Chapter 30: Her eyes were filled with longing for the Cullinan.

Page 1 of 3

It was four fifty in the afternoon. In spring, day and night were evenly balanced. The sun had not yet fully set, but the streets were already glowing with a riot of colorful lights.

Inside the bright, immaculate department store, Kitahara studied his reflection in the mirror.

Paying someone a visit naturally called for a decent outfit; otherwise, it would be difficult to convey the respect he felt.

Clothes made the man, after all. Kitahara was already handsome enough, and dressed in such fashionable clothes, he was practically impossible to fault.

Even the polite saleswoman beside him could not help praising him. “Sir, you really have wonderful features.”

“Are you a celebrity?”

Kitahara turned around and glanced at Rena Sakura, who sat on a nearby sofa staring blankly at him. He smiled. “If I ever get the chance, I might consider becoming an actor. I think I have a little talent for acting.”

Rena gazed at the stylishly dressed young man before her, a trace of envy in her eyes. The outfit Kitahara was wearing had cost five hundred thousand yen in total.

An ordinary employee at a major company earned only a little over three hundred thousand yen a month...

Several pieces of clothing on his body were worth that much. It was truly astonishing.

Without a doubt, this was the life Rena had always fantasized about—the life she wanted for herself.

Being able to buy luxury goods whenever she pleased, having people serve her wherever she went, and being admired everywhere she appeared.

“Though it does look a little too bright.” Kitahara glanced from side to side. “It doesn’t really suit my style.”

“I’ll bring you another set.”

The saleswoman smiled.

“No need. I’ll take these. Please ring them up.”

Kitahara casually handed over a bank card, and the saleswoman accepted it with both hands, her manner turning even more cordial.

If she handled him well, he could become her patron in the future.

Her sales figures would depend entirely on him.

She had to treat him well.

“You’re buying them even though you don’t like them?” Rena asked, swallowing nervously.

“As long as they’re wearable.”

His answer only made Rena more envious.

She had been born into a perfectly ordinary family. Getting into Fubei Daifeng Private School had taken all her own effort... Whether it was clothing or transportation, she had depended on handouts from her classmates—the boys who fawned over her—to catch glimpses of that dazzling world.

And now, this loser she had always looked down on had casually spent enough money to reach a level she had been unable to attain in all her first sixteen years.

I wish I could make him spend money on me...

Rena’s gaze was filled with longing for the Cullinan.

Seeing that expression on her face, Kitahara smiled as well.

The fish had taken the bait.

After striking someone, one had to offer a little sweetness.

Even a lovesick puppy had moments of hurt. If he kept bullying Rena, the pressure might eventually turn against him... He had to let her taste a little sweetness from time to time.

Of course, Kitahara had no intention of spending money on her.

Page 1 of 3

Money was meant to be displayed to women, not spent on them... Rather than make a gold digger like her happy, he might as well dress himself up.

“Here is your card. Have a pleasant evening!”

The saleswoman accompanied Kitahara all the way to the entrance, then said cheerfully to Rena, “You must be this gentleman’s girlfriend. You’re very cute too. You make a lovely couple.”

“Thank you...”

Rena lowered her head as she answered, while secretly stealing a glance at Kitahara.

He merely smiled and showed no intention of correcting the woman.

Rena’s heart gave a little leap.

Judging by his attitude, perhaps she really had a chance?

Then regret surged through her. Why had she failed to keep her true nature hidden back then...? If she had not gotten into that argument with Kitahara and had managed the relationship steadily, she could now have stood confidently at his side.

“If it’s about Teacher Matsuda’s interests, I think I know a little.”

After much deliberation, Rena finally made her move.

In a gentle voice, she said, “I really respect Teacher Matsuda. When I went to the office before, I made a point of asking around. He doesn’t seem interested in much, but he does enjoy a good glass of red wine... If you could buy him some fine red wine, Kitahara—no, Haruki-kun—he would surely be delighted.”

“Red wine?” Kitahara looked thoughtful.

“Yes. I heard that good red wine is beneficial to the body after you drink it. Why don’t we go and take a look?”

As though acting unconsciously, Rena took the initiative and slipped her arm through Kitahara’s. The movement was subtle, but in the eyes of others, they looked just like a couple.

“We can take a look.”

Kitahara followed Rena to a boutique specializing in red wine.

In Japan, minors were technically forbidden from purchasing alcohol under a specific law.

But customers were customers. What shop would turn one away?

The moment the store manager saw Kitahara dressed so smartly, with a young girlfriend clinging to his arm, he assumed he was some wealthy heir and hurried over to greet him warmly.

“Welcome. What can I help you with?”

“Wine. It’s a gift for my teacher.”

Even if Kitahara had said he intended to drink it himself, the manager would merely have pretended not to hear.

That way, everyone could save face.

“Does he have any particular preferences? Has he mentioned what types he likes? There’s quite a difference between various red wines.”

The manager looked to Kitahara for an answer.

Kitahara hesitated, then turned toward Rena.

She was completely lost. She had never even drunk wine herself. The only reason she knew this much was that she had used her looks to coax a boy from her class into finding out the information. How could she possibly know what their homeroom teacher liked?

“Do you have any recommendations?” Kitahara asked.

“If it’s for an elder and you want something that’s unlikely to disappoint, I’d recommend this bottle of Lafite...”

Rena glanced at the price and drew in a sharp breath.

Six hundred thousand yen.

Even as a gift, wasn’t that far too expensive?

She turned to Kitahara. He remained perfectly calm. After merely sweeping his eyes over the price, he said naturally:

Page 2 of 3

“Tell me about its advantages.”

That air of absolute confidence was truly captivating.

The manager explained. Kitahara listened.

Rena, meanwhile, kept studying his expression. No matter the circumstances, Kitahara never showed the slightest hint of fear. It was as if six hundred thousand yen were nothing more than the bottled water he bought every day.

If he wanted it, he could simply buy it.

After listening for a while, Kitahara shook his head. “Do you have anything else? If not, I’ll look somewhere else.”

“I have several other fine bottles here. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could take a look...”

“No need.”

Kitahara declined and led Rena out of the shop.

“Was the price unsuitable?” Rena asked, curious about why he had refused to buy it.

“The person was unsuitable.”

“Pardon?”

Kitahara snorted and explained, “He doesn’t have a good face. I don’t want to spend money on him.”

“What kind of reason is that...”

Rena was speechless for a moment. She had not expected Kitahara to be so obsessed with appearances.

But then her heart began to pound.

She was attractive, after all!

Should she try to get him to spend a little money on her...?

As they passed a women’s clothing store, Rena suddenly stopped. She tilted her face up toward Kitahara and said, “I’d like to go inside and look around. Is that okay?”

Her humble posture made her look exactly like a little dog wagging its tail.

Even the passersby could not help casting surprised glances at them. They could not understand why such a cute girl would act so submissively in front of Kitahara.

“Some other time.”

Kitahara paid no heed to her feelings.

“Okay...”

Even after being rejected, Rena did not lose heart.

She knew that rich men like this were accustomed to having the final say, with only themselves in their eyes... But it did not matter. If he rejected her once, could he reject her a second time?

And even if he rejected her a second time, there would still be a third and a fourth...

No matter what, Rena had ways to slowly guide Kitahara into spending money on her.

What happened next, however, was beyond her expectations.

Kitahara glanced at the name of the store and suddenly changed his mind.

“But since we’re already here, we might as well take a look.”

Page 3 of 3