Uneasy daily life

'? ! '

Sakurajima Mai opened her eyes wide and looked at the white figure's back.

"You're laughing; you feel a bizarre, wonderful feeling, and you can't help but want to laugh—"

The white figure described in a deep voice, then slowly turned around and shouted in a very powerful and heavy voice, "Are you watching me?!"

Sakurajima Mai looked at herself, then at the white figure staring to her left with unwavering confidence, and decisively reached out and patted the white figure—what a waste of her joy.

Tsk, did the scam fail?

Bai Ying clicked his tongue. Suddenly, his phone rang. He glanced at it and answered, "Hello, Aunt Sakurajima, long time no see."

"Mom?" Mai Sakurajima leaned closer curiously, openly eavesdropping.

We haven't even met, so what strange thing is Mr. Bai doing? Having a construction company keep sending me job offers...

"I'm also thinking about this issue."

【……mischief?】

“No, why would I play a prank?” Bai Ying rubbed her temples and said simply, “Aunt Sakurajima must be feeling lost at home after resigning, right? You don’t lack the savings to make a living and you still have the determination to live a good life, but you feel lost after leaving your job of more than ten years… If you really don’t want to find something to do, you can just refuse Uncle’s invitation.”

【this……】

Bai Ying continued, "Find something to deal with for now, then think about the future. Don't worry about encountering troubles—Uncle is the company boss, and if he really feels unhappy or can't adapt, Aunt Sakurajima has the right to resign directly..."

"When the fire in your heart is about to go out, thick black smoke will surely rise."

"Such a stubborn person as Auntie won't give up so easily, will she?"

[…Maybe so. I have been feeling rather aimless lately, and while I feel like I should do something, I also feel a bit empty.]

Sakurajima's mother's voice was slightly dazed, but she quickly regained her composure: "Since Mr. Bai recommended it, I'll give it a try."

"Alright, I have some things to do, so I won't go to the interview. Aunt Sakurajima, please rest assured, if Uncle tries anything unreasonable, I'll make sure his family is in turmoil."

After patting her chest and assuring him of some strange things, Bai Ying hung up the phone.

Mai Sakurajima sat beside him, staring at him blankly—when did this guy get in touch with his mother? When did he do these things in secret? If his mother could pull herself together and try to live a good life, his guilt would probably lessen, and he could feel more at ease... This guy really meant well but chose to do bad things.

Some regrets.

They tricked the hero and the stick figure into going to the uncle's company, then tricked the uncle and 9528 into going there too, and Aunt Sakurajima went along as well. Judging from the situation, Aunt Toyohama will probably go as well... The wonderful chemical reaction between people is the weapon that tears away all pretense and reveals the truth.

The thought of having to find the hidden enemy and not being able to go to the scene to observe immediately... what a loss!

Bai Ying slapped her thigh.

'Hateboy, I'm waiting for you to remember.'

Mai Sakurajima distanced herself and prepared to go downstairs to get something.

If we don't take more initiative, I'm really afraid the haters will turn around and abandon the little black cat.

Chapter 109 People are like the mesh of a net, making every step difficult.

[Under the Snow: Shiro-kun, are you at the company?]

Across the street, Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the company entrance but didn't see Shiro, her sister, or her father. Were they still shopping? If she couldn't get an answer from Shiro, she would have to ask her father.

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: Of course I'm at home.]

[Yukinoshita: ?]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: We've finished shopping, and your dad and sister had a heart-to-heart talk, so of course I'm going home. Do you think I'd come over for a free meal?]

You just took the train from Kanagawa back to Chiba, and now you're back in Kanagawa?

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, noticing a problem.

[Yukinoshita: I'd also like to invite Aunt Toyohama to Chiba so we can talk about Toyohama.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: Then good luck—you won't admit you're afraid of adults, will you? Hehe.]

[Under the Snow: What was Aunt Toyohama thinking?]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: What do you think she's thinking?]

[Yukinoshita: I've never seen her. Judging from Toyohama's description, she seems to be a mother who hopes her daughter will succeed? I can see some clues in Toyohama, though. She probably longs for her mother's approval and praise, and her efforts, which didn't receive that approval and praise, turned into resentment and dissatisfaction.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: Huo, the hero's observation skill level has improved, mostly due to the support from empathy.]

The situation is a bit more complicated... Hmm? Something just doesn't feel right...

Bai Ying sat on the sofa and pondered for a moment. Then she stood up and turned herself upside down, trying to think about things from a different perspective.

The stick figure also harbors complex emotions of resentment, longing, and disgust, similar to the hero's feelings for 9528... So, who are those emotions of the stick figure directed at...? Hmm? Is it me?

As expected of me, I've won the first prize for "someone else's child" once again.

[Yukinoshita: I sympathize with him to some extent. This time, let's see who can help Toyohama solve her problem first. Consider this a commission.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: You chickened out?]

[Yukinoshita: I'm just preparing for the worst. Besides, there's a high probability that Haku-kun won't even need to appear. If I can score another point, Haku-kun will be two points behind, right?]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: Let's define what problem-solving means.]

[Yukinoshita: Of course, it's about getting Toyohama and her mother back together.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: Joy.]

[Under the Snow: Haku-kun, please speak your mind.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: A net has many meshes, and the lines around each mesh also outline other meshes. If you want to enlarge or shrink one mesh, you will inevitably move the lines, causing other meshes to change, and thus there will be corresponding resistance.]

[Yukinoshita: With ideas and feelings, obstacles can be overcome. Whether it was Aunt Toyohama calling Shiro immediately after discovering the problem, or being willing to put aside her own affairs and come to Chiba despite the unexpected changes, it's clear she cares about Toyohama; there's no doubt about that.]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: The hero is pretty clumsy.]

[Under the Snow: The white fungus, with its lower evolutionary level, is already at the level of being unintelligent.]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: I'm dating your sister.]

[Yukinoshita: ?]

[Yukinoshita: What are you saying?]

[Bai Liang Bai Ying: Hahahaha, look at you, you're so anxious you forgot the punctuation—do you understand? The relationship between people isn't just between people, it's between people and people.]

Hmm? Between people and between people?

Yukino Yukinoshita almost had the urge to take the train to Kanagawa to arrest and interrogate the White Shadow, but then belatedly realized that this guy was deliberately trying to provoke her and make her experience the complexities of human relationships—did he really need to give such a terrible example?!

In other words, in Bai Jun's view, the problem between Feng Bin and her mother is not simply a matter of their relationship.

Sister and Bai Jun... Impossible, absolutely impossible. Be careful not to fall into a pit full of white fungi.

If we compare it to her own situation, Feng Bin's mother had expectations for Feng Bin, and she also had expectations for herself and her sister. Her behavior and logic stemmed from her past experiences with her father and her own strong character.

It seems that my sister has had some contact with Bai Jun that I am unaware of? For example, the end credits song of that movie, and Bai Jun's act of using my sister to lure my father out. Of course, it is possible that Bai Jun is playing a double game of deception, and my sister herself has some thoughts of reconciling with my father?

Anyway...

Poke poke.

"Hey, my mom's here," Toyohama Kazuka whispered as she poked Yukino Yukinoshita.

Yukino Yukinoshita snapped out of her daze and noticed a taxi parked on the opposite street corner. A woman got out of the car, quickly looked around, and then rushed straight towards them. It was clearly Toyohama Kazuka's mother.

"Toyohama, I have a question for you," Yukino Yukinoshita asked quickly. "Why do you think your mother has such high expectations for you?"

"?"

Feng Bin and Hua returned a questioning look, "Are you not quite awake?"

Yukino Yukinoshita continued to stare intently at her, awaiting an answer. Toyohama and Hana pondered for a moment, feeling the question was somewhat absurd. How could they know what their mother was thinking? Was it for their own good? To be someone else's child? Because they didn't meet her standards?

Feng Bin and Hua grew angrier the more they thought about it: "She's got a problem!"

"I'm not telling you to say things out of anger."

Yukino Yukinoshita said helplessly, "Angry words won't solve anything."

But there was no time for further conversation. Feng Bin's mother had already walked up to them quickly. Her first glance was at Feng Bin and Hua's feet, which were wrapped in gauze in their sandals. She asked anxiously, "Hua, have you been to the hospital? What did the doctor say?"

"I'm going, I'm going." Feng Bin and Hua replied impatiently, their eyes darting around. "Didn't you see my feet are all wrapped up?"

It's one thing to be dragged to the hospital for something so trivial, but I feel unwell all over, not to mention we had a big argument this morning... Although I appreciate my mother's concern.

"I didn't go to the hospital. The wound wasn't deep. I just had it disinfected and bandaged."

Yukino Yukinoshita casually punctured the bubble of lies, nodding and saying, "Hello, Auntie, my name is Yukino Yukinoshita."

"Hello……"

Fengbin's mother glared at her daughter, who was getting angry again. With outsiders in front of her, she refrained from her usual mother-daughter solo conversation. When she returned the greeting, she subconsciously glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita. Her long, smooth black hair, upright posture, and neither humble nor arrogant demeanor... at first glance, she perfectly matched people's subconscious impression of an excellent student.

A truly excellent couch potato is usually going to be questioned first.

Feng Bin's mother had a vague sense of déjà vu and envy.

After confirming that her daughter was alright, Fengbin's mother looked helplessly at Fengbin and Hua, who were standing with their arms crossed, heads turned to look at the scenery, and looking impatient and troublesome. She frowned and said, "You have no manners! Look at others, and you're supposed to be an idol!"

Feng Bin and Hua opened their eyes wide, and were about to explode.

"Auntie, there's no need to compare me to anyone. I'm not your daughter."

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly and immediately spoke up.

Feng Bin's mother was taken aback, feeling slightly embarrassed. Why wasn't this child likable? He was clearly praising her...

The atmosphere became a little stiff for a moment, and Feng Bin and Hua added impatiently, "Exactly!"

“Hehua!” Fengbin’s mother’s chest heaved, her brows furrowed.

"Auntie, you drove an hour to Chiba, surely not just to have a big fight with Toyohama?"

Yukino Yukinoshita, with a cold expression, glanced at Toyohama and Hana and said, "Toyohama, it's the same. You came all the way to Chiba just to find a different place to argue with your aunt?"

The atmosphere didn't ease up; it was just that Yukino Yukinoshita had drawn some emotions, but she didn't care. If attracting hatred would calm the two down and allow them to talk, that would be the best thing to do. Perhaps, with a shared hatred, their thoughts could be expressed more sincerely.

"Let's find another place first. It's already noon. My company is right in front of us. Let's have lunch together and talk things over properly."

Yukino Yukinoshita set up the itinerary on her own, and grabbed Toyohama Kazuka, who was not happy and wanted to run away, saying: "If you think you are right, then why are you running away?"

Feng Bin and Hua twitched their hands forcefully, gritting their teeth – Damn it! Are all of you strongmen?!

"Okay." Feng Bin's mother sighed and said quite seriously, "Hehua, let's have a good talk. How many times have we argued lately?"

Feng Bin and Hua glanced sideways, pursing their lips and remaining silent.

Fortunately, the two were calmed down for the time being. Perhaps it was because of my being an outsider and the fact that they were in the outside world that they subconsciously avoided the urge to argue in public. After all, people like Bai Jun who do things without considering the environment or atmosphere are ultimately a minority.

Yukino Yukinoshita pondered which direction to take, and vaguely felt that it would be better to approach it from the perspective of Toyohama's mother.

At least figure out what Toyohama's mother's expectations were for Toyohama...

Just as Yukino was about to lead the way, she suddenly noticed that Toyohama's mother was looking ahead with some surprise. She immediately followed her gaze and couldn't help but show a surprised expression on her face as well.

A woman in a light gray suit was standing at the company entrance. Yukinoshita's father walked out of the company and approached her with a smile. Their professional attire had a couple's style. Upon closer inspection, one could vaguely see that the woman was mature and beautiful, and appeared dignified and capable.

The two exchanged a few words, and then the woman in the suit was warmly welcomed into the company by Yukinoshita's father.

Hiss—Does Bai Jun really want his father dead?!

Wait... does Toyohama's mother know Aunt Sakurajima?

"Come with me."

Yukinoshita led the two into the company, asking along the way, "Aunt Toyohama, do you know that lady?"

"Do you know that man?" Feng Bin's mother did not answer the question.

Why focus on your father?

Yukino Yukinoshita cast an inquiring glance at the other girl.

Feng Binhe and Hua pouted and directly contradicted their mother, saying, "The other one is my father's ex-wife."