After finishing their work at the company, Aria and Muichiro finally headed toward Elli Starfall’s private office.
The moment they entered the room, Muichiro crossed his arms dramatically.
“Elli Grandma,” he complained immediately, “why didn’t you tell me that you fixed Aria’s engagement?”
Before Elli could even answer, Aria instantly turned toward the door.
“If you two are only going to discuss engagement stuff again, then I’m leaving.”
Elli sighed softly.
“Sit down first, Aria.”
Reluctantly, Aria dropped onto the couch with an annoyed expression.
Elli looked toward Muichiro calmly before explaining,
“You already know very well that no one can force Aria to do something she dislikes.”
Muichiro nodded slowly.
Elli continued,
“That’s exactly why we fixed the engagement with Dany’s son for Aria instead of you.”
Aria blinked once.
“…Wait.”
Elli folded her hands gracefully.
“Before passing away, Aria’s grandfather made one final promise.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“He wanted someone from our family or from his brother’s family to eventually marry either Dany’s son or daughter.”
Muichiro frowned slightly.
“So because of that promise…”
Elli nodded calmly.
“We chose Aria.”
Then a small smile appeared on her face.
“Because we knew she would definitely create enough chaos to make the other side reject the engagement themselves.”
For two seconds, silence filled the room.
Then suddenly—
The door burst open dramatically.
Aria walked back inside while pointing at Elli in betrayal.
“So basically…”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“…I’m being used as a sacrificial goat?”
Muichiro instantly corrected her with a straight face.
“Not goat.”
Then he smirked slightly.
“Goatess.”
Aria stared at him blankly for one second before immediately grabbing his ear.
“Your tongue has become way too fearless lately.”
“Ow—ow—ow!
Let go!”
Even Elli couldn’t stop herself from smiling faintly at their chaos.
Finally, after escaping from Aria’s attack, Muichiro fixed his clothes dramatically.
“Fine.
Since you’re violent, I won’t tell you the good news.”
Aria immediately stopped.
“…What good news?”
Muichiro crossed his arms proudly.
“If you promise not to attack me again, I’ll tell you.”
Aria narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“If it’s something useless, I’m throwing you out of the window.”
Muichiro grinned proudly.
“I’m transferring to your school.”
For the first time in a while, Aria’s eyes widened with genuine excitement.
“…Wait.”
Then she jumped up from the couch immediately.
“SERIOUSLY?!”
Muichiro nodded proudly.
“Yes.
Seriously.”
Aria’s face instantly lit up with excitement.
“Then I’ll introduce you to all my friends too!”
She looked genuinely happy for the first time that day.
But just as she finished speaking—
The office door suddenly opened again.
A tall young man walked inside calmly.
The moment Aria saw him—
Her entire expression froze.
Shock filled her eyes instantly.
Elli smiled warmly the second she noticed him.
“Tuantuan, you’re here.”
Muichiro looked between the two of them in confusion.
“…Who’s this?”
Meanwhile, Aria stood completely still.
Inside her mind, panic exploded instantly.
No…
No, this can’t be possible.
How is he here?
How did Tuantuan come to this world?
For the first time in a long while, Aria actually looked nervous.
Elli gestured for him to come closer.
“Come here and tell me first—how’s Lily doing?”
Tuantuan smiled faintly.
“She’s doing well, Elli Grandma.”
Then his gaze shifted toward Aria and Muichiro.
“…And who are these two?”
Elli calmly introduced them.
“This girl is my granddaughter, Aria Starfall.”
Then she pointed toward Muichiro.
“And this boy is Muichiro, the grandson of my late husband’s younger brother’s family.”
Tuantuan’s eyes briefly rested on Aria.
Meanwhile, Aria kept staring at him silently like she had seen a ghost.
Muichiro immediately noticed her reaction.
“…Aria?”
No response.
He frowned slightly.
“Why do you suddenly look like your soul left your body?”
Aria finally snapped out of her thoughts.
“N-Nothing.”
But her voice sounded unusually tense.
Which only made Muichiro even more suspicious.
For a few awkward seconds, silence filled the office.
Aria immediately looked away from Tuantuan and forced a smile onto her face.
“Muichiro,” she said quickly, “let’s go now.”
Muichiro looked confused by her sudden hurry but still nodded slowly.
“Uh… okay?”
Just as the two of them were about to leave, Elli suddenly stopped them.
“Children.”
Both of them turned back.
Elli smiled gently.
“Take Tuantuan with you as well.
He just arrived here today.”
Aria instantly froze again.
“…What?”
Elli looked completely calm.
“He doesn’t know this city properly yet, so let him stay with you both for now.”
Muichiro smiled casually.
“Sure.
No problem.”
Meanwhile, Aria looked like she was internally suffering.
Why me…
Tuantuan quietly observed her strange reaction before speaking calmly,
“If it causes trouble, I can stay somewhere else.”
Before Aria could immediately agree, Elli interrupted her with a smile.
“Nonsense.
You’ll go with them.”
Aria forced an awkward smile onto her face.
“…Wonderful.”
Muichiro narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her.
“You’re acting weird.”
“I’m not.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I said I’m not.”
Tuantuan suddenly smiled faintly while watching their argument.
“…You really haven’t changed at all.”
The moment he said that, Aria’s expression stiffened again for a brief second.
Muichiro instantly noticed it.
“…Wait.”
He slowly looked between the two of them.
“You two already know each other?”
Aria immediately answered too quickly,
“No.”
At the exact same moment—
Tuantuan calmly replied,
“Yes.”
Silence.
Muichiro stared at both of them blankly.
“…Interesting.”
Muichiro slowly looked between Aria and Tuantuan with narrowed eyes.
Then suddenly—
“…Aria.”
“What?”
He pointed dramatically toward Tuantuan.
“Don’t tell me this guy is secretly your boyfriend.”
Aria’s eyes widened instantly.
“WHAT?!”
Then she immediately smacked Muichiro on the shoulder.
“Are you crazy?!”
Tuantuan let out a small laugh before calmly explaining,
“You misunderstood.”
He looked toward Muichiro.
“I’ve known both of you since childhood.”
Aria instantly looked like she wanted to stop him from speaking any further.
But before she could say anything, Elli spoke calmly,
“Yes.”
She smiled faintly while looking at Aria.
“He really has known you since you were children.”
Then Elli added thoughtfully,
“Perhaps the two of you simply failed to recognize each other properly after so many years.”
Muichiro stared at Tuantuan carefully for a few seconds.
Then suddenly his eyes widened slightly.
“…Wait.”
He stepped closer while staring at Tuantuan’s face properly.
“Don’t tell me you’re—”