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Chapter Ninety-eight

  Chapter 98: The Heart Knot of Mu and Yafeng

  Afterwards, Masaki explained to Niji over the phone, but it's always better to discuss such matters in person rather than over the phone. So, Masaki had planned to meet up with Niji on the weekend and clear things up, but sometimes plans can't keep up with changes. As it was the end of the semester, she had to focus on studying for the upcoming exams, even if she had an advantage like her "cheat" ability. After all, her initial intention was just to coast through without much effort, but now that she's in high school, things aren't so easy anymore. Moreover, she has to maintain the record set by the Shinoda family at Rikka High. Since entering high school, Masaki hasn't dared to slack off even for a day, and her combination of "cheat" ability and hard work has allowed her to barely maintain her perfect record every time.

  After the mid-term exam, Yafeng originally planned to stay in Tokyo for a few days and then meet with Erni. However, it seems that our goddess is really against her, as she unexpectedly moved up the annual national competition's training camp to the day after the mid-term exam. As a result, Yafeng's plan to go to Tokyo has been postponed again.

  The night before going to the dormitory, Yafeng packed up his things and then connected with Niji on the phone line that they had to do every day since their relationship was confirmed.

  "Zhou Zhu, it seems we'll have to wait another week before we can meet again." Yafeng said with some discontent and apology.

  "Hehe, does Yafeng have any other plans?"

  "No, it's Seiichi Ono, he moved up our tennis club's training camp, we're going to Hakone tomorrow and it will be about a week long, so I won't have time to come to Tokyo until after a week."

  "I see, it seems like Rikuto is really working hard."

  "Yes, after all, it's the last year, so Jinshichi and Genichiro are particularly energetic."

  "Hehe, looks like we also need to work hard."

  "That's a must-have, but Rikka's three consecutive championships have no weaknesses."

  "Hehe, Yafeng is quite confident."

  "That's natural," Yafeng replied confidently, then returned to his initial depression and said: "But I may not be able to make a phone call with Zhou Zhu this week."

  "Hehe, I can understand, has Yafeng not told her family about our relationship yet?"

  Yah Feng felt a bit embarrassed at being caught and after a few seconds said: "I've been too busy lately, and I don't know what to say. Zhou Shu, let's wait until I'm done with the school trip before we figure out how to tell our family members, okay?"

  "Not two said nothing for a while before saying: 'Listen to Yafeng.'"

  "Hehe, I knew Zhou Zhuo was the best." Yafeng let out a sigh of relief and excitedly handed out "good person" cards to Not Two, "Zhou Zhuo, I still have some things to pack up so I won't chat with you for now, after my boarding school is over I'll call you right away."

  "Hehe, okay, have fun playing these days."

  "En en, okay, goodnight Zhou Zhu."

  Akane hung up the phone, satisfied, hugging the big bear that Tsuda had given her and sitting on the carpet with a silly smile. Meanwhile, Nijou, after hanging up the phone, took off his usual smiling face, lowered his head to look at the ground, and stared blankly, thinking about what happened when he went to the hospital to see Hisami during the day.

  Just after finishing the mid-term exam, I was idly at home reading a book and enjoying the rare peace when it was disrupted by a call from Cheng Mei. Cheng Mei simply said that Jiu Mei had been hospitalized and hoped he could go take a look.

  When she arrived at the hospital and saw that Kumiko, who had lost a lot of weight in just over a week and was pale as a ghost lying in bed, her heart was filled with emotions.

  "Looking at Kumi who's sleeping, it seems like she's talking to herself but also speaking to Niji: 'I had already accepted that you and Yafune were together, but after the Sanada family party, Grandfather suddenly said that at the Sanada family party, Sanada Bansuke announced the engagement between Yafune and Tetsutaka-senpai. Kumi was completely confused and couldn't think straight. She stopped eating, drinking, and sleeping, just staring blankly. Later on, Mom and I had to force-feed her some liquid food every day, but it was limited, so soon Kumi became thin. Yesterday, for some reason, Kumi suddenly went crazy and wanted to go find Yafune. In the end, she was stopped by Father in the garden, but got caught in the rain and developed a high fever at midnight. The doctor said it's due to malnutrition and emotional distress causing the fever. If her heart isn't cleared up, the fever won't subside either. That's why I called you, senpai. I think only you can clear up Kumi's heart."

  He couldn't help but feel heartache as he looked at the pale and frail girl, a girl he had always treated like his own sister. She used to be so full of life, but now she lay on the hospital bed with no vitality left. How could he not feel heartbroken?

  After a while, Mei woke up and when she saw Niji by the bed, her eyes lit up. A low, hoarse voice came out of her mouth: "Brother Zhouzhu."

  "Ah, it's me, how are you, Kumiko?" asked Niji gently.

  "Senior, I'll go buy some congee for Hisami. Can you take care of her for a bit?"

  Bow one's head in admiration.

  After Narumi left the hospital room, Kumi eagerly grabbed Niji's hand and asked, "Shūsuke-nii-san, is it true that Yafū and Tetsuya-senpai are engaged?"

  He smiled wryly, but still nodded and said, "Yes, as previously decided."

  "Didn't Shūsuke mind last week?" asked Kumiko, furrowing her brow.

  "They just decided on the engagement because they were the most compatible person in the family-arranged matches, and both Tetsuya and Kazami said that if either of them found someone they truly liked, the engagement would be called off, so there's nothing to worry about."

  "Really? Then why are you still unhappy, Zhou Shu-ge? Why did Ya Feng being with you not lift the engagement with Teshigawara-senpai?"

  "That's because Yafeng didn't even have time to tell Shinoda-san yet."

  "How could it be? Now that Ya Feng and Zhou Shu are together for quite some time, has she talked to Grandpa Tiantian about it?"

  Bu'er lowered his head and didn't speak, this was also what he cared about.

  "Yafeng doesn't care about you at all, does he?" Jumei said indignantly. "And is the engagement between Yafeng and Tetsuya-senpai really that simple? Given their personalities, they shouldn't have any emotional foundation to compromise with their families so easily, especially when it comes to something as big as marriage. So, Shūsuke, by inserting yourself between them like this, what do you think Tetsuya-senpai will think of you? Don't you care at all?"

  Futaba's icy blue eyes snapped open. Indeed, was it really as nonchalant as he said? And why hadn't Yafeng confessed her relationship with the Sanada family until now? Was it really because she didn't have the time and opportunity, or was her relationship with Futaba not as simple as she had said?

  "Zhou Shu, from the moment I met you, I knew you were my prince. Although it broke my heart to see you with Yafeng, I accepted it because she's excellent. But now, this is unacceptable. Before breaking off her engagement with Teshigawara-senpai, she wasn't worthy of you. And if you really get involved between Yafeng and Teshigawara-senpai at this time, I'll lose respect for you. Taking a friend's wife isn't something a gentleman does." She paused, looking at Nii very seriously, "Zhou Shu, will you be engaged to me?"

  "Kumiko stared at Jiro in shock, not expecting her to say this. Just as he was about to refuse, Kumiko preempted him. "Jiro-nii-san, don't refuse me, I'm serious. I've liked you for three years now, and without you, I wouldn't know how to live. Of course, if you and Akane are truly in love, I'll congratulate you both, even though it would be hard for me. But the thing is, Akane doesn't seem to care about you that much. If she did, she would have confessed your relationship to the Shinoda family by now. Maybe she has her reasons, so what I'm proposing is also a challenge. If during our engagement party preparations or at the actual party, Akane shows up and announces your love for each other to the world, then I'll step aside and let you two be together, and explain everything to everyone. But if she doesn't show up, it proves she doesn't love you that much, or she can't betray Handa-senpai's trust. In that case, Jiro, I don't think you should interfere with their feelings either. So, I hope you'll give me a chance and agree to our engagement. Let me try to win your heart. If by the time I graduate from university, you still don't like me, then we can annul the engagement and set each other free. Can you do that for me, Jiro-nii-san?"

  Fuji stared at Hisami, unsure of what to say. He had to admit that some of Hisami's words struck a chord with him, but he was unwilling to verify his feelings for Yafeng in this way, and it would only hurt Hisami more.

  "Zhou, help your brother out, don't reject me, at least give me some hope, or else just let me die in peace, otherwise I don't know what will happen to me, if it continues like this I'll go crazy."

  Looking at his earnestly pleading Chika, Nii didn't dare to meet her gaze and averted his head.

  Outside the ward, Sei Mei sat down by the wall. She hadn't expected Hisae to have such a crazy idea, nor had she expected Hisae to treat Yafeng like that. But inside, this was her sister, the sister of Ai Nifront's bones. Although what she did was crazy and even despicable, what could be done? As her older sister, she could only keep it a secret for her. In her heart, she apologized to Yafeng, but didn't think that this momentary apology would become a lifelong regret, one that she herself couldn't forgive.

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