Chapter 173 The tea party hasn’t even started yet...it’s over!

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.

The phone rang.

Yang Kui Chitose quickly grabbed it from the dressing table. While tying the red hairband, she clamped the phone between her shoulder and soft cheek.

"Hello~"

[Chitose-chan.]
"Right away! Set off right away!"

Yang Kui Chitose answered immediately and said with a smile, "Hehe~ I accidentally overslept today, Rinka, I'm sorry."

[No, it’s okay. It’s still early.]
"Is everyone else here?"

[Xinchun-chan has arrived, but Xiaoyue hasn't come yet]
"Is that so? That's fine! I'll be there soon! I really want to try the cakes you make, Rinka!"

[Yeah! I won’t let Chitose-chan down!]
"Then I'll hang up first, bye~"

[Bye-Bye.]
beep.

Yang Kui Chitose hung up the phone, packed her clothes for the day, picked up her small bag and hurried out.

Clapping feet descended the wooden stairs.

By chance, I met Yang Kui Nagano who had just walked out of the kitchen.

His eyes moved up.

The stepfather always looks very serious, which makes Yang Kui Chitose pause for a few seconds every time she meets him.

"Going out?" Yang Kui Nagano saw how his stepdaughter was dressed.

"Ah, yes, to a friend's house."

"Boys?"

"Girls."

silence.

"Do you need some pocket money?"

“That’s enough.”

"Come with me first."

Yang Kui Nagano said this calmly, then passed by her and went upstairs. Yang Kui Chitose said nothing, just followed her father.

I don't know if it's an illusion or what.

Yang Kui Chitose followed behind and always felt that her father's back seemed to have become older than before. Not as good as when she was first taken to the Yang Kui family as a stepdaughter.

Following behind him, he came to the door of his father's room. Yang Kui Chitose stood outside and looked inside curiously.

I found my father bending over, taking something out of an old cabinet.

Wait until her father comes out and shows the thing to her.

Yang Kui Chitose only then realized it was money.
this.
A lot of money.

No less than 100,000.

"I don't want it."

The girl looked at her serious stepfather, raised her hand to refuse, shook her head, and blurted out subconsciously.

But unexpectedly, Yang Kui Nagano directly pulled her hand, stuffed the money into her hand, let her hold it tightly in her hand, then turned and left and went downstairs.

Yang Kui Chitose looked at the money in her hand, then looked at her father's departing back.

There is an indescribable feeling in my heart.

This feeling is quite heartwarming, but also a bit confusing and uncomfortable.

Chitose Yangkui couldn't say anything and couldn't figure out what was wrong, so she hurried downstairs and found her mother who was still cleaning the room for the guests and asked her questions secretly.

"Nagano took the initiative to give you pocket money, Chitose?"

"Yes. I.. just don't quite understand what father means."

"He is happy for you." Eriko Yangkui hugged the quilt and smiled kindly.

"Happy?" Yang Kui Qiansui was puzzled.

"Nagano thinks that you, Chitose, have finally made some friends, so he gave you some extra pocket money so that you can keep in touch with your friends."

"This..." Yang Kui Qiansui blinked, still confused.

Why?

Suddenly like this
"Qiu Sui, didn't you notice it yourself?"

"Perceive what?"

"In the past, you always said that you had several classmates you could get along with at school, but Nagano and I never saw you take the initiative to look for them.

"During the holidays, a few classmates would occasionally come to see you, but you would never agree to go out with them. Chitose, you always stayed at home or went to the beach to practice playing the instrument."

Eriko Yangkui slowly placed the quilt in her hand on the tatami in the room next to her, and reached out to lift her stepdaughter's short hair.

Then she clasped her hands on her apron, looked at her stepdaughter and smiled again.

"Hasn't Chitose noticed? In the past, you always seemed to be living alone, living a very tiring, hard and lonely life. You always forced yourself and often put yourself under a lot of pressure. Nagano and I have always been worried about your condition."

"."

Is that so?
Yang Kui Chitose was a little dazed.

She recalled her past self carefully.

After Brother Shu went to Kyoto, I thought about him day and night and wanted him to come back.

I hope he comes back to me.
I hope he can stay with me like he did when we were little.

But I also know that Brother Shu has his own life.

Brother Shu has his own very brilliant life path to follow, and I cannot be a stumbling block in his life.

But I miss Brother Tree so much.

I would often ask about his situation in Kyoto and occasionally call him to find out what was going on.

Whenever Brother Shu talked about some very talented classmates, famous professors, and internationally renowned scholars and experts he met at Kyoto University.

自己
I feel like I’m not in the same world as Brother Shu.

I often look up at the night sky and wonder.

Brother Shu will probably find a much, much more beautiful woman who is much better than himself in the future.

Will Brother Shu have his own happy family in the future?
Brother Tree
Maybe he will really not need me in the future and forget about me?
自己
I am really afraid of this moment coming.

So when I heard that Brother Shu's professor had passed away and that Brother Shu expressed his regret to me, I wanted to make up for Brother Shu's regret.

I want to work hard to appear in his eyes and be valued by him.

Work hard to pick up the instrument that was difficult to learn in the past, day and night.

Perhaps it is because of this state, the state of forcing oneself.
This led to me always rejecting my classmates’ invitations to travel, and also led to me rarely having friends with whom I could truly confide.

As for now
Friends?
Chitose Yangkui thought of Matsumae Shinharu and Rinka Hiiragi.

They should be considered my close friends, right?

"Chitose, do you understand?"

Yang Kui Eriko saw that her daughter had finally come out of her state of deep thought and still smiled at her.

"Well, I understand father's intention more or less." Yang Kui Qiansui nodded, "But why doesn't father always explain these things to me clearly?"

"Qian Sui, you also know that this old man can't let go of his status and is very old-fashioned."

"If you tell me clearly, I will understand him better."

Yang Kui Eriko smiled at her daughter who was puffing up her cheeks. "He is just like that. He still cares about you in his heart. Chitose, I'm glad you understand. But actually, ever since Ashu's kid returned to Otaru, Chitose, you rarely show the same behavior as before."

"Hehe~ After all, I've always wanted to find Brother Shu!" Yang Kui Chitose became happy.

"But friends are also indispensable. Nagano and I are very happy to see that you have changed, Chitose. Well, go quickly, go quickly."

"Then mother, I'll be leaving now! If we continue talking, it will be past the agreed time!"

"Well, slow down on the road."

"Okay~~"

After waving goodbye to her stepmother, Yang Kui Chitose carried her small bag and got on the bus on the roadside.

Holding the hanging ring, the body swayed with the car, and the street scene of Otaru city outside the window also changed with the slight roar of the car engine.

The sunlight flickered alternately on the girl's face.

She thought again of the money her father had just given her and what her mother had said.

Are friends essential?
It seems to be true.

In the past, I felt lonely everywhere.

I always miss my brother Shu who is far away in Kyoto.

Now that Brother Shu is back, I have a good friend I can confide in.

Because of these.
I don't have to completely disguise myself these days, and I can be as happy on the inside as I am on the outside, right?

Chitose Yangkui felt that she understood more and more the importance of "good friends".

Rinka seems to really want to reconcile with Jiuhua, right?

And the same goes for Xinchun sauce.

Everyone wants to play with Jiuhua again.

This is probably because they are all "friends" to each other.

Chitose Yangkui closed her eyes and a confident curve appeared at the corners of her mouth.

she thought.

Although Jiuhuayue is very likely still in love with Brother Shu, so what?

Now, Brother Shu is always his own man.

In the future, I will definitely live and love Brother Shu every day.

Then comes love.

Then comes marriage.

In the end, they truly formed a "home" that both of them had lost, and spent a happy life together.

Jiuhuayue likes Brother Shu, so she should like him. If she likes him, it can highlight the excellence of Brother Shu!
She couldn't get it anyway.

And now I am the designated girlfriend of the most outstanding Brother Shu!
so
Make peace with Jiuhuayue or something.

As long as she doesn't touch her brother Shu, it doesn't matter whether she is "brother Shu's student" or "brother Shu's landlord", she can be generous and give them to her.

This is the winner's margin!

It's still possible to reconcile with Jiuhua.

As for Xinchun sauce?
Xinchun-chan's authority is even higher.

After all, she was the "junior sister" mentioned by Brother Shu himself.

Of course, it’s just a hug!

If we all become good friends
Chitose Yang Kui began to fantasize.

Sooner or later, the day will come when I will walk down the aisle into the marriage palace with Brother Shu, and Rinka, Xinchun, Yue and the others will all come to bless my happiness.

Become a bridesmaid for yourself!
Chitose Yangkui began to look forward to it.

Looking forward to this day.

Correct.

Just put aside your prejudice against Jiu Huayue for now and try to have a good chat with her.

Getting off the car quickly, Chitose Yangkui arrived at Rinka's doorstep.

A very standard single-family house.

It's just that the house was newly built in recent years, and it has a more modern feel than those old houses. The style is more like that of a modern apartment.

After ringing the doorbell, Hiiragi Rinka's cautious look soon appeared before my eyes.

Yang Kui Qiansui smiled brightly.

"Rinka~~"

"Welcome, Chitose."

"Yeah! But." Yang Kui Chitose saw her blushing face and wanted to reach out to touch her, "Rinka, aren't you a little too shy?"

Hiiragi Rinka shyly avoided it and whispered, "After all, this is the first time I invite friends to my home. Chitose-chan, please come in~"

"okay."

When Yang Kui Chitose came in, she saw Matsumae Shinharu sitting next to the coffee table.

"Ah! Xinchun's big fox is here too!"

"Woo!"

"Ugh, why do you look a little angry?"

Matsumae Shinchun smiled and stroked the white fox in her arms, "Chitose-chan, Master Hakuka said it has a name."

"is it?"

"Then Baihua Baihua, can you let me touch you?"

"Lord Bai Hua said he doesn't mind."

Chitose Yangkui sat on the prayer mat next to Shinharu Matsumae and happily took the white fox.

"How long have you been here, Kokoro-chan?"

"About half an hour."

"Ah? Am I a little late?"

"No, it's not the agreed time yet."

"Is Jiuhua not here yet?"

"Xiaoyue hasn't yet."

"Tea, please."

"Thank you, Rinka."

"Thank you, Rinka-chan~"

They both took it at the same time.

Hiiragi Rinka, who was wearing a fawn apron, blushed, "For snacks, you have to wait a little longer. Xiaoyue will be here soon."

"It's okay, it's okay~"

It was the first time that Chitose Yangkui came to Rinka's house, and she looked around the house.

She found the house very clean and tidy.

This shows that Rinka's parents are also clean people.

Also, there are a lot of photos of the family of three hanging in Rinka's house, in various places, hanging, standing, and some... look like they were drawn by children?
"That's... That's a picture of me and my parents when I was in kindergarten."

“Is it still hanging now?”

"Well, after we moved to the new house, my parents said it was great, so they kept it all. Oh, I also have my family photo album, do you want to take a look?"

"Okay."

"Then I'll get it!"

Rinka then came down from the second floor, holding a large photo album.

Chitose Yangkui took the family photo album that Rinka handed to her, and took advantage of the free time to start looking at the photos in it with Matsumae.

The photo albums here date back to when Rinka was born.

Experience kindergarten, elementary school enrollment, elementary school spring outing, elementary school graduation, junior high school, island travel, Tokyo travel, etc.
Looking at these photos, looking at the parents who always take care of shy Rinka.
Yang Kui Qiansui felt inexplicably envious.

Matsumae Shinchun had the same emotion.

And we thought to ourselves, if we were to be with Brother Shu/Sensei Fujii in the future, we would definitely be so happy.
At this moment the doorbell suddenly rang.

"It's Xiaoyue! I'll go open the door!"

Hiiragi Rinka immediately stood up and ran to the entrance.

Yang Kui Chitose closed the photo album and turned to ask Matsumae Shinharu:

"Xinchun-chan still wants to reconcile with Jiuhuayue?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this, Chitose?"

"Nothing. I just looked at Rinka's photo album and felt something. I think some things are still indispensable in life."

".family?"

Yang Kui Chitose was stunned at first, then smiled, "Xingchun-chan really understands me."

"Because Chitose, you and I are actually very similar."

"Of course, besides family, I think the most important influence on life is friends. That's why I asked Xinchun-chan about your nine flowers."

Chitose Yangkui paused and then continued asking.

"What if she doesn't appreciate it this time? Xinchun-chan, you haven't had a chance to talk to her, right?"

Matsumae Shinchun lowered her head and sat upright, "I still respect Xiaoyue's opinion."

Yang Kui Chitose pouted, "Xinchun-chan you are just too weak! In front of Jiuhuayue!"

".Yeah?"

"Look, you took the initiative to look for her twice before, but later you didn't dare to go because you were afraid she would be unhappy. In the end, she didn't feel anything, and you were the only one who stayed at home unhappy! If it were me, humph! If we don't want to be friends, then let's not be friends."

Matsumae Shinharu did not refute Chitose.

Chitose is actually quite right.

But not for her.

After all, the time Chitose and Xiaoyue have spent together is too short, and they don't have a childhood sweetheart history.

"What I mean is, Xinchun-chan, you can stay with Jiuhuayue for a little longer. Although Jiuhuayue is usually quite cold and hard to like, she has a warm heart, which is good. I have seen it before.

"I quarreled with her because of something I didn't allow to happen. Of course I know she's not a bad person."

"What about you, Chitose? How are you treating Xiaoyue now?"

"I am now. Well, I am willing to be friends with everyone."

"Now we just need to look at Xiaoyue."

"Yes!" Yang Kui Qiansui said, "It depends on how Jiu Huayue sees us. If we want to be friends, I welcome it now, but if she still treats Xinchun the same way as before. Humph! I won't reconcile with her."

"."

Matsumae Shinharu was lost in thought, while Hiiragi Rinka brought Jiuhuayue to the living room soon.

"Xiaoyue, this way"

"Yeah, thank you Rinka."

Jiuhuayue walked into the living room.

Her outfit today.
Anyway, in Yang Kui Qiansui's eyes, the only words that can be seen are "cold" and "beautiful".

Status too.

Jiuhuayue looked at Yang Kui Chitose and Matsumae Shinharu without saying a word, then sat down opposite them.

As she looked at the two men, they also looked at her.

No extra words, just watching.

This atmosphere
Hiiragi Rinka started to get scared.

What's going on?
How come, from the very beginning, there are signs that the talks are going to break down?
On edge.
Hiiragi Rinka's heart was in her throat.

Until this moment, Jiuhuayue sighed in such a tense atmosphere, and then said:

"Since I'm here, I naturally know what everyone means. In this case, I have to speak directly. If everyone can accept me like this, I will naturally be happy, and I can also be friends with everyone. If you can't accept it, you don't have to waste extra time. This is also an answer to Rinka's efforts."

"Xiaoyue, what do you want to say?" Matsumae Shinchun asked cautiously.

"I like Mr. Fujii."

As soon as these words came out, Matsumae Shinchun's eyes began to shrink noticeably.

On the other hand, Hiiragi Rinka was already beginning to despair. She held the plate without the cake in her arms and leaned against the wall of her house.

Finished.
Ruined!
Why.
Why is the tea party over before it even starts?

(End of this chapter)