I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Are you starting to speak inhuman language again?

Without responding, Yuuki Tenkuji silently drank his tea, letting the aroma dispel the smell of alcohol emanating from across the table.

He appeared to be staring blankly at the desktop, but he was actually looking at the system panel.

While combing his hair, the system gave him two permanent rewards: "Game (Expert Level)" and "A Flash of Inspiration (Status)".

Leaving aside the money and one-time expenses, the haul was quite substantial—I guess the act of combing her hair was something only her boyfriend could do, right?

Add to that what she said before, and the attitude she's showing now...

Is that enough?

Tenkuji Yu closed her eyes, unable to see the tea or smell its aroma, only feeling her heart sink slightly.

'Is this the end of the first task?'

The act of "searching for his wife for a hundred miles" directly broke down Yukino Yukinoshita's defenses, filled her empty heart, and made her identify with his identity as her boyfriend to the point of no return.

Or to put it more bluntly—

Once Yukino Yukinoshita falls in love with him and wants him to be her real boyfriend, the mission will be complete.

The system hasn't given any notification yet, perhaps because she didn't make the request herself?

While pondering this in my mind, I unconsciously tightened my grip on the teacup.

Tenkuji slowly exhaled, opened his eyes, and calmly met the gaze that had never left his face.

"We should be able to have a proper conversation here. Shall we continue with what we were saying earlier?"

With the wine glass to her lips, Yukinoshita stopped what she was doing, seemingly deep in thought.

"...Well, first of all, I want to tell you something."

Tenkuji Yu gazed intently at her, taking a sip of tea as he did so: "What is it?"

"My mom found out about our affair."

"puff!"

Cough cough cough...

For the first time, Yuu Tenkuji realized that the scene of spraying tea all over his face wasn't just an animation effect.

He took the towel that Yukinoshita Haruno offered, suppressing a laugh, wiped his face, cleaned up the spilled tea, and, suppressing his embarrassment, replied in a deliberately calm tone:

"How was it discovered?"

“My mother is very perceptive. After she noticed that I was behaving strangely lately, she came over and pressed me for an explanation… Even if I didn’t tell her, she would still investigate you out of curiosity. To avoid her coming after you, I told her about our situation in general.”

After explaining, Yukino Yukinoshita added, "I mentioned the French kiss, but I didn't mention that you're an all-rounder, able to smash a boxing machine while also infiltrating the manor."

Touching her chin, Tenkuji Yu nodded thoughtfully.

"Oh, that's good... wait, good my foot!?" He suddenly widened his eyes, looking at her incredulously. "You're going to tell your mother that we French kissed?"

"Hehehe~" She shrugged, stuck out her tongue, and laughed in a very affected yet adorable way. "Well, I can't help it, my mother can tell I'm lying, so when she asked me how far we've come, of course I could only answer honestly~"

"you really……"

With one hand supporting his forehead, Tenkuji Yu really didn't know what to say to her, but then he suddenly thought of something, frowned slightly, and glanced at her cheek.

A natural blush, as if from being drunk, without any finger marks left by a slap...

He breathed a sigh of relief for some reason: "Your mother didn't blame you? Usually, when parents hear about this kind of thing, don't they react very strongly?"

"Of course there's some blame, but she's a very rational person. As long as you can communicate with her properly and persuade her, she'll be willing to understand."

Yukinoshita shrugged, quickly realizing what she meant. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and leaned towards Yuuto Tenkuji: "Are you worried about me? Afraid that my mother will beat me?"

“That’s true to some extent.” After saying that, Tenkuji Yu coldly pushed her head back to the other side. “After your mother found out about us, did she say anything?”

Seeing that she could still chat with him with a smile and seemed to want to take their relationship to the next level, Tenkuji Yu could pretty much guess her answer.

As expected, Yukinoshita Haruno rested her chin on her hands, a sweet smile on her lips, and looked at him, saying:

"I said it. Let's officially date and get married soon."

“I knew it…” Yuu Tenkuji sighed.

After finishing speaking, he didn't know what to say for a moment, so he could only drink tea to calm his chaotic mood.

Yukinoshita swirled the sake in her small cup, then downed the entire cup in one gulp and slammed it down on the table.

Pong!

The sound startled Yuu Tenkuji, causing him to put down his teacup.

"To be honest, I hate both arranged marriages and social engagements."

With her hands behind her back, Yukino looked up at the ceiling light, parted her soft lips, and murmured something.

After a moment of hesitation, Yuu Tenkuji continued the conversation: "After all, you're just a college student. If it weren't for the pressure of the family business, you'd probably be going to karaoke with your friends or shopping in Shinjuku right now, right? Responsibility has given you a comfortable family background, but it has also taken away your freedom."

"Yes, I knew you would understand."

She smiled, adopted the tone of an elder, deliberately lowered her voice, and slowly said, "The responsibility of the family is passed down from generation to generation. As long as the surname Xue Shizhi remains... no, even if the surname is changed, it doesn't matter."

"As long as this bloodline remains, there will be unavoidable burdens on our shoulders. As for whether we can escape, of course we can!"

“Anyone can escape if they have the ability, and Yukinoshita Haruno clearly has that ability. She can escape to a place where no one recognizes her at any time, using her brains and hands to exchange for a free and comfortable environment.”

Yukino sighed, her tone no longer feigning maturity. She pouted, saying with annoyance and helplessness, "But what will happen to my family if I leave? Who will inherit the family business that my mother and grandfather worked so hard to build? My good-for-nothing, stubborn, and incredibly naive little sister?"

She let out a sneer, making no attempt to hide the sharpness in her words.

"Xiaoxue is capable. But once she uses that ability in the business world, she'll probably become a 'monster' like me, right?"

"A monster that only lies, uses smiles and appearance as weapons, always calculating no matter who it interacts with or what it says, and can never communicate sincerely with anyone... I only need one of these."

"As for her, let her continue being the 'Ice Princess.' Why didn't I run away in the first place? Any adult knows how to calculate opportunity cost and sunk cost; I'm not willing to just run away like this."

At this point, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly paused, then puffed out her flushed cheeks and glared at him with displeasure.

Hey you over there, why aren't you saying anything?

Tenkuji Yu poured himself another pot of tea: "I'm listening to you vent. Are you done venting?"

"Not yet!" she snorted resentfully, downing the small wine cup after cup, and soon finished the whole pot of liquor.

He ordered another pot of wine, and before it arrived, Yang Nai, observing his calm expression, spoke again:

"So, do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"You hate your current life, but you can't refuse because of your sister?"

She immediately crossed her arms in disgust: "What kind of sister-complex thinking is this?"

The monk leisurely sipped tea at the Sky Temple, showing no intention of complaining or returning home.

Yukino Yukinoshita pouted, feeling awkward, and fanned her burning cheeks, saying lazily, "It's a simple principle... If the hero stands behind those who should be protected, then who can fight against the monsters?"

"Yukino is still immature, so the older sister who matures first naturally has to shoulder all the responsibilities~ That's right, I am the hero!"

She laughed again, swaying as she raised her fist, looking as if she would turn into light at any moment.

With a helpless pursed lip, Tenkuji Yu pushed his cup towards her.

"You said you weren't a sister-complex earlier, but then you said it was for your sister. You're really drunk. Have some tea to sober up."

"I told you, I won't get drunk."

Yukino took the cup, but didn't drink it. She just licked the rim of the cup that he had just touched with her lips.

Her eyes, hazy with intoxication yet as calm as ice, stared directly at him. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the corners of her mouth were turned up in a cheerful smile, but she wasn't actually smiling at all.

"I've said so much already, I think smart little Youyou should understand what I mean... So I'll just ask directly."

The private room was so quiet that even the sound of toes nervously rubbing against the tatami mats could be heard clearly.

She whispered, "Would you stand before me, great hero?"

"If heroes are protecting others, then who will protect the heroes?" — Yukinoshita seemed to be uttering these words in a hushed tone.

This was no longer a hint, but almost an lament, a desperate cry for help as someone grasped at a straw.

"..."

Sitting upright in place, Tenkuji Yuu's lips were tightly pressed together as he silently gazed at Yukinoshita Haruno.

Beneath layers of mature facade, she is nothing more than a simple, fragile girl with a more girlish heart than most.

Having been his rented boyfriend for several weeks, he certainly knew... knew that even at this moment, when he was almost about to confess, this guy was still so twisted.

The aroma of the wine gradually faded.

Tenkuji Yu raised his hand and took his teacup back from her.

"Wait a minute before answering. Can I share my thoughts?"

Chapter 80: My Life as a Rented Boyfriend: Starting from Zero

Since Tenkuji Yu wasn't drunk, he could see very clearly.

As she said, "Today everyone should speak the truth," she used alcohol as an excuse to put on another mask.

What hero, what cry for help—it was all just her feigning weakness to evoke my sympathy, wasn't it?

That's why she's twisted.

Instead of being honest and sincere, she chose to scheme and lure him into a trap.

If we're talking about her contradictory demeanor or her cunning in dealing with people, this person is indeed a mature adult.

He's also a fishing master.

Even if Yukino Yukinoshita's acting skills aren't perfect, they're definitely at the pinnacle of a master—to borrow a phrase from online novels, they're probably halfway to perfection.

An ordinary high school boy might actually fall for her tricks because of his sense of masculinity and heroic fantasies, and be successfully taken home by her to live the happy life of a rich and beautiful woman keeping a cute little puppy.

Having spent this time together, Yuu Tenkuji has gained a sufficient understanding of Yukino Yukinoshita.

Knowing someone doesn't mean knowing their birthdate, height, weight, or what they like or dislike to eat...

The so-called acquaintance means remembering this person, keeping a place for her in your heart; and from then on, it is difficult to forget her from your mind.