Visiting an "elder" is a very solemn matter, especially for a noble family like the Genji with a long and distinguished lineage, where a strong sense of tradition is still preserved in many places. Therefore, although Duanmu Ci had Wei Yue, the young master of the Genji family, as his introducer, he still had to honestly write a visiting card and send it to the Genji residence first to arrange a meeting.
Duanmu Ci's trip to Japan was for warfare; even when he occasionally visited someone's residence, he carried a sword, just like when he went to the Yamatsu-gumi headquarters. Therefore, he didn't carry any name cards or similar items. However, this didn't stop him. Gongshu Mo, who frequented Tokyo's high society, would likely have such items on hand, so he could simply retrieve a blank one.
Duanmu Ci held a blank red name card, sketched a hermit playing the zither under a tree on the paper, and then wrote "Duanmu Ci, a junior member of the Duanmu family, pays a visit to the master of the Yuan family" inside, before pressing his personal seal.
Standing beside Duanmu Ci, Wei Yue said, "Actually, if Duanmu Jun were just an ordinary person, there would be no need for such trouble. This rule is mainly for the Han Chinese. My father hopes that Duanmu Jun's visit this time can be more formal, preferably as the head of the Duanmu family. He wants to discuss some business with you."
After finishing his writing, Duanmu Ci put down his brush. "Our two families are old friends. My father and your father, Yoshimune, were also good friends. I once heard my father say that when he visited your family, it wasn't so complicated. No matter what they discussed, they would talk directly in Kabukicho, watching beautiful women perform while making family plans. Why is it so formal here with me? Does Yoshimune think I'm easier to bully than my father?"
Hearing about her father's past romantic escapades, Wei Yue felt slightly embarrassed. "That was when I was young and impetuous, unlike now. Besides, they were close friends back then, just like you and me, so it was okay for them to be a little unrestrained. But my father is getting older now, and his temperament is different from when he was young. Moreover, he is now an elder, so naturally he can't be as indulgent as before. The family traditions of the Yuan family still need to be upheld."
Duanmu Ci gave an "Oh," thinking to himself: Your Yuan family has family traditions? Even Yuan Yizong probably wouldn't believe that. Speaking of which, that guy is a hypocrite... just like the head of the Hilton family, putting on airs of an elder. Did I not see you taking off your pants and dancing on the bar back then?
"Since this is a formal visit, shouldn't I bring a gift?" Duanmu Ci asked. "What should I bring?"
“My father has cultivated his character for many years. It would be best to give him something with a scholarly air,” Wei Yue said with a smile. “He would really like things like folding fans or tea sets.”
"Oh? Is that so?" Duanmu Ci was somewhat skeptical. "But I once heard my father say that Mr. Yizong's favorite things back then were actually dancers' breasts and bar girls' hot pants. What? Has he changed his interests?" He said this somewhat mischievously.
"Cough cough cough cough!" Wei Yue suddenly coughed violently, his fair face turning bright red. He rubbed his hands and awkwardly forced a smile, "Duanmu-jun, please watch your words! My father was indeed a bit... unrestrained and frivolous back then. But that's all in the past. How can the interests of youth represent the present? He's a respectable middle-aged man now!"
"That's a real pity." Duanmu Ci looked regretful. "I thought Mr. Yizong would also be a close friend among women, but I didn't expect him to be such a serious person. I'm a little disappointed."
Wei Yue rolled his eyes at the sky, as if there were a grand mural on the ceiling; he simply didn't want to get involved.
Duanmu Ci continued, "You've been hiding your identity all this time, but your family has found out. What are you going to do? Can you still go back to Haishan? Should I help you submit your resignation letter?"
When this topic came up, Wei Yue became somewhat sorrowful. "Fate is something you can't escape. I had already successfully escaped to China, but I was pulled back to Tokyo by fate, and then my family found out. There's nothing I can do now, I can only try my best to deal with it."
“I am not your destiny. Destiny is not a good thing. It’s best not to believe in it,” Duanmu Ci said. “Actually, it’s good that you’ve been discovered. After all, you can’t keep hiding like this forever. This is definitely not a long-term solution. You can hide for a while, but how can you hide forever? What you have to face, you will eventually have to face.”
Wei Yue sighed deeply, then suddenly asked, "What about Duanmu Jun? Doesn't Duanmu Jun have these negative worries? It seems you're also at the age to get married, and your elders are probably urging you to. With Duanmu Jun's looks, demeanor, character, family background, and talent, you could marry any woman in the world. Or rather, you don't need so many conditions; just your appearance alone is enough to be worthy of any woman, without any other worries."
Duanmu Ci, “…” I don’t make a living based on my looks…
He changed the subject and asked, "Actually, I think Princess Kako is quite nice. Although she is only pretty, she should be alright in other aspects, right? I heard she studied at Cambridge, so she shouldn't be too boring."
Wei Yue said, "Actually, I don't know if Jiazi is good or not. I just don't want to be controlled by others. I want to have a relationship that belongs only to me, instead of a dirty marriage between families that comes together for the sake of interests."
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
