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Sure enough, Xiangzi's eyes turned unfriendly.
You left so early today, so you were secretly meeting with my aunt?
Banami said, "Actually, Hatsune recently had the idea of entering the entertainment industry, so she invited me to come and observe her acting skills."
Hatsune's eyes widened in surprise. When did she develop such grand ambitions?
"Oh, in that case, you certainly wouldn't mind if we came along to watch, would you?" Xiangzi didn't care whether he was telling the truth or not, and went along with the conversation.
“It’s definitely more fun watching a movie together, right, Kodama?” Banami naturally had no choice but to agree.
"Everyone, together!" Xiaodeng nodded emphatically.
As a result, Banami had to buy three more movie tickets, side by side.
However, the seating order changed to Xiaodeng, Aine, Banami, and Xiangzi, with Hatsune Miku being squeezed next to Xiangzi.
Although the golden retriever maintained a stiff smile on its face, it was on the verge of tears inside.
She finally had the chance to watch a movie alone with Hanami.
***
It was almost dusk. After watching the movie, in front of Toyokawa's house, Banami arranged for a car to take Akari and Aine home. The blond guy who had managed to sneak away but was arrested again seemed to have been called back to the agency, or maybe he went to cry to Mana.
As the sun set, Xiangzi frowned slightly, prompting Banami to ask, "What's wrong?"
"I feel like everyone else has become more and more proactive since Chihaya Aine's incident."
Thinking of this, Xiangzi's face grew increasingly grim.
Banami almost burst out laughing, thinking that it seemed like a huge mistake for Xiangzi to have been soft-hearted and publicly announce her "acceptance" of Aine.
Now, whether it's the golden retriever, Miaomengqin, or Maki, they've all become a bit restless.
However, as the person involved, Banami certainly couldn't say that. He calmly replied, "You're overthinking it. Do you think I'm some kind of succubus?"
Xiangzi merely gave a cold snort, at this moment she had a strong sense of vigilance, as if "there are always treacherous people trying to harm me".
Whether it's that pink-haired dog, the big golden retriever at home, or that Nagasaki Motoyo... if that's the case, then so be it...
Xiangzi pulled Banami up the stairs to their room and said, "Do you think Xiaomu might be inside?"
"Uh...."
But before Banai could answer, Xiangzi opened the door, and Banai followed him inside. The room appeared to be empty.
"You're overthinking it."
When Xiangzi walked to the bedside and lifted the blanket, he found that little Wakaba Mutsu was curled up on the bed, seemingly waiting for someone to come back and sleep together.
A cold sweat broke out on Banami's forehead, but Xiangzi couldn't bear to wake the child. Instead, she pulled Banami out of the room and closed the door before saying, "This can't go on. I'm clearly your fiancée, but they all act like I don't exist!?"
No, they need to be taught a lesson, to let them know that I'm the most important person to them!
Seeing Mr. Daisho's annoyed look, a thought suddenly flashed through Banami's mind.
"Well, actually, I'm planning to do another creative project recently. I feel that being noisy and disruptive in real life isn't elegant enough, and it doesn't reflect the noble status you hold in my heart, Xiao Xiang."
"You see, fan-made content is great; it doesn't hurt feelings and it still conveys the message," said Banami.
Teacher Da Xiang thought to himself, "You lazybones actually took the initiative to create a derivative work. However, this is at least a serious matter." Xiangzi's anger subsided a bit, and he carefully considered Banami's suggestion, finding it quite reasonable.
However, Xiangzi quickly made his own demands.
"Then I absolutely have to be the female lead in this story!"
“That’s natural,” Banami said.
"Moreover, I need to be the core of the entire story, not some background female lead."
Hearing that Banami agreed so readily, Xiangzi, still somewhat uneasy, continued to add conditions.
"No problem, how could a background heroine possibly reflect how important you are to me, Xiaoxiang?" Banami continued, patting her chest to assure him.
Seeing how readily Banai agreed, Xiangzi almost couldn't suppress a smile and continued to add conditions.
“Then I want to show in the story how you are always thinking of me, even when those bitches force and seduce you, your heart and mind are still full of Toyokawa Shoko.”
"Uh, well... we need to consider everyone's feelings..." Hanami hesitated.
As a result, Xiangzi glared at him, and Banai immediately gave in and assured him, "No problem, the feelings are absolutely deep, I would rather die than submit."
Actually, Xiangzi felt a little embarrassed when he mentioned this.
In her mind, a touching story had already emerged: Banami endured all sorts of temptations from that group of divine girls, but in the end, she realized that she was the one she loved the most.
"That's right, it's a harem novel with a single female lead!" Xiangzi slapped Banami's shoulder hard.
He looked at the other person with some surprise and said, "You actually know about harems with only one female lead."
"Don't underestimate me, little Banami! Just tell me if you agree or not!"
"No problem, it's definitely a harem with a single female lead!" Banami patted her chest again to assure her.
He then immediately opened the system, ready to recruit people into the second-generation creation space.
Xiangzi asked in confusion, "You... have already figured out how to write it?"
"Now, let Xiaoxiang see just how important you are to me! Original, start!" Banai shouted excitedly.
Then, before being pulled into the co-working space, Xiangzi received a system notification about the co-working theme.
※ Fanfiction Theme: "After My Foster Mother Xiangzi Died, I Inherited Her Harem"
Xiangzi: "Huh?!"
Tell me, is this enough for a female lead?
Tell me, is that enough to connect the whole text?
Just tell me, is it a harem or a single female lead?
Chapter Seven: A Cart Runs Over His Face
When Nagasaki Motoyo, already wearing high heels and with her now plump and full figure, ran into the funeral hall, the first thing she saw was a black and white photo of Toyokawa Shoko, the girl she had been searching for for many years and who had once been regarded as her salvation.
Or, to put it another way, it's a funeral portrait.
Upon seeing this, Nagasaki Motoyo, who was already the president of the securities company, felt his legs go weak and almost collapsed to the ground.
And this portrait was held in the arms of a boy with dark eyes. He was dressed in simple black clothes and looked like a relative of Xiangzi.
Su Shi, who was so sad that she had difficulty breathing, felt not only heartache but also a hint of jealousy and anger.
SAKI-chan, how... how could you just die like this, leaving me behind, leaving us behind!
You had your own family, you had children, how could you... how could you just die like that?
What should I do then?
She wasn't the only one among those present who thought this way.
"SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan SAKI-chan........"
In Nagasaki Motoyo's view, a woman with golden hair and exquisite features was kneeling on the ground, supporting a half-grown boy, and constantly calling out the name of the dead.
“Sanjiao Chuhua…” Su Shi whispered the other person’s name.
Although they haven't been in contact for many years, Su Shi still keeps a close eye on these old friends. Or rather, she doesn't need to keep a close eye on them. Mitsuko Mitsuko, who has become a big star, has too much exposure, and it's impossible not to see her.
Another person who received equally high exposure was standing aside, silent as ever, just like before, Wakaba Mutsu.
She inherited both her mother Minami Mori's looks and the Wakaba family's status in the entertainment industry, becoming a leading actress in art-house films, surpassing many others among the younger generation, thanks to several films that were worthy of Oscars.
At this moment, Wakaba Mutsu lowered her head, silently looking at Xiangzi's portrait, lost in thought.
There were also old friends like Takamatsu Akari and Shiina Tatsuki, who had shared many hardships. However, after Toyokawa Shoko silently disappeared back then, everyone gradually drifted apart, and the friendship of the past was gone forever.
The smile of Toyokawa Shoko when she invited me to join the band is still vivid in my mind, but now, I can only see her slightly thin and tired appearance in the black and white portrait.
This morning, the phone number she thought had been blocked sent her a text message.
"By the time you see this message, I will have passed away. If you still remember me, please come to my funeral."
This was a text message that was scheduled to be sent at a specific time; it was probably not just her, but everyone present received it.
Su Shi stepped forward, looked at the skinny little boy who was not even as tall as herself, and asked, "What's your name?"
Even though her mother had passed away, Su Shi couldn't see much sadness in her small, dark eyes; instead, they seemed empty.
"My name is Hachiman Yuuki." The boy resembled a doll, much like Wakaba Mutsumi when he was a child.
"Where is Saki's husband? Where is your father?" Suze asked.
But the boy shook his head and said, "I was adopted by Xiangzi's mother. She raised me all by herself, then she overworked herself, got sick, and finally died."
Hearing the boy's words, Su Shi felt an intense, sharp pain in her heart.
Looking at the tired yet resolute expression in the photo, Su Shi felt a pang of sorrow. Why, Saki-chan, why didn't you tell us? Why did you have to carry on alone?
If you come to me, I can give you any amount of money!
However, upon hearing the boy's words, she had no doubt that this was exactly what the Toyokawa Shoko she knew would do.
After leaving the Toyokawa family and the band, Shoko lived a poor but resilient life, even adopting and raising a child, but ultimately could not escape her unfortunate fate.
Su Shi couldn't help but look at the child in front of her. He had dark eyes and dark hair. Perhaps due to some malnutrition, he was handsome, but he looked unusually thin, as if he might pass away at any moment like the person in the portrait in her hand.
A maternal instinct that easily evokes pity in people.
Moreover, although they are not related by blood, this boy is, after all, the only person who has spent time with Xiangzi all these years, and he wants to know the secret behind Xiangzi's departure...
A thought, or rather, a greed, arose in Su Shi's mind.
Since I couldn't have you, Saki-chan, in this life, I'll at least have your child after you die.
But at that moment, everyone's cell phone rang in the mourning hall.
Su Shi took out her phone and saw that it was another scheduled text message from Xiangzi before he passed away.
"I've hidden my only inheritance in my adopted son. Once you get it, you'll know everything you want to know. If you want it, go find it."
What exactly is the inheritance? It's most likely not property; it could be Xiangzi's handwritten will, his cherished musical instruments, or... something else that would allow Su Shi to learn the secret behind Xiangzi's disappearance.
But regardless, this unknown relic can only be found by the boy who possesses it.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the mourning hall became somewhat strange, as if eyes filled with lust were being cast one after another toward the thin boy.
Su Shi clenched her fists, thinking that Saki-chan had really done something unnecessary. Even if you hadn't prepared this text message, she would have taken the child away anyway.
"You...you're called Xiaoxi, right? Do you know me?" Sanjiao Chuhua asked anxiously from the side.
“I saw it on TV. My mom said that Aunt Hatsune Miku is a relative of hers.” Banami’s eyes seemed a little sad.
“That’s right, I’m Saki-chan’s half-aunt. Her child is my child. Xiaoxi, come home with me, okay?” Misaka Hatsuka breathed rapidly, her red eyes making her look like a lovesick woman.
No matter what, she must get her hands on Saki-chan's belongings. Everything Saki-chan owns is mine, mine!
“I will raise SAKI’s child.” However, Wakaba Mutsumi, who had been silent beside her, took her other hand.
When Ye Mu and Hatsune's eyes met, neither seemed willing to back down.
This can't go on.
Nagasaki Motoyo walked to the boy's side, gently burying her full body in his head, and said, "Xiao Xi, actually, before your mother passed away, she entrusted you to me. Come home with me now, my house is very big, it's just the two of us. Auntie... I'll buy you lots of delicious food, okay? I'll take good care of you."
Even Takamatsu Akari and Shiina Tatsuki eventually joined the battle.
Still clutching her adoptive mother's portrait, Banami Yu looked up at the older women and young aunties crowding around her, seemingly speaking in unison.
"Alright, Xiaoxi, who do you want to be your mother?"
Chapter Eight: So You Don't Have a Mother Either
Su Shi's fair and delicate hand gently held the other person's hand, which looked like a young animal peeking out.
"Come in, Xiaoxi, this will be your home from now on."
Perhaps because she was new to the place, or perhaps because she was too overwhelmed by the view of the entire Tokyo from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the luxury apartment, Su Shi looked at the unfamiliar boy with a somewhat nervous expression.
He had nothing else on him except for the portrait of Xiangzi in his hand.
"Sorry to bother you," the boy said in a slightly reserved voice.
This made Su Shi feel both sorry for him and a little sorry for him. She gently touched his hair and said, "I should say, I'm back."
But the other person just lowered their head slightly and did not do as Su Shi said.
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