Chapter 490

As dusk deepened, in a quiet alley deep in the heart of Tokyo, the traditional restaurant "Rakuraku," hidden in the bustling city, lit up with warm lights. Ishihara Mikoto stood at the door, took a deep breath, and adjusted her impeccable collar.

She felt somewhat uneasy about her whereabouts, once considering whether to tell Uesugi Muneyuki about this, but the invitation had not extended to Uesugi Muneyuki, and Mikoto, having mingled in society, naturally knew what this meant.

The head of the Uesugi family wished to meet her, without wanting Uesugi Muneyuki to know.

Ishihara Mikoto felt as if facing a great calamity; for today's meeting, she chose a superbly tailored, heavy-textured navy wool suit set, the jacket's lapel lines sharp, fittingly tightening her waist, while the knee-length A-line skirt solemnly wrapped her petite yet graceful figure, paired with an ivory silk shirt, buttoned to the top, revealing only a section of her slender, elegant neck.

This attire spoke entirely of professionalism, rigor, and utmost importance for this meeting—after all, the other party was the esteemed Uesugi Professor of Tokyo University, 74-year-old head of the Yonezawa Uesugi family.

To match this formal attire, she chose extremely opaque flesh-toned Lycra stockings, nearly blending with her skin tone, only shimmering under light with an exceptionally fine, soft sheen, outlining the elegant line from calf to ankle, and being fully transparent at the toe; on her feet were a pair of dark brown suede mid-heel shoes, the toe pointed but not exaggerated, heel height just right, enhancing presence without losing steadiness, producing a restrained yet crisp sound when walking.

"Come on, Mikoto, you can do it!"

Under the guidance of the female proprietor, she passed through the mysterious corridor and entered a tranquil Japanese-style room.

Uesugi Kuninori had already arrived; the elderly head of the Uesugi family knelt on the tatami, wearing a traditional black kimono emblazoned with the Uesugi bamboo sparrow crest, his hair meticulously combed, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, the eyes behind the lenses sharp and stern.

Seeing Mikoto enter, he slightly inclined his head, courteous and complete, but the moment his gaze lingered on her, the weathered brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

This was not his first time seeing Ishihara Mikoto, but after close observation, Uesugi Kuninori finally understood why his grandson was so fond of her.

After Mikoto respectfully bowed, she sat opposite him. She strove to make her posture proper, even somewhat restrained, endeavoring to conceal all outward "feminine qualities" beneath that rigorous suit.

However, some things cannot be completely hidden by clothing.

When she slightly leaned forward to show respect, a few strands of hair inadvertently fell, brushing over her smooth cheeks. The warm indoor light shone on her face, illuminating her naturally overly refined features—those bright, intelligent large eyes, even when fully flashing with the light of seeking knowledge and professionalism, could not conceal the natural allure in the flow of her gaze; beneath her straight, high nose bridge lay full, naturally rosy lips even without heavy makeup, her gaze respectful and earnest, her voice clear and calm, yet her tone itself carried a soft quality.

Her posture was impeccable, but the well-fitted suit and delicate stockings still subtly outlined the fullness and smooth lines of her young body. Those neatly placed mid-heel shoes behind her inadvertently emphasized the slenderness of her ankles.

Uesugi Kuninori's gaze slipped away from her face several times, and he sighed inwardly.

Compared to others, she was still better—at least she herself was of pure blood, and however one puts it, she was an educated woman graduated from Osaka University.

Actually, for Uesugi Kuninori, the ideal heir would naturally be Watanabe Minami or Shirakawa Mai's offspring, for both are of pure blood and noble status, and Shirakawa Mai is even more ideal, as the head of the Kanto Shrine Alliance carries a religious hue,

and unlike the Watanabe family, which still faces the risk of future status decline, in the Japanese religious era, such transmission is quite normal, and can even be closely combined with Uesugi Kenshin culture.

Naturally, the Yonezawa Uesugi are peerage, but so-called noble status is also an old almanac, abolished after WWII by Emperor Meiji,

Although Uesugi Kuninori is stubborn and conservative, it does not mean he fails to recognize his own position; currently, the Uesugi clan's prominence is due to his being a Tokyo University professor, his two grandsons also being Tokyo University affiliates, not innate nobility—this point he himself educated his two grandsons on.

After undergoing multiple ideological liberations, even the most conservative Japanese are progressing with the times; people like Ishihara Mikoto, highly educated women who rely on their own abilities to carve out a path, are generally respected by the Japanese.

But facing this overly beautiful, even aggressively beautiful young woman before him, Uesugi Kuninori could not help but rise a thread of old dislike and concern; such beauty, in his fixed cognition, seems to slightly clash with the image of a "serious scholar," even raising a suspicion of frivolity,

The atmosphere in the restaurant was tranquil; Uesugi Kuninori skillfully prepared matcha, his movements slow and ritualistic, as if this were not a meeting but a tea ceremony lesson.

Ishihara Mikoto sat upright, her posture elegant yet unable to conceal the vigilance and unease in her eyes. She sensed this meeting would not be simple.

Uesugi Kuninori pushed a cup of jade-green matcha toward Mikoto, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable weight: "Ms. Ishihara, please have tea. Knowing you are busy with your career, being able to make time to meet, I am deeply grateful."

Mikoto bowed slightly: "Professor Uesugi, you flatter me. I do not know why you have summoned me today—what instruction do you have?"

She resolved to take the initiative, despite her heart's hesitation.

Uesugi Kuninori slightly inclined his head, took a thin file folder from the briefcase beside him, and did not open it, merely placing it lightly on the tatami between them. This action caused Mikoto's pupils to contract slightly.

"Orders are not the word. Merely, as one grows old, one likes to recall some past events." He spoke blandly, as if chatting: "Especially the past of Muneyuki in his youth. He attended Tokiwa Middle School in Gunma Prefecture, truly a beautiful springtime of youth; I recall, at that time, the school nurse,

seemed—surname Satomi? A very young, energetic female earth."

The surname "Satomi" and the name "Gunma Prefecture Tokiwa Middle School" were clearly spoken, like two cold stones dropped into still water.

Mikoto's smile on her face instantly stiffened; though she struggled to maintain it, her fingertips had already turned white.

At that time, she followed her husband's surname, called Satomi Mikoto.

Uesugi Kuninori seemed not to have noticed her change, continuing in that steady, historical narration tone: "As I know, that beautiful school nurse, named Satomi Mikoto, gave Muneyuki special 'care'. That care seemed to far exceed the bounds of teacher-student affection, even occurring, even before that brief marriage ended?"

The forensic beauty's pair of silk-stockinged legs instantly tensed, even the toes wrapped in thin silk stocking curled up.

Uesugi Kuninori paused, finally lifting his eyes to her, gaze precise as a scalpel: "Should I call you Satomi Mikoto? Or should I address you by your original surname, Ishihara Mikoto, Ms.?"

Mikoto's breath suddenly became rapid, her face drained of color,

Her most feared nightmare was laid bare.

This was what she feared most! Also what she most hoped the Uesugi family would not know!

Originally, what happened between her and Uesugi Muneyuki, strictly speaking, the Uesugi family could report to the police!

After wandering in Tokyo for several years, Ishihara Mikoto, out of life's necessity, still chose to seek out Uesugi Muneyuki, but precisely for this reason, she firmly refused to further intrude into Uesugi Muneyuki's life, resolutely not moving into Sakata Bridge, and in daily life, she was respectful toward Minami as the principal wife, all to avoid letting the Uesugi family know of this past.

But they still knew!

With a soft "clink," Mikoto accidentally knocked over her tea cup, green tea spilling and dampening a small patch of tatami. Her face instantly turned pale, pupils contracting from shock and fear—this secret she thought buried deep by time was actually laid bare so casually by this old man before her.

What, what exactly does the other party want to do?

He is, after all, Muneyuki's grandfather!

Uesugi Kuninori seemed not to have seen her distress, continuing: "I greatly admire career-driven women; after your divorce, relying on your own abilities and your relationship with Muneyuki, you have established yourself in the forensic field, flourishing—truly not easy."

Upon these words, the forensic beauty's heart felt as if cut by a knife,

Yes, after great effort achieving some results, after great effort formally entering Tokyo University as Muneyuki's sole designated assistant,

Precisely when her career had great potential and limitless future, everything suddenly took a sharp downturn.

The career to which she had devoted everything seemed like a bungee jump—suddenly soaring then plummeting. Uesugi Kuninori shifted his tone, his voice turning sharp: "But you should also be clear, the foundation of all you have built is how fragile. A scandal of 'school nurse seducing minor students' would suffice to let your painstakingly built everything collapse in an instant; the Metropolitan Police Department, and even our Tokyo University, will absolutely not tolerate such a blemish; then, you will lose not only your career, but also your foothold."

Mikoto's body trembled slightly; her deepest fear was laid bare in the sunlight. She opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but found any words powerless before such concrete threat.

"But," Uesugi Kuninori's tone suddenly softened, like an elder planning for juniors, he said sincerely: "Ms. Ishihara, I do not intend to destroy you. On the contrary, I summoned you to give you a win-win opportunity, one that could let you remain forever by Muneyuki's side while also advancing your career as a safeguard."

"I am doing this for your benefit; can you trust me? Actually, if this matter were exposed, it would be of no benefit and only harm to Yukimatsumaru; I am his grandfather—how could I harm him? I am here to discuss solutions with you."

Mikoto suddenly lifted her head, eyes filled with doubtful uncertainty: "Professor, I am utterly rude, and deeply sorry, but could you please speak more clearly?"

"I want you to bear a child with Yukimatsumaru." Uesugi Kuninori's tone left no room for doubt: "The main house needs a healthy heir! You should know, Yukimatsumaru has actually been sent out to become an adopted son-in-law, merely without changing his surname."

"This is impossible! Muneyuki—" Ishihara Mikoto almost immediately lost her voice in refusal: "I do not want to bear children! I have told Muneyuki many times—I do not plan to have children!"

"Is that so?" Uesugi Kuninori fixed his gaze on Ishihara Mikoto's fox-like, charming, naturally seductive face, that pair of sharp, aged, cloudy eyes suddenly revealing a hint of a smile: "Ms. Ishihara, are you truly unwilling? No, no, no—I see you have many considerations?"

"I" Ishihara Mikoto still wished to explain, but Uesugi Kuninori gestured for her to listen first: "You hear me out first, Ms. Ishihara."

"Regarding all your concerns, the main house will consider them thoroughly for you."

"Why not? Let's hear my conditions first, how about that?"