Tokyo: Simulation Begins with the Big Sister Next Door

She didn't say anything, but pushed a bag of unopened rice balls in front of her towards An Zeliang, as if returning a gift.

An Zeliang smiled, naturally took the rice ball, and slowly unwrapped it to eat. He then said, "What a coincidence, President."

"Hey, number three, you're out for fast food too?"

"No, I came out to buy some seasonings to cook when I get home."

An Zeliang weighed the shopping bag in his hand.

"Oh." Hoshimiya Rin responded in a flat tone, then continued eating.

An Zeliang looked at the junk food she was eating and asked in confusion, "By the way, President, why are you eating alone in a convenience store?"

"Because it's my birthday today, a lot of people came to my house."

Hoshimiya Rin swallowed the food in her mouth and calmly replied, "However, I can tell at a glance from those who have ulterior motives. It's like watching a group of naked people jumping around in front of me; it's very repulsive."

Upon hearing this, An Zeliang couldn't help but think of what had happened at noon.

The president said he didn't want to be harassed by suitors that day... Now he finally knows why.

So it turns out it's her birthday today, and she had all sorts of suitors coming to her door, which is why she was annoyed.

An Zeliang thought for a moment and said, "I'm happy to listen to other people's stories. President, you like psychology so much, you should know that taking this opportunity to vent can also help relieve your emotions?"

Hoshimiya Rin nodded slightly, then took a bite of her rice ball, chewing slowly as she said, "In my opinion, social niceties and interpersonal relationships are completely unnecessary. After all, the core of such social interactions is simply to facilitate the exchange of benefits. If you really encounter a situation where you are in trouble, you might even have to pray that someone you seem to have a good relationship with won't be the first to turn their knife on you."

Rin Hoshimiya saw things very clearly.

Anze Liang, who was listening silently, was somewhat amazed that a high school student of Hoshimiya Rin's age could already see things so clearly.

"There's nothing we can do; that's just human nature."

An Zeliang sighed, then asked in confusion, "So, you escaped your own birthday party?"

"Well, these kinds of banquets are just a comfortable place for people to exchange benefits. After the cake is cut, how many people will care whether the person in charge of the banquet is even there? My birthday is just a convenient excuse for this banquet."

Hoshimiya Rin said dismissively, and forcefully twisted open the bottle cap and took a sip of her drink. "I hate that kind of atmosphere, and I hate even more making so-called friends in that kind of atmosphere. I especially hate that my father wants me to deliberately make connections with and try every means to get close to the descendant of a high-ranking official."

"So that's how it is." An Zeliang seemed to understand something.

Of course, a cold and aloof goddess wouldn't be happy to be treated like a lapdog.

"Instead of spending my birthday with that person, I'd rather go out and eat something alone at a convenience store. At least I won't be upset. Besides, this feels a bit like celebrating my birthday now," Rin Hoshimiya said calmly.

An Zeliang took a sip of his drink and nodded in response: "We don't want to be tied down by our families, we don't want our lives to be planned for us, we crave freedom, and we long to get rid of those meaningless social interactions. This is the kind of life that our generation of young people all want."

"Hoshimiya-kun, you're already quite strong for daring to resist."

An Zeliang spoke softly, then continued, "If you want to break free from your parents' control, you don't necessarily have to resort to forceful resistance; sometimes, a friendly conversation can do the trick."

"For example, if your family wants to arrange your marriage, you can have a good talk with your parents when you get home tonight. Tell them that you don't like that man, or use your knowledge of psychology to analyze for your family what aspects of his personality might be affected by his bad character..."

"In that case, your parents won't force you to marry."

Just as Anze Liang was analyzing, Hoshimiya Rin suddenly said something that immediately silenced the room.

"Who said the person my father told me to get along with was a boy?"

After saying this, Hoshimiya Rin looked at Anze Ryo calmly, her eyes carrying a sly look that seemed to be both smiling and not smiling.

"Not a boy?"

An Zeliang was stunned for a moment, then raised an eyebrow slightly, looking pained and indignant: "President, you're really confused! Isn't this even better!?"

Upon hearing this, the president, who had been looking sly and curious to see An Zeliang's reaction, froze instantly.

Chapter 45: Preparing for the Simulation

"Anze, you really have changed a lot since then." Hoshimiya Rin took a sip of cola and looked calmly into Anze Ryo's eyes.

An Zeliang smiled and said, "People grow up, especially teenagers. They might mature after watching a couple of anime."

Then, he changed the subject, pushing a bag of junk food he had just bought towards us, and said, "Hoshimiya-kun, today is your birthday. I didn't prepare any gifts in advance, so please consider this your birthday present."

Rin Hoshimiya was slightly taken aback when she saw the bulging plastic bag, but she still took it and opened it to look inside. There were all sorts of snacks inside.

She picked out a snack called "Delicious Stick," tore open the packaging, took out a pale yellow Delicious Stick, held it between her fingers, and examined it curiously for a while as if she had never seen it before. Then, as if she were eating a noble meal, she slowly put it into her mouth, chewed it with her teeth, and made a crunching sound. A taste of natto and something she had never experienced before slowly filled her mouth.

Unexpectedly good.

Like beverages, it's an industrial product, but it tastes surprisingly good.

My parents never let me eat snacks before because they thought these were "junk food" that would harm my health.

As a child, Hoshimiya Rin trusted her mother completely and never touched junk food. She even once thought that people who made junk food were "murderers".

But from the age of four, she developed the ability to think independently, and she gradually began to understand some principles.

Perhaps it's because he's too precocious and too intelligent. This isn't necessarily a good thing.

The most painful thing is knowing the truth but being powerless to change it.

Just like knowing that junk food isn't as harmful as people imagine, she still can't eat it because of her parents' insistence.

The reason she went out to eat fast food and junk food at a convenience store on her birthday was also an act of rebellion against her parents' control.

It could be considered a rebellious act during adolescence.

Rin Hoshimiya understands that the so-called rebellious period is just a psychological transition period for teenagers, during which their sense of independence and self-awareness are increasing, and they are eager to break free from their parents' supervision.

However, according to social surveys, most adults who enter society and are no longer under the protection of their parents actually hope to return to their former lives.

It's probably like when you're a child you want to grow up, but when you grow up you want to go back to being a child.

Rin Hoshimiya understands all these principles, yet she still can't change herself; perhaps this is part of her personality.

“This is the most carelessly given gift I’ve ever received…” Hoshimiya Rin paused, savoring the taste in her mouth, and said, “But I like it very much.”

An Zeliang smiled after hearing this.

He also opened a box of so-called "junk food" he had bought from a convenience store and started eating it.

The two sat side by side, eating their bento boxes and chatting casually. The convenience store was quiet, and the pillars on either side of the table acted like picture frames, creating a beautiful portrait of the two of them.

Customers would occasionally come in to buy things and glance at them. They would subconsciously take a second look at the two good-looking people.

There were also office workers and couples who were eating fast food whispering behind them.

"They really look like a couple."

"Hmm, the girl seems to talk very little, she's probably shy. Like the awkwardness of someone just starting out in love."

"It's just like how we acted when we first started dating in high school."

Because of the quiet atmosphere, the couple's hushed conversation was overheard by Anze Ryo and Hoshimiya Rin.

It was clearly a misunderstanding about their relationship, and the atmosphere was slightly ambiguous.

“Their observation skills still need improvement,” Hoshimiya Rin said calmly, taking a sip of her cola, without the blushing or shyness that a typical girl would show when misunderstood.

"Couples in the throes of passionate love will perceive each other as being in love even when they see others doing so."

"Oh? Number Three, you seem to have a lot of dating experience?" Hoshimiya Rin's insightful eyes looked at Anze Ryo's expression.

"I've just watched a lot of anime and read a lot of books."

An Zeliang responded with a smile and continued eating his bento box as if nothing had happened.

Hoshimiya Rin glanced at him, said nothing more, and started eating the snacks in her hand.

A small misunderstanding sparked an ambiguous relationship, but it seemed to have no impact on the two of them at all.

Before I knew it, more than ten minutes had passed.

A luxury car was parked in front of the convenience store, and a tall man in a black suit, who looked like a driver or bodyguard, was waiting at the car door. He had been waiting for several minutes.

After finishing the snacks in the bag, Hoshimiya Rin put away her notebook and prepared to leave.

"Student number three, I'm going back now."

Anze Liang stood up, nodded slightly in response, and walked out of the convenience store with Xingmiya Rin.

The driver opened the back door and waited respectfully.

Just as she was about to get into the car, Hoshimiya Rin paused slightly, then suddenly turned to Anze Ryo and said, "Number Three, thank you so much for your gift tonight. Um... and your encouragement, which wasn't really that helpful. If you need any help later, feel free to give me a call."

Saying,

She opened her notebook, wrote down a series of numbers, tore off a page, and handed it to An Zeliang.

What kind of help do I need?

An Zeliang was somewhat taken aback, but he still took the number and glanced at it.

"For example, your part-time job at a host club?"

Rin Hoshimiya tilted her head, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.

An Zeliang was slightly taken aback and felt a little embarrassed, so he tried to explain, since he was afraid of being misunderstood for selling male prostitutes.

Just as Anze Liang was about to speak, he heard Xing Gong Lin say, "Before encountering love, it is helpful to hone some skills in advance. In social surveys, this behavior is very helpful for marriage."

"..."

An Zeliang was speechless.

The president is truly rational yet cunning.

However, it's clear that she's seriously treating me like a biological researcher.

And this secret information about myself... I must have used my family's privileges.

They must have used their privileges to access personal privacy... Do the family members of high-ranking police officers in Japan not even need to cover it up when they do this kind of thing?

Ah, there's no doubt that hometown is the best.

At least.

Those high-ranking officials in my hometown know to do things secretly, rather than being so direct.

Even if someone has special privileges, it shouldn't be this blatant.

Hoshimiya Rin looked into Anzawa Ryo's eyes and said, "What exactly happened that caused such a huge change in you, Number Three?"