Chapter 224: Probing

In the cramped Bedroom, the cold light from the Mobile Phone screen pierced the dimness, casting a wavering Shadow on Kaoru Hoshitani’s pale cheeks.

He stared fixedly at the flickering caller ID on the screen–“Chinatsu Ayase.”

Those four characters seemed to possess some kind of magic, pulling at his already taut nerves and making his breathing quicken involuntarily.

Recently, he was like a tightrope walker on the edge of a cliff; one misstep would plunge him into an abyss.

Aina Saiten’s suffocating silence and secret investigation were like an invisible net, tightening around him; meanwhile, on Chinatsu Ayase’s side, his deliberately reduced reply frequency and the “Xun Jun” that had never been corrected had clearly caught the attention of that sharp girl.

Caught between the “goodwill” of two women, anxiety gnawed at his Rationality like a parasite in the bone.

The ringtone kept ringing stubbornly, as if urging him silently. Kaoru Hoshitani took a deep breath, his trembling fingertip sliding across the answer button, and slowly brought the Mobile Phone to his ear.

“Xun Jun…”

The voice from the receiver was still soft and sweet, with a hint of just-right worry, like a breeze brushing past his ear, yet it made a layer of cold sweat instantly seep from Kaoru Hoshitani’s back.

“Chinatsu Ayase, what is it?” He tried to make his voice sound calm, even adding a touch of tired hoarseness, attempting to hide his inner panic.

“Nothing, I just noticed you’ve been slow to reply to messages lately, so I was a little worried about you.” Chinatsu Ayase’s voice was full of deep concern, as if she were truly a gentle girl thinking only of him. “Have you been too tired lately?”

“Mm, a little…” Kaoru Hoshitani agreed along, trying to end this dangerous topic as quickly as possible.

However, Chinatsu Ayase clearly did not intend to let him off. The other end of the Phone was silent for a moment, then Chinatsu Ayase’s voice sounded again, this time with a trace of barely detectable probing.

“Xun Jun, has Aina asked about me recently…?”

Those words were like a precise scalpel, instantly cutting open the disguise Kaoru Hoshitani had been struggling to maintain.

His pupils constricted sharply, and his Heart felt as if it had been fiercely gripped by an invisible hand.

“No.” Kaoru Hoshitani answered dryly, his voice so hoarse it even sounded unfamiliar to himself. “She’s been… busy lately, and hasn’t mentioned you much.”

“Is that so?” Chinatsu Ayase sighed softly, her voice seeming to carry a hint of relief, yet also hiding a deeper worry.

“That’s good. I was just a little worried that if Aina Onee-san found out something, she might not be able to bear it.”

She paused, her tone becoming even gentler, as if soothing a frightened Child:

“If she found out, it wouldn’t be your fault, but we need to keep her believing everything is normal. Xun Jun, do you understand what I mean?”

Those words struck Kaoru Hoshitani’s heart like a heavy hammer.

“I understand.” Kaoru Hoshitani closed his eyes, his voice so low it seemed squeezed from deep in his chest.

“That’s good.” Chinatsu Ayase let out a light laugh, a trace of satisfied pleasure in her voice. “Rest early, Xun Jun. Good night.”

“Good night.”

The Phone hung up, and the busy tone from the receiver seemed especially harsh in the silent Bedroom.

Kaoru Hoshitani dejectedly put down the Mobile Phone, his whole body seeming drained of all strength, and collapsed onto the Bed as darkness surged in like a tide, completely swallowing him.

…

The next evening, the Doorbell abruptly broke the quiet of the Apartment.

Kaoru Hoshitani opened the Door, and Chinatsu Ayase stood outside carrying several delicate paper bags, wearing the same sweet smile as always.

“Sorry to intrude, Xun Jun.”

Chinatsu Ayase said lightly, her gaze passing over Kaoru Hoshitani’s shoulder and toward the Living Room inside.

“The weather is turning cold, so I brought you some seasonal clothes.”

Kaoru Hoshitani’s Heart skipped a beat. He instinctively turned his head to look, and Aina Saiten was just coming out of The Kitchen, still wearing an Apron and holding a towel for wiping her hands.

This was the first time since that Incident that Chinatsu Ayase and Aina Saiten had faced each other head-on with him present.

An invisible smell of gunpowder seemed to instantly fill the air.

“Chika is here.” Aina Saiten’s face showed a gentle smile as she walked to the Foyer, her gaze resting calmly on Chinatsu Ayase.

“Aina Onee-san, are you feeling better?”

Chinatsu Ayase handed the paper bags to Kaoru Hoshitani, then took out a thermal container from her bag and offered it to Aina Saiten with both hands.

“I brought Sapporo’s special herbal soup, which is very good for recovery.”

Chinatsu Ayase’s tone was full of concern, as if she truly were a benefactor doing her utmost to take care of them.

“Thank you, Chinatsu Ayase. You trouble yourself every time.” Aina Saiten smiled and accepted the thermal container, her tone polite but with a hint of barely detectable distance.

She did not refuse, but she also did not show excessive gratitude, cleverly keeping this “Debt of Gratitude” at a safe distance.

Chinatsu Ayase’s gaze lingered on Aina Saiten’s face for a moment, then she turned to look at Kaoru Hoshitani, the corner of her mouth curving into a meaningful arc:

“Xun Jun has been taking good care of you lately, hasn’t he?”

This “Xun Jun” sounded especially clear in the quiet Foyer.

Kaoru Hoshitani felt his scalp tingle.

He knew Chinatsu Ayase was deliberately testing Aina Saiten’s reaction, and at the same time sending him some kind of secret signal.

Aina Saiten’s expression did not change in the slightest.

She did not even glance at Kaoru Hoshitani, only keeping that gentle smile. “He is fine.”

She did not take up the “Xun Jun” cue, completely refusing to enter the intimate relationship framework Chinatsu Ayase was trying to establish.

Chinatsu Ayase’s eyes flickered slightly, as if she was not surprised by Aina Saiten’s reaction.

She changed her shoes and walked into the Living Room, sitting down on the Living Room Sofa as if casually, but her tone carried a deliberate probing.

“By the way, Miss Rika Kawasaki has been making big moves lately, and it seems she is still looking for you everywhere.”

As soon as those words were spoken, the air in the entire Living Room seemed to freeze instantly.

Kaoru Hoshitani’s breath caught sharply, and he instinctively looked at Aina Saiten.

Aina Saiten was arranging the Water Glass on the coffee table.

Hearing this, her fingers paused imperceptibly for half a second.

But only half a second, and she recovered naturally, gently setting down the Water Glass, her tone so flat it had not a ripple.

“Is that so? But we have nothing to do with her anymore.”

“If you need, I can help you ask around.” Chinatsu Ayase leaned forward slightly, her gaze locked tightly on Aina Saiten, trying to position herself as their only “information channel.”

“No need.” Aina Saiten raised her head, looking directly at Chinatsu Ayase, then turned to look at Kaoru Hoshitani standing nearby, her tone carrying unquestionable firmness.

“We can handle it ourselves.”

This “we ourselves” was like an invisible barrier, completely drawing Chinatsu Ayase outside the boundary.

Chinatsu Ayase looked at Aina Saiten, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

She stood up and smoothed her skirt.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll head back first and not disturb your rest.”

Kaoru Hoshitani let out a breath of relief and quickly saw Chinatsu Ayase to the Door.

Chinatsu Ayase changed her shoes, pushed open the Door, but just as she was about to step out, she suddenly turned her head back.

She looked at Kaoru Hoshitani, a certain dark gleam flickering in her eyes that only the two of them could understand, her voice soft yet clearly reaching every corner of the room:

“Xun Jun, remember to charge it tonight.”

On the surface, she was concerned about his Mobile Phone battery, but in reality she was hinting that their Secret communication absolutely could not be cut off.

Kaoru Hoshitani’s body suddenly stiffened.

He instinctively turned back and saw Aina Saiten standing quietly at The Kitchen doorway, gazing at them with deep eyes.

The Door closed softly behind Chinatsu Ayase, making a dull sound.

The air inside was even more suffocating than before Chinatsu Ayase arrived.