Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

"The reason is... the medical conditions in Yokohama are better. His private hospital has the latest equipment imported from Germany, which will be more conducive to the boss's recovery."

There was a hint of anger in Ishikawa's tone:

"That's a lot of nonsense. I suspect he wants to control the boss and use it as leverage to threaten other cadres. He might even want to harm the boss."

Ishikawa's suspicions coincided with Kujo Renji's thoughts.

Taking the "symbol" of the organization, the team leader who is in a vegetative state, into his own hands is undoubtedly a good move.

If he advances, he can use the emperor to control the princes; if he retreats, he can cut off all external inquiries and make moves in secret.

It's really... one wave has not yet subsided when another wave comes.

Before Kitamura Chiaki's deal was sorted out, the jackals within the organization began to stir again.

Kujo Renji felt a familiar headache.

Troubles tend to appear in groups, as if there is some kind of social etiquette between them.

He was silent for a while, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table.

Da da da.

This was a little habit he had when thinking in his previous life.

Ishikawa on the other end of the phone was waiting quietly, even his breathing was very light.

To be honest, he was a little nervous.

Because Miss Xiangzi's attitude towards the boss was actually a bit subtle, he could see it.

So before making this call, he also did a lot of psychological preparation for himself.

"Kujo Renji..."

Lian Si finally spoke, his voice as calm as a pool of deep water.

"Which hospital is he in now?"

On the other end of the phone, Ishikawa was obviously stunned.

Then, an indescribable feeling of great relief and emotion suddenly surged into his heart.

What did he hear?

Miss...Miss, for the first time, actively and clearly said the name "Kujo Renji"!

Moreover, he was asking about the boss's safety!

Ishikawa's eyes were even a little moist.

God knows how much torment he has been suffering in his heart during this period of time.

At first, after confirming that "Toyokawa Shoko" was the boss's secret heir, he understood why the young lady never mentioned the boss.

He came up with a whole logical script:

The boss knew full well that there was a traitor within the organization, and that his own car accident was the traitor's work. To protect his only heir, he must have instructed the young lady not to reveal her relationship with him until she was fully grown. Therefore, the young lady's resistance was a form of self-preservation, a loyal execution of the boss's will.

This script supported Ishikawa and made him wholeheartedly pave the way for this young "lady".

However, as time went on, the young lady showed a skill and courage far beyond his imagination. She integrated the intelligence network, fostered new forces, and even had the potential to compete with the old guys in the organization.

Logically speaking, at this stage, there is no need to distance oneself from the matter so deliberately.

But the young lady still kept the name "Kujo Renji" secret.

Thus, the second act of Ishikawa's mental theater began.

He began to worry.

He wondered, could it be that... there was some rift between the young lady and the boss?

Yes, he has seen many dramas like the feuds between wealthy families and the estrangement between fathers and daughters.

Perhaps the eldest brother is a harsh and unkind father, or perhaps the young lady has a rebellious past... In short, there must be some kind of conflict between them. The young lady's willingness to take over all this may be simply out of responsibility, not emotion.

This conjecture made Ishikawa feel extremely sad. He felt sorry for the boss lying on the hospital bed, his life or death unknown, and also felt sorry for this young "young lady" who was carrying everything alone.

How he hoped that they, father and daughter, could reconcile.

And now, just now...

The lady...she took the initiative to ask about the boss's situation!

Beneath that calm tone, there was such concern. This showed that as time passed, as she gradually understood the boss's painstaking efforts, the previous grudge was finally melted by the blood-thicker-than-water kinship.

The misunderstanding has been resolved! The contradiction has been eliminated!

Ishikawa felt that the burden on his shoulders had been lightened by three points.

"In the intensive care unit of Tokyo Central General Hospital, miss!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, but he quickly regained his composure, even more motivated than before:

"I personally arranged the security, so they're absolutely reliable. That guy Tanaka only submitted his application and hasn't had time to take any actual action yet!"

Kujo Renji keenly caught the unusual, relieved emotional fluctuation in Ishikawa's tone.

His brain instantly completed a profile of Ishikawa's psychological activities.

From "the loyal heir who hides his identity" to "the rebellious illegitimate daughter with grudges", and now to "the filial daughter who finally reconciled".

The theater in Ishikawa's mind is really... colorful.

Kujo Renji suddenly felt speechless.

"Well done, Ishikawa."

Lian Si praised lightly.

To Ishikawa, this compliment sounded like heavenly music.

He felt that all his hard work and worries were rewarded at this moment.

"It's my honor to share the worries of the young lady and the boss!" Ishikawa's voice was sonorous and powerful.

Kujo Renji was silent for a long time.

Human beings have insurmountable limitations in their cognition.

For example, Ishikawa can easily accept the movie-like plot that a teenage girl is the secret heir to the underworld emperor, but he would never believe that a person's soul can be stuffed into another person's body.

Therefore, the identity of "Kujo Renji's daughter" is the only and most "reasonable" explanation that Kujo Renji can find at present.

The only legitimate reason that allows him to intervene in the internal affairs of the Soryukai in the guise of "Toyokawa Shoko".

"As for Tanaka, calm him down first. Tell him that I, as the heir, will be personally responsible for Kujo Renji's health. We appreciate his kindness."

Lian Si deliberately added a barely noticeable emphasis to the word "heir".

But to Ishikawa, this was the first time that the young lady personally admitted her relationship with the boss!

Although it was on the phone and it was just a pseudonym, it was undoubtedly a historic breakthrough!

"Yes! I understand!" Ishikawa replied excitedly:

"I'll reject him immediately! Let him know that it's not his place as a Yokohama bumpkin to dictate the decisions of the Canglong Society!"

"No." Lian Si interrupted him, "Don't refuse directly."

"...Well?"

"Tell him I'm very grateful for his concern. When I finish the things at hand, I will go to Yokohama in person to visit him and thank him in person."

Ishikawa on the other end of the phone was silent.

He was digesting the information contained in this sentence.

After a moment, he suddenly realized it, and his tone was full of awe.

"...I understand, Miss. Are you trying to...use this opportunity to intimidate others?"

First, use a gentle attitude to calm the other person down and let him relax his guard.

Under the pretext of "paying a visit", he actually went alone to the meeting, went straight to the heart of the matter, and solved the problem in Yokohama completely in front of him.

What courage! What skill!

She is worthy of being the boss’ daughter!

This courage and strategy are exactly the same as those of the boss back then!

"I'm glad you understand." Jiujo Liansi didn't explain too much:

"Also, please prepare a detailed document for Tokyo Central General Hospital, including floor plans of all floors, security personnel shift schedules, and... a map showing the distribution of all surveillance cameras in the VIP ward area."

"Yes!" Ishikawa responded without hesitation, "I'll do it right away!"

"Also," Lian Si paused and added, "about the dinner party at Xianjuan's house..."

He finally made a decision.

"Tell Kitamura Chiaki that I accepted it."

Since troubles like to come in groups, let them come more violently.

Whether it is Kitamura Chiaki's temptation or the ambition of the Tanaka group.

He, Kujo Renji, took it all.

The phone hangs up.

The room returned to silence.

Jiujo Renji leaned back in his chair, gently pinching his eyebrows with his slender fingers.

He looked out the window at the night sky dyed dim by the city lights, his eyes as deep as the sea.

A community of shared destiny?

Shoko Toyokawa, perhaps you are right.

Since we are already in the same vortex, instead of carefully maintaining balance, we might as well... stir the water even more.

.........

The cold air seeped through the thick window glass of the specially made vehicle, bringing a hint of chill.

The heating in the car was on high, but the invisible sense of oppression coming from the destination made the warmth seem a little empty.

The black car drove smoothly on the road to Tokyo Central General Hospital.

Ishikawa sat in the driver's seat with a solemn expression. Through the rearview mirror, he could see the calm profile of "Miss Xiangzi" in the back seat.

She just quietly looked at the street scene outside the window that was rapidly receding, as if the person she was about to meet was not her "father" whose life or death was uncertain, but just an insignificant stranger.

However, beneath this apparent calm, another consciousness is expressing its dissatisfaction in its own unique way.

[Are you really planning to let me be your 'daughter'?]

Toyokawa Shoko's voice rang out in Kujo Renji's mind, with an undisguised, offended tone.

Kujo Renji's gaze was still fixed on the window, but his mind was talking to her.

【It's just a temporary solution.】

His response was as calm as ever, without any emotion.

A reasonable, universally accepted identity is the best tool for handling these current troubles. 'Kujo Renji's successor'—this identity is enough to explain your change, and it also gives me a legitimate voice within the Canglong Society.

[Besides, didn’t you also say that we are a community with a shared destiny?]

Jiujo Rensi calmly repeated what she had said a few days ago.

【…】

For a moment, Miss Toyokawa Shoko was choked by what she had said.

Yes, a community with a shared future.

This was the concept she proposed in order to help him let go of his psychological burden.

Using her own theory to refute herself is simply impeccable.

Damn man.

Toyokawa Shoko stopped talking.