Chapter 973

Several people were chatting in the elevator about Shimura Sayuri.

"She's nearly thirty, so it's time to think about what comes next," Uesugi Muneyuki continued, evaluating: "Her impression is just silly and airheaded; aside from that, her singing is average, dancing average, she has some variety sense but not outstanding. To be honest, I'm not interested in every woman."

"Hey, isn't that a bit harsh to judge others like that?" Mai Xuejie heard Uesugi Muneyuki say that about her good friend and couldn't help but roll her eyes: "No matter what, Mai is still my friend!"

"It's precisely because she's your friend that I'm judging her." Uesugi Muneyuki retorted: "I wouldn't say that to just anyone!"

"Hehe~" Mai Xuejie thought, this useless junior actually still has taste!

She couldn't be bothered to argue with Uesugi anymore, gesturing for him to speak quickly if he had something to say!

"Anyway, if Mai continues in the entertainment industry, she'll probably only be a second- or third-rate artist. If she's shameless, she can ride your fame all day, spreading gossip and appearing on variety shows. If she cares about her image, she'll just drift between late-night dramas and golden time guest spots, or attend business events—stuck in the industry at a level where she's not starving but not exactly well-fed either."

Uesugi Muneyuki kept up his sharp tongue: "But if you look closely at her, you'll find she has an advantage no one else can match."

Sakura and Asuka both widened their eyes.

Want to hear! Want to hear!

Mai Xuejie was amused; she knew this man just liked to tease and enjoy the pleasure of teaching others: "Go on, go on." Uesugi Muneyuki glanced around, sold the suspense, then revealed the answer: "Based on my dissection of countless corpses and forensic skills, Mai's face may not be stunning, but it's incredibly resilient—her facial bone structure and skin foundation are the best I've seen in any corpse, soft tissue evenly distributed, nasolabial folds and fine lines around the eyes form much slower than yours. In about ten years, or fifteen, you'll all show some signs of aging, but Mai will probably still look like this now. So she's suited for acting—especially roles requiring her to play characters in their twenties or thirties, where she can seamlessly transition for many years."

"To be honest, if it weren't for Mai being an Inner World existence who can freely adjust her appearance to maintain a stable level of beauty, you guys in ten years, after thirty, none of you could keep up better than Mai! Normally, Mai Xuejie would probably turn into an auntie in just five more years! If she didn't use divine techniques to adjust herself."

"Ue! Su! Gi! Yu! Yuki!" Indeed, Mai Xuejie got angry, she threw the banana milk in her hand hard at him, which Uesugi Muneyuki caught with one hand.

Sakura laughed so hard she slid off the carpet, her forehead bumping against the elevator edge without even noticing the pain, Asuka buried her face in Uesugi Muneyuki's shoulder crook, her whole body trembling violently, letting out an extremely faint laugh, like a little bird's.

Mai Xuejie threw the pillow and still wasn't satisfied, wanted to stand up to argue, but her foot in the stockings slipped on the carpet, almost losing balance, she grabbed the elevator handrail just in time to avoid falling.

"How did you describe me when we first met? 'When you appeared, the whole Odaiba Building was glowing.' Now I'm an auntie? It's only been a few years?! You scumbag—tell me clearly!"

"Hahahaha ahahahahahahahaha~ I surrender! I surrender!" Uesugi Muneyuki immediately raised his hands!

"You bastard! You'll pay for this!" Mai Xuejie suddenly smiled meaningfully: "Don't leave tonight—battle until dawn!"

Uesugi Muneyuki: "?"

He suddenly had a sense of foreboding.

The lighting in the suite was warm yellow, the curtains had already been drawn by the waiter, outside the balcony the sea surface in the night only showed a faint layer of dark wave outlines.

Uesugi Muneyuki took off his suit jacket and hung it in the wardrobe, turned to prepare to go wash his face in the bathroom, when he froze.

Under the living room lighting, the three women had already changed clothes.

Shirakawa Mai leaned against the sofa armrest, one leg lightly resting over the other.

She wore a deep burgundy silk cheongsam, stand collar with frog buttons, tailored fit, waist cinched just right, the skirt slit open about a palm's height on the side, revealing a section of thigh wrapped in black lace suspenders stockings—those suspenders extended subtly upward from the cheongsam slit, the sock tops a fine lace trim, glowing faintly under the light. On her feet were a pair of black satin pointed-toe stiletto heels, about ten centimeters high, with a small rhinestone on the vamp.

Miyawaki Sakura stood on the other side of the sofa, hands clasped in front, head slightly bowed, cheeks flushed.

She wore a light pink short cheongsam, length mid-thigh, collar and cuffs trimmed with narrow white piping, overall style leaning toward a girlish demure and cute vibe.

On her legs were white semi-transparent pantyhose—extremely sheer, faintly showing skin tone at the knees, tightening at the ankles, visually making her legs look more delicate and supple.

On her feet were a pair of light pink mid-heel Mary Janes, the bow on the vamp matching the cheongsam color perfectly.

Meanwhile, Saito Asuka stood by the balcony door, arms crossed, face showing that "why do I have to dress like this" tsundere expression, but her body language had already betrayed her.

She wore a dark green short cheongsam, no embroidery or trim, winning purely through cut and color, hem shorter than Sakura's by a bit, revealing the entire leg wrapped in black polka-dot stockings, at the thigh base a wide elastic lace band, paired with the dark green cheongsam to create a subtle tension between rebellious and sexy.

On her feet were a pair of black brand-new Haruta little leather shoes

Three women, three colors, three stockings, three styles.

Uesugi Muneyuki stood at the wardrobe door, still gripping the jacket he'd just taken off, silent for three seconds.

"What does that mean?"

Shirakawa Mai rose from the sofa armrest, barefoot stepping over the carpet to him—her high heels already off and placed aside, only wearing the suspenders stockings on the carpet.

She took from behind three narrow black leather collars, soft material, velvet lining, each front adorned with a small golden bell.

She smiled calmly and slyly.

"Special event." She said: "Tonight's rule is—you help us put them on, then..."

"Then it's, Sony rules!" Miyawaki Sakura took out a PS4 from her backpack: "Tonight, Mr. Uesugi plays this!" "What is this? A new game?" Uesugi Muneyuki saw Miyawaki Sakura and immediately began assembling the PS4, then saw the game title: *Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice*.

"Exactly, it's a new game, more fun than games, and it'll even teach you how to wolf-login!" Mai Xuejie hugged Uesugi Muneyuki from behind, whispering in his ear: "The rule is, junior student, every time you die, you have to do something with us once! We three take turns!" Sakura's face was already flushed red, but she didn't dodge, just stood there, fingers twisting the cheongsam hem: "Come on, Muneyuki!" Asuka averted her gaze, voice tiny like a mosquito's hum: ……I don't care either."

Mai Xuejie stood up, stepped back, hands behind her back, head tilted, looking at him.

"So then, junior student, a pleasant night is about to begin, huh?"

"Hmph~ I still thought it was something else?"

Uesugi Muneyuki took the controller, full of confidence, and began the game.

Yo-shi, ikkou zou! Sekiro!!!!!