People in Tokyo, the world is clear

"Braised radish, edamame, cabbage, pickled eggplant, tempura! They're all my specialties! When I was studying here, my grandma always praised me, saying I was very wifely!"

Having said this, Ito Nishigo subconsciously glanced at the people around him, and without even noticing it, he became inexplicably complacent.

In short, Ms. Ito seemed unexpectedly talkative today.

But, it seems reasonable when you think about it.

Since we met, she has acted like a bewildered child trapped in the city of Tokyo.

I am not used to the inexplicable pressure and pace of city life, and I have no idea where the future lies.

Perhaps, at this time and place, this kind of daily life with a more down-to-earth feel can make this girl feel more at ease?

Or was it that for the first time in a long time, he had someone he could talk to freely during the trip, so he seemed relaxed and at ease?

Lin Sen glanced to his side and found that the girl was still staring at him.

There seemed to be no barrier between him and her. She just stared at him openly, giggling as they looked at each other.

I felt inexplicably cheerful and looked up at the clouds on the sky canvas that were slowly turning yellow.

It seems not bad to have a girl like this by my side and continue like this forever - suddenly, I had such a feeling.

His and her story began with curiosity and a desire to share.

Hopefully, I can, so I'll continue.

Chapter 79: The Action Plan of a Fake Lover

"Why did you come back suddenly without making any noise?"

"Today doesn't seem like the weekend..."

Jiuwu Mountain is famous for its wine.

"...quit your job?"

Accidents seem to be the necessary ripples in the gentle daily life.

But the life experience brought by years of memory enables the old man to remain stable amidst the ups and downs.

The old man put down his chopsticks and glanced at the two young men sitting across from the small wooden table.

The short-haired girl was genuinely at a loss, feeling the guilt of a child who had done something wrong in front of her only older relative. She simply lowered her head and gently poked the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.

The young man beside him, however, sat up straight and looked me in the eye, showing a certain respect but also a certain balance between servility and arrogance.

From her facial expressions and body posture, the old woman named Ito Kazuko was somewhat surprised to realize the priority between the two people, and also vaguely sensed something.

In the light cast by some yellowish light bulbs, there is a faint hot mist, which adds a bit of vitality of firewood, vinegar and tea to the old house.

The old man also sat more straight, in a listening posture.

Listen to the young people in front of you organize their words.

"If there's a key reason for this incident, it's probably because of me."

"Is that so?"

"Actually, there's one thing Ito hasn't been able to tell you. She hasn't quite adapted to her job in Tokyo. She often works overtime because she's unskilled and unskilled. Over time, trying to keep up with the pace of work, her sleep and rest schedules have become inconsistent, and she's developed some health issues. Interpersonally, she also struggles with her colleagues and superiors."

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Then, as the old man's facial expression gradually changed from surprise to worry, Lin Sen straightened his back.

"So, I couldn't stand it any longer. I took the initiative and suggested that Ito consider quitting her job. After carefully considering the matter, Ito agreed to my proposal."

These words made Ito Kazuko frown slightly, and her eyes moved quickly between the two people, glancing at the clothes of the two young people, and finally settled on the girl who lowered her head.

"Is this a decision you've carefully considered, Little Fruit?"

"Um..."

The girl seemed a little uncomfortable with this kind of atmosphere, but she still nodded vigorously to express her attitude.

This action made Ito Kazuko feel somewhat certain. Then she turned her head slightly and looked solemnly at the young man beside her.

"Well, it's time for me to ask this question. Xiaolin, why did you give Xiaoguozi this advice? You know, giving up your job is a very important decision in your entire life. What right do you have to give her this advice?"

Japanese citizens attach great importance to jobs with formal long-term contracts, viewing them as a source of current stability and hope for the future.

Especially, the elderly.

Therefore, Ito Kazuko's question had a hint of pressure.

But Lin Sen was well prepared for this.

He turned his head to glance at the girl's profile, and recalled what he had discussed in the car before the stop.

At the same time, he heard the girl's breathing becoming increasingly rapid. It was as if she had a premonition of what was to come, a sense of nervousness about facing the unknown.

The arrow is on the string. Then——

Lin Sen didn't hesitate and reached out his hand from under the table.

Slowly touched another little hand beside me.

When I first touched it, it felt slightly warm and cool, and I subconsciously shrank back timidly, just like a kitten staying at home seeing a stranger.

But she recovered quickly, slowly relaxed, and with a slight trembling, she took the initiative to put her five fingers into Lin Sen's open palm.

The warmth slowly passed through with the contact of skin, and Lin Sen tightened his fingers.

He held the girl's hand like this, slowly lifted it up, and placed them on the table under the old man's gaze.

"Grandma, it's like this. Recently, the relationship between Ito and I has improved. I made this suggestion out of my concern for her."

As the words fell, the girl beside him blushed a little and lowered her head even more.

An expression of realization appeared on the old man's face, but he still didn't relax.

He stared at her again, keeping his eyes on Lin Sen.

"Even so, after making this decision, have you thought about what to do next?"

"Of course. So, this visit to you is also after serious discussion, and we want to convey our position to you."

Lin Sen did not weaken his momentum, but looked back calmly.

Lower your voice:

"Although I'm currently a freelancer, I do have some savings. I will definitely take good care of Ito's daily life. Currently, our relationship is stable, and we are optimistic about the future. If some almost impossible accident does happen in the end, I will do my best to take responsibility for what I have done."

The attitude was expressed very frankly. This was also the result of a discussion between the two. This statement was considered to be comprehensive and left room for maneuver.

It was so blunt that even the old man was a little dazed. Finally, he turned his gaze in the direction of his granddaughter.

"Have you figured out all this, Ito?"

"Yes."

Although the girl lowered her head, her voice was unusually steady when she answered, and one could sense a certain firmness in it.

"I've thought it through. For now, I've decided to quit my job and focus on my relationship with Xiao... Xiaolin-senpai. And I've considered all the consequences."

"That's it."

After receiving a positive answer, the old man closed his eyes as the girl raised her head and looked at him tentatively.

Then, under the gaze of the two young men, he took a deep breath.

Suddenly, there was a tense atmosphere. The girl's throat moved slightly, and the young man held his breath.

But, the next second——

“Really?”

The sudden high-pitched voice startled people.

When I looked again, I found that the old man had narrowed his eyes and was looking at me with a smile.

It seemed to have changed in an instant.

"Last time we met, I just kept saying that Xiaolin had a good eye for him. But Xiaoguozi insisted on pretending to be innocent. He was saying things like, 'He's not my boyfriend~'"

Ito Kazuko began to recall the girl's tone of voice and repeated it in the same way.

Soon the short-haired girl blushed.

He frantically raised his hand, which was still being held by the person next to him, and waved it around, trying to explain.

"At that time, it wasn't confirmed yet! It was later..."

犮燱四９０三燮九涼

But the old man fooled him with a simple and gentle smile.

"I understand. Besides, it's been so long. If you don't eat now, the food will get cold."

Little Ito always had that childlike nature. Perhaps for this reason, those close to her would subconsciously want to tease this somewhat innocent girl.

Appreciate her unconcealed emotional expression.

There's a kind of evil taste in doing this.

But the girl really deserved this cuteness - she soon quietly started to pick at the food in front of her.

Today's dinner was indeed sumptuous. The girl in charge of cooking put in a lot of effort and stubbornly refused Lin Sen's help.

The cooking was surprisingly good. It wasn't an unexpectedly delicious dish, but it had a natural, unnoticed comfort to it.

The kind that you eat up accidentally.

It seems that the characteristics of the dishes are just like her.

Thinking about this, Lin Sen was surprised to find that he seemed to have somewhat integrated into such a small family.

Naturally and logically.

But in a temporary and false identity.

When I think about it carefully, I feel that it is unspeakably strange.

It seemed that, from the very beginning, the cause of my connection with this girl was a half-true lie.

Before I knew it, it had developed into this.

The so-called retribution in this life of “one lie must be covered up with countless lies”?

I felt a brief surge of guilt, perhaps for not being completely honest with this innocent girl.

However, now that things have come to this, there is no need to worry about it anymore.

Some things are not more perfect just because they are more real.

At least, the current situation is not bad.

Try to grasp the present moment, work hard to achieve the plan, and complete the performance with the girl so as not to worry the old man.

I had made up my mind to do this.

But the final step of the performance was completely unexpected.

"Tonight, Xiaolin, you should just sleep in the same room with Xiaoguozi."

After the meal, Lin Sen, who was cleaning up the dishes, suddenly froze and didn't react to the old man's words. The girl on the other side almost dropped the bowl on the ground because of her shaking hands.

But he only got a matter-of-fact look from Ito Kazuko.

"What else? The other one you..."

"Ah! Now I remember, that room was converted into a storage room, right?"

Ito Nishigo breathed a sigh of relief after interrupting his old man with a little stutter, and subconsciously glanced at the people around him.

I almost forgot. My cousin's bedroom had been abandoned since he and his childhood sweetheart went to Tokyo to attend university and start a new life.

I had to interrupt my grandmother and steer the conversation towards my cousin. After all, I was still maintaining a lie with him. In that virtual world, my "cousin" had inexplicably acquired the identity of a "secret crush."

She had actually thought about explaining to this senior someday that he was just a relative and not some fabricated spiritual pillar.

but--

On some nights, when I ponder inwardly, I'm filled with an inexplicable worry. This false "suffering" has transformed our shared suffering into the foundation of our current closeness. If the lie is exposed, will there be undesirable consequences?

For example, he feels that he has been "deceived and played with", and that "the person he has always confided in is no longer reliable and honest", and this affects his current relationship?