People in Tokyo, the world is clear

This is probably the basic operation of a councilor-level family head like Kobayashi Hiroyoshi, and it can be considered as an improvement in my knowledge.

"But I still don't understand. What's so valuable about me right now that this guy wants to fight for me?"

Thanks for the invitation. I’m in Tokyo, hanging out with the king.

I have no money and my life is gone. I want to struggle a few times, but I haven't made any noise yet.

I really don't understand what could possibly make a father who has never treated this illegitimate child as a human being change his attitude and win him over.

A change of heart? The possibility is basically zero.

The original's childhood memories were still vivid. Lin Sen didn't believe that in just one month, any touching events could change the character of a father who could solemnly sever ties with his own child over the phone.

So, after pinching his chin and thinking for a moment, Lin Sen only pieced together a simple direction:

"Perhaps there is something that requires direct bloodline of the Kobayashi family to accomplish?"

"Synthetic Mangekyō Sharingan, right?"

It's a prank.

However, if you think about it more carefully, this is indeed a possibility.

Kobayashi Mori is indeed the illegitimate son of Kobayashi Hiroyoshi, but this matter is basically known only within the family.

To outsiders, Kobayashi Mori was just one of the inconspicuous young men in the Kobayashi family. Especially during his childhood and adolescence, he would quietly attend family events with a low profile.

If there really was something that required such an overt family member identity, his adoptive father would actually be able to do something like what he just did.

"Could it be that one of the younger generation got into an accident and wants me to take the blame?"

Lin Sen slammed his mouth.

I picked up the orange cat Orange Juice who was humming quietly next to me again, lifted him up high, lay him on the bed, and stared into the dull cat eyes.

Consider, then decide.

"When the time comes, I can go back. Anyway, after taking this money, I have to put on a show of it."

"But, buddy, I'm not someone like Xiao Linsen who doesn't know how to refuse."

Chapter 17: I Float in the Bitterness of Life

Simply put, a simple girl was born in the summer of Hyogo North, in an ordinary farmer's family.

Hyogo is a magical place.

This area borders the sea to the south and the north. It's vast yet strangely desolate. Before the tram line was completed, commuting to school and work often involved catching the earliest bus, which took three and a half hours, in the early morning hours, under the stars and moon.

Here we have fish, rice, and wine. This land has nurtured many historic figures, and of course, newborns.

When I was a child, my family was always proud of the name Qingshan Xiazhi.

Different from the earthy coriander meatballs, the name of the summer solstice is like the cool night breeze that suddenly dissipates the steam amid the croaking of frogs in the sweltering plains. It is a rare and proud inspiration that bursts out from the chest of the uncultured farmers.

It is a pity that the simple girl did not grow into a flower that would bloom in the hot summer.

She perfunctorily finished her local high school, and like many other children from farming families, she failed to get into the city university she longed for, and stayed at home to help wait for her marriage.

0

And then, like all of his kind, he lived out his short life with a name that might not be ordinary, but that was it.

That's how it should be.

But the turning point of fate is always quietly laid long before, and the calling note is played at the right time.

"Qingshan has loved singing since he was young."

"Yeah, yeah. I still remember when I was little, I sang those folk songs secretly. If we accidentally caught us, we would blush and hide away..."

Maybe it’s because there’s no such ordinary name, but there’s always some unusual throbbing in my heart.

Dreams are always woven like this - just mentioned casually, done casually, and they instantly stir up emotions.

So the simple family helped to collect the money for a one-way ticket and sent their proud child to a rapidly changing city further east.

When the girl first arrived, she was nervous and uneasy, but also looking forward to it.

Carrying a beat-up guitar, trying to correct her Kansai accent, which always made people laugh, she tilted her head back, took a deep breath, and stared blankly at the image of her idol projected on the city buildings.

“Nakajima in Sapporo…”

Will she become Aoyama of Hyogo?

She didn't dare to think about it. But during those nights when she lived in the rented house, during those starry nights when she tried hard to check the music and correct the strings, she would always timidly think about those things that seemed out of reach.

What if.

What if...

As long as you work hard, be serious, and put in effort, maybe...

But there are no exceptions in this world.

There is no maybe.

The fact that the girl got it was.

Apart from a somewhat special name, there is probably nothing else special about her.

There is a detached and free-spirited air about the city girl, with a hint of tequila aroma. She floats in a thriving dream of drunkenness and dreams, and dances in the colorful neon lights that sway and grind gently.

The best medicine for modern urban diseases is lazy, smoky voice and casual beat.

The country girl and her acoustic guitar are so old-fashioned and tacky.

Defeated.

The girl always tries to cultivate a sweet and positive optimism, like the sweet rice wine she has been drinking since she was a child, and like the red matsutake crab that has been opened to reveal its sweet meat.

"If it doesn't work, just go home."

Letters of comfort were often sent from the countryside of Hyogo.

But ah.

In fact, I am unwilling to accept it.

Dreams are like a carefully sewn cloth bag.

She turned her hard work into sugar and wine and put them in bit by bit.

That was her best thing, how could she bear to throw it away like that?

So, try, fail, and try again.

Put on a mask of vulnerability to maintain emotions.

Use hard work to earn the qualification to continue standing in this city.

Treat every impatient face with a smile.

Accept all the comments that may make you sad.

Believe that each time will be better than the last.

Time and again, I muster up my courage and look forward to...

Until the stage becomes smaller and smaller.

From the spacious interior to the crowded bar, tables, chairs and wine bottles in a dozen square meters.

From the initial high aspirations to the final fight that might cost him his life——

Until the ending note falls, the fingers loosen the last tightly gripped string.

Qingshan Xiazhi lowered his head, stood up, and bowed silently to the bustling crowd of absent-minded and even impatient drinkers.

Curtain call.

Will this be her last performance?

Qingshan doesn’t know the summer solstice.

Now she just wants to put down her guitar and leave.

Quietly disappearing in the lights, gradually fading into the night——

It’s a pity that I couldn’t do it.

Because, a figure with his hands in his pockets caught up with her slowly.

Hiding in the shadows of the building late at night, the girl tried hard to adjust her mood.

When the light hit her face again, all that was reflected was a smile.

"I'm sorry, Xiaolin."

"It seems that I have let you down a bit."

Qingshan Xiazhi didn't dare to think about how the young man opposite would react.

Disappointed?

It was probably the emotion in her heart. After all, he was almost the only person in this city who had given her a positive evaluation, or even supported her.

Perhaps what is shown is comfort?

Xiaolin is a good person. He always talks about encouragement and motivates her by making up nice words that even she can't believe.

However, precisely because of this, when she failed to live up to this only expectation.

It will make you feel even more ashamed.

After a blurry moment, Qingshan Xiazhi never dared to look at the other person's face again.

He just relaxed his gaze and continued to maintain that mask, wavering and uncertain.

My heartbeat gradually accelerated and a feeling of sadness slowly grew.

poor.

The mud that cannot be touched.

Perhaps this is her true nature and will be her ultimate destination.

My body began to tremble, and my strength gradually disappeared, as if I was about to fall.

"Snapped."

However, a hand patted her shoulder, and then attacked her back twice.

It was like a stuck spring being wound up again with a crackling sound.

"What else are you talking about? Have a can."

"?"

Qingshan raises his head during the summer solstice.

His face under the street light was still relaxed, as if he was not affected at all by the performance and the audience's reaction.

The hand hidden behind his back waved and threw a can of familiar drink over.

It's the one she likes to drink.

This is also the kind she often treats the poor guy in front of her to drink.

For some reason, he always has that inexplicable calm temperament.

A bit lazy and bad, like he doesn't belong to this world.

It is also somewhat detached and free and easy, giving people a sense of sobriety in a city full of drunkenness and dreams.

It's a reassuring feeling. Of course, there are drawbacks.

That’s it——

"I think I've found the problem, Qingshan."

"Damn it, these drunks aren't really listening to the music."

"Even if you call your idol Nakajima over to cover his face while singing, they'll still make that same defensive face."

"It's a real shame to have them as an audience."