Chapter 491

As the head of the Uesugi family, Uesugi Kuninori's most important and most desired thing is nothing more than "dignity."

For a man of his age, wealth is already an external matter, and as for sex, needless to say, his teeth are loose, he prefers soft, tender, and delicious food, and waking up after five or six hours of sleep each day is normal.

Thus, Uesugi Kuninori at this age has quite a flavor of having no desires or pursuits.

Except for descendants.

Normally, given his status, position, and dignity, he should never have to so "humbly" personally seek out Ishihara Mikoto.

But he is anxious!

He is already 74—when will he be able to hold a great-grandchild? If he cannot see a stable continuation of the family name, what face does he have to meet the ancestors of the Uesugi?

Uesugi Kuninori is very clear that if this matter were entrusted to his son Uesugi Hironori, it would absolutely not be handled well, and moreover, as the father of Uesugi Muneyuki, Uesugi Hironori would certainly be even more stiff and formal than himself, and besides, he is only in his early fifties and is not in a hurry at all!

Therefore, he can only do it himself.

And apart from the advantages mentioned earlier, Ishihara Mikoto has another unmentioned but most important advantage.

She is favored by Uesugi Muneyuki!

This point may seem unimportant, but in reality it is very important!

Because of the matter concerning the eldest grandson Uesugi Sadanori, Uesugi Kuninori realized a very serious problem: with his resources and connections, he could of course select a woman with suitable family background, health, appearance, and erudition to bear a suitable heir for Uesugi Muneyuki.

But what if this woman is not liked by Uesugi Muneyuki?

More bluntly, what if Uesugi Muneyuki, due to inner aversion, cannot become aroused?

The eldest grandson has already suffered greatly in this regard; we must absolutely not let the youngest grandson also be driven to dislike women!

And Ishihara Mikoto has this advantage: she is, no matter what, the woman Uesugi Muneyuki constantly thinks of, and he would not hesitate to renew their past relationship, even firmly bringing her to Tokyo University—facing her, the youngest grandson will surely be firm and strong!

But Uesugi Kuninori does not intend to say this out loud; it is unnecessary, and moreover, it would give the other party grounds for self-confidence.

"Ms. Ishihara, listen to the old man's conditions."

"I know you are most worried about your career. Here, I can guarantee that during pregnancy and even after childbirth, all your work and projects will not be affected. I will personally mobilize the Uesugi family's connections and resources to escort and safeguard you, ensuring your position cannot be replaced. You will even gain more opportunities because of 'receiving the full support of the Uesugi family.'"

The head of the Uesugi family raised his eyebrows, his eyes slightly smiling: "In that case, you need not worry about being replaced once pregnant, nor need you worry about your career being affected, right?"

Ishihara Mikoto unconsciously pressed her lips together; the head of the Uesugi family's statement instantly struck her deepest hidden worry,

"As for after the child is born, you need not worry about anything. The Uesugi family will bear all responsibility for upbringing and expenses; you will be the child's mother, but you need not fulfill daily caregiving responsibilities, and it will absolutely not interfere with your career." The head of the Uesugi family then added the second condition: "I am about to retire soon, and Hironori and Pengzi are also idle, so we can all help you raise the child. If you wish, you may come visit every day, and we will not object; if your career is busy, you can also rest assured letting us take care of it."

"Ms. Ishihara, you are also 32 years old this year, right? After turning 30, the window for childbearing keeps shrinking—do you really not want a child?" The head of the Uesugi family said meaningfully: "It's not that you don't want to, but that you can't, right? But with our help and support, what do you have to hesitate about? You hardly need to spend anything, and you will still be the child's mother!"

"As for Watanabe Eiji and Minami, I will handle it. I will ensure this matter does not affect the marriage between Muneyuki and Minami, nor will it let you suffer any pressure from the Watanabe family. I have this capability."

"Finally, in the annex of the Uesugi estate in Bunkyo Ward, I will give you a floor exclusively yours, 180 square meters, belonging only to you, and I will privately grant you the formal title of 'outer chamber.' This means you will be acknowledged by the Uesugi family, possessing corresponding status and security,

and can forever openly and honorably stay by Muneyuki's side, without needing to live in fear and anxiety."

"You can freely date in the annex; we will provide you with the utmost convenience, and it will not be known to the outside world—you can live directly here, which is close to Tokyo University or Sakuradamon—

Uesugi Kuninori gazed at Mikoto, his voice full of allure: "This is not deprivation, but a gift. You can preserve or even enhance your career, which you regard as life itself, while consolidating your position beside Muneyuki, and also leave a bloodline for our Uesugi family. With temporary hardship, you will exchange it for lifelong stability and a higher starting point."

His gaze swept over that intangible "blackmail material": "As for this document, the main house will merely treat it as a beautiful misunderstanding, how about that? Anyway, if Yukimatsumaru firmly refuses to file a report and testify, even if the main house reports it to the police, it will actually have little effect, and instead will harm Yukimatsumaru's reputation—I am his grandfather, Yukimatsu is a good child, and even more so my precious grandson; as his grandfather, how could I do such a thing?"

Having said that, Uesugi Kuninori's body leaned forward slightly, carrying both a hint of threat and a thread of entreaty: "Ms. Ishihara, you also deeply love your Yukimatsu, and I deeply love my Yukimatsu—we are on the same side!"

Ishihara Mikoto fell into great struggle. On one side lies the abyss of ruined reputation and loss of everything; on the other, although it is coerced childbirth, the conditions offered by the other party almost resolve all her posterior worries, even granting her the longed-for "security" and "status."

She loves Muneyuki and longs to stay long by his side. She loves her career even more and cannot bear to lose it. The head of the Uesugi family's proposal is like a honey-coated poison pill—cruel, yet exuding an irresistible temptation.

In her mind's eye, fierce clashes occur: fear of scandal exposure, despair over losing her career, longing to stay long with Muneyuki, and the humiliation of using her body as a trading tool—but as the head of the Uesugi family said, is she truly completely unwilling to bear a child?

Actually, it is not so; she merely endured an exceptionally painful marriage, experienced sacrificing her career for marriage only to end up with neither marriage nor career, and after utter despair, she instinctively resists any factor that might affect her ability to continue her career,

Marriage she has already completely abandoned and does not discuss; now, what truly threatens her career is only childbirth.

She is also a woman—how could she not want a child of her own?

She also knows her age is advancing, and she is missing the optimal childbearing window; if it were someone else, Ishihara Mikoto would absolutely not sell her body as a childbearing tool, but Uesugi Muneyuki is different—he is the person she deeply loves—and moreover, she has long become the very image of Uesugi Muneyuki.

Ishihara Mikoto fell into great struggle. On one side lies the abyss of ruined reputation and loss of everything; on the other, although it is coerced childbirth, the conditions offered by the other party almost resolve all her posterior worries, even granting her the longed-for "security" and "status."

In her mind's eye, fierce clashes occur: fear of scandal exposure, despair over losing her career, longing to stay long with Muneyuki, and the humiliation of using her body as a trading tool—

However, after drifting through life for half a century, her intense yearning to maintain the status quo and her extraordinary need for "security" cause Ishihara Mikoto's heart to sway uncertainly: "You need not give me a response now, Ms. Ishihara." The head of the Uesugi family perceived her wavering and again appropriately yielded: "The main house has always kept its word and never forced anyone—this is how it should be. After you return, think it over well, then reply to me. Today's meal shall be regarded merely as thanks for your previous care of Yukimatsumaru at Tokiwa Middle School and for your later assistance as his aide, always wholeheartedly devoted to assisting him."

Having said that, the head of the Uesugi family clapped his hands, signaling the servant to serve the dishes.

"Gratitude beyond words!" Ishihara Mikoto's voice was somewhat dry, yet she was full of gratitude; she had never imagined that a bomb capable of destroying her career, causing her countless midnight awakenings with fear and anxiety, could be resolved in this way—the head of the Uesugi family not only did not use this matter to threaten her, but even proactively explained it to her.

She could feel that the head of the Uesugi family is not a bad person, and also possesses the affection of a grandfather for his grandson and the desire of a grandmother to hold a great-grandchild.

Child, is it?

To possess a child of my own?

As the servant began serving the dishes, Ishihara Mikoto became increasingly unsettled,

If all worries could be resolved, if all concerns could be properly handled—not only would it not drag down her career, but she would also gain the Uesugi family's support, need not spend money, have help raising the child, and still be able to openly and honorably be the child's mother—

Mmm. —This old fellow, how formidable!

And seeing Ishihara Mikoto's struggle, the head of the Uesugi family sitting opposite flashed a cold smile in his eyes without a sound or change in expression.

Without capability, how could I be the head of the family?

After the main house abolished domains and established prefectures, it has endured 150 years without falling, and still holds extremely high influence, precisely because every generation has had excellent helmsmen, cautiously steering the great ship.

As long as I am alive, the Uesugi clan will not perish!

I am the dividing line between the outside world, the Financial Services Agency, and the Metropolitan Police Department—the brutal suppression of YKC48 continues, and after finishing the case of the agent and the two small idols, the Metropolitan Police Department has also officially held a press conference to the outside world.

Not the press conference for the YKC48 case, but the press conference for the Okada House Double Corpse Case!

Uesugi Muneyuki once again presided over the press conference, personally describing the course of the Okada Yoshigi case, where the twists and turns and the bizarrely tragic fate of Okada Yoshigi instantly aroused nationwide sympathy.

Know that the Toshima Ward Phantom intruded into the nursery, Okada Isamu rescued the female child, and Okada's wife went shopping, bloodied, returned home, and faced the camera coldly—all of these made the front-page headlines!

Unexpectedly, this national hero actually had such a tragically miserable fate.

Truly, those who see it feel heartbroken, those who hear it shed tears.

However, just as Uesugi Muneyuki was holding the press conference, Ikeda Erena received a message.

Zaizen Professor Critical Condition at the First Surgery Department of Tokyo Medical and Dental University!

And before this former professor of Uesugi Muneyuki passed away, he wanted to see Uesugi Muneyuki, his former disciple!