Chapter 35: Living Together with Him
Don’t be fooled by how leisurely Tao Zhiming appears; until his foundations are solid, he’s destined not to have much free time. The next morning, he once again set out with money in hand.
With another 500,000 yen added to the capital, Kudo Joraku couldn’t help but ask, “If you had the money, why didn’t you inject it all at once? Are you testing my abilities?”
But then again, wasn’t the strategy your own design? I’m just executing it.
Tao Zhiming replied helplessly, “I didn’t have the money. I can only inject what I earn, bit by bit.”
Kudo Joraku was baffled. “What kind of job… lets you earn this much every two days?”
Tao Zhiming grinned. “Attending information sessions.”
Kudo Joraku fell silent.
Then he remembered Tao Zhiming was from Tokyo University. That explained it.
“The leverage has increased since last time. It’s pretty exciting now, isn’t it?” Tao Zhiming asked.
“In just a few days, we’ve already made nearly 300,000,” Kudo Joraku admitted hesitantly, then asked quietly, “Do you know how to analyze the markets? Your strategy… it’s very effective.”
“I know a little…” Tao Zhiming answered modestly. “In any case, I think we can keep running with this strategy for now.”
“Is that so? But with leverage nearing 200 times…” Kudo Joraku wanted to warn him, then thought better of it and said, “Never mind, you’ll probably bring more money the day after tomorrow.”
Tao Zhiming nodded with a smile. Of course.
Once the opportunities from the company’s information sessions dried up, he would have to rely on increased leverage from real estate to secure more capital. For this, he’d have to see if the groundwork laid at yesterday’s interview at Mogami Holdings would bear fruit this afternoon.
Moreover, it would depend on how much Onodera Runa could raise from the housewives’ circles.
But by then, he’d need a dedicated trader to handle his investments…
After leaving Nomura Securities, Tao Zhiming headed to Kusakabe-Segawa.
“Tao-kun, we can approve a 50 million yen limit. As for the interest rate, the best I can offer is 9.5%. Have you made up your mind?” Time was precious, and Tao Zhiming nodded immediately. “That will do. Let’s begin the paperwork.”
Even with the current efficiency, it would still take some time after submitting all the documents for the funds to be released.
There was no need to waste time quibbling over interest rates.
If he could acquire a few more properties before the rounds of interest rate cuts in March and April, by then, the banks themselves would be courting him with low rates and high valuations.
All in all, expanding his assets now was the most advantageous move.
With property prices soaring, if he owned enough real estate, borrowing billions of yen at low rates from the banks would be easy.
So Tao Zhiming spent the whole morning busy outside.
At home, as expected, Ueno Yosuke had gone off to make money at an information session.
Onodera Runa, worried that Miyako might feel lonely at home, returned early.
Both Tao Zhiming’s and Ueno Yosuke’s doors were locked. After a night that was both tranquil and restless, Onodera Runa found herself staring blankly at the spacious room.
Miyako was reading Ueno Yosuke’s manga collection. Onodera Runa asked, “Miyako-chan, what would you like for lunch?”
“…I’m not hungry yet,” she replied, taking another cookie—one Ueno Yosuke had bought.
Onodera Runa looked at her with a sigh, both helpless and content.
How strange fate is, she thought. Suddenly, hope for the future appeared.
She was still a little dazed, thinking about the 300,000 yen Tao-kun had given her last night and the request he’d made.
To be called the most famous woman in Tokyo’s housewives’ circle… It still felt a bit like a dream. Yet, she couldn’t help trusting Tao-kun’s abilities.
Should she become more beautiful first? Her heart raced as she blushed.
Just then, the phone rang.
She hesitated, unsure whether to answer.
But it might be something important. She ought to pick up, if only to relay the message to Tao-kun or Ueno-kun.
She hurried over, picked up the receiver, and answered, “Hello?”
There was silence, then after a while, a woman’s voice asked, “Is this Tao Dailang-kun’s residence?”
“…Eh!” Onodera Runa replied seriously, “He’s not home right now. May I ask who’s calling? If you have a message, I’ll pass it on to him!”
“…What’s your relationship with Tao-kun?” the caller asked hesitantly.
“I’m…” Onodera Runa paused, then replied, “In any case, I live with him. Who are you?”
“Living together?” The woman fell silent, then said, “It’s nothing. Sorry to bother you…”
With that, she hung up.
Onodera Runa felt puzzled, but after a moment, realization dawned.
She’d probably been misunderstood.
Tao-kun was so outstanding, it was only natural for girls to be drawn to him.
But why had she answered like that?
Wouldn’t it have sufficed to say she was a tenant here?
She hadn’t even asked for the caller’s name—what if it had been something important?
Fortunately, not long after, the phone rang again.
This time, it was another woman, asking for Ueno Yosuke.
“…Yes, Ueno-kun lives here too. And you are?”
“You live with Ueno-kun and Tao-kun?”
This time, Onodera Runa answered honestly, “Yes, this is Tao-kun’s house… I’m staying here for now, thanks to his hospitality, and working for him.”
“I see…” The other woman’s tone softened considerably. “Then, please let Ueno-kun and Tao-kun know: This is Risa Tomizawa and Miho Yanagawa, calling about the other night. We were hoping to meet again tonight.”
“All right, I’ll pass on the message. Could you please leave your contact number? Ueno-kun will probably be back after dinner, and Tao-kun should return around two this afternoon.”
She took out pen and paper, jotted down the names Risa Tomizawa and Miho Yanagawa, and wrote down the phone number.
After hanging up, she stared at the note for a while.
So, the other night, Tao-kun and Ueno-kun had spent time with these two women?
She recalled the scent she’d noticed that morning.
After a moment, she put the note by the phone and stood up.
In the end, what kind of lives Tao-kun and Ueno-kun led had little to do with her.
Her role was simply that of a lodger and employee.
“Miyako-chan, even if you’re not hungry, you should at least have a rice ball later, all right? Mama’s heading out to work!”
“Okay!” Inoue Miyako replied crisply, not taking her eyes off the manga.
Onodera Runa smiled. Compared to this, gathering information about the property was far more important. Tao-kun had promised a 500,000 yen reward, after all.
To work for that future was where her energy should go.
Not long after she left, Tao Zhiming returned.
“Miyako-chan, you shouldn’t lie down like that when you’re reading. Sit up straight!” he admonished as he entered and surveyed the living room. “Where’s your mom? Not back yet?”
Inoue Miyako sat up properly, answering, “She came home once, then went out to work again.”
Tao Zhiming muttered, “No lunch?”
He checked the time—it wasn’t even one o’clock yet.
He’d hoped to catch a meal at home, but now he had to fend for himself. “Miyako-chan, what would you like to eat?”
“Mom left rice balls.”
Tao Zhiming wasn’t fond of those. “Well… then I’ll make some noodles.”
With some interest, he set about cooking the kind of noodles he was used to from home.
He opened the fridge to find it well stocked with fresh groceries—evidently Onodera Runa had gone shopping that morning.
Knowing that his account was rapidly growing put Tao Zhiming in a good mood; he hummed as he cooked.
When the pot of noodles—with egg, greens, and shredded meat—was ready, he called out, “Miyako-chan, come eat!”
Inoue Miyako eyed the steaming bowl on the table. “Big Brother Dailang, what kind of noodles are these?”
“Don’t worry about that. Just try them!”
He dug in with relish himself; the richer flavors suited his taste much better. Noodle dishes here were just too bland.
Inoue Miyako took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up. “Delicious!”
Tao Zhiming smiled as he watched her, carrying his bowl of noodles over to the TV to watch the news—then noticed the slip of paper by the phone.