Chapter 593 - 384: Tokyo Trip (13)
Early the next morning.
The two of them awoke in the same bed, though Jiangg Yao woke up a bit earlier. She lay in Chen Yuan’s arms, her eyes half-closed, quietly studying his face. She didn’t disturb his sleep, simply enjoying the quiet moment.
Outside, sunlight touched the city. The streets gradually filled with pedestrians as the sleeping metropolis slowly awakened, shaking off the decadence and splendor of yesterday to welcome a new, clear day.
Jiangg Yao was happy and content. Waking up to see the person she loved was a wonderful feeling. She resisted the urge to reach out and pinch his nose, pulling her hand back under the covers instead.
Chen Yuan must have been exhausted yesterday. After his shower, he had fallen fast asleep within minutes of hitting the bed. Jiangg Yao had played on her phone for a while before pulling his arm over and snuggling into his embrace to sleep.
In the early morning light, the memory of yesterday’s heart-pounding moments and the intimacy she had missed for days made Jiangg Yao’s cheeks burn. She carefully nuzzled his palm before closing her eyes again.
She dozed off again for a little while.
...
At 7:30 in the morning, a car pulled up to the entrance of the scenic area.
"Asakusa Temple is right ahead. This is the perfect time to arrive. Although there are still quite a few tourists, we can use the VIP access to skip some of the line. Please, Madam Jiang, Young Master, enjoy yourselves. Just call us if you need anything."
Inoue said respectfully to Chen Yuan and Jiangg Yao, who were seated in the back.
"Okay, okay! Let’s get out! So this is Asakusa Temple? The gate looks exactly like it does in the travel photos! Young Master, hurry up and get out."
"I know."
Jiangg Yao pulled Chen Yuan out of the car.
Because they had left in a hurry, he hadn’t even packed any clothes. The outfit from yesterday, which smelled of alcohol, had been sent to the hotel laundry. Early this morning, Inoue had delivered a white tracksuit for him.
Dressed as they were, Chen Yuan and Jiangg Yao looked just like a couple visiting Tokyo to experience the local culture. The only thing was, Jiangg Yao was wearing sunglasses, the large frames hiding most of her delicate face.
They were out to have fun, after all, so he should try to be happy.
Seeing how excited Jiangg Yao was, Chen Yuan had no choice but to play along. Although he was still worried about the various matters he had to handle as the newly appointed director-general and concerned about whether Jiangg Ning and the others could keep things stable back in Lanjing, he couldn’t spoil the mood in front of Jiangg Yao. He could only force himself to hide his many worries.
The two of them bantered as they walked deeper into Asakusa Temple, beginning to admire the scenery. He listened as Jiangg Yao spoke at length about her understanding of Neon culture, teasing her from time to time. The atmosphere between them was quite intimate.
Once they stepped through the temple gate and into the covered corridor, Chen Yuan immediately spotted the temple’s rustic stone lanterns standing silently amidst the endless stream of people. The vermilion-lacquered gate radiated a peaceful and steady aura under the sunlight.
In front of the gate was a pond with shimmering green water, clearly meticulously maintained by dedicated staff. The water plants within were neatly arranged, creating an elegant landscape.
Occasionally, a slender fish would dart to the surface, sending ripples across the water.
The pond was like a giant piece of jade set into the ancient temple.
"Wow, this is a great spot for photos! It has a completely different feel. I’ve had this strange feeling ever since we arrived yesterday. Have you, Young Master?"
"To be precise, our cultures have common ground. Neon was also heavily influenced by Confucianism, but historical changes have led to subtle differences between us. That’s probably where your ’strange feeling’ comes from."
"That makes sense... Come on, stand over there, I’ll take a picture of you."
"Alright."
Chen Yuan didn’t object. He walked over and simply stood there with his hands in his pockets, quietly looking at the water.
"Come on, smile."
"Hee—"
Beaming, Jiangg Yao pressed the shutter button on her phone.
And with that.
The cold war between him and Jiangg Yao.
Which had been going on until they arrived in Tokyo yesterday, finally came to a complete end.
「Around noon.」
Jiangg Yao was standing in front of a small shop in the Charming Street Market. She carried a small bag filled with accessories she had just bought, all with a distinct Tokyo character—not the ones rich in anime elements, but traditional clothing ornaments and items similar to hairpins.
Anyone who made a purchase at this shop could get their hair styled for free by the salesgirl, and they’d also receive a complimentary bottle of locally-made, additive-free perfume with a unique scent.
Jiangg Yao had just gotten her hair put up and was now waiting obediently.
Not far away, Chen Yuan was sitting in the car, on a call with someone in Linzhou.
The call had already lasted for over half an hour. Since he wasn’t finished, Jiangg Yao, being very considerate, didn’t rush him and waited patiently for him to finish his business.
When the call ended, Chen Yuan walked over, with Inoue following at a respectful distance of half a meter.
"Finished with work. We should go get lunch, Yaoyao. Is your hair done?"
"It’s done! Come over and tell me if it smells good. This cherry blossom perfume from their shop is so strange. It smells nice, but it feels different from the perfumes I usually use."
With that, Jiangg Yao lifted her sleeve.
Chen Yuan lowered his head, took her hand, and sniffed. Her palm was warm, and the faint, sweet fragrance was refreshing.
"(－ω－) So fragrant~~" Chen Yuan took a few deep whiffs, sighing with genuine appreciation.
He had always thought that Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao had a natural scent, the same one, tinged with a hint of milk. Jiangg Ning’s was just fainter, so faint that he had to pay close attention to tell the difference. Sometimes he would even get them confused, because the fragrance on both of them was virtually identical.