreki-kun insists on?”

Oreki Gen nodded.

"That's exactly what I think. I've told you before that I don't have any great ambitions, and I may not be someone who will achieve much in the future. I also don't think of using Jianyue's identity to make a leap from a carp to a dragon. I've always been free and easy, and logically I wouldn't like the so-called wealthy life. But if it's for Jianyue, I can force myself a little."

Hearing this, Sakuraba Izumi couldn't help but laugh.

"So, letting you be with Jianyue is really unfair to you?"

Oreki Gen thought about it.

"Well, you should also know what kind of person Jianyue is. How do you plan to arrange her life? What will her future be like?"

Sakuraba Izumi did not avoid this question.

Instead, she calmly picked up a grape and put it between her lips and teeth. The juicy grape immediately spread out fresh juice at the corners of her mouth.

Even the dark red juice was flowing a little.

She simply wiped it off lightly with her little finger and then wiped her palm lightly with a handkerchief.

"In my plan, in the future, I will arrange for her to meet a man who she may not like very much but can accept. It will be a good match for her, and then she can live a life that truly belongs to her."

Oreki Gen looked at the other person and said softly.

"At that time, do you really think she will live her own life?"

"if not?"

Oreki Gen shook his head.

"She will only become trapped in the family, start to compromise for her husband, and even have more things she doesn't want to do happen, and endure more unnecessary pain. It seems that you have indeed given up on your arrangements for her, as if you have given her freedom. But on the way to giving her freedom, you have recreated a cage, which truly trapped her life. She has never been free."

These words made Sakuraba Izumi's eyes narrow.

She stood up immediately, her movements were very swift. Although her expression did not reveal any emotional fluctuations, the danger in her eyes was self-evident, and she felt a huge pressure coming upon her.

The familiar feeling of suffocation seemed to cover the boy's entire body.

She walked towards Oreki Gen and stood in front of him.

Look him in the eyes.

However, Oreki Gen had no intention of retreating. Even though his back seemed to be soaked with cold sweat, he still did not escape or retreat.

Looking at this young man who seemed to be ignorant of the danger of life and death, Sakuraba Izumi's voice turned cold.

"Do you really think that being my godson is a life-or-death gift? Or do you think that after you become Jianyue's boyfriend, I can't do anything to you?"

"of course not."

"Then what gives you the right to say such a thing?"

Oreki Gen felt the sharpness in that cold tone, as if it could pierce his heart.

He tried to remain calm and not waver.

"I don't know about other things, but I know that Jianyue was truly happy with me, just like an ordinary girl."

Sakuraba Izumi was a little amused.

"She is not an ordinary girl. Acting like an ordinary girl is a degradation."

"Really? But if that's the case, why can't I even be happy? Isn't the core goal of making a lot of money and having a lot of status to make myself happier? But I can't be happy at all. I live in a life that is always arranged, or in a cage. It seems that I have all the material things, but I can't be happy at all. Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

The boy's words made Sakuraba Izumi's expression even colder.

It has reached the point where it seems frozen.

She spoke slowly, in a cold and low tone.

"Are you here to help Jianyue denounce me as a mother?"

Oreki Gen shook his head.

"I don't have the qualifications. I said it from the beginning, I just hope she can be happier. There's nothing wrong with being as happy as an ordinary girl. The reason why I don't need her to bring me power and money is because I am happy enough now. People who expect too much will only take on more burdens first."

"Then can a mere Oreki string like you bring her simple happiness?"

She asked with a smile.

The irony in the words and expressions is self-evident.

It seemed as if it was mocking the young man's unfounded words and wild fantasies.

"There will be a day like this."

He spoke softly, as if he had no firm confidence, and he did not try his best to show his determination at this time.

But it is this kind of power, silent and invisible, that can strike into people's hearts.

Sakuraba Izumi looked into the boy's eyes for a long time, and remained in silence for a long time.

Then she laughed.

Turning around and returning to the sofa, Oreki Gen seemed a little confused about the other person's emotional changes. They were always unexpected, as if they were not the emotional changes of a normal person at all.

She even patted the place next to her.

“Please sit down. Oh, it’s so tiring to pretend to be a mother who sternly interrogates her son-in-law. Oreki-kun, can you please stop letting me hold my head up when I talk?”

What is the situation here?

Was the emotion just now just pretended? Oreki Gen was not sure whether the other party was trying to save face or was trying to save face for him.

But he nodded and sat obediently on the sofa, about a body length away from the other person.

I can't feel her body temperature, but I can clearly smell the faint fragrance on her body.

She has the temperament that a mature woman should have.

She lay slightly on her side, like a lazy queen.

“Were you not frightened just now, Oreki-kun?”

Oreki Gen shook his head awkwardly.

"How could that be? I know this is to see Yue. It's normal. I can understand it."

Sakuraba Izumi's eyes flickered, and her charming and soft luster made people feel as if they were soaking in a hot spring, which was a huge contrast to the previous one. This woman was too scary. She could change her posture and mood so easily that people couldn't tell the real from the fake... Fortunately, it was just Jianyue's mother. If it was the heroine of some other book... He couldn't imagine what would happen to him.

She smiled.

"How should I put it? Jianyue was not a child spoiled by me. I should say that I forced her to become such a child. I feel guilty about this, but I don't want her to be too naive and get hurt too easily. I just didn't expect that the price of not being naive is that it is difficult for her to feel love. Even my love for her."

Oreki Gen fell silent.

He really didn't know how to explain this kind of thing, especially the complicated relationship between mother and daughter.

But Sakuraba Izumi was staring at Oreki Gen.

"But now I'm beginning to believe that you can make her feel these things... Do you think she loves you?"

Oreki Gen gave a wry smile.

"It's not love at all."

"But at least she has never treated other boys like she treats you. What if this is her unique way of loving someone? Can you accept it?"

Oreki Gen felt a little ashamed.

"It would be unbearable to continue like this, but I hope we can all find a better way to get along."

"That's why I started hoping you could change her, because I saw at the time that her attitude towards you was completely different. She even argued with me for you, which means you are special in her heart. Over the years, you are the only boy who can enter her heart. Maybe you are also the only one who can create a miracle."

Is it difficult to change Sakuraba Mizuki?

Of course, even Sakuraba Izumi feels that if it were really possible, it would be a miracle.

but...

Oreki Gen smiled.

"Her existence itself is a miracle. I have no difficulty in doing this. On the contrary, if I can really do it, I will be sincerely happy."

"Then I won't say anything more about your relationship."

Sakuraba Izumi said this and picked up the teacup and took a sip of water.

Oreki Gen bowed slightly sincerely.

"Thank you for your understanding, godmother."

Sakuraba Izumi put down the teacup and looked at the boy with some reproach.

"You are my daughter's boyfriend... is it appropriate to call me godmother?"

Oreki Gen was stunned. What was that tone of voice... Why did it sound like he was jealous? However, the clever boy immediately understood what the other person meant.

He immediately picked up his thick skin and said with a smile.

"I am Jianyue's boyfriend. There is no conflict between that and being the godmother's child, right? I will work hard for Jianyue, and I will also be filial to my godmother."

“Oh? Isn’t that too difficult? After all, I feel tired for Oreki-kun~”

You say such compassionate words with a seductive expression, but... you better be feeling bad for your buddy.

Do you know how difficult this road is for you?

It's not just your daughter!

I am just like a gardener who is so hardworking that he doesn’t even have time to eat, cultivating every flower in the garden.

If you really feel bad, try to give yourself fewer choices in your daily life... I beg you.

"How could that be? I should be enjoying myself, not feeling exhausted, with a girlfriend as special and unique as Jianyue and a woman as charming as my godmother."

"You're really good at talking, Oreki-kun, but a man who talks too much will seem unreliable."

She gently stroked her cheek with her palm.

She looked at the boy with soft eyes.

Oreki Gen shook his head.

"These are all sincere words. I'm not being glib. Why would they be unreliable? I did this willingly."

It’s all my fault!

Sakuraba Izumi was laughing so hard that her branches and petals were shaking.