Yukinoshita's Correction Method

"Back in Chiba Village, this is what I told Rumi," Dong Yunshan reiterated. "Given limited abilities, if you want to maintain many friends, you have to accept that your relationships with each friend are relatively shallow. If you want to have close friends, you have to accept the reality that you don't have many friends."

"On the other hand, if you can't make any close friends..." Shizuka Hiratsuka affectionately patted Dong Yunshan's head, "You'll have to use lots and lots of ordinary friends to fight off loneliness."

Dong Yunshan twitched the corner of her mouth. "You make me sound like I'm in a terrible situation..."

Shizuka Hiratsuka smiled and said, "I always felt you looked pathetic."

I can help you solve your problems, so let's be friends.

My life could end at any moment, so don't get too close to me.

When she saw Dong Yunshan after she grew up, Shizuka Hiratsuka vaguely heard such a voice.

"Okay, okay, I admit it, I did have those thoughts." Dong Yunshan sighed. "We talked about this before, about enjoying youth in the present moment as if our lives could end at any time."

"The time you were chased out with a knife."

"Don't worry about such details." Dong Yunshan tapped her temples lightly with two fingers together. "This attitude will lead to the next question: if my life really ends, will anyone be sad for me?"

Dong Yunshan's answer was... no.

It's good that no one will be sad for me.

But it's also a bit pathetic.

Shizuka Hiratsuka patted him on the shoulder. "Of course there is."

"That's how it is now." Dong Yunshan brought the topic back, "So, Senior Haruno Yukinoshita is enjoying her youth in the present moment, even though her youth could end at any time?"

"There's a high probability that I won't have this kind of freedom again, so I'm even more unrestrained. Because I'll have to shoulder heavier responsibilities in the future, I can't be too reckless." Shizuka Hiratsuka lowered her eyelids slightly, "And so her enthusiasm and cheerfulness just stayed on the surface."

Ironically, this surface was perfect.

"What's even more ironic is that it's all the more perfect because it's just a facade." Shizuka Hiratsuka looked helpless. "You can understand, right? This kind of superficiality is essential for everything she'll inherit in the future."

"Those who cannot see it only see a perfect surface. Those who can see it only see the surface perfection," Dong Yunshan murmured. "Whether you can see it or not, what you see is her charm."

"That's what you call charisma," Shizuka Hiratsuka remarked. "The school anniversary celebration she officiated at set a record for the highest attendance ever. Not just students, even teachers were pulled in to help—I was dragged into playing bass too."

Shizuka Hiratsuka's face was contorted in a grimace; clearly, it wasn't a pleasant memory.

Dong Yunshan raised an eyebrow. "Use your teeth to flick them?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka slammed her hand down on Dong Yunshan's head with a chopped slap. "Do you think that's a guitar?"

"Teacher, back then..." Dong Yunshan suddenly stopped.

What did you do back then?

There's no way I could ask that question.

Given Shizuka Hiratsuka's personality, she must have taken some kind of action after discovering Haruno Yukinoshita's problem.

However, judging from the current situation, the results are probably not very good.

Dong Yunshan's smile gradually turned wicked, "Did you really go on stage back then?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka glared at her. "Don't underestimate the bass! Do you know how much trouble a band will have without a bass?"

"Yes..." Dong Yunshan thought for a moment, "No bass?"

"Nobody's going to breakdance here," Shizuka Hiratsuka scoffed. "Actually, I'm a little hesitant to go to your shop today."

"Huh?"

"What should I do if business doesn't go well?" Shizuka Hiratsuka's gaze was distant. "You've identified a problem, but you can't solve it. As your teacher, I should encourage you, but I don't want to give you false hope. Perhaps I should advise you to give up..."

Shizuka Hiratsuka shook her head. "I'm a teacher."

She's just a teacher.

This moment is just like... that moment back then.

Dong Yunshan received the answer without asking about the exit.

"Teachers also start as students; it always takes time." Dong Yunshan pointed to himself, "Now that I'm a teacher, I have students, and they serve me when needed."

"Good student!" Shizuka Hiratsuka waved her hand, "Then this meal is on me!"

The two finally entered the store and ordered food from the vending machine.

Without a second thought, Shizuka Hiratsuka pressed the button for tonkotsu ramen.

The Dong Yunshan also chose the same one.

Sitting down at the next table at the bar, Shizuka Hiratsuka took out her order slip, "I just want some water."

The firmness of tonkotsu ramen, from hardest to softest, is as follows: rinsed, wire, extra hard, hard, normal, soft, and extra soft.

[Blanched] is the firmest grade. The noodles are only dipped into boiling water for a few seconds and then taken out. The center is not fully cooked. When paired with boiling hot soup, the noodles are heated again by the residual heat, which creates a unique texture that is soft on the outside and firm on the inside.

Dong Yunshan: "I want to get hard."

The sight of a beautiful woman in a formal dress at a ramen shop was already eye-catching, but when Shizuka Hiratsuka happily put on a paper apron and skillfully checked the placement of pepper, white sesame seeds, pickled mustard greens, red ginger, and other ingredients, the onlookers' gazes shifted from admiration to surprise.

Skilled movements, serious attitude... these are the true professional diners who come to enjoy the taste of ramen.

Two large bowls of noodles were served, the portion size being significantly larger than usual.

"Those people who cut in line are really troublesome," the clerk said with a smile. "Thank you so much for helping to maintain order."

Shizuka Hiratsuka and Dong Yunshan exchanged a glance.

"I'm starting."

The rich broth is milky white and smooth like cream, releasing the aroma of oil, minced garlic, and chopped scallions. The extremely thin noodles soak up the broth, and the slightly greasy noodles are smooth on the palate, leaving a mild sweetness.

When Shizuka Hiratsuka added noodles for the first time, Dong Yunshan had already added noodles three times.

"No wonder you ordered the regular version." Shizuka Hiratsuka added pickled mustard greens and minced garlic to her bowl, enjoying the pleasure of controlling the flavor. "Eating so fast, you can't appreciate the deliciousness of the rinsed vegetables at all."

"It's not entirely about speed," Dong Yunshan added another layer of dough. "The hardness is already the limit I can tolerate."

"Don't say it too soon." Shizuka Hiratsuka showed off her specially made ramen. "When I was young, I thought tonkotsu was the best, and the broth had to be rich and oily to be delicious. If the broth wasn't rich enough, I couldn't drink it at all. But as I've grown up, I've gradually become able to accept a lighter salty taste and soy sauce broth."

Chapter 375 Who Doesn't Have It?

"Me too." Dong Yunshan wholeheartedly agreed. "When I was little, I thought gold was really tacky, but now that I'm older, I find it pleasing to the eye."

"You haven't accepted it," Shizuka Hiratsuka glared at him, "You've started to be greedy."

"What if you didn't want to go to school when you were little, but want to go to school when you grow up?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka hit the nail on the head. "You just don't want to go to work, right?"

"Why did you see through it so quickly?"

"Because that's what I think." Shizuka Hiratsuka picked up a noodle. "However, whether it's what you've said or what I've said, there's always room for refusal—after all, it's a personal matter."

Dong Yunshan paused in his movements.

"It's not difficult to get along well with Haruno Yukinoshita, as long as you maintain a certain distance..." Shizuka Hiratsuka ate her noodles, "Playing the role of a good partner is enough."

Is that enough?

Can you guess why she likes to participate in all sorts of activities?

"Because... you want to do things that others don't ask you to do?"

"Haruno Yukinoshita is excellent, but compared to her elders, she is not excellent enough." Shizuka Hiratsuka stared at the broth. "All she can do is follow the rules set by her elders and try her best to meet their standards."

"So these kinds of events are the only place where she can truly take the lead and realize herself." Dong Yunshan nodded. "The same goes for the stores we collaborate with."

"That's right." Shizuka Hiratsuka blinked. "This is her action outside the rules set by her elders. The more successful she is, the more she can prove herself, and then your relationship with her won't be a problem."

"It sounds pretty simple."

"Don't let your guard down," Shizuka Hiratsuka said sternly. "This is just the beginning. Opening a shop isn't easy... even though I've never done it before."

"At least it's starting off well so far." Dong Yunshan smiled. "Thank you so much, teacher, you've been a great help."

Shizuka Hiratsuka sipped the rich ramen broth and said, "Just let me know if you find a good ramen shop next time."

"Is that enough?"

"That's enough..." Shizuka Hiratsuka paused, "Temporarily."

"... That's about all we talked about." Dong Yunshan held Yukino Yukinoshita's hand. "I was going to take her home, but she chased me away."

"We went to Saizeriya, where there were lots of people with milk tea from the shops. After eating, we wandered around..." Yukino Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly. "Then, after I received your call, they all left."

"That's wonderful!" Dong Yunshan exclaimed. "This is creating time for us to be alone."

Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her lips. "I'm going home today."

Dong Yunshan's eyes lit up. "Then let's go back now."

"It's going back to my house," Yukino Yukinoshita shook Dong Yunshan's arm, her rosy cheeks puffed out, "Not going home with you."

If I hadn't met my father, I might have been able to go to Dong Yunshan's house.

If I encounter... then I must go home.

"I know, I was just teasing you," Dong Yunshan chuckled. "I'll take you home later."

"I mean, I can't stay at your house for too long." Yukino Yukinoshita released Dong Yunshan's hand. "But since you're going to take me home..."

Dong Yunshan grabbed her hand again. "Why did you skip the [wait] step?"

"You skipped it first..."

"Let me review it again..."

Back at the Dong Yunshan family home, as soon as she opened the door, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned. "I've only been gone a few days, how did you get into this state?"

"I haven't had much time to tidy up these past few days..."

"Then when you have time, go to Starbucks to meet your big brother." Yukino Yukinoshita glared at him, put down her things, and went to find the vacuum cleaner.

"Wait," Dong Yunshan stopped her, "What are you trying to do?"

"Clean the room." Yukino Yukinoshita looked disgusted. "It's a mess."

"You'll be going home soon," Dong Yunshan said, pulling her to sit on the sofa. "Don't bother tidying up the room."

"If you don't tidy your room..." Yukino Yukinoshita's face hardened. "Am I supposed to punish you?"

"It's not impossible..."

"...Terrible." Yukino Yukinoshita punched him in the chest, then her small hands seemed to be drawn to his body, following the contours of his body, and wrapped around his neck.

That guy who leaves the house a mess while I'm away needs to be tidied up properly.

First... take away his breath.

A kiss after several days is especially memorable. The feeling, which has been repeatedly recalled in my mind, surges uncontrollably with the touch of our lips, making the same kiss before a different experience.

Feeling a little awkward with her body turned to the side, Yukino Yukinoshita rubbed against Dong Yunshan's body, maintaining the contact of their lips, and sat on his lap.

"Hmm..." Yukino Yukinoshita leaned back slightly, creating some distance.

Dong Yunshan put his arm around her slender waist to prevent her from falling backward.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced slightly downwards. "It was fine before I didn't notice, but now that I do... it's such a nuisance. Was it always this big?"

Dong Yunshan: "Huh?"

Her delicate, fair fingertips poked and prodded at Dong Yunshan's chest. Yukino Yukinoshita carefully recalled, "When we first met, it didn't seem this big, did it?"

"Wasn't I wearing clothes when we first met?" Dong Yunshan tightened his arm around her slightly. "Besides, we weren't this close then."

"That's true..." Yukino Yukinoshita spread her five fingers and placed them on Dong Yunshan's chest, wanting to study exactly how big it was.

Dong Yunshan: "Huh?"

Yukino Yukinoshita recoiled as if burned, hastily gathering her hair. "I... I wanted to..." she coughed lightly, trying to calm herself, "Is that not allowed?"

"Of course." Dong Yunshan pressed Yukino Yukinoshita's hand onto his body. "You're my girlfriend."

"That's more like it..." Yukino Yukinoshita's fingers twitched, then she suddenly realized, "Who wanted to touch it? I was just curious."

Dong Yunshan raised one eyebrow. "That's it?"

Yukino Yukinoshita moved her hand away. "I already said it was just out of curiosity."

"Now that you've finished..." Dong Yunshan's lips curled up, "It's my turn to be curious."

"What are you curious about..." Yukino Yukinoshita paused, then immediately grabbed his collar, staring at him warily, "Do you have some strange ideas?"