CHAPTER 397: CHAPTER 290: TEA PARTY (4)_2

The Securities Company, he used to work at a bank, quite fitting with the investment knowledge he explained in class.

At present, he looks like a successful person with charisma.

Kyujuu Rika: "Recently they’ve been doing sponsorship underwriting, which is helping a company with real estate mergers and acquisitions, earning commissions."

"Isn’t sponsorship underwriting a pretty easy way to lose money?"

"Even if they lose, what they need during this period is the reputation they earn. With reputation comes business."

Kyujuu Rika saw he was willing to continue listening, so she went on: "This Kohara Kiyosaku’s lifestyle, I’ve heard, has always been very disciplined, hasn’t had any scandalous rumors until now, probably because the Securities Company needs trust and reputation."

Disciplined?

That’s really ironic. If he also invested in some charity organizations, it would be even more laughable.

Doesn’t even care about his own daughter, still wants to flaunt an image of a great philanthropist.

"Does he have a family?"

"Not sure... but at his age... he should be married."

"Hmm, understood, thanks."

After hearing this simple information, Uesugi Sakura thoughtfully considered if there was anything he could do to help the two sisters.

However, after thinking it over for a long time, he could only conclude that Aei and Chiaei were insignificant in his eyes.

Kyujuu Rika: "Uesugi, can I ask, why are you asking about this? The waiter at the door told me it’s Kohara Kiyosaku who didn’t want Aei to come in. Do they... have some sort of relationship?"

Is that so...

Uesugi Sakura: "I just know a thing or two about what rich people tend to do."

After lunch, a thin layer of sunset lingered in the sky.

The afternoon tea time was over, and there was another party next. During this break, most chose to come outside and take a walk along the port.

As for Hanamaru Hanabi and her group, they chose to stay at the edge of the venue, gazing at the place where the sea meets the sky.

The soothing sound of piano music drifted out from inside the venue.

"Honestly, I don’t really like Tokyo Bay," Kitagawa Sakisa looked disdainfully at the sea reflecting the sunset.

"You could have your family take care of it," suggested Uesugi Sakura.

"Cleaning up Tokyo Bay would cost a whopping 10 trillion yen! Even if you sold me, it wouldn’t be enough."

"Sakura-kun..."

Hanamaru Hanabi was holding the sleeping Aei on a bench behind, Aei seemed to be too full today, so she chose to digest the food through sleep.

"What did Sakura-kun take Aei-chan to do just now?"

Speaking of this, Kitagawa Sakisa put her hands on her hips: "Yeah, Uesugi, where did you take her? Why does she look so unhappy when she came back?"

Uesugi Sakura had both hands on the railing, looking towards that patch of blazing red clouds.

Just now he had taken Aei to see that Kohara Kiyosaku.

As he expected, the other party didn’t notice Aei’s presence at all, and the conversation was only with him, asking Aei her name like a stranger, even patting her head with a smile.

If only he had pulled out a candy and said how adorable the child was.

In word and deed, he completely failed to recognize his daughter.

Will having such a person as their father make the sisters’ lives any better?

Perhaps if they went to his house, they would be bullied by half-brothers and sisters.

"Let’s go home, Hanabi." Uesugi Sakura said, turning around.

"Are we leaving?" Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him.

Kitagawa Sakisa: "Not going to the party? There’s also dancing."

"Thanks for the offer, but I’m not really in the mood, and most importantly, I can’t dance."

After greeting a few people, Uesugi Sakura went to find Tsubokawa for a chat, then prepared to head back home with Hanabi.

Midway, he met Kohara Kiyosaku dressed in a sharp suit in the corridor.

"It’s Uesugi-san."

"Hmm." After what just happened, Uesugi Sakura had a clear dislike for this person.

"I wonder how Aei is doing? She didn’t seem very happy when she left."

"Why do you bring this up yourself?"

Kohara Kiyosaku stepped forward, the sound of his leather shoes on the floor echoed powerfully, and his face, which looked no more than in his thirties, turned serious in front of him:

"I hope, Uesugi-kun, you don’t go public with what’s happened."

"Threatening me?"

"This is called cooperation." Kohara Kiyosaku returned to his usual tone.

"Ha, talking about cooperation, what win-win situation could we possibly have?"

"Anything that I can do within my power, I’ll try my best to fulfill."

Uesugi Sakura noticed that the other party seemed unwilling to offend him excessively, but why?

Kohara Kiyosaku is the one who runs the Securities Company.

High probability, it’s about the father-in-law’s connection.

He didn’t want to lecture this guy about morality, responsibility, or philosophical revelations.

He’s no saint who enlightens people with words.

Instead of being grandiose, why not ask for something practical that could really help.

"A card, 500,000 yen a month, until they come of age. That business commission of yours at the company isn’t less than a few billion, right?"

Money? That’s easier to handle.

Kohara Kiyosaku immediately broke into a smile at Uesugi’s proposal: "Uesugi-san, you’re overestimating me. We’re just a small company, can’t earn that much."

"I’ll have someone deliver the bank card to Aei’s house, happy cooperation."

Cooperation?

Uesugi Sakura felt thoroughly disgusted hearing these words.

"Uesugi-san, there’s no need to have that expression, I’m actually a victim too. The existence of Aei and Chiaei is just that woman’s tactic to extract more pocket money from me."

Kohara Kiyosaku looked at his watch, adjusted his sleeves, and said to Uesugi Sakura:

"A few days ago, when I gave a lecture at Tokyo University, I think Uesugi-san was there too, sitting in the last row of the classroom."

"Let’s not bother with casual conversation between us, nothing much worth dwelling on."

"Alright then, farewell."

Having said that, he immediately turned and left.

The corridor’s ornate decor, with dazzling lights, watched Kohara Kiyosaku’s disappearing figure, deeply perceiving the attitude of affluent people towards their children.

Despite Aei and Chiaei truly being his daughters, from the moment they were born, their mother’s status already determined their place in his heart.

No legitimacy, no affection.

Their mother only used them as tools for money, disposing of them quickly once they were found useless.

Uesugi Sakura exited through the door, no longer in the mood to stay. He found Hanamaru Hanabi waiting for him, took a taxi, and went home.

Aei was still sleeping, and after Hanabi put her in the car, she let her rest her head on her lap.

Time passed slowly in the moving vehicle, the compact space filled with the refreshing scent of the girl, swirling with the wind blowing through the windows, vividly hitting the face, and clearing the mind with the distinct fragrance.

Aei’s small face pressed against Hanabi’s white ceremonial dress, her hands clutching her thighs, exhaling calm breaths as if enjoying this position.

"Hanabi, what do you think of Aei?"

"She’s very cute."

"Can I tell you something?"

Hanamaru Hanabi found his demeanor odd, "What is it?"

"I think you might already know some of Aei’s situation, so... if possible, I’d still like to help them with something."

"Sure, but Sakura-kun..." Hanamaru Hanabi asked confused, "Sakura-kun, why do you sound so... hesitant? It’s just a very ordinary matter."

"We have no kinship with Aei, it all seems quite pointless."

Hanamaru Hanabi turned her gaze back, her amethyst eyes looking at little Aei sleeping on her skirt:

"Actually, the fact that Sakura-kun was willing to help find Aei-chan for Chiaei was already very meaningful. Hanabi never thought taking care of them was a troublesome thing, on the contrary, Hanabi felt happy seeing them together, they are both good children.

"Being able to meet each other and lend a hand is the meaning Sakura-kun was talking about... In the past, didn’t Hanabi also grow to like him like this because of Sakusa-kun’s help..."