Despite her elegant side ponytail and refined, gentle features, Luo Shu found it impossible to associate this girl with demureness.
What on earth was that sports top showing half her cleavage? Her slender waist and even her navel were exposed! And those skimpy hot pants...
'Are you a Shibuya gyaru?'
'Wait, no—gyaru don't wear their hair in such a prim style like this.'
'This person is so strange...'
Luo Shu glanced at Toyomi Fujiwara once, then again, still finding her utterly bizarre.
Noticing his gaze, Toyomi tilted her chin up slightly and tapped her index finger against it:
"Is my outfit strange?"
"A bit." Luo Shu paused before nodding.
"Ah, thank you for the compliment."
'I wasn't complimenting you...' Luo Shu couldn't help but think before asking aloud:
"Did Minister Fujiwara send you to pick me up?"
"Yes."
Toyomi clasped her hands behind her back, replying cheerfully:
"I'm Toyomi Fujiwara, 20 years old, currently studying at the University of Tokyo—though my faculty is classified."
"Oh, and I love sweets, hate green peppers, and also—"
Watching Toyomi Fujiwara trail off thoughtfully, Luo Shu finally blurted out:
"We're not here for a matchmaking meeting, are we?"
"Eh? We're not?" Toyomi seemed momentarily stunned before tilting her head and touching her cheek. "Hmm, I suppose we aren't."
"..."
Luo Shu fell silent.
Not that he'd mind if this girl actually were a potential match.
But...
'Isn't this Chika Fujiwara's older sister?'
'The Fujiwara family has three daughters: Toyomi, Chika, and Moeha. She's the eldest.'
'I came here curious about the younger sister, so how did I end up entangled with the older one?'
'Is Daichi Fujiwara trying to arrange a marriage alliance with his eldest daughter? That can't be—we've barely met!'
"Ah, I seem to have said a lot of strange things without realising it."
Seeing Toyomi cover her face with an exasperated expression, Luo Shu sighed inwardly.
'You're the one saying all the weird stuff...' As he thought this, he casually asked:
"Where's the car park?"
"Take a left around here—there's a road leading to it."
Toyomi circled halfway around the car as she spoke, opening the passenger door, before getting in and buckling her seatbelt.
"???"
Luo Shu stared at her blankly, utterly baffled.
At that moment, Toyomi pulled an ID card from her pocket and waved it:
"The security uncle won't let you through without this."
"I see." Luo Shu nodded in understanding.
He drove around, found the underground car park entrance, and after Toyomi showed her ID, passed through two guarded passages before parking in the Fujiwara family's designated spot.
Before getting out, recalling Toyomi's casual banter with the guards, Luo Shu remarked:
"Miss Fujiwara... you're quite lively."
"That's true."
He stepped out of the car, waited briefly, then followed behind Toyomi Fujiwara as they walked towards the elevator together.
Watching Toyomi press the button for the 6th floor, Luo Shu turned his head and remarked casually:
"I must say, I'm truly indebted to Minister Fujiwara's invitation. Your mother must be terribly busy with preparations?"
"Not at all." Toyomi Fujiwara replied with perfect composure. "Mother is currently handling diplomatic work in England. I'm in charge of dinner preparations at home."
"If it doesn't taste good..."
Toyomi suddenly drew out her words.
Just as Luo Shu was wondering what would follow 'doesn't taste good', Toyomi continued:
"We'll just leave it to Chika and Moeha. They aren't picky eaters."
Hearing this, Luo Shu fell silent.
He strongly suspected that Chika Fujiwara and Moeha Fujiwara were actually very picky eaters.
In fact, he wouldn't put it past Toyomi to have prepared nothing but dishes that those two disliked today.
Surely she wouldn't go that far...?
Just then, the elevator dinged as it arrived at the sixth floor.
Before exiting, Toyomi suddenly added:
"By the way, dinner will take about 20 more minutes to prepare. If you're bored, you could always discuss trivial matters with Father."
"Ah, no, I should phrase it properly."
Toyomi turned around and gave a perfectly polite bow to Luo Shu:
"We're honoured by your visit. My father, Daichi Fujiwara, has been awaiting your arrival."
"..."
Luo Shu found himself speechless yet again since meeting Toyomi Fujiwara.
The daughters of the Fujiwara family were truly... unique individuals.
While mentally complaining, Luo Shu followed Toyomi into the Fujiwara residence.
Upon entering, he was greeted by an expansive hall dominated by an enormous aquarium - so large one might suspect you could swim in it.
Beside the tank stood Daichi Fujiwara, dressed in a checkered shirt and suit trousers like any everyday middle-aged salaryman, admiring the fish.
"Toyomi, you're back? You didn't deliberately take Luo Shu-kun the long way around, did you?"
Daichi turned his head from the aquarium with a concerned expression.
Toyomi clasped her hands behind her back and smiled: "Not this time. Well... let's just say I'm giving you a temporary reprieve."
"Are you still holding a grudge over that?"
Daichi imagined the nightmare scenario where Luo Shu actually became his son-in-law and was led by Toyomi to torment his poor father-in-law. His face turned ashen.
'Have mercy... I only misspoke once...'
As Daichi wallowed in self-pity, Luo Shu finally spoke:
"We meet again, Minister Fujiwara."