Afternoon, Capital City.

An old-style mansion.

Kagura Hikaru sat alone in the tatami room, tapping at the laptop keyboard.

He typed swiftly, as if without thinking.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of words appeared on the screen.

The mirror screen reflected his calm face.

He still appeared young, with taut skin.

But his temperament had shed its past sharpness, becoming steady and gentle like jade.

It had been ten years since Kagura Hikaru graduated.

During this period, the once-popular Red Pepper Band spectacularly disbanded.

The members parted on friendly terms due to individual real-life reasons.

Kagura Hikaru also seized the opportunity to end his composing work and ventured into the literary world.

He is now world-renowned, a writer of great note in his generation.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian, too, changed careers after the band disbanded.

She majored in the Fine Arts Department in college, and after leaving the band, started doing art at a game company.

Later, after having children, she became a freelance illustrator.

She worked from home while being a devoted wife and raising children.

Their family was harmonious, and they had a daughter a year after their marriage.

She's six years old this year, now attending elementary school.

Kagura Hikaru hit the enter key, entering the last paragraph of his serialized novel into the computer.

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

The caller ID on the phone screen displayed "Kohinata Motoyo."

He picked it up and answered.

"Hello."

"I'm at your doorstep now."

"..."

The brief sentence carried a chilling undertone.

Kagura Hikaru's hand involuntarily trembled.

Then he calmly and quickly said, "I finished writing, just now."

"Oh~~ I knew you could do it. As expected of Teacher Kagura, still as excellent as before!"

The tone on the other end of the line suddenly changed.

Cheerful as if the previous murderous intent was all fake.

Kagura Hikaru sighed and quickly got up to open the door for Motoyo.

Motoyo appeared at the door in an OL outfit.

A small suit, black pencil skirt.

Her long hair was tied up at the back, wearing frameless glasses.

But upon closer inspection, you'd find that whether it's her high heels, the glasses on her face, or her attire.

All were custom-made European luxury brands.

The whole outfit cost at least a few hundred million yen, not something a normal OL could afford.

"Pardon the intrusion~"

She rudely pushed Kagura Hikaru aside, walking straight in as if entering her own home.

Kagura Hikaru was used to it.

He closed the door and followed her inside.

After Motoyo graduated from college, she quit her job at the theater company and returned home.

At that time, the Red Pepper Band disbanded, and Kagura Hikaru was trying to venture into the literary world.

Upon hearing the news, Motoyo took a bold step and bought a publishing house.

While being her own boss, she also served as Kagura Hikaru's personal editor, busily promoting his works.

Motoyo's decision to buy a company specifically to serve Kagura Hikaru initially drew inevitable criticism.

But in the end, it brought her huge returns.

Kagura Hikaru's phenomenal productivity and hit works skyrocketed his reputation.

The company he signed with, which was also the publisher Motoyo acquired, rose to prominence in the industry.

Now it is a giant capable of competing with large literary libraries such as Fujikawa.

But as the boss of a major enterprise, Motoyo still maintained her original intent, still serving as Kagura Hikaru's editor-in-chief.

Even to the point of personally urging him for manuscripts.

Motoyo easily found her way to Kagura Hikaru's study, quickly scanning through his finished manuscript.

"Quality is as outstanding as ever. Congratulations, Teacher Kagura, for finishing a day before the deadline."

Motoyo tapped her fingers on the desk, watching Kagura Hikaru's face with interest.

The latter grinned awkwardly, not daring to respond.

"Send the manuscript to my email later, and I'll scrutinize it further.

I'll give you feedback if any proofreading is needed."

Motoyo adjusted her glasses, "By the way, it's very quiet at home today, is Ai Cheng not here?"

"She's working in the bedroom."

Kagura Hikaru said warily.

Motoyo's eyes flashed with amusement, "What about Shoko?"

"She's still at school."

Kagura Hikaru glanced at his watch, "I asked someone to pick her up, she should be back any minute now."

As if responding to his words, the doorbell rang at the entrance.

Kagura Hikaru and Motoyo went to open the door.

As the door opened, a little girl with a red schoolbag rushed in.

She punched Kagura Hikaru's stomach.

"Hmph, bad daddy, why didn't you pick me up today!"

"Sorry, sorry, Daddy and Mommy both had work to do."

Kagura Hikaru dotingly picked up his daughter to comfort her.

The little girl in his arms was delicate and beautiful, with smooth black hair down to her waist, wearing a dark blue dress uniform.

Her pouting expression was as cute as a life-sized doll.

She was Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Hua Lian's daughter, Kagura Shoko.

She was quite a prodigy, showing early intelligence.

Outsiders could hardly treat her as a child.

Only in front of her parents did she reveal her childish side.

Motoyo, who went out to greet, did not focus on Shoko.

Her eyes were fixed on the black Maybach outside.

Slicing off the car, came two women, with an 'as expected' speechless look.

"Hina, Chiyoko, did Mister Hikaru really call you to pick up the kid?"

"What, afraid we'll eat the child or something."

Ayakoji Chiyoko was as sharp as she was in high school.

She snorted in response.

Then instructed the bodyguards to stay at the door and not come in.

In the past decade, Ayakoji Chiyoko leveraged her family background to become a female councilor in Kyoto City.

She seemed to have a natural leadership aura.

Everyone under her command was well managed, and voters were utterly devoted.

She has now become a significant new political force.

Those familiar with politics can see that, barring unforeseen circumstances, Ayakoji Chiyoko will occupy a position of high power in the future.

The Former Chinese Clan Ayakoji family would also be revitalized under her.

Of course, this was contingent upon her accepting an arranged marriage, or at the very least taking a husband to father children.

But as far as Motoyo knows, Ayakoji Chiyoko has repeatedly declared herself a committed single.

Men can forget it; even a male dog can't get within ten meters of her.

However, others might not know, but Motoyo and the rest certainly understand what she's thinking.

Whenever she claims to be a single, they know she's still up to mischief.

"Shoko is very well-behaved, and I happen to have time too."

Standing next to Ayakoji Chiyoko, Kiryu Hina also chimed in with a smile.

Kiryu Hina inherited her father's company and is now the president of a large corporation.

She's doing incredibly well now, and the business has begun expanding overseas.

She's probably changed the most among them.

The sharpness of the past has been smoothed out by society.

But the sense of danger she gives off is even stronger.

Her smile makes her look like an old fox.

Motoyo's expression was helpless, her aura weaker in front of the two.

On the surface, she probably seemed to be doing the worst apart from Ai Cheng Hua Lian.

The company she started on her own isn't even half the size of the Hina family business.

But she doesn't regret it, because this was her first step in rebelling against her family.

Steps must be taken one at a time.

If she didn't want to be forcibly married to some tycoon's son by her family, she had to do this.

Thankfully, she had Kagura Hikaru helping her.

At least she saved herself ten years of effort.

A few mature women were chatting at the door, smiling brightly.

But actually, they were comparing themselves, competing privately.

Kagura Hikaru and her daughter Shoko stood aside, completely unable to join the conversation.

"...Dad, which of these aunties is your lover?"

Shoko asked in a small voice.

Kagura Hikaru almost choked.

"You kid, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"Eh~ but the aunties have been competing like this for years, and none of them have boyfriends.

If they're not Dad's lovers, wouldn't that be strange?"

"Cough, cough, don't let Mom hear this kind of talk, okay?"

"Oh...."

Shoko pouted, thinking her dad was really a scumbag.

Eh, but if it were her, she probably wouldn't be able to choose either.

After all, whether it's Aunt Motoyo, Aunt Chiyoko, or Aunt Hina,

they perfectly fit the description of 'high-quality women.'

More beautiful than celebrities, each with a distinct personality, successful and noble.

They're practically characters that only appear in novels.

Even women would find it hard to resist their charm, let alone men.

Her mom, too, surprisingly not even slightly jealous, which was strange.

Shoko sighed like a little adult.

Kagura Hikaru, after much persuasion, finally managed to get them all into the house.

As soon as they entered the living room, they saw Ai Cheng Hua Lian bending over, arranging fruit platters.

"Mom!"

Shoko jumped out from Kagura Hikaru's arms to hug her mom.

"Hey, Shoko, be careful, don't knock me over."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian turned around helplessly to hug her daughter.

Shoko happily snuggled in her arms.

"Karen, you're done with work?" Kagura Hikaru asked.

"I came out for some fresh air, just saw you guys chatting at the entrance, I couldn't leave you to handle it alone."

Ai Cheng Hua Lian hugged Shoko, full of smiles.

Ever since having a child, her body seemed to develop a second time, quickly becoming fuller.

In every way, her body was curvy, mouth-watering like ripe grapes.

She exuded an astonishing maternal charm.

Motoyo and the others walking into the living room couldn't help but feel envious.

"Good afternoon, Ai Cheng, hope you don't mind us intruding today."

Motoyo greeted first.

The others also exchanged pleasantries one after another.

Everyone chose a place to sit down.

The living room had many sofas, enough for everyone to sit down.

Ayakoji Chiyoko casually found the TV remote from the cabinet, choosing a variety show.

They had visited so often that it already felt like their own home.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian smiled beside them.

She secretly exchanged a look with Kagura Hikaru, signaling him to entertain them properly.

Intending to sneak back to the study got caught, Kagura Hikaru had no choice.

He could only sit down and start a topic on the situation in Syria.

Turned out no one was interested, not even Ayakoji Chiyoko who was a councilwoman.

The women directly left him out to chat about makeup and bags.

Kagura Hikaru couldn't join in, sitting pitifully on the side watching TV.

Kagura Shoko completely unaware of her father's precarious family status.

She couldn't care less about the adults' conversation, and trotted excitedly through the house, calling:

"Ai Chan, Ai Chan, are you there? Where are you, Ai Chan?"

At times like this, having a big house turned into a downside.

She circled the mansion,

Finally finding Komori Ai squatting by the pond watching koi in the courtyard.

Komori Ai still hadn't grown in height, petite like an elementary school student.

Wearing a white yukata, with wooden clogs, her twin tails hanging on her shoulders.

From a distance, she looked just like a zuifeng tongzi.

"Ai Chan, so you are here."

When Kagura Shoko approached, Komori Ai turned back, revealing a fair little face.

There wasn't a single wrinkle on it, unbelievably youthful.

Most people would believe it if you said she was the same age as Kagura Shoko.

"Ai Chan, are you watching the fish?"

Kagura Shoko already had a mischievous idea in her head, "Why don't we sneak into the warehouse to steal Dad's fishing rod to fish?"

"No, we'll get scolded."

Komori Ai pouted, "I always get scolded when playing with you, I hate you."

"Hehe, don't say that Ai Chan."

Kagura Shoko laughed heartily, clasping her hands:

"Then, let's change it up, how about we solve some riddles?"

"Riddles? I want to solve them!"

"Ahem, well then, listen carefully, what do you call Dad's dad?"

"Dad's dad is called Grandpa!"

"What's Dad's lover called?"

"It's me!"

"Huh?"