novelraw Chapter 131: The Golden Shopping Spree Before Going Home! Little Money-Grubber Misae Goes Online
Chapter 131: The Golden Shopping Spree Before Going Home! Little Money-Grubber Misae Goes Online
He really planned to give himself a vacation now.
The black Toyota Crown Majesta silently wove through the evening rush hour traffic in Tokyo like an elegant and powerful black panther.
Soothing jazz music flowed from the premium audio system inside the car, isolating all the noise and restlessness of the outside world.
Nohara Hiroshi rested one hand on the steering wheel, his gaze calmly fixed on the dazzling river of stars formed by countless red taillights ahead.
Accompanied by the beautiful music, Nohara Hiroshi wasn't annoyed by the traffic jam.
Instead, he remained incredibly composed.
The car turned into a relatively quiet street and stopped steadily in front of the small office building that had already hung the brand-new sign of the Future Comic Club.
"Beep-beep—"
He honked the horn lightly twice.
Soon, the pristine glass door of the office building was pushed open, and a beautiful figure ran out briskly, like a fairy carrying the radiance of a thousand stars. It was Koyama Misae.
"You're here."
She opened the door and familiarly sat in the passenger seat. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a mint candy dropped into a clear spring, instantly dispelling the last trace of fatigue in Nohara Hiroshi's heart.
Moreover, as Misae looked at Nohara Hiroshi driving with one hand, she couldn't help but reveal a charmingly naive smile: "Your posture when driving with one hand is just too handsome!"
"Mhm." Nohara Hiroshi immediately chuckled and started the car, skillfully merging into the traffic while casually asking, "How was it? While I was away, did our beautiful President miss me?"
"Not at all!" Misae pouted, but her large, obsidian-like eyes were already brimming with mirth: "I was super busy today! I had to coordinate with Shueisha on the single-volume cover design for Doraemon, and I interviewed three new manga assistants. I didn't even have time to drink water, so where would I find the time to miss a busy man like you?"
Despite her words, her soft, boneless little hand had already restlessly wrapped around his large hand resting on the gear shift, their fingers mutually interlocking.
Nohara Hiroshi let out a soft chuckle and backhandedly enveloped her small hand in his palm. That warm and powerful touch instantly filled Misae's heart to the brim.
"Speaking of which." Nohara Hiroshi looked at the gradually illuminating lights of countless homes ahead, his voice carrying gentleness and nostalgia: "Misae, this weekend, let's... take a trip back to my hometown, shall we?"
"Eh?!" Misae froze, and then, a radiant smile full of surprise bloomed on her exquisite little face: "Go back to your hometown? Back to Akita? Yes, yes! I... I haven't been to your house yet!"
Her voice was full of excitement for the unknown journey, mixed with a little nervousness.
But soon, as if remembering something, a flash of worry appeared in her beautiful big eyes: "But... this weekend is only two days. Going from Tokyo to Akita, just taking the Shinkansen round trip will take more than half a day. Isn't the time... a bit too rushed?"
"Who said we only stay for two days?" Upon hearing this, the smile on Nohara Hiroshi's lips deepened.
He turned his head, looked at the little woman beside him who was still worrying about the time, and spoke slowly with a 'domineering CEO' tone that allowed no room for interference:
"I, Nohara Hiroshi, Department Manager of the Independent Production Department. Now, I am officially notifying my girlfriend, Miss Koyama Misae. Starting tomorrow, we will conduct a one-week in-depth coverage and research on 'Japan's local customs and modern agricultural development'. This is official business."
"Ah..."
Misae was completely stunned.
She stared blankly at the man beside her who was spouting serious nonsense. After her simple little brain stalled for three seconds, she finally reacted.
"Oh my! You... you rascal!"
She punched his arm in both anger and embarrassment, but the force was so light it felt like she was acting coquettishly: "How could you be like this! To actually... actually abuse your power! You're using public office for private gain!"
"So what?" Nohara Hiroshi arched his eyebrows self-righteously, his posture unabashedly arrogant: "I am the rules."
This domineering declaration struck the softest part of Misae's heart like a scalding electric current.
She looked at his handsome side profile that practically screamed 'because I want to', and all the embarrassment in her watery big eyes faded away, leaving only a massive sense of happiness from being completely conquered by his absolute pampering and bossiness.
She buried her little face into the crook of his arm, her voice as faint as a mosquito but sweet enough to drown someone: "Mhm... I'll listen to you."
The car didn't return to the apartment but drove straight toward the Ginza district.
"Where are we going?"
"To prepare the equipment needed for 'official business', of course." Nohara Hiroshi's tone was still serious: "It's your first time visiting my hometown, I can't let my future Mrs. Nohara go there empty-handed, can I?"
.........
Ginza, Mitsukoshi Department Store.
Familiar scenes, familiar luxury brand logos, and familiar astronomical price tags that were enough to daunt any salaryman.
But this time, Misae's mood was vastly different from when she last accompanied her family here.
Back then, she mostly felt a vain happiness from the shock of massive wealth.
But now, as she held this man's arm and walked through this gorgeous world built of money and taste, her heart held only a grounded peace filled with love and a sense of security.
"This trench coat is nice, it really matches Mom's temperament."
"Big brother has a good figure, this suit will definitely fit him. He probably can't bear to wear the set we bought last time, so let's buy two more sets this time to let him alternate."
"As for Dad... let's go with this one. A Burberry casual jacket. With his personality, wearing a suit that's too formal would just make him uncomfortable."
Like the most competent fashion coordinator, Nohara Hiroshi skillfully selected suitable 'equipment' for his family members.
That composure and familiarity made it seem as if he wasn't strolling through a luxury store, but picking out daily clothes for his family in his own walk-in closet.
Misae acted like the most attentive little assistant, jotting down sizes for him while offering various lively suggestions from her unique female perspective.
"For Auntie, I think this dark purple cashmere sweater looks very nice too;
it will make her skin look fair."
"For big brother, we can pair it with some Timberland work boots, they match his burly figure perfectly."
"Uncle... for Uncle, I think it's better to buy more stylish and trendy clothes. I know Uncle really likes to show off~"
This delightfully contrasting remark made the sales lady serving them eagerly cover her mouth and let out a good-natured chuckle.
Soon, bags upon bags of spoils piled up on the boutique's sofa.
Just when Misae thought this shopping spree was about to end, Nohara Hiroshi pulled her into a brightly lit, resplendent jewelry store on the first floor of the mall.
"Hiroshi-kun, we... we're still buying?" Misae tugged at the corner of his clothes a little distressingly, her small face displaying the virtue of a frugal housekeeper: "Clothes and such are tokens of appreciation. But jewelry... isn't that too expensive? Uncle and Auntie will definitely say we're wasting money."
Whether it was the Koyama or the Nohara family, they were in reality just ordinary households.
Things like gold and jewelry...
Were truly too precious.
"They are them, and we are us." Nohara Hiroshi merely smiled.
He walked straight to the gold jewelry counter and spoke in an unquestionable tone to the beautiful saleswoman who was already rendered speechless by his outfit and the 'bag-carrying assistants' following him:
"Bring out the gold necklaces, gold bracelets, and gold rings with the newest designs and the heaviest weight you have here. My wife will pick them out personally."
Wife...
"Oh my." This title melted in Misae's heart like the sweetest spoonful of honey.
Her already flushed little face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, and her maidenly heart thumped wildly, almost leaping out of her throat.
The next half an hour felt like a bizarre dream for Misae.
She watched helplessly as Nohara Hiroshi strolled in front of rows of golden-glittering counters like a king inspecting his own treasury.
"This one isn't bad. The design is simple and elegant, very fitting for Mom's temperament."
He selected a delicately crafted, weighty solid gold necklace and a matching pair of dragon and phoenix bangles for his mother, Nohara Tsuru.
"This... is a meeting gift for my future sister-in-law."
He then picked out an elegant yet equally expensive platinum collarbone chain for the 'Miss Ikuna' he had never met before.
Finally, his gaze fell on Misae, so tender that it could wring out water.
"You can choose whatever you want from the rest."
"Eh?!" Misae was dumbfounded.
"Pick what you like." Nohara Hiroshi's tone was full of unquestionable doting: "Today, I'm going to dress you up as the shiniest little golden piggy in the whole world."
.........
When the black Toyota Crown Majesta hit the road again, the atmosphere inside the car was completely filled with a sense of happiness that reeked of 'money'.
Misae looked like a little hamster that had just occupied an entire vault, hugging several heavy red velvet boxes bearing logos in her arms. Her beautiful big eyes had long bent into two sweet crescent moons in pure bliss, and she kept letting out silly, 'heh heh heh' chuckles full of a money-grubber's aura.
One moment, she would put the heavy gold necklace on her fair, graceful neck, looking left and right at herself in the rearview mirror.
The next moment, she would slip the diamond-encrusted gold ring onto her ring finger and stick her hand out the window to admire its dazzling and mesmerizing sparkle under the streetlights.
That adorable, money-crazed appearance only made the smile on Nohara Hiroshi's lips grow gentler as he drove.
He suddenly felt that working desperately to earn money, to scheme, to engage in battles of wits with those old foxes, was perhaps entirely so he could see her presently wrapped in money and love, displaying the purest and truest form of happiness.
"Do you like it?" he asked softly.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Misae nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice, an unconcealed, fanatical light glimmering in her big eyes that had practically turned into '$' signs: "I love it so much! Hiroshi-kun, I realized that I... I seem to have a natural affinity with these shiny things!"
This 'gold-digging declaration' full of sweet contrast made Nohara Hiroshi unable to hold back anymore, bursting into a hearty fit of laughter.
"Hahahaha! You little money-grubber!"
Laughing, he reached out his right hand and affectionately ruffled her hair.
However, when his gaze touched her red lips that looked increasingly charming and alluring due to her excitement, and saw her eyes rippling with water because of pure joy, the string of rationality in his mind uncontrollably snapped with a 'twang'.
He abruptly cranked the steering wheel!
The black behemoth let out a low roar, swerving off the main road like a fierce tiger that had caught the scent of its prey, and silently turned onto a secluded, desolate riverside path.
"Kyaa!! Hiroshi! What... what are you doing?! Why enter such a secluded place so suddenly... you're so wicked!"
Startled by the sudden change, Misae instinctively gripped the safety handle tightly. As her small, money-grubber face seemed to realize something, it was immediately replaced by a shy blush.
"What for?"
Nohara Hiroshi stopped the car and killed the engine.
The entire world instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of the river water tirelessly lapping against the cold embankments in the evening breeze, along with their clearly audible, accelerating heartbeats.
He turned around, seeing his own distinct, predatory reflection in those eyes full of panic and bashfulness.
The corners of his mouth curled into a domineering, dangerous arc.
"Of course, it's to collect a little... return on my investments."
As he spoke, he unbuckled his seatbelt, lunged forward like a vicious beast locking onto its prey, and pulled the already infatuated little woman into his embrace.
"Kyaa... we're... we're outside..."
Misae's bashful protests were soon drowned in a passionate kiss as forceful as a raging storm and full of possessiveness.
.........
The night was as dark as ink, yet it was painted a deep purple by the unending neon lights of this sleepless city, Tokyo.
It was already late into the night.
The black Toyota Crown silently slid into the exclusive parking space under the apartment building. The moment the V8 engine shut off, it let out a low, satisfied hum, like a beast returning to its lair after a full meal.
Nohara Hiroshi leaned back in the driver's seat, lit a Seven Stars cigarette, and took a deep, beautiful drag.
The pungent smoke swirled in his lungs that hadn't fully recovered, taking away the last trace of battlefield thrill when he exhaled, leaving only the lazy fatigue of a victor.
He turned his head to look at the small figure in the backseat.
Like a kitten that had exhausted all its energy, Misae was curled up asleep on the wide, soft genuine leather seat, covered by his suit jacket that still carried his body heat.
On her beautiful face that usually bore a hint of naive charm, a moving flush that had yet to fade completely still lingered, and her long eyelashes cast a small, serene shadow in the dim light.
The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's lips subconsciously curled upward into a doting arc.
He stretched lazily, and the bespoke suit tailored by top-tier dressmakers seemed unable to restrict his stretching limbs.
However, when he tried to straighten his back, a sudden soreness shot like electricity from his two core muscle groups at the waist, instantly spreading through all his bones.
"Hss—"
He subconsciously inhaled a sharp breath of cold air, a helplessly wry look appearing on his face.
Reaching out, he gave the aching spot two light thumps and muttered softly at a volume only he could hear.
"The field is a good field, but the ox is about to die from exhaustion."
Although it was self-mockery, it transformed the exhaustion from the intense battle in his heart into ripples of achievement.
After all, it was from past eight to past eleven.
A full three hours!
Feeling rather pleased with himself, Nohara Hiroshi opened the car door, walked around to the back, and gently opened the rear door.
"Misae, wake up, we're home." His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze in April.
"Mhm..." The sleeping Misae let out a faint, mosquito-like murmur, rubbing her drowsy eyes like a little milk cat startled from a sweet dream. Her watery large eyes carried a misty daze: "Are we... are we home?"
"Mhm, we're home." Nohara Hiroshi smiled as he carried her out of the car: "Let's go, let's head in and sleep."
.........
Early morning.
The apartment was brightly lit.
Misae had long lost her grogginess from inside the car;
she busily bustled about the small kitchen like a hardworking little bee.
Soon, a warm cup of milk radiating a rich fragrance was placed before Nohara Hiroshi, who was sitting on the sofa enjoying a moment of peace.
"Here, for you." She stuffed the cup into his hands, her blushing small face bearing the virtue and playfulness of a little wife: "Drink it fast, it's to... to nourish your body."
"Nourish my body?" Nohara Hiroshi arched his eyebrows. He looked at the girl before him who was smiling like a sly little fox that just stole a fish, a dangerous glint flashing in his clear eyes: "It seems you aren't very satisfied with my performance last night?"
"Kyaa! You're... you're being improper again!" Misae's face flushed bright red instantly. She tried to snatch the cup back, but he grabbed her delicate hands and smoothly pulled her into his embrace.
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Nohara Hiroshi smiled and planted a light kiss on her smooth forehead, pulling the topic back on track: "Let's prepare to depart tomorrow morning."
"Eh?!" Misae was stunned: "So soon?"
But quickly, as if she realized something, a flash of worry passed through her beautiful big eyes: "But... is there still time to buy Shinkansen tickets right now or tomorrow?"
"Who said we're taking the Shinkansen?" Hearing this, the smile on Nohara Hiroshi's lips deepened.
He turned his head to look at the little woman beside him who was still fussing about time, and spoke leisurely: "We're driving back."
"Driving?!" Misae gaped in astonishment, her beautiful big eyes filled with disbelief: "That... isn't that too far? I heard driving from Tokyo to Akita takes at least five or six hours! That's... that's too exhausting!"
"Exhausting?" Nohara Hiroshi raised his eyebrows with absolute confidence, his arrogant posture feeling naturally justified: "Misae, why do you think I spent so much money to buy that car?"
"For... for convenience?" Misae asked in confusion.
"No." Nohara Hiroshi shook his head. His clear eyes glimmered with a man's purest intent to show off: "It's to return home in glory."
"Think about it. When I drive that Toyota Crown Majesta, the likes of which you couldn't find a second one in the entire countryside of Omagari City, carrying you, my fiancée who is more beautiful than any movie star, and we show up on the small streets of my hometown, what kind of spectacular scene would that be?"
Nohara Hiroshi felt thrilled just thinking about it.
Who didn't have the desire to return home in glory, or rather, to show off?
He could already picture those neighboring aunties who always loved gossiping behind others' backs, their faces contorted with jealousy;
he could see those distant relatives who used to look down on the Nohara family casting shocked, fawning gazes.
Well, although those situations were indeed rare to come by.
But it shouldn't stop a man from imagining, right?
"Mhm... I'll listen to you." Misae would absolutely never deny any of Nohara Hiroshi's proposals. She merely buried her little face in the crook of his arm.
Thus, early Saturday morning.
When the first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, the black behemoth that had slumbered in the underground garage all night let out a low roar. Carrying Nohara Hiroshi and Misae, it charged onto the highway network heading toward his hometown.
Thanks to Japan's decent infrastructure in this era, the five-hour drive wasn't as dull as expected.
The smooth roads, the beautiful scenery along the way, coupled with the car's premium audio system that rivaled a concert hall, made this journey home feel more like a romantic road trip movie.
.........
Meanwhile, in the distant Akita Prefecture, Omagari City.
Inside the old Nohara house that was filled with the traces of time, the long morning hours seemed to be drawn out by lazy cicada chirps, feeling remote and tranquil.
"Sigh...!!!"
Nohara Ginnosuke, the patriarch of the Nohara family, was currently sprawled spread-eagle on the tatami mats like a puddle of mud with its bones extracted, letting out a long sigh that carried the peculiar emptiness a middle-aged man.
He looked toward the kitchen, where his elderly wife, wearing an apron and humming an off-key tune, was bustling about preparing breakfast for the family. In his small eyes that usually twinkled with slyness, a look of happiness also shone through.
"Tsuru." he called out weakly.
"What is it? Do you want to drink again?" Nohara Tsuru's voice floated over from the kitchen, bearing a touch of helplessness but full of gentleness.
"No."
Nohara Ginnosuke rolled over, burying his face into the tatami mats that smelled of sunlight and grass, his voice sounding muffled: "I just feel... a bit empty inside. It feels... it feels like something huge is going to happen today."
"You're just being dramatic." Nohara Tsuru walked out carrying a plate of freshly sliced chilled cherry tomatoes.
These were picked from their own vegetable garden.
The plump red cherry tomatoes were still condensing the morning dew, looking very appetizing.
She placed the plate on the low table and sat down next to her husband. On her face, which always bore a gentle smile, appeared a motherly affection: "I think you just have too much free time. Oh right, today is Saturday. Semashi said he was going to pick Ikuna up and bring her over for dinner. And in the afternoon, they can watch Hiroshi's... what was it called... Kasou Taishou together."
She paused for a moment. Her eyes, already lined by the years but still bright and clear, were filled with fondness for her future eldest daughter-in-law: "Semashi told me that Ikuna also really likes watching that show. During the auditions last time, she secretly went to cheer for our Akita team."
"Oh?"
Mentioning this instantly perked Nohara Ginnosuke up. He abruptly sat up from the tatami mats, all the emptiness fading from his old face, replaced by a childlike excitement: "That's wonderful! We can precisely let the girl Ikuna see what kind of talent the men of the Nohara family possess! What kind of... artistic bugs we have!"
As he spoke, his thick eyebrows unconsciously twitched up and down a few times.
But under Nohara Tsuru's darkening expression, he eventually ceased his follow-up actions.
After all, Tsuru's fists were not to be trifled with.
"Speaking of which, Tsuru."
His voice suddenly dropped, filled with the mysterious aura of a dirty old man: "I think Semashi and Ikuna are getting along quite well. Should we... find some time to go to Ikuna's house and discuss... their marriage with her parents?"
These words completely stunned Nohara Tsuru.
Looking at her old man, who usually did nothing but drink or ogle beautiful women without a shred of decency, undisguised astonishment surfaced in her eyes.
"You... you dirty old man... how could you... how could you actually have such a serious moment?" Nohara Tsuru complained in shock.
"Outrageous!"
Nohara Ginnosuke's old face flushed red. Like a child whose secret had been exposed, he quickly assumed the posture of the head of the household, stubbornly retorting: "I... I call this having a cheerful personality! I am full of fun in life! What do you know?!"
"You, oh you." That embarrassed, bluffing demeanor made Nohara Tsuru unable to hold it in any longer, and she covered her mouth with a gentle giggle as moving as a clear spring.
She knew that although her old man had been unreliable his entire life, deep down, he cherished their two fully grown sons more than anyone else.