After Transmigrating to Become Lady Skylark - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Kazumiko Konoe’s expression was so dazed that it seemed strange. Thinking of the plastic family relationship revealed by the investigation, Jin Chaoyan quickly left after greeting her, lest she get involved in some kind of staged accident.

When she neared the banquet hall, she ran into the young Lady Sanyu, now the new Lady Konoe. Perhaps remembering the phone call that was rudely hung up on her this morning, she didn’t even give Jin Chaoyan a glance, even after she respectfully addressed her as “Mother,” as if only a ghost had passed her by.

Jin Chaoyan wasn’t bothered by her attitude. She entered the clean and elegant hall and, seeing the room full of wooden tables and tatami mats, was silent for two seconds. She could only console herself with the thought: It’s fine, the Konoe family is so rich, the dinner must be excellent. This gathering won’t be a loss!

Twenty minutes later—

Jin Chaoyan, sitting by the door and only opening it for servers, looked at the classic and traditional foods on the table: steamed, roasted, boiled, fried, and raw. They held no appeal for her whatsoever, and she began to self-reflect:

Why did I come here just to stay in character?

Was spending money not fun? Was the hot spring not relaxing? Was the hotel not comfortable?

How could I have been so naive as to think a rich family’s dinner would have extravagant cuisine?

Jin Chaoyan had lost her appetite. She was daydreaming about when she would get a driver’s license. Her Ferrari modifications were already halfway complete, and she needed to get her license before then.

“…Hibari Chaoyan.”

A voice from the head of the table cut through the quiet, somber atmosphere, making a shocking statement.

Jin Chaoyan was instantly jolted by the familiar surname. She looked around in a daze, wondering, where is Hibari?

After looking around and not seeing him, she let out a sigh of relief and prepared to space out again. But then she heard a light sneer from nearby, accompanied by a contemptuous tone. “Some people become more and more disrespectful after they get married. They don’t even listen to their father’s lecture.”

Following the voice, she saw it was Kazumiko Konoe. She blinked and looked toward the distant figure bathed in light. “Do you have any instructions?”

“Since you’re already married, you should fulfill your duties as a wife and stop being so useless—”

“Although the family doesn’t expect you to bring us any glory, don’t embarrass us too much. Even though the Disciplinary Foundation is not a respectable existence, it was your own choice. You’ve been married for almost a year, and you still haven’t become a mother. What kind of behavior is that?”

Jin Chaoyan: “…”

The information in his words was too much, and her mind had completely shut down.

For a moment, Jin Chaoyan didn’t know whether to be astonished that someone looked down on Hibari Kyoya, the strongest Guardian of the world’s number one Mafia family, or to be shocked that this father dared to pressure Hibari to have a child.

So… brave…

She curled the tips of her fingers by her side, trying very hard to resist the urge to record this conversation and play it for a certain someone someday.

Seeing that she had no reaction, as was typical of her, the person at the head of the table gave a cold snort. He no longer looked in her direction and instead spoke to the heirs seated closer to him:

“I heard there’s been no news from the organizations I told you to contact?”

The eldest son of the Konoe family lowered his head in shame and said, “Yes, I apologize, Father. We had an agreement to acquire a batch of healing boxes from them, but I heard that those organizations had a turf war near Ginza recently and were completely wiped out by a mysterious force. So, the items we were negotiating for naturally disappeared as well.”

“And Shuu? Didn’t you say you wanted to contact the overseas sellers directly? Why hasn’t there been any progress?” Hiroemon Konoe coldly turned his gaze to his second son.

The second son’s expression froze. After a moment, he said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Father. All I found out was that this kind of advanced technology originated in Italy, but the most powerful family there right now, the Millefiore Family, has no intention of doing business with us.”

His words were rather subtle. In reality, the managers of their branch offices hadn’t even given them a second look.

Jin Chaoyan’s attention was caught by the name “Millefiore.” She unconsciously tilted her head to listen, but Hiroemon Konoe had already moved on to his next child:

“Iori, has your research and development department made any progress?”

Hearing her father’s voice turn cold, the eldest daughter caressed her magatama earrings and smiled as she looked at the two men across from her. She said slowly, “Without the research data, it’s quite difficult to understand these miraculous boxes. However, I have found a new breakthrough—”

“Besides the new Millefiore Family, there’s an old Mafia family in Italy, called Vongola. I heard that they have a liaison who is often active in Japan. I spent a lot of money for this information, even giving away the gemstone crown I bought at the auction a few days ago.”

“It’s not too late to take credit after you’ve found the person.” The old man replied coldly.

Jin Chaoyan, who had been listening with her ears pricked up: “…”

I’m just saying, is there a possibility that the liaison for that old Mafia you’re looking for, who’s active in Japan, is the very person your great father just pressured to have a child?

9:30 PM.

The Konoe family dinner ended without anyone else bothering to talk to Jin Chaoyan. Therefore, it was even more impossible for anyone to realize the connection between her husband and the Vongola Family. So, these suckers were destined to continue wasting money.

Jin Chaoyan, who hadn’t eaten anything, swore she would never participate in this kind of living hell again. She was about to slip away when she heard Kazumiko Konoe’s voice in the distance:

“Sister!”

“Hibari Chaoyan!”

She walked even faster.

A moment later, the high school girl, wearing heels, was caught by the side of her dress by the younger girl who had run over. Perhaps due to the sudden, strenuous activity, the smile Kazumiko showed was a twisted grimace, as if she was gritting her teeth. “Chaoyan sister, why are you walking so fast?”

“Oh, what’s wrong? Is there something you need?”

“Of course,” the younger sister took a deep breath, doing her best to control her expression so it wasn’t too ugly. “We haven’t seen each other in so long, I just want to hang out with you more and deepen our relationship. Are you free tomorrow? How about we go shopping together?”

She still didn’t believe that Jin Chaoyan’s outfit tonight was her own. It must have been borrowed from some high-society woman in Tokyo. She was determined to expose her act of pretending to be rich.

As long as we go to luxury stores tomorrow, this woman is finished! Kazumiko Konoe thought with great intensity.

Jin Chaoyan, who heard her invitation, eyed her suspiciously. She didn’t believe a single word she said, but the phrase “shopping” resonated with her DNA.

After a moment, she replied hesitantly, “Alright.”

The next day, Kazumiko Konoe, waiting at the entrance of a luxury store in Ginza, watched as Jin Chaoyan got out of a fancy car, followed by two tall bodyguards.

The woman who had worn a full set of blue gems yesterday was now wearing lustrous pearl accessories, paired with an elegant, snow-colored C-brand dress and a matching coat with playful lace trim. As soon as she got out of the car, she attracted the attention of passersby.

Kazumiko Konoe watched as not a single luxury item on her body was repeated from the day before. She gritted her teeth and thought, this woman is so good at putting on a show. I’ll see how long she can pretend to be rich!

“Sister, you’re so radiant today. But why do you need to bring bodyguards just to go shopping with me?” She walked over, saying words of praise, but her expression told a completely different story.

Jin Chaoyan looked at her sister’s expression with some confusion. She wondered if she should suggest she see an ENT or a neurologist. It wasn’t normal for her to say words of praise while making such a pained face!

“Oh, the bodyguards have nothing to do with you. It’s just that I have a little PTSD about this area, so don’t mind me.”

Remembering that terrifying night in Ginza, she patted her chest. Then, looking radiant, she walked toward the luxury store.

As soon as the Konoe sisters entered the store, the staff recognized them. A salesperson eagerly approached, but the manager, who had just received the news, quickly walked toward them. He spoke the words Jin Chaoyan liked best:

“Miss Konoe! Welcome. Did you receive the invitation to the brand event that we sent you a few days ago?”

Kazumiko Konoe, who only ever received this kind of treatment when she went shopping with her mother, quietly straightened up. She was also thinking to herself if she had missed any mail recently.

Then she watched as the manager’s beaming smile stopped in front of… Jin Chaoyan.

“I went on a trip these past few days. Chiyana has been handling everything at home, so I didn’t know about the brand invitation. What kind of event is it?”

Jin Chaoyan naturally exchanged a few pleasantries with the manager. In the end, she saw her sister, who had said she wanted to go shopping but seemed lost. The manager naturally recognized her as well. Although he had only seen her shopping with Lady Konoe before, now that he knew they were family, he flattered her with a few more sweet words.

Kazumiko Konoe felt numb, especially when she saw Jin Chaoyan being led into the VIP room. Jin Chaoyan flipped through a catalog but said she wasn’t interested in any of the new products. She then handed the catalog to Kazumiko.

“This is the store you wanted to visit, right? See if there’s anything you want to buy?”

Can I even afford anything on here?

Kazumiko Konoe numbly took the catalog and glanced at the prices, feeling a little dizzy from all the zeros.

She looked at Jin Chaoyan’s profile, unable to understand how she had suddenly become so rich. She had never heard of her starting any kind of business—

Oh, wait, she got married. Maybe her husband is rich.

But if she’s married, why does she like being called “Miss Konoe”? Are they not getting along? If they aren’t, why would he give her so much money?

Kazumiko Konoe couldn’t imagine which benevolent man her sister had married.

“Kazumiko?”

Jin Chaoyan watched as her expression changed unpredictably, as if a palette of colors had been spilled across her face. She felt like this issue with her facial expressions was developing into a serious medical condition.

“Boss, those two women both look very young and very rich. Which one is the target?”

Inside the Ginza mall.

Watching the Konoe sisters enter another luxury store, a scruffy man in a corner of the hallway scratched his head. His expression was clearly anxious.

His partner had been watching the Konoe family’s youngest daughter, born from the marriage to the Sanyu Group, for a month. He knew that she didn’t like to bring bodyguards when she went shopping with her friends on weekends. He had finally gotten her schedule today and came to make his move, but he was slightly face-blind and couldn’t remember what the target looked like.

The partner on the phone: “Impossible! There’s no one around Kazumiko Konoe who is richer than her. Today is our one chance. Look carefully!”

“I’m serious. I checked carefully. The one she’s shopping with even brought bodyguards, and they haven’t separated once—”

“This is too much trouble. We’ll have to use that. Let’s act fast and grab them both! Don’t attract too much attention!”

…

In the changing room.

Jin Chaoyan’s earring was caught on the clothes she had just taken off, which made her earlobe hurt slightly. She couldn’t get it loose, so she took the earring off first. When she pushed the door open, she found that the luxurious lounge area was filled with a “smog,” and everything was foggy.

She couldn’t see a thing, and the world was so quiet it felt like she was the only one left.

Jin Chaoyan walked two steps in a daze. Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed behind her ear. She sensed something and moved her head, but she was still not as fast as her assailant!

Before losing consciousness, the last thought in Jin Chaoyan’s mind was:

Am I really jinxed when I come to Ginza?

“Hey…”

“Damn it, the Konoe family is so stingy. They’re even bargaining with us…”

“What do we do now? We’ve kidnapped two, but they’re only willing to pay a ransom for one. The other woman’s clothes look expensive, so maybe we can—”

“Wait, the younger one said the other one is married and her husband is very rich. Since the Konoe family won’t pay for her, we’ll call her husband…”

Her consciousness was hazy, but the pain in the back of her neck was getting stronger.

When Jin Chaoyan was shaken awake, she felt like she had a concussion. A dazzling bright light illuminated her face. She instinctively turned her head and, after a moment, realized it was someone else’s phone screen.

“Hey! You’ve been kidnapped. Call your husband and tell him to pay your ransom, hurry up!”

A fierce voice came straight at her.

[Detected that the esteemed guest’s phone has been damaged. The mall is rebinding. No. 001 is online and ready to serve you.]

The annoying mechanical voice also appeared in her mind.

Just as everyone thought she had been knocked silly, the woman, with her messy hair and smudged makeup, slowly focused on the phone’s dial page. After a moment, she let out a slow “oh” and said honestly:

“But, I don’t know my husband’s phone number.”

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