With the cooperation of the three daughters, dinner was soon served on the table.
Luo Shu, who had received the invitation, sat in the seat opposite Daichi Fujiwara. Looking at the Japanese home-style dishes on the table, he found it somewhat novel.
The Fujiwara family dinner seemed like an ordinary family meal.
Though the average attractiveness of this "ordinary" family was somewhat excessively high.
"Care for a drink?"
Toyomi Fujiwara, the last to take her seat, arrived carrying a bottle of sake.
Pulling out the empty chair to Luo Shu's right, she sat down while tentatively offering:
"This is sake brewed by our grandfather at our Kyoto home. Would you like to try?"
Before Luo Shu could respond, Daichi Fujiwara, across the table, reminded:
"Toyomi, Luo Shu is only 17 this year - not legally old enough to drink."
"17?"
Chika turned to her younger sister on the right:
"Big sister likes them young, huh."
Moeha Fujiwara nodded seriously: "Toyomi-nee really does prefer younger men."
She then added, "Personally, I like them about four years older, but I suppose Toyomi-nee would break him before I got a chance?"
"Break him?" Chika Fujiwara's face instantly flushed red at this phrasing.
Suddenly, both Chika and Moeha felt a chill down their spines, immediately sitting up straight and beginning to eat their rice with nervous sweat.
"If no one finds out, it's not illegal, right, Luo Shu?"
'You just want to drink yourself, don't you?'
Luo Shu gave Toyomi Fujiwara a strange look before responding:
"By my hometown's reckoning, I'll be 18 this February - old enough to drink."
"Ah? Oh..." Toyomi seemed to remember something suddenly. "Luo Shu is from China, right? By their standards, you would indeed be of drinking age."
Covering her cheek with one hand, Toyomi said regretfully:
"What a shame, you're actually of legal age. Miscalculation, miscalculation."
Luo Shu's eyebrow twitched several times upon hearing this as he looked speechlessly at the female university student beside him.
"Ahem ahem!"
Opposite them, Daichi Fujiwara cleared his throat loudly, reminding his daughter to rein in her temperament.
Then, Daichi Fujiwara continued:
"Speaking of which, studying abroad must be quite tough, Luo Shu."
"Having to argue with teachers when summoned to the staff room, then after everything's done, facing teachers who favour local students, you'd even need to ask friends from Chinatown for help, getting them to ambush the teacher a few times, stepping on the teacher's head while asking if they've learned their lesson."
"Study abroad life is truly arduous."
Chika Fujiwara looked shocked upon hearing this:
"Eh, were you bullied?"
"Mhm, bullied." Luo Shu replied flatly.
"How pitiful." Moeha Fujiwara had just finished speaking when she added, "But stepping on a bad teacher's head must be quite fun, right?"
Toyomi Fujiwara shot Moeha a glare before turning a motherly gaze towards Luo Shu:
"Was it difficult adapting to the environment?"
Luo Shu nodded noncommittally and said:
"Adapting to this kind of society is indeed quite challenging."
After a pause, he added:
"Not wanting to be bullied means having to become the bully yourself. What a peculiar social climate."
'Of course, it's the same everywhere, just that Japan is a bit more extreme...' Luo Shu quietly added in his mind.
Toyomi Fujiwara poured Luo Shu a cup of sake and asked curiously:
"So how did Luo Shu-kun eventually adapt to the class?"
"Why bother adapting?" Luo Shu gave Toyomi a strange look. "Do you enjoy playing with fools, Toyomi-san?"
"Isn't it fortunate enough not to be contaminated by a bunch of idiots?"
"..."
Toyomi Fujiwara fell silent.
So Luo Shu had actually ostracised the entire class?
Upon hearing this, Daichi Fujiwara sighed with emotion.
In Japan, conformity was crucial. Submitting to the masses and suppressing individuality were almost essential skills.
Those as unconventional as Luo Shu were rare exceptions.
Usually, such people would be ostracised by society, but...
Considering Luo Shu's identity, Daichi's expression turned somewhat complicated.
An 18-year-old SDS Director – would anyone who knew his position dare to ostracise him?
Or rather, who would dare?
Were they tired of living?
The man literally gripped the handle of a gun...
Meanwhile, Chika Fujiwara, who was eating curry chicken, muttered:
"Completely the beast type. Totally incompatible with me."
As she spoke, she glanced at Toyomi Fujiwara and nodded:
"Though Toyomi-nee seems to like this type."
Then she looked at Moeha Fujiwara – her little sister also favoured this type.
Suddenly, Chika froze in realisation.
187cm tall... Was it too late to change her preferences now?
Logically speaking, shouldn't Japanese people dislike nonconformists?
Why did it seem these people all had favourable impressions of him?
Noticing something amiss while observing the group, Luo Shu glanced at Chika Fujiwara.
The moment he did, Toyomi Fujiwara looked over curiously. Seeing Chika's dumbfounded expression, she immediately explained to Luo Shu:
"Don't mind Chika. That child's probably overthinking some strange things again."
"Strange things, huh?" Luo Shu gave Chika a meaningful look before suddenly narrowing his eyes towards the fish tank.
Noticing this, Daichi Fujiwara turned to follow Luo Shu's gaze towards the prominent fish tank in his hall:
"Interested in goldfish, Luo Shu?"
"...Somewhat."
Luo Shu narrowed his eyes, focusing on a particularly vivid crimson goldfish in the tank, revealing a faint smile:
"After all, such exquisite goldfish are quite rare where I'm from."
"I see..." Sensing something unusual, Daichi adjusted his glasses. "These fish were sent by my father in Kyoto. If you'd like one, Luo Shu-kun, you're welcome to take it?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu smiled:
"Then I'll gratefully accept."