58 Let's Be Courteous To Each Other

"Keep your head high when you meet them. Don't be afraid."

Kyoya gave her encouraging words and a kiss on her forehead before he left to work the next day. By his reassurance, Shouko somehow could keep herself calm while she was waiting for Grandpa and the two people she didn't expect to meet after losing her memory.

Shouko sat in the lounge, casually browsing a magazine before Mai came to her.

"Young Madam, Old Master Kashino would arrive soon."

Shouko's eyes lit up. She closed the magazine, placed it back in the magazine holder and walked out of the lounge heading toward the main entrance. Old Toshio was already there.

She had just reached the doors when a black sedan swiftly entered the gate. The car slowly pulled up in front of them. Grandpa Kashino alighted the car. Once he saw Shouko, his old face brightened.

"My dear granddaughter-in-law!"

Shouko burst out into a laugh. She gave the old man a welcome hug while Grandpa gently patted her back.

"You look better than the last time I saw you," Grandpa carefully eyed his grandson's wife. It seemed like he was so happy to finally meet her again. "It's good! Your complexion looks healthy too."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Shouko smiled happily, pleased to hear the compliments. "I've gained a few pounds. I'm only eating and resting these days, I'd be so grateful if I didn't turn into a ball!"

Grandpa laughed loudly, amused by her words.

Shouko would always weigh herself and look at her entire body on a full-length mirror. She was too pale and lost a lot of weight. It was confusing to see herself in such a situation that obviously happened before she lost her memory. It was totally different from how she remembered herself while she was preparing to graduate five years ago.

Why did she look so unhealthy?

Even so, she didn't dare to inquire about it.

Right now, her weight had gradually returned to normal. Her cheeks weren't as hollow as how she first saw herself after the accident more than a month ago.

"Grandpa is relieved to hear that," Grandpa Kashino heaved a sigh, his eyes crinkled as he smiled happily. "It's alright for a young woman to gain weight as long as she's healthy. You don't have to starve yourself just so you could fit into the clothes you like. You still need to think of the health risk of being underweight or overweight."

"Alright, Grandpa. I'll listen to you," Shouko couldn't help but laugh. Grandpa had just come but he had started playfully nagging her.

Yet, her heart was full of sweetness and warmth hearing his words full of concern.

No wonder her husband turned up so fine, ah. Grandpa was a great man too.

Shouko and Grandpa Kashino had just turned around to enter the mansion when another car drove on the vast road leading to the main building. They paused their steps. Shouko's hands that wrapped around Grandpa's right arm stiffened as she recognized the faces behind the car windows.

They were here.

Grandpa sensed how rigid his granddaughter-in-law came to be once she saw the car. He gently patted her hands, signaling that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Two figures came out of the car. Shouko silently watched the familiar faces. It was really her father and stepmother. They appeared older than how she imagined.

From what she remembered since her youth, her father would be immaculate in his appearance, always looking younger than his actual age compared to his beer-bellied friends with bald heads.

In her stepmother's case, this woman frequented spa and beauty salon as if they were her second home. Her face never showed any sign of wrinkles and her hair would always be dyed jet black, leaving no gray hairs to be seen.

But, right now, it was an understatement to say they aged more than five years.

"En, Shouko..." Father Yuasa coughed in awkwardness to be stared openly like that by his estranged daughter, his eyes went to his daughter's tensed face before his gaze darted to somewhere else. "I didn't expect that... emm..."

"Do you really lose your memory?" A snarky voice sounded from behind Father Yuasa. Mother Yuasa smiled but as always it was filled with mockery.

Shouko took a breath. While her father seemed as if he wanted to treat her good, her stepmother remained vile with her as always.

Nothing had actually changed in these five years.

"We should go inside before we talk," Shouko calmly spoke each word, the anxiousness she felt earlier began to disperse. The soft light in her eyes changed into a cold one as she looked at Mother Yuasa. "You want to meet me, right? So let's be courteous to each other."

Mother Yuasa's smile froze. Her face instantly turned black.

Grandpa Kashino stifled a laugh. It was actually unexpected to see his granddaughter-in-law charged straightaway toward the vile woman. Shouko might lose her memory but the sense of confidence she grew throughout these five years had already been deeply embedded within her bones.

It seemed like he worried for nothing. Grandpa smiled joyfully, not giving a face toward the Yuasa couple's awkward look right now.

Shouko and Grandpa Kashino entered the mansion, followed by Old Toshio and the Yuasa couple. She faintly heard her stepmother grumbled in anger while her father tried to appease her.

She wondered why did the two of them want to meet her? She overruled the fact that they were actually worried about her. It was impossible.

They had ulterior motives.

The four of them sat in a drawing room. Shouko and Grandpa sat on one couch while the couple sat on another. Old Toshio brewed a pot of tea while Mai and Noriko brought freshly made desserts from the kitchen.

Everyone in the mansion knew how bad the relationship between their young madam and her parents so they couldn't help but feeling a bit angry to see this shameless couple came here. There was no smile on Mai and Noriko's faces. They stoically served the desserts before they silently retreated to the side.

Only Old Toshio who could keep smiling.

"How are you, Father and Mother?" Shouko placed both of her hands on her lap, directing her attention toward the couple sitting opposite her. "I'm sorry if I sounded rude but, I didn't expect to see you aged quite far compared to before."

"Cough... well, five years have passed so... it's inevitable."

Father Yuasa felt so suffocated right now. He assumed it would be easy to talk to his daughter after she lost her memory but his prediction was wrong. She still remained guarded around him, like she did after she got married to the heir of the Kashino family.

She was no longer his meek daughter whom he could easily push and pull with.

If it was like this, how could he try persuading over that matter?

"En, this old man shouldn't stay here any longer," Grandpa Kashino's voice suddenly broke the stillness. He looked at the confused Shouko before he added with a smile, "Grandpa came here to see Old Toshio too. I should let your family of three speak in privacy. After all, you must have a lot to talk about with each other."

"Grandpa..." Shouko was dumbfounded. She quickly closed her mouth when she noticed the subtle wink he threw her.

"Old Master, you haven't seen the oil painting that Young Master has recently acquired from an auction," Old Toshio said before Shouko could have a chance to speak to Grandpa. "I'll lead you to the second floor."

"Alright, let's go and see it," Grandpa brought both of his hands to behind his back, he straightened his shoulders as he looked at the Yuasa couple with a smile. "I'll leave you to speak to your daughter. It must have been quite hard for you as a father to know your child was involved in an accident."

"Ye... yes, yes! I'm worried," Father Yuasa flustered. He didn't miss the sarcasm laced in the old man's words but there was no way for him to refute. "Thank you, Old Master, for... allowing me to meet my daughter."

"Well, Shouko's presence is a blessing to our family. She's my dear granddaughter-in-law and beloved wife of my grandson," Grandpa turned to look at Shouko with a loving gaze. He raised one hand and gently rubbed her head. "So, of course, my grandson and I would give her the best of the best in everything."

Father Yuasa kept his mouth shut while Mother Yuasa had started biting her lower lip hard in anger. With just his words, the old man had successfully emphasized how important the young lady to his family.

In another meaning, if they dared to do anything to her, they had to be prepared with severe consequences.

Shouko watched Grandpa walked out of the room with gratitude filling her heart. She felt so safe and secure hearing Grandpa's declaration.

The lingering fear that she hid behind her calm facade disappeared completely.

Shouko properly faced the couple. The corners of her lips lifted up yet her eyes lacked any warmth.

"Why do you want to meet me, Father and Mother?" Her voice was clear as each word flowed out of her mouth, sounding poise to whoever who hear them. "Do you have something to tell me?"

Father Yuasa clenched his fists. This visit would be pointless if he couldn't force her to agree to his request.

But, how could he do it if he had received a silent warning from the old man?