Chapter 28: You will be absolutely envious!
"Yue, why don't you listen to what mom says? Mom is doing this for your own good."

".I don't listen."

"moon--"

"I didn't listen to you!"

Jiuhuayue looked like she was crying and hysterical.

And the middle-aged woman in luxurious clothes sitting opposite her, if Fujii Itsuki guessed correctly, was her mother.

It's not that I intentionally paid attention to the appearance of the mother and daughter, but when I saw them standing not far away, it was impossible not to notice their extremely beautiful faces.

Both mother and daughter are naturally beautiful, cut from the same mold.

Perhaps it was the sound of Fujii Itsuki opening the door that attracted the attention of the middle-aged woman, and when Fujii Itsuki saw the two of them, she noticed him.

"Yue, look, someone is coming. Do you think it's appropriate for you to show yourself in front of others like this? You are the Purple Flower!"

"What purple flower?"

Jiu Huayue clenched her hands, lowered her face, and spoke in a low voice, "You always say this. Besides this, what else can you say?"

"Yue, you want to say that I shouldn't reprimand you for behaving like this in front of strangers? You are wrong. This is the most basic etiquette and the most basic courtesy. You are the eldest daughter of the Jiuhua family and the one who truly inherited the Jiuhua family bloodline. You should pay attention to your image in public."

"Yeah, I'm arguing with you outside. I should pay attention to my image. I understand that it's all for others. Why don't you take someone else as your son or daughter? Why did you come to me?"

"Yue? What nonsense are you talking about? It's precisely because I care about you that I took a leave and flew here from Tokyo. Hey - Yue!"

The middle-aged woman wanted to reach out to stop her daughter, but she was powerless to stop her daughter from escaping to the second floor.

"Ugh"

She sighed and turned to Fujii Itsuki, who had been standing by without doing anything since a while ago.

Fujii Itsuki: "Did I disturb you accidentally?"

"No," the middle-aged woman sighed again. She turned to Fujii Itsuki and quickly straightened her mind. She smiled politely and asked, "You are Mr. Fujii, right?"

"You know me?"

"I am the mother of the child just mentioned. The child's father and I were once taken care of by the dean and are acquainted with him. She often mentioned you in her letters to us. From the letters, we can see that the dean trusts you very much, Mr. Fujii."

"Then why am I not aware of this matter——"

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled and said, "The director probably told you something before. When my husband and I were still in Otaru, you had just moved into the welfare home. We had never been back here for many years, so it was normal that you didn't know about our existence."

Mrs. Jiuhua is obviously not young, at least 40 years old, but she looks no different from a young woman in her 20s or almost 30s. She is well maintained and looks very young.

Fujii Itsuki frowned and recalled for a moment, "I remember you and your husband went to Tokyo to develop?"

"Yes," Mrs. Jiuhua lowered her brows slightly, and the crystal pendant on her right ear sparkled brightly. "That year we saw that Otaru's economic development would get worse and worse. Instead of living in this city with basically no future, it was better to go to Tokyo and give it a try. Yue's child was born during this period."

"Then she must have grown up in Tokyo. No wonder she speaks with a standard Kanto accent."

"That's not the case. She lived in Otaru for a while and later grew up in Hyogo Prefecture. I'm really sorry to bother you with taking care of her during this time. I'm really sorry to bother you."

"These are trivial matters. I have been very grateful to you for taking care of me these days."

Fujii Itsuki has always been curious about why Jiuhuayue chose to commit suicide that day.

Her mother must have a lot of information.

But he certainly couldn't ask directly, because after all, he had promised the girl not to tell anyone else about her affair, not even her mother.

"Well, Madam, the reason you came to see Jiu Huayue this time is..."

"Ah, sorry, I haven't explained this yet. I came here to bring Yue back to Tokyo."

"Back to Tokyo?"

Mrs. Jiuhua sighed again when she said this, "It was the child's own decision to return to Otaru. Her father and I were strongly against it. After all, she still has a job and career. She is truly a 'Purple Flower'. She came to Otaru to attend high school. Not only is it troublesome to travel back and forth, but it is also difficult to arrange many practices."

"The specific work is——"

"I'm sorry, but this cannot be disclosed for the time being, because internally, it is still kept confidential, because the child is very special. For the time being, you can think of her as a young artist, and she is currently working as a model for magazines."

No wonder I thought Jiu Huayue had an excellent temperament when I first met her. It turns out she used to be a magazine model.

Indeed, she is so beautiful and tall, it would be a pity if she didn't become a model.

"So she's still doing these jobs?"

"Yes, of course, she can't give up these jobs."

Purple flower.
Sounds like a sparkly stage name.

It was originally thought that Fujii Itsuki came to Otaru to live alone and work part-time, but unexpectedly she was an artist?

So she suddenly disappeared during those days and went to "work", but actually flew back to Tokyo to participate in artist activities?

"Madam, do you know why she chose to return to Otaru?"

"Well, to be honest, I'm not sure. She's never been back to Otaru. She used to study in Hyogo Prefecture. We couldn't settle down in Tokyo at the time, so we decided to let her father work in Tokyo alone. I moved to Hyogo Prefecture that same month. We also have a property there."

"understood."

As Mrs. Jiuhua was talking, she took the initiative to ask.

"Has the kid done anything weird these days?"

"Mrs. Jiuhua means——"

"Ah, he just has a very bad temper, won't listen to advice, and always sneaks out by himself or something."

Is this how Jiuhua appears in her mother's eyes?
Fujii Itsuki recalled the image of Jiuhuayue bringing him rice porridge that day and shook his head, "No, in my eyes, she is a very kind-hearted child."

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled, "That's really unexpected. She has never been known to be 'kind' at home. It's common for her to go against what I and her father say."

That girl is a bit rebellious, which is a good thing.

But Fujii Itsuki thinks it is wrong to say that it is not "kind" at all.

She understands right from wrong, and knows how to repay favors and care for others.

"Teacher Fujii."

Mrs. Jiuhua suddenly clasped her hands together in front of her and bowed to Fujii Itsuki:
"I know it's very abrupt to do this suddenly, but could you trouble Mr. Fujii to help take care of our Yue these days? She lives alone in Otaru, and her father and I are really worried about her. We will try our best to persuade her to return to Tokyo. During this period, you can use our house at will, and you don't need to pay rent or anything like that."

It's human nature for parents.
"Of course, I promised the dean this before."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Fujii!"

"No, no, no, it's just a piece of cake."

"Then I should leave too."

".? Madam Jiuhua, why don't you stay at home for a night? It's rare for Jiuhua to come back to Otaru. I think Jiuhua must have a lot to say to you as a mother."

Mrs. Jiuhua smiled and shook her head when she heard that. "No, I only have one day off. I've booked a flight back to Tokyo tonight. I didn't expect to take Yue with me this time, but I still have to continue to persuade her. As for whether she wants to say something to me, Teacher Fujii may not know that she has been discussing things with me less since a long time ago. I guess if I continue to stay, she will not want to talk to me these days."

"There still needs to be communication between parents and children."

"I know this."

Mrs. Jiuhua left in the snowy night holding an umbrella.

Although the information given was not much, Fujii Itsuki was able to figure out the source of Jiuhuayue's emotions that made her want to commit suicide.

Most likely it comes from her work and her family.

Her parents couldn't understand the decisions she made, and she couldn't quite understand their expectations of her.

This is a problem faced by many modern young people.

Fujii Itsuki has seen many students with similar problems in the past.

After understanding the situation, he would invite the parents to the school for a meeting.

The vast majority of parents will say that they don’t have much time due to work, and then they will postpone the time again and again.

This is not good, but it also proves that parents do not care much about their children's personal growth. Parents think that this is a small matter, and it will pass in two days, and the child will get better on his own. It is not important at all.
Fujii Itsuki could see that Mrs. Kuka also had this trait.

As for the problem with Jiuhua.
Fujii Itsuki couldn't quite see all the causes and consequences, so it was hard to judge why she had such extreme thoughts.

It got to the point where she became a complete antagonist to her mother, and even now every conversation between them ends in an argument.

After looking at the stairs leading to the second floor, Fujii Itsuki returned to his room first.

After washing and going to bed as usual, Fujii Itsuki stared at the empty ceiling at night.

He himself was still stuck in the quagmire and couldn't extricate himself, so naturally he couldn't spend too much brain power and energy to focus on the youthful rebellion of a little girl.

But he had another feeling and idea.

As long as you focus your thoughts and attention on others, you will no longer be entangled in the past and gain temporary relief.

This practice is called shifting conflicts, right?
It is also a very despicable practice and a form of escape.

I really couldn't sleep at night.

It felt too hot with the quilt on, but too cold without it. Looking at the never-ending snowflakes outside the window through the street lights, Fujii Itsuki decided to go out for some fresh air.

He put on the cotton coat and trousers that Qiansui bought for him, kicked off his fluffy slippers, and walked out.

He wanted to stop near the door to clear his head, but when he just walked into the lobby, he saw a slender figure on the stone steps outside the door.

The girl was facing outside, sitting on the stone steps at the gate.

There was a wooden chair next to her, and next to the chair stood a guitar.

There was little light on a snowy night, but a beam of cold light from the incandescent lamp above her head dimly illuminated her surroundings.

At the moment when her back overlapped with the lights, the snowflakes outside looked like beautiful fireflies dancing lightly in the afterglow of the sunset.

The street light above her head illuminated her petite figure, and her delicate, black hair was illuminated to appear white and shiny.

She just sat there quietly, sitting there quietly.
This girl is worried again. Fujii Itsuki went back to the room, took some snacks he had bought before, then approached her and sat down next to her.

"Take it."

Jiu Huayue heard the sudden voice beside her, turned her head, and took a look at the item he handed over, "Potato chips?"

"I bought some snacks when I bought the meal kit that day. I'll eat some when I'm hungry at night."

"."

Jiuhuayue's purple eyes looked at him.

If you look more carefully, you will find that her eyes are red.

Fujii Itsuki handed it to her again, "Here, take it. Chitose didn't come today, and I came back late. You had a big fight with your mother, and you probably didn't have anything to eat."

"."

Jiuhuayue was indeed very hungry, but compared to being hungry, she hated accepting things given by others for no reason.

"We are already in this relationship, and you are still being polite to me? Take it."

“Hey! Uncle, you——!”

"First answer me whether you are hungry or not, and then decide whether to return it to me or not."

"."

Jiuhuayue stopped talking.

"Take it and eat it. I know you have a big appetite."

"Who, who told you that I have a big appetite?" Jiu Huayue blushed with anger.

"I clearly cooked five dishes for you that day, but Qiansui said there wasn't much left at noon. That's enough for five or six people to eat for three meals. Do you think you have a big appetite?"

"."

The girl didn't say anything, but quietly took the potato chips into her arms. She was in a bad mood and murmured in a low voice, "Anyway, I will return the favor."

"As for favors - you don't have to think about repaying them. Consider this my repayment to you."

"You give it back to me?"

"Of course, Jiuhua, do you understand how you looked when you brought me porridge that day when I had a cold? You looked like a gentle angel. And a very beautiful angel at that!"

Jiu Huayue pursed her lips, "You are not a serious old man at all!"

"Shakespeare once said that the world is a stage and each of us is merely an actor on it. Although this is not the truth, it does make sense. It is exhausting to live with a mask on in front of everyone."

".Uncle, is this how you talk without your mask?"

"Wrong, maybe even more rogue," Fujii Itsuki smiled and looked up and down at Jiuhua Yue, from her face to her figure, "For example, I think you are beautiful from the bottom of my heart."

Jiu Huayue hugged Potato Chips while protecting her upper body, and grumbled to him in dissatisfaction: "Uncle, you are not teasing me on purpose, are you?"

"Who knows, maybe I'm using you as an experiment to see if I'm suitable for finding a girlfriend without the mask."

"Then your wishful thinking is wrong, uncle! Anyway, judging from my observation, if you don't wear a mask, you will never find a girlfriend in your life!"

"You are too absolute."

"Well, that's how it is. But thank you for calling me beautiful."

Jiu Huayue squeezed the Pringles bag in her arms and said, "Just now I thought you came here because my mother sent you to monitor me. Now it seems that is not the case."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because when mom left, she definitely told you to pay attention to me. Then when you came to me, you definitely tried to persuade me to go back, but you didn't say it."

"Jiuhua, I hate trouble the most."

"So what?" Jiu Huayue tilted her head slightly and looked at him sideways.

"I know you're stubborn, so I don't bother to waste my energy trying to persuade you to go back. This is not something I'm responsible for."

Jiuhuayue smiled beautifully, "As expected! Uncle, you are also my ally."

".? What kind of ally am I?"

"You promised mom to keep an eye on me, but you won't tell me to go back. You definitely don't care about keeping an eye on me. If you're not an ally, then what are you?"

This girl, is she going crazy from loneliness? Didn’t she hate herself before?

Jiu Huayue put away her smile and lowered her head to look at the potato chip bag, "Mom must have told you that I was rebellious and disobedient."

"What are the facts?"

Jiu Huayue squeezed the bag of potato chips again. "The truth is, it is indeed like this now. Anyway, I have figured it out now. I will not listen to her and go back to Tokyo."

Fujii Itsuki looked at the girl's beautiful profile and said:

"I'm not trying to comfort you, but I feel like your mother never really understood you."

Jiu Huayue was stunned and turned to him, "Why would you say that, uncle?"

"When your mother was leaving, I described you as a 'kind-hearted child', but your mother was very surprised by my evaluation and denied it."

"What did my mother say about me?"

"You want to listen?"

"Uncle, go ahead."

"'What a surprise; she has never been very kind in the family'—that was the general answer."

Jiuhuayue pinched the potato chips again: "."

"Nine flowers?"

".I never thought that you, an uncle, would think better of me than my own mother."

Fujii Itsuki: "What does Jiuhua think of herself?"

Jiu Huayue raised her head, and through the faint light above her head, she looked at the white snow flying in the dark night. "Well, who knows? Maybe I am the bad child that my mother said. I am not obedient enough, and I don't respect my parents' wishes enough."

"."

The night was cold and snowing heavily.

Fujii Itsuki felt that the girl next to him looked so lonely when she raised her head.

The girl then withdrew her gaze from the night sky and turned to Fujii Itsuki, who had been sitting beside her for a long time.

The girl looked at him for a few seconds, then looked away and whispered:
".Thank you, uncle."

"Thank you for what?"

"You are willing to chat with me and listen to my bitter words late at night."

"After all, there's a gorgeous young lady next to you, and a perverted uncle like me is happy to oblige."

".He is obviously a perverted uncle, but he speaks in such a gentlemanly tone."

"I wonder if you have ever heard of the saying that a gentleman is a pervert, Jiuhua."

"No! I don't care either. Also, don't think that I have that idea because of my family reasons just because of my mother. I'm not that naive and fragile."

Fujii Itsuki was curious, "Why is that?"

"I won't tell you! By the way, you still have to go to work tomorrow, right?"

"Not tomorrow. A week's work is over."

"Oh, will you get up early tomorrow?"

"how?"

".Do you have any noodles you want to eat?"

Fujii Itsuki laughed, "Want to make a bowl of noodles for this perverted uncle?"

Jiu Huayue stood up, her tall figure clearly visible under the light from the overhead lights, "Don't get me wrong, I'm just repaying your favor for the potato chips!"

"I understand. You don't like to owe favors to others. I can do whatever you want with the noodles, but I have to make it clear that if the noodles don't taste good, I will throw them away."

"How dare you! Those are the noodles I cooked!"

Fujii Itsuki smiled again, "I just care if it tastes good."

"You'll be so hungry!"

After saying that, the girl ran back with the potato chips and her guitar.

Fujii Itsuki was bored staying here alone. After taking a look at the little snowman built by Jiuhuayue in the yard, he walked back, locked the lobby door, and prepared to go back to sleep.

"Hey!"

The voice came from the second floor. Fujii Itsuki looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a cute head leaning down at the junction of the stairs and the second floor.

"Good night, I forgot to say it. Good night, uncle!"

Fujii Itsuki smiled at the cute little head and responded:

"Good night."

"Also, the noodles I'll make tomorrow will definitely make you cry with hunger!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she disappeared.

Isn't this girl cute?
Fujii Itsuki went back to his room to sleep with a smile on his face.

(End of this chapter)