Later in the evening, Aunt Li returned home with her son. Chiba Sangai followed, carrying a whole pile of bags, all filled with clothes and such.
Su Mo thought that since he’d be living here for a while, maybe he should go greet Aunt Li properly. Constantly being under her disapproving gaze wouldn’t be pleasant.
Just as he was considering this, Chiba Sangai arrived outside his room with the bags. “Maka, your aunt just bought you some daily necessities. I brought them for you.”
Su Mo was surprised. So, that’s what they went out to buy—all for him.
Accompanying Chiba Sangai was his son—a handsome little boy.
“Hello, Sister Maka. I’m Kotaro. You can also call me Little Handsome Guy.”
Su Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Hello, Little Handsome Guy.”
Kotaro was very pleased and scampered off happily.
“Kids, they’re like that,” Chiba Sangai said as he placed the things in the room. After a moment’s thought, he added, “We didn’t know what style of clothes you prefer, so we bought one of each kind.”
Su Mo was secretly amazed. This uncle was genuinely good to his niece.
“Thank you, Uncle,” Su Mo replied, acting somewhat shy.
Chiba Sangai seemed to sense he was still uncomfortable with strangers, so he didn’t linger, allowing Su Mo some time alone in the room to settle in.
After Chiba Sangai left, Su Mo started tidying up by himself. Just then, Kotaro came running in again, his arms full of snacks, dropping some as he ran. He even tripped at the doorway. If Su Mo hadn’t been quick to grab the back of his collar, it would have been a clear day turning into a downpour of tears.
“Sister Maka, I brought you the snacks Keiko-nee likes. You’re a girl too, so you’ll probably like them.”
Su Mo patted his head, his voice unconsciously softening a bit. “Thank you, Little Handsome Guy. But if Sister Keiko finds out you took her snacks, won’t she get mad at you?”
Kotaro patted his chest confidently. “I’m her only little brother. She’ll forgive me.”
Su Mo smiled. Perhaps because the smile was too captivating, Kotaro’s eyes lit up. “Sister Maka, you’re so pretty. Can you take me to school tomorrow? My classmates will be so jealous!”
Even though Su Mo wasn’t a proper girl, he was charmed by Kotaro’s words.
He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. With this little guy’s honeyed mouth, he’d have no trouble finding a wife in the future. He might even become a little prince of romance.
They say children speak without inhibition, precisely because of their innocence and purity.
In just one afternoon, Su Mo and Kotaro had become close enough to talk about anything.
As dinner time approached, the final family member arrived home—the 28-year-old Chiba Keiko.
She had already learned about Su Mo’s arrival, so she came home specifically for dinner tonight.
“Hello, Maka. I’m Keiko.”
“Hello, Keiko-nee,” Su Mo greeted politely.
Unlike the other family members, Chiba Keiko was an Awakened. So, her first reaction upon seeing Su Mo was to probe his cultivation level. Finding him ordinary, she relaxed.
This was also per Sakurai Mii’s instruction before they arrived—not to reveal his cultivation for now.
Keiko came over and took Su Mo’s hand. “Dinner will take a while. Let me show you around outside.”
Su Mo was happy to oblige and readily agreed.
Hearing this, Kotaro wanted to come too. Chiba Keiko’s eyes turned cold. “Is your homework finished?”
Kotaro immediately wilted. “Not yet.”
Keiko ignored him and said to Su Mo, “Let’s go.”
Su Mo followed Chiba Keiko to a jewelry store. Su Mo had already guessed her intention. Sure enough, she said, “My mom is just like that. Although sharp-tongued, she has a good heart. If you give her a gift, she’ll definitely use the chance to change her attitude towards you.”
Although it was supposedly Su Mo giving the gift, the selecting and paying were all handled by Chiba Keiko. Su Mo’s only job was to hold it…
A daughter knows best what style her mother likes. Even if it seemed obvious, it didn’t matter; it was just for show.
Besides, Su Mo was currently penniless, with nothing on him but his clothes.
For safety’s sake earlier, the White Jade Ring had been left with Ye Qingyi for safekeeping, and the space ring he bought later had been “confiscated” by Long Tianyu.
He was now poorer than ever before.
And in the eyes of the Chiba Sangai family, he was a destitute soul who had been adrift in foreign lands for years, just returning home with not a penny to his name.
The two then went to a lingerie store. Su Mo no longer felt the awkwardness of his first visit, browsing openly and confidently inside.
Chiba Keiko occasionally glanced at his chest, her mouth slightly agape, unable to hide her envy.
Even though she was quite well-endowed herself…
On the way back, Su Mo was asked all sorts of questions—mostly about his personal skills and interests—ostensibly to help him find a job.
Su Mo casually mentioned he had some experience in martial arts. Hearing this, the last trace of doubt finally vanished from the other’s eyes.
Trained in martial arts? That checked out.
She didn’t ask further if he was an Awakened because she trusted her own judgment; she couldn’t have been mistaken.
They returned home just as dinner was ready.
As Chiba Keiko had predicted, after Su Mo gave the gift to Aunt Li, her attitude did a complete one-eighty. She kept calling him “Maka” affectionately and piled all of Kotaro’s favorite fish balls into Su Mo’s bowl.
However, Kotaro didn’t show any dissatisfaction, instead grinning happily throughout the meal.
During dinner, Chiba Keiko brought up the idea of finding Su Mo a job. Hearing this, Chiba Sangai quickly said, “There’s no rush. Maka just got home. Let her rest for a while first.”
But Aunt Li chimed in, “Young people have their own ideas. Let Maka decide for herself.”
Although Chiba Sangai was good to his niece, he had overlooked one fact: his niece had no money. Always taking from the family would surely make her feel awkward about asking.
His wife’s reminder made him realize this.
“What do you think, Maka?”
Su Mo glanced at Kotaro and said, “Then I’ll trouble Keiko-nee. But I can only start work the day after tomorrow because I promised Kotaro I’d take him to school tomorrow.”
Kotaro’s eyes sparkled: Sister Maka is so nice, not like other adults who always lie to kids.
“Alright, I’ll keep an eye out for opportunities first. You can choose later. If you find something satisfactory, then you can go,” Chiba Keiko said with a gentle smile.
As a disciple of the Warrior Sect’s Deputy Leader, finding a job for a family member was a simple matter. Hence, she had the confidence to use words like “choose” and “if satisfactory.”
“Thank you, Keiko-nee.”
Su Mo thought to himself that he finally had something to do for the coming month, preventing utter boredom. It would also be a good chance to learn more about the local customs and culture.
And incidentally, he could also take a look at the current situation in Tokyo. If he were to stir things up, where should he even begin?