The quietest time in the library is not morning, not noon, but now.
All the students in the school, except for Hoshino Jun, are participating in their respective club activities.
Saionji Ayako, the only one reading, stopped all movement after hearing Hoshino Jun's statement.
She stared intently into his eyes.
It was as if...
She wanted to discern something from Hoshino Jun's eyes.
If Hoshino Jun were facing Yamada Ran right now, he likely wouldn't have said such words.
But the person before him was Saionji Ayako.
A woman who appeared cold, with an 'do not approach' expression, but was actually quite amiable and open to rational discussion.
Hmm, the 'flat' here, of course, doesn't refer to a flat chest.
It describes her inner character.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
The silence was broken.
It was Saionji Ayako's right index finger tapping on the desk.
"Tell me, how did you know Ryuichi had ulterior motives for me?"
"I guessed."
"You guessed?"
Saionji Ayako didn't deny it; instead, she countered with a question.
From this, it was clear:
She had most likely grown suspicious of Saionji Ryuichi after Hoshino Jun's reminder yesterday.
Then, either after returning home yesterday or while investigating Saionji Ryuichi today, she discovered some things about Saionji Ryuichi's romantic inclinations.
It could have been the books Hoshino Jun recommended, or it could have been some 'treasures' Saionji Ryuichi, in his own folly, secretly acquired.
In any case...
Now, Saionji Ayako, just as Hoshino Jun had initially envisioned, no longer doubted Saionji Ryuichi's intentions towards her.
"Yes, Vice Chairman, I just guessed."
"Can you tell me how you guessed?"
Saionji Ayako blinked, a little curious.
She had lived under the same roof as Saionji Ryuichi for over a decade and had never discovered these strange quirks in her good nephew.
And Hoshino Jun and Ryuichi didn't seem to have any relationship, yet he managed to discover it.
How did he discover it?
Hoshino Jun smiled mysteriously, then explained, "Strictly speaking, it was through a special channel."
"Elaborate."
"When the Chairwoman asked me to pursue the Vice Chairman, she gave me a detailed file on the previous pursuers."
"She certainly put effort into that aspect." Saionji Ayako raised her teacup and took a sip of hot tea. "But what's the problem? It doesn't seem to have anything to do with Ryuichi's matter."
"It has a lot to do with it." Hoshino Jun shook his head and said, "It records that every pursuer was obstructed and pranked by Ryuichi-kun in various ways."
Saionji Ayako frowned and thought, "I still don't see any problem with that."
To say there was a problem, there really wasn't.
But if one wanted to find a problem, it was easy to connect it.
Hoshino Jun turned to look out the window. He asked, "Don't think from an elder's perspective; just use male and female thinking to consider what kind of person would go to great lengths to prevent others from pursuing a woman."
"The situation is different. Ryuichi and I are family; he'll always worry about me meeting bad people."
"Have you ever heard of a brother stopping his sister from dating, or a younger brother stopping his older sister from dating?" Hoshino Jun narrowed his eyes. "You haven't, have you?"
"But we're not siblings, and we're not an older sister and younger brother; we have a more special relationship."
Saionji Ayako was being a bit stubborn. Even though she already knew Saionji Ryuichi's thoughts, she was still subconsciously protecting the nephew she had raised.
"Similar to a mother and son?"
Hoshino Jun's expression became even more ambiguous, and he said earnestly:
"The Vice Chairman is very fond of Chinese culture. Have you ever heard the saying, 'Heaven wants to rain, a mother wants to marry, let her be'?"
"Regardless of whether you, Vice Chairman, are Ryuichi-kun's mother, even if you were, he shouldn't obstruct every man who wants to approach you when you are without a partner."
"This kind of behavior is already too much."
Seeing Saionji Ayako remain silent, Hoshino Jun continued to press:
"If the Vice Chairman intends to use the Chairwoman as an excuse, there's no need. As far as I know, although the Chairwoman verbally says she's looking for someone to pursue the Vice Chairman."
"In reality, the men she chooses to pursue you, Vice Chairman, basically all have their own merits; not a single one is bad."
"Rather than saying she wants to prank you, it's more like she sees you've been single for too long and is starting to worry about your marriage, playing a disguised form of urging marriage (urging marriage)."
"I think any non-idiot can understand this principle."
"You, Vice Chairman, also guessed it, which is why you haven't directly resisted the Chairwoman on this matter."
Huh?
So that's how it was?
Saionji Ayako's thought process suddenly became a bit muddled.
She had always believed that her older sister was deliberately pranking her, and the only reason she didn't resist was simply because she knew resistance was futile.
Now, hearing Hoshino Jun say this, it actually seemed quite plausible.
It might even be true; she just hadn't considered the possibility of her family urging her to marry before, so she had never grasped this point.
After a moment of thought, Saionji Ayako's expression didn't change; she still maintained a blank look.
However, it was noticeably evident that her mood seemed to have improved slightly, and the surrounding air also seemed less cold.
"Continue."
"Therefore, I believe that Saionji Ryuichi's obstruction of your relationships, Vice Chairman, has always been due to his having different feelings for you."
Hoshino Jun said, "And it's becoming increasingly intense, even to the point where he's agitated enough to dare to lay hands on Chairwoman Yamada."
In an instant, it seemed to grow even colder.
Hoshino Jun felt that Saionji Ayako was like a natural refrigerator, automatically lowering the temperature when her mood worsened.
The slender beauty's face was as dark as a cloudy summer sky.
It was clear that Saionji Ryuichi's actions had quite a significant impact on her.
After her conversation with Hoshino Jun, she could already imagine that yesterday might not have been about targeting Hoshino Jun with Yamada Tsukasa at all.
It was very possible that Saionji Ryuichi had taken the opportunity to harm her older sister, who had always tried to introduce men to her.
Otherwise, why would he lock up the Chairwoman of all people? How could he have mistaken his Great-Aunt?
If it really was as she deduced, then Ryuichi was truly too insane.
Saionji Ayako couldn't even imagine what more terrifying things this good nephew would do in the future.
"So, how do you plan to help me?" Saionji Ayako's eyes held a hint of fatigue. "Tell me, what do you intend to do?"
"If the method you provide can cure Ryuichi's heart ailment, then I will offer ten million yen as a reward."
Saionji Ayako guessed that Hoshino Jun had a purpose in saying so much, so she didn't waste words and directly offered a price.
Her generosity was no less than that of her older sister, Yamada Ran.
It immediately stunned Hoshino Jun.
He was frantically dissing a certain low-budget system in his mind that only gave 50,000, 100,000, or 1,000,000 for completing tasks, with pitifully small bonuses.
'Look, look, see how others are, and how you are.'
'Please, just die already, you bastard!'
[System: Although I give little money, I have many tasks.]
'???'
'Do you believe I'll hit you?'
Actually, Hoshino Jun had no complaints about the system. After all, people like Yamada Ran and Saionji Ayako were always in the minority in this world.
And indeed, as the system said, their tasks might only be once or twice, while the system's tasks were long-term.
It genuinely allowed Hoshino Jun to earn ten million in less than two weeks, as well as attribute points that even the wealthiest person couldn't provide, and special skills beyond normal comprehension.
After pondering for a long time...
Hoshino Jun said, "There are two ways to cure Ryuichi-kun's heart ailment."
"Speak." Saionji Ayako urged, "Don't beat around the bush."
"First, Vice Chairman, you could fall in love and then constantly show affection with your boyfriend in front of Ryuichi-kun. After enough times, his heart will become numb, and his improper thoughts about you will dissipate."
Hearing this, Saionji Ayako frowned deeply. "And the second?"
Hoshino Jun shrugged, "The second is the opposite: let Ryuichi-kun fall in love, experience what sweet love is like, and with a girlfriend's restraint, his abnormal dreams will naturally shatter."
After hearing Hoshino Jun's words, Saionji Ayako's tightly furrowed brows did not relax; instead, they became even more drawn.
"I feel like your suggestions aren't very reliable."
First, Saionji Ayako didn't want to fall in love.
Second, if Saionji Ryuichi had a psychological barrier, how could he possibly engage in a relationship?
Hoshino Jun chuckled, "If you trust me, I can guarantee that Ryuichi-kun will marry a girl within three months, ensuring he will never have designs on you again."
The sunlight, like silk, gently caressed the slightly delicate face of the young man.
His smile was like the shining sun, exuding warmth.
For a moment, as Saionji Ayako met his gaze, looking at his confidence, her heart felt a slight acceleration.
"How will you do that?"
"You, Vice Chairman, don't need to worry about that for now. You just need to do me a favor."
"What favor?"
"For a period in the future, completely cut off all of Ryuichi-kun's funds and connections, so he cannot use the wealthy's resources to suppress me, making it easier for me to operate."
"Okay, I agree."
Looking at the young man's surging fighting spirit, Saionji Ayako rarely showed a hint of a smile.
She just didn't know that if he wasn't afraid of exaggerating too much, which might lead Saionji Ayako to investigate herself...
Hoshino Jun would even dare to say that Saionji Ryuichi would get married within three hours.
After all, hadn't Ryuichi already married Kachiko long ago?
He just didn't dare to tell Saionji Ayako.
Finally, Hoshino Jun made another request.
"Vice Chairman, if this matter succeeds, then besides the money, I would also like you to do me a small favor, if that's okay?"
"You say."
"I can't say yet. Please agree first, and then I'll come to you to fulfill it when the time comes."
"Alright, as long as it's not excessive, I can fulfill it for you."
Saionji Ayako nodded in agreement. She believed Hoshino Jun was a sensible child and wouldn't make any overly excessive demands.
If it was excessive, she would refuse to fulfill it.
The conversation ended, and the two flipped through books. Hoshino Jun's hand, as usual, slowly crept onto Saionji Ayako's cool little hand.
Saionji Ayako seemed to have grown accustomed to being warmed by Hoshino Jun's palm.
She didn't even lift an eyelid.
This also symbolized that their second collaboration would involve far more trust in each other than the first.
---Sunset.
The orange sun scorched the white clouds red.
In her office, Yamada Ran, who had just woken up, suddenly remembered something important.
That tomorrow was Saturday, and there was no school.
And she had told Hoshino Jun at noon to come again tomorrow.
"Am I going to have to do it myself again today?"
"No, I'll send a message to Hoshino Jun to ask if he's still at school."
Unfortunately...
At this moment...
Hoshino Jun had already arrived downstairs at the apartment building, just as he bumped into a flustered Takayanagi Yuki.
She was wearing the pink body-con dress she had worn last time when she went to the restaurant with Hoshino Jun, and white stiletto sandals.
Her long, brown braid hung over her full breasts, bouncing as she walked downstairs, truly adorable.
Hoshino Jun stared intently at her lively movements, asking, "Yuki, where are you going?"
The moment she saw Hoshino Jun, Takayanagi Yuki seemed to grasp a lifeline. Her originally melancholic face brightened with a glimmer of hope.
"Jun-kun, can you help me?"
"Jo, he's been arrested by the police."