"Sniff... Emma, Robert... he... he..."
"I know, I'll stay calm. I never expected things to turn out like this..."
"The Spencers called me a witch who brings calamity, said they'd abandon me and Eriri to rot in Japan... I really, really... sob..."
Watching Sawamura Sayuri cover her mouth with fake sobs, her eyes completely dry—even seeming to smile—Luo Shu was genuinely stunned by her acting skills.
'To think she could fake such heart-wrenching cries...'
'Madam, were you an actress in a past life?'
"I understand. I'll wait for you in Tokyo. Yes, I'll stay calm..."
After a lengthy 10-minute phone call, Sayuri Sawamura finally hung up. She clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction and muttered:
"Such an act. Telling me to take it easy and inviting me out to relax in a few days? Hah, more like twisting the knife in my wound."
'Madam, you're not exactly subtle either...'
Luo Shu's lips twitched unnaturally before he sighed and asked:
"When did she say she'd come?"
"She claimed she'd finish up her work immediately and would probably come to pay respects to Robert the day after tomorrow."
"Hmm. Why don't you just hug me for comfort right in front of her at the funeral, then?"
Luo Shu was rendered speechless by Sayuri Sawamura's outrageous suggestion:
"There'll be many people at the funeral. You want me to do that publicly?"
Sayuri playfully stuck out her tongue and blinked mischievously:
"Oh, not in public, of course. Just in front of Emma will suffice."
"Are you sure this won't be equivalent to exposing ourselves?"
Luo Shu gave Sayuri an odd look:
"After spending decades together, Enigma must know you well, right?"
"If you suddenly act completely out of character in front of her, don't you think that'll raise suspicions?"
"Well then..." Sayuri pondered seriously before asking Luo Shu: "How about we modify the plan?"
"How?" Luo Shu questioned.
Clapping her hands together, Sayuri cheerfully proposed:
"The mystic side must have hypnosis abilities, yes?"
"Why don't you secretly hypnotise me at the funeral, Little Luo Shu? Make me commit some terrible mistake right before Emma's portrait?"
'Why do I get the feeling you're a bit too excited about this?'
Luo Shu shot Sayuri a strange glance, biting back the sarcastic remark for fear of provoking her.
In the end, he could only mutter:
"You're so shameless!"
"What's that supposed to mean~" Sayuri pouted and rolled her eyes at Luo Shu. "Isn't this exactly the kind of widow fantasy you men adore?"
"So, are you coming with me to buy mourning attire or not?"
"That part is fine... but how did we end up discussing funeral outfits?" Luo Shu scratched his head, thoroughly confused.
Sayuri narrowed her eyes with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying Luo Shu's bewilderment.
Just then, the door burst open with a thud as Eriri charged into the room:
"Luo Shu! Mum! Let me see that document!"
"Eriri? When did you get here?" Sayuri startled, rising hastily with panic flashing across her face. "Wait—how long have you been outside?"
Sayuri grew anxious, worried Eriri might have overheard their conversation. While she had no qualms about playing games with Luo Shu at Robert's funeral, she certainly didn't want Eriri finding out!
"What do you mean when? Just now! Where's the—ah, here!"
Eriri had already dashed to the low table in the centre of the room. After a quick scan, she reached for the documents on the table.
But before she could touch them—smack!—Eriri yelped in pain as Luo Shu slapped her hand away.
Watching Eriri retract her stinging hand, Luo Shu glared at her in warning:
"Breaking in to steal documents? Eriri, I don't recall you ever being this bold before..."
"You never said I couldn't do this either..."
Eriri muttered under her breath, rubbing the back of her hand before pausing thoughtfully and extending her hand towards Luo Shu:
"Well then, Director, may I see this investigative report about my family?"
Seeing Eriri like this, Luo Shu hesitated briefly, picked up the folder and flipped through it before asking:
"What exactly do you want to know?"
He considered showing her only part of the contents to avoid shattering her worldview.
But Eriri immediately declared with righteous indignation:
"Everything!"
"I want to see all of it!!"
Luo Shu looked up in surprise at Eriri's words, then turned to glance at the equally astonished Sayuri Sawamura.
Seeing their simultaneous expressions of shock, Eriri gritted her teeth and said resentfully:
"You two aren't planning to team up and keep things from me, are you?"
"Eh? Would I do such a thing?" Sayuri tilted her head in feigned ignorance. "Could it be you're remembering wrong, Eriri?"
"What do you think, Mrs. Sawamura?" Eriri smiled without warmth at her mother. "Let me be blunt - if you don't hand it over, I'll send the contents of the third folder on my computer to Aunt Emma!"
Eriri emphasised the name "Emma" while baring her small fangs, resembling a kitten trying to look fierce as she threatened Sayuri.
Witnessing this, Sayuri paused momentarily before breaking into an understanding smile:
"I see... So you've finally grown up, too, Eriri."
Sayuri sighed, then raised her hand to reveal a phone that had been on call the entire time:
"Did you hear that, Kochiyo? Delete everything Eriri just mentioned. Oh, and remember to save the contents and send them to my computer."
[Understood, madam.]
Kochiyo Rurukawa's calm voice came through the phone.
Eriri was dumbfounded.
It was at this moment that Sayuri asked with an amused smile:
"Eriri dear, what was it you were planning to do again?"
"You... you..." Eriri was left speechless by this turn of events.
She hadn't anticipated her leverage against Sayuri being neutralised so thoroughly.
Damn it... How could she forget about Kochiyo, Sayuri's loyal watchdog at home?
Eriri ground her teeth in frustration, her eyes reddening with anger.
Meanwhile, Sayuri maintained her amused expression, clearly relishing having outmanoeuvred her daughter.
"So... what exactly was in that folder?" Luo Shu, who had been observing, asked curiously.
"Just some trivial drawings Eriri made," Sayuri waved her hand dismissively.
Nodding at this, Luo Shu then turned towards Utaha Kasumigaoka, who had been standing at the doorway for some time:
"Utaha, help me find out what this folder they're talking about contains."
The moment he spoke, both Sayuri and Eriri froze.
Utaha curled her lips into a smile as she explained:
"There's nothing much in the folder. Just 63 manga illustrations featuring you, Luo Shu, along with Eriri and Mrs. Sawamura as models."
"I must say, Eriri, your drawing skills have improved again..."
Hearing this, Eriri's expression first turned pale, then flushed bright red.
The next second, she shouted with utter indignation, enunciating each syllable:
"—Ka! Su! Mi! Ga! O! Ka!"
"I'll fight you to the death!!"