Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Su Shi smiled bitterly:

"But recently, there have been some minor rifts between my mother and me. Even if it's just a little bit, it makes me feel very sad and distressed."

Kujo Renji listened to her talk quietly, giving some gentle responses and...highly emotionally intelligent comfort from time to time.

He did not simply and rudely tell Su Shi empty words like "You should understand your mother more" or "There is no overnight hatred between mother and daughter".

Instead, from Su Shi's description, he keenly captured her deep inner desire and anxiety, and then used an empathetic and guiding approach to help her sort out her emotions, and put forward some specific and feasible suggestions that might try to improve the mother-daughter relationship.

These suggestions made Nagasaki Suyo, who was originally troubled by the mother-daughter relationship, feel enlightened and her heart was filled with emotion.

"Xiangzi...thank you."

After dinner, when the two said goodbye at the restaurant door, Nagasaki Suyo's face showed a long-lost, relaxed smile from the heart:

"After talking with you, I feel...much better. I also know...what to do next."

"You're welcome, Sushi." Kujo Renji responded with a smile, "We are friends, aren't we?"

"Yeah! We're friends!"

Nagasaki Suyo nodded heavily, her eyes full of trust in "Xiangzi" and... a hint of imperceptible dependence.

Looking at Nagasaki Motoyo's back as she left with a relaxed smile, the gentle smile on Kujo Renji's face gradually faded.

His thoughts, involuntarily, drifted to another clue that he had temporarily "put aside".

He recalled the first time he visited the Suyo family in Nagasaki as "Toyokawa Shoko".

——The envelope from the Canglong Society.

Later, he also asked Ishikawa Shunya indirectly whether the Soryukai had any dealings with a lady named "Nagasaki".

But Ishikawa's answer was - he didn't know, at least within the scope of his responsibility, no relevant records were found.

This means that if Mrs. Nagasaki is really involved with the Soryukai, then the people she comes into contact with are most likely the "traitors" who are plotting to murder her.

And now...this "Mrs. Nagasaki" has finally returned from abroad.

Moreover, according to Su Shi's description, she seemed "very tired" and "not in a very good mental state."

Kujo Renji seemed to be lost in thought.

Maybe it’s time for me to take some time to “visit” the other person?

.....

Put aside those "side quests" that cannot be figured out for the time being.

Regarding the main task of "Toyokawa Family", the work has begun in an orderly manner, according to the plan of Kujo Renji, step by step.

In this secret war against the Toyokawa family, Chiaki Kitamura, the new "partner", undoubtedly played a crucial role.

I have to admit that working with smart people, especially with an "old friend" who I have worked with before and know each other well, feels much more comfortable than before.

Kujo Renji only needs to propose a general idea and direction, or even just a vague hint, and Kitamura Chiaki will be able to quickly understand his true intentions and mobilize the huge resources of the Kitamura Group to implement his plan in an efficient and precise manner.

Whether it's secretly gathering negative information about the Toyokawa family's collateral shareholders to use as leverage for blackmail and division; or using media resources to cleverly spread seemingly untrue negative opinions that are unfavorable to Toyokawa Sadaharu; or using financial means to create minor "trouble" for some of the Toyokawa Group's less stable subsidiaries, in order to distract Toyokawa Sadaharu's attention...

Kitamura Chiaki did everything perfectly.

This kind of tacit understanding made Kujo Renji very satisfied, and also increased his confidence in overthrowing Toyokawa Sadaharu and even taking control of the entire Toyokawa Group.

However, this kind of "telepathic" cooperation also brings with it some "side effects".

For example——

"You still say you are not Kujo Renji?"

"Tsk tsk tsk... Look at your idea, it's so sinister and vicious... It's exactly the same as his back then!"

"Honestly, if I hadn't seen you looking so 'cute' right now, I would have thought that guy had crawled back from hell to rekindle our past relationship~"

Looking at the undisguised ridicule and almost "real" speculation in Chiaki Kitamura's email.

Kujo Renji subconsciously closed the email.

He could almost imagine the smug and gloating expression on Kitamura Chiaki's face as she typed these words.

He rubbed his temples helplessly. What on earth was wrong with her that she was so sure that I was Kujo Renji?

If it was so easy to identify, then he had no doubt that the other party had actually identified many "Kujo Renji reincarnations".

but...

Complaints aside, Kitamura Chiaki's efficiency in executing the plan has not been compromised at all.

As the "cooperation" with Kitamura Chiaki was progressing in an orderly manner and the undercurrent against the Toyokawa family began to surge quietly, a person who was unexpected but reasonable to Kujo Renji took the initiative to come to the door.

It was Toyokawa Kiyoshi.

Toyokawa Shoko's biological father, the former "son-in-law" of the Toyokawa family, is now a down-and-out and decadent middle-aged man who is like a stray dog ​​and is excluded from the core of family power.

He somehow found out the current address of "Toyokawa Shoko" and one evening, he appeared downstairs of the apartment building, looking haggard and dressed in unkempt clothes.

The familiar yet unfamiliar figure of Kujo Renji frowned slightly.

However, since the other party has come to him, it is not his style to avoid him.

He opened the door to the apartment.

"Xiangzi..."

When Toyokawa Kiyoshi saw that it was his "daughter" who opened the door, his face, which was already full of sorrow, suddenly showed more complicated emotions, including surprise, worry, guilt, and a hint of imperceptible embarrassment and flattery.

He was holding an old-looking insulated lunch box.

"Father."

Kujo Renji's tone was calm, without any ripples, as if he was just facing an unfamiliar visitor.

He stepped aside and motioned for the other person to come in.

Toyokawa Kiyoshi walked into the apartment somewhat awkwardly, looking around the unfamiliar environment with some uneasiness.

Although this apartment is decorated quite exquisitely, compared with the luxury and heritage of Toyokawa's main residence, it undoubtedly looks a bit... "shabby".

"Xiangzi...how are you doing lately?"

Toyokawa Kiyoshi placed the things in his hands on the coffee table, rubbed his hands, and asked cautiously:

"I heard that you and grandpa had some unpleasantness..."

There was a hint of tentativeness and unconcealable worry in his tone.

Jiujo Renji did not answer his question, but walked to the sofa and sat down, poured himself a glass of water, and then spoke lightly:

"Father, you came to see me today. It shouldn't be just to ask about my recent situation, right?"

His directness made Toyokawa Seikao's expression even more embarrassed.

"me..."

He hesitated for a long time, seemingly unsure how to begin. Finally, as if making up his mind, he took a deep breath and spoke in a tone that was pleading and had a subtle hint of "preaching":

"Xiangzi, I know that your grandfather... is sometimes a little strong and his words are not very pleasant. But he is your grandfather after all. Everything he does is for your own good and for the future of the Toyokawa family..."

"So, don't be angry with your grandpa anymore."

He persuaded earnestly, trying to play the role of a "kind father" and "mediator".

However, after hearing his words, a cold, undisguised sneer appeared on the corner of Kujo Renji's mouth.

"go back?"

His voice was filled with a hint of playfulness and sarcasm:

"Father, are you kidding me?"

"Do you think, after experiencing being drugged and imprisoned by my own grandfather, I would still be so foolish as to believe that everything he did was 'for my own good'?"

Every word that Kujo Renji said was like a sharp knife, stabbing Fengchuan Qingjiao's heart, making his already haggard face become even paler in an instant.

"His methods might be a little extreme, but his intentions are definitely good! He's just too worried about you, afraid you'd go the wrong way..."

Jiujo Renji interrupted with a sneer:

"Even though you've become a homeless dog, you still remember the kindness of the Toyokawa family. It seems that Grandpa really hasn't treated you unfairly."

These words can be said to be merciless and extremely humiliating.

Toyokawa Seikao's body shook violently.

After being ruthlessly humiliated and...coldly stared at by his daughter, Toyokawa Kiyoshi's already dwindling "fatherly dignity" was completely shattered.

He seemed to realize that his trip today... was in vain.

The "daughter" in front of him is no longer the innocent little girl who would be softened by his few warm words.

She has completely changed.

It became unfamiliar to him, even... a little scary.

"Since you don't want to go back, I won't force you, alas..."

His voice was a little hoarse and tired:

"Whatever you want, take good care of yourself."

After saying this, he no longer had the face to stay any longer, and left the apartment dejectedly and dejectedly.

Watching the dejected and bleak figure disappear behind the door, there was still no expression on Jiujo Liansi's face.

He walked to the coffee table and took a look at the insulated lunch box that looked a bit old.

He didn't open the lunch box.

At this time, I started to care about myself.

Why didn't he show any concern when Toyokawa Shoko suffered with him?

Ah.

Kujo Renji sneered.

Maybe the concern is real, but he just doesn't need it.

Toyokawa Shoko doesn't need it either.

He has no intention of understanding the pitiful side of hateful people.

......

The dim street lights downstairs in the apartment building stretched Fengchuan Qinggao's dejected and hunched shadow very long, making him look even more desolate.

The evening breeze blew, bringing with it a hint of autumn night coolness, and he couldn't help but wrap himself tightly in his old coat that had become a little white from washing.

He fished out an equally old flip phone from his pocket, his fingers trembling slightly from mild alcohol withdrawal.

The phone rang for a long time, so long that Toyokawa Kiyoshi almost thought the other party would not answer, when it was finally connected.

From the receiver came Toyokawa Sadaharu's aged yet still undeniably majestic voice, simple and direct:

"explain."

Just one word, but it carried an invisible pressure that made Fengchuan Qingjiao's breathing stop.

"I just went to look for Xiangzi."

There was silence for a few seconds on the other end of the phone, as if waiting for his next words.

Fengchuan Qinggao swallowed his saliva and continued with difficulty: "But Xiangzi seems to be still angry with you and refuses to listen to me..."

Then, before Fengchuan Qinggao could say anything more to explain or defend himself, a busy tone came from the other end of the phone.

——Toyokawa Sadaharu hung up the phone without mercy.

Toyokawa Kiyoshi gripped the busy phone, his arm drooping limply. He stood there, staring blankly at the night sky overhead, dimmed by the city lights, his heart filled with bitterness and sorrow.

He felt that he was extremely ridiculous at this moment.

He thought that by persuading his daughter, he was fulfilling his responsibilities as a father and making up for some of his past mistakes.

But in the end, the daughter didn't appreciate it and the father-in-law was not satisfied.

He is caught between a rock and a hard place, neither of them is popular.

A strong sense of powerlessness and despair overwhelmed him like a tide.