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Page 535
Moreover, Lixi's current image and style were designed by Maki herself. She usually goes out without makeup, and Maki also helps her choose her outfits.
Lixi herself also found choosing clothes troublesome, so she acquiesced.
When Takamatsu heard the name "Shiina Maki," she briefly recalled her image—a mature makeup, a charming demeanor, and a touch of allure in every gesture, quite different from Ritsuki's cold and aloof demeanor, yet equally captivating.
As if remembering something, she nodded vigorously and said earnestly, "I think it's very good."
"Then it's decided!" Hearing this, Lixi breathed a sigh of relief, her smile returning, and her tone becoming much more relaxed. "We'll use my sister as a reference. I'll help you dress up, and I'm sure it will make you more feminine and make Banami's eyes light up!"
***
Without further ado, Riki grabbed Takamatsu Akari's hand and quietly slipped up to the second floor—Shiina Maki's room.
Since Maki moved out, the room has been empty. However, Maki occasionally comes back to stay for a few days, so the room is still tidy. There are still many of her clothes hanging in the wardrobe, and various cosmetics on the dressing table. There is also a faint fragrance of perfume in the air.
Lixi pushed open the wardrobe door, which was filled with all kinds of clothes, mostly in the style of mature and beautiful urban women, which was completely different from the school uniform that Gaosong Deng usually wore.
As she rummaged through the items, she muttered to herself, "I need to find one that fits the size of a small lamp, one that can accentuate a woman's charm..."
Gao Songdeng stood obediently to the side, curiously looking at everything in the room, her gaze inadvertently falling on a small box in the corner of the wardrobe.
She reached for the box, opened it, and found a purple, lace strip inside. The material was thin, the design was bold, and it looked quite strange.
Takamatsu Akari picked up the strip of cloth, walked over to Riki, and asked in a bewildered tone, "Riki-chan, what... is this? It looks really strange."
Lixi glanced back, and when she saw the purple openwork strip of fabric, her cheeks flushed bright red, like a boiled shrimp, and even her neck turned pink.
She quickly dropped the clothes she was holding, rushed over, and snatched the strip of cloth from Gao Songdeng's hand: "Uh, no, it's nothing! It's probably... probably just a rag! My sister just threw it away, don't worry about it!"
Gao Songdeng tilted his head slightly, a hint of confusion on his face—why would the rag look like this?
Riki's face was still burning hot, and she thought to herself: Idiot Riki! She actually kept this kind of winning lingerie at home, who is she trying to wear it for!
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her flustered emotions, and turned back to continue rummaging through the wardrobe.
Not long after, she saw a gray stepmother dress. The style was simple yet exquisite, and the hem was knee-length, giving it a mature charm.
Li hope's eyes lit up, and she quickly picked up the dress, handed it to Gao Songdeng, and said excitedly, "Xiaodeng, what do you think of this dress?"
Takamatsu Akari took the dress, held it up in front of her, and subconsciously recalled how Maki looked wearing it—charming and captivating. She nodded, seemingly understanding, and said earnestly, "I think it's okay."
"That's great!" Lixi breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile spreading across her face. She quickly ran to the shoe cabinet, opened the bottom shelf, and took out a pile of brand-new high heels. "These are gifts I gave to Zhenxi before. She thought they were a bit too small and never wore them. I can tell from your foot shape that they'll fit you perfectly!"
Gao Songdeng looked at the pair of sparkling high heels. The heels weren't too high, but they still exuded the aura of a mature woman.
Although she had never worn high heels, she had seen her mother wear them and was aware that high heels were a symbol of mature women. Wearing them brought her one step closer to the image she wanted to have.
"Oh right, there's also lipstick!" As if she had suddenly remembered something, Lixi hurriedly ran to the dressing table and started rummaging through Zhenxi's makeup box. "I'll go find that magenta lipstick that my sister bought last time."
Gao Songdeng stood quietly to the side, watching Lixi's busy figure, his eyes full of trust.
Lixi quickly found the lipstick, then pulled Gaosongdeng to the mirror, carefully helped her change into a dress and high heels, and then gently twisted the lipstick and applied it to her lips little by little.
Not long after, Lixi stopped what she was doing, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, clapped her hands lightly, and said with some anticipation, "Okay, Xiaodeng, what do you think...?"
Takamatsu slowly opened her eyes and looked at herself in the mirror.
The girl in the mirror was wearing a gray stepmother's dress, sparkly high heels, and magenta lipstick. Her once innocent and naive face now had a more mature charm, making her look completely different from her usual reserved and demure self.
"I think it's okay." Gao Songdeng looked at her brand-new self in the mirror, her eyes sparkling, and an image involuntarily surfaced in her mind—
Just like Mana-chan did yesterday, I was held tightly in Hachiman's arms and treated gently by him.
"Okay, now let's go see Banami and give him a surprise! When he sees you like this, he'll definitely be captivated and won't be able to take his eyes off you!"
As Li hope said this, her heart felt a slight ache, as if something was gently tugging at it.
But seeing Xiaodeng trying so hard to change herself for a boy, I couldn't help but want to cheer her on.
However, neither of them seemed to realize a fatal problem—
The reason why Lixi looks like a cold and beautiful girl and can attract the attention of passers-by is never because of her own aesthetic sense, but because Zhenxi inadvertently takes care of her image throughout. This does not mean that Lixi, who doesn't like to pick out clothes or wear makeup, has any aesthetic sense.
As for Takamatsu lamps themselves, they are the epitome of radio waves; you can't expect a girl who likes pill bugs to have an aesthetic that resonates with the average person.
However, the two of them left the house in a relaxed and unhurried manner.
Chapter 3 Plus and Pro Max
Wearing a black stepmother dress and unfamiliar high heels, Takamatsu Akari followed carefully beside Shiina Tatsuki, feeling both expectant and apprehensive, her steps even a little unsteady.
Lixi held her hand tightly as they walked, encouraging her continuously: "Xiaodeng, did you see that? We got so many stares as we walked, everyone was looking at you!"
She deliberately slowed her pace to match Takamatsu Akari's rhythm and continued, "This proves that you really have a lot of charm with girls now. When Banai sees that guy, she'll definitely be dazzled!"
Hearing Riki's continuous encouragement, Takamatsu's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and her anxiety was gradually replaced by hope. She nodded gently and said in a soft voice, "Yes, thank you, Riki-chan."
She secretly glanced up at her dress and high heels, then remembered the different version of herself in the mirror, and her anticipation grew stronger.
Can she really become so charming that she can make Hanami fall in love with her?
Soon, the two arrived at the Toyokawa family's door. Riki pressed the doorbell skillfully, and after a short while, the maid opened the door, recognized them, and said with a smile, "Miss Shiina, Miss Takamatsu, the young master is in the living room, please come in."
Riki, holding Takamatsu's hand, carefully entered the Toyokawa house.
The living room is spacious and bright, with exquisite and elegant decoration. A soft sofa is placed in the center, and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a lush green courtyard, with a faint aroma of tea in the air.
Meanwhile, Banami was sitting lazily on the sofa, holding a snow-white cat in her arms, gently scratching the cat's chin with her fingertips, looking languid and content.
Nai-nai squinted comfortably, making gurgling sounds in her throat, her head gently nuzzling against Banami's palm, looking very docile.
Only when the sound of their footsteps reached her did Banana slowly raise her head. Her gaze inadvertently fell on Takamatsu Akari, and she froze instantly.
He opened his mouth, and Xiao Nai in his arms took the opportunity to break free, jump off the sofa, and slowly walk away.
The girl standing before him, Takamatsu Akari, was completely different from the eccentric girl he usually knew.
The black stepmother dress accentuated her slender figure, and the high heels made her posture even more upright. The magenta lipstick made her skin look fair, and her originally innocent and naive face gained a touch of deliberately created mature charm.
Seeing this, Li Xi quickly pulled Gao Songdeng forward and said to Banami, "How about it, Banami, are you dumbfounded? Today, Xiaodeng dressed up like this especially for you."
"Lixi-chan, no... don't say things like that." Takamatsu Akari quickly tugged at Lixi's sleeve, lowered her head shyly, and tightly gripped the hem of Lixi's clothes with her fingertips, looking embarrassed.
She both anticipated Hanami's evaluation and feared hearing a bad answer.
Looking at her appearance and then at her attire that clashed with her temperament, Banami was unusually speechless.
The current Xiaodeng isn't bad-looking; after all, Gaosong Deng is essentially a cute young girl. It's just that the mature and charming stepmother dress and high heels she's wearing don't match at all, and even look a bit out of place, like a child who has stolen an adult's clothes.
He couldn't bear to hurt her feelings, so he tried to say something nice. Just then, the bathroom door clicked open, and a tall figure slowly walked out.
The woman was also wearing a black stepmother's dress, almost identical in style to the one Gao Songdeng was wearing, but because of her tall figure, she exuded a completely different charm; she wore a pair of stiletto heels, her posture was upright, and her temperament was mature and charming; she also wore magenta lipstick, which made her eyebrows and eyes even more delicate, and a faint smile hung at the corners of her mouth, she was cheerful and amiable, and every move she made exuded a lazy yet elegant aura.
It is Ruomai of Youtian Temple.
"Hey, why is there another cosplay event for me today?" Yutenji Wakana walked to the center of the living room, her gaze falling on Takamatsu Akari, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes, and said in a light and lazy tone, with a touch of teasing in her voice.
Li hope's eyes widened instantly: "Yutenji Ruomai, what are you doing here?!"
She never expected that Yutenji Wakana would appear at the Toyokawa residence, and that she would be wearing the exact same clothes as Kodama, with almost identical makeup.
Such a coincidence could probably only be created by the gods.
However, Miao Mengqin did not answer Li Xi's question. Instead, she slowly walked to Banaijian's side, sat elegantly on the sofa, and gently crossed her legs, like a lady attending a banquet. Her gaze fell on Gao Songdeng, and she said with interest, "You are Gao Songdeng, right? Actually, I've wanted to say this for a long time. You look quite like me when I was in sixth grade."
"Hey, Meow Dream, don't talk nonsense." Banai frowned, glared at her, and said with a hint of helplessness and reprimand.
But Miao Mengqin wasn't afraid at all, and continued to look at the boy with a smile.
Xiaodeng raised her head, her gaze fixed on Yutenji Ruomai, carefully examining the girl in front of her.
They wore the same stepmother dress, the same high heels, the same lipstick, and even their appearances were somewhat similar.
However, their temperaments were worlds apart.
Yutenji Wakame exudes the charm of a mature woman in every gesture, which is probably the image she has always dreamed of, the image of a "charming girl" in her heart.
But the reflection in the mirror still showed a hunched back and a timid demeanor, like a little girl who hadn't grown up yet.
The same outfit can make some people look incredibly charming, while others can only look timid.
The courage that Lixi had encouraged her to muster earlier dissipated little by little at this moment, leaving only a heart full of disappointment and inferiority.
Perhaps if it were just Xiaodeng, her outfit wouldn't seem like much, but the contrast is just too stark.
Clearly, Li hope also realized the seriousness of the situation. Seeing the disappointment in Gao Songdeng's eyes, he immediately panicked.
She quickly and gently nudged Gao Songdeng's arm, saying urgently, "Hey, Xiaodeng, don't stand here, come sit down too."
"Hey, Banami, say something! Little Lantern is waiting for you!" Riki called out hurriedly, sweat beading on his forehead.
Startled by Riki's shout, Banami quickly stood up from the sofa. Takamatsu Akari, however, slowly raised her head, a glimmer of hope still in her eyes: "Banami-kun, now, in your eyes, am I... a charming girl?"
Banami was stunned, staring at Kodama who was practically a "Big Meow Teacher Plus" version of her.
However... it must be said that Xiaodeng's temperament is completely incompatible with this mature style.
But Hanami quickly said, "I...I think you, Akari..."
But it was this brief pause that made Gao Songdeng understand everything completely. She turned her head sharply, holding back the tears in her eyes, and staggered towards the door. Her high heels made a hurried and frantic sound on the floor as she fled from her predicament.
"Xiao Deng!" Li hope panicked the moment she saw Gao Song Deng run away.
"Oh dear, I think I've become the bad guy." Yutenji Wakana watched the two figures hurrying away, a faint smile still on her lips, her tone full of amusement.
Li Xi had already run a few steps when she heard Yutenji Ruomai's unrepentant words. She stopped abruptly, turned around abruptly, glared fiercely at Yutenji Ruomai, and couldn't help but shout, "What do you have to be so proud of, you old maid!"
These words were like a sharp knife, precisely piercing Yutenji Wakana's sore spot.
Her smile froze instantly.
Chapter 4 Maki’s big hands
The words "old maid" were like a match that ignited explosives, instantly detonating all of Yutenji Wakana's rationality and pretense.
One second she was elegant and composed, the next she completely exploded. The smile on her face vanished without a trace, and her eyes were filled with overwhelming anger and shame. There was not a trace of her previous demeanor left.
She suddenly stood up, rushed to Hanami in a few steps, and before he could react, she reached out and grabbed his neck tightly with both hands: "Hanami, you bastard! You slept with her, didn't you? Did you sleep with that tomboy Shiina Ritsuki?!"
Seeing her face flush red from being choked, and her breathing becoming rapid, Banai said with difficulty, "Where...where is your maturity and elegance...Don't act like a shrew...Let go...I'm suffocating..."
"Damn it! I'm just a country bumpkin, what's with the elegance! I'm not Toyokawa Shoko." Teacher Da Miao suddenly let go and shouted irritably.
Toyokawa Shoko's elegance was ingrained in her bones, but it was merely a deliberate facade, a way to mask her inferiority complex stemming from her humble origins.
Before he could recover, Miaomengqin stepped forward again, hands on her hips, her tone forceful and somewhat domineering: "I don't care! Before the New Year, you must come back to Kumamoto with me to see my dad!"
Actually, the reason why Meow Dream came to the Toyokawa family today was to discuss this matter with Banami.
Unexpectedly, not long after she arrived at the Toyokawa family home, she ran into Takamatsu Akari and Ritsuki, and they even accidentally wore the same clothes, so she teased them a bit on a whim.
Once Banai had finally calmed down, she quickly slapped away Banai's outstretched hand: "Hey, can you stop messing around! Is this the time to say things like that? I'm going to find Kodama."
After saying that, he tried to slip away.
Enraged, Miaomengqin couldn't help but kick his butt hard.
***
On the other side, Takamatsu Akari fled the Toyokawa family home in despair and heartbreak. She ran and ran, her high heels making a hurried and frantic sound on the road, her ankles aching from the friction, but she was completely unaware of it.
The image of Yutenji Wakana's elegant and confident demeanor kept flashing through my mind, along with my own disheveled appearance, dressed in inappropriate clothes and looking timid and embarrassed.
The surrounding scenery gradually became unfamiliar, the streetlights on the roadside lit up, and suddenly, her foot slipped. Because she had never worn high heels before, she was tripped and fell heavily to the ground, her body lurching forward.
Fortunately, she fell on a soft grassy area and was not injured by the hard surface. However, her stepmother's dress was covered with grass clippings and mud, making it dirty, and her hair was messy, making her look very disheveled.
All she wants now is to find a hole to crawl into.
"Are you alright?" Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded above her head.
Gao Songdeng was slightly taken aback, and slowly raised her head, only to see a similarly tall and mature figure with a gentle smile on his face, extending his hand towards her.
Meanwhile, Shiina Tatsuki was frantically searching for Takamatsu Akari near the Toyokawa house, calling out "Akari's" name all the while.
It's all her fault, it's all her blind confidence that led Xiaodeng into this situation.
It was her. Despite her own poor taste, she still gave Xiaodeng random advice, making Xiaodeng wear inappropriate clothes and dress up in a way that didn't suit her.
At this moment, Li hope was filled with deep guilt and self-blame.
As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. Just when she was about to despair, she saw that familiar figure on a park bench nearby.
But when she saw who was next to her, she froze instantly: "Sister, what are you doing here?"
On a park bench, Takamatsu Akari sat quietly, her face still wet with tears. Beside her sat Shiina Maki, who was gently wiping away Akari's tears, speaking softly to her.
"Ara, Riki-chan, you're here." Maki slowly raised her head when she heard Riki's voice, a gentle smile on her face, and said in a relaxed tone, "Koudou is telling me about what happened today."
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