Back in the upstairs room, Naruse dropped his schoolbag and followed it to the back of the door, listening to the movement below.

"Spring Sea ......"

Naoko was a little helpless.

Naruse turned his head, "Shhh ”

“……”

Naoko had no choice but to walk over and cover his right ear with one hand, and with the other hand he drilled up the gap between his face and the door, covering his left ear as well.

He looked over and looked at each other up close, and Naoko's face flushed slightly.

"Didn't Chunhai tell the starfish that he wouldn't eavesdrop."

"No, I'm just worried that she's going to say something weird......"

"Nope."

“…… All right. ”

Recalling the scene before he came up just now, Starfish began to shed tears as soon as he saw Song Qianqiu, and he shouldn't say anything, Naruse was not very relieved but there was no way to leave behind the door.

- The movement of the two people in the living room was very small, and he couldn't hear anything even if he was close to him.

He sat down at his desk, and Naoko, who had nothing to do, spun around in front of the bookshelf.

Half a year after he returned from Tokyo, there were more and more books on the shelves, and the new ones were all bought from Morimi Kohonto.

"My aunt asked me to sleep here after she went back to Tokyo." She said suddenly.

Naruse was stunned for a moment, "Really." ”

Naoko stood in front of the bookshelf and looked at him with her spare eyes, "I said that when I was sleeping last night. ”

"That's right."

Both were silent for a moment.

“…… Is it too close? ”

She said without a beginning or an end, but Naruse had a feeling that her chest had been cut open for a moment, and everything inside was hidden.

"No, it won't."

He turned his head to look at the side of her face.

"If Naoko herself wants to, let's sleep here...... It's also a little more convenient. ”

She didn't speak, but nodded slightly.

Naruse looked at her for a moment.

"Naoko ......"

"Hmm."

He paused and stood up, "If you want to read any book, I'll help you find it." ”

Naoko looked at him and smiled lightly.

"As long as it's recommended by Chunhai, it's fine."

He raised his hand to the bookshelf, "You can read it." ”

She grabbed his arm.

"Hmm."

When Naruse and Naoko go downstairs again, Haixing's apology to Matsuchiaki has ended.

She lowered her head and snuggled up next to Song Qianqiu, and only sat up slightly upright when she saw the two of them coming down.

Song Qianqiu looked over.

"The starfish apologized to me, and I forgave her, and Chunhai is not allowed to use this matter to bully the starfish in the future."

"Hmm."

Of course, he didn't bother to bully her, and at this time, he cared more about whether Starfish told her the specific form of "bullying".

And Song Qianqiu's face was full of love for the former stepdaughter next to him, and it seemed that there should be none.

"Starfish come to dinner with us today."

She glanced at Naruse first, then nodded, "Okay." ”

"Remember to say hi to Mr. Seiichiro."

"Uh-huh."

Matsuchiaki touched her head, and then asked Naruse, "How was today's exam, are you okay?" ”

"It's about the same as last time."

"Where's Naoko?"

"It feels pretty simple...... But Chunhai said to be careful, so I checked each exam many times, and I was a little tired mentally. Naoko smiled.

"Good work." Song Qianqiu smiled at her, "I'll leave today's dinner." ”

Naruse immediately frowned.

"Kid over there, what are you frowning?"

"I understand it myself."

"I'm not ready to do it myself."

"Now this season, there are almost no food delivery outlets."

Song Qianqiu smiled, "So we'll go out and eat by ourselves." ”

Naruse looked out the window, "It's all this time......"

"Well, so she should be there soon."

"Who?"

Song Qianqiu smiled mysteriously and did not answer, and after a while, the sound of a car came from outside.

Naruse opened the door, and a red sedan was parked outside, and a young woman was getting out of the car.

"Long time no see, young master."

"Miss Sato......" he was a little surprised.

The person who came was Yoko Sato, Song Qianqiu's assistant, Song Qianqiu didn't mention it, he didn't know that the other party also followed her to the Northeast.

"I haven't seen you for a few months, but I'm getting more and more handsome."

Miss Sato walked over and touched his head with some effort.

"Why is it growing so fast, in two years, I won't be able to touch your head."

Naruse lowered his head slightly, "Did Miss Sato come over this time?" ”

"yes. It's rare to be able to rest for a few days, but yesterday I went to Lake Jushoda to relax as soon as I arrived here. Miss Sato said, "It's nice, hot springs and ice sculptures." ”

Matsu Chiaki also came out of it, "It's okay over there, right?" ”

"It's booked, I'll stay there tonight."

"That's not good, Chunhai and they have to take the exam tomorrow, and they have to come back in the evening."

"Eh-" Miss Sato was visibly disappointed, "I'm looking forward to it." ”

"Then you send the kids back and drive there."

"It's been more than an hour back and forth......"

"Where are you going?" Naruse asked.

"A high-end restaurant at the foot of Mt. Iwaki." Ms. Sato said, "It's hard to book this time, but I got it by putting Ms. Matsu's name on it." ”

Matsuchiaki beckoned a few children to get into the car, and Miss Sato was still persuading Naruse: "Stay for one night, I'll take you to school tomorrow morning." ”

"Can you get up, my son is going to take the first grade exam tomorrow." Song Qianqiu sat on the co-pilot, "Get in the car." ”

Miss Sato had no choice but to get up and drive, passing by the Maki Hotel, where the starfish went down to say hello to her father and came back quickly.

"That's Miss Song's ex-husband."

"Ex-ex-ex-husband."

"Looks pretty ordinary."

Song Qianqiu smiled calmly, "He's a good person. ”

She turned back and beckoned, "Starfish." ”

"Eh......"

Starfish sat in the middle, leaned forward, and was hugged by her.

"This is my baby daughter, Yoko probably hasn't seen it before."

Stopping at the intersection, Miss Sato turned her head to look at her for a moment, "It's so beautiful, it looks like you gave birth to it." Are you thinking of making your debut in Tokyo? ”

“……”

Starfish froze.

"Ignore her."

Naruse pulled the starfish back and sat down, "Is Miss Sato still only going to say this compliment?" ”

"I'm serious."

Although there was not a single car on the road, Miss Sato waited patiently for the red light.

"Young master, too, this condition is completely ready to debut. There is also the young master's girlfriend. ”

“……”

Naoko was still in a daze, and when she saw Naruse glance at herself, her face turned red all of a sudden.

“…… Don't talk nonsense. ”

"Ah, shy."

"You're harassing minors."

Miss Sato pursed her lips.

Song Qianqiu sat on the side and looked in the rearview mirror, and the three children in the back seat looked in different directions with different expressions.

And the starfish sitting in the middle has a particularly complicated expression.

Nearly half an hour later, the group arrived at the high-end inn at the foot of Mt. Iwaki, Yukimoriso.

It was already dark, and the surrounding trees were dense with trees, and it was impossible to see the nearby Iwaki Mountain.

Entering the inn, Miss Sato does her job and takes care of everything, and Naruse is quickly taken to a huge room on the second floor of the hotel.

The windows were open, and there was a vast sea of snow outside, and the lights of the hotel could only illuminate a little extent.

"There's a hot spring here." Ms. Sato said, "Before you enjoy the meal, let's go to the hot springs for a while." ”

"Okay." Song Qianqiu greeted a few children and went downstairs to soak in the hot springs.

"Towels and bathrobes are here. Come, take it. ”

When it was Naruse's turn, Miss Sato smiled slightly: "The young master is going to soak alone, no problem." ”

"What could be the problem?" Naruse took the towel and yukata and walked to the men's bath.

"Let's go in too."

Song Qianqiu pushed the two girls, "It seems that there is only us at this time, so enjoy it." ”

After changing her clothes and rinsing herself, Naoko curled her hair and sat down in the hot spring pool surrounded by stones.

The hot spring pool is walled on three sides, and the remaining side is connected to a private mountain forest, and the snowflakes outside melt the moment they fall into the pool.

"It's so comfortable......"

Even though she was still in the final exam today, and it would continue tomorrow, she came to a hot spring so far away tonight......

Leaning against the edge of the pool, enjoying herself with her eyes closed for a while, Naoko opened her eyes and looked at the other three people in the pool.

Song Qianqiu and Starfish leaned together, chatting with her all the time.

After Haixing apologized, the two were like biological mothers and daughters who had been separated for many years and reunited, and they were too close to each other.

It made her feel like she had been forgotten.

"Starfish will stay at my house tonight and sleep with my mother."

“……”

Naoko pursed her lower lip.

"No...... Forget it. The starfish was stunned for a moment, but still declined.

"Okay."

Song Qianqiu was not reluctant, "My bed is very large, and there is no problem sleeping three people." ”

"Three people......" Starfish turned to look at her.

"And Naoko."

Song Qianqiu beckoned Naoko to sit down as well, "It has nothing to do with anything else, it's just a little selfishness on my part." ”

(End of chapter)