Chapter 460

"Right?"

Natsume Chikage was silent for a moment, then nodded frankly:

"Yes."

"I really... don't have the time or intention to date recently."

Tian Bian Youren leaned forward, his hands resting on the edge of the shogi table, his expression extremely serious:

"Since that's the case, it's clear that Ling Mu Longzhi and I... don't have a chance."

"But... because Xiaoyue's best friend also likes Ling Mu Longzhi."

"I think he will know before long from the best friend's mouth... that Xiaoyue likes you."

"With that fool's personality... and the situation where he likes Xiaoyue so much, he will likely take the initiative to confess to her before you two are officially dating."

"Once Ling Mu Longzhi also confesses to Xiaoyue, I'm afraid he will definitely be rejected."

"No matter what, they are childhood sweethearts; once a confession is rejected, the relationship will become very strange and awkward."

"That fool will definitely be very sad after being rejected, and might even... never come to the shogi club again."

"So as long as he confesses, even if I don't do anything, this triangular relationship will inevitably break."

"But I... hope the two of them can maintain a good childhood sweetheart relationship."

"So... before Ling Mu Longzhi confesses to Chao Rina Xiaoyue—"

He paused, staring at Natsume Chikage with burning eyes, and said the astonishing proposal word by word:

"—I hope you can date Xiaoyue!"

"In that case, neither of them will be hurt."

"Ling Mu will give up early, Xiaoyue will get what she wants, and their relationship can continue to be maintained as 'childhood sweethearts'."

This sudden turn of the conversation completely baffled Natsume Chikage.

He widened his eyes, doubting for a moment that he had heard wrong.

"Ah?! What on earth are you talking about?"

"What do you mean by asking me to be with Chao Rina-san in order to save their childhood sweetheart relationship?"

"Why should I do this?"

Tian Bian Youren seemed to have anticipated his reaction and explained thoughtfully:

"I know you don't have the intention to date her now... However, after listening to what I have to say next, you might have it."

Natsume Chikage paused, really wanting to hear what else he could say.

Tian Bian Youren continued to throw out his "chips" and proposed:

"First of all, Xiaoyue herself is very excellent. Her conditions in all aspects are really not bad, whether it's appearance, family background, or knowledge, she is much stronger than many girls."

"You won't lose anything by dating her."

"Secondly, after you two are officially dating—I am willing to sponsor you 80,000 yen every month!"

He emphasized:

"This fee is definitely much more than your income from working at the coffee shop."

"As long as you don't break up for the three years of high school, I am willing to sponsor you like this for three years."

"This also disguisedly frees up a lot of your part-time work time."

"Of course, you can also choose to continue working part-time, but I hope... you can spend more time accompanying Xiaoyue."

"Combining all of the above, I think... you don't need to refuse at all."

Natsume Chikage listened and felt ashamed; this condition sounded really outrageous:

"Indeed... for me personally, it sounds like there are no disadvantages. But what good does this do for you?"

Tian Bian Youren's face became complex, then he pulled out a somewhat reluctant, yet relieved smile:

"Being able to see the person I like live happily is the thing that makes me happiest."

"And in this way, Ling Mu Longzhi won't have the idea of confessing again after seeing you two dating."

"The relationship between the two of them won't have cracks, and they can still be like before, both childhood sweethearts."

"And I am still a good friend of the two of them, still able to maintain the friendly relationship of the three."

Natsume Chikage was stunned and asked:

"Then what about you?"

"You pay so much money and heart for the person you like and your good brother... is this really worth it?"

Tian Bian Youren didn't have any hesitation, his eyes were extremely firm, and he said decisively:

"Worth it!"

"As long as the two of them can live well and maintain that precious relationship... it's all worth it!"

Natsume Chikage was speechless for a while, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This logic and spirit of dedication simply made him not know how to complain.

It just made him speechless...

Tian Bian Youren looked straight at him, waiting for a reply.

"So... what are your plans?"

Natsume Chikage looked at the eyes of the other party that were unusually firm, even carrying a kind of martyr-like light, and could clearly feel that this Tian Bian Youren... was serious.

He was silent for a long time, thought of the 'special equipment' held by this person, his brain began to run at high speed, and then proposed a compromise plan:

"There is an unwritten rule in my school. When an irreconcilable conflict occurs, both parties can launch a fair 'bet'."

"Regardless of the final win or loss, both parties must not pursue the previous matters again, and the conflict will end there."

"How about... we also launch such a bet?"

Tian Bian Youren immediately nodded:

"If you need a more formal reason that can convince yourself to agree, that's fine, I have no problem."

"As for the conditions for my victory, it's the same as just said."

"You and Chao Rina Xiaoyue date, don't break up for three years. I give you 80,000 every month for three years."

Natsume Chikage shook his head:

"Wait, I don't agree with the victory condition you proposed."

Tian Bian Youren was stunned:

"Why?"

Natsume Chikage explained calmly:

"First of all, the whole story you told only comes from your own mouth. Whether it is true or not, I have no way to verify it and can only hold a reserved attitude."

"If Chao Rina-san likes Ling Mu-kun more, and you are just making trouble in it, not wanting them to date smoothly because of jealousy, and then instigating me to rashly insert myself as a 'third party'... wouldn't that make me your accomplice?"

Tian Bian Youren heard this and was stunned for a moment.

He originally thought that Natsume Chikage's grades were not very good, and he might be an "idiot" who was easy to fool, but now it seems that this person is much more sober and smarter than he imagined.

He nodded and admitted:

"Although I didn't lie, your questioning is indeed logical."

"After all, I currently... really can't produce any physical evidence that can effectively prove the authenticity of my words. So it is indeed impossible to force you to believe it completely."

"However, after the match, I have many ways to prove it to you. If you find that I have a lie, this bet can be voided at any time."

"Even the simplest way to prove it is—I can create a situation where Chao Rina Xiaoyue confesses to you."

"As long as she does it herself, then all the truth will be self-evident."

"According to this situation, I will modify my victory condition: that is, in the case that Chao Rina Xiaoyue takes the initiative to confess to you, you must accept it and date her for three years. Within three years, I will give you 80,000 yen every month according to the agreement."

Natsume Chikage still shook his head:

"If it's not that you distorted the facts, and she really likes me, then fine. But your money... is unnecessary."

Tian Bian Youren was even more confused:

"Why?"

"Aren't you... very short of money?"

Natsume Chikage's eyes were clear, and he explained seriously:

"Even if it's because of a bet, I hope this relationship is built on the basis of mutual respect and both parties having true feelings."

"If it's just because of your financial sponsorship that I am with her... then, wouldn't she become some kind of 'game task reward'?"

"As long as you complete the task of 'dating her', you can regularly receive 'monetary rewards'?"

"This feeling makes me very uncomfortable, and even makes me feel... a bit disgusting." ===== CHAPTER 461 =====