Xia Mi smiled at him, her tone light. "What? I can't be here? Surprised?"
"Surprised! Extremely surprised!" Amon's tone was exaggerated. He spread his arms as if to hug her, only to sheepishly withdraw them under Xia Mi's clear gaze. "I never expected to run into my dear little sister in a foreign land. I'm simply overjoyed!"
"Really?" Xia Mi raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief flashing through her crystalline eyes. "Then why can't I tell that you're happy at all?"
Her gaze shifted, lightly settling on Setsuko and Mimi, who had yet to fully recover from the sudden turn of events. Her tone was innocent and curious. "Brother, who are these two pretty sisters? Don't tell me—are they my sisters-in-law?"
Amon immediately shook his head like a rattle drum, so violently that his sunglasses nearly flew off. "How could that be? No! I absolutely don't know them! Complete strangers, just passing by. Yes, just passing by!"
Hearing that firm, eager denial, the bewilderment in Setsuko and Mimi's hearts was swiftly replaced by an indescribable mix of embarrassment and anger.
Just moments ago in the car, this man had been happily accepting their attentions, embracing one on each side and calling them "sweethearts" with such affection. Yet in the blink of an eye, he could say "complete strangers" without even changing expression?
The speed with which he turned on them was faster than the tides of Tokyo Bay!
"Oh? Strangers—" Xia Mi dragged out the word, still smiling. "But didn't I just happen to see—from a distance—that they were standing awfully close to you when they got out of a very impressive car?"
"You saw wrong! You absolutely saw wrong!" Amon declared with righteous conviction, even straightening his back. "Does your brother look like the kind of scumbag who