All the people who like me are other people’s girlfriends! ?

She took out the key, inserted it into the lock, and the familiar "click" sounded.

Pushing open the door, the old house was filled with a musty and damp smell, a mixture of the scent of aged tatami mats, due to the rain.

Even though she had only lived here with her father for less than two months, it felt like an eternity had passed.

The room was dimly lit, with heavy curtains drawn. She didn't turn on the lights, and moved calmly through the narrow space, each step seeming to tread on fragments of past memories.

In the living room, there was a space barely separated by a curtain, with an old but very clean small desk. This was her "bedroom." On the desk, a doll dressed in an exquisite kimono with a gentle face sat quietly. It was the only keepsake her mother had left behind.

With gentle eyes, Toyokawa Shoko carefully picked up the doll and placed it in the storage box. Then she put in a few neatly folded clothes, a few sheet music books, and the Tsukimori school badge from her junior high school.

These are all the things she can take with her.

After packing, the suitcase still felt light. She put it down and walked silently into the inner room.

My father was lying there.

As usual, he was curled up on the tatami mat, the smell of alcohol so strong it was almost tangible, and his clothes were unwashed.

Xiangzi stood there silently for two seconds, then gently knelt down beside him, the tatami mat making a soft rustling sound.

The gloomy weather outside the window blurred her father's outline, and also blurred the emotions in Toyokawa Shoko's eyes. She just quietly looked at him, at the father who had once made her proud, but later dragged her into the mire.

How many times did she want to just leave him and walk away?

How many times has she watched him sink into alcohol, feeling only powerless numbness and a trace of pity that she herself is unwilling to admit?

She did try to change things—arguing, pleading, silent protests—but in the end, it was all like punching cotton, futile.

Her mother's death crushed her father, and almost crushed her as well. Now, she needs to temporarily unload this burden, not to escape, but to... calm down for a while so that she can truly move forward.

“Father.” The girl’s voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost a sigh, and it was almost drowned out by the sound of the rain.

She didn't know if her father was awake or unconscious; she simply said, word by word:

"I need to leave for now."

There was no response, only louder snoring.

She didn't expect an answer, and perhaps that was for the best. Faced with her lucid father, she didn't know how to begin.

Xiangzi stood up, tore a small piece of paper from the desk, picked up a pen, paused for a moment, and finally wrote only one line:

[Father, I need to leave for a while. Please don't worry, I will take good care of myself. But you also need to take care of your health and stop drinking so much. If you want to see me, you can call me anytime.]

Place the note gently on the table and weigh one corner down with an empty wine bottle.

Finally, Toyokawa Shoko looked around at this place that had witnessed so much embarrassment, heartache, and struggle, and a feeling of indescribable melancholy and faint relief welled up in her heart.

It was indeed cramped and dilapidated, arguably the worst house she had ever lived in, but it could still be called a "home" with some effort.

Now that I've left, when will I be able to come back again?

Will he cheer up when he sees his father again?

Toyokawa Shoko slapped her cheek hard, her eyes regaining their determined light.

She pulled her suitcase and walked steadily toward the door. Before opening the door, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced toward the living room. In the dim light, she seemed to see a familiar figure.

Without thinking further, she forcefully opened the door.

Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed in front of me.

The girl squinted, shielding her forehead with one hand. The moment she stepped outside, as if by prior arrangement, the rain that had been hanging over the city stopped.

Toyokawa Shoko looked up at the sky.

It's as if the spring breeze melts the winter snow, and the flowing water clears away the blockage.

The dark clouds gradually dispersed, the sky cleared, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.

There should be a huge and beautiful full moon tonight.

Now all she can do is look up at the unique bright moon.

but……

In the future.

She also wanted to be someone's moon.

Just then, a sound came.

"Are you ready?"

Toyokawa Shoko looked at the boy in front of her and smiled brightly.

"Ok!"

A gentle breeze blew by, as if to carry them toward tomorrow.

*

Shoko Toyokawa subconsciously smoothed her still-damp hair, then blushed and stretched out a hand, as if wanting the boy to take her hand.

However, Kiyono did not do that.

He suddenly turned around and said with a smile:

"There's one more thing I need to do before I go home."

Regardless of the circumstances, he had already abducted someone else's daughter; he should at least have informed Xiangzi's father.

In short, he's going to give the barrel a good beating.

?032. Kiyono, who brutally beat up Toyokawa Kiyotaka

Kiyono pushed open the door to the rented room.

To be honest, he shouldn't have interfered in other people's family affairs. Even if Toyokawa's father was a bastard, they were still family. But there were some things he just had to say, so he took this opportunity to say them.

However, he didn't know what to say. Toyokawa Kiyotaka had first lost his wife, then his business had been defrauded, and he had been kicked out of his home. Such setbacks were enough to break any man. It was impossible to blame him for being disheartened and giving up on himself.

"For Xiangzi's sake, let's give the wine barrel a personality-correcting punch."

As Kiyono walked in, a damp and stuffy smell wafted from the room because of the rain. He was very familiar with this smell; he used to feel the same way when it rained while he lived in an internet cafe.

He shook his head, kicked aside an empty wine bottle lying on the floor, and went into the living room.

In the center of the room, a thin man sat at a low table, clutching a freshly opened can of cheap beer. Hearing the crisp sound, the man looked up in surprise, and then their eyes met.

"Xiangzi...? No, you're not Xiangzi."

The man's voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.

Kiyono's gaze swept over the man who was drinking.

This is Toyokawa Kiyoko, Shoko's father.

However, it would be more appropriate to call it a hollow shell that has been drained of its vitality and spirit.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Toyokawa."

He didn't bow or greet anyone politely; he simply walked straight to the table and sat down cross-legged.

This was undoubtedly a provocation, but Toyokawa Kiyoshi only frowned slightly, his eyes tired, as if even thinking was difficult for him.

"I've come to tell you something: from now on, Xiangzi will be living with me."

Kiyono looked directly at him and got straight to the point, her voice incredibly calm.

From a common-sense perspective, saying such things to the father of a teenage girl he is about to live with is obviously not a wise choice, and it wouldn't be surprising if he were punched. But Kiyono chose to be honest without hesitation.

Toyokawa Kiyoshi looked at Kiyono for a few seconds, then slowly put down the bottle and murmured:

"Really... You're the one who made Xiangzi change..."

Hmm? Looks like this guy does keep an eye on Xiangzi.

Hearing this, Kiyono raised an eyebrow. If he really didn't care about anything, Toyokawa Kiyoko wouldn't have known so much.

Although, it doesn't really matter.

He then spoke:

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

There was no anger, no resistance, and not even the alertness a father should have in his tone.

Qingye was stunned.

say what?

As a father and a man, Toyokawa Kiyotaka could say so much. He could put on a stern face and sternly question whether he could take responsibility for his daughter's life; he could calmly and rationally test whether their relationship was sincere; and he could also coldly warn him and give him a firm order: living together was fine, but sharing a bed was not...

But Kiyoko Toyokawa didn't say anything.

Kiyono suddenly felt a little irritated. This man should be the best person in the world to Toyokawa Shoko!

No matter how much pain he suffers, no matter how many setbacks he encounters, he should grit his teeth and take good care of his only daughter! That's what a man should do!

Toyokawa Kiyotaka tilted his head back and took a swig of beer, his Adam's apple bobbing as the liquid slid down his chin.

“You are the person Xiangzi chose, and I believe in Xiangzi.”

Is this something a father should say?

"what--"

Kiyono suddenly laughed, and at that moment, his entire demeanor underwent a subtle change, transforming from a sunny and warm demeanor into an undisguised frivolity and contempt.

He thought to himself, "This is the end."

Anyway, it was already on the verge of collapse.

"It seems that neither Xiangzi nor you have a good eye for people."

Kiyono stood up and looked down at the drunkard, the warmth in his eyes completely gone.

Toyokawa Kiyoko casually wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, looked up at him, and seemed a little puzzled.

"The Toyokawa family... seems to be a very famous conglomerate, right?" Kiyono suddenly said.

The man paused, narrowing his eyes.

Just then, Kiyono made a move that could be described as offensive: he bent down, grabbed the bottle of wine in front of Toyokawa Kiyotaka, and shook it gently in his hand, speaking in a nonchalant tone.

“I specifically looked it up online before. The Toyokawa family is a very famous conglomerate, and its businesses include, but are not limited to, automobiles, chemicals, electrical engineering, and banking. And coincidentally, there is only one person in the Toyokawa family who can be called the heir in the future, and that is Xiangzi.”

The wine jar was slammed back onto the table with a thud.

"...What do you want to do to Xiangzi?"

Toyokawa Kiyoko suddenly raised his head, and a glimmer of light appeared in his cloudy eyes. Toyokawa Kiyoko was usually known for his sincerity and gentleness, but after being kicked out of the Toyokawa family, he became even more cowardly and decadent. However, having lived in a zaibatsu family for so many years, he also possessed fierce and sharp teeth.

"It's just something every man does... Haha, don't look at me like that. Mr. Toyokawa should understand, right? After all, isn't that how you joined the Toyokawa family and enjoyed all the luxury and extravagance?"

Kiyono's lips curled into a sneer as he walked up to Toyokawa Kiyoko.

These words seemed to touch a nerve with the man. His face hardened, and he instinctively stood up, but staggered due to his drunkenness, only managing to stay upright by bracing himself on the floor.

他 说:

“That’s not how it is between Mizuho and me. We truly love each other.”

Kiyono ignored Toyokawa Kiyokazu's words and said leisurely:

"Xiangzi is now the only legal heir of the Fengchuan family, and she also has some feelings for me, so what happens next is only natural."

When Kiyono said these words, his expression became very gentle, like a doting boyfriend, but the words that came out of his mouth were terrifying.

"After we live together for a while and have a child, no matter what I ask for or how many I ask, Xiangzi will definitely obey. Then, I will let her return to the Fengchuan family to inherit the family business. Once that old geezer is outlived, the future of the Fengchuan family will be mine."

He smiled.

"Shut up……"

"During this time, I will treat Xiangzi with sincerity and give her all my tenderness so that she will be devoted to me. But once I take control of the Fengchuan family, I will enjoy the life of an aristocrat."

The calm words seemed to describe a predetermined future.

"I will gamble at casinos, buy yachts, stay in the most expensive hotels, and invite a group of the best women, just like an ancient daimyo sitting on the castle tower overlooking the world, with many beauties kneeling beside him pouring wine."

—Can't you notice? Can you still tolerate it?