novelraw Chapter 6 Mom!
Chapter 6 Mom!
In less than an hour, Kirihara Akira had witnessed the perverse nature of the aristocratic family's traditions.
So he thought that growing up in such an environment might cause the twins to develop some personality traits that he didn't want to see, and become extreme.
Like Shizue Mori, who used to be a book-loving, quiet girl with childlike energy, she has now become someone who doesn't overstep any boundaries, as if she's measuring her every move with a ruler, not allowing any behavior that a noble lady or heiress shouldn't exhibit.
Using her as a "role model" to speculate about her younger sister, Kirihara Akira believed that she would see a repressed, ambiguous, and eccentric Mori Kiyoha.
He thought such speculation was disrespectful enough and serious enough. He never imagined that Mori Kiyoha would be even more... or rather, even arrogant!
Looking at the two burly men in front of him, Kirihara Akira quickly thought.
He had several options. The first was to fight back. The two security guards stood in a small space, looking strong but relaxed. They didn't take Kirihara Akira seriously and had no intention of killing him.
Against an enemy who underestimates you, close-quarters combat, striking their vital points, can take them down instantly.
The second option is to turn around and run away.
The third option is to stay put and take the beating.
The first option is the way to best demonstrate one's presence and assertiveness. The only problem is that it would directly offend Sen Qingye, and he would probably never have a peaceful day in this house again.
Switching to a strong confrontational approach is not a wise choice.
Turning around and running away would be too cowardly, and if the whole family saw it, they still wouldn't be able to stand on their own two feet in the future. Being too weak would bring endless trouble.
The third type is actually the most particular, with specific rules regarding the type of beating, the posture during the beating, and the number of beatings.
First, you can't look too pathetic when you're being hit, or people will think you're weak. Second, you can't appear too tough when you're being hit, or the other person will think you went easy on them and hit you harder. Also, you have to consciously avoid hitting vital areas, so that the other person doesn't hold back and injure them.
He had to show pain, and the pain had to be "hardened."
Just as Kirihara Akira was pondering how to get beaten up, footsteps came from behind her.
The two burly men in front of them seemed to have seen a ghost, and hurriedly retreated, protecting the second young lady in front of them.
Kirihara Akira paused for a moment, then turned around and saw an old acquaintance.
Shizue Mori.
She was followed by a group of servants, but they only followed her halfway before stopping a short distance away. There was no sense of confrontation between two forces, only an absurd and oppressive feeling.
Mori Shizue was a flawless Yamato Nadeshiko. She rolled up her wide sleeves and walked past Kirihara Akira without exchanging glances.
She walked towards her sister, took her hand in hers, and then—slap!
A delicate, fair hand slapped Sen Qingye's face, not too hard, not too soft, just enough to produce a crisp sound and leave a red mark.
Kirihara Akira was slightly taken aback. Looking around, however, the people seemed to be used to this scene, and even the behavior of the attacker and the victim was completely natural.
Mori Shizue was like an NPC whose fixed code had been triggered. Her sister's actions provoked her to hit someone, and she slapped her in the face, but her actions showed no sign of the hostility, anger, dissatisfaction or other emotions that should have been present.
The person who was hit, Mori Kiyoha, reacted even more strangely; she actually laughed out loud in a bizarre way.
She looked at her sister, her expression both stern and cold, and said, "She still won't even hit me herself?"
"Nonsense." Mori Shizue scolded softly, but she didn't really mean to reprimand her. Instead, she gently stroked her sister's cheek, which was flushed red.
It turns out that the slap was delivered by Mori Shizue on behalf of their mother.
This aligns well with Kirihara Akira's understanding of Mori Akari.
Staying behind the scenes, high above others, having everything done for them, they maintain an unpleasant air of mystery.
He had his maid teach him the family rules, and he had his daughter discipline him.
Then Mori Shizue turned around and finally looked at Kirihara Akira, saying in an unquestionable tone, "Go change your clothes and get ready for dinner."
Kirihara Akira shrugged, turned around and went back to his room. Asahi and Kanade came to help him change his clothes, but this time she was much more obedient.
……
……
After all this trouble, Kirihara Akira finally sat down at the dinner table.
It is said that the Mori family usually has a lively gathering of relatives and friends, but since he is coming today, Ms. Juri has decided not to host a banquet, so that Kirihara Akira can have his first meal at home in a relaxed manner.
It may seem like a relaxed atmosphere, but every corner of this house, every water pipe, exudes a pressure that makes one feel tense all over.
At the heavy dining table, Mori Akari sat in the main seat, with the two sisters, Shizue and Kiyoha, beside her.
They were just a simple family, but I didn't see their father.
The Mori family's dinner tonight was more Western-style, and judging from the setup, there were many rules and regulations.
Mori Kiyoha's gaze remained fixed on Kirihara Akira, not with the tender affection one might expect from a lover, but rather with scrutiny, speculation, and malice.
She brushed a strand of silver-gray hair behind her ear, a smirk playing on her lips, eagerly anticipating seeing Kirihara Akira make a fool of herself.
As she looked at it, her smile suddenly froze.
In truth, Mori Kiyoha absolutely did not agree with the so-called rules of wealthy families. To her, the rebelliousness ingrained in her bones was the only rule.
Her mentality is like someone who has suffered losses before and now wants to see others suffer the same way, much like a water ghost trying to drag others down with them.
But she was disappointed. Why was this guy's table manners so perfect? Was he really just a simple-minded country bumpkin?
Sen Qingye was momentarily frustrated and fiercely forked the meat on her plate.
She's quite good-looking... Mori Kiyoha thought to herself with a cold snort.
Mori Akari ate slowly and in small portions. She quickly put down her knife and fork and used a soft napkin to wipe away the little bit of oil from her rosy lips.
She looked at Kirihara Akira and said gently, "Not bad."
Not knowing what she was praising, Kirihara Akira looked up and responded with a smile... It took her a moment to realize that she was praising her demeanor.
When he was Song Xinyuan, he was often asked to play... or even become many people, such as tycoons, policemen, criminals, singers, writers... He learned about and consulted on any role that a man his age could play.
When it comes to carrying out a mission, he only sees impersonating someone else as a chore, after all, it requires an unimaginable amount of energy. Disguise is for infiltration, and infiltration itself is extremely dangerous.
Even he himself never imagined that the efforts he made for his work in the past would become such a reliable mark imprinted on his soul.
Perhaps satisfied with Kirihara Akira's performance, or perhaps with other thoughts, Mori Akari smiled and said, "Shimizu is an elder in the family. Her mother and her mother's ancestors all worked for the Mori family. Sometimes they can be too strict with the rules, which can cause dissatisfaction. Don't take it too personally."
"No, how could that be?" Kirihara Akatsuki shook her head, saving face for the other person: "It was my fault for being so inconsiderate."
Mori Akari smiled and said, "It's normal to feel uncomfortable coming from a small place. Don't be too hard on yourself. How about this, Shimizu will teach you from now on."
Kirihara Akira's eyelids twitched. This woman was very clever and could definitely understand good and bad words. If he gave her a way out and she continued to make things difficult after taking it, that would be too boring.
Even a clay figure has a temper.
Kirihara Akatsuki put down her knife and fork, and said to Mori Akari with utmost seriousness, "Would you like me to call you 'Mom'?"
"Pfft." Shizue, sitting to the side, had her perfect composure crumble for a moment and almost choked on the food in her mouth.
"Ha." Qingye, who was sitting next to her, couldn't help but laugh. Her gaze towards Wuyuan Xiao was unpredictable, but it actually showed a hint of interest.
Mori Akari's expression froze as she looked at Kirihara Akira, her mouth actually being gagged for a moment.
If you don't give me face, then I'll have to call you "Mom" from now on before you have the right to tell me what to do. Let's see if the powerful Sen family is really shameless, actually taking in a poor country boy as their godson.
Mori Akari was silent for a moment, then sighed and said compassionately, "I understand how you feel. Your parents have just passed away, and no one can force you to accept new family. Don't worry too much. It's only right that I'm good to you. Try to relax in this house."
Clearly, although she proposed becoming family at the funeral, it was merely a cheap way to discourage the Kirihara family relatives. Once Kirihara Akira brought it up, she felt that Kirihara Akira was not good enough for her.
Kirihara Akatsuki smiled calmly, offering a way out: "I will try my best to abide by the rules of this family and strive not to tarnish your reputation."
Kirihara Akira's meaning was simple: if you treat me like an old friend's orphan, taking care of the parasite in the Mori family out of kindness, then don't give me all that nonsense. I'll follow your rules, so don't give me that attitude, and we can all get along.
Mori Akari didn't say anything more, but just gave him a deep look.
No one knows what she was thinking when she welcomed Kirihara Akira into her home, or what she was thinking at that moment.