Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

He said helplessly:

"Don't you already know what kind of person I am?"

These words left the girl speechless.

Kujo Renji was keenly aware of her complex and contradictory mood at the moment.

He did not rush to appease her, nor did he try to defend himself. Instead, he changed the subject:

"Ms. Xiangzi, you are so angry now, is it because I used your 'safety' to coerce your friends and made them make 'sacrifices' for you..."

He paused, and his amber eyes seemed to be able to penetrate the barrier of consciousness and look directly at Toyokawa Shoko's violently beating heart.

"Or are you more worried about a situation like Wakaba Mu's?"

"Are you worried that their 'friendship' with you will gradually shift to 'me'?"

"Are you worried that they might become like Mu, and become dependent on me...beyond your own...dependence?"

Kujo Renji's words were like the sharpest scalpel, accurately and ruthlessly dissecting the layers of fear wrapped in Toyokawa Shoko's heart, which she herself had not even noticed...the most hidden fear in her heart.

Yes...

Wakaba Mutsu.

Now, but also...

Whenever she thought of the almost instinctive closeness and dependence revealed in Mu's clear golden eyes when facing this "Kujo Renji", an indescribable feeling of bitterness and loss would well up in Toyokawa Shoko's heart.

It felt like one's precious treasure had been snatched away from him.

She is afraid.

This hidden "jealousy" and "possessiveness" that even she herself was ashamed to admit, after being so bluntly revealed by Kujo Renji, made her fall into silence in an instant.

She was speechless.

Because she knew that what Kujo Renji said was right.

She was indeed...partly worried about this.

Kujo Renji looked at the light and shadow in her consciousness that instantly became a little "dim", and knew that his words had successfully hit her "soft spot".

He chuckled, and his tone softened a bit, with a hint of persuasion:

"Ms. Xiangzi, you have to understand. Whether it's Suyo or Aine... the reason they chose to 'compromise' is, in the final analysis, because... in their hearts, 'you', Toyokawa Xiangzi, occupies an irreplaceable position."

"Everything they do is for 'you'. This 'friendship' cannot be easily shaken by anyone."

"As for Mu..."

He paused. "She's just a little bit special. After all, for a child who has been insecure for a long time, it's easy for her to become dependent on anyone who can provide her with stability and response. This has nothing to do with 'who you are'."

He cleverly shifted the topic from the anxiety that "friends might be replaced by him" to the touching feeling that "friends compromise because they love you" and the particularity of "Mu's case is just an exception."

Toyokawa Shoko was silent for a long time.

"And the collar?"

Kujo Renji: "..."

This is really hard to explain.

He could calmly admit that he had exploited their friendship, calmly analyze their deep-seated fears and anxieties, and even shamelessly attribute his despicable behavior to "achieving a more noble purpose."

But, that collar...

That thing, no matter from which angle you look at it, is a pure bad taste that is difficult to explain away with "strategy" or "necessary means".

He found that it seemed difficult for him to find a suitable reason that did not sound too "perverted" to explain why he carried that kind of thing with him, and... he even used it openly on Toyokawa Shoko's "good friend" who looked gentle and quiet but was actually very strong-willed.

"Ok?"

There was a subtle urgency in Toyokawa Shoko's voice:

"Why are you silent, Mr. Kujo Renji? Can't you even come up with a decent reason to explain your disgusting habit?"

Her tone was filled with undisguised sarcasm and contempt.

Kujo Renji sighed silently in his heart.

XP, you win.

...

PS: You win when it comes to work and rest.

Chapter 122: What does it mean that the Fear Lotus Plan has become the Lotus Fall Plan?

The afternoon sun shines through the window of the cafe and lazily falls on the table, dyeing the tiny dust particles floating in the air with a hazy golden color.

Outside the window, there were faint sounds of laughter and traffic coming from the street.

However, Nagasaki Suyo, who was sitting by the window, was in a mood that was out of tune with this bright afternoon.

Her fingertips unconsciously brushed across the open notebook, and her eyes seemed to fall on the densely packed lead type, but her thoughts were no longer there.

What kept replaying in her mind was the scene that happened in her house last night.

The "Kujo Renji" with the face of "Toyokawa Shoko", those seemingly casual but heart-piercing questions, and the collar around his neck.

Those images could not be shaken off, making her feel uneasy and unable to eat.

"Soyorin? Soyorin! Are you listening to me?"

A clear and pleasant voice pulled her back from her chaotic thoughts.

Chihaya Aine's cute face with a bit of dissatisfaction and a little baby fat came in front of her, stretched out her white fingers and waved them in front of her eyes.

Nagasaki Suyo suddenly came back to her senses and blinked in confusion: "Huh? Ah... Aine, what's wrong?"

"Really?! Soyorin, you've been in a daze since just now!"

Chihaya Aine puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction, but soon, she put that little complaint behind her and continued the previous topic with great interest:

"Look, that new fried noodle bento in our school canteen is definitely the worst value for money! Look, it only has a tiny bit of fried noodles in it, and the toppings are just a few shredded red ginger and a handful of shredded seaweed, and they're selling it for 500 yen! It's a rip-off!"

As she spoke, she gestured in the air with her fingers, trying to vividly show Nagasaki Suyo how shabby the lunch box was.

"If we go to a convenience store and buy those instant fried noodles in a bag and pair it with a big, grilled sausage, it'll be at least a hundred yen cheaper than that fried noodle bento, and it'll have a lot more meat! Isn't that a great deal?"

Chihaya Aine became more and more excited as she spoke, her gray eyes sparkling, as if she had already tasted the inexpensive and delicious "perfect lunch".

"Oh, yes, yes, that does sound like a good deal."

Nagasaki Suyo echoed absentmindedly.

In fact, at this moment, her heart was filled with indescribable complex emotions.

Guilt, uneasiness, and a hint of relief.

She felt guilty because she had hidden so many things from Chihaya Aine.

It's not just the shocking truths about "Toyokawa Shoko", but also the fact that she installed a bug on Aine's guitar bag.

Just as that "Kujo Renji" mocked her, she is indeed a despicable person who will do anything to achieve her goals.

After her near-showdown with Kujo Renji, she'd been worried about how to face Chihaya Aine. She was afraid that if Aine knew the truth, that she'd done something to her, their friendship would be completely shattered.

but...

Nagasaki Suyo secretly glanced at Chihaya Aine, who was still happily calculating the "cost-effectiveness of lunch" beside her. Looking at her innocent and naive face, the heavy sense of guilt in her heart seemed to be replaced by a sense of inexplicable relief.

It seems that that "Kujo Renji" did not tell Aine that he had installed a bug.

Is this a blessing in disguise?

She subconsciously reached out and gently touched the collar around her neck.

This reminds her of her current "identity": a coerced "accomplice."

"Huh? Soyorin, your collar looks so nice!"

Chihaya Aine's attention was keenly drawn to her unintentional action. She moved closer and curiously examined the black collar on Nagasaki Suyo's neck, which was faintly visible under the collar of her school uniform. Her eyes sparkled with surprise.

"Is this something you recently bought? It looks so cool! Soyorin, your style has been getting more mature lately!"

Obviously, this simple-minded girl only regarded this humiliating "prop" as a fashionable decoration.

An unnatural blush instantly rose on Nagasaki Suyo's cheeks. She hurriedly reached out, trying to tuck the collar deeper into her collar, while frantically changing the subject:

"Ah, no, nothing! I just bought it for fun. By the way, Aine, you just mentioned that fried noodles would be more delicious with something besides sausage?"

She tried to make her voice sound calmer, but the slightly trembling ending still revealed her inner panic and shame.

.........

At the same time, in a private meeting room in the center of Tokyo, which is luxuriously decorated but has a slightly depressing atmosphere.

Jiujo Renji leaned lazily on the soft leather sofa, his slender fingers gently pinching a small wireless headset that was almost integrated with his earlobe.

The somewhat confusing conversation between Nagasaki Motoyo and Chihaya Aine could be clearly heard through the headphones.

When he heard Chihaya Aine say, "Soyorin, you dress so maturely, and this collar looks so nice," a hint of barely perceptible joy flashed across his amber eyes, which always held a hint of playful smile.

Yes, the so-called "collar" is naturally more than just a "decoration".

This is a carefully disguised, high-performance eavesdropping device.

Perhaps, the word "eavesdropping" is not quite accurate.

After all, Nagasaki Suyo "voluntarily" put on the collar, and she also knew clearly that the collar had the function of eavesdropping.

As an "accomplice"... or rather, a coerced "accomplice", Miss Nagasaki currently has no ability to resist him.

He took off his headphones and threw them casually on the mahogany coffee table beside him.

"You are really..."

In my mind, the name of Toyokawa Shoko rang again.

"Can you spare the time for this?"

Kujo Renji ignored the exclamation in his mind.

He raised his eyelids slightly and looked calmly at the middle-aged man sitting opposite him, who had been sitting upright and looking a little nervous since just now.

Ryuichi Yamamoto.

Just now, Kujo Renji suddenly put on headphones and looked like he was listening attentively, which made Yamamoto Ryuichi mistakenly believe that this "Ms. Toyokawa" might have something extremely important to deal with. Therefore, he did not dare to disturb her rashly, but could only be patient and wait carefully on the side.

But he probably never dreamed that the mysterious "Ms. Toyokawa" in his eyes, who was just acting so "in command", was actually just taking time to listen to the daily chat between two high school girls about the "value for money of lunch".

"So, Ms. Toyokawa..."

Seeing Kujo Renji take off his headphones, Yamamoto Ryuichi finally mustered up the courage to ask again, with a subtle hint of probing in his tone:

"What have you thought of the plan I just proposed?"

"not bad."

Jiujo Renji's fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa, making a rhythmic sound.

His voice was still as casual and lazy as ever, as if he was reviewing a dish that tasted okay, but not amazing.

"But it's not enough."

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Ryuichi's expression changed slightly.

What he just raised was the issue of resource allocation within the Yamaguchi-gumi, an extremely important "emerging entertainment industry."

In recent years, with the rapid development of science and technology, traditional gambling and customs industries have been impacted to varying degrees.

A new entertainment model that combines virtual reality technology with online competition is emerging at an astonishing rate, showing huge commercial potential.

This emerging "cake" naturally became the focus of competition among the major factions within the Yamaguchi-gumi.

Ryuichi Yamamoto hopes to use the Toyokawa Group's strong influence in the technology and capital markets to help his father Shinji Yamamoto seize the dominance of this crucial "emerging entertainment industry" from his competitors.

Since the competition within the Yamaguchi-gumi has already entered a white-hot stage, the open and secret struggles between the major factions have almost been exposed.

As long as Shinji Yamamoto can successfully obtain this resource, it will not only mean huge economic benefits, but more importantly, he will have enough capital and reputation to participate in the competition for the next leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi.

This is not just a piece of fat, but also an "admission ticket".

The difficulty is imaginable. Even the current Wakaguchi, Shinji Yamamoto, is not completely sure of winning.