Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
Hearing the noisy sounds from the other end of the phone, like firecrackers exploding, Jinno Sumire's heartbeat inexplicably sped up. After confirming everything was settled, she immediately hung up.
Putting her phone down, Jinno Sumire rubbed her brow.
Although asking Hikari to act as her fake husband had basically fooled her father Jinno Takashi, she had not expected that after meeting him, she would still have to invite him to the house for dinner and eat together with Jinno Takashi.
Judging by how eager Jinno Takashi was to get a grandson, after dinner he might even ask Hikari to stay the night at the Jinno house with her.
Thinking about all the things that would come after, Jinno Sumire could not help feeling a headache.
———
On the other side, at Hikari's House—
After putting down his phone, Hikari looked down.
The foreign beauty Arisa, who had just been shouting that she would fight him three hundred rounds this time, was now lying on the floor with lifeless eyes.
The newly bought shrine priest uniform had gotten stained with cream during their tussle and was torn in several places.
Hikari had originally wanted Arisa to get up and keep going, but seeing that she had turned into the shape of his favorite cream filled puff pastry, he let her off.
After tidying Arisa up a bit and sending her back to her room to rest, Hikari went into the bathroom alone to take a shower.
After washing himself clean and getting ready.
Night had already fallen. Looking at the hazy moon hanging in the sky, Hikari headed for the Jinno house again.
———
"Hikari-kun!", Arriving at the Jinno house on time, as soon as Hikari stepped through the gate he heard Jinno Sumire calling him.
"Sumire," Hikari smiled and nodded to Jinno Sumire as she walked toward him quickly.
"Good thing you made it on time," Jinno Sumire, who had been waiting by the door for several minutes, patted her full chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"I was a bit slow in the shower, but not late," Hikari said with a smile, looking at Jinno Sumire, who had changed into another outfit for the evening.
Maybe because she was eating at home and more relaxed, this usually cold and noble shrine priest was now wearing a loose white kimono. She looked more homey and elegant, with a lot more softness than usual.
But because Jinno Sumire's figure was simply too good and too full, even in a loose kimono, the wide collar was still stretched tight by her proud curves, heavy as if two watermelons were stuffed inside.
Her waist, lightly tied with a sash, was slender and delicate. Her hips were round and perky, and her legs long and tall.
Different from her usual noble and austere shrine priest aura, she now had a bit of a married woman's vibe, but either way she looked very alluring.
"Let's go, Hikari-kun. My father really hates people being late. Let's hurry to the dining room," After the practice from this morning, Jinno Sumire now skillfully looped her arm through Hikari's and led him inside.
"Okay," Feeling the soft touch against his arm, Hikari nodded and followed her.
.
.
.
After entering the bright and spacious dining room with Jinno Sumire, Hikari looked around a little.
Matching the huge grounds of the Jinno estate, the dining room was also lavishly decorated, clean and wide.
A large round table stood in the center, covered with dish after dish of food, everything from mountain delicacies to seafood. A few maids stood nearby with their hands folded, and Jinno Takashi sat in the main seat.
Seeing Hikari brought in by Jinno Sumire, Jinno Takashi immediately greeted him warmly, "Hikari-kun is here. Come, come, let's eat. Today you have to drink well with this old man."
"Alright, drink," Hikari said, sitting down next to Jinno Takashi with Jinno Sumire holding his arm, and she sat down as well.
Since he had agreed to help Jinno Sumire play her part, Hikari naturally would do it properly.
After all, Jinno Sumire had already paid him today, helping him take care of Aunt Miyuri, Aunt Sayako, and Arisa's needs.
"Come on, let's have a drink first," Seeing Hikari seated, Jinno Takashi smiled and poured him a glass.
"Drink," Hikari clinked glasses with him and downed it in one go.
"Good," Seeing him drink it all, Jinno Takashi also finished his and laughed loudly in satisfaction.
After setting his glass down, Jinno Takashi was about to refill and toast Hikari again, but he suddenly scanned the table and realized someone was missing. He frowned slightly.
"Sumire, where is Ai. Didn't you tell her that Hikari-kun was coming to eat with us today?", Jinno Takashi asked Jinno Sumire.
Jinno Sumire was just like a caring wife, picking up a piece of meat for Hikari and placing it in his bowl. Hearing Jinno Takashi, she answered calmly, "Ai? She said she has something to do today and might not be coming back to eat. She told us to go ahead."
Hearing that, Jinno Takashi frowned, "No matter how busy she is, she should come at a time like this. After all, you finally found another good man. And Hikari-kun will be her father from now on. No matter what, Ai should come have a meal together, right?"
"Little Ai is not young anymore. She might need some time to accept it. It's fine. There will be chances to eat together another day," Seeing Jinno Sumire not knowing how to answer, and Jinno Takashi still frowning, Hikari suddenly spoke up.
"Yes, there will be chances another day. No rush," Jinno Sumire added with a smile after Hikari smoothed things over.
"Alright then," Seeing the two of them in sync, especially that Hikari himself did not mind, Jinno Takashi did not say more.
In truth, Ai not coming to this dinner was something Jinno Sumire had arranged on purpose.
After all, other people in the Jinno household might not recognize Hikari, but her daughter Jinno Ai definitely would.
If Ai were here tonight, Hikari's identity as Jinno Sumire's husband would be exposed instantly. Ai would surely find this sudden wild dad very strange.
So Jinno Ai absolutely could not appear today.
Both Jinno Sumire and Hikari understood this.
So they had already planned for this situation.
Luckily, Jinno Takashi did not care that much.
Plus Jinno Sumire deliberately changed the topic, and soon the three of them were talking about other things.
Because Jinno Takashi suddenly suggested that Hikari and Jinno Ai meet, something both Jinno Sumire and Hikari absolutely could not accept, Hikari decided to change the topic and raised his glass to Jinno Takashi, "Father-in-law, come, another drink."
Jinno Takashi had been pulling him to drink all along. Hikari thought that in this atmosphere, Jinno Takashi would surely be happy to be toasted and keep drinking.
But to both Hikari's and Jinno Sumire's surprise, Jinno Takashi waved his hand and refused.
Jinno Takashi smiled and patted Hikari's shoulders lightly, "Alright, alright, no more drinking. It's not that I don't like drinking. It's just that too much alcohol harms the body. Hikari-kun, you should eat more dishes instead."
Hearing this, Jinno Sumire looked at her father in confusion. From what she remembered, Jinno Takashi liked drinking quite a bit, so it was strange that he suddenly stopped.
Hikari was also puzzled. Jinno Takashi had just said he wanted to drink heartily, yet now he was not drinking anymore.
And next Hikari noticed that not only was his cheap father in law not drinking, he was unexpectedly enthusiastic, constantly picking up food for him.
"Hikari-kun, come, come, these oysters are very fresh. I had someone specially send them over. They are big. Eat more."
"And these lamb kidneys, eat them. They are especially nourishing. You must eat a few more."
"Come, come, this one you really can't miss. Bull penis. Eat it, it will definitely make you powerful."
Seeing his nominal father in law stuffing dish after dish into his bowl, Hikari could not refuse and had to accept everything.
Jinno Sumire, who had planned to act as a loving wife and pick food for Hikari, was also stunned, because Jinno Takashi was picking food for him even more frequently than she was.
Looking at the several bowls in front of him already piled high, Hikari did not hold back and ate quickly.
But the more he ate, the more he felt something was off. His body felt kind of hot.
Do not misunderstand. It was not poisoning or Jinno Takashi drugging him.
This heat felt more like the rush of blood you get after eating highly nourishing food.
His constitution was already much better than normal people and his absorption was high, but even so, eating this much should not have been this strong.
"Worthy of being the man Sumire picked. Hikari-kun, you really can eat. Great. Eat more. This geoduck is also especially sweet and fresh," As he spoke, Jinno Takashi put another big one into Hikari's bowl.
Seeing another thick thing appear in his bowl, Hikari suddenly understood.
The reason his body felt hot halfway through was because everything Jinno Takashi had prepared for tonight's dinner was male tonics.
Good lord. No wonder this father in law had no airs and kept stuffing him with food.
Hikari reasonably guessed that Jinno Takashi wanted him to get a big boost tonight and then have a good match with Jinno Sumire.
But stuffing the son in law full of male tonics so he could go all out on his own daughter still felt very wrong.
Did he really want a grandson that badly.
Hikari could not help glancing at Jinno Takashi, who even winked at him.
Hikari was speechless.
"Hikari-kun, why are you not eating. Eat some more. These abalones are also very fresh," Jinno Sumire, not yet realizing her father's scheme, even picked a few more pieces of seafood for Hikari to play the loving wife.
Hikari said nothing and ate everything.
"Hikari-kun, what's wrong. Your face is a bit red," Seeing his expression after eating, Jinno Sumire was puzzled, maybe worried he would slip up in their act.
Hikari could not explain it, so he just said casually, "Maybe I'm a bit drunk. I've eaten enough. Thanks to the Jinno family head for the hospitality. Let's end it here. I'll head back."
"Okay, I'll walk you out," Hearing that, Jinno Sumire immediately came over and held Hikari's arm, ready to leave the Jinno house with him.
But Jinno Takashi suddenly stood up and blocked them.
"Wait. Hikari-kun, you are a bit drunk and you still want to go back. That's not very safe. How about you stay the night at the Jinno house."
"Well… that might not be convenient," Hikari said hesitantly.
Jinno Sumire also said, "Yeah, Hikari-kun he…"
But before she could finish, Jinno Takashi cut her off, "What's inconvenient. You and Hikari-kun have already established your relationship. He is basically our son in law now. If the son in law stays at the Jinno house, who would dare say anything."
"Alright, Hikari-kun will stay at the Jinno house tonight. It's fine."
Jinno Takashi's tone was firm. Hikari immediately turned to look at Jinno Sumire.
Perhaps afraid of revealing something to Jinno Takashi, Jinno Sumire helplessly nodded at Hikari.
Hikari also nodded, "Alright, then I'll stay at the Jinno house tonight."
"Haha! That's right. Hikari-kun, don't be shy," Jinno Takashi laughed loudly.
"I'll go have someone prepare a room for Hikari-kun," Jinno Sumire's eyes flickered as she prepared to leave the dining room.
But Jinno Takashi waved his hand to stop her, "Prepare what room. Sumire, just take Hikari-kun to your room to sleep. Your room is so big, it can fit two people."
"My Jinno Takashi's dignified son in law comes to the house and sleeps in a guest room. If that got out, people would think our Jinno family bullies him for being a kept husband."
Hearing that, Jinno Sumire's expression did not change, but her heart jumped hard.
She felt Jinno Takashi was still testing their relationship. Maybe it was because their performance at dinner had not been natural enough. After all, they were only pretending to be a couple.
This might have been noticed by the sharp Jinno Takashi, or maybe he had always suspected Hikari was a fake husband. In any case, he was still testing them, on purpose or not.
Or rather, testing her.
So at this moment, she had no real choice.
Jinno Sumire immediately put on a charming and slightly shy smile and nodded, "O-Okay. I thought that since we are not yet married, sleeping together at home was not very appropriate. But Father is right. I really should take Hikari-kun to my room."
Hearing this, Jinno Takashi nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "Exactly. Don't worry about this old man. In the Jinno house, just be like you normally are. If you should sleep together, then sleep together."
"After all, I'm counting on you to quickly expand the Jinno family line. In short, you two work harder and let this old man hold a grandson soon, alright."
"Sumire, at certain times you should give in more to Hikari-kun. And Hikari-kun, you should put in more effort and don't be too polite. Let Sumire get pregnant soon, understand?"
Jinno Takashi, who desperately wanted a grandson, did not even bother to hide it anymore and went straight at his daughter and son in law.
Hearing all this, Jinno Sumire had basically figured it out.
Her fake marriage act with Hikari was fake, so it was impossible not to have flaws.
Whether Jinno Takashi had noticed those flaws or not, from the looks of it, even if he had, he did not care.
Because to him, his daughter stubbornly refusing to find a husband to give the Jinno family a son was worse than her finding a fake husband.
So it was better to go with the flow and let Hikari and Jinno Sumire stay like this. As long as he could get a grandson, it did not matter whether Hikari was a real husband or not.
So after thinking it through, Jinno Sumire said nothing more and just smiled and nodded, "Yes, we will soon give Little Ai a little brother."
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