Chapter 89 Section VI

Nights of tossing and turning came one after another, Kasunari Shinozuka turned over, and the conversation with Sasagaki a few days ago kept circling in his mind.The idea that he might be in an unusual situation weighed on his chest with a sense of reality. Although the old policeman didn't say it explicitly, he hinted that something might have happened to Imeda.As far as the disappearance and the state of the room he described, Kazun also thinks that this inference is reasonable.However, his mood when he agreed with the old policeman still partly resembles the plot of watching a TV series or a novel.Even though the brain understands that these things are happening all around, it lacks the sense of reality.Even if Sagaki said to him before parting, "Don't think you can sit back and relax", he felt that the matter had nothing to do with him.

When he was alone, he turned off the light in the room, lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and a shock like anxiety swept over him, making him break out in cold sweat.He already knew that Tang Ze Xuesui was not an ordinary woman, so he disapproved of Kang Qing marrying her.However, he never thought that entrusting Imameda to investigate would endanger his life. Who is she?He thought again, what is the real identity of this woman?And that man named Kirihara Ryoji. What kind of person he is, Sasagaki did not explain clearly.He used the comparison of gun prawns and gobies, saying that Kirihara and Karasawa Yusho are like these two animals, mutually beneficial and symbiotic.

"But I don't know where their lair is, and I've been tracking it down for nearly twenty years." When he said these words, a self-deprecating smile appeared on the old policeman's face. Yicheng was confused.No matter what happened in Osaka ten or twenty years ago, how could it affect me? Yicheng opened his eyes wide in the dark, picked up the remote control of the air conditioner on the bedside table, pressed the switch, and soon the room was filled with coolness. At this time, the phone rang.Startled, he turned on the desk lamp, and the alarm clock was about to point to one o'clock.For a moment, he thought something was wrong at home.Issei now lives alone in Sanda. This two-bedroom, two-living room was bought last year.

He cleared his throat lightly, picked up the receiver: "Hello." "Yicheng, I'm sorry to call you at this time." Just by hearing the voice, I knew who the caller was, and at the same time, I had a bad feeling in my heart.Rather than a hunch, it is better to say that it is closer to a certainty. "Cousin... what happened?" "Well, about the matter I mentioned to you last time, she contacted me just now." The reason why Kang Qing lowered her voice was probably not just because it was late at night, she was even more convinced. "Her mother..."

"Well, it's already gone, and I haven't woken up after all." "It's so pitiful..." Yicheng said, but it didn't come from the heart, it was just a natural reaction. "Tomorrow you are fine." Kang Qing said, his tone did not give Yicheng any room for objection. Even so, Kazunari confirmed it: "You want me to go to Osaka?" "Tomorrow, I really can't leave. People from Slotomiar are coming, and I have to meet them." "I know, it's for 'Beauty Baron'. According to the schedule, I will also attend." "Your itinerary has been changed. You don't have to go to work tomorrow. Try to take the Shinkansen to Osaka earlier, understand? Fortunately, tomorrow is Friday, and I may have to receive guests. If I can't go there at night, I should be able to go the next morning. .”

"The president's side..." "I'll talk about it tomorrow. If I call again at this time, the old man's health may not be able to bear it." The president refers to Sosuke Shinozuka, and the president's residence is located in the residential area of ​​Setagaya as well as Kang Qing's house.Kang Qing moved out of her hometown when she got married. "Have you introduced Ms. Karasawa Yusho to the president?" Even though he believed that this question involved the private field, Kazushi asked. "Not yet. But I mentioned to him that I was thinking of getting married. My father doesn't seem to care much about that. I don't think he has time for his forty-five-year-old son's marriage."

Shinozuka Sosuke is generally regarded as an informal person, and it is true that he never intervened in their private affairs.But Yicheng discovered early on that this is an extreme workaholic personality who doesn't care about anything other than business.One Cheng guessed that the uncle probably thought that as long as that woman would not ruin the reputation of the Shinozuka family, it didn't matter who the son remarried to. "Will you go tomorrow?" Kang Qing confirmed for the last time. I really want to say no.After hearing Sagaki's words, Kazunari didn't want to get involved with Karasawa Yukiho even more.However, he couldn't find a reason for the refusal.The mother of the person who planned to get married died, and she hoped that her cousin would help with the funeral and other matters—Kang Qing’s request was reasonable from a certain point of view.

"Where is it in Osaka?" "She should be arranging things at the funeral venue in the morning. She said that she will go back to her mother's house in the afternoon. I have received the fax, and I have the address and phone number of the two places. I will send it to you in a while. Your fax is also the same number." ?” "right." "Then I'll hang up first. Call me after you receive the fax." "Okay, I know." "Then I will trouble you." The phone hung up. Yicheng got out of bed.The Remy Martin brandy sits in a glass-doored bookcase.He poured the wine into the glass about one and a half centimeters high, put it into his mouth while standing, let the brandy stay on his tongue, savored its aroma, taste and stimulation before entering his throat.There was a feeling of waking up all the blood in his body, and he knew that his nerves were sharpened.

Ever since Kang Qing expressed her love for Tang Zexuesui, Yicheng wanted to discuss with his father many times.He thought that as long as he told his father about her unusualness, his uncle would learn about it from his father sooner or later.However, if he wanted to interfere with the marriage of Kang Qing, the future head of the Shinozuka family, the information he had was too warm and not convincing.Just saying that she has a problem will only add to the troubles for his father.Most likely, his father would rebuke him in turn, telling him to worry about himself before anyone else.Moreover, his father just became the president of Shinozuka Chemical Company, a subsidiary of Shinozuka Pharmaceutical, last year, so he certainly has no spare time to worry about his nephew's remarriage.

As the second sip of brandy trickled down his throat, the phone rang.Yicheng stood where he was and didn't pick up the receiver.The fax machine connected to the phone started spitting out white paper. 10% arrived at Shin-Osaka Station around noon.The moment I stepped onto the platform, I immediately felt the difference in humidity and temperature.It's mid-September, and it's still hot.Only then did Yicheng remember, yes, the autumn tigers in Osaka have always been ferocious. Go down the platform stairs and walk out of the ticket gate.The exit of the station building is right in front of you, and the taxi rank is opposite.He walked over, thinking to go to the funeral venue first.At this moment, someone called "Mr. Shinozuka", it was a woman's voice.He stopped and looked around.A twenty-four or five-year-old woman trotted closer. She was wearing a dark blue suit with a T-shirt inside, and her long hair was tied into a ponytail. "Thank you for coming all the way here, thank you for your hard work." Once she stood still in front of him, she saluted politely, her hair swept like a ponytail.

Yicheng has seen this woman before, she is an employee of Tang Zexuesui Nanqingshan boutique. "Uh, you are..." "My surname is Hamamoto." She saluted again and took out a business card with Natsumi Hamamoto printed on it. "Are you coming to pick me up?" "yes." "How did you know I was coming?" "It was explained by the president. The president said that you should arrive before noon, but I'm sorry for being late because of the traffic jam." "Where, it doesn't matter...uh, where is she now?" "Talk about things at home with the funeral company." "Home?" "Our president's hometown, the president asked me to take Mr. Shinozuka there." "Ah good." Natsumi Hamamoto walked towards the taxi stand, Kasunari following behind her.He speculated that it must be when he was taking the Shinkansen, Kang Qing called and told Xuesui.Maybe Kang Qing once said to her that she would send 100% over there, and if there was anything to do, just ask her. Hamamoto Natsumi told the driver to go to Tennoji.Yicheng received a fax from Kang Qing last night, knowing that Karasawa Reiko's home is located in Zhenkoin Town, Tennoji District.However, where in Osaka it was, he had almost no idea. "You must be caught off guard when something like this happens suddenly?" He asked after the taxi started. "Yes." She nodded, "Because it might be dangerous, I came here first yesterday, but I left unexpectedly." "When did you die?" "The hospital notified me at about nine o'clock last night. They hadn't left at that time, and only said that the situation had suddenly deteriorated. But when we arrived, it was already..." Hamamoto Natsumi narrated lightly. "How is Miss Tang Ze doing?" "This," Hamamoto Natsumi frowned and shook her head, "Even the people we saw were sad. People like our president don't cry loudly, but she buried her face on her mother's bed for a long time, She didn't move. I think the president must be trying to hold back the sadness, but we dare not even touch her shoulder." "You probably didn't sleep much last night, did you?" "I think I didn't close my eyes. I spent the night on the second floor of Tang Ze's house. When I went downstairs in the middle of the night, I saw the light on in the room and heard a faint voice. I thought it might be the president crying." "Oh." Yicheng thought, no matter what kind of past Tang Zexuesui had, what kind of secrets he harbored, he couldn't help but grieve over his mother's death.According to Imae's investigation, Yukiho should be able to live a carefree life and have the opportunity to receive higher education after becoming the adopted daughter of Karasawa Reiko. The destination was probably not far away, and Natsumi Hamamoto began to guide the driver.Judging from her accent, Kazunari should also be from Osaka, and only then did she understand why Karasawa Yusho chose her among the many employees. After passing the ancient temple and turning into a secluded residential area, the taxi stopped.Kasun was going to pay the fare, but Natsumi Hamamoto firmly refused: "The president told me that Mr. Shinozuka must never pay." She smiled, but her tone was clear and firm. Tang Zexuesui's hometown is a Japanese-style house surrounded by wooden fences and full of ancient flavor, with a small wrist wooden door.When she was a student, Xuesui must have passed through this door every day. Maybe she said to her adoptive mother, "I'm going to school" as she walked by.Yi Cheng imagined such a scene, it was a picture so beautiful that one would want to imprint it deeply. There is an intercom on the door.Natsumi Hamamoto pressed the button, and a "Hello" came from the intercom immediately, it was Yuho's voice. "Mr. Shinozuka is here." "Oh. Okay, let him come in. The entrance door is unlocked." "Yes." Natsumi Hamamoto looked up at Kazunari after answering, "Please come in." Yicheng followed her through the gate, and there was a sliding door installed in the entrance.When was the last time, he thought, he saw such a traditional house?He couldn't remember.Under the leadership of Hamamoto Natsumi, he came to the house and walked up the corridor.The wooden corridors are extremely polished, and the luster that blooms comes from countless labors of hand-wiping, not waxing, and the same luster also appears on every pillar.Kazunari seemed to see Karasawa Reiko's character, and at the same time thought that Yukiho was raised by such a woman. Hearing voices, Hamamoto Natsumi stopped and said to the closed paper door next to her, "President, can I bother you?" "Come in." The answer came from inside. Natsumi Hamamoto opened the paper door about thirty centimeters, "Mr. Shinozuka is here." "Please come in." With Hamamoto Natsumi's signal, Kazunari crossed the threshold.Although the room is a Japanese room, it is arranged according to a Western-style room.Cotton rugs are spread on the tatami mats, and rattan tables and chairs are arranged on them.A man and a woman were sitting on a bench. Tang Ze Xuesui was supposed to be facing them, but she stood up to welcome Yi Cheng. "Mr. Shinozuka... Thank you for coming all the way." She saluted.She was wearing a dark gray long dress, and she was much thinner than the last time I saw her, probably haggard due to the loss of her mother.Almost without makeup, but despite the tired look on the plain face, it is still very attractive.She is a real beauty. "My condolences." "Yeah." She seemed to answer, but her voice was low and inaudible. The two people sitting across from each other had puzzled expressions on their faces.Xuesui seemed to have noticed it, and introduced to Yicheng: "These two are from the funeral company." Then introduced to them: "This is a client at work." "Please advise." Yicheng said to them. "Mr. Shinozuka, you came just in time. We are discussing now, but I really don't know what to do, and I have a headache." Yukisui said after sitting down. "I don't have any experience with that either." "However, it is always uneasy for a person to make up his mind, and it is much more certain to have someone beside him who can discuss it." "I hope I can help." Yi Cheng said. After discussing various details with the funeral company, it was almost two o'clock.During the discussion, Yicheng learned that the preparations for the wake had already started.Both the wake and the funeral will be held in the mourning hall, which is about ten minutes away by car. The mourning hall is in a seven-story building. Hamamoto Natsumi and the people from the funeral company went to the mourning hall first, Karasawa Yukiho said that she had to wait for things from Tokyo to arrive. "What?" Yi Cheng asked. "Mourning clothes, I asked the girl in the store to deliver them. I think she should be arriving in Shin-Osaka soon." She looked at the clock on the wall and said. Yukiho may not have expected a funeral when she arrived in Osaka.Even if the adoptive mother's condition has not improved, it is presumed that she does not want to prepare mourning clothes in advance. "Don't you tell your friends from your school days?" "Oh... I don't think so, because there is almost no communication now." "Where are the people from the social dance club?" The 10% question made Xuesui's eyes widen in an instant, as if she had been touched in a dead corner of her mind.But she immediately returned to her normal expression and nodded slightly. "Well, I don't think there's any need for special notice." "Okay." When taking the Shinkansen, Kazunari wrote down several preparations for the funeral in a notepad, and he crossed out the item "contacting friends from the student days" among them. "Oh, I'm so serious, I didn't even serve tea to Mr. Shinozuka." Xuesui hurriedly stood up, "Is coffee okay? Do you want a cold drink?" "Don't worry about it." "I'm sorry I was so careless. There's beer, too." "I'll just drink tea. Is there something cold?" "There is oolong tea." With that, she left the room. As soon as the order was placed, Yicheng stood up from the chair and looked around the room.The room is furnished in a western style, but there is a traditional tea cabinet in one corner, but this furniture also coordinates well with the whole room. On the seemingly extremely sturdy wooden bookshelf, there are books related to tea ceremony and flower arrangement side by side, as well as junior high school reference books and elementary piano textbooks, etc., which must have been used by Yukiho.At first thought, she used to study in this living room, and the piano might be in another room. He opened the partition door opposite the entrance door, and a small porch appeared, with old magazines piled up in the corner. He stood on the edge of the porch and looked at the courtyard. Although it is not big, the plants and the wild stone lanterns create a simple and elegant Japanese style courtyard atmosphere.Weeds have sadly taken over areas that might otherwise have been covered by turf.It must be really difficult for the elderly over seventy years old to keep this courtyard beautiful. There are many small potted plants in front of him, almost all cacti, many of which are spherical. "The yard is ugly, right? It hasn't been tidied up at all." A voice came from behind.Yukiho stood there holding a tray with glasses on it. "With a little tidying up, it will be as beautiful as before. For example, the lantern is really nice." "But no one came to appreciate it anymore." Xuesui put the glass of oolong tea on the table. "What are your plans for this house?" "I don't know, I haven't thought of this yet." She smiled sadly. "Ah... yes." "However, I don't want to sell it, and I don't want to dismantle it..." She put her hand on the paper door frame, caressing the small scar on it affectionately, then looked up at Kazun as if she suddenly remembered something, "Mr. , Thank you very much, I thought you wouldn't come." "why?" "Because..." Yusui lowered her eyes first, then raised them again, her eyes were flushed and tears were about to drip, "Mr. Shinozuka hates me." It's not easy to cover up the fluctuations in your heart. "How can I hate you?" "I don't know about that. Maybe you are dissatisfied with my divorce with Cheng, or there may be other reasons. It's just that I do feel that you avoid me and hate me." "You're thinking too much, it's okay." Yicheng shook his head. "Really? Can I believe what you said?" She took a step closer to him, and the two were very close. "I have no reason to hate you." "Oh." Xuesui closed her eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief as if she felt relieved from the bottom of her heart.The sweet fragrance instantly paralyzed ten percent of the nerves.When she opened her eyes, the redness was no longer there, and the indescribably dark irises wanted to attract his heart. He looked away, distanced himself a little.There will be an illusion around her, as if she will be firmly grasped by an invisible force. "Your mother," he said, looking at the courtyard, "must have liked cacti." "It's not in harmony with this yard, is it? However, my mother has always liked it very much. She planted a lot and distributed it to others." "What will happen to these cacti in the future?" "I don't know either. Although it doesn't need to be taken care of, it can't just be left alone." "I have to give it away." "Yes. Shinozuka-san, are you interested in bonsai?" "no thank you." "Oh." She showed a faint smile, turned and squatted down facing the yard, "These children are so pitiful, they have no owners." As soon as the words fell, her shoulders began to tremble slightly. Soon, the trembling intensified, and her whole body was shaking, whimpering. "Lonely, not only them, but also I have no one to rely on..." Her choked-up murmur was greatly shaken, and he stood behind Xuesui, putting his right hand on her shaking shoulder.She folded her fair hands up.Very cold hands.He felt her trembling calm down. Suddenly, feelings that he couldn't explain welled up from the bottom of his heart, it was as if something sealed deep in his heart had been released, even he didn't know that he had such feelings.This feeling gradually turned into impulsiveness, and his eyes fixed on Yukiho's snow-white neck. Just as his defenses were about to collapse, the phone rang.He came back to his senses and withdrew his hand from her shoulder. She waited quietly for a few seconds as if hesitating, then quickly got up.The phone is on the low table. "Hey, oh, Junko, are you here?...Oh, you must be very tired, thank you for your hard work. Excuse me, can I trouble you to take the mourning clothes to the place I mentioned? After you get in the taxi, first..." Yicheng listened to her clear voice in a daze.