After singing the school anthem, the Goda baseball team removed their caps and bowed to the teachers and students who had come to support them.

They shouted, "Thank you very much!"

Thirty thousand spectators erupted into enthusiastic cheers.

This game was filled with shouts, fervor, tears, emotions, youth, and dreams, satisfying their wonderful ideals about Koshien.

"I never knew Mr. Dubian had such a side to him. I always thought he was a gentle and humble man, neither servile nor overbearing," Mrs. Jiutiao swayed her fan, "Meiji, have you ever seen this side of him?"

Jiutiao Meijie watched the young man on the field, "I kind of guessed it."

"Guessed?" Mrs. Kiyono asked curiously.

"I can sleep next to him without any clothes on, and he would still insist on running every morning," Jiutiao Meijie said, "This extreme self-discipline, having an unknown and even fearsome side, is only natural."

"Maybe he's just too tired at night to think about that kind of thing in the morning?" Mrs. Kiyono teased with a smile.

Jiutiao Meijie's lips curled, but she said nothing.

The two ladies exchanged glances and laughed together, with Jiutiao Meijie wearing a very confident smile.

It seems Mr. Dubian is quite strong in that respect— the two affluent ladies reached an implicit understanding.

"This summer is going to be fun, witnessing Mr. Dubian's triumph at Koshien," Mrs. Kiyono said with anticipation.

Then she suddenly sighed, "It's a pity that we had to give up the yacht trip we'd planned, and we were going to go to Karuizawa for the summer retreat."

"You should be thinking about learning how to bark now," Mrs. Jiutiao reminded her.

"It didn't slip by unnoticed?" Mrs. Kiyono asked in surprise.

"Bark then."

"...Don't look at me, I suddenly feel a bit shy," Mrs. Kiyono said, touching her cheek bashfully.

Dubian Che didn't join the baseball team to collect the medals. He slipped away from the stadium and made his way to the VIP seats.

Walking in the corridor, he reflected on the recent events.

Sansong High School's baseball team was in tears, their dreams shattered by him, filled with frustration and regret.

Although he felt very sorry for Sansong, he wasn't feeling much guilt—had he not played, it would have been Goda crying now, and some other school rejoicing.

It was something he shouldn't have done, but he wanted to do.

What about other matters?

Were there also things that he shouldn't do, but wanted to, and wouldn't regret after doing them?

...On the day of the family trip, for the first time in his life, he almost cried that night.

But...

Dubian Che walked expressionlessly, his handsome face radiating confidence, devoid of any trace of humanity.

Occasionally, spectators in the corridor recognized him, wanting to greet him or ask for an autograph, but hesitated upon seeing his expression.

Around half-past three in the afternoon, the sun was still fierce, casting shadows across his forehead.

Upon reaching the VIP seats, his expression came back to life.

"The king returns," he said with a smile.

"Woof," Mrs. Kiyono said, making a paw with her hand and placing it against her cheek, giving a cute look.

"..."

"Woof, woof!"

"Did you see my pitching? And the home run that broke the electronic screen, turning the game around, even ten years later, the thirty thousand people present will remember it vividly."

"You're pretending you didn't see?" Mrs. Kiyono said incredulously.

"You're too cute; I couldn't bear to watch."

"That's more like it," Mrs. Kiyono said both content and a little pitifully, "It's all your fault, Mr. Dubian. If you keep ignoring me, I'll be heartbroken."

Her neatly trimmed short hair was full of style, not at all suited for coquetry. Regrettably, she was so beautiful; anything worked.

"By the way!" Mrs. Kiyono clasped her hands gently, "Let me congratulate you in advance on winning Koshien."

"I don't plan on participating in Koshien."

"Why?" Mrs. Jiutiao asked in surprise, "With your skills, Mr. Dubian, as long as there are no accidents, you're certain to win Koshien."

"I've thought through an issue," Dubian Che pointed seriously at his temple.

"Hmm?" The four of them looked at him.

"I was born above others; why should I go out of my way to prove it to anyone?" Dubian Che feigned confusion.

"Like a company's president won't deliberately compare salaries with the employees?" Jiutiao Meijie said.

"Exactly!" Dubian Che walked behind her and squeezed her shoulders, "Meiji understands me."

"Such noble demeanor," Mrs. Jiutiao covered her lips with her fan, her voice laced with laughter, "Then forget it. Koshien is just a project for making money."

"Let's go on a trip tomorrow then. I'll have the yacht brought over, and also get Karuizawa ready. Do you prefer a forest villa or a lakeside villa?"

"I haven't stayed in either, so either would be fine," Dubian Che said, his hands still on Jiutiao Meijie's shoulders.

From the moment Dubian Che said he wasn't participating in Koshien, Kiyono Lin had been watching him.

"An indecisive man," she said.

Upon hearing her words, the two ladies suddenly laughed, a look of amusement in their eyes.

Jiutiao Meijie enjoyed Dubian Che's massage, expressionless.

"...Choosing a villa is not worth hesitating over," said Dubian Che nonchalantly.

A Tokyo woman who likes to speak with veiled criticism!

Leaving Shengong Stadium, they had dinner at a French restaurant.

The variety of cold dishes, foie gras, abalone, and caviar were uniquely flavorful.

The five of them agreed to meet at the Kiyono family's palace-like villa tomorrow, and take the yacht for a trip.

After dinner, as night had fallen, Dubian Che and Jiutiao Meijie went together to Shinbashi by car.

The car was silent. Jiutiao Meijie propped her leg up, elbow resting on the car door, tapping her temple with her fingers.

She seemed very relaxed, as if today had been a very pleasant day.

"I didn't play just because of Kiyono's words," Dubian Che confessed voluntarily.

Jiutiao Meijie didn't even glance at him.

"At the time, I really wanted to help Goda. If they hadn't worked hard and lost, then so be it, but they had trained harder than anyone else. I couldn't let all their effort from childhood to now be wasted just because of a heat stroke, so..."

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