Chapter 81 It’s Still Early
It was already noon the next day when Hasegawa arrived at Hanyu Yuzuru's apartment. He hesitated before knocking on the door, still reeling from what had happened the previous evening.
He had no idea what had transpired while he waited in the car. He only knew that Hanyu's expression was particularly grim when he emerged from the chiropractic clinic. If he had seemed somewhat anxious when he got out of the car, he was clearly furious when he got back in. It was an anger Hasegawa had never seen him look like. He exuded an oppressive aura, a sense of indifference, and he didn't even dare glance in the rearview mirror. He drove without looking away, dropped Hanyu back at his apartment, and then fled.
Curiosity is nothing compared to the desire to survive.
But work had to continue. Standing in front of the door, Hasegawa silently prepared himself mentally before ringing the doorbell. After the ding-dong sound, he silently counted to ten and rang it again.
The second doorbell finally rang and someone opened the door.
Yuzuru Hanyu came over and opened the door with a face that looked like he had just woken up.
"Good morning, Hengxiong-san." He said while rubbing his eyes, and turned sideways to make way for the entrance. "You sit down first, I'll be there soon." After saying that, he went straight to the bathroom to wash up.
Hasegawa set up his work materials and computer on the living room dining table and waited patiently for Yuzuru Hanyu to come out of the shower. He glanced around. Two open suitcases in the living room clearly indicated that the owners had just returned from a long trip. One of the suitcases was immediately recognizable; it belonged to Yuzuru Hanyu. The other was likely Ms. Suginohara's.
Come to think of it, I didn't see her yesterday either. I wonder if the boss's anger yesterday was related to her?
He was just daydreaming when the sound of water washing in the bathroom stopped.
After washing up, Yuzuru Hanyu emerged, smelling of cool mint. He was holding a few clothes in his hands, and he shoved them neatly into the washing machine. Just as he was about to close the door, he seemed to remember something and squatted down to rummage through the machine. He pulled out a dress, stuffed it into a laundry bag, and then tossed it back into the tub.
The washing machine started to run with a rumble. Yuzuru Hanyu ate the breakfast brought out from the kitchen and began to check the work with Hasegawa.
What I need to check today is the live broadcast schedule for the next few days.
"I've compiled a list of media outlets. This is the selected list. Please take a look, Hanyu-san." Hasegawa handed over the materials in his hand. "Also, this is the interview outline provided by several relevant media outlets. I've reviewed it, and the questions are all fine. I've asked them to delete any overly personal questions."
"Okay, thank you. Let me take a look." Hanyu took the information, carefully reviewed each page, and nodded with satisfaction. "Well, everything is good. Then I will prepare according to this."
The verification went smoothly. Hasegawa carefully observed Hanyu's expression and could see no problems. As the work was verified one by one, he finally felt relieved.
"So are we going to the ice rink for training next?" asked Hasegawa Toshio while packing up his documents and computer.
"No, I went there in the early morning. I plan to sort out the story line of the ice show this afternoon, and I want to send a copy to Teacher Mikiko tonight."
This answer was unexpected for Hasegawa. The boss had clearly wanted to see his girlfriend, and the first thing he did upon returning to Sendai was to reunite with her. He actually went to training at night? It was truly baffling.
"So..." Maybe they really had a fight? Hasegawa thought silently in his heart...
"Oh, yes, but I want to go to the theater later, around 5 o'clock." Hanyu Yuzuru realized that his words had put a clear question mark on Hasegawa's face. He blinked and added, "Go pick up Le. She should be finishing rehearsals around that time."
"Ms. Suginohara is also going to work?"
"Yeah~" Hanyu Yuzuru answered as a matter of course. Looking at Hasegawa's expression, he seemed still a little confused. "What's wrong?"
"No, no." Hasegawa quickly waved his hands to indicate that he didn't think much about it, and lowered his head to write down the arrangements on the memo on his mobile phone. "Sure enough, they had a fight..." He unconsciously said out loud what he was muttering in his heart.
The sound was very soft, but Yuzuru Hanyu, who had sharp ears, still heard it.
"Le came to Sendai to perform with the troupe, so he naturally has work to do." He went to the washing machine, carried the washed clothes to the balcony, shook them out and hung them on the clothesline, and added with a pout, "That's why we didn't quarrel."
"Ah...ha...haha..." Unexpectedly, his reckless mumbling was actually heard by his boss. Hasegawa laughed awkwardly and tried to excuse himself, "I understand, I understand. I'm still planning on making our relationship public."
public?
Yuzuru Hanyu looked at the clothes in his hands and was stunned for a moment.
Xiaojie also mentioned the public matter during training at the ice rink last night.
"I've explained this to Ms. Hinata and asked her to keep it a secret," Morimoto Kosuke said to the people on the ice at the edge of the rink. Even in the empty rink, his voice, though not loud, still had a strong echo.
Worried, Morimoto Kosuke waited until Hanyu's practice to find him at the rink. Despite having helped him, Hanyu didn't even say thank you, instead continuing on his own practice without even a glance. It seemed he was still a bit pissed off about what happened that night.
"But let me tell you, Le-chan is really likable. Miss Hinata told me today that she always thought Le-chan and Kazuki were a couple. She was determined..." Before he could finish his words, the person on the ice stomped his feet hard on the ice, and the sound of ice skates interrupted him.
"Why are you so angry? I see you're so jealous, why not just propose and make it public?"
"It's not the time yet..." This time Yuzuru Hanyu answered quickly.
"Ah? Why? Are you worried that Le-chan will reject you?" Xiaojie's mouth is always full of sarcasm.
Yuzuru Hanyu slid over in a few steps, stood in front of Morimoto Kosuke, glanced at him coldly, took a tissue from Pusang in front of him, and wiped his nose.
"Don't worry." After he said that, he returned to the center of the ice and no longer cared about what Xiaojie was muttering.
He really wasn't worried. He had no concerns about Le's feelings for him. However, now was definitely not the right time, for both Le and him.
"Hengxiong-san, don't worry. I'll tell you in advance when the day comes." He turned his head to look at Hasegawa and replied with a gentle and determined smile, "It's just that now, it's not the time yet."
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Ding Dong——
The convenience store's sensor door slid open, letting the cool air inside blend in with the summer night outside. Tohara and Jiu emerged from the store, carrying a small plastic shopping bag. Instead of heading straight back to the hotel, they stood at the door for a few seconds to adjust to the outdoor temperature before heading straight to the smoking area.
He pulled the cigarettes he had just bought from his shopping bag, swiftly and deftly tore open the package. With a flick of his wrist, a cigarette leaped from the box. He held the cigarette between his lips, fished for a lighter in his trouser pocket, and lit it with a click. He took a deep breath, and the smoke overflowed, enveloping him in the sweltering summer night. The nicotine brought a sense of relaxation to his brain, largely relieving the fatigue of today's townhouse. Holding the cigarette between his fingers, staring at the flickering flame, Tohara and Jiu also fell into a daze.
He was the first actor to arrive at the rehearsal room today.
After all, he had a conflict with Yuzuru Hanyu yesterday. Although he was not the first to start the fight, He Jiu was clearly aware of his responsibility for provoking the incident.
It might make Le feel embarrassed...
With this in mind, he bought an extra cup of coffee at the hotel cafe and arrived at the rehearsal room early. As he had planned, Le was already preparing in the empty rehearsal room.
Morning light streamed in through the French windows, casting a slender figure across the mottled light and shadow on the carpeted floor. She was happily practicing a combination to the music in the classroom. Her loose training pants couldn't hide her nimble dance moves. Her gymnastics suit tightly hugged her fair skin. The tiny beads of sweat on her exposed back, like highlights on her back muscles in the sunlight, made her whole body glow.
Judging from the combination she was dancing now, He Jiu could almost conclude that she had arrived here at least an hour in advance.
"You come so early again today?" He put the coffee near her backpack and sat down to do some simple stretching.
"Hmm..." She didn't stop, but simply replied in the pause. She stopped only after the music had finished. She grabbed the towel draped over the bar and hung it around her neck. She sat down next to He Jiu, wiping her sweat while she searched for her portion of coffee in the bag he had brought her.
"What are you looking for?" He Jiu came over.
"Where's the straw?" Le searched hard but couldn't find it. He simply grabbed the bag and held it close to his chest, looking carefully for it.
Leotards are designed to better showcase a dancer's muscular lines, showcasing the ballet dancer's exquisite neck and back. However, even the most beautiful body lines are commonplace for a professional like He Jiu, who has spent years in this environment. Le was busy searching beside him, and while her slender neck and back were attractive, they didn't attract his attention.
but……
The straw popped into the cup, stirring the ice with a happy sound. Le took a big sip. The cold coffee relieved her morning fatigue and sleepiness, feeling very comfortable. Just as she was about to thank He Jiu for the coffee, she looked up and found a T-shirt covering her head, blocking her vision.
"Hejiu, what are you doing?" She took off the T-shirt covering her head and looked at Hejiu standing beside her in confusion. He looked down at her with an unhappy look on his face.
"Director Suginohara, please be careful. This is Japan after all. It's not that open."
Under his gaze, Le turned her head to glance in the mirror. The faint red marks on her back were particularly obvious against the backdrop of sweat... Her face flushed instantly. She quickly put on her T-shirt, and also arranged the towel around her neck. She examined herself in the mirror for a long time before sitting down again.
"That's right, I thought there was no one around. Now... you came too early." She made excuses for herself.
He did come early... Even thinking about it now, He Jiu still regretted going too early this morning.
Even after transitioning to choreographing, Le maintained the intensity of her acting training. However, now that she was no longer a student, she no longer had the opportunity to attend early acting classes. Therefore, during these rehearsals, she often arrived early and completed the entire training session alone in the empty studio. Jiu knew this habit, so she came early to ask about yesterday's progress.
The result... was really a waste of effort.
Not only was it unnecessary to worry about causing her trouble, but the cup of coffee as an apology seemed even more unnecessary.
He Jiu stood in front of the convenience store, watching the smoke drift before him. He thought again of that cup of coffee and regretted not snatching it away from her and throwing it away. He was furious at the thought, and angrily pressed the butt of his cigarette against the ashtray in front of him. The sparks dissipated, leaving only a few wisps of tobacco to drift away.
He pulled another bottle of water from his shopping bag, unscrewed it, and took two sips. But the water was against him. The wound at the corner of his mouth hurt, and as his muscles reflexively protected him, the water spilled down his mouth and onto his body. Standing in front of the convenience store, he, a tall man, looked particularly embarrassed.
So annoying.
"And Jiu-san?"
An uncertain voice timidly sounded, shattering the night's silence. He Jiu responded and turned to see a young girl in a tracksuit and ponytail. She seemed to be out for a night run, headphones in one ear, and her hair was stained with sweat from her face.
Looks familiar...
"Oh, sorry, I was too abrupt..." Being stared at by He Jiu with a half-study look, Bai Yin was a little flustered for a moment, and hurriedly used the wristband on her wrist to wipe away the sweat on her forehead, "I... I was just running, so..."
"Still running so late? You're really trying hard. Are you having a competition soon?" The cold, scrutinizing gaze he'd just given seemed to vanish. He lowered his head and looked at the girl in front of him with a gentle smile. After he mentioned the word "competition," a look of surprise crossed the girl's face. It seemed his guess was correct.
"There are no competitions recently, but we have to start preparing for the new season." Baiyin answered obediently.
"Wow, keep up the good work!" He Jiu bent down and patted Bai Yin's head. The streetlights in front of the convenience store were not bright enough, but he could still see the blush on her cheeks.
"Yes, I will!" She responded seriously to the encouragement from her idol. "Are you and Jiu-san here to participate in the special art performance for the Qixi Festival?"
Sendai City, celebrating the Tanabata Festival after a three-year hiatus, invited several concert and dance troupes to perform. Chiba Baiyin had been praying that a K-pop group would be on the invitation list, and her wish was granted.
"Hey, you actually knew that!" He Jiu acted surprised. "Then why don't you come and see it? Although this time we're not performing Don Quixote..."
"Of course!" she hastened to express her loyalty as a fan. "Pirates is great too, I've always loved it!"
Baiyin's emotions were full, her body seemingly trying to prove her words were true. She unconsciously took a step forward, and the sincerity in her eyes made it impossible for Hejiu to avoid it. He laughed heartily, saying that he would do his best not to disappoint her, but as he spoke, he noticed that Baiyin's eyes were fixed on him.
"What's wrong?"
"He Jiu-san, is your face injured?" She stood on tiptoe and reached out cautiously, her fingertips almost touching his brow bone when he dodged it lightly. She didn't remember being embarrassed, but instead her face was full of worry.
"Well, I accidentally..." He hadn't finished his words when the girl turned and ran into the convenience store. She came out a few moments later with a box of Band-Aids in her hand.
While tearing the packaging bag, she quickly walked back to He Jiu.
"He Jiu-san, can you squat down a little?" She raised her head and waved to the tall man in front of her.
Strangely, it seemed as if he had no chance to refuse. He Jiu just supported himself with his hands on his knees, bent down and half-knelt, looking the girl in front of him at eye level. Her eyes no longer had the shyness from before, nor the awkwardness of facing her idol. Instead, they were full of seriousness as she carefully pressed the Band-Aid to the wound at the corner of his eyebrow.
Gently smooth the two ends of the tape with your fingers, and the wound is well covered by the strawberry-patterned Band-Aid.
The wound at the corner of his eyebrow was hidden among his thick eyebrows, with only a trace visible at the end. It wasn't noticeable enough, so Xiaojie had ignored it yesterday, leaving it untouched until now. The wound had long since scabbed over and no longer hurt. Only when Baiyin discovered it and gently traced it with her fingertips did she vaguely remember the wound.
"Alright~" Baiyin looked at her masterpiece and clapped her hands in satisfaction.
A cute strawberry Band-Aid appeared on He Jiuyingqi's face.
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