Uneasy daily life

[Sakurajima Mai is the best: I don't believe it! You must have synthesized this with a machine!]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: Typical comments that fans can't accept, haha~]

[Sakurajima Mai is the best: That's right, fans can't accept this! If you want what's best for your sister, then get lost!]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: You think Mai really likes being an idol? You don't understand Sakurajima Mai at all, she's a die-hard fangirl.]

Bai Ying pondered for a moment, then added a sentence to launch a follow-up attack.

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: It doesn't matter whether the fans accept it or not. If it really doesn't work, Mai will just retire from the entertainment industry with me.]

Click——!

A wake-up call!

My sister is retiring from the entertainment industry?!

For this man who appeared out of nowhere?!

Fengbin and Hua are disheveled in the wind.

Bai Ying stared at the interface that hadn't replied for a long time. Could she lure Feng Bin and Hua over? Should she fabricate some more nonsense? Logically speaking, the nonsense she'd just used should have been enough of a blow, right?

The internet is such a hassle, let's just use video conferencing...

Holy crap! I've been blacklisted?!

The internet is so annoying!

……

……

“Mom, I can handle the interviews myself. It’s not like I haven’t been interviewed before.”

“Alright, I’ll go buy some things.” Sakurajima’s mother gave Nanjo Fumika a deep look. “Miss Nanjo, I hope you won’t ask any questions that would be troublesome for both of us, and that you should be mindful of your words.”

Nanjo Fumika said seriously, "Of course, I will only interview Ms. Sakurajima about this movie; I won't discuss anything else."

"hope so."

Sakurajima's mother left, and Nanjo Fumika and Sakurajima Mai found a small shop to sit down.

"Ms. Sakurajima's mother still takes such good care of you," Nanjo Fumika remarked. "Before, when you were going to be interviewed, she would even kindly invite me to dinner beforehand..."

Mai Sakurajima glanced at the other person: "It's because some people ask such ungrateful questions that they have no one to blame but themselves for not having food to eat."

Nanjo Fumika coughed and said, "Divorce isn't uncommon; Japan's divorce rate is over 30%..."

"Wishing Ms. Nanjo a happy divorce."

"I'm not married yet, so I don't need these kinds of blessings. Let's change the subject."

Nanjo Fumika planned to conduct the interviews as usual, plus an additional interview asking for her opinion on the white shadow, feeling that she could dig out some key information...

"Yes, let's change the subject."

Mai Sakurajima paused for a few seconds before saying, "I will retire from the entertainment industry after this film is finished."

"Hmm... Ah?!"

Chapter Ten Alarm Clock

"Don't ask too many questions, don't say too much."

Mai Sakurajima interrupted her before she could speak, saying calmly, "Ms. Nanjo, just consider yourself lucky—I'll probably post a message on social media after filming is finished, and then delete my account. I hope Ms. Nanjo can keep this news to herself until Hori time, so as not to disturb the filming process."

You expect me to keep this to myself?!

Nanjo Fumika's lips twitched slightly: "Are you trying to suffocate me?"

"It's just to repay Ms. Nanjo's 'kindness'." Mai Sakurajima said with a smile, emphasizing certain words. "I think I'm quite sincere, aren't I? Giving Ms. Nanjo such a significant piece of news."

Fumika Nanjo tentatively asked, "If I announce it ahead of time..."

"I can wait until Ms. Nanjo is fired for lying about the news before announcing my retirement from the entertainment industry."

Mai Sakurajima tilted her head and thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's not bad either. Let's finish what we started by changing jobs together."

"Let's leave it at that. I'm quite satisfied with my current job." Nanjo Fumika was full of questions. "Ms. Sakurajima's career is on the rise, why..."

"This has nothing to do with Ms. Nanjo, let's leave it at that."

Mai Sakurajima got up and left, feeling much of the blockage and hesitation in her heart dissipate, and instead appearing much more relaxed.

This relaxed demeanor was so evident that the afternoon's filming went quite smoothly, and she was in excellent form. Even with Bai Ying's nine pointed remarks, each containing a subtle critique, Sakurajima Mai was able to rationally sift through the sand, retort, ponder, and then try to express it.

Bai Ying was puzzled. Why were you so relaxed even though you were being pointed at? Could it be that your scheme to mislead the enemy in the group was too successful?

Seeing that Mai Sakurajima had once again delivered an outstanding performance in a single take, she saved herself several more opportunities to criticize!

"What did you say to the reporter? Why do you seem..." Bai Ying asked curiously, "...as if you've made up your mind?"

Mai Sakurajima replied with a smile, "It's just that I've resolved some concerns."

Bai Ying asked doubtfully, "What kind of determination can that reporter give you?"

"You don't need to worry about this, you hater." Mai Sakurajima realized what was going on and sneered, "Aren't you going to hurry up and do your job of shattering the idol aura?"

Bai Ying quickly waved her hand and said, "If I take a picture of you using the toilet, I'll definitely end up in jail."

"..."

Mai Sakurajima paused for at least two seconds, then took a deep breath: "Hate fan, what is it that you're afraid to say?"

Bai Ying thought for a moment and gave an example: "For instance, what if you were planning a grand rebellion against your mother?"

"Very good, it seems that you know what to say and what not to say, Hater-kun." Sakurajima Mai smiled. "Keep it up."

Bai Ying touched his chin and said in a flash of realization, "I understand!"

Mai Sakurajima's heart skipped a beat, and she narrowed her eyes, asking, "What do you know?"

"I don't know what you did, but you probably set an alarm for yourself."

Mai Sakurajima looked bewildered: "An alarm clock?"

"Yes, alarm clock—a big star, how about we act out a scene based on this? If you win, I'll answer one question for you; if I win, you answer one question for me."

The white figure extended an invitation to perform, but Sakurajima Mai immediately refused, sneering, "No way! You're probably trying to interfere, aren't you? I've already said, don't meddle in my and my mother's affairs, or it won't be as simple as just stepping on someone's foot!"

"What's there to talk about with your mother?" Bai Ying asked, puzzled. "You're just going through a lot of conflicting ideas with your mother, from heart-to-heart talks and arguments to deciding to betray her, while at the same time feeling guilty towards her, going through guilt, struggle, and sighs of helplessness?"

Mai Sakurajima's eyes widened in surprise: "You—"

"Don't worry, I understand. Whether it's your mother's side criticizing your decision or your side criticizing your mother's decision, it's something you hate and even want to hit," Bai Ying said seriously. "I think you have some misunderstandings about me. Is it because of the hero's family problems? You're definitely overthinking it. I just let the hero's family see each other's true selves. I absolutely did not criticize them."

Mai Sakurajima remarked, "That game is basically all about pointing and gesturing, isn't it?"

"Huh? What did I point at?"

"..." Sakurajima Mai recalled for a moment, finding it rather subtle. The white figure didn't seem to be pointing fingers or saying anything like, "You're wrong here," or "You're wrong there," or "I'm right." He was simply creating little dramas based on the people present, stories that outsiders perceived as tales, but the people involved had their own feelings about them—almost all of which ended in tragedy!

Perhaps I've misunderstood something?

Bai Ying spread her hands and said, "See, you misunderstood me."

Mai Sakurajima pondered for a moment, then asked curiously, "I heard that Yukinoshita mentioned that her family's conflict stemmed from a misunderstanding? What exactly happened?"

“You’re hypocritical.” Bai Ying immediately pointed at him. “When others ask about your family, you give them the cold shoulder, argue with them, and even try to put them down, but when you ask about other people’s family, you’re all high and mighty.”

"Don't take things out of context, you haters. Aren't you just trying to provoke me into putting on an act?"

Mai Sakurajima breathed a sigh of relief. Her acting must have improved quite a bit, right? There hadn't been a single retake this afternoon; she was in top form. "What theme is Hater-kun going to act in?"

"Didn't I tell you? Alarm clock."

The white figure asked, "Will you play the alarm clock or the owner? Choose."

“I’ll play the master,” Mai Sakurajima replied meaningfully.

"no problem--"

The white figure snapped its fingers, emitting a rapid musical sound, as if an old-fashioned alarm clock were really yelling loudly.

Mai Sakurajima closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

……

“Ding ding ding ding ding ding——!”

"Shut up and shut your mouth."

The mistress, with her eyes closed, gave a lazy reprimand.

"Master, open your eyes."

Mr. Alarm Clock said mercilessly, "It's time for you to go to work."

The young lady opened her eyes, stared at Mr. Alarm Clock, yawned, and said calmly, "I'm the president of the company. If I say I don't have to go to work, then I don't have to."

"Master, you are truly fickle," Mr. Alarm Clock said earnestly. "Wasn't it you who set the alarm?"

The young lady snorted: "But weren't you the one making noise?"

Mr. Alarm Clock repeated, "Because it's time for you to go to work, Master."

"I asked for leave today, and I approved it." The young lady wielded her power with impunity. "That's what life is all about. Poor Mr. Alarm Clock probably doesn't understand."

Mr. Alarm Clock said, "My dear master, how could I not understand? I need someone to set the time, follow the laws of physics, and finally ring in the right place. That's the life of an alarm clock."

The young lady scoffed, "An alarm clock, being forced into this isn't life."

Mr. Clock replied, "Master, life is about being forced into things."

The young lady was taken aback, then quickly retorted, "An alarm clock only ticks away the time and is set to ring at a certain time. I can choose to go to work or take a day off. After all, an alarm clock is just an alarm clock; it can't understand what freedom is."

“Master, how can you crave freedom without being forced? Freedom is born from coercion,” Mr. Clock said. “Survival forces you to take leave, and laziness forces you to slack off. Right now, it seems like I’m forcing you to go to work, but actually, you’ve set up a plan to force your future self—my schedule is very long. You have to get up at seven, get off work at eight, work seven days a week, achieve something before you turn thirty, get married, save for retirement, retire at sixty, and keep going until I ring the alarm for when you die.”

The owner couldn't help but remark, "Mr. Alarm Clock really has a long lifespan."

"Really? Probably because I'm an alarm clock. Get up and go to work, Master."

Mr. Alarm Clock began to swing: "Life is born by choice, so am I, and so are you."

"That's not right." The young lady smiled slightly, and said slyly, "If I choose to be the master, then you can only be chosen to be the alarm clock, isn't that right?"

"Oh—how lazy! How greedy! Are you going to disobey your own commands?!" Mr. Clock shook violently, shouting angrily, "In that case, I choose not to be an alarm clock anymore!"

The young lady asked curiously, "Aren't you an alarm clock? If you're not an alarm clock, what else can you be?"

"I will become your boss! I order you to get out and get to work immediately!"

Mr. Alarm Clock started making strange noises, like "uh-huh" and "ah-ah".

"Alarm clock, are you trying to break the rules of the world?!" the young lady declared haughtily. "Besides, I don't have any boss—"

Suddenly, everything changed. Mr. Alarm Clock spoke in the voice of its owner, Miss, perfectly mimicking her and reciting with deep emotion: "To my future self—we are chosen to be life, chosen to be human, chosen to have parents, chosen to work and survive. But ultimately, humans must make choices. There are always obstacles in the choices we make, but it is precisely because we make choices that we become who we are."

"You must strive hard, you must be strong and brave, you must achieve success, you must exercise diligently, you must give up bad habits, and you must move towards the future with a brand new attitude. I have set up a strict plan and timetable for this, and let the alarm clock supervise you and remind you when you should do something. You should listen to the alarm clock and work hard."

Mr. Alarm Clock's voice returned, saying, "Humans always like to torment themselves by making plans, taking out loans, setting alarms, and making resolutions. I've heard that this behavior is called masochism, so masochistic owners shouldn't resist it; this is the future you've chosen!"

The young lady belatedly realized what was happening; her eyes widened, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion.

Mr. Alarm Clock's voice suddenly changed back, roaring with high spirits: "Master! Go to work right now! Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding—!!"

"Okay! Then I'll go to work!"

The hostess's reply was tinged with resentment.

……

Why leak the information to a reporter, yet instruct her not to release it immediately? Because filming was underway, not a time for a surprise announcement, so the reporter wasn't required to release the information immediately… The reason for leaking it was simple: to set a warning sign for himself. By proactively creating external pressure, he reminded himself that his resolve was unwavering.

Isn't this the alarm clock that the hater was talking about?!

Mai Sakurajima stepped on the white figure's toe, lowering her voice in exasperation, "You're trying to get me to make up my mind again—"

Bai Ying pulled her toes out, looked up at the sky and sighed, "What did I imply? When I write a play, you say I'm implying conflict between you and your mother. When we improvise together, you say I'm implying you're making up your mind. If I write something about your appearance, you say I'm implying I have ulterior motives?"

Didn't you already write that?!

Mai Sakurajima withdrew her foot, forcing herself to calm down a bit, and urged, "Alright, alright, you win. What do you want to ask?"