The flashes of light kept clicking, and the blinding flashes made it hard to open one’s eyes.

　　Ryoko Arishima was wearing an adult swimsuit, revealing her smooth skin.

　　With her innocent face, she placed one hand on her chest, her eyes glazed over, striking a pose that symbolized seduction.

　　The men around him grinned maliciously, constantly pressing the shutter button on their phones, their bodies unconsciously making thrusting movements.

　　Ryoko Arishima twisted her body with abandon, her face seemingly entering a strange state that overwhelmed her reason.

　　The men grinned maliciously as they reached out and tore off parts of her swimsuit, revealing her fair skin and exposing most of her chest.

　　Heavy breathing gradually filled the photography studio.

　　Ryoko Arishima seemed to have completely lost consciousness, drooling from her mouth, her gaze unfocused, her expression extremely alluring, yet she seemed to be in a daze, chuckling softly.

　　She grabbed the man who was approaching with both hands, her mouth never idle, her dazed gaze drifting towards the corner.

　　There was a man standing there.

　　The man stood there, mouth agape, panting heavily, watching all this with humiliation.

　　”No, no!” The man cried out in fear, but his body language betrayed him; his hands continued their actions.

　　The man finally reached his limit; his body, like a balloon, kept expanding, growing larger and larger until it filled the entire photography studio and then burst.

　　”Aaaaah!” Amid the man’s continuous screams, his entire body exploded with a loud “crack”.

　　A colorless, white, viscous liquid splashed in all directions as his body exploded.

　　”Ah!” Yu Mukai suddenly sat up from outside the window. The blinding sunlight shone in, and he covered his eyes, panting heavily.

　　A chill ran down my back. I was sweating profusely in my sleep, and my underwear was damp and felt cool.

　　”Ring ring ring!” My phone rang.

　　Yu Mukai was startled and quickly answered the phone.

　　”Good morning, Mukai-kun.” Shirakawa Natsu said, starting the jeep with the phone clipped to her neck. “I’m already downstairs at your apartment building and will be there in about half an hour.”

　　”Okay, okay, thank you for your help, Shirakawa-kun.”

　　”Don’t mention it, we’re friends.” Shirakawa Natsu said with a smile, “I’m going to Maki’s house today too, it’s just on my way.”

　　After hanging up the phone, I slammed on the gas pedal and heard the roar of the car engine, which slightly calmed my impatience.

　　Time is too tight.

　　The jeep stopped downstairs at Yu Mukai’s house. He didn’t have much stuff; two suitcases and three cardboard boxes were enough to pack everything.

　　”This is the last box.” Yu Mukai carefully placed a stack of colorful magazine covers into the cardboard box.

　　Natsumi Shirakawa glances at the cover of a photography magazine, which was released last week.

　　”I almost forgot that Mukai-kun is also a photography major.” Shirakawa Natsu picked up the cardboard box and walked downstairs, asking casually, “Still dabbling in photography?”

　　A strange look flashed in Yu Mukai’s eyes, and he shook his head: “I’ve forgotten most of it, but I occasionally look at related magazines.”

　　“Haha, more and more graduates these days aren’t working in fields related to their majors.” Shirakawa Natsu laughed, her gaze sweeping over the magazine in the box in her hand. The gaps between the pages were large, clearly indicating that it had been read more than once. Mukai Yu was lying; at least he still loved photography, but for some unknown reason, he no longer touched it.

　　He started the jeep, and the scenery outside the window rushed past. Mukai Yu looked ahead through the windshield with a faint smile on his lips, clearly in a good mood.

　　Shirakawa Natsu saw his expression through the rearview mirror inside the car; he was very familiar with that smile.

　　After he redeemed a healthy heart from the Huangmao app, he had the same expression—a look of hope for the future.

　　The jeep stopped outside Hojo Makimon.

　　Yu Mukai stood beside the car and unloaded the luggage. Natsu Shirakawa was holding a cardboard box. She pressed the doorbell, and the door opened on the third ring.

　　”Auntie Maki.” Shirakawa Natsu quickly greeted her. He was a classmate of Hojo Maki’s daughter and would call her auntie in private.

　　The main purpose of calling each other that is to bring the two people closer.

　　He looked up and paused for a moment when he saw Hojo Maki clearly.

　　Today, Maki Hojo did not put her long hair up in a bun, but instead let it fall loose over her shoulders. She wore casual women’s clothing with a knee-length skirt and opaque black stockings to flatter her legs.

　　She was dressed like an ordinary housewife, like a ripe peach, exuding the scent of hormones.

　　It’s the kind of feeling that gently envelops you, not tight, just the softest and most comfortable.

　　”Xia, good morning, come in.” After feeling Shirakawa Natsu’s enthusiasm yesterday, Hojo Maki also started calling her “Xia,” a junior.

　　She saw the jeep outside and Yu Mukai carrying luggage, so she offered to change her shoes to help with the luggage.

　　She took off her indoor shoes, revealing her slender feet covered in opaque stockings.

　　Shirakawa Natsu noticed that Maki’s feet were also very beautiful, slender and elegant, with black stockings complementing them, making her look charming and alluring.

　　”No need, Aunt Maki.” Shirakawa Natsumi smiled and put the cardboard box on the ground. “There’s not much stuff. Mukai and I will be done in a bit.”

　　”Okay.” Hojo Maki nodded. “I’ll go get a glass of water.”

　　After she finished speaking, she turned and went into the house, leaving a faint fragrance that wafted into Shirakawa Natsu’s nostrils.

　　Shirakawa Natsumi was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses and quickly looked away: “I was too young to know how good Auntie is.”

　　He put down the cardboard box he was holding and ran to the jeep to help with the luggage.

　　Today was the first time he had seen Hojo Maki in casual clothes, not in her uniform, and it was wonderful.

　　Of course, the naked trench coat incident that night doesn’t count.

　　With little luggage, he and Yu Mukai quickly put all their belongings into the living room.

　　Hojo Maki brought over two glasses of water and pointed to the innermost room, saying, “Mukai will stay in this room for the next few days.”

　　”Okay, thank you very much, Minister Maki. I’m sorry to have troubled you.” Mukai Yu quickly bowed ninety degrees, then looked down and saw a pair of black-stockinged legs, before turning his head away slightly.

　　“Just call me Maki-nee in private,” Hojo Maki said with a smile, a stark contrast to her usual stern demeanor at work.

　　After taking off her police uniform, she seemed to have completely shed some kind of burden, and her speech became much more amiable.

　　Shirakawa Natsu had been secretly watching. She had never thought that Aunt Maki was so feminine before. Could it be that she had a special bonus after being called “Auntie”?

　　“Okay, Maki… Sister.” Yu Mukai was clearly very reserved.

　　Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was shifting from a work-to-office relationship to that of acquaintances, Shirakawa Natsu quickly stepped forward and said, “Aunt Mahi, I arranged the route yesterday. Here, let me show you.”

　　Hojo Maki’s attention was immediately drawn to him, and she paused for a moment, then asked, “Xia, did you stay up all night?”

　　”I’ll go get my luggage first.” Seeing that the two were chatting and he couldn’t join in, Yu Mukai started getting his luggage by himself.

　　”Okay.” Shirakawa Natsu waved to Jing Yu, then took out her phone, opened the document on it and handed it over: “I didn’t stay up all night, I just slept a little late. Today is the 14th, and the most suitable time is three days later, which is the afternoon of the 17th.”

　　”The day after tomorrow?” Hojo Maki frowned slightly.

　　”Isn’t this a good time?” Shirakawa Natsu noticed the change in her expression and quickly asked.

　　”I hope to arrive in Yan Country on the 16th.”

　　Shirakawa Natsumi calculated in her mind that if she arrived on the 16th, she would have to catch the best flight on the 16th. If there was a flight available the next day, she wouldn’t have any other ideas about the 15th. Her own secret plan was absolutely impossible to realize.

　　”The hotels and flights I’ve looked at all fit perfectly on the 17th.” Shirakawa Natsumi looked a little reluctant. “Of course, if Aunt Maki has something important to do, the 16th is also fine, but we might need to replan, and the time will be tighter.”

　　Hojo Maki struggled for a moment before nodding, “It’s not anything particularly important, so let’s do it on the 17th. It would be too much trouble to redo it.”

　　She had just reviewed the itinerary, from which hotel to stay in, to which tram to take in Kannai to meet her, to where to go for the next few days, which tram to take, and all the precautions, everything was written down clearly.

　　She could hardly imagine how long it would take for someone from the East to prepare such detailed plans for another country’s routes.

　　Hojo Maki’s gaze towards Shirakawa Natsu softened slightly.

　　”Then let’s buy tickets for the 9 a.m. flight on the 17th.” Shirakawa Natsu handed over her phone, showing the ticketing interface.

　　We should quickly get Aunt Mafei to buy the tickets and set the date, lest things get complicated.

　　“Okay.” Hojo Maki took the phone, entered her ID number, and purchased a plane ticket for 9 a.m. on the 17th.

　　Shirakawa Natsu glanced at the numbers, narrowed her eyes, and thought, “No wonder she wants to go to Yan Country on the 16th.”

　　Hojo Maki noticed his gaze and smiled, “Yes, I was planning to celebrate my birthday with my daughter, but it’s not anything particularly important.”

　　”It’s alright, let’s do it for Maki.” Shirakawa Natsu said with a smile.

　　”Hmph, no need to go to so much trouble, I’m not a little girl anymore.” Hojo Maki shook her head with a smile.

　　Suddenly, a heavy thud was heard coming from inside the room.

　　Hojo Maki frowned and looked in the direction of the sound. It was the room that Mukai Yu had just entered. She immediately got up from the sofa.

　　Shirakawa Natsu followed behind and walked over.

　　The two arrived at the room door and saw Xiang Jingyu standing there, awkwardly holding a wall clock. When he saw them coming, he scratched his head and said apologetically, “I’m really sorry, I must have been too rough. I’ll fix it right away.”

　　“It’s alright.” Hojo Maki shook her head: “The wall clock hasn’t been leaning against anything for a long time, it just hasn’t been repaired. Just leave it on the ground.”

　　”That won’t do.” Yu Mukai quickly stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and said, “Where are the tools? We must solve any problems immediately.”

　　Hojo Maki was taken aback, then got up and took out a toolbox from the corner.

　　The iron toolbox had clearly not been used for a long time; it was covered in dust.

　　”Leave it to me.” Mukai Yu didn’t mind the dust at all. He opened his toolbox, skillfully took out a hammer and nails, and began to hammer.

　　Before long, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he didn’t care at all. He was serious and focused on the hammer in his hand.

　　Shirakawa Natsu glanced at Hojo Maki out of the corner of her eye and was taken aback; something seemed off about her gaze.