Chapter 93: Opportunity in the Privatization of the National Railways

Ueda Natsuna coughed awkwardly, a little flustered, and changed the subject. “After the bath... we should put the place back in order! I... I’m going home first!”

“It’s late. Wait, I’ll take you home.” Tao Zhiming was in high spirits. Wiping the sweat from his face, he smiled brilliantly and headed for the bath.

Natsuna’s feet were hesitant.

Her left leg wanted to step out; her right leg wanted to stay.

At the sound of the water from over there, her face suddenly warmed...

“You... can drive?”

In the taxi, Natsuna found that topic for herself.

Tao Zhiming let out a quiet laugh.

He had no idea what kind of car she thought she wanted to ride in.

“Come to think of it, I learned to drive back then because I wanted to make things easier with that woman, Kawashima Shiko.” His voice carried a faint note of regret. “But after I learned, I realized I’d been far too naive.”

Natsuna had not expected that to be the answer.

For a moment she felt awkward, and it was hard to connect a word like naive with the Tao Dalang sitting before her.

After a pause, she said, “Shiko...”

Tao Zhiming cut in at once. “I don’t want to talk about her!”

Natsuna snapped, “You brought her up first!”

“...Right, sorry. But that was to answer your question.”

“You could have just said you learned. Was it necessary to bring up Shiko on purpose? Are you trying to make me feel more guilty about taking her to meet you last time?”

Tao Zhiming shook his head. “You’re overthinking it. Look at me now—do I seem like the kind of man who can’t let her go? Use her to deepen your guilt? How could I possibly do something like that? You’ve already helped me a great deal.”

“Then why can’t I mention her?”

“Because I assumed you wanted to say something nice on her behalf. I only feel disgust toward her now. I don’t want to hear it.”

Natsuna muttered under her breath, “Who would speak well of her...”

She had indeed paid a little more attention in private and discovered that the man Tao Dalang had mentioned seemed not to be lying.

Kawashima Shiko... really had been seeing several men at once, and even recently...

She had also claimed to be single.

Only, she truly did not know exactly what Kawashima Shiko had done to Tao Dalang. These things were not easy to ask Shiko herself, and not easy to ask him either.

As for asking Ueno Yosuke, who might know the situation... wouldn’t that make it look as though she were being far too curious about Tao Dalang?

Tao Zhiming immediately said, “Still, I know you’re different from her. Why didn’t you go straight home, Teacher Natsuna? I was pleasantly surprised to see you back at the kendo club.”

Natsuna blinked.

Yes—why hadn’t she gone straight home?

She said stubbornly, “Since I was already at school, of course I had to finish today’s practice. I’d originally wanted to see whether Professor Yamamoto would soften up, but in the end... I just wasted time!”

She thought that explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.

But Tao Zhiming gave a smile that made her want to hit him. “I see? Look, I was right after all. Teacher Natsuna is self-disciplined, just like me.”

“Of course!” Natsuna huffed, a little secretly pleased.

After chatting her all the way home, Tao Zhiming did not get out of the taxi. He waved to her and left.

Natsuna entered the house first and closed the door, then glanced through the window beside it.

Seeing the car recede into the distance, she seemed to relax, puffed out her cheeks, and let out a soft breath.

This fellow really did spend money without hesitation—he even took a taxi to bring her back.

She had never once seen him take the train.

But when she turned around, she found her father standing in the middle of the sitting room.

“Father!” Natsuna’s heart gave a jolt, and she quickly straightened and bowed.

Ueda Masahiro was wearing a loose kimono. Frowning at his daughter, he said, “You’re home this late. Have you forgotten what I told you?”

“In fact...” Natsuna hurried to explain, “I had dinner tonight with Professor Yamamoto Haruto, and we talked longer than expected. Then I went to the kendo club at school and practiced for a while, so it became late.”

Thinking of something, she looked up with sudden delight. “Father, I think I made a breakthrough today!”

“Oh?” Ueda Masahiro looked mildly surprised, then became calm again. “I’ll test you again tomorrow morning. You had dinner with Yamamoto-kun today? He has leisure for that?”

“Because... one of our kendo club members bought an expensive machine, and it happened to be of help in Professor Yamamoto’s research. Recently, we established a ‘Financial Sword Laboratory’ in the kendo club, and Professor Yamamoto is our adviser.”

Natsuna tried to continue. “Since my field is not economics, I can’t take part in the research, but I was the one who helped bring this about. Father, that member is much admired by Professor Yamamoto, and he even promised that once the paper is finished, his name can be listed as third author. Given your friendship with Professor Yamamoto, could you perhaps...”

Ueda Masahiro’s face hardened immediately. “Do not attempt things beyond your capacity and ability! Besides, what use would such an honor be to you? Your university days are nearly over. You should learn more from your mother in matters of noble etiquette and become an impeccable woman!”

A chill passed through Natsuna. Lowering her head, she said softly, “I understand...”

“Prepare for bed.” When he finished speaking, Ueda Masahiro turned to go. Then he stopped and slowly asked, “Who was it that brought you home just now?”

Natsuna knew her peeking toward the window had probably been noticed, so she answered honestly, “It was that same kendo club member.”

“The one with the surname Tao, who called the house last time?” Ueda Masahiro did not turn around.

With her head still lowered, Natsuna’s expression shifted uncertainly. She pressed her lips together tightly before saying, “Yes.”

“Which Tao family?”

A trace of sorrow appeared in Natsuna’s eyes, though her voice remained calm. “Not that Tao family.”

“Mind your position, and mind your duty.”

Ueda Masahiro was silent for a moment, then left the sitting room with that flat remark.

Natsuna stood there for a long while before drawing a breath and heading toward her bedroom.

That special feeling from just now was extinguished almost at once by a bucket of cold water from her father.

The less restrictive university years... were they already coming to an end?

And after that, she would have to walk the road she could never evade.

Sitting on the edge of the bed with her lips tightly shut, Natsuna still looked brave and spirited, but tears gradually welled in the corners of her eyes.

All at once, she found herself wishing more than ever that the new term would begin soon.

...

When Tao Zhiming returned home, he found someone waiting for him in the sitting room.

Seeing the side dishes and sake on the table, he asked in surprise, “What’s this about?”

Ueno Yosuke gestured for him to sit across from him, and only then said, “I found the bookstore where I’ll be working part-time. In fact, I wanted to tell you a few days ago, but then I thought I might as well prepare properly first.”

Seeing Yosuke so solemn, Tao Zhiming took a sip of wine before asking, “What exactly happened?”

Yosuke smiled. “Nothing special. But I’ve also found a new place to live, very close to the bookstore. I plan to move there tomorrow.”

Tao Zhiming blinked, then suddenly laughed. “So you found out about me and Rena, did you? Yosuke, your awareness has improved. Admirable!”

“...Honestly. I had been building up to that speech for a long time, and now I suddenly don’t feel like saying it.” Yosuke drank gloomily.

“Say it. I want to hear it.” Tao Zhiming looked amused.

Yosuke set down his cup, then placed both hands on his knees and said seriously, “Over this past month, I’ve learned a great deal from you. Though I don’t like to admit it, I have to accept that there is already a big gap between us. Don’t mind what I look like—I’m still a man who refuses to lose. Even if I can never surpass you in the future, I want to become a partner worthy of always standing at your side! So don’t worry about tests or anything else. I’ll do it properly!”

Meeting his earnest gaze, Tao Zhiming smiled and lifted his cup in approval. “At least once a week, you have to come back! Have you installed the phone?”

Yosuke also raised his cup with a grin. “Of course!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“I found the clue I wanted for the bookstore plan today!”

“Really? That’s wonderful. As for the bookstore part, can I put in some money and take a share?”

“Twenty percent. No more!”

“I...”

“Could you handle more?”

“I...” Yosuke was struck again. He sighed and asked, “So what’s the clue?”

A frightening light flashed in Tao Zhiming’s eyes. “Privatization of the national railway! Though I still don’t know exactly what the plan behind the Saijo Group is, I’ve found a target! There’s a huge plot of land near Shiodome, and it all belongs to the national railway. The national railway is drowning in debt, so it will make plans to dispose of that land. We just need to set our sights there!”

“I see!” Yosuke was energized as well. “Privatization of the national railway? I’ve really seen it discussed often in the news—they say reform has to happen. Are we going to get involved in something this big? How thrilling!”

“There must be some way for us to take part in it.” Tao Zhiming felt deeply moved. “The national railway, with debts of thirty-nine trillion yen, now looks like a huge, delicious hunk of meat. Let’s drink the broth first!”