Chapter 540

Home.

After saying goodbye to Editor Gao at the entrance of the coffee shop, Natsume Chikage returned to the familiar apartment building alone.

He took out his key, inserted it into the keyhole, and turned it gently.

"Clack."

The door opened.

Warm light and the atmosphere of home poured out together.

"I'm home."

He said while bending down to take off his shoes.

"Brother, welcome back!"

Natsume Ruri, who was sitting at a small table drawing, immediately looked up, a bright smile blooming on her face.

"Welcome back... Natsume-brother."

Kaga Reisa, who was sitting next to Ruri, also raised her face and greeted in a shy, small voice.

Natsume Chikage walked into the room, his gaze sweeping over.

Only Ruri and Reisa were at home; the three from the Collection Department were nowhere to be seen.

He first asked Kaga Reisa gently:

"Kaga-san, you're here; when did you arrive?"

Kaga Reisa lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously pinching the paintbrush, her voice thin:

"Just... just arrived not long ago..."

Natsume Chikage nodded, then turned to his sister and asked:

"Ruri, my classmates, when did they leave?"

Natsume Ruri put down the paintbrush in her hand and recalled:

"After eating dinner at home, they all left around six o'clock."

She paused, imitating Yukimura Suzune's appearance of crossing her arms and slightly puffing out her cheeks at the time, and added.

"Sister Saionji and Sister Fujiwara were fine, but Sister Yukimura... seems to have a bit of a temper because Brother 'skipped' the literary magazine production again."

She blinked, her tone carrying a hint of gloating reminder.

"Brother, you'd better be careful when you go back to school."

Natsume Chikage couldn't help but rub his forehead, feeling both amused and annoyed:

"Hmm... I know."

He knew Yukimura Suzune's personality well, and it was within his expectations that she would be dissatisfied because of this.