"I think you're a vixen," Mrs. Jiutiao said.

"Thanks for the compliment," Mrs. Kiyono's mouth blossomed into a smile.

She then asked Jiutiao Meijie and Kiyono Lin, "You two don't have any objections, do you?"

"I do," Jiutiao Meijie said.

"Hmm, since you are Mr. Dubian's girlfriend, it's natural that you would object. Mr. Dubian on his own is no good; he'd just be like a servant. We keep him company; if you object, then it's up to you, Meijie, to accompany Mr. Dubian every day."

Dubian Che found Mrs. Kiyono's words odd, but he was sure there was more to come.

Sure enough, Mrs. Kiyono spoke again, "It's no big deal to take out the garbage at night, but as for buying bread every morning, Meijie, can you get up for it?"

"..." Jiutiao Meijie.

Indeed, it was a very serious and practical problem that had to be faced.

"Every day with Mr. Dubian, we take turns, and Little Lian will follow her," Mrs. Kiyono clapped her hands joyfully, "That settles it."

At this moment, Mrs. Jiutiao said lightheartedly, "The rule is for two people, but there's no upper limit on the number, anyone who wants to join can go."

"Vixen!" Mrs. Kiyono gave her a reproachful glance.

"The feeling's mutual." Mrs. Jiutiao raised her palm, "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasure doing business," the ladies gave each other a high-five cheerfully.

Kiyono Lin looked at Jiutiao Meijie and said with a smile, "I'm used to waking up early."

"You think I can't do it?"

"If you wake up early, I can sleep in."

Watching Kiyono Lin's smile, Jiutiao Meijie already guessed what she was going to say next.

"But if I wake up early, you must wake up early too."

Sure enough.

If it had been Xiaoquan Aonai or Mayi Asuka, Jiutiao Meijie would certainly not have gotten up early, just as Dubian Che said that Mayi Asuka would come to Karuizawa—it didn't concern her at all.

But with Kiyono Lin, she had to be watched constantly.

It was the curse of being a winner and also the curse of having Kiyono Lin as an opponent—a girl just as outstanding as herself. Truly annoying.

On August 2nd, her second day in Karuizawa, Jiutiao Meijie just couldn't get up.

Having been an older sister to Dubian Che for so long and being used to waking up late, 5 a.m. was too alien to her—she wouldn't even get up until eight o'clock for school.

Dubian Che called out to her, she sat up with her eyes closed, and after a while, she lay back down.

"Didn't get up?" Kiyono Lin crossed her arms, "I thought she'd at least last one day. I overestimated her."

"You tease her a couple of times, she'll definitely get up."

"Do you want me to do it?" Kiyono Lin looked at Dubian Che with a smile.

"It's just buying bread together; it doesn't matter if you don't go."

"We only went to Ochazuke for one day."

"Are you going to run there?" Dubian Che changed the subject.

"On a bike," Kiyono Lin dismissed immediately.

The morning in Karuizawa was enveloped in a thin fog, and it was a bit cold.

She was wearing a long-sleeved white blouse, the French kind, with pretty pleats at the front and the clean white cuffs wrapping her slender wrists without an ounce of excess fat.

Even the choice of cufflinks was insightful, adding an extra touch of elegance to the blouse.

Below, she paired it with a light blue long skirt, tied with a light green ribbon in a bow at her slender waist, the ribbon naturally falling to the side.

Her attire was exquisitely tasteful yet seemed so effortlessly coordinated, making her look aristocratic while also exuding a natural and refreshing vibe.

Dubian Che glanced several times.

"Does it look good?" Kiyono Lin grabbed the sleeve of her blouse and twisted her slim waist, causing her skirt to gently twirl.

"Just like the Karuizawa morning fog just after it's lifted," Dubian Che said.

"Have you seen it?"

"Never, but it's something that anyone would imagine to be beautiful upon hearing."

"With your level of sweet talk, I can only give you an 8."

"I still haven't read enough books," Dubian Che said, "Let's go, I'll run, you bike."

"I want to stop somewhere along the way."

"We're going to buy bread, Lord Kiyono."

"It's right across from the bakery, the Karuizawa bookstore."

"Then we must go."

Dubian Che jogged ahead, while Kiyono Lin leisurely followed behind on her bicycle.

The bakery named 'Truffle BAKERY,' which the ladies had specified, was very far from the villa area and had a rather secluded air about it.

In the fog, they could see the warm yellow light and already smell the scent of freshly baked bread.

"There are quite a few people," Dubian Che observed.

"You wait in line, I'll head to the bookstore first?" Kiyono Lin parked her bike at the storefront.

"That's not allowed."

They queued up together.

In the store, suffused with the rich aroma of truffles and cream, Kiyono Lin introduced Dubian Che to the life in Karuizawa.

Sunday Catholic Mass, the Stone Church where weddings are held, Yushu Street Town where violinists or guitarists often perform outdoors...

When it was their turn, they bought the most popular truffle bread, chocolate croissant bread, and so on, packed in newspaper-like bags.

When Kiyono Lin was holding the bread, the shop assistants and customers always stole glances at her.

She looked just like a noble lady from the medieval era.

"Let's go to the bookstore," Kiyono Lin said as they left the store.

"Let's go to the bookstore," Dubian Che nodded in agreement.

For them, who loved reading, visiting a bookstore was truly a delightful thing.

During the two hours Dubian Che spent in Atami, he thought about browsing in a bookstore.

The Karuizawa bookstore, a member of the Tsujiya chain, was just near the truffle bread shop, and they reached it by crossing the street.

The bookstore was not large, offering coffee and breakfast. Many customers who were there to buy bread lingered inside.

The selection of books was comprehensive, with many related to Karuizawa, tempting one to pick them up and flip through.

Besides books, there were many folk crafts and porcelain.

"Most of the books are by local authors, porcelain and crafts are done by local artisans; almost all contain elements of Nagano Prefecture," Kiyono Lin explained softly, holding a woven basket.

"It's interesting, just not that appealing," Dubian Che also spoke in a low voice.

"I like natural items."

"Maybe they are mass-produced goods."

"I can't rule out that possibility."

The two stood side by side in front of a cabinet, whispering to each other.

Dubian Che picked up a book next to the basket and opened it; it was about the local customs and culture of Nagano Prefecture.

"It's quite intriguing to have books displayed alongside the merchandise," he said.

Kiyono Lin promptly placed the bread inside the basket.

"Did you buy it?" Dubian Che asked.

"I did," Kiyono Lin nodded.

They picked out a few more books, and remembering the promise he made to Little Lian the previous night, Dubian Che also bought some photographs of Karuizawa's scenic spots.

"This one," Dubian Che picked up a book, "It's about the person you mentioned last night."

On the cover of the book were Emperor Akihito and his empress.

The two stood side by side with silver hair, smiling at the camera.

"They met here," Kiyono Lin turned a page and pointed to a picture for Dubian Che, "Here, and at this tennis court."

After flipping through the book, Dubian Che put it back and said with a low chuckle:

"When I turn thirty, this place will be filled with magazines and books with my photos, and Karuizawa's tagline will change to 'Karuizawa, visited by Dubian Che at seventeen, returning every summer thereafter for vacation.'"

Kiyono Lin let out a pleasant laugh.

"Don't you believe me?" Dubian Che asked.

"Then, who will be standing next to you?"

"Mr. R, we are here to buy books."

"We're here to buy bread."

"You're always right, amen."

"Amen is for Christianity."

"What do Catholics say then?"

"Catholics say amen too."

"Are you playing me?"

"No, just making fun of your lack of knowledge."

On the way back, the mist had dissipated.

The damp wind, mixed with the scent of grass and trees, passed by;

Quaint villas were nestled among the woods on both sides, the bird songs became crisp, and the morning light pierced through the leaves and branches.

The tree-shaded path leading to the villa was quiet and poetic.

Turning into a small path and seeing the villa, Little Lian was crouched in front of some bracken, beautiful sunlight splattering over it.

"Ding ling ding ling," hearing the sound of the bicycle bell, she turned her head to look.

"Che! Sister Lin!" she stood up and ran over.

Kiyono Lin got off her bike, "Little Lian, what was Tokyo called before?"

Little Lian said excitedly, "I know, I know! It was Edo!"

"What year was Edo renamed Tokyo?"

Little Lian paused, hesitating, "A long, long time ago, 1621?"

"It was 1868, September," Kiyono Lin handed her the basket from the bike frame, "You got it wrong, your punishment is to take the bread back to the house."

"Bread! I want to eat!"

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