Chapter 2 chapter 2

Seeing Mashiba and his wife coming down from the second floor, Hiromi Wakayama knew something was going on.Although both of them were smiling, it was obviously forced.Especially Ayane, especially gives people a feeling of forced smile.But Hiromi refrained from speaking out, her intuition told her that her outspokenness might be destructive. "I've kept you waiting for a long time. Did Zhu Kai call?" Yixiao asked, his tone sounding a bit stiff. "Called my cell phone just now and said it will arrive in five minutes." "Then let's prepare first and open a bottle of champagne to celebrate later."

"Let me come." Ayane said immediately, "Hiromi, please set the cup." "OK." "Let me help too." After watching Ayane walk into the kitchen, Hiromi opened the cupboard by the wall.She once heard people say that the price of this slightly antique piece of furniture in front of her was as high as three million yen.Of course, the items placed in this cupboard are all high-end goods. She carefully produced three Baccarat stemware and two Venetian champagne flutes.The Mashiba family has a custom of asking the guest of honor to use a Venetian wine glass.

Yoshitaka began to lay out placemats for five people on the dining table for eight people.He is used to this kind of family gathering, and Hiromi has mastered the arrangement order. Hiromi put champagne on the placemats laid out by Yoshitaka one by one, and there was the sound of splashing water in the kitchen. "What did you say to the teacher?" Hiromi asked in a low voice. "I didn't say anything." Yi Xiao didn't look at her when he replied. "said?" Only then did Yixiao look up at her and asked, "What did you say?" Just as she was about to speak, the doorbell rang.

"The guests have arrived." Yixiao said loudly towards the kitchen. "Sorry, I'm busy right now. Husband, please open the door." Ayane replied. Yixiao responded with an "Understood" and walked towards the walkie-talkie by the wall. Ten minutes later, everyone gathered at the dining table.Everyone has a smile on their face.From Hongmei's point of view, all of them seemed to know how to put on a relaxed expression so as not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of careful management.She often wonders how to control that proportion.It doesn't seem like an innate skill.Hiromi knew very well that it took Mashiba Ayane about a year to melt into this atmosphere.

"The dishes made by Ayane are still so delicious. It is difficult for ordinary people to make fish sauce so stylish." Yukiko Inogai put a piece of fish into her mouth and praised it aloud.The role of full praise for every dish has always been played by her. "But you always only order by phone." Her husband Tatsuhiko Inokai said beside her. "You're not fair, I sometimes do it myself." "It's just green perilla sauce, okay? No matter what you cook, you will get some of that stuff in." "Can't it? Isn't it delicious?" "I like green perilla sauce." It was Ayane who said this.

"Yes, and it's good for your health." "I said Ayane, don't protect her all day. If this continues, sooner or later she will put green perilla sauce on the steak." "Oh, that must be delicious. I'll try it next time." Yukiko's words amused everyone, but Inokai was full of sadness. Inokai Tatsuhiko is a lawyer who serves as a consultant for many companies, and the company run by Mashiba Yoshitaka is also one of them. However, in Yoshitaka's company, he not only acts as a consultant, but is also said to be quite active in the management.I heard that Inokai and Yoshitaka were alumni who joined the same club in college.

Zhu Kai took out the wine bottle from the wine cooler, intending to pour wine for Hiromi. "Ah, I don't need it." She quickly covered the mouth of the cup with her hand. "Isn't it? I remember Hiromi, don't you like drinking wine?" "I like it very much, but it's not necessary. Thank you for your kindness." Zhu Kai nodded in confusion, and poured the white wine into Yixiao's glass. "Are you feeling unwell?" Ayane asked. "No, it's fine. It's just that friends often invite me to drink recently, and I drink a little too much, so..."

"It's good to be young." After pouring wine for Ayane, Igai glanced at his wife next to him, and put the bottle close to his glass, "Yukiko, she also needs to stop drinking recently. Fortunately, you are with me tonight." "Huh? Prohibition of alcohol." Yixiao stopped the fork in his hand, "Sure enough, you still have to be scruples?" "Yeah, after all, her milk is the source of nutrition for the baby." Piggy shook the wine glass and said, "It's not good to mix alcohol with milk." "Then how long do you have to endure?" Yoshitaka asked Yukiko.

"Well, according to the doctor, it is estimated that it will be banned for a year." "Is it a year and a half?" Zhu Kai said, "Even if you are banned for two years, you should be banned. No, you might as well take this opportunity to quit drinking, how about it?" "I said you, I will have to live a difficult life of raising children for many years in the future. If I don't even let me drink the wine I like, what will I do? Or are you willing to take care of the children instead of me? If If that's the case, I'll think about it." "Okay, okay. After one year, you can just drink beer or wine. But, you have to stop in moderation."

Yukiko pouted and said "I see", and immediately restored her smiling face.Her expression was full of happiness.It seems that even the quarrel with her husband just now has become a joyful ritual for her now. Yukiko Inokai gave birth to a baby two months ago.This is the couple's first child and their long-awaited baby.Inokai is forty-two years old this year, and Yukiko is thirty-five years old. "Safe base" is a phrase they often hang on their lips. Tonight's gathering was proposed by Yixiao and prepared by Ayane. It was held to celebrate the safe birth of their husband and wife.

"Shall the child be taken care of by your father tonight?" Yixiao looked back and forth at Zhukai and his wife alternately. Pig feed nodded: "They told us to relax, saying that they promise to take good care of the children, and they are full of energy. At this time, it will be much more convenient for parents to live by their side." "But to be honest, I'm really worried. My mother spoils her child too much. My friends say that it's normal for a child to cry a little bit, and there's no need to make a fuss." Yukiko frowned and said. Seeing that Yukiko's wine glass was still empty, Hiromi stood up and said, "Well, let me get some water." "There's mineral water in the refrigerator, bring a bottle here." Ayane said. Hiromi walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.This is a large double-door refrigerator with a capacity of 500 liters, and there is a long row of mineral water behind the door.She took out a bottle, closed the refrigerator door, and when she returned to her seat and was about to sit down, she met Ayane's gaze, and Ayane moved her lips, thanking her. "After a child is born, life will still change, right?" Yoshitaka asked. "Except for work, my daily life is centered on children," Zhu said. "It can't be helped, isn't it. And it has nothing to do with work. After the child is born, you should have a sense of responsibility in your heart, and you will be more motivated than ever, isn't it?" "That's true." Ayane took the mineral water bottle from Hiromi's hand and began to pour water into each cup with a smile on her lips. "By the way, how are you guys doing? Isn't it time to have a baby too?" Zhu Kai looked at Yoshitaka and then at Ayane, "You two have been married for a year, right? It's time to get tired of the two-person world right?" "Husband," Yukiko patted her husband's arm lightly, reminding him, "Don't talk too much." "Well, but then again, everyone has their own aspirations," Zhu Kai squeezed out a smile, drank the wine in the glass, and turned his face to Hongmei, "Hongmei, how are you? But I'm not asking to spoil the scenery Question, I mean how is the situation in the classroom, is it going well?" "Well, it's okay. But there are still many things I don't quite understand." "Have you basically handed everything over to Hiromi?" Yukiko asked Ayane. Ayane nodded: "Now I have nothing to teach Hiromi." "It's amazing." Yukiko looked at Hiromi with admiration. Hiromi twitched the corners of her mouth and lowered her head.In fact, it is doubtful to what extent the Inokai couple are interested in what Hiromi is doing.Or maybe he just thought it would be pitiful not to talk to the girl who was dining with the two couples at an inappropriate time. "By the way, I have something for you two." Saying that, Ayane stood up and took a large paper bag from behind the sofa. "That's it!" Yukiko exaggeratedly exclaimed after seeing what she took out, and covered her mouth with her hands. This is a patchwork bed cover, only much smaller than a normal bed cover. "I want to give it to you as a bed cover for the crib." Ayane said, "After the child is out of the crib, you can use it as a tapestry." "It's so beautiful! Thank you, Ayane." Yukiko looked very touched, holding the corner of the patchwork tightly in her hands, "We will cherish it, thank you so much." "This is really a great work, isn't it? This kind of work will take a lot of time, right?" Zhu Kai turned his gaze to Hiromi, as if to ask for her opinion. "It took at least half a year, right?" Hiromi looked at Ayane uncertainly.For the production process of this work, Hiromi also has some understanding to some extent. "How should I put it?" Ayane tilted her head, "As long as you like it, it's all the better." "Of course we are very happy. Is it really for us? I said husband, you know, this thing is very expensive outside, and it is the work of Ayane Mita. When the exhibition was held in Ginza, The single bedspread was sold for one million yen." Zhu Kai opened his eyes wide and exclaimed.He seemed quite surprised indeed, with an expression on his face that he didn't expect that what he could get out of cutting a piece of cloth could be so valuable. "She was very careful when she made this thing." Yixiao said, "When I was resting at home, I often saw her sitting on the sofa over there sewing this thing with needles, sitting for a whole day. I can be regarded as convinced." It's her." After that, he pointed to the sofa in the living room with his chin. "Fortunately, we caught up." Ayane narrowed her eyes and whispered. After the meal, the two men sat on the sofa and planned to have a glass of whiskey. Yukiko said that he wanted another cup of coffee, so Hiromi got up and walked towards the kitchen. "Let me get the coffee. Hiromi, there are ice cubes in the refrigerator, go and get some for them to mix with the bar." Ayane said as she turned on the tap and filled the kettle with water. By the time Hiromi returned to the living room with the wine mixing utensils on the tray, the topic of the Zhukai couple had already shifted to gardening.The lighting design of the courtyard of this home is very thoughtful, and the potted plants in the courtyard can be seen even at night. "It's hard work to take care of so many potted plants," said Zhu Jin. "I don't know too well, she seems to take care of it often. There are also a few pots on the balcony on the second floor. I see her vigorously watering these flowers and plants every day. I think she is working hard, but she seems to be happy Among them, I guess she likes these flowers and plants from the bottom of her heart." It seems that Yixiao doesn't seem to have much interest in this topic.Hiromi knew that, in fact, he didn't care about things like nature and plants. Seeing Ayane walking in with three cups of coffee, Hiromi hurriedly began to mix the wine. It was after eleven o'clock in the evening when the Zhukai couple said their farewell. "Thanks for the hospitality, I feel very sorry for giving us such an exquisite gift." Zhu Kai got up and said, "Please come to my house next time. But then again, I am busy taking care of the children all day, and the house is a mess .” "I'll tidy up in two days." Yukiko poked her husband's side, and said with a smile to Ayane, "Come and see the face of our little prince, it looks like a big fortune pancake." "Definitely." Ayane agreed. It's almost time for Hiromi to go home, so she decides to say goodbye with Zhukai and his wife.Zhu Kai said that he would call a taxi and take her home. "Hiromi, I'm going out for a few days from tomorrow." When Hiromi was putting on her shoes at the entrance, Ayane said to her. "It will be a three-day holiday from tomorrow. Are you going to travel?" Yukiko asked. "No, I have something to go back to my mother's house for a few days." "Go back to your mother's house? Sapporo?" Ayane smiled and nodded: "My father is not in good health recently, I will go back and help my mother. But it seems that there is nothing serious." "It's really worrying. You have to celebrate the birth of our baby at this time, and we feel more and more panic." Zhu Kai said while touching his head. Ayane shook her head and said, "You don't have to worry about it, it's really not a big deal—Hiromi, if you need anything, just call me on my cell phone." "When are you going to come back?" "It's hard to say..." Ayane turned her head, "I'll call you when it's settled." "OK." Hiromi glanced at Yoshitaka, but he was looking in an unknown direction. After leaving Mashiba's house and walking on the main road, Zhu Kai hailed a taxi.Hiromi, who got out of the car first, got into the car last. "Did we talk too much about the children?" Yukiko said before the taxi had driven far. "What's the matter? I don't think it's a problem, right? They're celebrating our birth this time." Zhu Kai, who was sitting in the passenger seat, said. "That's not what I mean. I'm worried that we're not being considerate of them both. Haven't they always wanted a baby?" "I heard Zhenchai say that before." "Could it still not be born? Hiromi, have you heard anything?" "No, I haven't heard anything." "Really." Yukiko sounded a little disappointed.Hongmei thought to herself, maybe they and their wife are trying to trick me into pretending to send me home. The next day, as usual, Hiromi left the house at 9:00 a.m. and went to the "Xinghuang Hut" in Daikanyama. The "hut" is a room in this apartment that has been converted into a quilting classroom.It's just that she wasn't the one who started the classroom, but Ayane.There are currently about thirty students, all of whom are here to learn the skills taught by Ayane Mita himself. Hiromi walked out of the elevator in the apartment and saw Ayane in front of the classroom door, with a suitcase beside her.Seeing Hiromi, Ayane smiled slightly. "Why are you here?" "It's nothing serious. I want to leave this thing to you for safekeeping temporarily." Saying that, Ayane took out something from her coat pocket.In her outstretched hand was a set of keys. "this is……" "It's the key to my house. As I told you yesterday, I don't know when I'll be back, so I'm a little worried about the safety of my house. So I thought, I'll leave it to you for safekeeping." "Ah...that's right." "Don't want to?" "No, it's not that I don't want to... Teacher, did you bring the key yourself?" "I don't have any inconvenience. I will contact you in advance when I want to go home. Even if you are inconvenient then, my husband will go home at night." "Since this is the case, then I will keep it for you." "Thank you." Ayane raised Hiromi's hand, put the key in her palm, and then curled her fingers together so that she could hold the key tightly. Ayane said "goodbye" and left with the suitcase.Hiromi looked at her back and couldn't help shouting: "That, teacher..." Ayane stopped in her tracks: "What's the matter?" "It's nothing, that, take care on the road." "Thank you." Ayane waved her empty hand lightly, and took another step. On this day, the teaching in the quilting classroom continued until the evening.Throughout the day, students came and went in batches, and Hongmei was too busy to take a breather.After seeing off the last batch of students, she felt a severe pain in her shoulders and neck. Just when Hongmei finished packing and was about to leave the classroom, her cell phone rang.She looked at the caller ID on the screen, and immediately gasped: the call was from Yixiao. As soon as he opened his mouth, he asked, "Is today's teaching over?" "just ended." "Really. I'm eating with people now, I'll go back after eating, come on." There was no hesitation in his words, so Hiromi didn't know how to answer for a while. "Why, it's not convenient for you?" "It's okay, but...is this appropriate?" "What's inappropriate? I think you also know that she won't be coming home for a while." Hiromi stared blankly at the bag next to her, which contained the keys she just received this morning. "Besides, I have something to tell you," he said. "Say what?" "We'll talk when we meet. I'll be home at nine o'clock. Give me a call before you come." After speaking, he immediately hung up the phone. After dinner at a restaurant famous for its pasta, Hiromi called Yoshitaka.He has already returned home, urging Hongmei to come quickly, listening to his tone, it seems that he is in good spirits. Sitting in a taxi on the way to Mashiba's house, Hiromi feels disgusted with herself.Although she wanted to frown at Yixiao's unapologetic appearance, at the same time she couldn't deny the elation in her heart. Yixiao greeted her to enter the door with a smile, his movements didn't feel sneaky at all, everything seemed leisurely. Entering the living room, she smelled the aroma of coffee wafting through the room. "I haven't made coffee by myself for a long time, and I don't know if it tastes good." Yixiao walked into the kitchen, and walked back to the living room with a cup in each hand.It seemed that he was used to not using the saucer. "It's the first time I see you, Mr. Machai, in the kitchen." "Is it? But maybe. I haven't done anything since I married her." "Because the teacher dedicated herself to this family." Hiromi said, taking a sip of coffee, which was strong and bitter. Yixiao also twisted his mouth bitterly, "I guess it's because I put too much coffee powder." "Let me make two more cups." "No, there's no need. I'll trouble you to go to the bar next time. Let's not talk about it," he put the coffee cup in his hand on the marble coffee table and said, "I talked to her yesterday." "really……" "It's just that I didn't tell her it was you. I said it was a woman she didn't know. I don't know how much she believed what I said." Hiromi recalled Ayane's expression and smile when she handed her the key this morning, and couldn't imagine hiding any intentions. "What did the teacher say?" "Well, she agreed to all of them." "real?" "Of course it's true. Didn't I tell you earlier that she won't resist." Hiromi shook her head, "Although I feel a little strange when I say this... I can't understand it." "This is the rule of the game. Although I set the rule. All in all, there is nothing to worry about now, and all problems are solved." "Then I can rest assured?" "Of course." Saying that, Yoshitaka put his arms around Hiromi's shoulders and pulled her towards him.Hiromi leaned against him with her whole body.She felt his lips press against her ears. "You can stay here tonight." "Sleeping in the bedroom?" Zhenchai curled his mouth: "It's not that there is a guest room, there are also double beds in that room." Nodding her head lightly, Hiromi's heart was filled with confusion, confusion, peace of mind, and still lingering uneasiness. The next morning, when Hiromi was making coffee in the kitchen, Yoshitaka walked up to her and asked her to demonstrate. "I also learned this from my teacher." "It's okay, just soak it once and show me." Yixiao crossed his arms. Hongmei installed filter paper on the filter tube, and scooped coffee powder into it with a measuring spoon.Yixiao looked at the amount she put in, and nodded. "Put some water in it first, remember to only put in a little bit, and then wait for the powder to swell." Hongmei lifted the kettle and poured a small amount of boiling water into it, waited for about 20 seconds, and then filled it again. "Pour in circles like this. The coffee will come up, so pay attention to maintaining the state of the coffee when pouring. Then look at the scale below. Once there is enough for two cups of coffee, immediately remove the filter tube. Otherwise, the taste will be bland." "I didn't expect it to be quite complicated." "You used to just pick yourself up, didn't you?" "I used to brew it with a coffee machine. But when I got married, Ayane threw it away, saying that it tastes better when brewed in this way." "It must be because she knows that Mr. Mashiba is addicted to coffee, so she tried her best to make more fragrant coffee." Yixiao curled his lips and shook his head slowly.Whenever Hiromi talks about what Ayane has done for him, he will put on such an expression. Yixiao took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee and praised, "It's really fragrant." "Apricot House" is closed on Sundays, but that doesn't mean that Hiromi has no work to do, because she also got a part-time lecturer at a cultural school in Ikebukuro.And this job was also taken over from Ayane. Yixiao asked her to call him as soon as she got off work.From what he meant, he planned to have dinner with her.Hongmei has no reason to refuse. After seven o'clock, the work of the cultural school ended.While Hiromi was packing her things, she called Yoshitaka.However, Yixiao's cell phone keeps ringing, but he just doesn't answer it.She tried to call Zhenchai's landline again, but the result was the same. I guess he went out?But not without a cell phone. In desperation, Hiromi decided to visit Mashiba's house.Along the way, she called several times, but no one answered. Finally, she came to Zhenchai's house.From the outside, the light in the living room was on, but no one answered the phone. Hiromi regained her composure, and took out the keys from her bag, which were the keys that Ayane had given her to keep for safekeeping. The entrance door was locked, she unlocked it, pushed the door open, and found that the lights in the entrance hall were also on. Hiromi took off her shoes and entered the hallway.There was a faint aroma of coffee in the room.There's no way there's any leftover coffee this morning, probably Yixiao brewed it himself. She pushed open the door of the living room, stunned for a moment.Yixiao fell to the ground, a coffee cup rolled down beside him, and the black liquid spilled on the wooden floor. call the ambulance!Call up!Number, number—how much?Hiromi took out her phone with trembling hands.But she just couldn't remember which number to dial.