All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 133: Yukinoshita Yukino: Am I being seduced by a handsome man plan!?

Tokyo.

July.

Laplace Corporation.

July at Laplace Corporation was as busy as the sweltering heat of the weather.

Laplace Bunko was putting all its efforts into promoting the second volume of the light novel series "Youth."

At the same time, they were pushing forward with the project to make a movie version of the anime.

Typically, from scheduling the shoot to the official release in theaters, a movie would take one to two years.

But Laplace Corporation wanted everything done in one month.

Unfavorable voices from the outside had started to grow louder.

The related keywords had appeared on the hot search more than once.

The head of the business department had asked Yukinoshita Yukino several times whether they needed to spend money to remove those hot searches.

But she simply replied: "No need."

Beyond the publisher Laplace, the most important part of Laplace Corporation's actual business had also stepped into the spotlight.

Currently, the company was working to resolve relationships, register various patents and trademarks.

"Haizz." Yukinoshita Yukino sighed softly.

Yukima Azuma placed a souvenir from Hokkaido on her desk and casually asked:

"What's wrong?"

Yukino hugged the gift box in front of her.

Then her entire body collapsed onto the box, looking like a young girl who was disappointed after trying her best but getting a terrible result.

"Am I really fit for this position?"

The question seemed like Yukino was asking Yukima Azuma, but also like she was questioning herself.

This kind of low mood was nothing surprising.

Laplace Corporation was struggling with patent registrations and other business matters.

Let's mention it again:

In Japan, this is a society heavily influenced by hierarchy and personal relationships.

(Note: This is true for every country, not just Japan.)

Laplace Corporation had now grown too large.

It was inevitable that they would eventually be targeted by some people.

Those wanting a share of the profit pie, of course, were not few.

It was just that now they had found an opportunity.

Laplace Corporation was involved in a vast amount of work and labor positions, so violent measures could not be used.

If that happened, it would likely cause instability in society.

However, that did not mean there were no ways to exploit.

Currently, being rejected for a registration application was the most basic form of indirect exploitation.

If you don't have enough background or proper connections, the only choice is to spend money to get it through.

Otherwise, even the simplest application could be delayed for one or two years.

After all, those procedures would only be processed at the last time limit.

Anyway, those people always had time.

These things had almost become "unspoken words" in society.

Yukinoshita Yukino was now lying flat on the desk, her face full of exhaustion, as she understood these truths.

Yukino, who was always righteous, despised such things.

But she also did not have the ability to solve the problem in a fair and just manner.

If she persisted, it would only hinder the development of Laplace Corporation.

After graduation, Yukino had been "tortured" by society for a whole year, almost unable to survive in Tokyo, but she still didn't waver from her righteous principles.

But now, with Laplace Corporation on her shoulders, the young girl began to doubt herself.

Would continuing like this yield good results?

Maybe sometimes being too rigid makes you break; perhaps flexibility is needed at the right time?

These inner struggles, of course, Yukino couldn't share with anyone.

But the boy in front of her was an exception.

He might understand.

Yukima Azuma approached the desk and poked Yukino's cheek as she slumped on the desk.

When Yukima Azuma touched her cheek, Yukino's fair, snow-white skin quickly flushed a pale pink.

But after waiting for a while, no response came.

Moreover, the boy's finger seemed to be "advancing" more and more.

So, Yukino took a breath, lifted her cheek, and pushed Yukima Azuma's finger away.

"President! I'm being serious here!"

Her tone, like a concubine advising the emperor to focus on state affairs.

"Don't worry, I've already handled those things. Yukino doesn't need to doubt yourself, you haven't done anything wrong."

Yukima Azuma's words made Yukinoshita Yukino raise her head.

She blinked her jet-black eyes, which resembled precious stones.

"What did you do?" She asked curiously, her eyes filled with exploration.

If Yukima Azuma were planning to bribe someone, he would definitely not tell her.

Instead, the two would maintain a mutual, unspoken understanding.

But the fact that he was speaking now proved that this was not a solution based on the usual unspoken rules.

This piqued Yukino's curiosity.

"Hmm... just sell a little handsome?" Yukima Azuma murmured half-jokingly.

As a result, Yukino immediately jumped up.

She pulled Yukima Azuma, who was standing by the desk, closer, carefully checking him from top to bottom.

She flipped up his collar to check for any strange marks on his neck.

She even considered unbuttoning his shirt to check his physical condition.

As the young lady of the Yukinoshita family, Yukino understood the dark depravity of the upper class.

The wealthy ladies in Tokyo had tricks that were no different from torture.

Seeing the situation escalate in a strange direction, Yukima Azuma quickly reached out to hold Yukino, who was becoming agitated.

"I'm just kidding!" Yukima Azuma gently pressed her shoulder, forcing her to sit back down. "That kind of thing can't possibly happen, right?"

Not finding anything unusual on Yukima Azuma's body, Yukino slowly regained her composure.

With his personality, there was no way he would do something like that.

She had overreacted earlier.

Yukino widened her eyes, feeling frustrated that he could say such nonsense.

"In fact, I asked the mother of a friend. She holds a lot of power but is almost never involved in investments."

"I think Laplace Corporation could collaborate with her, working together to overcome difficulties as both investor and investee."

Yukima Azuma's words were vague, but Yukinoshita Yukino roughly understood the situation.

She even guessed who the friend Yukima Azuma was referring to was.

This solution could be said to be perfect.

If she had to find a problem, it would be: Why would the other party want to invest in Laplace Corporation?

Yukino knew the answer to this question.

Because the person they were investing in wasn't the company with vague prospects, but Yukima Azuma—the radiant person was the real reason for the investment.

If she were an investor, she would also bet on Yukima Azuma, and it would be a big bet.

"I understand. The rest, I'll try my best to handle."

Yukino's voice was somewhat melancholic.

In such gray areas, she truly couldn't help Yukima Azuma much.

The only thing she could do was, in the bright light, try her best to do everything well.

"Yukino, I Can't Be Without You."

Having been told this, Yukino naturally didn't want to disappoint Yukima Azuma because of his choice.

Just as Yukino was about to turn her gaze back to the mountain of documents piled on her desk...

Yukima Azuma's finger pinched her cheek again.

"Been a few days since we met, have you lost weight?" Yukima Azuma asked, his tone was firm.

"You must be overworking yourself lately, not eating properly, right?"

"Come back early tonight, I'll cook soup for you."

Yukino sighed lightly.

She tilted her head, letting it lean towards Yukima Azuma's finger.

She always felt that Yukima Azuma was using some kind of "handsome man strategy" to keep her working.

If not, why would he be so kind to her out of the blue?

Flirting with her over and over, why not just marry her already?

Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly froze.

She just remembered something.

It seemed Yukima Azuma next to her was still not of marriageable age.

Realizing this, Yukino couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, as if she were a "middle-aged cow liking young grass."

Oh well, even if it's a "handsome man strategy."

Since hearing the words "I Can't Be Without You," she had no other choice but to stay by his side.

Therefore, even if it's bait, she would willingly bite without hesitation.

About half an hour later, Yukima Azuma left Yukino's office.

After he left, Yukino went to the restroom to wash her face.

Then, she returned to her desk.

Her gaze fell on the gift box on the table.

With a sense of expectation, she reached out to open it.

Inside the box was a cute penguin-shaped stuffed animal.

Its expression resembled that of a certain boy.

There was no distinctive feature of Hokkaido.

But Yukino really liked it.

She looked around the office.

Finally, Yukino placed the penguin-shaped stuffed animal, which resembled Yukima Azuma, in a corner of her desk.

It was placed where she could easily reach out and pinch it anytime.

Just as she finished setting it up, a knock echoed at the door.

"Director Yukinoshita, there have been some recent changes in the company's senior management. I brought the list for you."

A pleasant female voice came in.

"Umu, come in."

Yukino withdrew her hand and returned to her usual cold demeanor as the "Icey goddess."

Isshiki Iroha pushed open the door and walked into the office, handing Yukinoshita Yukino the list.

As Yukino glanced over the list, Iroha's gaze inadvertently fell on the penguin on the desk.

A slight disturbance stirred within her.

Isshiki Iroha had also graduated from Toyogasaki Academy.

Although she was a year older than Yukinoshita Yukino, she had heard of the person who created the "year of Yukinoshita."

After joining the company and interacting a few times, Isshiki Iroha had gradually developed admiration for this kouhai.

But this beautiful, icy woman who had once been completely solitary during her school years...

Did she like toys like this?

And even placed it in her office, a non-private space?

Isshiki felt that this wasn't like Yukinoshita's style at all.

Or perhaps, she was subtly showing a contrast.

Like... a young girl just starting to feel the first stirrings of love.

Who could it be?

The one who had melted the cold heart of this director.

Curiosity surged within Iroha.

...

Meanwhile, after leaving Laplace Corporation, Yukima Azuma headed toward the Sawamura house.

He had been invited to lunch at the Sawamura household today.

Sayuri's invitation was within Yukima Azuma's expectations.

But what surprised him was that last night, Eriri suddenly changed her attitude and actively "approached" him.

Now that he had "eat" Eriri, facing Sayuri made Yukima Azuma feel an extra three layers of pressure.

He rang the doorbell at the Sawamura house.

The door at the entrance immediately opened.

"Oh, it's Yukima-kun! Come in, come in!"

Sayuri greeted him with a genuine smile, extending her hand to pull him inside the mansion.

"Sayuri oba-san..."

"Ehh, why call me '-san'? It sounds so distant. From now on, just call me Sayuri."

"Is that really alright..."

"Of course, what's wrong with it? You know, our Sawamura family doesn't have those complicated rules."

"Then, please just call me Azuma."

Seeing the smile on Sayuri's face almost stretch to her ears, Yukima Azuma understood that Eriri had definitely spilled the beans.

Or at least Sayuri had noticed a slip-up.

But that wasn't too surprising.

Eriri was never the type to keep things secret.

Sayuri was smart, and more importantly, she understood her daughter better than anyone else.

From the moment Yukima Azuma "eat" Eriri, he did not expect this to be hidden from Sayuri.