Jiang Xia went into his room, put away his luggage, and did a bit of tidying up.
When he went downstairs again, everyone else had already gathered in the living room.
Aside from the four high school students who had come to freeload at the villa, everyone else was Suzuki Ayako's university clubmate.
There were three men and two women among the adults. Besides Suzuki Ayako and the three men whom everyone had already toured around one by one, there was also a short-haired woman—Ikeda Chikako.
Ikeda Chikako seemed to be rather famous.
The star-chasing expert Mouri Ran became excited as soon as she heard her name. "You're the author of Blue Kingdom? I really love that novel!"
Blue Kingdom had been Ikeda Chikako's debut work during university, and it had won the Best Newcomer Award.
It should have been an achievement worth bragging about, but when Ikeda Chikako heard Mouri Ran mention it, her expression turned unpleasant. She awkwardly changed the subject.
That was only natural.
Because Jiang Xia remembered that Blue Kingdom had been plagiarized by Ikeda Chikako.
The girl whose work she had stolen was named Atsuko. Like the adults present, she had once been a member of the Film Research Club.
Two years ago, on the day Ikeda Chikako won an award for Blue Kingdom, Atsuko hanged herself.
Just as Jiang Xia thought of this, Suzuki Ayako sighed beside him. "It's wonderful that we can all reunite. It would be even better if nothing had happened to Atsuko..."
"Enough!" Ikeda Chikako reacted fiercely. She slapped the table and shot to her feet. "It's a rare gathering. Can you stop bringing up that dead woman who ruins the mood?!"
Jiang Xia's hand, reaching for the biscuit tin, paused slightly. He secretly glanced at the