"Dora A Lin, help me out!"
Kiyono Lin didn’t even bother to lift her gaze from the book, "Have you finally been caught peeping in the women’s restroom?"
"Then it’s peeping under girls’ skirts at the bottom of the stairs and getting caught red-handed."
"Do you think I would come to you for that kind of thing?"
"Or maybe you dare go to your beloved Meiji?"
"I wouldn’t dare...no, wait, that’s strange, right? Why would I do such a perverted thing? You’re the only one I’d ever peek at under a skirt."
With a ’snap,’ Kiyono Lin closed her hardcover book and finally directed her gaze toward Dubian Che, "Confessing your disgusting fetishes to the victim, is this another one of your disgusting habits, Mr. Dubian Che?"
"I just wanted to get your attention."
"Now I’m paying attention to you, considering whether to send you to the police station."
"I kind of attention too. I like everything about you, Kiyono."
Kiyono Lin, who had just framed Dubian Che with a presumptive charge of hooliganism, was now so disgusted by him she massaged her forehead as if it ached.
"What is it?" she asked, sighing softly.
"The day after tomorrow is Mei’s birthday, what gift should I give her?" Dubian Che also stopped fooling around.
"I plan to give her a book."
Dubian Che was surprised, "You? You’re going to give her a gift too?"
"The Kiyono family has close ties with the elders of the Jiutiao family." Kiyono Lin’s words were filled with the weight and helplessness of a great family dynasty.
"I see, my condolences."
Kiyono Lin couldn’t help but crack a smile at that, but then she immediately turned cold again.
"Does Mei like to read?" Dubian Che asked curiously.
Whether at school or at home, he had never seen Jiutiao Mei reading a book. The manga and light novels in the activity room still looked brand new, as if they had just been bought from the bookstore.
"Not at all," Kiyono Lin said with a very happy smile.
"...You two actually get along pretty well, don’t you?"
Kiyono Lin dropped her smile and looked at him unhappily.
"So what should I give her as a boyfriend?" Dubian Che wisely changed the subject.
"A necklace," Kiyono Lin’s mouth curved into a cruel, cold smile, "A dog collar."
"You really hold a grudge, seeking my life in a roundabout way."
Kiyono Lin paused, then chuckled, "I forgot, you’re a scaredy-cat."
"What does being a scaredy-cat have to do with anything? I just love life."
"Everyone has their way of putting it," Kiyono Lin unilaterally concluded that Dubian Che was a coward, then rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought, "That woman likes unique things, and they must be the best."
"Got it, I’ll express deliver myself to her right now!"
"Are you an idiot? I’m seriously trying to think of a solution for you, and you’re spouting nonsense."
"I’m sorry, my attitude was problematic," Dubian Che was just trying to throw in a reference to "Sword Art Online" off the cuff.
Indeed, wealthy heiresses who liked anime only existed in the anime itself.
But having listened to her, and thinking of the promise he made to Xiaoquan Aonai, he already had some ideas about the gift.
September 8th still passed in isolation, and time moved on to the day of Jiutiao Mei’s birthday.
As old nobility and a newly wealthy family, the birthday celebration was naturally lavish. According to the video call between them the night before, there was a party during the day and another in the evening.
The evening was more private, attended only by close relatives and friends of the Jiutiao Family.
Dubian Che had to attend school during the day, and told Jiutiao Mei he would only attend the evening birthday party—in fact, it was because Jiutiao Mei said it was alright not to attend during the day.
Since he didn’t know when he would be ready and was not used to having a driver wait, he declined Jiutiao Mei’s offer to send someone to pick him up.
He leisurely changed into a suit that Mei had recently bought for him and combed a mature hairstyle. After admiring the handsome young man in the mirror, he took a taxi alone to the venue.
The daytime event was at a hotel, while the evening event was at a grand building located in Qingshan—one of the Jiutiao family’s properties, which Dubian Che had never visited.
The taxi was stopped before even getting close, with no chance of appearing amongst the cohort of luxury cars, as the area ahead was private property.
Dubian Che paid the taxi fare and, looking at the road beneath his feet and the gate a hundred meters away, pondered that if someone wanted to infiltrate and assassinate, they might already have been shot to pieces in this distance.
Before he could identify himself, the bodyguards placed their hands in front of them and bowed respectfully, apologizing.
"I’m truly sorry! I didn’t know it was Mr. Dubian, I’ll immediately arrange for a car to take you inside!"
"No need, thanks for your trouble."
It was just a hundred meters distance; he’d be there by the time a car arrived.
After walking those hundred meters and entering the gate, another hundred or so meters took Dubian Che into the mansion proper.
Thankfully it was evening, or he would have surely sweated in a suit walking that distance in the leftover summer heat.
A maid checked for invitations at the door; Dubian Che didn’t have one, but they didn’t ask and just led him inside, telling him what floor and room Jiutiao Mei was in, getting ready. He could go straight up to find her.
Dubian Che would be foolish to go.
Instead, he approached Jiutiao Mei’s mother, who was conversing with a couple of noble ladies, "Good evening, Auntie."
Jiutiao Mei’s mother, still in her kimono, with a gentle smile on her youthful face, nodded to Dubian Che, "Mr. Bian, you’re here. Mei is upstairs, go find her yourself."
"Sure, will do." After responding, Dubian Che excused himself with an apologetic smile to the noble ladies and then sneakily slipped away to eat.