Otsuki Minoru turned her expressionless face to face Otsuki Tsuneji - this was the first time she had looked at Otsuki Tsuneji since she left Renya.

Looking at her husband's dirty, haggard face... Qingdeng's figure suddenly flashed across his eyes.

At this time, Otsuki Minoru suddenly recalled the thought that suddenly appeared in her mind this morning and then took root in her heart:

(If I had chosen Tachibana-kun instead of Tsuneji...then would I have lived a far superior life than I do now?)

…

…

The low temperature filled the streets with a light blue mist filled with cold air.

It is already 22 o'clock in the evening.

At this point in time, Japan's largest city has entered a deep sleep.

Everything around him was completely silent. Apart from the occasional sound of wind and the footsteps of himself and Sanako, who was walking side by side with him, Qingden couldn't hear any sound.

When the two of them reached an intersection, Sanako stopped and turned to look at the east intersection in confusion.

"Ji Jun, you've gone too far. The trial defense hall is in this direction."

Qingden stopped, smiled slightly, and pointed in the direction he was facing.

"But the Little Chiba Sword Hall is in this direction. The current security situation in Edo has not yet reached the point where people do not pick up lost objects on the road. Miss Sanako, let me give you a ride."

"Don't underestimate me!"

Hearing what Qingden said, Sanazi had a strong temper, especially Sanazi, who didn't want to be seen as a weak woman. She immediately frowned, with an "unhappy" look on her face.

"I can protect myself and don't need your escort."

Facing Sanako's displeased, needle-like gaze, Qingto seemed to have expected Sanako's reaction, and said slowly and softly:

"Then let me put it another way - the snow scene in Edo is beautiful tonight. I want to walk in the snow with you, is that okay?"

"Eh?"

The displeasure on Sanako's pretty face dissipated instantly.

She wandered her eyes at a loss and glanced around, as if checking to see if there were any outsiders around. She folded her hands in front of her and twisted them together nervously.

After scanning around him to make sure that no third party heard Qingteng's words, Sanako raised his eyes as if suppressing his embarrassment and glared at Qingteng.

Her look seemed to be asking Qingdeng: What are you talking about in broad daylight?

Qingto pretended not to understand the meaning of Sanako's eyes. He didn't wait for Sanako's reply, leisurely stood up again, and walked slowly towards the direction of the Little Chiba Sword Hall.

Seeing that Qingteng was so self-assertive, Sanazi looked at Qingteng's retreating back with hesitation, then lowered his head and looked at his small toes.

After a little more than 5 seconds passed like this, she took a deep breath and chased Qingdeng.

While following Qingdeng, she raised her hands that were cold from the cold wind and put them against her slightly heated cheeks to physically cool down her face.

Qingdeng felt a bright aura chasing him from behind.

This breath stood beside him on his right side without saying a word, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

Qingdeng turned to look at the beauty beside him.

The face of "the most beautiful woman in Edo" is within reach, so close that one can count every eyelash.

Sanako felt Qingteng's gaze, but she seemed to be angry, deliberately not looking at Qingteng, and stared straight ahead with her beautiful eyes.

Qingto felt that Sanako's behavior was inexplicably cute, and couldn't help but laugh.

There was no weird reason why he suddenly expressed his strong intention to send Sanako home. He just wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to be alone with Sanako tonight and spend as much time as possible with Sanako.

Stay a little longer.

Although he often visited the Little Chiba Sword Hall on weekdays, there were really not many opportunities to be alone with Sanako.

Qingteng retracted his gaze from studying Sanako's pretty face, looked at the distant sky, and thought about topics that he could discuss with Sanako now.

But who would have expected that Sanako would be the first to start the conversation.

"Ji Jun, you made me lose face today."

"Um?"

Qingdeng looked puzzled.

"You've been embarrassed? What do you mean?"

"Since you know archery, you should have told me earlier!"

Speaking of this, Sanako seemed to be unable to suppress his anger. He turned his head and looked at Qingden with a resentful look.

"I actually arrogantly introduced you to the skills of using a bow...it's really...it's really..."

Sanako was so stimulated by the feeling of shame that she was at a loss for words, her face turned red and her breathing became heavy.

Recalling the scenes tonight when he carefully taught Qingto how to use a bow... Sanako wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it immediately.

After Qingdeng heard this, he laughed a few times with an unnatural expression.

After a moment, Sanazi, who had adjusted his emotions and demeanor, asked seriously:

"Tachibana-kun, when did you start learning archery?"

Naturally, Sanako also knew that with a family background like Qingto's, it was unlikely that he would be exposed to archery from a young age, so he asked this question.

She was as curious as Kithara Konosuke as to why Aoto possessed such superb archery skills.

"Well... well... Miss Sanako, I'm sorry, it's not convenient for me to say this. I will explain it to you slowly when I have the chance."

The existence of the new Yutingban needs to be kept absolutely confidential.

Moreover... Qingto felt that even if he told the truth, Sanako wouldn't believe him.

My bow skills were taught by His Highness Tianzhangin! That’s right, it’s the Grand Imperial Palace: Tianzhangin Atsuhime!

Qingden felt that after he said these words, Sanako would be stunned for a moment, and then look at him with eyes as if he had seen something bad.

If the listener were replaced by the more emotional and sensitive Mai Kinoshita... then she would not only cast a strange look at Aoto like Sanako, but she would also say with a sad face:

"Tachibana-kun, I'm sorry, it's all because Miss Chiba and I refused to marry you at the same time, which made you crazy about women..."

Sanako comes from a noble family, is well-educated and elegant, and is a considerate and good girl.

Seeing that Qingdeng remained silent, she did not press further.

After taking a deep look at Qingdeng, she said:

"...Okay, since it's not convenient for you to disclose the details now, then just leave it to me later when you have the opportunity."

The topic of archery ended here - not long after, the two of them started chatting about other things.

The person who started the conversation this time was still Sanako.

"Tachibana-kun, Miss Otsuki's father and your father are good friends, right?"

"Huh? Yes, what's wrong?"

"Nothing... I just suddenly realized: Although I have known you for a long time, I don't know anything about your family situation or your past. So..."

When Sanako said this, he stopped speaking and bit his lower lip lightly with his upper teeth.

After a moment of hesitation on her face, she raised her beautiful eyes, looked directly into Qingdeng's eyes, and spoke loudly and forcefully:

"I want to hear your own words about your past."

With all the events that happened today, Sanako suddenly realized that he didn't understand a lot about Qingden.

I didn’t know that Qingteng knew archery; I didn’t know that Qingteng actually had a childhood sweetheart; I didn’t know that Qingteng and Otsuki Minoru had a grudge and resentment...

These "don't knows" one after another turned into a wonderful "frustration" - this indescribable frustration was like a thorn piercing Sanako's heart.

Does this thorn pierce deeply and hurt?

That's not the case.

But it's hard to ignore the existence of this thorn.

It is like a handful of flowers blooming in the open green field. Even if you want to pretend to be blind, you can't stop it from breaking into your eyes again and again.

Sanako couldn't help but wonder: Miss Kinoshita...this girl in red who always dislikes her, does she know these past events of Tachibana-kun? Am I the only one who knows nothing about Qingnobo's past?

Sanako is increasingly confused about her feelings for Qingto.

Tachibana-kun is just a very close friend to me - Sanako has always told herself this.

But tonight, at this moment, she had a very strong urge to know more about this "good friend".

This impulse is like a flood that breaks a bank and becomes out of control once it appears.

Eventually, this impulse turned into an irresistible force of action, driving her lips and tongue to ask such straightforward questions to Qingdeng.

However, as soon as the words were spoken, Sanako regretted them.

Influenced by Yamato Nadeshiko’s education that she learned from childhood, Sanako has always maintained a conservative and prudent attitude towards emotional issues.

He didn't even cover it up, didn't even use any euphemisms, he just said this kind of words in such a bold and bold manner, which in the current era, can definitely be called ambiguous words.
To be continued...