"Three, two, one—"
Following the instructions, Tangze slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the painting behind the desk for a while before gradually turning his gaze toward Kihara River.
Under the other man's slightly tense gaze, Tangze blinked and sat up as though nothing had happened.
"Is the hypnosis treatment over already?" Tangze rubbed his neck and smiled. "I do feel like I've relaxed a little."
Wasn't that so? Getting entertainment without paying for it was a wonderful thing. Of course he felt relaxed.
"Yes, it's over. Tang Ze, you're surprisingly receptive to psychological suggestion. The effects were better than I expected." Kihara River carefully studied Tangze's expression and returned his smile with one just as gentle and accommodating.
His wording was mild, and his tone unhurried, as though they truly were discussing Tangze's treatment plan. Yet Tangze vaguely caught an implication beneath his words.
—Since you are Tang Ze Yichuan's child, and possess his most crucial research findings, is it really reasonable for your secrets to be exposed so easily? Or is this disguise itself part of a protective mechanism Tang Ze Yichuan designed in advance?
Tangze raised a hand and rubbed his temple, putting on a troubled expression. "Is that so? I don't know. Maybe it's because I came to Tokyo. I just feel like I've been in much worse shape these past few months than before."
To someone unfamiliar with Tangze's circumstances, this sounded like he was struggling to adapt to life in a new city. But to those in the know, it carried another layer of meaning.
Especially to someone who knew the hidden story behind Tang Ze Zhao's arrest.
Kihara River nodded thoughtfully and wrote something else on a fresh page of notes.
Even without seeing what he had written, Tangze could already guess