Back in the office, Hashimoto Youko was pondering over dinner plans for the evening when she was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone.

"Dinglingling~ Dinglingling~"

"Moshi moshi," she picked up the phone and answered.

"It's me, Youko."

The gentle voice of Zhongshan Taka reached her ears.

"Taka." Receiving a call from her fiancé, Hashimoto Youko couldn't contain her joy and excitedly stood up from her chair, her face beaming with happiness, "Why are you calling again, didn't you just call a couple of days ago?"

"Because I was thinking of you today too," Zhongshan Taka chuckled softly, "I wanted to hear your voice."

"Taka..." Hashimoto Youko bit her lip, glanced outside, and whispered, "I miss you too."

"I'll be back in the country soon, once I finish up some things in Tokyo I'll come to Sapporo to see you, and I've brought you some gifts," Zhongshan Taka said, his voice full of indulgence.

"Really?" Hashimoto Youko was overjoyed, her voice bubbling with laughter, "You are my best gift."

But then she remembered that she had just made some progress in seducing Aoyama Xiu Xin, and the smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by an indissoluble worry.

With her intentions set, tonight was certain to be a good start, and afterwards, her "affection" with Aoyama Xiu Xin would rapidly progress.

What would happen if Taka came to Sapporo when she was in a "fiery romance" with Aoyama Xiu Xin?

She was doing this behind his back.

How would she explain it to him?

If she told the truth, he would definitely not agree.

But could she really call off the plan?

"Why are you suddenly silent?" Zhongshan Taka in the United States naturally didn't know about his fiancée's worries.

Coming back to her senses, Hashimoto Youko said, "Have you finished up everything over there? Taka, actually, you don't have to rush back for me. I don't want to delay your work because of matters of the heart."

Right now, she could only try to delay his return to the country.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Your birthday is just a few days away, how could I not come back? Weren't you happy just a moment ago?" Confused by her sudden change of attitude, Zhongshan Taka felt something was off, "Don't you want me to come back? Don't you want to see me?"

"It's not that, of course not," Hashimoto Youko denied emphatically, stammering, "I'm just afraid of delaying your work. I'd feel guilty."

"What's work compared to you? I've already booked my ticket in advance. I'll see you then; I've got plans to drink with friends tonight. Bye," said Zhongshan Taka.

Hashimoto Youko, preoccupied with her thoughts, answered mechanically, "Bye."

After hanging up, she stood still in a daze, rubbed her temples annoyedly, and sighed.

Yes, my birthday is coming up soon.

If everything went according to plan and her "affection" with Aoyama Xiu Xin grew fast, he would certainly help her celebrate her birthday, and if Zhongshan Taka showed up...

Hashimoto Youko didn't even dare to think about that scene.

"It's really troublesome when you want to do something," she muttered.

Meanwhile, Zhongshan Taka in the United States frowned, feeling that something was very wrong with his fiancée, that she must be hiding something from him.

Recalling how during their last phone call, which had been going smoothly, she suddenly hung up, and her hesitance this time didn't want him to return early... his face got grimmer.

He didn't want to think in that direction, but he couldn't help but think: could Youko have met someone else in Hokkaido and done something to betray him?

No, that couldn't be.

Certainly not.

It wouldn't be like Youko to be so fickle.

Zhongshan Taka closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He became even more determined to return to the country earlier.

He needed to make sure everything was fine to ease his mind.

.........…

At nine o'clock in the evening.

In a private room of a high-end Western restaurant in Sapporo.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, who had gone home to change into a new suit and dress well enough to look presentable, was quietly waiting.

After another six or seven minutes, the door to the private room opened and Hashimoto Youko walked in with a cold face.

"Welcome, Miss Yangzi, I thought you were late because you were taking time to dress up," Aoyama Xiu Xin rose to greet her, saw that she was still wearing the same beige suit from work, and teased her with a slight smile.

Hashimoto Youko was deliberately impolite to show her distaste for Aoyama Xiu Xin. After sitting down, she responded indifferently, "You're not worth dressing up for."

The suit was matched with trousers of the same color and champagne-colored high heels; her cold expression and short, ear-length hair gave off a sense of casual defiance.

"But even without make-up, Miss Yangzi is already very beautiful," Aoyama Xiu Xin complimented with a smile, snapped his fingers and said, "Serve the food."

The waiter bowed slightly and turned to leave.

Throughout the meal, Aoyama Xiu Xin didn't look down nor behave inappropriately; he was always gentlemanly, while Hashimoto Youko gradually softened her attitude towards him.

"It's still early; Miss Yangzi, would you like to take a walk with me to digest the meal?" After dinner, Aoyama Xiu Xin took out a napkin to wipe his mouth and looked at his watch as he spoke.

In fact, it was already late, but because of the slow service of the Western food, the dinner had taken almost two hours.

It was almost eleven o'clock.

Still, Hashimoto Youko agreed, but thought of a legitimate reason to avoid appearing too quick to change her behavior, "Sure, I do feel a bit stuffed. Let's walk together, also, I have some things I'd like to discuss with you, Minister Aoyama."

"I'm all ears," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a slight smile, standing up and extending his hand, "After you, Miss Yangzi."

Hashimoto Youko nodded slightly and got up to head outside.

She had to admit that Aoyama Xiu Xin was indeed quite charming tonight, that is if one didn't know about his vile and shameless nature.

Aoyama Xiu Xing had deliberately chosen a rather secluded hotel, and with the night already dark, there were hardly any people on the streets, which seemed very quiet.

He also intentionally walked into a dimly lit alley, the kind that was dark and hidden.

Hashimoto Youko looked down on his actions, pretending to be afraid yet not wanting to show it as she walked close to him to increase physical contact.

"Miss Yangzi, didn't you say you had something to talk to me about?" Aoyama Xiu Xin broke the silence.

Hashimoto Youko spoke solemnly, "Minister Aoyama's abilities are beyond doubt, you could have been a hero, but why fall to become a slave to power? Undermining Aunt Zhongshan, your actions, if known to the public, would deeply disappoint them."

She pretended that tonight's dinner had changed her view of Aoyama Xiu Xin, trying to persuade him to turn back before it was too late, to correct his mistakes.

"But I am a hero now, and I also have power, don't I?" Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled.

Hashimoto Youko said from the heart, "That's because everyone doesn't know the real you yet."

"Then let's make sure they never find out," Aoyama Xiu Xin added, looking up slightly with a compassionate tone. "Because I cannot bear to see the public heartbroken, I must hide it from them for a lifetime."

Disgraceful! Hashimoto Youko cursed inwardly.

"Stop!" Just then, two men wielding knives suddenly jumped out in the alley ahead, blocking their path.

Footsteps were also heard from behind, and likewise, two tattooed men, wielding clubs, rushed out.

Four men trapped the two in the alley.

Hashimoto Youko sneered inside, seeing through that these four were actors hired by Aoyama Xiu Xin; otherwise, why would he have deliberately led her into the alley?

What a clumsy attempt at playing the hero to save the beauty.

Yet she had to go along and perform in this act, feigning panic and hiding behind Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"Minister Aoyama, quickly call the police."

"Don't worry, it's okay, leave it to me," Aoyama Xiu Xin turned and patted her arm, comforting her in a soft voice.

He knew Hashimoto Youko had already realized this scene was his own staging, but he had to pretend not to know she knew and continue with the drama.

"Hey kid, hand over your money and leave the girl for us to enjoy," one of the men with a baseball bat lewdly laughed.

The other three laughed along and ogled Hashimoto Youko with unrestrained, greedy eyes.

"Minister Aoyama, should we call the police?" Hashimoto Youko's pale face trembled as she spoke.

"It's all right," Aoyama Xiu Xin reassured her before turning to face the two men ahead, barking commandingly, "What do you think you're doing! You're treading on dangerous ground. Disappear from my sight in three seconds, or don't blame me for being rude!"

"Idiot! You don't seem to understand the situation, do you! Get him, and let's show him some color!"

At the leader's command, the four men charged towards Aoyama Xiu Xin with various weapons in hand.

"Ah! Minister Aoyama, be careful!"

Hashimoto Youko yelled with a look of feigned terror.

"Stand there, don't move," Aoyama Xiu Xin left her with those words, and then he took the initiative. In just a few moments, he had knocked all four men to the ground.

"Ow, my leg, my leg!"

"Ah! Stop hitting, stop it!"

The four lay on the ground, wailing and begging for mercy.

"Now get out!" Aoyama Xiu Xin shouted.

"We're going, we're going," they said.

The four men scrambled away, rolling and crawling.

"A bunch of blind fools," Aoyama Xiu Xin muttered as he watched them go, then he returned to Hashimoto Youko's side. "Miss Yangzi, are you okay?"

Hashimoto Youko stared blankly at him for a while.

"Miss Yangzi?" Aoyama Xiu Xin waved his hand in front of her, noting that her acting was pretty good.

"Ah!" Hashimoto Youko seemed to snap back to reality, quickly removing her gaze and murmuring embarrassedly, "I didn't think your skills were as formidable as reported—handling four armed thugs with ease."

Hers was an act, but her admiration in her words was partly genuine because she could tell that neither Aoyama Xiu Xin nor the four men were play-fighting.

This bastard was really confident in his own prowess.

To woo a woman, he was indeed willing to take risks.

Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled, "Actually, I would usually run away in these situations."

"Ah?" Hashimoto Youko blinked and asked, "Then why did you stand and fight just now?"

"Well, you were here, weren't you? A man can't just abandon a woman and run away," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily, his eyes intensely focused on her as he added, "Especially not a woman I like."

"Minister Aoyama, please show some respect!" Hashimoto Youko immediately stepped back, her cheeks flushing, head bowed to hide her shyness, and said, "I appreciate your help just now, but I am engaged to be married, so I hope you will refrain from such disrespectful comments in the future. Besides, we hold different beliefs, and even if I weren't engaged, there could never be anything between us."

"You have the right to refuse me, but you can't stop me from liking you. As long as you're not married, I still have a chance, and you needn't feel pressured about it," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with deep emotion.

Hashimoto Youko was nearly sick, but she kept up her act, lifting her head with a mix of indignation and a complex emotion in her eyes, pursing her red lips, "I have something else to attend to, so I must be going now."

The moment she finished speaking, she turned and hurried away.

"I will persist until I win your heart!" Aoyama Xiu Xin called out to her retreating back.

Hashimoto Youko quickened her pace, her face full of disdain and mockery—what an idiot! He must think his heroics worked incredibly well.

But if she were to turn around, she would see Aoyama Xiu Xin's face also filled with mockery and playfulness.

Both were aware of each other's acting, yet both had to pretend they did not know what the other knew.

Hashimoto Youko had to give Aoyama Xiu Xin a reason to believe her attitude towards him had changed and that she might feel affection for him, while Aoyama Xiu Xin had to provide her with a rationale for her changing attitude and developing feelings towards him—a mutual charade.

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