Chapter 176: , Confession

The kaiseki meal was finished, and Uesugi Muneyuki had eaten everything.

To be honest, while the artistic conception of kaiseki is beautiful, it isn't particularly delicious, and the portions aren't large; Miss Minami and the old fogies could eat until they were seven or eight parts full, but Uesugi Muneyuki was only at the level of being half-full. Seeing that the food was gone, Uesugi Muneyuki felt a bit idle, and he couldn't break into the old fogies' conversation, so Watanabe Eiji smiled and said, "Minami, why don't you take Muneyuki-kun for a walk outside? I have some things to discuss here."

"Okay!" Miss Minami was very Yamato Nadeshiko and ladylike, at least in front of this group of old fogies; upon hearing this, she responded softly with a sweet smile, used her knees to shift her kneeling body closer to Uesugi Muneyuki, and signaled for them to leave.

Uesugi naturally had no objections; he had a stubborn temper on some issues, but was quite easygoing on others, so seeing this, he stood up and said, "Let's go for a stroll then."

Once Uesugi Muneyuki stood up, Watanabe Minami then rose to follow behind him, her white tabi moving quickly as she left the Tsuru no Ma with Uesugi Muneyuki.

Seeing the two of them leave, the old fogies all looked at Watanabe Eiji with teasing expressions, among whom Commissioner Kaneko smiled and asked, "Since when?"

"Since when what?" Old fogey Eiji played dumb.

"I'm asking when you had this idea?" Commissioner Kaneko couldn't help it: "Probably when you established the Special Mission Unit, right?"

Heh, the Special Mission Unit, indeed; Minami had already taken the initiative to contact Muneyuki-kun long after the Fuji TV Case.

Watanabe Eiji thought to himself that if he had really waited until forming the Special Mission Unit to set his plans in motion, it would have been too late.

However, there was no need to tell them; keeping quiet and making a fortune is the best way!

"Being able to choose a son-in-law as excellent as Muneyuki-kun, if Kazuo and Gaokyu were still alive, they would certainly be very happy," Principal Komiyama said suddenly; the University of Tokyo principal felt a bit sentimental: "They were both very excellent people, they just left a bit too early."

Upon hearing this, Watanabe Eiji also fell silent; the Superintendent General responded with a trace of sadness and a bit of unwillingness.

As mentioned before, Watanabe Eiji's father was the former President of National Railways Watanabe Kazuo, and his uncle was the former Minister of Health and Welfare Watanabe Gaokyu; with his uncle having no children and fully supporting him, the fact that he only reached the rank of Superintendent General was actually a slide in class.

The main reason was that both elders passed away very early; at that time, Watanabe Eiji was only 40 years old and still a Section Chief in Investigation Division 1, planning to accumulate more reputation and connections before considering whether to continue deep-diving into the police world or switch to becoming a local Lawmaker. As it turned out, his father and uncle passed away early one after another in their sixties.

Yes, in Japan, passing away in one's sixties is called an early death.

Moreover, in reality, from the Insei era to the modern day, the fundamental changes in Japan's political system have not been great; it has always been a few large factions taking turns in power (this is why the Japanese like Toyotomi Hideyoshi so much). As Watanabe Eiji, who came from a commoner background and only had a surname after the Meiji Restoration, knew very well, the post-war era of short-lived, rapid class ascension where everyone had a chance to soar was impossible to have again.

At this moment, Uesugi Kuninori, sitting to the side, looked at Watanabe Eiji's somewhat unwilling and somewhat sad appearance, and a lot of deep sorrow accumulated between his brows.

Indeed, as long as he was still around, the upper class would give him face, but if he were to pass away early like Watanabe Kazuo and Watanabe Gaokyu, what would happen to the current Uesugi Residence?

Facing the dim moonlight and the stone lanterns by the road, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami walked side by side over the bridge and stream.

The two were very close, and their hands were tightly clasped together.

Compared to the previous handshake, holding hands in front of elders and superiors had brought a significant improvement to the relationship between the two.

After getting intimate in the backseat of the car that night, Miss Minami had solidified her determination to date Uesugi Muneyuki.

The person beside her could no longer be described as just an ordinary friend, colleague, or Partner.

He was the one she wanted, she firmly believed.

Some people are childhood sweethearts who spend day and night together for over a decade, yet in the end, they are only ordinary friends.

Some people don't spend much time in contact, yet they can click very quickly.

Meeting you was destined by heaven!

Miss Minami held Uesugi Muneyuki's large hand, feeling sweet inside.

When it's time to act, act; when flowers are ready to be plucked, pluck them; don't wait until there are no flowers and just break an empty branch. Since she was so beautiful and youthfully invincible, she should just fiercely take Uesugi down!

Uesugi Muneyuki perfectly matched her preferences: handsome, knowledgeable, charismatic, and having status, yet he was willing to let her manage most things.

To be honest, she wasn't fully prepared, but opportunities don't come twice; there wouldn't be such a good chance to assert her sovereignty next time.

However, at this moment, Miss Minami was a bit worried about the relationship between Uesugi Muneyuki and Bai Chuan Mai.

After all, Bai Chuan Mai... was very beautiful, and even more attractive than herself; she was bright and aloof, and if she were to be even slightly proactive, who could resist?

Fortunately, ever since the last scandal, she hadn't seen Bai Chuan Mai appear in Uesugi Muneyuki's life again; it seemed that the relationship between this senior and junior was just that of ordinary friends, and Uesugi Muneyuki hadn't been attracted by Bai Chuan Mai's stunning beauty.

She was very happy.

Uesugi Muneyuki hadn't refused her holding his hand and had even spoken well of her in front of the elders; she was truly very happy.

Muneyuki-kun must like her too, right?

As Miss Minami thought this, another face suddenly flashed through her mind.

Ikeda Eirina.

Hehe~

That's right, she had almost forgotten about this big-breasted, long-legged monster.

These two fellows were getting along quite happily with each other, weren't they?

It wasn't because Uesugi had that kind of strong need that she arranged for Ikeda to be with him!

Miss Minami didn't actually care much about Uesugi Muneyuki having other women, but the premise for everything had to be under her control.

For example, someone like Saito Asuka was completely under her control, so she didn't care at all.

But the existence of Bai Chuan Mai was something Miss Minami couldn't control at all; this was the most serious threat.

As for this woman Ikeda Eirina, she was a minor threat that needed a little bit of discipline, and she was also a target within her own faction that needed to be united.

Heh, watch this lady's methods!

Just as Miss Minami was lost in thought, Uesugi Muneyuki stopped his steps; the two stood beside a water-powered deer scarer, the night breeze gentle and the moonlight dim, and Uesugi Muneyuki signaled that they had reached the end, turning his head to meet her gaze.

Upon meeting his gaze, those deep, sharp, and angular eyes were reflected in Miss Minami's vision.

The little bit of complaining emotion in Watanabe Minami's heart instantly dissipated without a trace; she could feel the temperature coming from the man's large hand.

He will be mine from now on!

Miss Minami gritted her teeth and decided to be even more proactive; she took the initiative to reach out and straighten Uesugi Muneyuki's collar, saying softly with a smile: "Muneyuki-kun, you don't think I'm being offensive, do you?"

Uesugi Muneyuki calmly held Miss Minami's hands in return and said softly: "I really didn't expect you to hold my hand; sorry, Minami, I instinctively flinched at that moment; I thought I had bumped into something."

Miss Minami's lips curled up, feigning injury, and she said playfully: "I specifically wore a Chufurisode for you today, and you were actually so cold; you've made your superior very sad. How are you going to compensate me?"

Uesugi Muneyuki didn't fall for Miss Minami's trap; he also feigned sadness: "I also specifically wore a kimono printed with bamboo-sparrow patterns for you; I thought you knew."

Miss Minami's cute apple-shaped face puffed up: "Liar! Idiot!"

"Aren't you the same?" Uesugi Muneyuki pulled Miss Minami's hands and laughed along: "You are too good at creating bargaining chips out of thin air; I learned it all from you."

"Pfft!"

Watanabe Minami let out a giggle; with her sweet face illuminated by the vibrant kimono and the dim moonlight, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

The young lady's beautiful eyes fluttered a few times: "So, are we even now?"

Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head with a smile, slowly leaning in close to her, whispering into her ear: "Next time, wear it for me somewhere else, and you must wear pantyhose underneath—only then will we be even!"

???

Young Lady Minami's fair ears and cheeks were instantly dyed a fiery red; her pretty face flushed, and she lightly struck Uesugi Muneyuki: "You bad thing! Actually... I had thought about it today, but wearing stockings over tabi socks is really strange! I have to meet my elders!"

It was strange, but she hadn't refused; did that count as agreeing to do it next time for sure?

Uesugi Muneyuki knew when to stop: "Kimono are hard to put on and hard to take off, and even a cheap set of Chufurisode costs over a million; I still prefer how you look in your casual clothes or your police uniform—though, occasionally wearing something else, like a flight attendant outfit, would be fine too."

Hearing that this man's request was actually so simple, Young Lady Minami giggled incessantly.

She had only laughed for a few seconds before she suddenly stopped, staring straight at the man.

"What's wrong?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked, puzzled.

Young Lady Minami's sweet almond-shaped eyes reflected the man's figure, carrying three parts shyness, three parts tenderness, and four parts determination.

"Muneyuki-kun, from now on, I want to live with you!"

Her black, clear eyes were filled with anticipation and sincerity.

Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned upon hearing this; under Young Lady Minami's expectant gaze, he gently stroked her hair, his fingertips feeling the jewelry and gold hairpins, and after waiting several seconds, he smiled: "So that's how it is; it seems I have no way to regret this now? After all, both Grandfather and the Director General have already seen us."

"You cannot regret it, you are not allowed to regret it!" Young Lady Minami felt that Uesugi Muneyuki had agreed somewhat reluctantly, and she was both shy and annoyed.

Under the moon, by the small bridge, flowing water, and rockery—confessing here had used up almost all of Minami's courage, yet the tone of this man made it seem like he had accepted it somewhat reluctantly?

How is it a grievance for you to marry this young lady? The massive Watanabe Residence in Setagaya, the vast wealth left behind by Grandfather and Great-Uncle—won't it all be yours in the end? And you get this super-beauty of a young lady thrown in too; not just me, but Eirina and Asuka—haven't they all been arranged for you? I never even wanted to make them disappear!

Young Lady Minami steeled her heart, stood on her tiptoes, held Uesugi Muneyuki's face with both hands, and kissed him directly.

But I must brand you with the mark of the legitimate wife that belongs only to me, Kora!

And the only answer Uesugi Muneyuki could give was: "Mmph..."

Subordinates are not allowed to kiss their superiors!

But superiors can kiss their subordinates!

(End of chapter)