Chapter 578: Like a Dream, Like an Illusion

After everything finally settled down for the time being, the sky outside was already about to brighten.

Eirina and Minami leaned against each other, exhausted and satisfied.

And Mikoto, leaning on Eirina, one against two, yet persisted until the end.

Uesugi Muneyuki, too, finally fell asleep embracing his beloved Mikoto-nee, enjoying the last moments of intimacy.

One doesn't know when it started, but the Forensic Beauty became abnormally clingy, messaging diligently, her tone sweet and coquettish, carrying just the right amount of attachment; every date, she dressed up meticulously, makeup perfect, attire even more completely hitting Muneyuki's aesthetic preferences — always wearing high-end suits of superb texture, wrapping her curvaceous figure, especially those long slender legs, forever clad in the high-end stockings with a subtle sheen he favored most, stepping on slender high heels that perfectly set off the curve of her calves. Every step seemed to tread on the tip of his heart.

What pleased him even more was that Mikoto, originally very unwilling to enter his life, which made Uesugi Muneyuki very wary of when his Mikoto-nee would run off, but it seems from some time point around May or June this year, Ishihara Mikoto seemed to have truly decided to settle down in Tokyo, and no longer minded Uesugi taking her out to play or letting her come to his home.

"Muneyuki, you're exceptionally motivated today." She snuggled beside him, her breath fragrant, laughing softly: "Truly not a bit inferior to back then, no wonder Watanabe would be willing to share, she's just too weak, right?"

Muneyuki held her slender waist, heart full of pride and tenderness: "Of course, I'm a descendant of the Dragon of Echigo! I am a dragon, I am a dragon! Mikoto-nee, is it my illusion? You've been truly — exceptionally captivating lately, I specially saved the last bit for you!"

"I know—alright, go rest now, the sky outside is about to brighten." The Forensic Beauty said softly: "Rest assured, I'll always be by your side."

Uesugi Muneyuki fell into a deep, satisfied sleep.

And on Ishihara Mikoto's side, her state of mind underwent a bizarre transformation from humiliation and despair to "actually delicious."

When she first signed that "deed of sale," her heart was filled with the humiliation and unwillingness of being coerced, feeling like a breeding machine clearly priced. However, when the resources and support promised by Uesugi Kuninori began to quietly materialize — the Tokyo University Faculty of Medicine, those departments and divisions suddenly became extraordinarily easy to deal with, several heavyweight figures in the Faculty of Medicine treated her with exceptional favor, her work gained unexpected changes, and at the same time the old man specially found her a new apartment, right near Sakata Bridge — she discovered with shock, the old geezer was for real!

The greatest future worry was eliminated, even turning into a career accelerator. This meant even if she got pregnant and had a child, her status would only become more consolidated, not marginalized. This realization made her taut nerves instantly relax by more than half.

Simultaneously, she began to "execute the mission." To get pregnant as soon as possible, she had to put down all reserve and calculation, wholeheartedly cater to and please Uesugi Muneyuki. She studied his preferences, exerted all her ability to display charm, actively sought intimacy.

However, in this process, an unexpected thing happened.

Perhaps because she shed the psychological burden of "fearing pregnancy would affect her career," perhaps because the "mission" required her to invest herself body and soul, she discovered that in this intimate relationship she experienced unprecedented abandon and joy. Because she no longer anxious about consequences, she was instead more able to immerse herself in the process itself.

Having thought it through, Ishihara Mikoto felt her whole body limp and numb, her waist sore and soft, her legs without even the strength to lift; Uesugi Muneyuki embraced her from behind, falling into a deep, satisfied sleep.

Mikoto gazed at the quiet nightscape of Karuizawa outside the window, her body retaining the afterglow of extreme pleasure, yet in her mind's eye calmly conducting a calculation: "Seems — not a loss at all?"

Not only not a loss, simply a huge profit!

Career has top-tier guarantee, no need to worry about resource problems ever again.

With that old man's support, she can legitimately (though privately) stay by his side forever, no longer needing to worry about being abandoned one day.

And also enjoyed — such extreme —

Her face flushed slightly, her body subconsciously curling up a bit, feeling a wave of wonderful soreness.

Had I known it would be this pleasurable and still allow my career to continue, why didn't I come find Muneyuki earlier?

Oh, right, earlier Muneyuki wasn't famous yet~ there's no that many ifs anyway.

She even began to actively plan: "Hmm—next ovulation period is probably—"

Thinking and thinking, Mikoto soon fell asleep.

The villa finally quieted down, only Muraka Hana sitting inside the bar counter, face full of bewilderment.

Is reproductive behavior this fun? Truly can't understand you humans.

Sure enough, the next morning, Mikoto and Minami both couldn't get out of bed, Eirina got up but was pulled back by Minami not allowed to leave, originally——————

The scheduled morning plan to experience golf at the Karuizawa 72 Golf Club also fell through.

It was Asuka who got up early, she angrily gave Uesugi Muneyuki a little bird impact, then clamored for Mr. Uesugi to compensate her.

How many times! Again and again! You just won't take me!

I don't care, in the morning you must take me out to play!

Uesugi Muneyuki was also somewhat fatigued at this time, but Muraka Hana also strongly demanded he go out for a stroll, wanting to see Karuizawa's scenery and have someone responsible for explaining (because she finds it difficult to understand human language and writing), Uesugi Muneyuki helpless, could only agree.

Like this, only Uesugi Muneyuki and Asuka set foot on the leisurely strolling path.

Summer Karuizawa, like a green immortal realm favored by natural air conditioning, the altitude's coolness dispelled Tokyo's sticky heat, the air permeated with the fresh scent of Japanese larch and damp earth.

Sunlight filtered through layers of overlapping leaves of tall trees, sifting down mottled dancing light spots, sprinkling on the clean and tidy little trail.

On Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, tourists came in droves, yet it didn't appear crowded or noisy. Most were visitors from the city coming to escape the summer heat, wearing linen or cotton casual clothes, wearing straw hats or sunglasses, steps leisurely, they lingered in the sweet fragrance wafting from various jam shops, rested a while at the outdoor seats of retro cafes, or carefully selected local handicrafts, the whole area enveloped in a slow-paced,

Elegant vacation atmosphere.

Asuka changed into a refreshing summer outfit: a mint green camisole topped with a thin gauze UV-protective cardigan, paired with a white pleated miniskirt, on her feet comfortable white sneakers, long hair tied in a ponytail, looking youthful and energetic. Uesugi wore a simple white linen shirt and khaki trousers, frameless glasses perched on his nose bridge, gentle and refined, like a patient older brother accompanying his younger sister on an outing.

They walked leisurely to the famous Kumoba Pond.

The pond water was emerald green and clear, like a huge piece of jadeite embedded in the verdant forest sea; strolling along the wooden boardwalk laid by the pond, one could feel the cool breeze brushing from the water surface, refreshing the heart and mind. Tourists stopped here to take photos, or quietly admired the blue sky, white clouds, red bridge and green trees reflected in the water, everything beautiful like a tranquil oil painting.

Uesugi Muneyuki enjoyed this long-lost tranquility.

Karuizawa's status in Japan is similar to Camp David in the United States or Beidaihe in Germany, a traditional summer resort for political and business elites.

Since Canadian missionaries discovered it in the late 19th century, Karuizawa has attracted foreign expatriates and Japanese upper-class society. The cool climate, beautiful natural environment, and high-level privacy protection made it an ideal vacation spot; the Imperial Family also comes here every year to escape the heat.

This itself is the highest symbol of Karuizawa's identity as a top-tier resort.

Besides the Imperial Family, old nobility members, major zaibatsu (such as the Mitsui, Iwasaki and other families), political heavyweights, and cultural celebrities also own villas here.

To this day, one can still see the remnants of Japan's golden age here.

Many people may find it hard to understand, what kind of scene was Japan's bubble era? Why would it make countless Japanese reminisce endlessly? Why, clearly after the bubble burst Japan still maintained a middle-developed country's living standard, but Japanese still firmly believe they "lost" ten years, twenty years, thirty years?

Let me give a few examples here.

1989, Japan's "Obasan Corps" became a world buzzword; this year, every day 40,000 Japanese obasan traveled overseas, they wore flip-flops, talked loudly, ignored all rules, bought whatever they saw, took photos next to holy statues, smoked everywhere.

The Vatican was forced to use Japanese to specially emphasize "silence," European and American media cursed "low-quality Japanese" in newspapers.

But no use, because we Japanese, just have money! Having money is God!

It really is!

A Japanese tour group arrived in the US New York, saw a building was good, so they discussed, pooled funds and bought it.

Sony went to the US, saw Columbia Pictures was good, so they discussed, directly acquired it.

At that time Japanese capital almost bought half of Manhattan District, even the French were wailing, saying why are there Japanese people all over Paris streets?

From 1987 to 1991, Japan's economy surged continuously for 51 months, the roar of consumption converged into a great bell, resounding unceasingly.

The Japanese government urgently introduced a consumption tax (5%), result: Japanese people's reaction was "Only 5%, who do you look down on?"

Miyazaki Prefecture, at the bottom of the economy, spent over 200 billion yen to build the world's largest indoor beach, even though a real beach was just 3 kilometers away.

Chiba Prefecture, a major fishing prefecture, took on debt to build the world's top-class fully indoor ski resort.

No one worried about customers; Japan's 100 million population saw annual skier visits exceed 300 million. People specifically chose summer to ski, no one rented equipment, and even the minimum self-purchased gear cost 100,000 yen.

An unprecedented nationwide golf boom; even company clerks got membership cards, complained driving was too much trouble, and spawned golf chauffeur and even helicopter services. A manufacturer released a diamond-encrusted three-piece golf club set priced at 100 million yen; all 650 sets sold out in 3 days.

More expensive than the diamond-encrusted ones was a pure gold golf club, limited sale, sold out in one day.

Princess Diana visited Japan; 100,000 citizens flooded the streets to catch a glimpse of the Princess. Every girl in Japan rushed to buy the Princess-style polka dot skirts and shoulder-padded jackets, selling several million to tens of millions of sets.

There was a universal rule for dating girls in Tokyo: restaurant spending couldn't be less than 50,000 yen, go to the cinema at least once a week, attend three idol concerts a month.

A single Christmas Eve cost at least 400,000 yen; a Cartier classic ring, Tiffany heart diamond pendant, and the Tokyo Akasaka Prince Hotel were standard, no upper limit, but go lower and you became a "turn-off guy"—girls wouldn't like you at all! (Serious!)

On the streets of Shibuya, everyone carried LV and Hermès bags; men drove Toyota Soarers at minimum, Mercedes was most useful, ordinary BMWs no one even looked at.

Japan's GDP at the time was infinitely approaching the United States; although not counted then, the number of Fortune 500 companies was absolutely world number one. Every major company went into universities to reserve graduates; many students were booked by companies in their freshman year. To attract talent, companies turned recruitment fairs into cocktail parties or receptions, entertaining directly in nightclubs, and to show their generosity, many companies sent hires to Hawaii for team building for one or two weeks before they even started work.

At the time, every young person in Japan held an average of 6 credit cards; national personal financial consumption surged to 1.7 trillion yen.

That truly was a passionate era like a dream or illusion.

The Japanese truly ate well, truly were rich; so even if this country still barely maintains a middle-developed nation level now, in the eyes of Japanese who lived through that era, current life is a piece of shit.

If they can't return to the days when every day after work they held Fukuzawa Yukichi (10,000 yen bills) to take taxis, then it will forever be the "lost" ten years, twenty years, thirty years!

Now—only places like Karuizawa can still faintly show some shadows of the old bubble.

Uesugi Muneyuki was filled with deep emotion.

When fortune comes, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fortune goes, the hero is not free.

Just as he was sighing with emotion, Asuka beside him made a discovery.

"Mai-sama?!"

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