Chapter 517: Tachibana Masamune Arrives
During his free time in the store, Zhuo sat down and watched TV casually. Coincidentally, he found that a program with content such as "Nine Ways to Cook Chocolate" was being broadcast. He couldn't help but secretly glanced at Ling who was still busy.

He thought that even if the kitchen and the cashier were free, the dishes in the small room still needed to be collected and cleaned. It might not be good to let Zero, who was already too busy to stop, see this kind of program that might add burden to him. However, it seemed too obvious to change the channel deliberately... He was hesitating whether to turn it off, but Zero himself walked into another small room and seemed not to notice.

Seeing this, Zhuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, he murmured to himself in his heart: "If Ling sees this, he will get serious and fight again."

Three months passed after Christmas, and Zhuo's life continued as usual. It couldn't be said to be good, but it was definitely not bad either.

Jiude Mai and Su Enxi left after Christmas Eve. Zhuo didn't know whether they returned to the Black Stone Residence.

It's not easy to find out.

After all, this is an adult world, and some things will change quietly even if no one says anything.

Just like Ren and Yurina, the number of times they can meet each other today is getting less and less. It seems that there is a pocket watch hanging above everyone's head, silently calculating the number of times they can meet each other.

Today is February 14th, a rather magical day.

On this day, Zhuo could see many red-faced monsters sitting in the seats of the store.

Girls usually start preparing chocolates a week in advance, so that they can present them to their loved ones with deep love on February 14th.

And now it is Valentine's Day, February 14th.

So Zhuo looked at those boys and girls arguing with each other with an expressionless face, with their hands pressed on their legs, as if they were comparing who could hold their breath longer, and each of them lowered their heads to hide their red faces.

Zhuo recalled his own experience, and there didn't seem to be this kind of atmosphere and momentum of "I'm going to fight you today". Counting the memories of those three years when everything seemed to be a natural outcome, Zhuo couldn't help but smile and silently sent them his blessings.

……

"See you tomorrow, Santa Claus."

The remaining slightly cool spring breeze gently caressed the back of his neck. Zhuo shrank his neck and continued to stand in the night wind waiting.

This is the part of bidding farewell to Little Mute every night after closing the business and before embarking on the journey home. Although Zhuo personally took Little Mute away from Genji Heavy Industries, he also knew the importance of Genji Heavy Industries to Little Mute. In order to stabilize the overly strong dragon bloodline in her body, Little Mute must undergo serum dialysis once in a while and undergo irregular examinations.

Zhuo knew very well that he was not capable of shouldering all these responsibilities, and the little mute himself also needed his own place to live, so there would be a special car from the Sheqi Eight Families to pick him up every night.

To put it another way, even if these problems can be solved, we still need to understand that we cannot force people into a dead end. Although the specific reason is unclear, it is surprising that Tachibana Masamune can accept his advice calmly. If he expects more, it will only force this venomous snake hiding in the dark to secretly reveal its poisonous fangs.

That being said.

The car that came to welcome the little mute home tonight was not the usual black Hummer, but a black Hummer whose ostentation could be seen from the license plate number "000001".

“The Eight Snake Clan!!!
"The Japanese hybrids who came together for unity in the past, the pure and honest descendants of the White King. Even though the aristocracy has been abolished, most of the noble children of the families who still shoulder the responsibility of the country also come from here.

"The one who is going to lead them cannot be an ordinary person!!!"

"What nonsense are you talking about again."

The slightly warm scarf was wrapped around his neck by the little hand and then pulled back, gently and tightly protecting his chin. While standing on tiptoe to do this, Ling said expressionlessly.

From her point of view, Sakura Yabuki, Crow, Yasha, the man she had never seen before, and Dr. Herzog got out of the black Hummer one after another. Zhuo was looking over there, reading for his own amusement in a slightly exaggerated tone, and he didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.

"The young master of the Eight Snake Clan, Yuan Zhisheng! The head of the Yuan Clan, the executive director of the Neon Branch of the subordinate Kassel Academy, the eldest young master of Neon Hey Dao (anti-river crab), the legendary Amaterasu, is a genuine rich young man. Just like his excellent bloodline, his sword skills, spear skills, academics, bloodline, and spiritual words have left a brilliant record in all fields that cannot be questioned.

"Sonewa——(This is——) Genjisheng. And the woman who assisted him was...

"The young lady of the Snake Eight Clan, Sakura Yabuki! Simple and loyal, intelligent and wise, she has always been with the young master. Unlike the powerful Minamoto no Chisei, she is completely concerned about the young master, showing the style of a Yamato Nadeshiko and a loyal ninja. With her exemplary conduct, she is respected as the chief and only secretary despite being a critic."

(PS: If the double quotation marks are only halfway through, it means that a person’s words have not been completed.)
"If you continue, you'll be heard."

"That's right. Although it's not appropriate to say this in front of him, I think it will be easier for you to get to know him. Yuan Zhisheng."

“I’ve remembered it.”

"It's not special enough to remember. Are you taking it too seriously?"

"That's not the case. I had the impression that he was someone who caught my attention."

"Isn't that very rude to others?"

Saying "Let me pay attention to someone" may be impolite to others, but being happy is a natural thing. If you act in this way, you will seem like an immature child.

After hearing what Zhuo said, Ling, who was standing with him holding his arm, shook his head and sighed, giving him a helpless yet somewhat happy bright look.

"...I can't help you. Since you want to hear it so much. It's hard for Utsunomiya Zero to remember others in his heart."

"...I can't help you. Even if you say so, it's hard to be convincing without intonation."

Zhuo's stiff reply could not conceal the joy in his voice.

After the four people in front of him got out of the black Hummer one after another, Uesugi Eriya bowed slightly to two of them... Even though he was being shameless, Zhuo had the right to be glad that the little mute was now a little different from when they first met. At least he had understood the importance of greetings.

As the footsteps approached in unison, Zhuo could probably predict that there was something she wanted to explain to him, and that this matter was probably related to Uesugi Eri.

(You need to work harder.) Zhuo encouraged himself in his heart.

"They are truly an ideal couple..."

"Hello, Mr. Ju."

"Your honor, Utsunomiya-kun."

Zhuo bowed slightly to Tachibana Masamune who was walking towards him with a kind smile. After the two of them greeted each other, they stood up. Zhuo took Zero in his arms and stepped back half a step, making way for "Mio's house".

Zhuo knew that he probably had something to discuss with him, but he was not sure about the specific content, so he took the initiative to invite the other party in and entertain him to discuss in detail later.

"Then excuse me."

"You're so polite. Zero, we have a guest."

"I see."

Zhuo reminded Ling and asked her to help prepare refreshments for the guests.

Zhuo, on the other hand, takes the customers who enter the store to their seats - however, since this is a business place, there are only coffee tables for customers to use.

"please sit down."

"Thank you."

Zhuo pulled out a chair but did not sit down. Instead, he extended his hand to Masamune Tachibana on the other side and smiled. Yabuki Sakura, who was a little serious because it was a formal occasion, looked at him as if surprised. He felt sorry that he could not host her after not seeing her for such a long time. With such a feeling, Zhuo told her where to put the basket of bags, and then asked them to sit down together.

Ling also came back at this time, placed the tray with snacks on the table steadily, and then walked around to sit next to Zhuo.

"I apologize for the poor hospitality."

"You are too polite."

Although I was told that I was too polite, the tea was actually just a combination of baked snacks and drinks that were reheated after they were not sold out. I didn't want them to wait for the re-making time, so I had to serve them these.

I sat upright with my hands on my knees, watching them take a bite of their snack and then a sip of their drink, then I let out a long sigh in a very neon-like atmosphere to express my admiration.

"Ah... I've been keeping an eye on this place, but it's still great."

"You're overly flattering."

"As for the coffee shop, there are a lot of things that were prepared from the beginning, and we can still cope with it. But..."

"but?"

"...After running the business, you all understand that although it is hard work, you can't make a lot of money."

"This? That's right, the store can only accommodate these people. Even if the business is good, there won't be much income."

“Are you interested in changing?”

"I see. Even though I don't make any money, I don't feel it's hard. I have no right to say that because someone else is taking care of it for me."

"That's not what I meant, Utsunomiya-kun."

Tachibana Masamune sighed but didn't elaborate, so Zhuo didn't quite understand. But it shouldn't be a question that requires digging into the details.

Zhuo chose to give up on this question, which made the other party look regretful.

"I'm going to get straight to the point, Utsunomiya-kun. I hope you'll forgive me if I offend you."

"Please tell me."

"Eri has been out for three years now. I think she has enough experience."

"…If it is your decision as a father, then I can do nothing about it."

"Although I have this identity, I probably don't speak from this standpoint."

"Sorry, I don't understand what you mean."

He felt that Tachibana Masamune was hinting at something, or hoping that he would understand something, but he couldn't quite understand it, so he frowned.

He probably meant that with the changes in the Snake Eight Clan, they could no longer give in and leave Uesugi Eriya outside. But from what he said, there seemed to be another meaning, as if Uesugi Eriya could not stay in the coffee shop for other reasons.

Zhuo decided to discuss this matter with Ling later, and restart the conversation at an appropriate time to continue the conversation that was already in progress.

"Did something happen?"

"Ah~ Yeah. That's about it."

"Is that so? This may seem a little abrupt, but can I understand?"

"Of course, if you don't think I'm nagging you."

"What are you talking about?"

"Hahaha——then I'll have to let Eri wait a little longer. I hope she won't blame me. Where should I start... Utsunomiya-kun knows about the mixed-bloods, right?"

Tachibana Masamune laughed happily, his eyes looking at Zero who was standing quietly beside him.

Zhuo didn't know whether he should be happy that he didn't recognize Ling's original identity, or worried that he would point out that Ling was also a half-blood.

Tachibana Masamune probably wouldn't have remembered Zero and pretended to be ignorant, as Zhuo worried. Besides, Tachibana Masamune knew that only he and the three embryos he carried survived. If he had recognized Zero's identity long ago, he would have had many opportunities to make it clear before.

But we can't say it's absolute.

Mixed-bloods with golden hair are not everywhere, but they are not hard to find either. Ling is not as out of place as Zhuo thought.

Perhaps sensing that Zhuo was still worried, Ling reached out his other hand that was not holding his and gently stroked the back of his hand.

"Of course, my wife is a mixed-blood."

Zhuo smiled bitterly in his heart at his own unnecessary worries, but at the same time, he calmed down after being comforted by Ling and responded to the other party positively.

Hearing this, Tachibana Masamune smiled brightly again.

"That's easy to say. You know, when I first learned that the last princess of the Romanov family married Japan, I was shocked. I even thought that one of the ghosts had deceived the Romanov family."

"A group of fierce ghosts?"

To be honest, Zhuo probably knew that this was a question that the other party deliberately threw at him. But if he wanted to pretend to be an outsider, he had to take over this topic. Zhuo didn't know the other party's purpose, but anyway, if he continued the conversation, there shouldn't be any real trouble.

And it must be said that if Zhuo did not know the true identity of Tachibana Masamune, he would definitely not be able to believe that the old man in front of him would have such sinister ambitions.

After hearing this, the old man in front of him felt as if he was reminded of his youngest son in the family who had committed a sin. He knew that the other party had made a mistake, but at the same time he hated him for not fighting back, and at the same time he was sad about it.

"Ah - a group of fierce ghosts. I am ashamed to say...

(I don’t need to say shame, I don’t really want to know.)
"...The so-called fierce ghosts are also our brothers and sisters, and the other side of our curse. The eight families of Sheqi have benefited from their bloodline since ancient times. It allows us to always lead Neon forward, but it also erodes our families. The children born in each of our families may become ghosts with unstable bloodlines, just like you know... Hui, Eri... She is the same.

“We are aware of their harmful effects, but we don’t have the heart to actually kill them. We just want to confine them to a certain area and let them live until they die of old age.

"All this ended more than a decade ago, when a leader emerged among them and led those children to form the opposite of the Snake Eight Clans, the Fierce Ghost Clan."

To be honest, the emotions are very well placed, but isn’t it a bit long as a setup? Zhuo resisted the urge to complain and nodded in approval.

"Is that so? I'm sorry."

"Excuse me. May I continue?"

"of course."

(End of this chapter)