Yanagi Rina pressed her palms together with faux concern. "Unkai, it's already so late—why not stay the night?"
"You and Qianqian haven't met in ages. Talk, reconnect. Young people need… conversation."
She added that she herself slept early these days and slipped away, leaving Shō Unkai and Yanagi Kasumi alone in the lounge.Silence thickened; both felt awkward. Rina's meaning was obvious—patch things up.
Kasumi grumbled inwardly at her mother's haste, but when she dared a side-glance she caught Unkai staring too.
"Qianqian."
"Mm?"
"It's not early. Shall we go upstairs and rest?"
"Is that all you ever think about, Shō Unkai?"
"Ahem, of course not. Your mom was simply enthusiastic; it would be rude to reject her kindness. Besides, some matters are best… discussed in depth."
"Dream on!"
"Hey, what are you doing—let go! You jerk!"
"Ah—oof! Kasumi, you bite like a puppy!"
"I'll bite you to death so fewer girls get fooled!"
"All right, Fairy Liu, you refuse the wine and choose the penalty? En garde!"
Downstairs, Rina kept an ear to the ceiling.The thumps and shrieks sent a blush across her cheeks. "That girl… yelling so loud, afraid the neighbors can't hear?"
Exasperated, she pulled the blanket over her head.
That night Shō Unkai fought a pitched battle and held the field.
Morning sunlight filled the house.Unkai padded downstairs in slippers, yawning.
"You're up? Come, have breakfast," Rina called cheerfully.
He thanked her and dug into the simple spread. Rina asked nothing about her daughter—she herself hadn't fallen asleep until nearly four, so Kasumi was surely still making up for lost rest.
" Auntie, I'll return to Xinhan in two days and spend most of my time there. If you and Qianqian are free, visit. I'll take you around the Yuyao Archipelago and up Mount Kinabalu—learn our scenery and customs."
Hearing the invitation eased Rina's hidden worries. The prince clearly still cared. If her daughter's charm worked over time, a royal wedding was hardly impossible.
Unkai continued, "I heard Huayi has blacklisted Qianqian after we turned down their contract offer."
Rina nodded uneasily.
"Don't worry; Huayi's a clown." He slid over Ri Yō's card. "For any mainland resources, call him. If he can't fix it, he'll reach me."
He added, "Qianqian's too trusting. Please keep watch—the entertainment circle is muddy."
Message received: no intimate scenes. Rina accepted the card with a firm nod. "With me around, nothing will happen."
Unkai trusted her. Before he left, both Kasumi and Shishi would have professional bodyguards. Once the two actresses exploded in fame, they could draw tourists to Xinhan better than any commercial ad.
Two days later, after tireless "diplomacy," Kasumi's pride thawed and their relationship fully healed.
That morning the king himself called: Unkai was needed in Xinhan. Kasumi clung to him at the airport, reluctant to part.
On the way to the gate he briefed Ri Yō.
"Handle everything here. Beyond the acquisitions we discussed, buy Shengda, Jingjiang, and the other novel sites. Secure permanent, full rights to Ghost Blows Out the Light, Grave Robbers' Chronicles, and Zhu Xian—film, animation, merchandise, everything. Price doesn't matter. One million, ten million, even a hundred million dollars—just get them."
Those three IPs were vital. He envisioned animation and, above all, a tomb-raiding theme park: jungle ruins, rainforest thrills—perfect for tropical Xinhan. Add the built-in fan bases and future films, and millions would queue to visit.
BOARDING CALL
Time to build a kingdom of dreams.