Is it a problem to have a harem in a stranger heroine?

"I know. Kasumigaoka-senpai is very relaxed in front of the seniors and gets along very well with them. She is completely different from the Kasumigaoka-senpai I first met."

Shiyu hummed twice, and the pleasant tune showed that she was in a good mood whenever she talked about Bai Ye.

"It's not so much that I'm open-minded, but rather that Xiaobai-kun gave me the opportunity to be open-minded. I've always been puzzled as to why such a great guy like Xiaobai-kun doesn't have a girlfriend, leaving me as the lucky one."

After saying that, Shiyu gave Kato Megumi an apologetic smile, without any mockery in her eyes.

"Excuse me, I know Kato-san likes Shiro-kun too, I didn't mean to show off."

"fine."

Kato Megumi's eyes remained calm, and even when talking about Bai Ye's liking for Senior Kasumigaoka, she was not shaken in the slightest.

This surprised Shiyu a little.

"When did Kato-san start liking Shiro-kun? I'm very curious. It seems like there were no signs that Kato-san started liking Shiro-kun. It's like he liked her a long time ago."

"It was a year ago."

Kato Megumi answered without hesitation, as if she had never doubted her feelings for Bai Ye.

"I met you at the school festival a year ago. Well... I should say I was the only one who got to know you. You probably didn't even get to see me clearly."

Shiyu's thoughts drifted back to the school festival a year ago. She participated in the school festival and the aftermath, but she was alone in a corner of the playground reading a book.

"A year ago at the school festival, I remember Shiro-kun mentioned that he was setting up a stall. Kato-san ate his food, so he got attracted to it?"

"That's partly because the grilled saury that my senior made was really delicious, but at the time I was applying for a waiter position."

"Grilled saury?"

Shiyu remembered that once when she was having dinner at Xiaobai-kun's house, Kato Megumi made a dish of grilled saury on an electric plate. Since then, the relationship between Xiaobai-kun and Kato Megumi has made rapid progress.

Now that I think about it, it must have been the saury dish that brought back Bai Ye’s memories.

"Kato-san, your story is truly dramatic. It's like the hero and heroine in a manga who work together to rediscover their memories, going through countless difficulties, and finally succeeding together."

"Senior Kasumigaoka, you're joking." Kato Megumi looked up at the starry sky and finally smiled.

"Then..." Shiyu took back the initiative of the topic.

"Do you have an answer to the question at the beginning, Kato-san?"

"Have it already."

Kato Megumi continued to play with her shoulder-length hair.

"My hair will always grow long. Is this answer satisfactory to Kasumigaoka-senpai?"

……

On the other side, Byakuya, Eriri, and Michiru Hyodo got into a taxi.

The driver didn't turn on the interior lights, so the car was pitch black and they could only vaguely see each other's faces through the street lights.

This made things convenient for Bai Ye.

"Hyoudou-san, Sawamura-san, take your seats. The driver is going to this address."

He helped the two girls get on the bus, and even after they got on, he kept supporting them, half-hugging them on the left and right sides of their slender waists, never letting go.

Michiru Hyodo was delighted. The darkness inside the car gave her courage. She didn't care that there was another girl in the car. She pressed her body against Bai Ye, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. Her bright purple eyes no longer concealed her admiration and love for Bai Ye as she looked into his.

On the other side, Eriri still hadn't come back to her senses.

So much happened tonight, it felt like more than the barbecue I ate, and my head was a mess with so many thoughts.

The feeling of powerlessness in her heart made her want to find a safe place. Her delicate body subconsciously moved towards Bai Ye little by little until she felt leaning on the arms that once made her feel at ease.

"Senior."

"Ok?"

Bai Ye withdrew his gaze from Michiru Hyodo's pretty face, turned his head, and nudged her little head with his chin to convey his concern.

Eriri took a deep breath, gained some courage from the darkness, raised her head, and looked at Bai Ye from a very close distance.

"Senior said tonight that he wanted to form a new club. Are you serious?"

PS: Reward progress report 47 (9244/10000), 11 updates are owed, this is a reward update.

Thanks to [Dian Niang I Hate You] for the salty fish thrust.

After 12 o'clock, everyone remember to vote for free recommendation tickets. Of course, monthly tickets are even better! This is my motivation to update!

Chapter 248 Night, Car, Eriri

Bai Ye noticed that from the moment Shiyu said, "The Gourmet Handbook has nothing to do with Akito Tomoyuki," Eriri became much less talkative.

As for the reason, it is also very clear.

After all, Tomoya Aki is Eriri's nominal childhood sweetheart. Even though the two have not been in contact for many years, he has always occupied the title of "childhood sweetheart" in Eriri's heart.

Now that Aki Tomoya is suddenly no longer involved in the game, Bai Ye can understand Eriri's inner discomfort.

After all, Eriri just doesn't like to pay attention to the interpersonal relationships around her and likes to live in her own comfort zone, but she is not heartless.

The taxi stopped in front of a residential building. Michi Hyodo left the car and waved to the inside.

"Xiao, thank you for taking me home. If there are any club activities, just let me know and I will definitely be there."

"Yeah, well, goodnight then, Hyodou-kun."

After learning that Byakuya also has a red bracelet, Michiru Hyodo becomes very interested in the interpersonal relationships in the club, especially Eriri, who doesn't have a red bracelet but still keeps a close distance with Byakuya.

She did not forget that Eriri used to like Tomoya Aki, and now, like Shiyu, when she sees her, she always stays by Bai Ye's side.

"Alan didn't protect a single girl. He said he liked Kato-san, but in fact, Kato-san was already with Xiao-san. Now even I, Kasumigaoka-san, and Sawamura-san have fallen in love with Xiao-san."

"I heard he's been getting close to a girl recently. I hope he'll take care of himself and give up on Kato-san as soon as possible."

"Don't let that girl leave. To be honest, Allen has a terrible personality."

Neither I nor Eriri have red bracelets. We are both wanderers in the world. If I get along well with her, it will probably be easier for me to integrate into the club.

"Goodbye, Sawamura-kun."

Seeing Michiru Hyodo waving at her, Eriri immediately stood up from the backrest, not forgetting the etiquette of a young lady.

"Goodbye, Hyodou-kun. Have a good night."

"Bye~~"

……

Only Byakuya and Eriri were left in the car.

Ever since Michiru Hyodo left, Eriri's eyes have never left Bai Ye. The confusion and thirst for knowledge that could not be concealed in her deep blue eyes seemed to form an invisible oppression.

Bai Ye understood that it was time to answer.

"I'm serious about the food guide and have thought about it for a long time. It's no exaggeration to say it's an important step in my business journey."

"I know Eriri, you wanted to ask why Aki-san wasn't invited. Actually, I wanted to tell you later, maybe during the summer vacation, but Kasumigaoka-san guessed what I was thinking and told you today."

"The reason is very simple." Bai Ye hugged Ying Lili and let her lean on his shoulder.

"In my club, there's no need for Aki-san's help. Eriri, you know that if a club has idle people, it will lose a lot of money in terms of costs alone. I'm not rich, and every penny I make is earned through hard work."

Eriri understood. She had known at the barbecue restaurant that the "Food Handbook" club had a salary, and this alone made it different from the "Flash Girls" club.

"But, Renye..."

"That's my business, Eriri, just take it easy like usual."

Bai Ye's tone was unquestionable, like a surge of courage that filled the void in Eriri's heart.

She was about to say something when her cell phone rang.

"Hello, mom?"

"Yeah, I took a taxi with my senior."

"W-what... I'm going home. I'm not going to any weird places with senior~!"

"It's back to my own home!"

Snapped--!

Ying Lili hung up the phone, crossed her arms over her chest, breathed out through her pursed lips, and kept scratching her forehead with her slender fingers. She seemed very distressed, but her red and hot face betrayed her true feelings.

Bai Ye secretly exclaimed that it was just right, his aunt's call eased the depressing atmosphere.

Bai Ye gave her a smile that only gentlemen could understand and poked her delicate face.

"It's so hot, Eriri, what did you say to your aunt?"

“No, nothing…”

Ying Lili wanted to hide, but found herself being hugged by Bai Ye, and there was only so much space in the car, so where could she hide?

"Damn you, senior, you're so good! Mom won't let me get close to you!"

"Uh-huh--!"

Bai Ye nodded seriously, still not letting go of his hand.

Given Eriri's tsundere personality, it would be 100% correct to listen to this sentence in reverse!

"We're not at home now. If we continue to make trouble and the driver sees us, we'll be called in for questioning by the police. None of us will be able to go home tonight."

Ying Lili woke up as if from a dream, and she treated this as her family's private car.

She smiled at the driver who turned around after hearing the sound and said that she was fine. Eriri struggled a few more times symbolically, but when she saw that she couldn't get free, she thought that she had tried her best and raised her little chin proudly.

"This is all the fault of Senior Hundan."

"Yes, yes~"

Bai Ye teased the tip of her chin, and when he saw Ying Lili open her mouth to bite, he quickly retracted his hand, leaving her empty-handed.

Ying Lili grinned, deliberately sticking out her two small fangs, which flashed a cold light in the dark car.

"Are you kidding me? I'll bite you to death, believe it or not?!"

"I believe it, of course I do. How can I have a good appetite if I have bad teeth?"

Seeing Bai Ye retreat, Ying Lili raised her little chin again, and her golden twin ponytails swayed slowly, as if waving a flag and cheering for her victory.

After a moment, Eriri remembered something, and her golden twintails dropped down. She looked at Bai Ye cautiously, with a flattering smile on the corner of her mouth, and it was obvious that she wanted to ask for help.

"Hey... Senior, you're going to invite me to be the art planner for the food brochure, right?"

"That's not necessarily the case."

Bai Ye also imitated her tsundere look, raised his chin, and acted indifferent.

"Ah...w-what?"

Ying Lili was stunned, and her cherry lips instantly turned into a look of grievance.

Bai Ye was merciless. He had not forgotten his harem plan. Now was the time to "indulge" Eriri a little.

"My money isn't easy to earn. I don't want to invite a foodie who only eats and doesn't cook, and has a big appetite. Not only will I not make any money, but I'll also end up losing money on the meal."

Eriri understood and breathed a sigh of relief.

All new employees must go through an interview. Since "Food Handbook" is a commercial product, she can fully understand why Bai Ye is being cautious.

"You want an interview?"

"Huh? Eriri, you're being surprisingly smart!"

Yinglili "..."

Eriri is confident in her abilities. It's just a small interview, so she'll just play along with the senior.

"Let me make it clear first, you can't deduct even a single cent from the salary stated in the project plan."

"Am I that kind of person?"

"Hurry up then. What's the interview about? Sketching? Painting? Coloring?"

"Don't be so impatient. Don't you see what time it is now?"

Bai Ye was speechless, pointing at the sky outside the window which had turned completely dark.

"I'm not a ruthless boss. I don't have the habit of interviewing people at night. Eriri, you should go home first. I'll return the tablet and other things to you when I get to school tomorrow."