Romantic Troubles of Duanmu-kun

Episode 48: Secrets and the Past

He was stopped.

As soon as he arrived at the private hospital room, several burly men in black suits and sunglasses stared him down. The Novelist unconsciously broke out in a cold sweat. Each of their pockets bulged conspicuously.

No matter what, they weren’t opponents that could be defeated with lies and smooth talk. Sorry, Class Rep. He might have to disappoint her.

“Let him in,” came the familiar, chilly voice of a certain girl from inside the room.

Unexpectedly, the men in black respectfully complied, making way for him.

…

When the Novelist entered the room, Ogiwara Yayoi stood silently in the center of the dimly lit space, as if she had been waiting for his arrival.

In an unnoticed corner, a faint smile flashed across the girl’s cool lips, vanishing in an instant.

*

The old man lying in the hospital bed must have been Niwa Daizo. He was completely different from the memorable, overbearing, dignified appearance the last time he saw him. Now unconscious with tubes in his nose and wires coiled around him, he was just a withered, decrepit old man.

According to Miyagi-san’s information, on the night they were trapped in the annex, Niwa Daizo had gotten into a car accident while leaving the suburbs alone. In the post-incident investigation, the police discovered the car had been tampered with. The motive was likely aimed at Niwa Industries. The incident was ruled an “attempted murder.” Due to the sensitivity of the victim’s identity, related information was currently being restricted.

…

“Hello there, Liang-kun,” Ogiwara Yayoi greeted him, then silently gazed at Niwa Daizo on the bed without any intention of speaking further. The Novelist’s eyes fell on her right hand, which gripped something like a syringe. He decided to speak first.

“…The Niwa family bodyguards outside seem to listen to you quite well.”

If it were simply her status as “Niwa Takahito’s” fiancée, she shouldn’t have had such privileges. Not to mention, the former was now a useless cripple.

“Hmm… Before I answer that, Liang-kun, do you know why Niwa Takahito was so favored and valued by his grandfather?”

Ogiwara Yayoi brought up an irrelevant topic.

Ah, she seemed to have mentioned it before.

“Niwa Takahito might become the family’s heir” or something like that—

“Because Niwa Takahito is his biological son,” the girl answered nonchalantly.

Whoa! What a shocking bombshell— Huh? Wait, what did that mean? In other words…

“Niwa Daizo was a man of intense desires who enjoyed the thrill. His wife passed away early on. By middle age, he was no longer satisfied with simple womanizing and set his sights on the women within the family… Simply put, he was addicted to the pleasure of incest.”

“Incest”…

A chill suddenly ran up the Novelist’s spine.

It was as if he had personally witnessed a malicious and twisted “past.” However, even as an outsider, he could guess that it was merely the tip of the iceberg of the Niwa family’s hidden filth.

“Niwa Takahito himself seemed to know about this. Rather, among Daizo’s direct relatives and confidants, it was an open secret. However, due to Daizo’s years of authority, no one in the entire family dared to speak of it.”

…That tone sounded familiar.

It was unclear whether Ogiwara Yayoi’s voice was mocking or pitying.

That “family of darkness” where everyone desperately concealed the family head’s sordid and sinister misdeeds… Was that the environment Niwa Takahito grew up in?

“Alright, it’s time for the Q&A session.”

Ogiwara Yayoi tossed him a certain “question” as if anticipating something.

“I mentioned before that the Ogiwara family is a thoroughly ruined clan. So why would Niwa Daizo choose to acknowledge the previously arranged engagement? Although I’m his great-niece by blood… Do you think this man who controls the Niwa family would consider that?”

Of course not.

So the real answer was—

The Novelist remained silent.

“Is Liang-kun concerned about my feelings? Thank you, but there’s no need for now.”

Ogiwara’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.

“In short, a young descendant with blood ties, good looks, a decent head on her shoulders, a virgin who’s never been with a man, and moreover, the fiancée of his grandson-cum-son, the prospective family heir… He seems to ‘like’ me that way.”

“He’s always provided me with opportunities, meticulously cultivating my talents. He even publicly stated at a family meeting that he would ‘marry me in the future.’ So the Niwa family members are all aware of my position. That’s right, just like Niwa Takahito’s mother back then.”

“Although nothing has been done to me yet due to his health, who knows how long that will last? Even if he loses that function, there’s no guarantee how he’ll treat me. Unlike Niwa Takahito, if he really intends to harm me, I’ll have no way to resist.”

The girl leaned against the wall, unconsciously hugging her arms. As she sighed softly, an unprecedented fragile expression appeared on her pretty face.

The Novelist’s complexion wasn’t good.

Ogiwara-san, had she always been living on thin ice like this?

—How unpleasant.

The taking driven by unbridled dark desires could only breed tragedy. It was undoubtedly pure “evil.”

Detestable.

He felt worse than expected.

Even if it was an “evil deed” that had never occurred.

Barely suppressing the churning nausea in his stomach, he asked softly.

Now for the purpose of his visit.

“What do you plan to do next?”

Ogiwara tilted her head, asking in puzzlement, “What do you mean? I won’t do anything.”

“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”

The Novelist sighed.

Because—

“Niwa Daizo’s car accident… It was your doing, wasn’t it?”

To avoid being overheard by those outside, he practically whispered in the girl’s ear.

…

“…That joke isn’t funny.”

Ogiwara Yayoi’s pupils were deep and dim, quite oppressive. Yikes, scary.

“Didn’t you just tell me on your own?”

However, the Novelist had no intention of backing down.

“‘This guy was crippled from being targeted with revenge’… But why?”

He narrowed his eyes.

“How did you know the motive was revenge against Niwa Daizo? That’s information even the police haven’t grasped. And you know, although it’s just my personal speculation…”

Despite saying that, the Novelist’s tone was certain.

“I don’t think Ogiwara-san is the type to do nothing and cower in the face of others’ malice without resisting.”

…

After a long silence.

The girl, who had kept her expression hidden in the darkness, laughed softly and happily.