Miya Harukiko sat opposite Fujiwara Shunsui.
After hearing Fujiwara Shunsui's concern, her hands gripped the hem of her skirt tightly on her knees, and her body trembled involuntarily.
Tears, like large raindrops, streamed down, dripping onto Mrs. Miyashun's forearm—or, more precisely, onto Takahashi Kazuma's black suit jacket, which had originally been on a hanger.
Thanks to the color, it was as if the tears had never appeared.
Fujiwara Shunsui truly hadn't expected Mrs. Miyashun to suddenly start crying.
This situation was completely outside his expectations.
At Higashikawa Club, Fujiwara Shunsui was unfazed facing sixty or seventy people, but looking at the woman crying like a pear blossom in the rain before him, a hint of panic rose in Harumizu's heart.
He hadn't imagined that a mature, sexy married woman would, at this moment, be quietly sobbing in front of him like a little girl.
Harumizu felt caught in a dilemma.
"Mrs. Miyashun, I hope you don't misunderstand.
I am not trying to sow discord between you and your husband."
"It's just that I've suddenly learned some things, and I feel it's necessary for you to know them!"
Fujiwara Shunsui only wanted to comfort the crying Mrs. Miyashun at this moment, but he found himself unsure whether to stand or sit, let alone give Mrs. Miyashun a hug.
For a married woman, especially at such a time, his behavior needed to be even more restrained.
However, this was in his own home.
Fujiwara Shunsui stood up and walked over to Mrs. Miyashun.
Mrs. Miyashun lowered her head, looking at the tissue Fujiwara Shunsui offered, and heard the man say:
"Although I don't know why you're so sad, rest assured, I will always be a landlord you can trust!"
Being clumsy with words seems to be innate, especially when facing a crying woman; the "clumsy with words" talent temporarily increases by 200%.
"[Mission Alert]"
"[Save Mrs. Miyashun]"
"[Mrs. Miyashun, who had suppressed her feelings for a long time, once again felt a long-lost warmth.
This warmth was like the proud sun in winter, the dawn after a long night, giving Miya Harukiko her last hope.
Miya Harukiko's favorability towards the Host +10]"
"[Miya Harukiko's Favorability: 39/100]"
After taking the tissue from Fujiwara Shunsui, Mrs. Miyashun wiped away her tears, composed herself, and bowed her head to Fujiwara Shunsui, saying:
"Thank you, Shunsui-kun."
"I just recalled some unpleasant memories and lost my composure for a moment; I apologize."
Mrs. Miyashun tried to return to her initial state, but the tear stains at the corners of her eyes were proof of her recent crying.
It was only then that Harumizu noticed Mrs. Miyashun's slightly swollen cheeks.
Curiosity didn't prompt Fujiwara Shunsui to ask, because he was 100% certain that when she exited the elevator, Mrs. Miyashun's face had been so radiant, like a peach blossom waiting to bloom.
But now, she was no longer in the state she had been just a few minutes ago.
After a brief thought, Fujiwara Shunsui spoke:
"Although I'm not sure how to bring this up, I can tell you with certainty that your husband, Takahashi, is falling into depravity."
"Today, I overheard some things in the elevator, and I feel it's necessary to tell you."
At this point, Fujiwara Shunsui observed Mrs. Miyashun's expression.
"It seems your husband is planning to collude with their company president to do something unsavory to his wife."
Hearing that Fujiwara Shunsui was referring to this matter, Mrs. Miyashun's eyes quickly reddened, and tears once again streamed down her cheeks.
However, Mrs. Miyashun seemed to have already made up her mind, slowly wiping away her tears with the tissue Fujiwara Shunsui had given her.
"If you are being coerced, Mrs. Miyashun, I will resolve it for you."
"[Mrs. Miyashun's favorability towards the Host +5]"
"[Miya Harukiko's Favorability: 44/100]"
"As a landlord in Shinjuku, it is my duty to ensure every tenant feels warmth."
"I treat each of my tenants as my closest kin; I don't want any of you to suffer even the slightest harm."
Fujiwara Shunsui didn't know why he blurted out such words.
Perhaps this was the benefit of using a formula; as long as it fit the scene, his brain would simply retrieve and apply it after a quick search.
"[Mrs. Miyashun's favorability towards the Host +1]"
"[Miya Harukiko's Favorability: 45/100]"
Harumizu felt Mrs. Miyashun's condition had eased, so he continued:
"Previously, a staff member from our Syndicate saw your husband frequenting casinos."
"He was spending lavishly, throwing money around."
"It is said that your husband lost over ten million yen gambling outside."
Hearing Fujiwara Shunsui's description, Mrs. Miyashun seemed lost in thought, murmuring repeatedly:
"So that's how it is?"
"So that's how it is?"
Fujiwara Shunsui had relayed everything he knew to Mrs. Miyashun in detail.
As for what Mrs. Miyashun would decide, that was her own choice.
Fujiwara Shunsui turned and walked to the side, pouring Mrs. Miyashun a cup of warm water and handing it to her.
At this moment, she no longer had tears; instead, she was staring blankly at the water in the glass cup in her hand.
The crumpled tissue in her hand was tucked between Mrs. Miyashun and the water glass, and for a moment, she didn't know how to speak.
Fujiwara Shunsui's experience from two lifetimes told him that at such a time, one could only wait.
If a door won't open, it's impolite to keep knocking.
"[Mission Alert]"
"[Save Mrs. Miyashun]"
"[Mrs. Miyashun took the hot water handed by the Host and thought of how Takahashi Kazuma used to be so thoughtful and caring towards her.
For a moment, she fell into a daze of self-doubt, while also feeling very lucky to have met a landlord like the Host.
Favorability towards the Host +5]"
"[Miya Harukiko's Favorability: 50/100]"
Mrs. Miyashun, sitting opposite, seemed to have made some kind of decision.
After taking a deep breath, she slowly began to speak:
"It all started with a company dinner."
"Back then, Takahashi was still a good husband who submitted his salary on time every month, and I would meticulously plan every expense, saving a large portion for future home purchases."
"That time, it was to celebrate Takahashi's successful promotion to section chief of sales, and I attended with him."
"I also met many members of their company that day."
At this point, Mrs. Miyashun seemed to recall something and paused involuntarily.
"Including their company president."
"That day, perhaps because everyone was happy, we all drank a lot of alcohol."
"Their president also drank a lot, sitting between the two of us and saying to me: 'Takahashi-kun is so hardworking and successful; it must be inseparable from your support, Mrs. Miyashun.
I truly envy Takahashi for having such a capable wife.'"
"In the two months after Takahashi's promotion, I attended such dinners four times."
"Takahashi's income also grew higher and higher."
"Just when it seemed we were getting closer to our goal, life always played jokes on us."
"Takahashi became involved in a major internal investigation by the trading company, suspected of accepting bribes."
"The investigation results were not announced; instead, my husband was directly removed from his position as section chief."
"Since then, Takahashi's personality changed drastically."
"He became irritable, prone to heavy drinking, and even gambling."
"I also went from initially comforting, accompanying, and encouraging him, to now feeling numb."
Hearing this, Fujiwara Shunsui's brain, with an intelligence quotient of "2," had basically pieced everything together.
It felt like a cliché plot from his previous life, now only missing the president's line:
"You wouldn't want your husband to lose his job, would you?"
What Fujiwara Shunsui hadn't expected was that such a clichéd, melodramatic plot was actually unfolding in present-day Japan, and with his beautiful next-door neighbor, no less.
At this point, Mrs. Miyashun took a sip of water, calming her agitated emotions, and continued to speak:
"Later, I found out the reason."
"His president took an interest in me..."
Mrs. Miyashun gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Perhaps she herself hadn't expected that her appearance, which she once prided herself on, would become the greatest pain in her life, constantly tormenting her.
Fujiwara Shunsui was not surprised and continued to look at Mrs. Miyashun calmly.
"You don't seem surprised."
"Madam, to be honest, it would be quite difficult for a man not to be moved by you."
Fujiwara Shunsui did not evade Mrs. Miyashun's question; instead, he frankly expressed his inner thoughts.
"[Mrs. Miyashun's favorability towards the Host +1]"
"[Miya Harukiko's Favorability: 51/100]"
At this moment, Fujiwara Shunsui played only one role: that of a listener.
"Later, Takahashi, in a drunken state, told me that he hoped I could compromise once for our future."
"I asked him what he wanted me to compromise on."
"He didn't speak, just kept drinking."
"Later, Takahashi started not coming home at night, and even called me with strange phone calls late at night, with another woman's voice on the other end."
"I don't know why he would treat our decade-long relationship this way."
Hearing this, Fujiwara Shunsui already sensed the change in Mrs. Miyashun's tone and quickly interjected:
"Mrs. Miyashun, no one can force my tenants to do something they don't like in my apartment."
"Remember, no one."
At this moment, Fujiwara Shunsui's voice was so trustworthy.
But Mrs. Miyashun knew in her heart that this was a matter between her and Takahashi Kazuma, her husband.
She wanted to resolve it in her own way, and also bring her over ten years of love to her own conclusion.
By this time, Mrs. Miyashun's emotions had calmed.
Hearing Harumizu say this, she stood up and bowed to Harumizu:
"Arigato, Shunsui-kun!"
"Thank you for listening to so much from a woman like me, from the countryside."
"Thank you for comforting me, caring for me, and even helping me."
"I'm going home now, Shunsui-kun; it was truly a pleasure to meet you!"
Mrs. Miyashun thanked Harumizu again as she said goodbye.
Harumizu still felt a little uneasy looking at Mrs. Miyashun's state, but a thousand words surged in his heart, ultimately condensing into just one sentence:
"Don't be afraid no matter what decision you make; trust your landlord, he will handle it!"
The moment Miya Harukiko turned back, Fujiwara Shunsui still saw tear stains on her eyelashes.
At this moment, Fujiwara Shunsui truly didn't know how else to help this poor woman...Fujiwara Shunsui: ""Mino Shōji's president, please investigate him for me.""
Kojou Yuna: ""Are you so interested in your beautiful neighbor?""
Fujiwara Shunsui: ""There's truly nothing I can hide from Ojo-chan! o(*^＠^*)o""
Kojou Yuna: ""Since when are you interested in married women?""
Fujiwara Shunsui: ""I guess you could say I'm doing a background check for a tenant.""
Ten minutes later, a detailed file about Mino Shōji appeared on Fujiwara Shunsui's phone.
At the same time, Fujiwara Shunsui even received a rare text message from Kojou Yuna herself.
Kojou Yuna: ""This Mino Hisashi is truly a piece of work.
If you're going to strike, strike hard, and we'll clean up the mess.""
Fujiwara Shunsui: ""Received! ٩('ω')و get!""
Looking for answers with a question in mind truly makes one's curiosity peak.
Now, Fujiwara Shunsui just wanted to know what kind of person could make Kojou Yuna proactively contact him and say such things.
"[Mino Hisashi, age 63, was a member of a certain Syndicate before age 30.
At 30, he founded Mino Shōji, successfully staging a comeback.
Due to his Syndicate background, he was very aggressive, crude, and even bloody during the initial expansion of his company.]"
"[There are 9 recorded sexual harassment disputes, all of which were successfully settled.]"
Finally, there was a photo of Mino Hisashi.
He was a bald old man, less than 170cm tall, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes beneath his glasses.
His overall vigor didn't look like that of a 63-year-old man.
Harumizu held his phone, repeatedly looking at the photo.
"Indeed, you really can't judge a person's character by their appearance!"
He had initially thought Mino Hisashi would be a pot-bellied, lecherous old man, but looking at the photo, Harumizu could tell at a glance that the other party had excellent vitality, and even maintained a habit of long-term exercise.
That's why he had such a Feeling...
At Mrs. Miyashun's house, Takahashi Kazuma was now slightly drunk.
Like a dead pig, he looked at Miya Harukiko, who had just returned home, and kept pulling out stacks of cash from his briefcase:
"Don't you just love money?"
"Chasing rent?"
I've made the money now!"
"Isn't your husband amazing?"
Takahashi Kazuma said, throwing the cash he had taken out towards Miya Harukiko.
Mrs. Miyashun said nothing, simply picking up the scattered cash from the floor and neatly stacking it on the coffee table.
Mrs. Miyashun chose not to respond to Takahashi Kazuma's words, but instead walked to the kitchen, fetched water, turned on the stove, waited patiently, and put in instant noodles.
Mrs. Miyashun remembered that many years ago, Takahashi loved her very much.
Back then, he also had many social engagements, and after getting drunk, he loved her instant noodles the most.
Four minutes later, a steaming bowl of instant noodles appeared before Takahashi Kazuma.
Miya Harukiko could confirm that, in that brief moment, her husband was sober.
Takahashi Kazuma looked at the bowl of instant noodles in front of him, first chuckled softly, then slowly propped up the edge of the bowl with his hand.
The bowl of instant noodles was then overturned onto the coffee table in their home, scattering soup and noodles all over the floor.
Takahashi Kazuma then turned his head on the sofa and looked at Mrs. Miyashun with a sneer:
"Are you trying to disgust me now?"
"Damn it, if it weren't for you, would we have come to this point today?"
"Didn't you want a big house in Shinjuku?"
"Didn't you want to live the life of a full-time wife?"
"Are you satisfied with how things have turned out?"
"Didn't I do all these things for you?"
"Ridiculous, a slut like you only pretends to be pitiful and innocent!"
"Now you don't have to pretend to be a good wife in front of me anymore."
"I can't stand your hypocritical and disgusting act anymore!"
"Once this matter with the president is over, I'll give you some money, and we'll get a divorce."