The Gemini Princess wants me to confess my feelings!

Every year during the transition between hot and cold seasons, Mrs. Mori would have someone bring goods to her door for her family to choose from.

The merchandise includes clothing, accessories, watches, leather shoes, and more. It basically has all the latest seasonal products and is quite large in scale, so stores usually start preparing a while in advance.

The elderly maid, Shimizu, also started preparing early, setting up a side hall for displaying goods.

While they were still in the preparation stage, Asahi Kasane brought Kirihara Akira to the side hall.

She whispered, "Madam is kind. She said that once you enter this household, you should present yourself properly, so she wants to get you some presentable clothes and has ordered me to choose them for you personally."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shimizu's stern and harsh face came into view, and Asahi Kasana immediately changed his tune, saying, "Um... let's choose together with Ms. Shimizu."

Kirihara Akira smiled and said, "Madam is indeed very good to me."

Upon hearing this, Asahi Kazuna couldn't help but glance at Kirihara Akira a couple more times, and said, "You really think so?"

Kirihara Akira smiled genuinely, without a hint of pretense: "Of course."

Asahi Kasane's mind was completely shut down by that smile.

Just then, Shimizu walked over, and Asahi and Kanade had no choice but to bow in greeting.

Good morning, Ms. Shimizu.

Shimizu ignored her, held up a set of clothes with his forearm, bent down slightly towards Kirihara Akira, and then presented the clothes to him, saying, "Please try this outfit on."

Kirihara Akira took the clothes and said with a hint of emotion, "This is the first time you've been so polite to me."

He thought Shimizu wouldn't react to his casual teasing, but to his surprise, a hint of embarrassment appeared on her weathered face.

To say that a waiter who has dedicated his life to serving is not being polite is undoubtedly a serious accusation.

However, after she had probably gone through Kirihara Akatsuki's rude behavior so far in her mind, arrogance regained its advantage.

Shimizu nodded and said, "We're having guests coming over later, and we can't let anyone bring shame to Madam. Besides character, clothing is the best indicator of status."

"This is an insult to my lack of character that reflects my status," Kirihara Akira shrugged, made no comment, and went straight to change her clothes.

His obedience angered Shimizu, while Asahi and Kanade, standing nearby, clearly observed their superior's emotional shift.

Later, Shimizu gave Kirihara Akira several sets of clothes, treating him like a dress-up doll.

Kirihara Akira thought to herself that this was probably retribution for treating Kisaragi Shiori like a toy last time.

Afterwards, Kirihara Akira, dressed in formal attire, came out of the fitting room.

Shimizu nodded, but instead of praising Kirihara Akira, she praised the unremarkable middle-aged man next to her, who was dressed like a salesman: "Master design, indeed very good."

The middle-aged man was dressed like a salesman, with nothing particularly eye-catching about him. Upon hearing the compliment, he simply smiled humbly and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied."

"Madam," Shimizu emphasized, "I'm glad you're satisfied."

"Yes, I'm glad you're satisfied, Madam." The man's face was full of smiles as he picked up a pair of shoes and placed them at Kirihara Akira's feet: "Young Master, try on these shoes as well. They were custom-made to fit your foot shape."

Kirihara Akira glanced at him and thanked him.

"And this watch, it really suits my style."

The watch case back is printed with the logo of the famous watch brand.

"Seven million yen, an entry-level price." The man said, "Madam means that the young master is still young, and what he uses is just right. Anything more would be too ostentatious."

A 7 million yen entry-level watch... The Mori family is really rich.

Kirihara Akira inwardly scoffed, but maintained a smile on her face, saying, "Thank you, I'll follow Madam and Ms. Shimizu's arrangements."

"You're too kind," the man said.

"What should I call you?" Kirihara Akira asked.

The man smiled slightly, speaking politely, but did not give his name: "I'm just a general helper, a general helper specifically for this household. If needed, Ms. Shimizu will contact me."

Kirihara Akira looked at him. Although he had always been humble, Kirihara Akira felt that there were some things about him that made him seem like someone who wasn't an ordinary person.

Shimizu kept staring at Kirihara Akira, but didn't see the reaction she wanted on his face. Disappointment flashed by, and she looked away, nodding to the man and saying, "Thank you for your hard work. Go and rest now. Come back if you need anything else."

"Yes."

As the man walked away, Shimizu withdrew her gaze, picked out the clothes she had just selected, and said calmly, "He is a man with quite a lot of experience. He was originally a secretary to a senator, but unfortunately he followed the wrong person, made a mistake, and almost went to jail."

Later, in order to make a living, he tried all sorts of jobs, but none of them were successful. In the end, he became a professional buyer and opened a general store.

Shimizu continued, "He employs many people, mostly elderly neighbors. Actually, in this day and age, the general store model is no longer viable, but his wife had a friendship with him from years ago and approved of his kindness in hiring elderly neighbors, so he became the 'all-purpose shop' of the family."

"I see." Kirihara Akira nodded and said, "Madam is kind-hearted."

Shimizu was silent for a moment, then said meaningfully, "He and the lady had a relationship. To be precise, he almost married the woman who had separated from the family. It was a beautiful story, but it's a pity."

Kirihara Akira glanced at Asahi Kazuna, who stood beside her like a statue, the latter's lips slightly pursed. Kirihara Akira turned her head and asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that Madam is indeed kind-hearted. She is so kind and caring to everyone around her," Shimizu said calmly. "But in the end, there are differences in closeness and distance. Whether one can enter the family is one hurdle, and with what status can one enter the family, another hurdle."

The way this was expressed was so plain and straightforward in this household that it was almost disregarding decorum.

After saying this, Shimizu pulled out a set of clothes without further ado and said, "Change into these. There's a tea party with guests later, and Madam wants you to attend as well."

After saying that, she left.

In the huge exhibition hall, only Kirihara Akira and Asahi Kanade remained to keep company with these clothes.

Asahi Kasano smiled wryly and said, "I've always thought you were a smart man, young master. You should be able to see that this is just another warning from the madam."

Kirihara Akatsuki, hands in his pockets, still appeared nonchalant, and said, "Is this considered a warning?"

Asahi Kasano said, "That's just the beginning. At the tea party later, there will be plenty of talented young people who will put pressure on you."

Kirihara Akatsuki said, "Is the reason for this pressure the fact that I've been getting too close to those two young ladies lately?"

"Oh, you actually knew that?" Asahi Kasane covered his mouth and chuckled. "I thought that, given your personality, you would have choked on Shimizu's words like you did that day when you kept me here, leaving me speechless."

"I think you might have some misunderstandings about me," Kirihara Akira said with a smile. "I'm not that ungrateful."

"But you have indeed disobeyed your wife several times."

Kirihara Akira shook her head and said, "The specific situation needs to be analyzed specifically. You need to see under what circumstances I disobeyed my wife."