The Dialogue Between Suzuki and Her Daughter

Reading the newspaper wasn't enough for Sonoko, so she sat up and picked up the somewhat worn copy of "The Devotion of Suspect X" from the bedside table—a signed copy given to her by Lin Ran, with "No.1" written on the title page.

"Hehehe..."

The beautiful girl let out a laugh typical of perverts.

I couldn't help it, I just couldn't resist!

Every time she sees this signature, she feels as if Lin Ran has signed it on her—she has become his exclusive "No.1".

Looking at the book in her arms and then at the newspaper on the bed, Sonoko lay back down on the bed. She seemed to be thinking about something, and her cheeks grew redder and redder. Her fair legs unconsciously came together, and her toes curled slightly as she gently rubbed against the sheets.

"Waaah... Lin Ran..."

The bedroom door was gently pushed open.

A young woman wearing a beige dress walked in.

She was in her early twenties, with slightly wavy hair draped over her shoulders. She had a gentle demeanor, and what was most distinctive about her was her eyes, which were almost always slightly narrowed, as if they were smiling, making people feel friendly.

"Sonoko, are you reading these reports again?"

Ayako Suzuki's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Sister!" Sonoko was startled and quickly withdrew her hand, which had been unconsciously stroking the sheets. She sat up, her face flushed. "W-when did you come in?"

"just."

Seemingly unaware of her sister's suspicious actions, Ayako Suzuki walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, casually picking up a newspaper and browsing it with interest.

Compared to her lively, outgoing, and occasionally eccentric younger sister.

The older sister, Ayako Suzuki, perfectly embodies what a true "heiress" is—dignified, elegant, gentle, intelligent, well-mannered, and always wearing a smile that makes people feel like they're basking in a spring breeze.

"Is this the guy you like?"

"Um!"

Having her thoughts exposed by her older sister, Sonoko, though shy, bravely nodded. "Sister, isn't Lin Ran amazing? He's super handsome!"

"I can see that," Ayako Suzuki smiled. "To be able to publish a paper in the Journal of Symbolic Logic at the age of eighteen and solve a mathematical conjecture is indeed something that not everyone can do."

"Right, right!"

When her beloved was praised, Sonoko immediately perked up, snuggled up to her sister, took her arm, and began to list all of Lin Ran's good qualities:

Not only is she incredibly talented, but she's also gentle, considerate, and kind to her friends; moreover, her looks are absolutely flawless...

Seeing her younger sister's "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" expression, Ayako Suzuki smiled and patiently listened to her boast. This kind of thing had been happening frequently since her sister met someone she liked half a year ago.

They tried to hide it at first, but after being exposed, they simply stopped pretending.

"That's really impressive."

After listening to her sister boast, she said sincerely.

A great writer, a mathematical genius... such a combination would be dazzling anywhere.

Ayako Suzuki picked up the book "The Devotion of Suspect X," which her younger sister read every night before bed, from the bed. She flipped through it, her gaze settling on the title page, on the two names: "Lin Ran" and "Xia Mo."

"The garden."

"Um?"

Closing the book, Ayako Suzuki looked at her younger sister, who was tilting her head, and said gently, "I have a classmate reunion this weekend at a villa in Karuizawa. Would you like to invite Ran Lin to come along?"

Upon hearing this, Sonoko's eyes lit up: "Is that okay?"

"Of course," Ayako Suzuki said with a smile. "I want to meet him and personally vet him for you, to see what kind of boy could have our Suzuki family's second young lady so infatuated."

"Very good!"

Sonoko, who was worried about how to create more opportunities to spend time with Lin Ran, cheered when she heard that her older sister was willing to help bring them together. She rushed over and hugged her sister, "Thank you, sister! You're the best!"

"Alright, alright," Ayako Suzuki patted her sister's back. "Then remember to tell Lin Ran that if he has time, he can come along."

"Yes, yes! I'll definitely tell him!"

As she closed the bedroom door, Ayako Suzuki listened to her younger sister's joyful cheers from inside the room, a gentle smile curving her lips.

I walked down the spiral staircase and came to the living room on the first floor.

Unlike the girlish style of Sonoko's bedroom, the living room is decorated in a typical European palace style, which is gorgeous yet elegant. Under the huge crystal chandelier, an expensive Persian carpet covers the floor, and several valuable Impressionist paintings hang on the wall.

As soon as she came down the stairs, Ayako Suzuki heard a voice.

"How is it? How's the garden?"

It has a languid quality with a unique magnetism, like aged red wine.

On the sofa, a beautiful woman wearing a dark purple silk robe was lounging lazily, propping her head up with one hand. A beauty mark at the corner of her eye added to her charm.

The collar of the bathrobe was slightly open, revealing a faint curve.

Her exquisite body, wrapped in a blouse, was voluptuous and alluring, with a mature charm that could make any man's blood boil. But when her eyes opened, they were so sharp that no one dared to look directly at them.

Tomoko Suzuki, the head of the Suzuki Group, the empress of a business empire.

She is also the mother of Sonoko Suzuki and Ayako Suzuki.

Hearing her mother's words, Ayako Suzuki sat down on the sofa opposite her and replied, "Sonoko really likes that boy. I invited him to my class reunion this weekend so I can meet him in person."

"Really?"

Tomoko Suzuki lowered her eyebrows slightly, seemingly half asleep and half awake, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest beside her, lost in thought.

Without disturbing her mother's thoughts, Ayako looked at the table in front of her.

Several newspapers were spread out on the table, all about the boy named Lin Ran.

"Chinese prodigy solves mathematical conjecture"

"The mayor and ambassador jointly offered their congratulations, and Lin Rancheng became a symbol of friendship between the two countries."

The titles were all eye-catching.

In addition, there was another report: "World's top mathematicians speak out: Mathematics should not be politicized..."

The report mentioned that a group of internationally renowned mathematicians publicly spoke out in support of Lin Ran and condemned the attempts by certain media outlets to politicize academic achievements.

Anyone with eyes can see that this is China's counterattack.

In fact, both mother and daughter were well aware that Lin Ran was not only a genius mathematician but also a renowned writer. In fact, the order to have the Japanese media hype Lin Ran was personally given by Tomoko Suzuki.

What do you think of Lin Ran?

Suzuki Tomoko suddenly spoke, her eyes still half-closed.

"I?"

"After all, that could very well be your brother-in-law."

Ayako Suzuki thought for a moment and said seriously, "She is very outstanding. Her literature and mathematics have reached a level that is difficult for ordinary people to achieve, and... she has a lot of integrity."

"Integrity?"

"When that foreign reporter gave him a hard time today," Ayako Suzuki said, "his response was neither servile nor arrogant, upholding the dignity of his country without embarrassing Japan. This sense of propriety is unlike that of an eighteen-year-old."

"Indeed, that child is extraordinary."

Tomoko Suzuki finally opened her eyes, looked at her gentle and dignified eldest daughter before her, and sighed softly:

"Yes, I'm afraid you'll have to go through that."

Ayako Suzuki understood the meaning behind her mother's words.

The Suzuki family has only two daughters in this generation, and their vast family fortune cannot be handed over to others; someone must inherit it.

The original plan was for her to go out and get married, while Sonoko stayed behind to find a husband—a capable but not too domineering man who could inherit the family business without threatening the Suzuki family's control.

But now, that plan has been disrupted.

Lin Ran is too outstanding.

He's so outstanding that it's impossible for him to marry into the family.

If it were just a bestselling author, there might still be room for negotiation, but now that the other party has clearly demonstrated equally outstanding talent in another field, it's not a good idea to have him marry into the family.

Scholars have their own integrity

Moreover, the other party has supporters backing them, so they cannot be forced.

Therefore, if Sonoko and Lin Ran were truly in love and got married, it would most likely be Sonoko "marrying out" rather than Lin Ran "marrying in".

Ayako Suzuki lowered her head and said softly, "I understand."

She had to stay, giving up the possibility of a marriage based on personal feelings, to find a suitable son-in-law to live with her family and ensure that the family empire would not change hands.

She had no complaints about her sister's happiness.

Suzuki Tomoko looked at her daughter, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes, but then she slowly closed her eyes and resumed her languid posture.

This is the fate of heiresses from wealthy families.

Ayako Suzuki did not refuse, express dissatisfaction, or resist her mother's words; she simply accepted the fact calmly without any emotional turmoil.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the sensible eldest daughter.

She had to excel in everything – academics, etiquette, business management, interpersonal skills – because she represented the Suzuki family and knew her responsibilities.

Ayako Suzuki's gaze returned to the newspaper on the coffee table, settling on Lin Ran's spirited photo. She couldn't help but think of how her sister's eyes were filled with him when she mentioned him.

Love...

She hasn't experienced it yet, so she doesn't know what it feels like.