Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

This feeling of controlling information, analyzing situations, and formulating strategies doesn't seem as disgusting as imagined?

Even... a little exciting?

She realized that during the time she was "working" with Kujo Renji, she was undergoing subtle changes.

She is no longer the high school girl who knows nothing and only escapes when encountering difficulties.

She began to learn to think about the logic behind problems, began to weigh the pros and cons, and began to understand that the world is not just black and white, but more complex gray areas.

She would take the initiative to discuss the band's operating strategies with Kujo Renji, and would consider the commercial value of the performances from a more realistic perspective. She even gradually understood some things that she once found unacceptable, such as using "water armies" to manipulate public opinion and using some "means" to deal with enemies, and could even occasionally make a joke or two.

If she had known the identity of Kujo Renji at the beginning, she would have been more wary and afraid of him.

But now she feels more... trust and peace of mind?

This wonderful transformation even made Xiangzi herself feel a little confused. She didn't know whether this change was good or bad, but she could clearly feel that compared to her past slightly "childish" self, she had indeed gained a little more, perhaps something that could be called "maturity."

When she asked that question subconsciously, even she was slightly stunned.

"So next... Regarding Toyokawa Hidehiko, should we take this opportunity to completely destroy Xinghui Entertainment?"

Destroy...

The word came out of her mouth so naturally.

When Jiujo Liansi heard this, he couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

Obviously, this was not the way Toyokawa Shoko thought before.

The girl changed more and more under his influence.

This thought made him feel both relieved and complicated.

He was silent for a moment, then said in a slightly teasing tone:

"Ms. Xiangzi, it's very good that you can come up with such an idea. It's worthy of praise. It seems... you have the initial potential to become a qualified head of the Toyokawa family."

"Eh?"

Feeling a little embarrassed by this sudden praise, Xiangzi's voice was tinged with bashfulness.

"But..." Kujo Renji changed the subject, his tone becoming helpless: "The idea is good, but the reality... is often not that simple."

He began to patiently explain to Xiangzi the pros and cons:

"First, although Xinghui Entertainment has suffered a heavy blow, it still has Fengchuan Capital behind it. As long as the Fengchuan family is willing to provide financial support, completely destroying it is almost impossible. The resources we currently have can cause it some serious damage, but not enough to be fatal."

"Secondly, and most importantly, Toyokawa Hidehiko may be desperate right now, but he's not completely hopeless yet. If we really push him into a corner, making him feel like he's doomed anyway, what will he do? It's bound to be a fight to the death!"

"He will retaliate against us recklessly, resorting to even more extreme and unscrupulous means. By then, not only will Ave Mujica, which is just starting out, be affected, but even our own safety may not be guaranteed."

To put it bluntly, both Toyokawa Shoko and I are still just "wandering outside the boundaries" of the rules. If we really cross that line, things will become countless times more troublesome.

The "environment" that I lived in in my previous life and the set of rules that I believed in were like walking on the edge of a knife, where danger and opportunity go hand in hand.

The apparent consortium identity of the Toyokawa Group was something he had longed for... Now that he had the opportunity, why would he do something too risky?

At least so far, everything he has done as Shoko Toyokawa has been a controllable and high-safety "shortcut".

Firstly, the identity of the heir to the Toyokawa family is easy to handle, and secondly, Toyokawa Shoko herself has too few resources to control.

Now that we have accumulated a certain amount of wealth, we don’t need to take any overly risky actions.

In his previous life, the Canglong Society had already grown to such an extent that it was only one step away from being whitewashed.

Even so, he still couldn't escape the tragic fate.

Without the constraints of rules, there are too many means that can be used... too dangerous and too unstable.

He was unwilling to return to that kind of environment when the situation was under control.

"so..."

He collected his thoughts and concluded:

"It's irrational to drive your opponent into a frenzy before you're absolutely sure you can deliver a fatal blow and completely eliminate any future threats. We should proceed cautiously, nibbling away at his power, gradually weakening his strength within the rules, and ultimately replacing him. This is the safest option at this moment, and the one that best serves our interests."

Miss Toyokawa seemed to understand what was said, but not quite.

She did not insist on her opinion anymore and asked:

"So what should we do next?"

Kujo Renji's gaze shifted from the night view of Tokyo outside the window to the slightly worn furniture in the room.

"Get a new house."

He said it concisely.

..

As the moving date approaches, the packed boxes pile up higher and higher in the corner of the small rental house.

Although the new home has been basically settled, leaving this narrow place that holds many special memories still requires some sense of ceremony.

—For example, say hello to your only neighbor.

He knocked on the slightly old door next door.

"Dong dong dong."

Soon, there was a flurry of footsteps from inside the door, and the girl asked hesitantly, "Who, who is it?"

"It's me." Kujo Renji answered in a calm tone.

The door opened with a click, revealing Jing Qinrencai's face with a hint of surprise and joy.

"Senior Xiangzi!" Rencai's eyes lit up and her tone became excited.

Looking at her defenseless and even somewhat expectant expression, Kujo Renji paused in his heart and said:

"Nina, I came to tell you... I'm planning to move in the next few days."

"Eh?"

The smile on Rencai's face froze instantly. She looked at him blankly, as if she hadn't heard clearly.

"Moving? Xiangzi-senpai...are you moving away?"

"Yeah," Jiujo Renji nodded, speaking as calmly as possible:

"I found a more suitable place, so..."

“W-Why?!”

Jinna's voice suddenly rose, with obvious confusion and a hint of subtle panic:

"Isn't this...isn't this place good? Am I...am I disturbing you?"

She subconsciously began to reflect on whether she was too noisy or had caused trouble for Xiangzi during the last street performance?

Seeing her eagerness to take the responsibility on herself, Kujo Renji shook his head helplessly:

"No, it has nothing to do with you. Just some personal reasons."

He didn't explain too much, just briefly mentioned it.

But this news was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Rencai.

Senior Xiangzi...is moving away?

The neighbor who helped her when she was most helpless after moving to Tokyo; the senior who protected her like a god when she was harassed by a drunk; the beacon of light who seemed a little distant but always gave her a sense of security in critical moments...

Are you leaving?

A deep sense of loss and reluctance washed over Rencai's heart like a tide. She felt a sore nose and a slight warmth in her eyes.

"Then...where are you moving to? Is it far?" she asked subconsciously, her voice choked with a barely perceptible sob.

"It's not too far, still within Tokyo." Kujo Renji replied without revealing the specific address.

"But..." Renai clutched the corner of her clothes tightly, lowered her head, and said softly, "From now on...from now on I won't be able to see Xiangzi-senpai often..."

For her, the identity of "neighbor" meant a tangible sense of security. Knowing that Senior Xiangzi was right next door was like having a reason. And now, this reason was about to disappear, which made her feel an inexplicable unease...

Looking at the girl's pitiful appearance, which looked like an abandoned little animal and about to cry, Kujo Renji sighed imperceptibly in his heart.

He reached out his hand, wanting to pat her head gently as if to comfort her, but considering the relationship between them, he finally withdrew his hand and said in a gentle tone:

"Even though we've moved, we're still friends, right?"

He paused and added, "Besides, Tokyo is so small, there's always a chance we can meet. I'll also continue to follow the band's activities."

Hearing the word "friend", Renai raised her head suddenly, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in her eyes.

"Ok!"

She nodded vigorously, sniffed, and tried to force a smile, although it still looked a little forced:

"Senior Xiangzi is right! We are still friends!"

She seemed to have made up her mind. She took a step forward and looked at Jiujo Renji with an extremely serious look, her tone almost pleading.

"Well...it's a deal then! After Xiangzi-senpai moves away, we must keep in touch! We must!"

She held out her little finger as if to make an agreement.

Jiujo Renji looked into her sparkling eyes filled with anticipation, and finally nodded slightly, responding in a calm and affirmative tone:

"Yes, I will."

Although he didn't make a pinky promise with her, this promise was enough for Rencai at the moment.

After receiving the assurance, Rencai's sense of loss seemed to be diluted a lot, and was replaced by a sense of security that "our relationship will not be broken."

She watched Kujo Renji turn around and walk back to his room and close the door, then she reluctantly closed her own door as well.

......

The departure of Kujo Renji did indeed bring a great shock to the girl.

So much so that she was a little depressed for the next few days.

During the rehearsal breaks, she would huddle in a corner with her knees hugged, not saying a word.

Momoka Kawahara naturally also noticed the abnormality of her lead singer.

She walked over to Nina and nudged her gently with her elbow.

"Hey, Nina, what's wrong? You've been looking lost since a while ago. Did you get dumped?" she asked half-jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

Renai raised her head, glanced at Momoka, then quickly lowered her head and said sullenly, "...No."

"What happened? Did you fail the exam again? Or are your family members nagging at you?" Taoxiang continued to guess, with a hint of concern in her tone.

Rencai shook her head, still saying nothing, but tightened her arms around her knees.

Seeing her like this, Taoxiang put away her joking thoughts, sat down next to her, and slowed down her tone:

"What happened? Tell me what happened? Keeping it in your heart won't solve the problem."

Perhaps it was Momoka's patience and concern that worked, or perhaps it was because her inner sense of loss really needed an outlet. After hesitating for a long time, Renai whispered in a voice so low that it was almost inaudible:

"...Shoko-senpai...she's moving."

"Ok?"

Taoxiang didn't react for a moment.

She subconsciously repeated the name in her mind.

Senior Xiangzi...Xiangzi...

Toyokawa Shoko!

After realizing who the other party was talking about, an inexplicable chill suddenly ran up Taoxiang's spine!

She even felt the hairs on her arms stand on end and got goose bumps!

In my mind, I couldn't help but flash back to that dim bathroom, that loose floor tile, and... that pistol wrapped in black velvet and emitting a cold metallic luster!

And downstairs, the blue-haired girl said the most horrifying words with a gentle smile.

Those images and sounds haunted her like a nightmare, making her tremble every time she thought of them.

In the following days, Taoxiang lived in fear.

She subconsciously began to avoid everything related to Xiangzi. She tried not to think about the apartment, and she also deliberately reduced the amount of conversations she had with Rencai about Xiangzi, fearing that she would accidentally let something slip or be discovered by the meticulous Xiangzi.