"What's so impressive?"
Ayano Kannagi blinked, looking at Luo Shu with a dazed expression.
Luo Shu had no intention of explaining his sarcastic remark and instead asked Ayano:
"I'm a bit curious, Ayano, where did you get the appearance intel about the Director of the Hidden Management Department?"
He emphasised the words 'appearance intel', with just a hint of gritted teeth.
Who the hell was spreading such vicious rumours?
What was this about an ugly, short-sighted, fat guy? That was pure slander!
"The intel came from Akihabara."
Ayano was slow to react, completely missing the tone in Luo Shu's words:
"My friend in Akihabara heard that the Director of the Hidden Management Department specifically recruited lots of women into his department."
"The key point is, in a department full of women, this Director is still single—and reportedly a virgin!"
"Tell me, what kind of thoughts would a virgin boss who desperately pulls women into his department have? Obviously that kind of thought!!"
"So, my friend told me the Director probably has poor conditions—like being fat, short-sighted, or some creep who'd do nasty things with women's underwear... Are you even listening?"
"...I am, sort of?"
Luo Shu was stunned. He numbly picked up his tea and took a sip.
The tea was the shop's house blend, slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste—but Luo Shu wasn't in the mood to enjoy it.
'What the hell was all this?'
'Him?'
'A virgin and single?'
'Recruited a bunch of female subordinates, but couldn't get a girlfriend?'
'Then got suspected of being defective or a pervert?'
'Where did this nonsense even come from?'
'Where's my damn sword?'
Noticing Luo Shu's bewildered expression, Ayano frowned:
"You seem really shocked. Is the rumour wrong?"
"...Very wrong." Luo Shu could only say this: "How do I put it... I—no, I mean the Director of the Hidden Management Department."
"First, he's not fat. He's 178cm tall, weighs around 70kg—a normal build. Not short-sighted either. And most importantly... he has a girlfriend?"
"Huh?"
Ayano was stunned, as if hit by a major revelation.
"He has a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, and he's playing the field."
Luo Shu didn't hold back when criticising himself, saying indignantly:
"Not only is he intimately involved with multiple women in the department, but word is the Director of Intelligence is also his lover. And apparently, he's even dating the Supreme Chairwoman!"
"He might not be a pervert, but he's definitely a scumbag who can't keep it in his pants!"
"That's completely different from the outside intel, isn't it?"
"Uh... You sound really bitter about this?" Ayano hesitated, eyeing Luo Shu. "He's your superior, you know. Badmouthing him behind his back isn't great."
"I've said it to his face!" Luo Shu blinked, grinning. "If you're gonna talk shit, you gotta do it to their face to really enjoy it!"
"...You're something else." Ayano's lips twitched, feeling a grudging admiration for Luo Shu.
She wouldn't dare speak ill of her father to his face, yet Luo Shu dared say bad things about his superior right in front of him... That did take some courage.
"But weren't you bullied for saying bad things to his face?" Ayano Kannagi asked with concern.
Though they had met only a few times, Ayano considered Luo Shu a friend. Naturally, she'd worry if her friend was being bullied by his superior.
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately denied it: "That wouldn't happen. Our Director wouldn't bully me."
"Then he must be quite nice!" Ayano looked surprised.
For a superior not to get angry when subordinates speak ill of them to their face - that did suggest good temperament.
Ayano had seen many two-faced people who acted pleasant in person but spread rumours or made trouble behind others' backs.
Having encountered so many bad people, she found the Director of the Hidden Management Department rather genuine.
If you've done bad things, you shouldn't fear others talking about them!
"...Wait, whose side are you on anyway?" Luo Shu gave Ayano a helpless look. "Your father wants you to go on a blind date with a guy who's dating multiple women simultaneously!"
"But... that doesn't seem like a big deal?"
Ayano spoke hesitantly.
This response stunned Luo Shu.
"Your Director openly dates multiple women, and they all know about each other's existence?"
"Ah... yes, that's correct." Luo Shu felt something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Meanwhile, Ayano grew increasingly animated:
"If everyone knows about it, then there's no problem. The women accept this arrangement, so as an outsider, I naturally have nothing to say."
"While dating multiple people is indeed tasteless, that's only when it's hidden, right?"
"If there's no concealment, then morally there's no issue - after all, that's just what they prefer!"
"Though having so many women is rather troublesome. My father would never let me become someone's concubine, even though I do have several aunties myself."
Ayano rubbed the back of her head with an awkward smile.
"Aunties?" Luo Shu latched onto the sensitive term, asking in surprise: "Do you mean aunties in the sense I'm thinking?"
"Yes, my father's concubines - three of them."
Ayano remained completely calm before adding:
"I also have several half-siblings, though their talents aren't great, so they don't dare play with me."
"In my family, the only man with just one wife is probably Uncle Genma? That's quite rare for a man, isn't it?"
'Miscalculation - this girl comes from an aristocratic family, and an old-fashioned feudal one at that...'
Luo Shu finally understood the issue.
Ayano was born into an environment where her father had multiple concubines. Having grown up like this, she naturally viewed such matters differently.
Considering this, Luo Shu couldn't help asking: "So you wouldn't mind going on a blind date with our Director?"
"I absolutely would mind!"
Ayano's expression instantly changed as she declared seriously:
"I would mind very much!"
"Why should I have to go on a blind date with someone I don't even know? Why can't we just find someone to marry into our family instead?"
"It's not like I can't take in a husband?"
"Well... that's true..." Luo Shu finally understood what Ayano actually objected to.
This woman's mind was dominated by the strong fist doctrine. Naturally talented, powerful enough, and doted on by her family, she naturally did as she pleased.
In Japan, it was perfectly normal for noblewomen from great families to take in a son-in-law.
To put it bluntly, Ayano Kannagi preferred weaker, more obedient and controllable boys, possibly even those with youthful, boyish looks.
"In that case, would you like me to help?" Luo Shu smiled. "I can talk to our Director and have him reject the matchmaking."
"No, I think it's better to meet in person and reject him directly."
Ayano Kannagi shook her head, refusing Luo Shu's suggestion:
"Rejecting someone requires face-to-face communication to show sincerity."
"Besides, even though I'm rejecting the matchmaking, I'll still be training at the Hidden Management Department for a while. I can't afford to offend my future superior completely, can I?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu was both amused and exasperated.
'So you want to reject me to my face again?'
"...What if the Director gives you a hard time because of your rejection?"
Ayano looked confused, even eyeing Luo Shu with suspicion:
"You can badmouth him to his face without consequences, but I'll get in trouble for rejecting him?"
"Are you feeding me false information?"
"...How could I possibly give you false information?" Luo Shu felt rather cornered.
'Damn, I've trapped myself.'
Awkwardly averting his gaze, he spotted a waiter bringing their dishes and quickly changed the subject:
"Never mind, since your problem is solved, let's just eat."
"It's a free feast, after all. Might as well enjoy it."
"Now that you mention it, I'm getting a bit hungry."
Ayano rubbed her stomach and glanced at the table as dishes began arriving:
"No way, I'm eating my money's worth! This was bought with my allowance!!"
"Then what are you waiting for? Dig in!"
In an instant, the two kindred spirits were busy devouring their lunch.