"How's your treatment?"
Tsubaki arranged the flowers that she got from Miss Aigasaki, the florist next door. It was a get well soon gift from her to Satsuki. Her younger brother was lying in bed with a thriller book in his hands. Ren went outside to meet Toshiro.
"I'm good. But the food and pills... I don't want to talk about it." He groaned in frustration.
Tsubaki playfully knocked his head. "Don't skip on your medication if you don't want to stay in the hospital any longer."
"Awww.... sis. Can't you just get me discharge right now?"
"No." Tsubaki refused.
Satsuki pouted. He closed the book and stared at the white ceiling. Ren requested for him to stay in a VIP room. It was indeed spacious and comfortable but he still felt helpless over his long stay in the hospital. After some time, the door was pushed open, a tall figure appeared. Satsuki's eyes lit up as he saw his saviour.
"Bro! Tell your doctor friend to discharge me right now!"
Ren stared at Satsuki's expectant face in confusion before he caught the point. He turned to Tsubaki. His wife pursed her lips, shaking her head slightly.
"Sorry, kid. My wife has the final say." Ren replied.
It meant that, even if Toshiro said he could be discharged already but Tsubaki still refused it, he would force Satsuki to stay longer in the hospital.
While Tsubaki smiled shyly but in satisfaction, Satsuki stared directly to Ren with eyes full of disdain. Traitor!
"It's late already. We should head home." Ren smirked at his brother in-law.
"Go to sleep, Satsuki." Tsubaki grabbed her bag before patting her brother's head. "We will see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah." Satsuki could only admit defeat. "See you tomorrow."
After finishing his work, Ren picked Tsubaki up and headed straight to the hospital. As both of them hadn't had dinner yet, he stopped his car near a family restaurant.
"I don't think you want to eat the fancy food make by the Michelin star chefs so I bring you here." Ren said as he unbuckled his seat belt.
"You're right. Thank you." Tsubaki didn't deny it. She loved to taste what the chefs had to offer but she didn't like to eat it frequently. Then, she stared at Ren. "But could you eat food in a place like this?"
Ren laughed. He playfully pinched her nose. "I even frequented the food trucks selling street food. It is convincing enough?"
"Okay. I believe you." Tsubaki giggled.
The 24 hours family restaurant was quite packed with the patrons. They had to wait for five minutes before a waitress ushered them to a table for two. Ren chose kitsune udon while Tsubaki opted for soba noddle salad. They picked tempura as a side dish, alongside two cups of hot green tea.
"I've already told Grandma about introducing you to her." Ren loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar. He placed his folded jacket on the seat. "She wanted to meet us over lunch tomorrow but I said we have something else to be done. So, we will have dinner with her the day after tomorrow."
"Do you plan something?"
Ren smiled mysteriously. "I want you to go somewhere with me tomorrow. Could you free your schedule? Or do you need to go to your bakery?"
"I took this week off for Satsuki's surgery. Where do you want to go?"
"It's a secret." He winked. His handsome face softened. "Don't worry, I think you'll love it."
Tsubaki couldn't fathom what he was thinking so she just nodded. Just then, his phone rang. Ren looked at the caller ID. Akashi. He frowned, sensing bad news coming in his way.
"Please excuse me. It's work." Ren said apologetically before picking up the call.
"It's okay." Tsubaki nodded in understanding. He went outside the restaurant.
She stared at the back of the man standing under the street light. She couldn't deny how charismatic he looked even when he just standing still. She wondered how he would look like when he chaired a meeting. Knowing Ren, he would only show his icy cold face to his employees. For sure she didn't have the guts to work under a domineering boss like him. She giggled at the thought of his poor employees.
"What are you laughing at?" Ren's deep voice resounded right beside her ear.
Tsubaki flinched and looked up, didn't realise that he had came inside. She coughed awkwardly when she saw his smirk. He looked so devilishly handsome under the lights, coupled with his tailor-made suit and his unique aura, he earned quite a few admiring looks from the ladies around him. She even noticed some had even looked at her in jealousy.
"Sit down!" Tsubaki pulled his hand and forced him to sit.
Ren pressed his mouth but she could still hear his laughter. Daringly, she asked, "Do you want to know what I'm thinking?"
"What is it?" Ren raised one of his eyebrows, looking amused.
Tsubaki leaned in. She supported her chin with her right hand. Smiling, she said, "I wonder how pitiful your employees are when you only show them your cold side. It must be stressing."
Ren chuckled. "I compensate them well with their monthly paychecks. And it's only because I don't want to make a certain someone jealous if I treated them gently too. What if they fall in love with me?"
Tsubaki gritted her teeth.
Is this man so clueless about his face? Regardless of how you act, they would still fawn over you!