blogombal Page 283
Page 283
Aoyama Nanami, who was kneeling on the ground drinking tea, stood up abruptly and said, "I'll go open the door."
Luo Chen narrowed his eyes.
Gong Yufan Manzhi also looked over curiously, wondering who would come at this time? Besides, she and Luo Chen had just arrived.
"Miss Qianri?"
Aoyama Nanami, who opened the door, recognized the person who came in and, quite surprised, called out the person's name.
"The proprietress of the Kiriya Inn in Kyoto, Inui?!"
As a member of Kyoto's high society, Machi, the Imperial Sonner, immediately realized what was happening and stood up abruptly.
Chapter 312 Hinako Inui's "Ambition"
"Excuse me~"
Inui Hinako bowed slightly, a gentle smile on her face. She gestured to Aoyama Nanami, then to Gong Gohan Manchi, and finally, her gaze fell on Luo Chen, the only one sitting.
"This must be the young master of Adachi Ward, right?"
Hinako Inui clasped her hands together, a smile spreading across her face, and asked, "Young Master, are you confident you can take down the other three this time?"
"Miss Qianri?"
Aoyama Nanami and Gozen Machi were both completely baffled, wondering what Inui Hinako was asking for no apparent reason.
Luo Chen smiled and asked, "Miss Qianri, are you gathering information for someone?"
“Eh~~?”
Hinako Inui's voice was very gentle. She pinched her chin, tilted her head back seriously to think, and then replied, "No, I'm just thinking about the future of the Kiriya."
"Oh?" Luo Chen asked curiously.
"Although I didn't expect that Kiriya would be used as a wager so easily by Kento Itotani, Kiriya is, after all, the culmination of many years of my hard work." 12
"In that case, it's natural to get to know the future boss beforehand, and perhaps discuss some other things with him."
Hinako Inui spoke earnestly, and when she spoke, she didn't look like a mature woman approaching thirty at all, but rather more like a gentle young girl.
Luo Chen detected a hint of dissatisfaction in her words and said with a smile, "Since you're here, Miss Qianri, please have a seat."
"Hi~"
Hinako Inui took off her shoes and walked in. After kneeling on the tatami, she said seriously, "I visited three families. Although the young master was the last one, he was also the only one who dared to let me in and sit down. It seems that the young master thinks that the upcoming competition is a sure thing."
"perhaps?"
Luo Chen gave an ambiguous answer.
Hinako Inui rummaged in her pocket, pulled out a handful of persimmon seeds, and handed them to Luo Chen, saying, "Want some? This is my favorite food. I'm sharing it with you."
Luo Chen: "..."
"Sorry, I don't have much of an appetite. The competition is coming up soon, so I'd better eat less to avoid being sluggish," Luo Chen politely declined.
"What a pity." Hinako Inui nodded.
Yugomi Machi and Aoyama Nanami stood to the side, both incredibly curious, wondering what was going on.
I wonder why Hinako Inui, the owner of the renowned Kyoto restaurant Kiriya, would be here.
I don't know, it seems like Luo Chen and Qian Hinako are very familiar with each other, but not really.
In short, after exchanging glances, Mikoto Mikoto finally chose the best moment, coughed twice, and interjected, "Um, Tatsumi-kun~, Inui-ni-san, may I ask what exactly happened? What's going on between you two...?"
"Ah~, Miss Manzhi, please sit down, let me explain." Hinako Inui said with a smile, patting the tatami mat next to her.
"Okay, I'm not welcome."
Manji, who was serving the imperial meal, sat down and pricked up his ears.
Just as Aoyama Nanami, who was standing to the side, was about to prick up her ears, Inui Hinako invited her as well: "Nanami-chan, come and sit down too."
She patted the tatami mat on the other side of her body.
"I...no, no, Miss Inui, I'm a maid here, I can't sit with the guests!"
Aoyama Nanami waved his hands repeatedly with a highly professional demeanor.
"Nanami-chan is dressed so cutely, is she working again?" Hinako Inui scrutinized Nanami Aoyama, seemingly quite satisfied with her outfit.
Aoyama Nanami scratched his head: "Haha~"
Luo Chen chuckled and teased, "Judging from what Miss Qian Ri is saying, it seems that Nanami also worked at your shop?"
"Hi~, Xiaoqi Hai-chan is a very smart and cute girl." Hinako Inui admitted it right away.
Luo Chen gave Aoyama Nanami a deep look.
Absolutely!
When other people are out and about, they occasionally bump into friends. But here in Aoyama Nanami, it's become quite a coincidence that when you're out and about, you occasionally bump into your boss!
No wonder he's a workaholic.
"Because recently, Kento Itotani set up a betting game, which was basically a competition among the four young 8-dan players of the young master to see who was the best at Go. Therefore, Kiriya was used as the stake in this betting game."
"The winner will gain the right to operate the Kiriya Kyoto business for the next ten years, and will likely become the biggest owner of Kiriya."
At this moment, Inui Hinoko explained to the serving manji.
Aoyama Nanami, who was listening from behind, suddenly understood.
Yugomi Machi was deeply puzzled: "Miss Inui, the Kiriya restaurant in Kyoto is a famous restaurant. How could it be acquired by the Itoya family? And it seems that even in the face of such difficult conditions, Miss Inui has no choice but to accept it passively?"
"Hey~, that's because the Kyoto Kiriya ran into some really bad things a few years ago. If it weren't for the Itotani family's financial help, they wouldn't have been able to stay in business. Even I would be constantly being chased by debt collectors."
Hinako Inui ate another persimmon seed, looking very pleased, and spoke in a gentle voice. She even asked Machi, the servant of the offering, if he wanted some, but he politely declined.
"How could this happen?"
Yugomi Manji was absolutely surprised to hear of such a thing for the first time. She then looked at Luo Chen and pleaded, "Chen-kun~, Miss Qianri is a very good person. You must win this time."
While eating the persimmon seeds, Inui Hinako also looked at Luo Chen.
The same applies to Aoyama and the Seven Seas.
Luo Chen smiled and said, "Actually, Bayi and the others are all very good people. Apart from Fujii, whom I don't know very well, even if the Kiriya were transferred to them, it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing."
“Chen-kun~!!” Gong Gohan Manji’s gaze was deep and unsettling.
Luo Chen smiled and changed his words, saying, "Of course, even if it weren't for the sake of the Kiriya, but just for the sake of the competition, I wouldn't lose. Perhaps it's a bit too arrogant to be so blunt now, but Miss Qian Ri can indeed consider what will happen after the Kiriya is transferred to my hands."
Gong Yufan Manzhi clenched her little fist, full of confidence: "Since Tatsu-kun has said so, then Miss Inui, Tatsu-kun will definitely win!"
"Oh."
Hinako Inui ate another persimmon seed, and then easily and childishly uttered an even more arrogant statement, "In that case, young master, don't give the Kiriya back. Even in ten years, don't give it back to the Itoya family. I'll find a way. Can you cooperate with me then?"
Machi, the servant of the Imperial Rice: "Huh?"
Aoyama Nanami opened her eyes wide, feeling as if she had heard something incredible, and quickly covered her ears.
P.S.: Uploaded by Hinoki Inui.
Chapter 313 The Generation-Old Grudges Between Kansai and Kanto Go Players
Inui Hinako sat for about ten minutes before leaving.
Immediately afterwards, staff from the Kyoto Kiei Club came to Luo Chen's door, reminding him that the match was about to begin and that he should enter the venue immediately.
"Then I'll go first."
Luo Chen didn't have Gong Gohan Manzhi or Aoyama Nanami follow him; he went to the competition room alone, following behind the staff.
Outside the chess room, it was far from quiet; countless professional chess players, having obtained tickets for the inner court, were excitedly discussing the matter.
Upon seeing Luo Chen arrive, the commotion grew even louder!
"That young master from Adachi Ward!"
"It's him! He's here, the young master of the eighth dan!"
"Damn it...he's so handsome! Why are all four young kings of this era from the damned Kanto region? I can't accept it!"
"Actually, Uchimura-kun originally had a chance to enter the ranks of the four young kings, after all, he is only thirty years old this year. However, it was because of this 18-year-old young master of Adachi Ward who suddenly jumped out!"
"That's right! Uchimura-kun was definitely going to become the pride of us Kansai people, one of the four young kings, but his appearance has completely disrupted everything!"
"Is that so? This is the first time I've heard of this. But then, does this mean this match is a grudge match?"
"What an ultimate feud! The title of young king has been stolen by this brat. I'm sure Uchimura-kun is extremely angry."
“At a private gathering last time, Uchimura-kun made it clear that he was very, very angry, and that he would definitely target Adachi-ku this time.”
"Moreover, it seems that although the young master of Adachi Ward showed great prowess in the Dragon King Battle two months ago, his record has been mediocre since then."
"That's true. Since the Dragon King Tournament, there hasn't been a single serious match. Unlike the other three of the four young champions, Fujii defeated an 8th dan in 37 moves, Kuzuryuuou forced a draw against 9th dan Zao Da, and that guy Kamina Ayumu is even more outrageous! I don't know if he was completely revitalized after the Dragon King Tournament, or if Meijin showed mercy. That online match a few days ago... I still remember it vividly! He actually defeated 9A!!"
"Hehe~, this is interesting. In my opinion, this match might just be the one that exposes the true colors of this young master of Adachi Ward."
"They praised him way too much before! Those damn Kanto Go players!! Perfect, today Uchimura-kun will show those damn Kanto people how powerful Kansai Go players are, and just how terrible this last one of the Four Young Kings they selected really is!!"