CHAPTER 422: CHAPTER 303 MATSUKAWA CUISINE RESTAURANT_2

"Not completely disagreeing... Before that, Sakura, you agreed to do your best to help, and Hanabi was nearby at that time..."

"So you want to confirm it with your own eyes?"

"Yes, but Sakura, you must promise Hanabi... no hand-holding or anything like that..."

"Of course not."

Uesugi Sakura smiled, seeing the jealous Hanabi was adorable, with her pouty lips and the slightly resentful look in her eyes, which only made her even cuter on that delicate and picturesque face.

Love makes people selfish, but such selfishness isn’t a bad thing.

"I want to eat the omelet you make tonight."

Hanamaru Hanabi didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly in agreement.

That request earlier was excessive for a girl, and Uesugi Sakura thought she would be angry, maybe even ignore him.

"You’re so good to me, are you afraid I might run away one day?"

Hanamaru Hanabi looked at him: "Yes."

At night, Uesugi Sakura stood alone on the balcony, gazing at the city’s night view, and dialed his uncle’s number.

Once connected, guitar music and a male singer’s emotional voice came through the phone, with lyrics as enigmatic as wandering forever on the distant shores of the San Chuan River, always lingering in a field of scarlet flowers.

What a strange song.

The noisy atmosphere likely came from a vibrant bar.

Uesugi Sakura: "Uncle."

Hanamaru Yugetsu (placing a glass bottle on the coffee table): "Ah, Sakura, I know, are you going to trouble me again? Fine, fine, just say it, I’ll handle it as soon as possible."

Uesugi Sakura heard his slurred voice: "The reservation spot at 1-11-6 Akasaka, Matsukawa Cuisine, could you help me with that...?"

"Akasaka? Matsukawa Cuisine? Oh, that place," Hanamaru Yugetsu’s voice became even more blurred, "You want to book how many, or a private room?"

"You still have the leisure to take my little niece to fancy dinners, isn’t Tokyo University keeping you busy enough?"

Tokyo University is indeed not that busy, with no academic pressure; all his courses are electives now.

"Two private rooms, please, Uncle Yugetsu."

"Two? Hic... (sound of drinking), why two, I’m telling you, don’t plan anything bad, my brother is really tough, once, when we sparred in sword dao during childhood, he made me search for my teeth all over the ground."

Uesugi Sakura thought his father-in-law couldn’t bear to hit him now, as Hanabi would be heartbroken, and he himself grew to like him.

"One is for helping a classmate with her parents, who value material conditions greatly."

Hanamaru Yugetsu: "That’s fine, that’s fine (sound of someone patting a back), you better not have bad intentions, my little niece only loves you, like me... boo hoo hoo."

Uesugi Sakura, listening to the phone, heard sobbing and the sound of wiping tears:

"Uncle, have you been drinking?"

"No! I’m not drunk, why... why does everyone say I’m drunk...?"

The crying suddenly stopped, leaving Uesugi Sakura astonished.

Can drunk people control their crying that way?

He’d seen truly drunk people, but only in the streets of Shinjuku District at night—drunkards wailing, howling like ghosts, saying life had no hope, claiming they might as well die, threatening to jump into the river, and unable to be held back by a few passersby.

The next day, they’d wake up from their drunkenness by the flowerbeds, pat their heads, shake their heads, and remember nothing at all.

Drunkenness can forcefully express emotions, making Uesugi Sakura curious about Hanabi’s behavior if she got drunk.

Would she change her timid character and become bold and fierce?

Hanamaru Yugetsu’s voice echoed from the phone: "Sakura, Sakura, why aren’t you speaking?"

Through the phone, Uesugi Sakura could almost smell the drunken aroma, "Uncle Yugetsu, do you remember what I just said?"

"Wh-what...?"

"The two private rooms at Matsukawa Cuisine." Uesugi Sakura held the phone, glancing up at the dark blue night sky.

"Ah, that, got it... hic... got it..."

Uesugi Sakura hesitated for a moment, unsure if he really remembered, "Uncle, maybe you should stop drinking, and have a good rest."

"Drinking? Haha~ What’s so good about drinking... I’m, I’m, I’m sleeping right now."

"Uncle, you should rest, I won’t bother you.

"Goodbye~~~"

With a hint of playfulness in Hanamaru Yugetsu’s adult male voice, Uesugi Sakura hung up the phone.

He gazed into the night sky at the moon emerging from behind the clouds and became lost in thought.

He felt Hanamaru Yugetsu hadn’t really listened.

"Forget it, I’ll call him again tomorrow." Uesugi Sakura shook his head, feeling the cool night breeze, and returned from the second-floor balcony to the living room to have dinner.

The next day, just after finishing a morning run with Hanamaru Hanabi, Uesugi Sakura received a card delivered by a staff member.

It contained information about the private rooms and included a message from Hanamaru Yugetsu.

"Sakura... what is it?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s forehead was glistening with a light pink sweat, and her clothes had changed into a short-sleeved and short-shorts sports outfit.

"It’s the reservation information for Matsukawa Cuisine, it says Friday afternoon," Uesugi Sakura waved the card in his hand, "and Uncle Yugetsu said there are only two private rooms available on Friday."

"Why... two?"

"One for your dining, and the other to help Umezu’s classmate host her parents, who are said to be the type that values material conditions."

"I see."

Hanamaru Hanabi’s agreeing voice still had a hint of jealousy.

Probably she didn’t like hearing about him pretending to be someone else’s boyfriend.

Uesugi Sakura scanned her face several times, noticing that due to sweating, her fragrance had become more intense.

"Shall I make breakfast today?"

"Sakura’s coffee is better."

"Alright, I’ll make you a milk coffee."

Before making milk coffee, a bath was necessary. Uesugi Sakura stood at the bathroom door with a towel.

"Sakura... what do you want to do...?" Hanamaru Hanabi’s voice was weak, her hands held over her chest, her face was more flushed after their morning run.

"I want to give you a back scrub."

"A back scrub... no way... last time Sakura said he’d help Hanabi with a bath..." Hanamaru Hanabi’s face turned red, and she didn’t dare to continue.

"That was the old Sakura, this time’s Sakura is different."

"You’re all meanies!"

Hanamaru Hanabi grabbed the towel tightly to her chest, embarrassed, her voice frail.

Uesugi Sakura, half-bending, leaned in and gently pecked her thin cherry lips, "No way."

Hanamaru Hanabi promptly pursed the lips he kissed, her heart filled with sweetness, and her refusals softened:

"It, it will..."

Uesugi Sakura smiled knowingly, embracing her soft waist, resting his hand on her sweaty, pale thighs, lifting the girl instantly.

"Sakura!"

With her entire body suspended, Hanamaru Hanabi quickly looped her arms around his neck, relying entirely on him for balance.

This position allowed a clear view of his face from below, making Hanamaru Hanabi shyly avert her eyes, feeling the unusual sensation where her thighs were held, blushing enough that she couldn’t meet his gaze.

"Hanabi really likes being carried princess-style, right?"

"No, I don’t..."

"Still denying it, once I pick you up, I can hear your little heart beating so fast," Uesugi Sakura’s left hand felt the touch of her soft thighs, as if melding into his palm.

He gently moved his fingers on her thighs, tickling her.

"No, don’t... Sakura, put Hanabi down..." Lying horizontally in his embrace, Hanamaru Hanabi’s face burned red hot.

"No way." Knowing she was ticklish, Uesugi Sakura anticipated her extreme sensitivity and reactions.

"Then Sakura shouldn’t tickle..."

"Hana-chan might be mistaken. Who’s in control now?"

"Hanabi, Hanabi will get angry..."

"You won’t." Uesugi Sakura laughed at the blushing face in his arms, noticing the bathtub nearby in the bathroom was large enough for two, "Let’s... take a bath first."