Returning to the ward, both of them tacitly avoided mentioning what had just happened.
But there was one thing Haruko couldn't avoid no matter what.
That was the exorbitant medical bill!
Haruko looked at the medical bill in her hand, feeling her head buzz. She looked at Inari in confusion, "Twenty-three thousand, why is it so expensive?"
Inari said calmly, "Don't you see what kind of ward you're staying in, what kind of service you're enjoying? The Doctor and nurses are on call 24 hours a day waiting on you. Not only did they use a lot of equipment, the medicine is also of the highest standard. Twenty-three thousand is already good."
Haruko's hand holding the medical bill trembled slightly. This time she wasn't acting; she genuinely felt like crying. "But... this is too much!"
"We haven't even calculated the cost of your phone yet," Inari pointed at the new phone in her hand and said indifferently, "I had someone buy it for you last night. Da Mi 14, 4000 yuan. I'll round it off for you, just pay me twenty-five thousand."
Upon hearing this, Haruko looked at Ichiko with teary eyes, "Ichiko~"
Her voice was soft, sweet, and tender as she acted spoiled, holding Ichiko's hand, which left Inari dumbfounded.
Which man could resist such a sweet, soft, and delicate loli voice!
His consistently poor impression of Haruko, coupled with Ichiko being by his side, always made Inari subconsciously ignore a fact.
Haruko was a legal loli whose appearance was no less stunning than Ichiko's.
Both were beautiful girls, even among the many noble young ladies he knew, they were very striking.
Ichiko, beside her, awkwardly twirled her hair, her beautiful profile facing Inari. In his eyes, seeing the two girls so close together was incredibly enjoyable.
It felt like replacing either one of them wouldn't be a loss?
Ichiko lightly coughed, "Sorry, Haruko, I don't have much money either. My part-time job salary for this month hasn't been paid yet. I only have two thousand yuan on me. That... I'll lend you fifteen hundred."
With only two thousand yuan left, being able to borrow fifteen hundred made Haruko genuinely happy.
But compared to the chasm of twenty-five thousand, it was truly insignificant.
She leaned against the headboard in self-isolation, thinking about how to use her advantages as a transmigrator to make quick money.
Currently, she only had four hundred yuan on her.
Throwing away her phone was indeed impulsive!
In her previous life, Haruko had just graduated from university and studied new media for a few years. Besides the tuition fees given by her family, her living expenses were earned by writing novels herself.
However, although she had written for a few years, she was always a complete flop, earning only a thousand yuan a month including attendance bonuses, just enough to get by.
However, after transmigrating to this parallel world, Haruko had done some research. This place was called Da Zhou Country. Although the system and core were largely the same as Huaxia in her previous life, this novel was a female-oriented story, and the world view and background would serve the powerful male leads.
Conglomerates were numerous, great aristocratic families were incredibly strong, and the entertainment industry was extremely developed. For money-making methods like copying novels, anime, movies, etc., that transmigrators usually brought with them, she had absolutely no opportunity.
In such a background, although there weren't any ridiculously supernatural urban abilities, according to the novel's setting, Da Zhou Country also had the existence of Ancient martial artists (perfecting the setting, no leveling up or cultivation in the mid to late stages; this book is purely everyday pure love to the death).
The priority was still self-preservation, and then considering repaying his money. Inari was so rich, perhaps he would forget about it if she owed it for ten or eight years?
Haruko cast her gaze towards him, and he happened to look over as well. Their eyes met.
Inari smiled and teased, "If you act spoiled towards me like you just did towards Ichiko, maybe I'll be happy and waive a bit more for you."
He displayed the expression of someone sitting firmly on the fishing platform.
He thought to himself, if she called him 'Gege' in that soft, sweet voice like just now, waiving two thousand yuan for her wouldn't be out of the question.
But who knew, as soon as he spoke, Haruko's originally expectant little eyes turned disdainful.
She turned her head to the side, pouting her small mouth, "No."
Inari's mouth twitched, "You even confessed to me before, now you're so disgusted with me?"
Haruko softly snorted, "I only act spoiled towards Ichiko."
Ichiko looked at Haruko's complete rejection and knew that her previous confession to Inari was probably for the same reason as Sento - she didn't want herself and Inari to be together.
The love she spoke of was something she put into action every moment.
Feeling a little warmth in her heart, Ichiko looked at Inari, "How about this, I'll also bear a part of the money Haruko owes. Inari, you're not short on money, you shouldn't be in a hurry, right? We'll slowly repay you within a year."
Seeing Ichiko speak up for Haruko again, Inari truly felt like she had been abducted.
Just a few days ago, she was quite clingy to him.
Now everything was 'Haruko'.
He scratched his hair and sighed, "Forget it. I invested in a coffee shop outside the school. Haruko, go manage the shop for me for three months, and this money will be waived for you."
"Really?" Haruko's eyes sparkled.
"It's just completing a family task casually anyway, just don't mess it up."
"Thank you, Master Oriental!" Haruko showed him a happy, shallow smile, her sharp little canine tooth looking incredibly cute.
Inari nodded coolly, "Only for Ichiko's sake. Also, for these three months, you're considered my little sister. Don't be timid and hesitant. If anyone dares to bully you, fight back, got it?"
"Mm-hmm!"
Inari's lips curved upwards, "Come, call me Mister and let's hear it?"
"Mister Oriental~"
Haruko called out sweetly, her clear voice like a lark intoxicating.
This girl, she was indeed a little cute.
Inari thought this to himself as he watched Haruko's pretty face for a while, then awkwardly shifted his gaze away.
After chatting for a long time and the Doctor performing a second check on Haruko, Ichiko and Inari left the room together.
"Thank you, Inari," Ichiko said sincerely as she reached the corridor and looked back at the door.
Inari nodded indifferently, "It's also just in case something happens to her. With my name out there, Sento shouldn't tear off his face and target her."
Ichiko was stunned upon hearing this, "So you had that consideration as well?"
"Otherwise?" Inari shrugged, "Making her repay the money was just teasing her. Twenty thousand yuan isn't even enough for me to have a proper meal. Seeing the dozens of yuan cosmetics she used before, I knew she didn't have much money."
Ichiko scratched her cheek, "I was still worried you would hate her."
"I was a little before, I guess," Inari said, hands in his pockets, then thought of the sweet 'Mister' call and his lips curved upwards.
"But now, I feel like she's not bad."
Although it was an accident, the outcome was ultimately good.
Haruko also knew in her heart that after finding out she was bullied, Inari had the intention of protecting her.
This Young Master, he feels a bit tsundere.
Time flew by, and after resting for three days, Haruko was discharged.
During this time, Ichiko was almost constantly by her side, even feeding her on the first day.
Although still a young girl, the charm of a wife was already slightly evident.
She enjoyed it and liked it.
No accidents occurred during the process, and she behaved exceptionally well.
This further convinced Ichiko that yandere could be cured!