Chapter Fifty-One: The Loyal and Brave Defenders of the Gate

Saturday morning.

Since Suzuna Tsukimiya had brought lunch boxes, Zi'ang Chen hadn't made breakfast. He simply helped his little sister wash up, then carried her to the wheelchair and pushed her outside.

On the street outside, Tonegawa Road, the driver from the Tsukimiya family had already parked the car.

Suzuna Tsukimiya stood gracefully by the rear car door, waving enthusiastically at Zi'ang Chen.

Today, Suzuna had changed into a new outfit: a white off-shoulder top held in place by slender halter straps, revealing her alluring shoulders and delicate collarbone. The sleeves were made of translucent chiffon, gathered at the elbows and blooming like flowers at the wrists, from which her fair, slender hands emerged, decorated simply with red string, highlighting the elegant air of an heiress.

Her lower half was clad in high-waisted jeans that perfectly accentuated her shapely legs. Feminine white strappy sandals revealed plump, delicate toes, each nail painted a soft pink reminiscent of peaches, glistening with a sweet, juicy luster.

Her hair was tied in a high ponytail with a single hair tie. Paired with this goddess-like attire, even Zi'ang Chen couldn’t help but steal a few glances before reluctantly tearing his eyes away, worried that once they got on the subway, she would inevitably attract a crowd.

Oh, but they came in a private car—then there’s no need to worry.

“I’ll help her into the car,” Suzuna Tsukimiya offered, approaching. “Senpai, you can put her wheelchair in the trunk.”

She supported Xiao Zhu Chen as she stood up, while Zi'ang Chen pushed the wheelchair around to the back of the car and deftly folded it up.

A middle-aged man beside him reached out to take the wheelchair and stow it in the trunk.

“I’m the young lady’s driver, Goro Emon,” he said, turning around and extending a hand to Zi'ang Chen.

“Hello,” Zi'ang Chen replied, reaching out, only to catch a flash of cold light—something slid from the man’s sleeve and fell to the ground.

It was a sheathed dagger.

“My apologies,” Goro Emon said, bending to pick it up with a smile. “As the young lady’s driver, I carry some defensive weapons with me to prevent any ill-intentioned individuals from approaching her. That's perfectly normal, isn’t it?”

Zi'ang Chen: …………

What exactly counts as an ill-intentioned individual? As a seasoned detective, I feel like you’re hinting at something here!

“Senpai!” Suzuna Tsukimiya rapped on the car door, calling out, “Once you’ve put everything away, hurry up and get in!”

“Oh, alright.” Zi'ang Chen nodded to Goro Emon and climbed into the car.

On the back seat, Xiao Zhu Chen sat on the inside. As soon as Zi'ang Chen got in, Suzuna squeezed in forcefully.

“Senpai, move over a bit! Give me some space!”

“You’re not sitting in the front?” Zi'ang Chen asked in surprise.

The front seat was empty, and the heater was on. My little sister and I are in the back, and you’re squeezing in with us instead of taking the front? Why?

“I like the back seat,” Suzuna declared with perfect self-assurance, boxing Zi'ang Chen in between herself and Xiao Zhu Chen.

Goro Emon settled into the driver’s seat, and in the rearview mirror, shot Zi'ang Chen a frosty look, though his tone was gentle: “If it’s too cramped, you can sit in the front passenger seat.”

Zi'ang Chen was about to reply, but Suzuna Tsukimiya pressed him back.

“No need, Uncle Emon. Senpai can stay here with us.”

Goro Emon fell silent, thinking to himself: Master, the Emon family has served the Tsukimiya family for generations. To share your burdens is my duty. Yet, with the young lady inseparable from this man, I have no chance to intervene!

Now the Tsukimiya household has only this one daughter. Judging by her attitude, she has already set her heart on marrying no one else but him. That makes him the future son-in-law of the Tsukimiya family.

I do not cling to life for my own sake, but to care for the young lady, the young master, and their future children—that is the way of a loyal retainer!

With this, Goro Emon felt a weight lift from his heart. He casually took the dagger from his sleeve and tossed it into the storage compartment beneath the steering wheel, then expertly pressed the accelerator.

The car sped onto the overpass, weaving skillfully through traffic. Whether changing lanes or overtaking, there was never a hint of delay or instability.

This Mr. Emon is quite the seasoned driver… Zi'ang Chen was thinking, when Suzuna Tsukimiya said beside him:

“Senpai, the tickets?”

“Oh, let me send you the e-tickets.” Zi'ang Chen took out his phone.

The moment he switched to the chat screen, Suzuna caught a glimpse of the contact nickname out of the corner of her eye.

[Good at Singing]—who is that?

Honestly, should I just blow up the Budokan?

But Zi'ang Chen had already opened the image and started sharing it, giving her no chance to see the avatar.

A message notification chimed. Suzuna glanced at it and feigned surprise: “Ah, these really are concert tickets. I heard they sold out three months ago and are now impossible to find online. Senpai, where did you get them?”

“They’re a thank-you gift from a case I handled a while back,” Zi'ang Chen replied.

“I see.” Suzuna smiled radiantly.

As they neared the Budokan on the overpass, traffic suddenly ground to a halt.

“Everyone’s getting off the overpass,” Goro Emon checked the traffic. “Miss, I can call for a chauffeur to take the car back, then get an electric scooter to take you to the Budokan. How about that?”

“No need, Uncle Emon,” Suzuna replied with a smile. “You can drive back. Senpai and I will walk.”

Goro Emon paused, then nodded. “Very well.”

This feeling, as if his teeth might shatter from the pain—surely this is how Master feels when he learns of such things?

For the young lady’s happiness, I will endure!

Zi'ang Chen retrieved the wheelchair. Suzuna helped Xiao Zhu Chen out of the car and settled her in it.

The two of them pushed the wheelchair along the shoulder. Their actions seemed to spark a kind of herd mentality—nearby taxis opened their doors, and many fans began to walk toward the Budokan as well.

Down the ramp, the road was utterly gridlocked. As they approached the Budokan, even the sidewalks were packed with people, the queue for ticket checks stretching all the way back from the entrance.

And this was only for ticket inspection, not for buying tickets!

The popularity of Maki Kiritani left Zi'ang Chen dumbfounded. Suzuna Tsukimiya, however, maintained a flawless, elegant heiress’s smile, her true thoughts unreadable.

Fortunately, it was just the entrance queue, so progress was steady, if slow.

Zi'ang Chen pushed Xiao Zhu Chen’s wheelchair and noticed four young men ahead, dressed in fan gear—likely university age—engaged in an intense discussion.

Their outfits were blue, modified from traditional garments. The left lapel bore “Kiritani,” the right “My Favorite”; on the back, “Maki” on the left, “The Best” on the right.

Their backpacks, bulging, were stuffed with glow sticks, fans, and rolled-up banners.

Isn’t this a bit much? Maki Kiritani is a singer, not some underground idol. Is such fanaticism really necessary?

Zi'ang Chen was still thinking this when, in the midst of their heated debate, the four suddenly started to scuffle.