My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 110

This type of dialogue has been repeated about five times.

Now all I can do is hold a cup of oolong tea in one hand and force a smile.

"Wow! Yuanxiang has a really good alcohol tolerance!"

"She's only twenty years old and can drink this much! She must have inherited that bloodline!"

"No problem, I can still drink!"

There were more than a dozen people drinking heavily there, and only three of us—me, Mizuto, and Takema—were minors.

The sense of alienation was overwhelming. I couldn't keep up with the excited atmosphere at all.

Are all banquets like this? Or is this just a family gathering? I have little experience with either, so I'm not sure...

"I was worried about having a young couple living together."

"Everyone says that young people these days are herbivores."

"Xiaofeng, that's an outdated way of thinking!"

"Oh, really?"

"Don't be shy, eat as much as you want, Yui. Come on, there's still some sushi left!"

“Okay, okay…”

In the increasingly noisy banquet, all I could do was keep eating the dishes that kept appearing on my plate.

At last……

"How cunning!"

First I heard a loud scream, and suddenly two soft objects pressed down on my back.

(Illustration 007)

"Wow!... Cousin Yuanxiang?"

"Yui, you're so cunning!"

The smell of alcohol is too strong!

Cousin Yuanxiang, who was pressing down on me from behind, was burning hot and her face was flushed; she was completely drunk.

And there was something really heavy pressing down on my back! I could feel its weight even through my bra! It was even flattened and deformed! Even though we're both girls, it still made my heart race!

"My cousin Mizuto~ He used to completely ignore me~ How come he became friends with Yui so quickly~?"

"Huh, really?"

"Really?! And I've been taking care of him since he was in kindergarten!"

He sat in the nearby water basin, eating his boiled taro with an attitude of complete indifference.

He won't talk to her...? But he seemed quite gentle with me at first...?

"Shuidou looks just like our grandfather."

My cousin Yuanxiang and Zhuzhen's father said so. He looks about the same age as Uncle Fengqiu—probably in his forties. What should I call him?

"His quiet nature, inexplicable stubbornness, and love of reading are all very similar to his personality. I think he has a bright future ahead of him; I'm really looking forward to it."

"Hey! How can you not have any expectations for your own daughter?!"

"Come talk to me about this when you're not late for class, you brat."

"I'm not a brat—!"

I tilted my head slightly.

"Their grandfather... is..."

"That's our great-grandfather, the former owner of this house. His name was... what was it again?"

"Hou Jie, Zhong Li Hou Jie."

Uncle Fengqiu, who didn't seem to be drunk, answered.

"My maternal grandfather was a man who had experienced many ups and downs in his life—but as a father, I would prefer that my son have a more stable life."

"That's wonderful. Being able to grow up healthy like this is already something to be grateful for... Fengqiu, you've already tried so hard! You've really suffered...!"

"Thanks……"

Uncle Fengqiu smiled slightly and accepted the wine poured for him by Cousin Yuanxiang's father.

The mother stood beside her, a gentle smile of joy on her face.

"...Uncle Feng Qiu became a single father immediately after my cousin Mizuto was born..."

My cousin Yuanxiang, who was clinging to my back, murmured with some emotion.

"Although Aunt Natsume seems to have helped... I imagine it must have been very difficult..."

...Mizuto's biological mother, Aunt Irito Kawana, was already in poor health, and it is said that she passed away soon after giving birth to Mizuto.

At that time, Uncle Fengqiu should have been only in his twenties... He lost his wife at such a young age, yet he still cared for and raised Shuidou.

Then, just as the son finished his compulsory education, he married his mother...

I think I understand.

I finally understand why they chose to remarry at this time.

I know why they didn't even tell us, hesitating until the very last moment.

And why did my mother and I receive such an unexpectedly warm welcome...?

Uncle Fengqiu's remarriage is proof of his resilience in overcoming a tremendous test in life...

Since that's the case, my resolve has become even stronger.

I—we…

No matter what, we must protect this family we have now.

"……dad."

"Um."

He only realized when he came to his senses that Shuidou had stood up and was speaking to him from behind Uncle Fengqiu.

"I'm stuffed."

"Okay... thank you."

"Then I'm leaving."

Shuidou quickly left the banquet and walked out of the room.

Where is he going?

Why should you say "thank you" to him?

"Yume, you're not getting away!"

"Round, round incense burner...so heavy...!"

"Do you have a boyfriend? I think you do! How could someone as cute as you not have one! If you don't, I'll be your boyfriend!"

"Yuanxiang has become a complete alcoholic."

"Like begets like! Hahahaha...!"

"Phew..."

Soaking my shoulders and below in hot water finally made me feel much better.

I casually watched the steam drift towards the blue tile ceiling.

Of course, I also have relatives, and I occasionally have the opportunity to meet them.

However, this was my first time attending such a large family gathering... and I was even participating with that guy, which felt a bit unbelievable.

...When I was dating that guy, I never imagined I would one day meet so many of his relatives...

Moreover, he had never heard that his great-grandfather was ever very wealthy, and he had no idea that he had a second cousin as beautiful as Yuanxiang...

However, Mizuto himself still prefers to be a loner. Who else would sneak out of that banquet by themselves like that?

After I finished showering, I went to the veranda to take a look.

Isn't it elegant to enjoy the evening breeze on the veranda after taking a bath?

In the distance, I could faintly hear the sounds of adults continuing their feast. After I excused myself, it seemed my mother stayed to drink some more. I must say, my mother is incredibly adaptable…

"what?"

"what……"

Some people had already arrived at the eaves.

Zhu Zhen sat on the edge of the eaves facing the courtyard, holding a game console in her little hands.

Playing video games...

That's true, of course boys that age would play video games. I only think it's strange not to read books because of someone else's influence.

"Takema, are you alone?"

"...Uh, um..."

Wow, this is the first time he's replied to me. Even though his eyes are still glued to the game console.

I couldn't help but feel happy and said:

Where is your sister?

"Still drinking..."

"Huh... Oh, I see..."

Wasn't she just twenty? To be able to keep up with those drinking enthusiasts at such a young age is amazing...

"My sister, whenever she gets drunk, she comes and hugs me..."

Wow, this time she even took the initiative to continue the conversation.

"So you sneaked out?"

"Yes, yes..."

"Have you taken a shower?"

"I've washed it..."

"I see. Well, maybe I should go call that guy then..."

Grandma Natsume once told me that after taking a bath, I should tell the person who hasn't bathed yet. Anyway, that man definitely hasn't bathed yet.

"........."

As I was thinking, I noticed that Takema looked up and stared at me.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, no, no, it's nothing..."

As Zhuzhen spoke, she slid her bottom across the floor, creating distance between herself and me.

Maybe they're wary of me.

Well, that's understandable. If a woman suddenly appeared claiming to be a relative, I would also be wary.

If we could at least share common topics, it might help to lower his guard a little, but he doesn't seem to like reading...

"...Hey, Takema, what do you think of that guy—oops, I mean, what does Mizuto-nii look like?"

So, I decided to bring up people we both knew as a topic of conversation. I had no other choice.

Takema's eyes darted around nervously as he said:

"Huh? What does that mean...?"

"For example, very gentle, or very scary, etc."

"...Um...this..."