Chapter 331

PS: I've already received over 3000 votes, and the Emperor thanks everyone here. I still owe two more chapters, and I haven't forgotten.

PSI, that's what I said!

As an external staff member of the Metropolitan Police Department and an informal temporary assignment member of the Special Command Division, Shiihara Mio was not originally supposed to participate in the Metropolitan Police Department's Kabukicho patrol event, and her energy levels are no longer as vigorous as they were in her twenties.

When NMHK was pursuing the suspect during an emergency live broadcast, Shiihara Mio had already taken a lovely bath and completed her skincare routine, preparing to sleep deeply in anticipation of the New Year holiday.

She was about to go to sleep, but her stepdaughter, Saito Asuka, had not.

Today, Mr. Uesugi and that heavyset woman did not return, saying they would participate in a Metropolitan Police Department event tonight. Meanwhile, Asuka had already been given the day off, Uesugi Munetoshi was not at home, and the girl, with nothing to do, decided to wait for Mr. Uesugi to return. Hearing that NHK had a live broadcast, she sat in front of the TV and watched the entire NHK live broadcast.

After watching it, she nearly fainted from shock.

Seeing that Uesugi Munetoshi appeared to be injured, the girl panicked at Sakata Bridge Tower and burst into tears on the spot, but she was just an ordinary high school girl—what could she possibly do?

The only thing the girl could do was use her Sony phone to call Minami and Mio. Minami was busy handling follow-up matters and had no time, so she told Asuka to go find Mio. Thus, Mio's peaceful moment before sleep was shattered. The stepmother and stepdaughter then coordinated and met up, rushing together to the scene.

At this moment, Saito Asuka was wearing a standard Victorian-style British maid winter dress as indoor attire, paired with brown boots, and had only thrown on a winter coat over it, leaving her scarf untouched. Her entire appearance was so beautiful it seemed as if she had stepped out of a two-dimensional world—adorable, youthful, and evoking a first-love feeling that filled the air. Along the way, gasps of astonishment echoed through the hospital, and even doctors rushing for emergency care and surgery couldn't help but glance at her.

Does such a cute, two-dimensional-like girl really exist in this world?

In contrast, Shiihara Mio's attire was much more conservative: she wore a standard winter women's suit with long trousers, draped in a brown trench coat, and stood in a pair of brown 5cm heels, embodying the image of a winter professional woman. Her fox-like charm softened, giving her a unique and captivating allure.

Yet, neither of them could compare to the beauty of Bai Chuan Mai, who was fiercely rubbing Uesugi's dog head.

And it was precisely at this moment that the atmosphere in the ward began to feel strange.

Oh, is this the former wife who adopted Asuka?

Mai Xuejie rose from Uesugi Munetoshi's body, smiled, and looked down at the person standing before Uesugi Munetoshi—Shiihara Mio, who was even shorter than Asuka—scanning her from head to toe.

Looking at her gaze and the accumulated energy within her body, it's clear you've spoiled her rotten—indeed, she's a shopaholic!

I remember she's several years older than you, right? So, Munetoshi, you actually like this type? If you're fond of married women in their thirties, forties, and fifties, I wouldn't mind arranging something for you, junior!

Bai Chuan Mai handed Uesugi Munetoshi a half-smile, half-not smile. Due to their fate-bound connection, she didn't need to speak—Uesugi Munetoshi already knew what she wanted to say.

Damn it! My name is Uesugi Munetoshi, not Uesugi Mengde or Uesugi Shude!

The relationship between me and Mio-jie is pure, after all—back then, there was nothing going on between me and you!

Shiihara Mio never expected Bai Chuan Mai to appear here. She had been anxiously wanting to ask Uesugi Munetoshi if he was alright, but now it seems he's fine.

Mio took Asuka's small hand, her fox-like, captivating gaze fixed on the national goddess before the bed, her eyes filled with amusement and a hint of disbelief.

They say there's no distance between these two people, but now it seems it's not just zero distance—it's gone beyond that into negative distance, a kind of indulgence only possible after intense, overlapping contact.

Uesugi, you're amazing—without even realizing it, you've won over the national goddess!

Shiihara Mio felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. Naturally, she knew Bai Chuan Mai, and they had known each other since their time at Tokiwa Middle School.

This is the younger brother's white moonlight!

Likewise, Bai Chuan Mai also felt a twinge of jealousy. She had always regretted never obtaining Uesugi Munetoshi's first, purest, most pristine inner-world energy. Thinking that this woman had enjoyed it so casually made her eyebrows twitch slightly.

This is the younger brother's white moonlight!

For a moment, the two locked eyes—lightning flashed, thunder roared, chaos swirled, and the four gods gathered as Horus the Great Rebel, the galaxy burning in flames!

"Oh, you two haven't been formally introduced yet?" Uesugi Munetoshi, seeing this, cried out in alarm and forced himself to say: "Um, senior, this is Shiihara Mio, my forensic assistant, and also the school doctor from our time at Tokiwa Middle School—I don't know if you remember—.."

"Not even a little impression." Bai Chuan Mai's face lit up with a radiant smile as she extended her hand toward Shiihara Mio: "But thanks to the junior's introduction, now I do."

"Mio-jie, this is Bai Chuan Mai, my senior and partner. Back then, she was also a student at Tokiwa Middle School—though she didn't show up often, you should remember her, right?" Uesugi Munetoshi continued.

"Of course, of course, Uesugi-kun, your national goddess senior—it's hard not to leave a deep impression, given that she once pressured and persuaded the school into allowing her long-term absences, and even donated an entire teaching building to Tokiwa Middle School." Shiihara Mio laughed brightly: "She's truly a role model among students, worthy of being called your senior, Uesugi."

Mai Xuejie's face darkened. She had initially agreed to attend Tokiwa Middle School in Gunma only because of the large donation and pressure tactics, which led the school to allow her long-term, frequent absences while helping her manage attendance and academics—but this was ultimately something that couldn't be brought into the light.

Normally, Bai Chuan Mai wouldn't care how others judged her; she's essentially an inner-world person, not particularly concerned with the outer world.

But Uesugi Munetoshi here? Absolutely not allowed!

This man is her everything—her all, her most precious treasure. She will never let anyone have him, and she absolutely won't tolerate anyone tarnishing his image in her presence.

"I've long heard your name, Ms. Shiihara—it's an honor to finally meet you. I've always heard about you from the junior, and I've really wanted to meet you. Now that I have, your reputation is truly deserved." Mai Xuejie smiled brightly: "I immediately understood why the junior, when idle, loves to run to the infirmary—after all—"

"As a sensei, back when she was still a lady, Ms. Shiihara definitely embodied 'putting knowledge into practice,' teaching the junior many profound yet accessible 'lessons.' Thank you—should I inform the police?"

Mai Xuejie's words, laced with hidden barbs, made Shiihara Mio's face turn pale. She clearly understood the jab: she had failed as both a teacher and a wife.

What a vicious woman—she didn't utter a single dirty word, yet directly struck Shiihara Mio's most painful point.

"Hehehehehe~ Nice to meet you~"

"Huhuhuhuhuh~ Honor honor~"

Thus, both women laughed even more brightly, their hands gripping tighter, their eyes crinkling into crescent moons—but in the slight narrowing of their pupils, there was not a trace of genuine laughter.

The galaxy is burning.

Seeing this scene, Uesugi Munetoshi felt immense pressure. Mai Xuejie and Mio-jie are both, in some sense, his white moonlight. Before, Mio-jie mattered more to him, but now he has also grown close to Mai Xuejie——

Hmm, is someone missing?

Uesugi Munetoshi suddenly realized a girl had vanished. Turning his head, he saw Asuka crouched in the corner of the ward, her white-scarf-wrapped small head pressed against the wall, her Victorian-style winter maid dress hugging her frame, her little drum-like bottom facing the room, her hands clasped over her head, tears streaming, her body trembling softly.

Is this what the world of the strong is like? How terrifying!

Got it!

Uesugi Munetoshi hurried over to Mai Xuejie and the forensic beauty, saying: "Where is Asuka?"

"???" Mai Xuejie and the forensic beauty only then noticed the small ostrich-like Asuka crouched in the corner, head down, arms wrapped around her knees in a defensive posture. Seeing her adorable yet pitiful state, they couldn't help but chuckle.

"Come here, Asuka, to big sister~" Mai Xuejie gestured for Asuka to come closer, her eyes full of endless affection and tenderness.

"Asuka?" Shiihara Mio also gestured for the girl to come to her, her expression slightly threatening: "I am your legal mother, after all!"

The girl crouched in the corner, tears streaming, didn't know what to do.

"Asuka!" "Asuka?" Two calls echoed, and the girl was torn between left and right.

Alright, shift the focus!

As Uesugi Munetoshi secretly gloated, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, and then he heard two familiar voices.

Oh no, disaster!!!

Only to see the visitor hadn't knocked at all, Watanabe Minami in a Metropolitan Police Department winter desk duty police uniform coat and skirt, and Ikeda Erena in casual clothes, walked straight in!

The two female officers were originally still chatting, but upon seeing this scene before them, Minami and Erena fell silent instantly.

Subsequently, Minami's gaze and Mai Xuejie's met in midair!

"Oh my?" Minami widened her eyes.

"Ah-ha!" Mai Xuejie smiled confidently.

Between the two women not a word was spoken, yet the ward was already flooded, heaven overturned and earth sunk! They fell into an extremely mysterious silence.

Fortunately, this silence didn't last long; soon footsteps came again from the hallway, a clatter of disordered wooden clogs accompanied by another soft, orderly wooden clog sound, breaking the stalemate in the ward.

"Son! Son!!! My Snow Pine ahhh!!"

Only to see Uesugi Muneyuki's father Uesugi Hironori shove the door open violently, shouting as he poked his head out: "Don't be scared! Dad's here! Dad's come to see my Snow Pine———huh?"

Uesugi Hironori shouted exaggeratedly, smiling on his face, yet seeing everyone in the ward staring at him.

"???"

"??????"