Hibiki Sakura · Love Begins to Blossom (Continued)

He awkwardly put down the cup, hurriedly wiping his mouth, his handsome face flushed slightly.

He looked into his younger sister's bright green eyes, which were now brimming with anticipation for the "delicious food."

I felt a chill run down my spine and straight to the top of my head, and my scalp tingled instantly!

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his cough and the chill, attempting to maintain his dignity as the eldest brother and a successful man.

Then, almost through gritted teeth, he squeezed out a sentence, word by word.

"For a little food... you're willing to sell out your brother for personal gain? You're such a good sister, Hibiki."

The words "good sister" were emphasized heavily, carrying a strong sense of irony and disbelief.

Sakura Hibiki completely failed to detect the chilling intent that almost solidified in her older brother's words.

Or rather, the allure of the food overwhelmingly overshadowed the perception of danger.

Instead of backing down, she moved even closer with greater enthusiasm.

With a sincere smile that said, "I'm doing this for your own good," he earnestly promoted the product:

"Don't say that, brother! Sister Jing is really a good woman, isn't she? She's beautiful, generous, and even treats people to food! Plus, neither of them is married, and they're close in age—they're a perfect match! You two standing together are a match made in heaven!"

Encouraged by her younger sister, Sakura Ibuki couldn't help but picture Hiratsuka Shizuka in her mind.

That dashing and spirited demeanor, that bright and radiant appearance, that agile and toned physique honed through years of training, brimming with explosive power, and especially that gleaming white tooth revealed when she laughed heartily...

This subtle stirring of emotion, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, quietly rippled across his heart.

But almost instantly, the ripples were forcibly suppressed by a stronger, instinctive "will to survive."

He shook his head violently, his voice rising an octave with unwavering resolve.

"No! Absolutely not! I will never marry Jing!"

"Why?!" Sakura Hibiki looked puzzled, her bright green eyes filled with confusion. "Isn't Shizuka good enough? Look, she can protect you, discipline my second brother and Kaoru, and give me delicious food..."

Sakura Ibuki a deep breath, a rare, almost tragic expression appearing on his face. He lowered his voice slightly, his tone tinged with self-mockery and honesty.

"I'm afraid... I'll be abused by her after we get married."

Sakura Hibiki paused for a moment, then pursed her lips.

"Oh, big brother, you're overthinking it! Although Sister Jing... well... does like to use a little bit of body language to communicate, she also has principles. She wouldn't hit someone for no reason, okay? If you don't provoke her, why would she hit you? Why are you so scared?"

Sakura Ibuki looked at her younger sister's innocent, or rather, foolish expression and remained silent for a few seconds.

An extremely complex expression appeared on his handsome face.

"That's the problem. Because... I'm a lecher."

"Huh? So... so lecherous? Brother, what... what did you just say?"

Sakura Hibiki wondered if her ears had been damaged by the cooking fumes, or if she was hallucinating.

She simply couldn't connect those two words with her wise and powerful elder brother.

Seeing her sister's momentarily stunned expression, Sakura Ibuki decided to go all out and speak frankly.

"I'm afraid that after marriage I might not be able to control myself, or that my nature is hard to change, and I might end up having affairs outside... Given Jing's personality and strength, I feel like she could really beat me to death at home, or throw me into Tokyo and sink me to the bottom."

He made a throat-slitting gesture, his expression quite serious.

Sakura Hibiki was dumbfounded, and it took her several seconds to process her older brother's shocking "scumbag declaration" and "persecution complex".

Immediately, a fierce fire of contempt ignited in her beautiful emerald eyes, her little face scrunched up, and she made a blunt assessment.

"Ugh! Bro, you really are a scumbag! Your thoughts are filthy! You're awful!"

She shrank back in disgust, as if there was something unclean on her older brother.

Sakura Ibuki was taken aback by her sister's blunt disdain, but quickly regained her nonchalant, elite demeanor.

It even carries a bit of a "this is who I am, what can you do about it?" attitude, and he retorts with righteous indignation.

"Don't talk about me, aren't you the same? You're always saying you like handsome guys, especially the clean-cut, good-looking type. You can't resist anyone who's good-looking. It's just the pot calling the kettle black."

"How can these be the same?!"

Sakura Hibiki, as if her tail had been stepped on, immediately retaliated, her little face turning bright red with anger.

"That was my beautiful vision of my future partner and reasonable criteria for choosing a spouse! It was the pure sentiment of a young girl! Your views on love and marriage are fundamentally distorted and outrageous! It's moral depravity! It's a matter of principle! Don't think I'm stupid and can be easily fooled by your twisted logic!"

Seeing her younger sister's flustered yet determined attempt to reason, Sakura Ibuki, a smile carrying a sense of calm that comes from having seen it all.

His words were calm and sharp, carrying an almost cruel and blunt realism.

"There's nothing more to say. That's just who I am—clear-headed and with a firm stance. Besides, Xiang, look around the world. In every country and social class, those who truly have ability and resources—aren't they all... taking more than their share? The law of the jungle, where resources gravitate towards the strong—that's an immutable law. And emotions, to some extent, are also a resource."

"Scumbag brother! Sophistry! Terrible review! Negative score!"

Sakura Hibiki was furious with her older brother's "logic of the strong."

But unable to find a sharper rebuttal, she could only express her anger and contempt with the most straightforward words, her little face puffed up like an angry pufferfish.

"Even a scumbag older brother is still an older brother."

Sakura Ibuki smiled nonchalantly, picked up her coffee again, and leisurely took a sip.

While the brother and sister were bickering about "scumbags" and "food"—topics that were utterly pointless yet full of "energy"—

Jingle!

The wind chimes outside the barbecue restaurant rang out with a crisp, melodious sound as the glass door was pushed open.

Sakura Hibiki, who was immersed in criticizing the "scumbag" and glaring angrily at her Sakura Hibiki brother, almost subconsciously looked up at the doorway, following the sound.

The sullen expression on her face was instantly replaced by a professional smile, and she greeted him sweetly.

"Welcome...! Your place is here!!"

However, the moment he saw who it was...

Her eyes, as green as a lake in spring, widened instantly, and it seemed as if starlight suddenly lit up the depths of her pupils!

All the anger, grievances, and dissatisfaction vanished in an instant, leaving only pure, undisguised amazement and stunned silence.

She instinctively covered her slightly open mouth with her hand, barely managing to suppress the gasp that was about to escape her lips.

He's handsome!

Extremely handsome guy!

The ultimate form of refreshing and handsome!!

He is her perfect, absolute, and 100% ideal man!

No, it's a divine dish!

A figure stood backlit at the doorway.

The afternoon sun cast a dazzling golden ring around his tall figure.

Beneath his short, silver hair that just covered his eyebrows was a handsome face that was almost perfect.

Her skin was fair, and her features were exquisitely sculpted, especially her clear, gem-like eyes, which sparkled like fireflies on a summer night.

A high, straight nose, a slightly upturned mouth, and an air of languid ease.

He was wearing a well-tailored white shirt and dark trousers.

With a posture as upright as a bamboo, and a clean and gentle temperament, she was like a refreshing breeze that swept through the woods on a summer afternoon, instantly dispelling the smoky and greasy feeling of the barbecue restaurant.

Sakura Ibuki took in her sister's "foolish" look as she stared at the visitor with a dazed and infatuated expression.

A knowing and amused glint flashed in his emerald eyes.

That's it?

Weren't you quite enthusiastic and righteous when you were arguing with yourself just now?

When they meet a truly handsome guy who matches their taste, don't they still reveal their true colors?

So, men and women are the same; they are both driven by basic human needs, and deep down they are both "lustful."

However, he also knew that this was not the right time to argue with his sister.

He cleared his throat and spoke, his voice steady and appropriate, breaking the momentary silence.

"Hello, if you'd like to dine, there are still seats available in the main hall and private rooms."

Sakura Ibuki's words startled Sakura Hibiki from her infatuated state.

She lowered her hand from her mouth, and her professional, sweet smile instantly transformed, as if infused with a soul, becoming even more vibrant.

Then she lowered her voice a little to make her clear voice sound more gentle.

"Yes, there are still seats available. And there are special discounts if you sign up for a membership card now."

When she's in love, her intelligence is ten to nine times stronger than when her foodie side was at its peak.

I instantly figured out how to reasonably find out the handsome guy's name and get his phone number.

Tanaka Yukishin smiled slightly.

His voice, like his temperament, was clear and pleasant to the ear.

"Thank you, but I didn't come here to eat."

"I actually arranged to meet someone here."

No way!

I finally met a guy I really liked, a handsome guy who looks like he stepped out of a comic book!

So... is he already taken?!

Sakura Hibiki maintained a warm demeanor on the surface, but inwardly she began to wail.

Because the eldest brother is in charge.

So after graduating from junior high school, she went directly to the prestigious Imperial Cherry Girls' Academy.

Flowers bloom everywhere, but no grass is to be picked.

Don't let her outgoing and cheerful personality fool you.

But as a beautiful teenage girl, she also longs for a rosy romance.

"Who did you book with? Or you could tell me the table and room number. I'll take you there now."

Since there's nothing to eat, just looking at it is a good thing.

With this in mind, Sakura Hibiki tried her best to make her voice sound less disappointing.

"Okay, please wait a moment. I need to make a phone call."

Tanaka Yukishin nodded politely and took out a simply designed mobile phone from her pocket.

Then, he looked down and tapped a number on the screen.

At the same moment, the screen of Sakura Ibuki's phone on the bar lit up, and a melodious default ringtone rang out in the slightly quiet space.

Sakura Ibuki perked up, a hint of anticipation appearing on her face.

He quickly picked up his phone; the screen displayed the number that had called him last night.

Tanaka-kun- kun?

It's finally here!

Finally, I'll know how my silly little brother Sae has been doing over the past year!

He swiped his long, slender fingers across the screen, answered the call, and put the phone to his ear.

Hello.

A clear, gentle, and uniquely recognizable young male voice.

At the same time, a strange spatial resonance, carried clearly from Sakura Ibuki's cell phone receiver and from Tanaka Yukishin's direction a few steps away, entered the ears of the brother and sister.

"Hello, Mr. Sakura Ibuki. This is Tanaka Yukishin. I've arrived at the entrance of Sakura Manor Barbecue Restaurant. May I ask where you are now? Or could you please tell me your table number?"

After hearing Tanaka Yukishin's voice coming from her older brother's phone.

Sakura Hibiki felt as if her very soul was singing!