Xinyi's Fake Boyfriend

With just a single day left, Yasushi and Jingliu prepared to journey to Yuwu, accompanied by Yunxue and Yinhaie. Yuwu, a small yet significant town, was renowned for its deep cultural heritage and robust agricultural industry. Its fields, rich with crops, and its traditions, steeped in history, made it a notable destination.

Yuwu, a town of notable size and significance, is distinguished by its rich cultural heritage and flourishing agricultural landscape. The town's name, "Yuwu," combines two characters that reflect its essence. "Yu" (jade) represents Yuwu's lush, fertile lands, known for producing some of the region's best crops alongside Mengyinhu. "Wu" (dance) captures the energetic community spirit, vividly showcased each year during the Jade Dance Festival.

The Jade Dance Festival is the heart of Yuwu's cultural life. Each spring, as the planting season begins and the fields reach peak fertility, the town becomes a lively stage. The festival transforms Yuwu into a center of activity, with people of all ages participating in traditional dances handed down through generations. These dances are more than performances; they serve as rituals to bless the crops and ensure a bountiful harvest.

Yuwu's architecture reflects its agricultural roots and cultural pride. Homes, featuring large verandas, provide sweeping views of the extensive fields. The town square, where the festival takes place, is decorated with banners in shades of jade and detailed carvings that depict the stories of Yuwu's founding families.

The town's extensive farmland, known as the Jade Plains, operates as a cooperative effort. Families work together, tending the land side by side. This spirit of cooperation extends beyond farming into every facet of life in Yuwu. The people believe that just as their dances require unity and coordination, so too does their everyday existence.

In Yuwu, the past and present are intertwined. The town thrives by balancing a deep respect for its ancient traditions with a forward-looking perspective.

+-+

"Have you received any new messages from Furuya?" Jingliu asked, leaning against Yasushi's shoulder as she looked at him. He was absorbed in his phone, and they were lounging on the plush sofa in one of the many expansive and elegantly decorated living rooms of their impressive home in Mengyinhu.

"Besides a handful of random photos and memes, not really. The latest text he sent mentioned that he was preparing for something and that he's getting some sort of 'training' from the staff at Xinyi's place," Yasushi explained. He unlocked his phone, opened the conversation with Furuya, and handed the device over to Jingliu.

Jingliu scanned through the messages, occasionally letting out a soft chuckle as she reviewed the stream of text and images. After a moment, she handed the phone back to him and remarked, "Most of your conversations with him are quite strange — lots of memes and strange stuff."

Yasushi shrugged, a hint of a smile on his face. "That's just how guys are; they tend to share a lot of random things. Anyway, I know we've made plans with Xinyi, but I want to make sure you're still okay with everything."

Jingliu let out a soft sigh, pressing her cheek against the back of Yasushi's head. "I'm fine with it," she said reassuringly. "It's only for a few hours. Xinyi appreciates your help, so stop asking. And no, if he asks you to kiss Xinyi, that's when we step in. But if he does make such a request, we already have a plan for handling it, don't we?"

"Yeah," Yasushi replied, still frowning. "But am I really expected to wear a suit for that meeting in this weather? Are they trying to make me miserable?" He sighed again, clearly exasperated at the thought of donning formal attire in the sweltering summer heat. "How do business people even manage it? It seems absurd when you think about it. Forget about formalities."

Jingliu chuckled softly at his discomfort. "Well, that's just how some families operate. From what we've gathered about Xinyi, he's like those 'Young Master' characters from those cultivation comics. So, you'd better do your best to get under his skin, record it, and use it to your advantage," she said, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Blackmail, huh? Well, I'm not completely opposed to the idea. It could be entertaining, but if he decides to retaliate through legal channels, that could turn into a real problem," Yasushi responded. He was also reflecting on the earlier issue they had dealt with earlier in the month.

There had been no further developments since then, and when Yasushi inquired about it with Heinz, all he received was a comforting response. "We're addressing the situation, and the parties involved are cooperating well since we have video evidence and multiple statements. If we need any assistance from you, we'll let you know." That was the extent of the information provided.

Jingliu continued, "Well, I think it's fair game. But remember, it's just a threat; we won't act unless he takes action first. In a way, we're on his turf. If he makes a move, we'll respond accordingly, but if he doesn't, nothing happens. It works out for everyone… and if he decides to cancel the engagement, that would be better than nothing, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, that sounds reasonable," he said, and the young couple settled into a comfortable routine for the rest of the day. They continued to unwind, enjoying the quiet and the ease of their surroundings, their earlier concerns temporarily set aside as they embraced the calm of the afternoon.

+-+

The following day, Yasushi was dressed and ready for their journey well before they needed to leave. They were scheduled to reach Yuwu by midday, so they decided to depart early to make the trip more relaxed. Accompanying Yasushi were Yunxue, Yinhaie, and, of course, Jingliu.

They boarded the train and made their way through the busy carriages to find their seats. Jingliu took the seat next to Yasushi, while Yunxue and Yinhaie positioned themselves across from them, preparing for the ride.

"I did some reading about Yuwu, and Furuya shared some information as well. It seems like an interesting place to visit," Yasushi remarked, glancing at the women. "I've heard it has a major focus on agriculture."

Yinhaie nodded and responded, "It's important to keep in mind that Mengyinhu's products are primarily for local use and consumption within the town. In contrast, the agricultural output from Yuwu is distributed more extensively throughout the country. While our local farms occasionally sell their goods beyond the immediate area, the majority of it stays within Yuwu and is sold locally."

Yasushi nodded along, absorbing every detail of Yinhaie's explanation. After a moment, he asked, "If the town relies so heavily on agriculture, does Xinyi's family play a role in supporting it? I figure they could have grown big on their own, but since they live there, it makes sense they'd be involved."

"Yes, that's correct. Although the Cheng family's work isn't directly tied to agriculture, they've been backing the family that manages the farm, even when it was smaller. Their support over the years has really paid off," Yinhaie replied, offering more insight into the town's dynamics.

Yasushi glanced at his phone, scrolling through more information about Yuwu. "And what about this Jade Dance Festival?" he asked, curiosity evident as he continued to explore the town's background.

Yunxue chimed in before Yinhaie could respond. "To sum it up, the locals believe that a goddess, along with an emperor from long ago, blessed the land, making it exceptionally fertile during springtime. The festival is their way of honoring that blessing. They perform a town-wide dance, among other rituals, to ensure the land remains fertile and to express their gratitude. While there are other ceremonies involved, it's this large-scale dance and the accompanying activities that draw tourists to the town every spring."

Jingliu chimed in, adding her perspective. "You could say they're not only honoring the goddess and the emperor but also using the festival as a way to boost their income. Tourists, after all, bring in revenue, and we've seen something similar with Ginsukimura's unique traditions."

Yasushi nodded, agreeing with the points they raised. As the train continued its journey toward Yuwu, the conversation naturally flowed into more detailed discussions about the town, its customs, and their thoughts on what might happen once they arrived. They exchanged thoughts on the cultural significance of the festival, speculated on how the town's history would shape their experience, and the situation with Xinyi.

+-+

Halfway through their walk into Yuwu, Yasushi caught sight of the sprawling home that belonged to Xinyi and her family. The structure stood out in its grandeur, yet the sheer size of the farmland surrounding it was what truly captured his attention. The farm stretched far beyond the one in Mengyinhu, its expanse dwarfing the surrounding landscape.

"It's a lot more subdued than I expected," Yasushi noted as they approached. "But I suppose that makes sense since it's not spring."

Yinhaie nodded, acknowledging his observation. "There are other festivals throughout the year, but it might be better to dive into those later. We did touch on them briefly during the train ride, but there's more to say."

They continued on, the conversation settling into a comfortable silence. Twenty minutes later, they found themselves standing before the imposing front gate of the Cheng family's residence. Yasushi approached the intercom system beside the gate and pressed the button.

A moment passed before a voice crackled through the speaker above the doorbell. "This is the Cheng family's residence. May I ask who is speaking, and how I may assist you?"

"I'm... Yasushi Futakao, and I'm here with Jingliu Yang, Yinhaie, and Yunxue. We have a meeting with Xinyi," Yasushi informed the person on the other end of the intercom.

There was a brief pause, then the voice responded, "Yes, you're on the schedule. I'll open the gates now." As soon as those words were spoken, the heavy gates began to slowly part, revealing the path ahead. Once fully open, the group stepped forward, continuing their approach to the residence.

The walk toward the house was lined with meticulously maintained greenery — neatly trimmed grass, artfully placed sculptures, and tall trees that cast long shadows across the pathway. The surrounding high gates, topped with spikes and monitored by CCTV cameras, were a clear deterrent for anyone foolish enough to consider intruding.

Their footsteps echoed in the relative quiet, the only sounds being the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. Yasushi's eyes wandered, taking in the surroundings, though he remained focused on the task at hand. It wasn't long before they reached the grand entrance of the home, the door swinging open almost immediately upon their arrival. Standing there, waiting on the other side, was Xinyi, her expression unreadable as she greeted them.

"Hey, glad you could make it. Mr. Young Master is already here, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet. He's been holed up in the meeting room for about ten minutes now, so...can we get this over with already? I've got Furuya and Catherine keeping him occupied for the moment, but Furuya's on the verge of losing his cool with this guy," Xinyi explained, letting out a long, frustrated sigh.

Without waiting for a response, Xinyi grabbed Yasushi's wrist and tugged him inside. The rest of the group trailed after them, falling into step as Xinyi led them to a separate room, with another door leading to the adjacent area. "That's the meeting room on the other side. You all can stay here and step in if things start to get out of hand, okay?" she instructed, and they nodded in agreement.

With that settled, Xinyi and Yasushi exited the room, making their way to the meeting room's entrance. She paused just outside the door, turning to face him with a soft smile as she gently patted his shoulders. "Alright then, are you ready for this, Mr. Boyfriend?" she asked, her cheeks faintly tinged with pink.

Yasushi let out a soft laugh, adjusting his tie as Xinyi helped him with the final touches. "I'm as ready as I can be, but fair warning — if he crosses the line, he might get more than just a verbal response," Yasushi said, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness that made Xinyi's lips twitch into an uneasy smile.

"I'll make a mental note of that," she replied, a slight tension in her voice. She paused for a moment, then pushed open the door and stepped into the room, Yasushi right behind her.

The meeting room, like the rest of the house, was lavishly decorated, exuding a sense of old money and tradition. To the left, Furuya and Catherine were seated on a plush sofa, their expressions guarded. Directly across from Xinyi, on another equally luxurious couch, sat the would-be fiancé and his maid, both exuding an air of superiority. Without hesitation, Yasushi and Xinyi moved to the sofa opposite the young man, and as soon as they sat down, Xinyi wrapped her arms around Yasushi's, leaning in close, a subtle display of affection that didn't go unnoticed.

The young man, with an air of arrogance, raised an eyebrow at the sight. "And who's this scruffy little rat? Your toy? What's the point of bringing him here?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain.

Yasushi's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he took in the young man's tone, but he managed to smirk back at Guo Tianyu. "Oh, so that's how it's going to be?" Yasushi said, his voice steady but edged with a hint of menace.

Xinyi let out a long, weary sigh. "Guo Tianyu, this is my boyfriend, Yasushi Futakao. Yasushi, this is Guo Tianyu, the fiancé that our parents have arranged for us," she introduced, her tone strained but composed.

Guo Tianyu's gaze hardened as he looked at Xinyi and Yasushi, his eyes narrowing with clear disapproval. "Boyfriend? I wasn't informed about this. You, having a boyfriend, and he looks like — this?" Guo Tianyu's voice dripped with contempt as he examined Yasushi. "He's got the clipped ears of a servant. This is your taste? Utterly beneath you. Are you out of your mind, Xinyi?" he said, his frustration evident.

His harsh words ignited Yasushi's anger and unsettled the others in the room. Yasushi's grip tightened into a fist, but he held his rage in check. "Coming from someone who's nothing more than a spoiled rich kid," Yasushi retorted, his grin widening as he watched Guo Tianyu's face flush with embarrassment and fury.

Xinyi's anxiety spiked as she realized the meeting was spiraling into an unwanted dispute, knowing that things could escalate further if not managed carefully.