After Transmigrating to Become Lady Skylark - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Buzz…”

Vongola Foundation.

Inside his private office, the man behind the desk frowned at the incessant buzzing of his phone. He glanced at the name “Bouncing Horse” and expressionlessly hung up for the fifth time. Still not satisfied, he simply blocked all of the person’s contact methods.

But the phone didn’t stay quiet.

Following “Bouncing Horse,” Ryohei Sasagawa, Takeshi Yamamoto, and Hayato Gokudera all called. Finally, the name “Tsunayoshi Sawada” flashed on the screen.

The man’s black, spiky hair moved with the gentle breeze from the tall building’s window. A thought flickered in his gray-blue phoenix eyes. This time, he finally pressed the answer button.

“…Hibari-senpai.”

The person on the other end didn’t seem to expect him to answer. His voice was unusually hesitant and stuttering, as if he had returned to his middle school days.

“Tsunayoshi Sawada,” Kyoya Hibari’s cold voice came through the electronic device. Even the slight static of the current couldn’t soften it. “You’d better have a good reason.”

“…”

The warned Tenth Generation Vongola was silent for a moment before finally speaking again, slowly laying out his plan: “Millefiore has launched many new function boxes in their operation against the Arcobaleno. For everyone’s safety and health, I want to arrange a comprehensive physical for all family members, so I’ve specifically invited Hibari-senpai to Italy—”

“No need.”

Mid-sentence, he was mercilessly interrupted.

Tsunayoshi Sawada was choked up. At that moment, another voice on the other end, unable to hold back, came through. “Excuse me, Tenth Generation… What is this attitude, you despicable Hibari, toward the Tenth Generation’s kindness! I, as the Tenth Generation’s right-hand man, am now issuing a forced Guardian summons. You have to come whether you like it or not!”

“Oh?”

Compared to the polite yet suddenly furious voice on the other end, Kyoya Hibari remained calm. “A forced Guardian summons? What does that have to do with me?”

He curled his lips, and a hint of a smile entered his voice, but the killing intent became even more intense. His phone screen reflected his sharp eyes. “Tsunayoshi Sawada, you want me to participate in your group gathering?”

“Yes.”

Taking the phone back from Gokudera, Tsunayoshi Sawada’s voice was still gentle, but now it held a touch of firmness. “Please, Hibari-senpai, you must come. And of course, you can bring a family member to this physical.”

“Wow,” surprised by his courage, the smile in Kyoya Hibari’s eyes became even more chilling. “Very well. Then I’ll go bite you all to death.”

He hung up first, then ignored the remaining missed calls and dialed a number.

“Kyoya~ Kyoya~”

A round, bright yellow bird landed on the sill of the open glass window. It flapped its wings and called to him in a thin voice.

The man raised his right hand towards the window. His black suit jacket and purple shirt sleeve fell back slightly, revealing his cold, pale wrist.

As soon as Hibird’s claws latched onto his index finger, the killing intent that had been surrounding him immediately dispersed. A soft light spread through his beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

“What are you doing here?”

“Chaoyan~ Chaoyan~” Hibird stood on his hand and tilted its head.

” Kyoya Hibari.” The call was answered, and Tetsuya Kusakabe’s voice came through.

The man raised an eyebrow, still trying to guess what his pet meant. But Kusakabe, reminded by Hibird’s words, reported first, “Oh, by the way, the madam said she had to go back to Tokyo for something today and might not be back for a while.”

A moment later, he gave a short “hmm” and ordered, “Clear my schedule for a trip to Italy within three days. Arrange a flight.”

The man hung up the call and smiled at Hibird. “So she left you behind this time?”

Hibird was quiet for a bit, then a cold light flashed in its little beady eyes, and it said very loudly, “Bite-to-death—”

“Hmm? You’ve got guts.” The man raised his other hand and yawned. As he moved, Hibird, which had been on his right hand, flew to the top of his head.

After crouching for a bit, the little bird spoke again, “Kyoya~ Chaoyan~”

The man, who had picked up his business documents and was looking at them, replied absently, “Go find her yourself.”

“Thud!”

Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, in an apartment.

Chaoyan Kin opened the utility room, wanting to see the packages that had been delivered but not yet opened. The door only opened halfway before it hit a cardboard box. Boxes were stacked almost to the ceiling, so she simply gave up and closed the door.

Chinatsu followed her and didn’t forget to remind her that the equipment and remaining daily necessities from the nursing home had also been sent over and were all properly arranged.

“By the way, there’s also a small locked safe. Would you like me to put it in your room?”

“What safe?”

A curious voice suddenly appeared.

Chaoyan turned her head and saw a girl with a small dessert fork in her mouth and still in her school uniform, peeking from behind the living room sofa with a curious look on her face.

“That safe has nothing to do with you—didn’t you say your vacation was in two weeks? Why are you here so early?” She looked at Kazuko Kin, who had arrived today. If it weren’t for her sudden call, Chaoyan would never have dropped her half-completed driving lessons to rush back to Tokyo.

Kazuko slowly said “oh,” then, as if thinking of something, rolled up the sleeve of her winter-style dress shirt to show her a purplish bruise that stretched from her upper arm to her forearm. “Father had some business trouble recently and also found out I didn’t want to take the summer bride etiquette courses. His temper was a little short. I was afraid he’d hit me again, so I ran away early.”

“…”

Chaoyan looked at the horrific bruise. She turned to have Chinatsu call a family doctor, then looked away uncomfortably. “Has he always been like this?”

“Yeah,” Kazuko replied with a familiar attitude. “Compared to you back then, this is actually good for me. After all, he has to give Mother’s family some face.”

Her fists clenched.

Chaoyan, who had absolutely no memory of this part of the original owner’s life, could only imagine the treatment she had received at home just from listening to Kazuko’s words. Her brows were tightly furrowed. She felt like her good mood from chatting with Haru and Kyoko at the tea shop all afternoon was completely ruined.

“Back when I…”

She was about to speak but then dismissed the idea. She simply looked down and messaged the private investigator who had given her the information earlier. “You there?”

He replied quickly. “Boss, Mafia matters are hard to investigate. I just got to Italy two days ago, and it’s going to take some time to get any useful information.”

Chaoyan replied with a “mm-hmm.” “Good. By the way, I’m very interested in the growth trajectory of the Kin family’s next generation, especially their family experiences. When you have time, help me complete this part of the report. I’ll pay you the regular price.”

He replied with an “OK.”

A cloud of gloom hung over her heart. Putting her phone away, Chaoyan looked at Kazuko as if nothing had happened. “I’ll have Chinatsu arrange a driver for you. You can tell her if you have anything you want for dinner. If you don’t want to stay there anymore, you can live here. For as long as you want.”

“I love you, I love you~” Kazuko Kin made an exaggerated heart shape with both hands for her.

Before dinner, Chaoyan went to look at the safe. She tried to enter the original owner’s birthday, but it made a series of beeping error sounds. She decided to put it aside and instead had someone move the packages from the utility room to the walk-in closet, where she sat down and began to open them.

The first thing she took out was the little ladder toy she had bought for Hibird.

She took two photos on her phone and sent them to the “Superstar Hibird Praise Group,” tagging the superstar’s assistant, Tetsuya Kusakabe. “Mr. Kusakabe, can you send a few beautiful photos of my baby when you have a moment?”

Kyoya Hibari’s right-hand man was probably too busy and didn’t reply for a long time.

Chaoyan didn’t mind. She put her face masks, clothes, and shoes to the side, then continued to unpack snacks and toys for Hibird. After sending several photos to the group, she told Kusakabe to have Hibird video call her when he had time.

He immediately started a video call in the group.

The group had three people. Chinatsu was with her, so he didn’t join. She answered. “Mr. Kusakabe?”

“Chaoyan~ Chaoyan~”

In the video, only the little bird was bouncing around on a black office table, greeting her.

“Hibird! My baby!” Chao-yan ignored why Kusakabe wasn’t speaking, her attention completely drawn to her cute little bird. She blew a kiss at the camera, her voice sweet and syrupy. “Mommy misses you so much. Do you miss Mommy?”

Hibird flapped its wings, got closer to the camera, and gently pecked the screen with its beak, as if returning Chaoyan’s kiss. This action instantly melted the woman on the other side of the video.

“Waaah! My baby is so well-behaved. You’re Mommy’s little sweetheart. I should have just come back this afternoon and brought you with me. Have you had dinner yet?”

“Eat~ Eat~”

Hibird replied with simple words, but Chaoyan couldn’t understand the specific meaning.

She sighed, reaching through the screen to pet the little bird’s head. “If Tetsuya Kusakabe is too busy, just go find your dad. He loves you so much, he’ll definitely give you the best food.”

Hibird stared at the screen for a moment, as if it had understood. It tilted its head, and imitating the term she had used, it looked to the side and said in a muffled voice:

“…Dad?”

But it didn’t quite understand, so it flapped its wings and changed it to “Kyoya~”

A “wow” suddenly came from the phone, followed by a cold, fleeting laugh. “Chao-yan Kin, what are you teaching my pet every day?”

“!”

“Thwack!”

The sound of the phone being suddenly thrown.

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