"Why not just compare directly instead of arguing back and forth? I'm willing to offer advice from a male perspective," Mr. Dubian said.

"I have no problem with that," Jiutiao replied.

"Jiutiao, do me a favor and kick him for me, thanks," Kiyono said.

"Do it yourself," Jiutiao responded.

"I am not so uncouth to kick someone; that kind of thing can only be done by you," Kiyono remarked.

After class, Jiutiao Meijie pinched Kiyono Lin's cheek and asked her in a tone that bullied the weak: "Only I can do it?"

Unable to fight back, Kiyono Lin could only coldly turn her face away.

Everyone in the classroom watched this scene, dumbfounded.

Dubian Che looked at Kiyono Lin with sympathy.

He gave her medicine, took her out for exercise under the guise of a walk during Wind Instrument Club activities on Saturdays and Sundays, but it seemed she only exercised these two days of the week.

Though Jiutiao Meijie likewise didn't exercise, she naturally had more stamina, and because it was convenient to slip her medicine, she ate even more.

"Kiyono, you should change your ways," Dubian Che advised.

"Change what?" Kiyono Lin asked sharply, her voice so cold that Tokyo in May seemed about to snow.

"Either change your laziness, try hard to exercise, or stop provoking others."

"You mean, you want me to admit defeat to her?" Kiyono Lin glared at Dubian Che.

"Don't glare at me, glare at her, glare at her!" Dubian Che pointed at the victorious Jiutiao Meijie.

Jiutiao Meijie kicked him.

Dubian Che hooked her foot with his, and continued to speak:

"And advising you to stop provoking isn't telling you to admit defeat. Take, for example, academic grades or proper sports, the essay competition this time is clear-cut for wins and losses. You always want to compete over who looks better; even if the whole country voted a thousand times, 499 times you're the better looking, and 499 times Meijie is."

"And the other two times?" Jiutiao Meijie asked lazily.

"As handsome as I am, winning twice out of a thousand is reasonable," he said confidently.

Kiyono Lin couldn't stand it and looked at him, while Jiutiao Meijie collapsed onto the desk laughing, her laughter captivating.

"...Do you two want to fight?"

Such days passed in a blink, and it was soon Friday.

After school, Dubian Che and Kiyono Lin rode in Jiutiao Meijie's luxury car to the Kiyono mansion.

The early summer twilight made this palace shine splendidly.

Passing a living room with a high dome, they came to the backyard.

The vast lawn, the lush cypresses and pines, the rose vines climbing the fences, and the marble swimming pool a brilliant blue.

This exquisite and grand building faced Tokyo Bay, overlooking the Harbor District.

The three walked through an archway, past tables in the midst of flowers, and approached the fence.

There were two noble ladies there.

"This rose has a rich fragrance and a bright color. The British blue rose over here has large petals and a beautiful bloom, and it flowers in all seasons," Kiyono's mother introduced to Jiutiao's mother.

"I still prefer deep red over blue roses," Jiutiao's mother commented.

"Mother," Kiyono Lin and Jiutiao Meijie both called out, while Dubian Che called out, "Auntie."

The two noble ladies turned around to look at the trio.

Jiutiao's mother glanced over Dubian Che and said to Kiyono's mother with a smile:

"Last time Mr. Bian stayed at my place, he plucked the May roses I use for bathing for Meijie in the morning, saying he wanted to smell my bathwater."

"Really?"

The two laughed like young girls.

"There's such a thing?" Kiyono Lin turned to look at Dubian Che, "Does bathwater smell that good?"

"It smells good, of course; the fragrance of May roses," Dubian Che confidently replied.

"Mr. Bian," Kiyono's mother said with a smile, "next time you smell my bathwater, see what scent it has."

"Auntie..."

"Hmm? Mom's going to get angry now."

Dubian Che glanced at Kiyono Lin, signaling her to help him out.

"Mr. Bian, Mom is talking to you," said Kiyono's mother, posing with a hand on her hip, in a maternal manner.

"Mom, you're so young and have such a pure and carefree spirit, I know without sniffing that you must use jasmine. The white jasmine overwhelms with its beauty, its flower shape is elegant but not showy, subtle and noble, perfect for you."

"Meijie, be careful not to be fooled by this adopted son of ours with his flowery words," Kiyono's mother teased.

"Being deceived is wonderful, women should only hear praise; that's how they become beautiful and confident," said Jiutiao's mother, "It's so boring to see everything clearly and only hear the blunt truth."

Then, she turned to Dubian Che, who was looking for an escape, and said:

"Mr. Bian, if your adoptive mother doesn't want to hear it, say it to me—your real mother."

Dubian Che adjusted the lapel of his suit, his back to the sunset over Tokyo Bay, and said to Jiutiao Meijie and Kiyono Lin:

"Sorry, my sisters, but inheriting the Jiutiao and Kiyono families is none other than my duty as your brother."

Both sisters rolled their eyes at brother Dubian.

The two noble ladies laughed brilliantly, their charm outshining all the flowers in the garden.

The five of them sat at the garden table, enjoying the exquisite dinner served by the servants.

It was a warm breeze-filled evening.

The waves of Tokyo Bay glittered, each crested with gold.

During this time, Jiutiao's mother whispered to Dubian Che the purpose of this gathering—to improve the relationship between the two young mistresses.

Amidst the fragrance of kissing the flowers, the beautiful lady leaned closer, and the handsome Dubian Che listened closely, those unaware of their relationship might have thought they were a couple whispering sweet nothings to each other.

"How have things been recently?" Jiutiao's mother wasn't concerned about Dubian Che's health.

"I've led some initiatives, and their relationship seems to have improved a bit," Dubian Che replied.

Rock-paper-scissors, essay contests, and so on.

"Oh?" True to Meijie's mother, her simple syllables tugged at the heartstrings.

"Today Meijie pinched Kiyono's cheek although it was part of a fight," Dubian Che explained quietly.

"What are you two whispering about?" Kiyono's mother's voice carried over, tinged with laughter, "Share with everyone, let's all listen."

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