Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 874 - 515: Warmth Shrouded by Moonlight

In order not to wake up his father-in-law who was still sleeping, Uesugi Sakura kept the sound of running hot water in the bathroom to a minimum.

He stared blankly at his own reflection in the water, reminiscing over what his mother-in-law had just said to him.

Perhaps, was he really not being proactive enough?

Should he be a bit more assertive... sometimes being more assertive might lead to better results?

Because Hanabi is inherently a gentle girl, if he’s not proactive enough, she might end up feeling more troubled.

Uesugi Sakura washed his face with hot water and stayed quiet for a little while.

"This is for you."

Uesugi Sakura was startled by the sudden appearance of his mother-in-law.

"Were you scared?"

Mrs. Hanamaru, wearing pajamas, smiled slightly, handing him a newly opened towel, "I didn’t keep Hanabi’s old towels since she took them with her when she moved to your house. Now, use this to help her wash her face... no need to worry about removing makeup, Hanabi doesn’t like to wear makeup, usually just uses some powder, so you can just wipe her face."

"Alright..." Uesugi Sakura agreed, taking the towel.

"Okay," Mrs. Hanamaru patted her lips and gave a long yawn, "I’m really going to sleep, I’m too sleepy, so if there’s any noise upstairs, I won’t hear it, okay?

"As for your father-in-law, he’s not home tonight~~ if you have the chance, remember to hold onto Hanabi... ahem, as her mother, I actually know she sometimes really needs that comfort."

Mrs. Hanamaru, with a look of "I don’t know anything," finally smiled and winked at Uesugi Sakura, then turned around and disappeared at the bathroom door.

Was mother-in-law blatantly hinting at him again?

Uesugi Sakura calmed his mind again, continuing to wait for the hot water to fill half of the basin.

"Oh, right, don’t take too long, Hanabi can’t handle your fussing."

"Mother-in-law..." Uesugi Sakura was startled again by the sudden reappearance of Mrs. Hanamaru.

"Haha, now I’m really going to sleep, remember what I said."

Uesugi Sakura looked at the empty doorway until the sound of footsteps gradually faded, followed by a "click" of the door closing, and he confirmed that Mrs. Hanamaru had indeed returned to her room.

So... did she suddenly come to find him tonight because she missed him?

Or was it out of concern?

With this doubt, Uesugi Sakura carried a basin of hot water to Hanabi’s room on the second floor.

The moonlight was dim, and the sheer curtain by the bedside was given a light layer of white by the moon’s glow.

Uesugi Sakura pulled a chair to the bedside and placed the basin of hot water he had just set on the floor on the chair.

Worried that the light might disturb Hanabi, he chose not to turn on the lamp but instead walked to the window and pulled open the curtain partially covering it.

Above was the crescent moon partially hidden by gray clouds.

Below was his old room.

A childhood friend whose window faced his window.

It was rare to see.

In a daze, Uesugi Sakura remembered the night before the wedding, when Hanamaru Hanabi lay smiling at the window, looking at him with a smile.

Clearly... clearly at that time she was smiling happily, joyfully.

But when Uesugi Sakura recalled that scene, the cute little face bathed in moonlight, it felt as if something touched his heart.

His emotions rippled like disturbed water, wavering one after another in his chest, difficult to calm.

Uesugi Sakura put away his thoughts, turned around, and looked at Hanamaru Hanabi sleeping at the bedside.

In fact, just sitting quietly by her side, one could genuinely feel an enveloping sense of peace.

His gaze naturally drifted towards her serene sleeping face.

Her nose, her eyebrows, her breathing, her slightly open, moist lips, and her innate sense of vulnerability and petite charm all seemed to reside on her small face.

Uesugi Sakura wrung out a warm towel from the basin, came to the bedside, and gently turned her body in sleep to wipe her cheeks lightly.

Steam rose from the towel, and strands of her hair caught some moisture, sticking to her round, cute little face, as Uesugi Sakura gently combed her hair while wiping her face.

His fingers accidentally touched her skin, and that soft, smooth warmth immediately transmitted to his heart from his fingertips, during which Hanamaru Hanabi let out a lazy hum, and Uesugi Sakura thought she was waking up. Unexpectedly, she just wanted to turn over to hug the quilt.

"You are restless even when sleeping."

Uesugi Sakura deliberately turned on the air conditioner, and when the machine started humming, he approached the sleeping girl on the bed again.

He seemed to hear her calling something, so Uesugi Sakura leaned closer to her rosy lips.

It wasn’t very clear, but if you listened carefully, you could string the words together.

"Sakura-kun... mm... big pervert... doesn’t know how to care... don’t... mm... bad guy..."

The girl’s face blushed slightly, and she mumbled almost inaudibly in her dream.

In the end, there was even a hint of shyness.

What was she dreaming about?

Uesugi Sakura was very curious, but he didn’t dare to wake her up like this now.

With no choice, Uesugi Sakura had to patiently continue—helping her take off her stockings.

Today Hanamaru Hanabi was still wearing a dress, with the stockings being only thicker in winter.

Uesugi Sakura first laid Hanamaru Hanabi flat on the bed, then reached under her skirt, fumbling along the side of her thigh before finally finding the spot he wanted to tug at.