A Call from His Mother

In Yun Lan's dorm room.

Yun Lan stared at the message on his phone—"I think we should try spending some time together"—and fell into deep thought.

"I made my rejection pretty obvious..." he thought. His voice nearly echoed through the silent room. "There's no way Yukino Yukinoshita didn't understand what I meant."

His rejection had been as blunt as a clear-cut instruction, leaving no room for misinterpretation. With Miss Yukinoshita's keen instincts and her ability to navigate society with effortless insight, she couldn't possibly have misunderstood. So why had she given him such a... stubborn response?

This wasn't like her original characterization at all: she was usually so meticulous, always mixing a little joking with a lot of probing. No beating around the bush, no artful deflection, not even a single question or teasing remark about the crucial fact that he "already had someone he liked." She had simply, almost stiffly, brought the conversation back around, as if his candid confession had been nothing more than an error message to ignore.

"Could things really have gotten so bad for the Yukinoshita Family that they urgently need a son-in-law to stabilize things?"

"Son-in-law." The word rolled across his tongue, carrying the metallic tang of political intrigue. It meant more than just a marriage, more than a union between families. It was a banner planted atop a tottering castle, proclaiming to every watching ally and rival: Look, we still have powerful, fresh blood flowing into our ranks. Our bonds are still unbreakable. It was a signal to soothe restless hearts within and show the bloodthirsty sharks outside that these waters still had a guardian who could not be challenged.

For a family like the Yukinoshita Family, reputation was a shield, and marriage alliances were the forge in which that shield was made. Had the eldest daughter, Yukino Yukinoshita—the beautiful, clever woman who always seemed to be in complete control—already placed her own marriage on the scales of family interest at some point? Was her answer now simply a matter of good breeding, or a silent acceptance, or even... a deliberate move of her own?

Yun Lan went to the window. The glass reflected his expressionless face. In this circle, resources, bloodlines, and marriage had always been the hardest currency. If the Yukinoshita Family had truly begun to eagerly seek him as a "perfect son-in-law," then the cracks could no longer be papered over. They needed to be cemented over with steel and concrete.

Could he simply reject the Yukinoshita Family? He could. The Yun Family had plenty of clout, after all. If he didn't want to marry her, no one could force him.

But Aunt Yukikiyo Yukinoshita had helped his mother. You couldn't burn a bridge after crossing it, much less be an ungrateful wretch. But if he married Yukino, what would happen to Honami? He didn't want to give Honami up. He loved her even more deeply.

He suddenly felt a little ironic. Beneath the glittering names, the sprawling conglomerates, and the enviable marriage alliances, there was nothing but the most basic needs: survival, continuation, stability.

Just as he was deep in thought, the phone lying face down on his desk vibrated again. He picked it up. The caller ID showed that it was his mother.

He swiped to answer and put the phone to his ear. "Hello? Mother, it's so late. What's up?" His voice was steady, with no trace of his earlier contemplation.

His mother's familiar voice came through, gentle as always but with an undeniable cadence. Faint classical music played in the background, as if she were in the tea room at home. "Son, you're still up? Am I disturbing you?" It was the standard opening, a polite greeting, but she got straight to the point. "Your Uncle Sakayanagi called the house tonight and spoke with your father. He said you weren't very interested in Miss Yukino Yukinoshita?"

"I'll tell you this now: I've taught you since you were little to repay kindness. If you dare turn into an ungrateful wretch, the Yun Family won't have an heir like that."

"Mother, this..." Yun Lan paused. He knew that being too evasive with his mother would only make him seem guilty, so he decided to share part of what he really thought. "I have nothing but the proper respect for Miss Yukinoshita. Besides, there's someone I like."

A brief silence followed. Melodious strings flowed through the phone, yet it felt as if another, heavier string had tightened. Then his mother spoke. Her voice revealed no anger or joy; instead, it carried a peculiar, almost reassuring tone.

"Someone you like? That's a good thing." She seemed to chuckle softly. "Silly boy, times change, and so do the rules. If you're worried that choosing one means you have to let the other down, I'm telling you now that you don't need to carry that burden."

Suspicion stirred in Yun Lan's heart. "What do you mean?"

"You know about the declining birth rate in recent years. For the sake of the future, the government has been discussing the possibility of introducing a new marriage system at the appropriate time, one that allows polygamy." His mother's voice was as calm as if she were talking about the weather, but her words were earth-shattering. "The draft has already been circulating in certain circles. I imagine it won't be long before word gets out."

Yun Lan's breath caught slightly. He immediately seized on the subtle implication in his mother's words. "Is the government preparing to introduce it, or are... the Yun Family and some other families with the same 'needs' secretly pushing things along so it arrives at the 'appropriate time'?"

His mother didn't answer directly. The warmth in her voice grew more pronounced, as if she were admiring her son's perceptiveness. "As long as the outcome is good for you, isn't that enough? Son, remember: for families like ours, rules have always existed to serve the family's continuation and prosperity. When old rules become a hindrance, new ones will naturally be created by the people who need them."

She paused, her tone growing lighter and even encouraging, just as when she used to urge him to reach for a toy he wanted. "So don't overthink it, and don't worry about a thing. Just go after the girl you like. How many you end up marrying... that depends on your own abilities and what the girls want."

"Of course, as parents, we want to see you surrounded by people who care for you, support you, and make you happy. For example, I'm quite fond of that Ayaka from Japan, and I think Elysia seems promising too. You certainly caused those girls plenty of trouble when you were little. Whether you can bring them home as wives depends on your own abilities."

The call ended, and the phone screen went dark.

"I should be happy, shouldn't I? But why does this feel like it's heading for a Makoto Itou ending?"

Yun Lan muttered bitterly.

The night breeze slipped in through the slightly open window, bringing the chill peculiar to high places. Yun Lan came to his senses a little, confirming that he wasn't dreaming.

"I hope I don't get torn apart by five horses when the time comes."

With that thought in mind, Yun Lan fell asleep.