Midori Kuriyama was flustered by Hoshimiya Yuu's subtle action, her face flushed and her heart pounding. She instinctively glanced at Megumi Asai next to Hoshimiya Yuu.
The secretary subtly observed Megumi Asai and saw that the other woman completely ignored Hoshimiya Yuu's slight move, maintaining a constant, soft smile.
In contrast, Ran, standing nearby, was pouting and glaring at Hoshimiya Yuu.
What is going on? Isn't that woman Mr. Hoshimiya's lover?
Why is Ran the one who looks angry?
Is this a forbidden student-teacher romance?
Midori Kuriyama wracked her brain but couldn't understand the relationship between the three of them.
While the secretary was still frowning in contemplation, Ran had already pulled Hoshimiya Yuu away.
"Miss Kuriyama, please tell Mom that I will come to see her next time."
Ran forcibly dragged Hoshimiya Yuu away to look at the apartments, preventing him from talking to Midori Kuriyama any further.
Hoshimiya Yuu smiled. They had plenty of time; they were going to be neighbors. For now, he decided to humor Ran.
Soon, they finished viewing the apartment. Besides being expensive, it had no flaws.
Buying it outright was currently impossible; he couldn't put all his money into it and have nothing left for daily expenses.
Though the deficit was large, there were ways to solve it.
Loans and borrowing money were both options.
Installments would also work.
Ultimately, Hoshimiya Yuu decided to hit up Sonoko Suzuki, the wealthy little socialite, for some gold.
Hoshimiya Yuu didn't want a loan or installments.
They were troublesome, and he would lose money.
He found the thought of letting Japanese lenders profit from him unpleasant.
Furthermore, a large batch of treasures that could be converted into cash given the right channels made him prefer dealing with the living rather than banks.
As for borrowing money from the wealthy Sonoko Suzuki…
If he couldn't pay her back, he could always compensate her with his body.
A high-end luxury apartment in the core area of Tokyo generally cost between 150 million to 300 million yen, which translates to about 7 million to 14 million RMB.
Hoshimiya Yuu chose one of the most expensive units, the largest in size and on the best floor. After negotiations, the price was set at 260 million yen.
A quick calculation showed that after deducting money for food, necessities, and the car he intended to buy, he still needed approximately 200 million yen to purchase it outright.
The location was convenient, but still a bit far from Teitan High School.
Buying a car would make everyday trips easier and commuting much less strenuous.
Besides, if he didn't buy a car, the included parking space would go to waste.
However, Hoshimiya Yuu had no major requirements for the car; a basic, ordinary one would suffice.
After all, he didn't even have a driver's license yet…
200 million yen was nothing to the Suzuki Zaibatsu, but it was uncertain if Sonoko Suzuki herself could produce the sum.
Sonoko Suzuki was being groomed as the heiress of a major conglomerate, but she was still just a high school girl.
Guessing was useless, so Hoshimiya Yuu didn't hesitate and chose to dial her number.
"Wait a moment, Yuu-nii, maybe we should look elsewhere."
Ran suddenly spoke up, stopping him. "I thought you were only going to rent. I didn't realize you wanted to buy. Sonoko probably can't come up with 200 million yen either."
Hoshimiya Yuu looked at Ran curiously, sensing the girl might have ulterior motives.
Ran felt a little guilty under his gaze. Besides thinking the price was too high, she mainly regretted suggesting Hoshimiya Yuu become neighbors with her mother.
She knew Eri Kisaki's charm better than anyone; she had never been short of admirers.
Eri Kisaki and Kogoro Mouri had been separated for over ten years but never divorced. While Ran was the primary reason, using this as an excuse to deter suitors was another.
Ran didn't think Hoshimiya Yuu would be that perverted, but she was worried nonetheless.
She had initially thought that having Hoshimiya Yuu nearby, another man, would enhance Eri Kisaki's safety.
Eri Kisaki had made quite a few enemies during her years as a lawyer.
Many of them were powerful and influential people.
And most of them were involved with organized crime.
Eri Kisaki chose this place as both her office and residence precisely for the security guarantees.
Beyond the apartment building's security, Eri Kisaki had spent a large sum upgrading the security of her law office.
Thinking of Hoshimiya Yuu's interaction with Midori Kuriyama, Ran suddenly felt that when there was no external danger, Hoshimiya Yuu might be the greatest danger himself.
Just as the girl was about to break down, Hoshimiya Yuu asked, "By the way, did Lawyer Kisaki buy or rent her unit?"
Ran secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, "She bought it, on an installment plan, but she paid it off two years ago."
Hoshimiya Yuu got a rough idea of Eri Kisaki's financial strength.
This tower was only about five or six years old. Even if Eri Kisaki bought it immediately after completion, it only took her three or four years to pay off the installments.
260 million yen, or possibly more, in three or four years means roughly 100 million yen per year.
That's equivalent to an annual net income of 5 million RMB.
It was already at the ceiling for ordinary people.
Of course, it was incomparable to the super-rich like the Suzuki Zaibatsu.
After all, Eri Kisaki was only one person; her income could never compare to that of a conglomerate.
"Since Lawyer Kisaki bought here, then I must buy here too," Hoshimiya Yuu chuckled, teasingly adding, "It's important to build a good relationship with my future mother-in-law early on."
Ran rolled her eyes, silently hoping they wouldn't build a relationship good enough to sleep together…
No, no, how can I think that!
Even if she didn't trust Hoshimiya Yuu, she should have faith in her mother!
As the undisputed Queen of the legal world, why would Eri Kisaki ever be interested in a young man more than ten years her junior?!
Ran shook her head vigorously, dispelling the strange thoughts in her mind.
"Sonoko, are you free right now?"
While Ran was lost in thought, Hoshimiya Yuu had already gotten through to Sonoko Suzuki.
"Hoshimiya-sensei!"
The girl's cheerful voice came through.
"I'm free, I'm free. Are you planning to ask me out on a date?"
"Sort of, if you don't mind others being present." Hoshimiya Yuu looked at Ran and Megumi Asai and shrugged.
"Let me guess…" Sonoko Suzuki said in a detective's deductive tone, "Ran must be there too, right?"
"Half right."
Hoshimiya Yuu said, "Since you're free, just come straight over."
Listening to the address Hoshimiya Yuu gave, Sonoko Suzuki, who was boredly rolling on her bed, suddenly stopped her uplifted, fair little feet mid-air.
That address was too familiar; she had been there with Ran more than once.
Had things progressed to the "meet the parents" stage so quickly?
It had only been two days since she last saw them during the holidays. How had Ran gotten such a big head start?
Sonoko Suzuki instinctively ignored the question of why he would call her if he was meeting the parents.
Despite her impatience, Sonoko Suzuki carefully tidied and dressed herself.
The price she paid was urging the driver so much that his forehead was slick with sweat throughout the journey.
About half an hour later, the door to the sales office's reception room was pushed open.
"Hoshimiya-sensei, why are you here?"
Sonoko Suzuki complained, "If Miss Kuriyama hadn't told me you were looking at apartments today, I wouldn't have found you."
"You were too impatient and hung up the phone before hearing me out." Hoshimiya Yuu looked at Sonoko Suzuki, speechless.
When she didn't speak, she was a fair-skinned, slender-waisted young lady with a beautiful complexion. Why did she lose all her elegance the moment she opened her mouth?
It was a shame, considering the beautiful, straight, white legs showing beneath her cream-colored long dress and the delicate, long, white feet in her crystal heels.
"Hehe, was I?"
Sonoko Suzuki gave a silly grin, then pounced into Hoshimiya Yuu's arms. She hugged his neck and intentionally complained, "Hoshimiya-sensei, I was first, yet you've been spending all your time with Ran lately and haven't gone on a date with me alone."
Smelling the vibrant, youthful fragrance emanating from the girl, Hoshimiya Yuu realized his little brother was starting to rise again.
Having tasted the forbidden fruit, my self-control is getting worse…
Sighing internally, Hoshimiya Yuu immediately adjusted his posture, worried that if Sonoko Suzuki felt it, she would tease him mercilessly.
"Ahem…" Hoshimiya Yuu cleared his throat and stiffly changed the subject. "Sonoko, I haven't introduced you yet. This is Megumi Asai. We met on Tsukikage Island…"
Briefly explaining the events of Tsukikage Island and Megumi Asai's situation, Hoshimiya Yuu intended to quickly get to the point.
Sonoko Suzuki might seem carefree, but she wasn't easily fooled.
She quickly grasped the key detail. "Hoshimiya-sensei, are you saying that Miss Asai is cohabiting with you and will continue to do so?"
Hoshimiya Yuu nodded.
Sonoko Suzuki frowned, looking seriously at Ran.
"Ran, have you truly thought this through?"
Faced with Sonoko's rare serious expression, Ran nodded a little guiltily.
It was normal for Sonoko, as her best friend, to feel indignant for her. But just as she was about to explain, she saw her friend suddenly smile brightly.
"I see. Then I won't be polite."
Sonoko Suzuki moved her long legs, straddled Hoshimiya Yuu, hugged his neck, and pressed her rosy lips onto Hoshimiya Yuu's mouth.