Chapter 10: The Special Interview

During the silence between them, Runa Onodera also remained wordless. After a long pause, Taoming suddenly asked, "Miss Runa, where are you now?"

"I'm at the phone booth on the street corner!" Her voice was tinged with clear delight, assuming that he was finally interested.

"Wait for me. I’ll come over now."

After she clarified her location, Taoming hung up, changed back into his casual clothes, and left his bedroom. Seeing him dressed like this, Yosuke Ueno asked in surprise, "Weren’t you going to sleep?"

"Just need to take care of something," Taoming replied offhandedly, already at the door, putting on his shoes.

"Going out again? Don’t tell me, now that you’ve got fifty thousand, you’re going to see that woman again?"

Taoming thought, I am going to meet a woman, but not the one you’re thinking of. He retorted, "Since when do tenants start monitoring their landlord’s whereabouts?"

Yosuke could only watch him leave, scratching his head in confusion.

Ever since he’d saved Taolang last night, the change in him had been remarkable.

But Yosuke himself couldn’t be as forward as Taoming, prying into other people's private lives. He could only suppress his curiosity, planning to ask about it tomorrow.

Taoming hadn’t gone far before he spotted Runa Onodera standing beside a public phone booth. Late at night on the street—were this a lively nightlife district, people might have mistaken her for someone soliciting.

He approached her and said, "Let’s go."

Runa bowed, head low and silent, quietly following just behind him.

At the curb, Taoming hailed a taxi. By now, it was late and there were few cars about. This neighborhood wasn’t known for its nightlife; most taxis were plying their trade elsewhere. They waited a while before one finally stopped.

"Tell the driver your address," Taoming said. "I’ll take you home."

Runa looked at him in astonishment, but Taoming had already opened the door. The situation was firmly under his control; with the driver present, she could ask no questions. After giving her address, she could only ponder the circumstances in silence.

Taoming was indeed different now. Just moments ago, he hadn’t seemed the least bit awkward around her, even displaying a firmness that brooked no argument.

She had thought he meant to begin enjoying himself from tonight, perhaps taking her to a hotel.

She had already resigned herself to that possibility while waiting earlier.

But why was he taking her home?

Runa’s heart fluttered uneasily. She hoped he had accepted her terms, yet feared he truly meant only to drop her off. She feared even more that he might intend something at her own place…

Faced with this man’s sudden decision, even though Runa was no naïve girl, she couldn’t fathom what he was thinking.

As the taxi wove through Tokyo’s night, Taoming gazed quietly out the window.

Everything that had happened today was extraordinary for him. On his first day after his rebirth, he’d felt the weight of Taolang’s standing among his classmates, sensed the subtle exclusion faced by a “naturalized” outsider.

Yet there was also the steadfast support of Yosuke Ueno, the absurdity of earning money just from an interview, and Runa Onodera’s willingness to toil through the night, even at the cost of her own body, for the sake of survival.

The reality of this new life was settling in—this was the true face of Tokyo.

The taxi drove for nearly an hour before stopping at a wooden apartment building. Seeing Taoming pay the twenty-thousand yen fare without hesitation, Runa lowered her gaze in silence.

Taoming studied the building; it was not as run-down as he’d imagined.

Still, Runa was trying to puzzle out his intentions. At last, she asked, "Taokun, could we not do it at home?"

Taoming couldn’t help but laugh. "Miss Runa, what are you thinking? I’m just seeing you home. Why not invite me in for a glass of water before I go?"

Runa finally asked, "Do you not believe what I told you?"

"No, I do believe you," Taoming replied, already heading up the stairs outside the building. "But I’d like to see what kind of person Miss Runa is in her everyday life."

"Eh?" Runa couldn’t quite follow his reasoning, but he truly didn’t seem to expect anything else from her. Now she was torn—worried her plan for the apartment would fail, yet oddly comforted and a little disappointed. "This way, please."

She led him up to the third floor and quietly unlocked the door to her apartment.

It was a long, narrow space, its layout obvious at a glance—a small one-bedroom with living and dining area.

"Excuse me," she murmured, entering first. She peeked into the bedroom, closed the door, turned on a small lamp in the living room, and went to the entrance to invite Taoming in.

He glanced around at the furnishings and décor. It wasn’t exactly orderly, but the child’s backpack, a cute umbrella, and the books on a small side table made it clear a little girl lived here.

She was likely fast asleep in the bedroom.

Runa poured him a glass of water, then knelt by the low table and bowed. "Taokun, thank you for spending the money to bring me home. But your decision…"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Taoming waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about that. You must have wondered why I asked about your income."

"Yes…"

He looked around the room again. "What’s the monthly rent for this place?"

"Eh?" Runa was thrown off by the abrupt change of topic, but answered honestly, "I wanted to live somewhere safe, so the rent is forty thousand yen a month…"

Taoming nodded. "If you could sign a contract every month and land a bonus, would you get an additional three hundred thousand yen?"

"That would take a lot of luck…" Runa admitted. "On average, I bring in a little over two hundred thousand yen a month."

"Just over two hundred thousand…" Taoming murmured before saying, "I can’t sell my house right now, but there’s something I can do to help you. My place is a three-bedroom apartment, with one room open. If you think you and Yosuke Ueno can trust me, you could move in. As for rent, until the house is sold, you don’t need to pay me at all."

"Eh?" Runa truly had no idea what he was thinking. "But what about Emiko’s school…?"

"Is the distance too far?" Taoming smiled suddenly. "If, when the new term starts, Emiko could transfer to a better private school, would you be willing to do anything?"

Runa felt his smile was laced with temptation—so he did have special conditions after all?

She glanced at the bedroom, hesitating. "Of course I want what’s best for Emiko, but…"

"I understand, this is a sudden suggestion," Taoming smiled again. "But staying for a while with two University of Tokyo students—Yosuke is a kind, warm-hearted guy—might help Emiko with her studies too."

Runa stared at him. "Taokun, just what are you…?"

Recalling all his encounters with Runa in Taolang’s memories, as well as her actions last night and today, Taoming replied honestly, "I have a plan. In the future, I may need you to work for me. For March, move in with us; your expenses won’t increase, no utilities to pay, and you’ll be closer to work. You lose nothing."

"And I can observe your character and abilities. If you meet my requirements, starting in April, you can expect at least five hundred thousand yen a month. Think of this March as a special interview."

Five hundred thousand a month? A special interview?

Runa’s heart pounded wildly as she looked at this young man, utterly unsettled.

But why, in the dim light, did his face carry such calm confidence?

Taoming smiled again and stood up. "Think it over."

With that, he took his leave, leaving Runa standing in the doorway, completely at a loss, watching him disappear into the night.