Chapter 103: Punishing Miss Qingling and a Date with Mrs. Uehara (An Exciting Chapter You Can't Miss!)

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The black Honda had been waiting outside the community entrance for quite some time.

Shizuka Gozen stood by the car door, gazing silently at it. The darkened windows made it impossible to see what was happening inside.

It had already been half an hour since they went in. Her calves, clad in sheer black stockings, were beginning to ache, and she was regretting the three- or four-centimeter heels she had chosen.

When no one was paying attention, she secretly pinched her slender calf. A wonderfully sore yet soothing sensation swept through her body.

She glanced toward the car, her expression taking on the air of a slightly aggrieved young girl.

Why did they have to talk in the car? Wouldn’t it have been better to find somewhere and have a cup of tea?

Instead, they had left her standing outside for more than half an hour.

Shizuka’s small lips puffed up slightly, but she was of low status and carried little authority. Though she was angry, she did not dare voice her complaints.

All she could do was grumble silently to herself.

At last, after a long silence, the car door opened. A handsome young man stepped out, looking refreshed and invigorated. His arm was wrapped around a breathtakingly beautiful, cool-looking blonde girl. The scene resembled that of a dashing young heir taking his little girlfriend out for a stroll.

After getting out of the Honda, Haruhi Haruno began looking around and breathing in the fresh air. The sedan was certainly comfortable, but staying inside for too long still left one feeling stifled. When he spotted Shizuka in the distance, he grinned at her, flashing a row of bright white teeth.

The beautiful manager noticed his gaze, and something occurred to her. Her pretty little face flushed crimson.

Although she was curious about what the three of them had discussed in the car, Shizuka had no time to speculate. The people inside the Honda had already ordered their men to withdraw.

From that day onward, under Haruhi’s urging, Miss Mirei Kiyose began studying in earnest.

Haruhi’s own grades were merely average, but teaching this bottom-ranked young heiress a few basics was still well within his abilities.

Teacher Haruhi now had two students under his tutelage. He was still a long way from having pupils spread throughout the world, but at least he had made a start.

“How can you still not understand this essay by Haruki Murakami? I remember teaching it to you several times already.”

In the living room of the rented apartment, a young man and a young woman were sprawled over the coffee table, writing and drawing with their pens.

Haruhi had found a pair of glasses somewhere and perched them on the bridge of his nose. Several buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing his sensual collarbones and well-built chest. He was the very image of a refined beast.

He glanced at the blonde beauty beside him with a troubled expression.

“That can’t be right. After so many lessons, you should have memorized it even if you didn’t understand it.”

This new student’s foundation was simply too poor. He had explained this light, accessible essay four times, yet she still could not learn it. She was truly beyond help.

“I just can’t understand it.” The delinquent girl tossed her pencil onto the coffee table. Her exquisitely sculpted little face drooped dejectedly, and she looked as though she was ready to give up entirely.

Haruhi frowned slightly as he looked at Mirei Kiyose. His fingers rubbed restlessly over the textbook.

Printed prominently near the top of the page was the title:

“How I Survived Those Years of Poverty”
Author: Haruki Murakami

This was the essay Haruhi understood best and was most confident teaching. Why had it completely failed to work on Mirei?

His gaze shifted from the book, with its pitch-black title, to the young heiress resting her face on the coffee table. In an instant, he seemed to realize something.

Damn it! For a moment, he felt that his entire life had suffered a minor defeat.

“Then let’s stop studying Japanese for now and move on to mathematics.”

Haruhi decided to change his teaching strategy.

“Ahh, I don’t want to study anymore.” Mirei turned her head away. The hour-long study session had completely extinguished her interest. All she wanted now was to take a nice bath and go to sleep smelling sweet and clean.

“No. We’ve studied for less than an hour today. Your foundation is too weak. You have to make up for your shortcomings through diligence.” Haruhi rejected her without hesitation.

“Mmm, I don’t want to.” Mirei turned back, reached out to tug on Haruhi’s arm, and suddenly spoke in a coy, delicate voice. “How about this, Haruhi? Why don’t we take a bath together? Then we can go straight to bed.”

As she spoke, she slowly brought her glistening little foot closer. Her jelly-like toes curled around the hem of the handsome young man’s trouser leg.

“Gasp!”

Feeling that mischievous foot, Haruhi could not help drawing in a sharp breath. He had never expected her to use a beauty trap against him.

Damn it! Did she think she could test a righteous man like him with something like this?

When he looked up, the young heiress was seductively licking the corner of her mouth. A faint smile played across her lips, while waves of temptation rippled through her eyes.

She looked as though she had Haruhi completely under her thumb.

“Well? Is it all right, Teacher Haruhi?”

“No!”

Haruhi hesitated only inwardly before rejecting her without the slightest hesitation.

His expression was solemn and righteous, leaving Mirei utterly stunned.

She had only seen this side of Haruhi when the two of them were fooling around.

Could it be that he had reached his limit so quickly today?

She had not even begun yet, and he was already finished?

Taken aback, Mirei unconsciously glanced at the soles of her feet. When she felt no warmth there, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She patted her figure, which was far more developed than those of girls her age.

Thank goodness. Thank goodness. Nothing was wrong with her body.

Haruhi ignored her. He merely rolled his wrists and cleared his throat twice. At that moment, he truly resembled a good teacher concerned for his student.

“Since you’re being so disobedient, I’ve decided to impose a little punishment.”

“Huh?” Mirei failed to understand for a moment. Punishment? What could he possibly punish her with?

“Miss Kiyose, please stand up.” Haruhi issued the command without changing expression.

Though curious, Mirei obediently rose to her feet.

Her youthful, shapely figure was revealed in full.

Haruhi merely gave her a cursory glance before continuing.

“Bend over the coffee table. Your teacher is going to punish you now.”

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“Hm?” The young heiress was puzzled, but she obediently bent over the coffee table.

Her loose T-shirt rode up with the movement and fell around her waist, revealing part of her underwear.

Haruhi gazed at the view before him, rubbed his palms together, and aimed at her rounded backside.

“Smack!”

The crisp sound rang out.

The familiar sensation and the familiar force instantly transported them both back to that stormy evening.

It had also been in the living room of this rented apartment, on the first night the young heiress had stayed at Haruhi’s home.

“You! Why are you hitting my butt again?” Mirei twisted her head around. Her cheeks were bright red, while the faint, stinging pain from her backside left the heiress flustered.

“Are you going to study properly or not?”

Without another word, Haruhi struck her again.

Mirei’s temper flared as well. She clenched her pearly teeth against her lip and stubbornly refused to say a word.

Haruhi paid her no attention. He simply continued, one slap after another.

“Smack!”

“Smack!”

The sound rang out again and again.

Suddenly, while Haruhi was thoroughly enjoying himself, he sensed that something was wrong.

It seemed that the glass of water on the coffee table had spilled. The air was filled with the scent of moisture.

Strange. How could plain water have a smell?

He raised his head and realized that the gleaming moisture seemed to have come from the young heiress’s eyes. When she noticed that the movement had stopped, she turned her head curiously.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke. Everything was conveyed in their gazes.

Haruhi suddenly felt that matters had gone far beyond his expectations.

He swore that his original intention had truly been nothing more than making Mirei study properly.

There was absolutely no way he could have imagined things developing to this point!

Heaven and earth knew he was innocent!

Two glasses of plain water sat on the wooden coffee table. Strangely, the glasses were perfectly intact, yet the water inside them continued to ripple.

The radiance of youth, the key to one’s dreams, the meaning of life, even humanity’s survival and development—all of it burned within that passionate, feverish, impulsive age.

At least, that was how it had been for Haruhi.

Even though autumn had arrived, with leaves drifting down over the streets and everything appearing bleak and desolate, this enormous international city seemed to slow down during this season.

It was almost as though it were commemorating something.

Strange as it was, that was perhaps the truest portrait of autumn.

The days passed like smoke.

These days, Haruhi felt exceptionally busy. Apart from completing his schoolwork every day, he also had to work out with Mrs. Momotani after school—or, more precisely, make an appearance at Mrs. Uehara’s place.

After that, he would return home in the evening and tutor Mirei privately.

It was truly a hectic life.

Watching the members of the baseball club practicing on the field for Koshien, Haruhi could not help shaking his head.

That was what someone else’s youth looked like.

Should he also find the time to join a club and have a little fun?

After all, Haruhi was no longer the boy who once struggled every day simply to earn enough money to survive.

It was just like Haruki Murakami. By the time he wrote “How I Survived Those Years of Poverty,” he had already become a renowned literary master.

Memories drifted away like smoke. One had to look forward if one wanted to make life a little more colorful.

For example, this weekend, Haruhi had arranged to meet Mrs. Uehara for coffee.

November 16, Saturday.

“Thank you for teaching Yoshiko these past few days, Haruhi.”

At a small table against the wall inside the coffee shop, Yoshimi Uehara expressed her gratitude to him.

“It was only natural.” Haruhi smiled.

The gentle Mrs. Uehara was wearing a fitted wool dress that hugged her hips. It revealed her graceful figure to perfection, mature and full of charm.

Her tender gaze was like a spring breeze, making those around her feel relaxed and comfortable.

Haruhi propped his right arm on the table and quietly admired the woman’s beauty.

Yoshimi Uehara blushed under his gaze and could not help lowering her head as she murmured, “Don’t look at me like that, Haruhi…”

The sky was bright, though a faintly chilly wind was blowing. Haruhi pursed his lips, and the smile that appeared was enough to captivate any young girl.

“What’s wrong with that, Yoshimi? You’re so beautiful and youthful that everyone thinks we’re siblings.”

Yoshimi Uehara was delighted by those words. Everyone loved looking at beautiful people, and everyone loved hearing beautiful compliments.

She raised her head to look at the handsome young man before her.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m much older than you!”

As she spoke, Yoshimi could not help sighing inwardly.

Whenever she faced Haruhi, she could never get past that obstacle in her heart.

“Really? Then perhaps I simply look rather mature.” Haruhi smiled. “If you don’t believe me, look over there. They’re probably whispering, ‘Wow! That brother-and-sister pair is unbelievably good-looking!’”

Following his gaze, Yoshimi saw four female high school students seated at a nearby table. Every now and then, they glanced in this direction, huddled together and joking among themselves. They looked as though they wanted to approach, yet did not dare.

The coffee shop was located in a rather secluded area. Its decor was exquisite, but there had been few customers inside.

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However, everything changed after Haruhi and Yoshimi arrived.

The café, which had originally been somewhat empty, soon became more than half full.

“Perhaps they’re all discussing you. I’m simply too old…”

Although Yoshimi was happy, she could not help feeling a little dejected.

Every time she faced Haruhi, her heart seemed unable to cross that same hurdle.

“Fine! Then it’s decided!” Haruhi was not one to hesitate. He suddenly made a rather inexplicable declaration.

“Hm?” Yoshimi looked at him curiously. What was this boy about to say?

“Today, I’m going on a date with you, Yoshimi!” Haruhi announced, rising to pay the bill.

Yoshimi froze. By the time she recovered, Haruhi had already dragged her outside.

The autumn wind blowing toward her cleared her head somewhat. Beside her, the handsome young man chattered away about the amusing things that had happened in the coffee shop.

When the café’s female owner saw Haruhi and Yoshimi come over to pay, she narrowed her eyes and smiled brightly, even giving them a discount on the spot.

The improvement in business had not been a coincidence.

After the two of them left, the café’s exquisite decor and high-quality coffee still retained many of the new customers.

Yoshimi rubbed the membership card that the female manager had just forced into her hand and slowly asked, “Where are we going?”

Haruhi stopped commenting on the coffee shop and thought for a moment.

“Well, since we’re going on a date, we have to do what couples do. First, we’ll watch a movie! Then we’ll go shopping! And finally… when evening comes, we’ll sleep!”

“I see…” A trace of longing flashed through Yoshimi’s eyes, followed by a bitter smile.

“I still have to go back and open the convenience store later. You should find someone else to go with you, Haruhi…”

Looking at the gentle and insecure woman before him, Haruhi frowned.

“Yoshimi, it won’t hurt if the convenience store stays closed for just one day! Besides, I’ve already bought the tickets online, and the movie is about to start. Where am I supposed to find another friend at this hour?”

As he spoke, his expression suddenly became pitiful.

“You know that I came to Tokyo alone from a small rural town. Although I worked hard and managed to get into a national high school, I can’t fit in with those people at school at all. I always feel out of place in this city. The only person I have is you, Yoshimi…”

Seeing that Yoshimi did not want to go, Haruhi immediately began playing the emotional card.

As expected, the kindhearted and softhearted Mrs. Uehara’s eyes filled with pity when she heard this. She could not help reaching out to gently stroke Haruhi’s forehead.

“N-no, it’s all right. You still have me. It wouldn’t be a problem for me to support you on my own…”

The kind woman had been completely deceived.

“Then shall we watch the movie?”

“Of course I’ll go with you, little brother…”

[Ding!]

[Event triggered.]

[After the player maliciously told a deliberate lie, the kindhearted Mrs. Uehara actually believed him without question. You cannot help wondering whether she is simply too innocent. Little do you know that her innocence is reserved for you alone! After hearing your nonsense, Mrs. Uehara even offered to support you. Therefore, you must choose:]

[A. Accept without hesitation. When you are young, you do not yet understand the charms of a wealthy older woman, mistaking a young girl for a treasure. Beautiful, wealthy young women may be common, but how many gorgeous, affluent women older than you have you met? Hesitating for even one second would be disrespectful to the shortcut through life. Mission reward: Gain the title “Ultimate Freeloader King.”]

[B. What makes you think you can afford to support me? Don’t you know handsome young men are an especially scarce commodity these days? You dare name a price without several million in capital? Don’t think I’m that cheap. Mission reward: Gain the title “Shameless Beyond All Limits.”]

[C. Thinking of the little cook currently huffing and puffing as she prepares your meals at home, and of Yuriko Ogata, who is probably kissing your photograph right now, perhaps living off Mrs. Uehara is not the best choice after all. Tell Mrs. Uehara the truth; everything can be discussed. Mission reward: Gain the favor of Mirei Kiyose and Yuriko Ogata.]

[D. After comparing Yoshimi Uehara’s finances with Eri Momotani’s from every angle, you discover that the two are fairly evenly matched. Perhaps you should test the waters with Mrs. Momotani? You might even enjoy two salaries while still young. That would fast-forward you straight to the next life, because in this one, you would never need to use your legs to walk anywhere again! Mission reward: Gain the title “When the Freeloader King Became Shameless.”]

Haruhi merely glanced at the mission panel that had suddenly appeared and said nothing.

For every event, he could either choose an option or abandon it. When something was obviously designed to disgust him, Haruhi could not be bothered to pay it any attention.

Putting everything else aside, what kind of ridiculous titles were those? They were either about freeloading or shamelessness, and even their names were thoroughly unappealing.

Was he the sort of person who lived off women?

He turned his head and glanced at the kindhearted woman beside him.

A breeze swept through her brown hair, revealing her fair, clean profile. Her pale, youthful features were accented by softly reddened lips. Unable to resist, the young man reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

The years had been kind to her. She truly looked young, and what Haruhi had said in the café had not been an exaggeration.

The two of them walking together resembled an extraordinarily attractive brother-and-sister pair.

“Hm?” Yoshimi turned her head in confusion. Their eyes met, and her pretty face flushed faintly.

“Here.” Haruhi raised his strong arm and nodded toward it.

Yoshimi smiled and slipped both slender arms around it.

“Good.” Haruhi nodded in satisfaction.

The two of them walked along the leaf-strewn, poetic road like a couple in love.

Thanks to Mr. Chen of Haiqiao for the reward. Everyone, please help keep the thread going in the comments!

Thank you all! I kneel in gratitude!!!

End of Chapter

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