Chapter 744

"I don't want to hide anything from you either. But you have to understand, I am just a 'maid'."

"What can be done, what cannot be said, what must be done... these are not decided by me."

She raised her eyes again, and deep in those eyes that always lacked emotion, a trace of an extremely faint, hard-to-capture shadow seemed to flash by.

"Once a rule is violated, the punishment to be endured... will be far harsher than you imagine, harsh to the point of... being difficult to describe specifically."

Natsume Chikage, hearing this, was stunned for a moment.

He subconsciously pressed:

"Punishment? What would it be like?"

Konoe Tong did not answer immediately.

She turned around and walked forward first.

After walking a few steps, she stopped again, closing her eyes slightly, seemingly enjoying the feeling of the breeze on her face.

Then, she turned her head and looked at Natsume Chikage, who was standing where he was waiting for an answer.

The light cast a soft outline on her face, and those eyes that were always waveless now revealed a trace of an extremely complex, near-bitter smile.

"You wouldn't want to know..."

Her voice drifted away in the wind.

Natsume Chikage looked at her silently.

Immediately, his gaze became even firmer.

"Then if... I say I still want to know?"

Konoe Tong clearly didn't expect him to press like this and was visibly stunned.

Afterward, she hummed lightly, her voice carrying a hint of helplessness or some other emotion.

She walked back in front of Natsume Chikage, raised her hand, and used her slender fingertips to gently tap his cheek.

This action carried a bit of intimacy and a bit of distant warning.

In her eyes, that trace of genuine smile seemed to deepen a bit, but it was covered by a layer of mist.

"I won't tell you."

Having said that.

She didn't give Natsume Chikage any more chance to press, as if that brief fragility was just an illusion.

She raised her wrist and looked at her exquisite watch.

"Let's go, there is still a while before proper dinner time."

Her tone returned to its usual flatness.

"Let's stroll around first, and then go eat dinner on the 'public tab'."

Natsume Chikage paused, also understanding that she didn't want to say.

Asking again wouldn't have much meaning.

He subconsciously checked the time.

Indeed, the current point in time was a bit awkward.

It was already past two in the afternoon when they left home.

Coming to the studio, finishing that painting, and then going through the conversation just now...

Now the hands were pointing to around five in the evening.

If they rushed back now, his sister and Yukimura Lingyin and the others would probably have finished dinner, and might even be preparing to go home.

Since that was the case... rushing back now probably wouldn't catch the home-cooked meal, so there didn't seem to be much need.

Moreover, the "public tab dinner" that Konoe Tong took him to was always at high-end restaurants, where he could taste delicious food without spending his own money.

He nodded.

"Then let's stroll for a while first."

Tokyo, Ginza.

The bustling streets were lit up, the crowd was like weaving, and the neon lights were flickering.

Natsume Chikage and Konoe Tong walked side-by-side on the bustling sidewalk.

Their overly outstanding looks and temperament attracted the gazes of passing pedestrians.

But most people, after seeing them walking side-by-side and acting naturally, would instinctively categorize them as a "couple."

Even if someone had the thought of striking up a conversation, upon seeing such a "well-matched" picture, they would involuntarily feel discouraged.

After all, whether it was Natsume Chikage's handsome-to-the-point-of-unreality face or Konoe Tong's cold and stunning appearance, they constituted a powerful "strangers keep away" aura.

Without enough confidence to match, just walking up would require great courage.

The two walked quietly for a stretch of road.

Konoe Tong suddenly said "ah" lightly and muttered in a flat tone:

"A bit thirsty..."

When she said this, her gaze drifted toward Natsume Chikage beside her, seemingly waiting for some reaction.

Natsume Chikage also felt a bit dry in the throat; he pointed to a coffee shop by the road that looked quite stylish.

"I also feel a bit thirsty. How about this one?"

Konoe Tong pursed her lips slightly and shook her head.

"I don't really like drinking coffee."

Natsume Chikage pointed to a dessert shop with cute decorations not far away.

"Then how about this one? They should have drinks."

Konoe Tong made a thoughtful expression and shook her head again.

"I am controlling my body shape and cannot consume too much sugar."

"Right now... I just want to drink some lemonade to quench my thirst."

Natsume Chikage was a bit confused.

"Lemonade? That is common enough, let's stroll a bit further and see."

Soon.

The two arrived at an area where drink shops were relatively concentrated.

In front of a mobile dining car specializing in handmade lemon tea, a promotional activity was underway.

A striking handwritten notice board stood on the ground in front of the car, with cute fonts written on it: 【Couple Exclusive! Second cup half price!】

A not-so-short line had already formed in front of the dining car, most of them young couples, and the air was filled with a faint lemon fragrance and a sweet atmosphere.

Konoe Tong's gaze swept over the notice board, her footsteps didn't hesitate in the slightest, and she walked straight to the end of the line, queuing up quietly.

Because there were many people in line, Natsume Chikage didn't notice the promotional sign for a moment.

He just asked Konoe Tong curiously.

"There are so many people here. Have you drunk from this shop before? Is it delicious?"

Konoe Tong shook her head.

"Haven't drunk it."

Natsume Chikage was even more confused.

"Then how do you know they sell lemonade?"

Konoe Tong looked ahead and explained calmly:

"Last time at school, I saw a student holding a cup with this shop's logo, and there were lemon slices inside."

"I inferred it should be lemonade."

Natsume Chikage understood.

"So that's it."

The output speed of drink shops was usually quite fast.

Not long after, it was their turn to order.

The female clerk behind the dining car window's eyes lit up significantly the moment she saw Natsume Chikage, and a look of being stunned appeared on her face.

But when her gaze shifted to Konoe Tong, who was equally outstanding in appearance beside Natsume Chikage, that little light quickly dimmed, turning into a trace of imperceptible envy and faint jealousy.

Although she was a bit sour inside, her professional quality kept her smiling.

"Welcome! Today is our shop's couple promotion day; if couples buy, the second cup can enjoy a half-price discount!"

Her gaze moved back and forth between the two. ===== CHAPTER 745 =====