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墨書 Inktalez
Women are truly a unique species in this world, lacking the innocence of youth and the flamboyance of flowers. Their lives revolve around the monotony of kitchens and dining tables, making even the slightest event a delightful topic of conversation.
Thus, women can easily be startled. However, do not assume that the mother of Kenji Ikeda and his sister is an ordinary woman—her level of astonishment far exceeds that of an average person!
With a thunderous shout, when Mom Ikeda's features gradually magnified in Jufeng's eyes, and that bright and clear voice pierced through the air, Romain instinctively felt that perhaps the long-lost Lion's Roar technique had resurfaced.
Before the three young men at the door could react, a man slowly emerged from behind the woman—his silhouette strikingly similar to Kenji Ikeda's, even sharing a hint of his temperament. Judging by age, he should have been over fifty, yet he appeared robust and virile.
Ikeda Dad cast a reproachful glance at his astonished wife before turning to Jufeng with a warm expression. Speaking slowly, he said, "Look at you! A guest has arrived, and you haven't invited him in yet. Come on, come in quickly."
With her husband's reminder, Mom Ikeda suddenly realized that she had been so caught up in her excitement that she had forgotten the basic politeness. She quickly stepped aside to let Romain and the others enter the house. Once inside, she and her husband treated Romain with exceptional warmth while somewhat neglecting the Ikeda siblings.
Romain was still reeling from the earlier shock when he was inexplicably pulled into the house and attended to by the two elders, leaving him somewhat flustered.
Masahiro Ikeda looked at her brother but received only an indifferent smile in return. With a deep sigh, she placed her hand on her forehead, adopting an expression of utter helplessness.
After expressing her feelings, Masahiro hurriedly explained; otherwise, this misunderstanding would drag on indefinitely.
"Mom and Dad, you've got it all wrong. He’s just… um… my brother’s friend. I don’t know him well enough for there to be anything like a boyfriend-girlfriend situation. Please… don’t make things awkward for him."
Masahiro awkwardly forced out an explanation but was met with disapproving glares from her parents. Romain had never encountered such a scene before and was momentarily taken aback; it was only after Masahiro's reminder that he came to his senses.
"Yes, Uncle and Auntie, you misunderstood. This is just my first meeting with Yahui; I’m really not her boyfriend."
Seeing Romain stand up to clarify their relationship made the elders exchange glances with slightly somber expressions.
However, to avoid further awkwardness, Ikeda Dad quickly said, "Oh, so it was just a misunderstanding! No worries; being at home makes you guests. Since this is your first meeting, have you eaten dinner? I suspect everything outside is closed by now. You two sit down; Auntie and I will whip something up for you."
Feeling embarrassed for disturbing the elderly late at night and then asking them to cook as well, Romain felt reluctant but was about to decline when Ikeda Dad cut him off.
"They always eat when they come back home; it's not just for you, so don’t worry about it. You young folks chat among yourselves; don’t hold any grudges about the earlier misunderstanding."
Ikeda Dad's words carried a refreshing warmth, like a gentle spring breeze, with a faint scent of books wafting through the air. The two elders headed towards the kitchen, and Jufeng watched their retreating figures, momentarily lost in thought—this feeling of home was something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
As Jufeng savored the nostalgia that seemed to stretch back for ages, he was suddenly pulled back to reality by Ikeda Kenji's gentle pat on his shoulder.
"Brother Jufeng, please don't take it the wrong way. My parents have been hoping for Yahui to have a boyfriend for quite some time now. We hardly ever bring anyone home, so they must have misunderstood."
Jufeng shook his head, smiling in understanding. "I get it. But looking at you, it seems you haven't settled down either. Why are your parents so eager about your sister's situation?"
Ikeda Masahiro chimed in from the side, "Someone shouldn't act like a busybody; this really has nothing to do with you!"
With that, Ikeda Masahiro retreated to her room to change clothes. Jufeng's emotions were caught in a blend of sadness and joy tonight, so he didn't mind her sharp retort.
Ikeda Kenji poured a glass of warm water for Jufeng and explained, "You may not know this, but Yahui has always been mischievous and not at all ladylike. She has calmed down a bit as she grew up. My parents are quite traditional, so they worry about her. They see me as the kind of child who wouldn't cause them any concern."
Jufeng accepted the glass of water, surprised that Ikeda Kenji could make such an apt joke, and he couldn't help but laugh along.
Sitting down on the sofa, Jufeng took a moment to appreciate the decor of the Ikeda family's home. The living room was simple, like most others, but one wall was lined with bookshelves filled with various titles, including many written in Huaguo.
Jufeng had seen plenty of books at Ikeda Masahiro's villa before; many were familiar texts. The family's fluency in Huaguo piqued his interest even more.
"Brother Kenji," Jufeng asked curiously, "your family seems quite proficient in Huaguo. I can't help but feel inadequate; I've never had much talent for languages."
Ikeda Kenji had changed into comfortable attire and sat beside Jufeng to continue explaining. "What you might not know is that my father is a scholar specializing in Huaguo linguistics. My mother was a tour guide when she was younger and also worked with Chinese tourists. So Yahui and I grew up in an environment rich in Huaguo language naturally."
Jufeng had initially thought that Ikeda Kenji's parents might have some connection to the Underworld or power dynamics but was surprised to learn they held such ordinary professions. It made sense why Ikeda Kenji and his sister lacked any trace of malice; they were unlike typical figures from the Underworld.
As Jufeng and Ikeda Kenji chatted about trivial matters in the living room—both being leaders of the Underworld—they found plenty of common ground. Moreover, Ikeda Kenji was a mentor-like figure who provided much inspiration to Jufeng.
Ikeda Masahiro emerged from her room dressed in cozy cartoon-themed pajamas that were loose and adorable. As night fell, she headed towards the kitchen to join her parents in preparing dinner.
In England, this is considered a tradition; essentially, there is no woman who cannot cook.
Ikeda Mom saw her daughter removing her light makeup and casually tying her hair back. She couldn't help but chide, "The guests are still here; you should pay a bit more attention to your appearance. Otherwise, you might scare them away. Just wait and see what happens!"
Ikeda Masahiro sighed helplessly and explained again, "Mom! We are really just meeting for the first time. What was that saying? Oh! It's just a chance encounter. There's no issue of development; if they get scared off, so be it. It's no big deal."
Ikeda Mom gave her daughter a gentle reprimand and continued, "This is not how it should be. I think he seems quite nice; his name is Jufeng, right? He looks pretty good and has such politeness about him—there's not a hint of hostility, unlike your brother's previous friends. So you need to seize this opportunity, understand? Time is ticking, my dear."
Ikeda Dad was busy cleaning fresh fish when he heard his wife's plea for help. He quickly chimed in, "Yahui, your mother is right. When she was your age, she had already given birth to you. But look at you; all you do is play! Pool is something boys play; how does that suit you? I think someone from Huaguo would be great; I actually hope you find a boyfriend from Huaguo. You need to take this seriously and stop being so careless."
Faced with the combined pressure from her parents, Ikeda Masahiro finally declared her surrender and could only temporarily deflect with, "Alright, Mom and Dad, don't worry. I will work hard on my own; just let me handle my feelings without interference."
Ikeda Dad, being a cultured man, exchanged a glance with his wife to reassure her and stopped pressuring Ikeda Masahiro. However, he did shoo his daughter out of the kitchen to encourage her to spend more time in the living room communicating with Jufeng.
Dressed in cartoon pajamas, Ikeda Masahiro appeared before Jufeng, which truly caught his attention. The formally dressed Ikeda Masahiro was like an exquisite mural, while now she resembled a pot of daffodils in the bedroom—fresh and charming.
The ultimate essence of transformation might very well be embodied in Ikeda Masahiro's current appearance. Every move she made radiated a different aura. It felt as though he was interacting with various women despite only speaking with one. This sensation was truly fascinating.
Jufeng regained some composure and joked, "Yahui really knows how to change outfits completely; how about we play a few more games of Pool?"
In their world, the phrase "play Pool" held profound meaning that both Jufeng and Ikeda Masahiro understood implicitly.
Ikeda Masahiro made a fierce expression and cautiously glanced at the kitchen to ensure her parents were not watching before threateningly saying, "If you dare bring that up again, I will strip you naked and throw you out onto the street!"
Jufeng was about to retort when suddenly the kitchen door opened, and Ikeda Mom emerged carrying a plate of delicious-looking dishes.
Jufeng immediately changed his demeanor, adopting a polite scholar's attitude as he took the platter from Ikeda Mom's hands while offering courteous remarks.
Seeing this scene made Ikeda Masahiro grit her teeth in frustration as she shot daggers at Jufeng. When Jufeng turned around, he made a silly face at her.
He felt that at this moment, Yahui and Chuyang were somewhat similar—both a bit proud yet undeniably cute. It was a familiar feeling.
As the first dish was served, slowly, a table full of dishes was laid out. Many of them were unfamiliar to Jufeng. When Ikeda's parents came out, the five of them sat down to eat. The atmosphere was warm, especially with the two elders' support, making Jufeng very happy, though someone else seemed a bit displeased, but unfortunately could only suppress it deep inside.
After the meal, Jufeng offered to help wash the dishes, but Ikeda's parents declined. Instead, he accompanied Ikeda's dad to tour his study. After a pleasant conversation, he finally went to sleep.
Lying on the bed in a foreign land, Jufeng reflected on his experiences during this visit; it felt as if he had traveled through time—having lost something precious yet gained rare emotions. In the balance of gain and loss, it was a trial for the soul.
Slowly closing his eyes, Jufeng thought of Jia'er, who was far away in Magellanic Star and had always devoted herself to him.
Some stood long in the courtyard, while others pondered alone on their pillows. Sometimes, many fated encounters happen helplessly like this.
(To be continued)
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