Chapter 161 - Slow But Not Stupid (1/2)
”You're so silly. I already know that.”
Yanee was now so relieved. She had thought it was some other huge secret that would shock her.
”You do?” Tohru looked surprised.
”Why are you so shocked? I may be slow most of the time but I'm not entirely stupid,” she told him matter-of-factly.
”When did you find out?” This time, when relief had also washed over him, his curiosity took over.
He had thought he'd been very careful to hide his real identity not just to her but to everyone. He was curious to know how she found out.
”Back in Kyoto when you told me that your family is Arcus. But I only have suspicions then. But little by little it became clear,” she said and he was curious again.
”How?”
”Well, who's going to let someone randomly buy an entire company just to get a girl?” she asked teasingly making Tohru's lips twitch in amusement. ”It's either you're a spoiled rich son or someone in the position to do so.”
This time, Tohru laughed. ”So how did you know I'm not just a willful rich boy?”
”Are you a willful rich boy?” she countered making him pout.
”I asked the question,” he reminded her.
Yanee gave him an unimpressed look before answering. ”I did your interview, right? How can a low-key person like you who worked so seriously be a willful rich boy?”
Ah…
Tohru totally forgot about that. He didn't start at a high position at Niji after all. Even with his background, he started from the bottom up.
”When you told me that Niji took over Clover so you could get close to me, I already had an idea,” she said. ”But I confirmed it this morning when you were talking with Ami.”
”My conversation with Ami?” he was confused.
It appeared that he couldn't remember saying anything that might have given him away.
”Which part? I just said that I'm free at the moment,” he said as he tried to remember. ”And I'm not that busy since I already settled what I need to do at Arcus…”
His voice trailed off in a confused tone. It seemed until now he couldn't find anything strange with what he said. He didn't know how Yanee found out that he was not a mere substitute but the actual boss.
Yanee grinned. ”Don't think too hard. Just who in the world could change his working schedule like you do? Most people had to submit something and wait for approval before he could do something else. But you, you just decide and do what you want on the spot as if you don't have to answer to anyone. People who can do that are the ones on top.”
”Ah… but if I'm substituting for my dad that can be the case too. Why did you think otherwise?” He was curious.
This time, Yanee laughed. ”Marian mentioned Papa has retired and just hanging on for another year,” she confessed surprising the other.
”My sister has a big mouth,” he commented as his lips twitched in amusement. ”But it's better this way, I feel.”
Yanee nodded. There's no need to agonize about unspoken truths from now on. The two of them finally had a clear slate. However…
”Tohru…”she called out suddenly making Tohru look at her seriously.
Yanee hesitated a bit but not because she was thinking of whether to tell him something or not but because she wanted to find words that could express her thoughts well. She might be good at writing, but when it came to spoken words, she was not that articulate. She appreciated how Tohru looked at her, waited for her patiently until she could speak.
”I think I will return to Nagoya,” she finally said and he sighed but smiled as he took her hand in his and gave her a squeeze.