Being called cute by Luo Shu, Ai Hayasaka first widened her eyes, then put on an expression that didn't match her words as she murmured:
"Me cuter than Lady Kaguya? Please don't say such misleading things!"
Looking at the bashful girl, Luo Shu's first thought was how impressive her acting was.
That sudden mix of surprise and delight, along with that tsundere-like denial that didn't match her true feelings - it all seemed so completely natural.
If Luo Shu didn't know the truth about the girl before him, he might have been completely fooled.
Was this what Zhang Wuji's mother meant by 'beautiful women who can lie'?
He was truly getting an education here.
Witnessing this pure maiden act - albeit a fabricated one - still brightened Luo Shu's mood considerably.
In his improved spirits, Luo Shu naturally let his guard down when speaking:
"Compared to that multi-personality Kaguya raised under imperial education, a straightforward attendant like you is definitely more appealing."
Imperial education? Multiple personalities? Ai Hayasaka's heart nearly leapt out of her chest at these descriptions.
Because they matched almost exactly with her own private assessment of Kaguya Shinomiya.
Did Luo Shu know about Kaguya Shinomiya? Had he been investigating Lady Kaguya?
And if he's investigating Lady Kaguya, then what about me...
In an instant, Ai Hayasaka realised the flaw in her earlier performance.
But before she could react, Luo Shu continued:
"Would you like me to deal with Oko Shinomiya for you?"
Ai Hayasaka's expression froze momentarily.
Seeing the girl's genuinely stunned reaction, Luo Shu couldn't help but smile:
"What? Having second thoughts? You should know today is a rare occasion when I'm in a good mood."
"If you miss this opportunity, the next one might be hard to come by."
Hearing this, Ai Hayasaka finally composed herself. She stopped pretending to be an innocent maiden, nor did she maintain her usual maid persona; instead, she asked calmly:
"If Lord Oko were to pass away right after Lady Kaguya made contact with you, it would raise suspicions within the main family."
"Although the Shinomiya family philosophy is to seize everything, they wouldn't accept a family head who rose to power by killing siblings."
"Family head?" Luo Shu paused, then showed an amused smile: "Did you think I intended to help Kaguya Shinomiya become head of the Shinomiya family to control the Shinomiya conglomerate?"
Isn't that the case? Though Ai Hayasaka didn't voice it, her eyes clearly conveyed the thought.
Seeing Ai Hayasaka's subtle expression, Luo Shu suddenly burst out laughing:
"Gan'an Shinomiya has consistently refused to take a paternity test with Kaguya Shinomiya in front of the family elders. Why do you think that is?"
Ai Hayasaka's eyes widened at this.
The family head refused a paternity test with Lady Kaguya?
How could such an absurd thing happen?
It wasn't that Ai Hayasaka didn't trust Luo Shu, a man whom Oko Shinomiya would go so far as to offer his own sister to, and who must be one of Japan's most influential figures.
The probability of such a person deliberately lying to a mere maid was minuscule.
But if that were true...Then... whether Kaguya Shinomiya is truly a child of the Shinomiya family... would become a massive question mark.
And if she isn't a child of the Shinomiya family... then... wouldn't Kaguya Shinomiya have absolutely no claim to inheritance whatsoever?
Once this conclusion was reached, the previous speculation—that controlling Kaguya Shinomiya would allow Luo Shu to infiltrate the Shinomiya family—became nothing more than a castle in the air.
Having sorted this out, Ai Hayasaka finally couldn't hold back and asked:
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu understood that Ai Hayasaka was now speaking to him truthfully.
He thus smiled, his mood rather pleasant as he replied:
"Though I was quite pleased when Oko Shinomiya sent you over, his reach has grown a little too long."
Luo Shu then said casually, "Go back and tell Oko that from now on, everything belonging to the Hayasaka family now belongs to me."
Ai Hayasaka fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. Rather than avoiding Luo Shu, she directly took out her phone and sent a message to Oko Shinomiya.
Not long after sending the message, she received Oko Shinomiya's reply.
Luo Shu, sitting across from her, glanced at the boiling kettle before turning back to see Ai Hayasaka's stunned expression.
He didn't even need to think to guess Oko Shinomiya's answer.
Acknowledging the bald man's tact, Luo Shu quietly sheathed the metaphorical blade in his heart before teasing Ai Hayasaka:
"Aren't you going to greet your new lord?"
Yet Ai Hayasaka didn't move. She simply stared at Luo Shu with reddened eyes and whispered:
"Oko Shinomiya has agreed to your demand... and has invited you to dinner on the evening of the 14th, the day after tomorrow."
Luo Shu didn't respond. He merely watched Ai Hayasaka, his expression tinged with amusement.
Understanding what Luo Shu was waiting for, Ai Hayasaka felt an indescribable complexity, as if she'd just escaped a wolf's den only to fall into a tiger's mouth.
The sudden change left her utterly bewildered.
How had she been handed over like this after just their first meeting, during what should have been the tentative beginnings of romantic exploration?
Being transferred to Luo Shu, with the Hayasaka family now under his name—how was this any different from before?
It was simply exchanging Oko Shinomiya for Luo Shu.
And possibly worse, since at least Oko Shinomiya hadn't demanded her body, whereas Luo Shu clearly had carnivorous intentions from the moment he arrived!
At Ai's silence, Luo Shu couldn't help but laugh:
"I only need the Hayasaka family nominally under me, causing no trouble—that's enough."
"Isn't that quite a generous offer?"
His words made Ai's expression twist further. Was he forcing her hand?
"As for you personally, whether you prefer staying by Kaguya Shinomiya's side or elsewhere, as long as you're subordinate to the Hidden Management Department—to me—I have few demands in that regard."
"A good deal, no?"
Hearing this, Ai finally couldn't resist asking:
"I shouldn't be worth this much, should I?"
Apart from being raised as a maid in the Shinomiya household since childhood and mastering those skills, she couldn't fathom what value she held to warrant Luo Shu's actions.
In response, Luo Shu calmly produced a Familia contract, stating plainly:
"Sign this, and you'll understand your worth."
He added:
"Let's get along well from now on, Ai~"
Looking down at the contract that had somehow appeared in Luo Shu's hand and was now being offered to her, Ai numbly picked up the pen.
A strange sensation suddenly struck her.
This scene... almost felt like a successful matchmaking meeting?
Was she imagining things?
Amidst confusion and unease, Ai's pen touched paper...