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Chapter 781: Could She Be the Eldest Miss of the Izumi Family?!
After finishing their soak in the hot spring, the three of them felt a little hungry, so they headed to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
After ordering their dishes and choosing a relatively quiet spot to sit down.
Before long, the person who arrived was not a server bringing their food, but one of the owners of Harugamo Inn—Saaki Funamoto.
Although she was called one of the owners, in reality, most of Harugamo Inn’s actual power was firmly in the hands of the Funamoto family.
The other owners might appear to hold a similar status to Saaki Funamoto within Harugamo Inn, but in truth, they were mostly investors. They only enjoyed annual dividend payouts and held very little real authority. They could not interfere with the Funamoto family’s management of the inn.
Simply put, compared to "owners," the term "shareholders" suited them better.
Among them, there were inevitably some who were unwilling to accept this arrangement, always looking for opportunities to wrest a bit more decision-making power over Harugamo Inn’s operations from the Funamoto family. But there were also others who quite liked this setup. They did not have to worry about daily management at all. All they needed to do was attend the inn’s internal annual meeting at the end of the year and collect their dividends.
Plenty of money, little hassle. Their investments over the years had yielded excellent returns. And for some local Kyoto business owners, investing in Harugamo Inn was, to a certain extent, equivalent to investing in Kyoto’s tourism industry. Their own companies could even receive certain forms of assistance from the Kyoto Prefectural Government.
Of course, the most crucial point was that investing in Harugamo Inn under the Funamoto family also meant increasing the chances of crossing paths with the Izumi family.
For capitalists, the opportunity to collaborate with Japan’s number one financial conglomerate—the Izumi family—was something they would fight for even if it meant risking everything.
An opportunity to cooperate with the Izumi family was a priceless treasure that no amount of wealth could buy.
After all, in Japan, no matter how rich you were, could you possibly be richer than the Izumi family?
That was why, although the current owners of Harugamo Inn were not of one mind—some wanting more power from the Funamoto family, some wanting higher annual dividends, and others completely indifferent so long as they received their share on time at year’s end—
Whenever it came time to invest, they would suddenly become united and extraordinarily generous, each one "contributing wholeheartedly." Usually stingy and calculating, yet the moment investment was required, they would throw money in one after another like viewers sending rockets in a livestream, all eager to become the top contributor.
If the Izumi family had not already set a limit behind the scenes on how much investment the Funamoto family could accept every few years—making it impossible to invest more even if they wanted to—some of the more impulsive owners might already have considered selling off one of their company buildings just to pour in more money and become Harugamo Inn’s largest investor.
When Kotomi Izumi saw Saaki Funamoto arrive, she did not speak first. She merely lifted her head to glance at her before continuing to scroll through phone cases on Amazon. Recently, she had been thinking of changing her phone case.
"Good evening, Miss Izumi."
Saaki Funamoto gave Kotomi Izumi a deep bow and greeted her proactively.
She paid no mind to Kotomi’s somewhat "impolite" behavior just now.
Because Saaki Funamoto understood very clearly that in front of Kotomi Izumi, she had no standing to speak of seniority or hierarchy. Even if she was older—technically an elder whom Kotomi would address as Grandma Funamoto—she still had to maintain a humble posture before her.
Even though Saaki Funamoto was currently the face of the Funamoto family and the highest-ranking owner of Harugamo Inn.
The reason was simple. She was a member of the Funamoto family, and Kotomi Izumi was the eldest miss of the Izumi family.
Those two identities alone were enough to explain everything.
It was not merely that Saaki Funamoto should greet Kotomi Izumi first—
It was that upon seeing Kotomi Izumi, she must bow and greet her proactively.
No matter how respected she was within the Funamoto family, before the sixteen-year-old eldest miss of the Izumi family, she had to lower her head and bow deeply, constantly demonstrating her loyalty.
Even if Kotomi Izumi were dissatisfied and demanded that Saaki Funamoto kneel before everyone present.
Saaki Funamoto would not hesitate to comply.
Fortunately, the Izumi family had always placed great importance on educating their children. Kotomi Izumi was not some twisted villainess from a novel who believed human screams were the most beautiful music and delighted in tormenting others.
Under normal circumstances, she would not do anything excessive. She understood how to conduct herself, understood social etiquette and rules. In her interactions and communication with others, she could always handle matters with flawless composure.
Upon first meeting Kotomi Izumi, most people would likely form such an impression: extremely beautiful, like a witch who could dazzle the ages in a fairy tale. Exquisitely stunning, yet carrying an indescribable hint of innocent silliness. A pleasant personality. Her speech and demeanor would gradually win people over without them even realizing it.
But the premise was that you must not provoke her.
If you did provoke Kotomi Izumi, then she would thoroughly demonstrate just how vindictive she could be—and reveal the wicked side of a witch.
While drinking lemon water, Kotomi Izumi did not lift her head. She continued scrolling through her phone and sipping her drink. However, the hand holding the glass moved slightly—one finger lifting just a little.
Saaki Funamoto, sharp-eyed, immediately noticed the subtle gesture and understood that Kotomi was signaling for her to stand up and stop bowing.
"Thank you, Miss Izumi."
Saaki Funamoto knew Kotomi did not lack this single word of thanks. But sometimes that was simply how things worked. Better to say more than to say less. What harm was there in moving one’s lips? In every aspect, Saaki Funamoto expressed her gratitude thoroughly.
After so many years navigating the commercial battlefield, reading the room was a fundamental skill. If she had not mastered even the most basic skills, how could she have led the Funamoto family and Harugamo Inn from decline to resurgence?
Even if much of that revival had come from investment and support from the Izumi family, without her own methods and capabilities, how could she have handled the assistance the Izumi family provided? How could she have managed the entire extended family during its period of decline?
Even those families and conglomerates who secretly envied the Funamoto family while mocking them as nothing more than the Izumi family’s dog would still, when speaking of Saaki Funamoto’s personal ability, express a certain degree of admiration.
Such was the commercial battlefield: I may mock you and resent you, but that does not prevent me from respecting your personal competence and charisma.
After receiving Saaki Funamoto’s greeting, bow, and thanks, Kotomi Izumi finally lifted her head slowly, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she said:
"Good evening, Grandma Funamoto. I’ve long heard that although you’re advanced in years, your spirit remains young. You refuse to admit defeat, refuse to admit age. By all logic, you should already be retired by now, yet in reality you still personally involve yourself in the Funamoto family’s various businesses, large and small. Perhaps not every single deal passes directly through your hands, but at the very least, you understand each one thoroughly and comprehensively."
At this point, Kotomi lightly tapped her fingertip against the table and said with a half-teasing smile,
"Let me think... there’s an idiom that suits you perfectly. What was it again? Oh, right—’old yet vigorous.’"
Saaki Funamoto kept her head slightly lowered. As Kotomi spoke, she listened with humble attentiveness, like a junior receiving instruction from an elder.
To an outsider, where was even a trace of the authority of the head of the Funamoto family?
There were not many diners in the restaurant at the moment, but neither was it empty. Among them were wealthy individuals, company owners, and senior executives.
Upon witnessing the scene, they quietly whispered among those they were close to.
"Who is that white-haired girl? For a second I thought I’d drunk too much lately and ruined my eyesight. I just saw the owner of Harugamo Inn bowing respectfully to a girl who doesn’t even look that old."
"No idea. She’s very pretty though. Such smooth skin... and that figure... honestly, it makes me jealous. Sigh, I thought I’d maintained myself pretty well, but compared to her, I have to admit I’m already past my prime. No matter how hard a woman struggles in her career, she can’t stop time from marching on."
"Could she be some wealthy heiress with close ties to the Funamoto family, here on vacation?"
"Impossible. At least not from any prominent Kyoto family. She looks unfamiliar."
"Even if they’re close, the head of the Funamoto family shouldn’t be acting that submissive. That humble posture... it’s like an old dog seeing its master’s child."
"Wait... an old dog seeing its master’s child... Damn, I just had a very bold thought."
"What thought? Hurry up and say it."
"That white-haired girl... she might be the eldest miss of the Izumi family!"
"If she really is from the Izumi family, then everything makes sense. No wonder the head of the Funamoto family is acting so deferential."
"Now that you mention it, I’ve heard something before. I’ve never seen her, but I heard that Princess Kotomi of the Izumi family was born with white hair. Supposedly she inherited it from her mother, who also had white hair."
"So it’s natural white hair? No wonder it looks so natural. I thought she’d spent a fortune dyeing it. I was even thinking about asking her which salon she used."
"Are you insane? You know she might be the Izumi family’s eldest miss and you’re still talking like that, judging her openly? That’s like hanging yourself with longevity noodles at your own birthday banquet—are you tired of living?"
"I’m moving farther away from you... I don’t know her!"
Although the surrounding whispers were deliberately hushed, Saaki Funamoto still heard them.
Since she heard them, naturally Kotomi Izumi heard them as well.
Kotomi said nothing. The smile at the corner of her lips merely deepened slightly.
Saaki Funamoto did not rush to respond to the nearby murmurs. Instead, she offered a flattering smile and replied to Kotomi’s earlier remarks:
"To receive such praise from you, Miss Izumi, is truly the honor of three lifetimes. Thank you very much for recognizing both me and the Funamoto family. In fact, some time ago I considered asking the head of the Izumi family whether I should step down from my position as head of the Funamoto family.
"As you can see, I am indeed getting older. When I first realized I was gradually aging, I even considered various methods to slow the passage of time.
"But without exception, they all failed. I gradually came to accept the reality of growing old. Now, I only hope that within my limited time, I can contribute a little more modest effort to both the Izumi family and the Funamoto family."
Saaki Funamoto’s words were steady and composed. After listening, Kotomi could not help but curse inwardly with a smile.
What a seasoned old fox.
If nothing else, just the subtle detail of placing the Izumi family before the Funamoto family when mentioning the two was something many people could study repeatedly.
Kotomi chuckled softly. "Even so, Grandma Funamoto, are you perhaps already preparing a successor?"
Saaki Funamoto nodded without the slightest concealment.
"Yes. As early as three years ago, I discussed with the head of the Izumi family who should serve as the next head of the Funamoto family. Thanks to his generous regard, he believed I was doing quite well in my current position and, given that my health remains strong, that I could continue for at least another decade or more. Therefore, there was no urgent need to select a successor. Even if one were chosen, there would be no need for excessive rigor—any one would suffice."
"I think you could remain in that seat for another twenty years without issue, Grandma Funamoto," Kotomi said with a light laugh.
"Haha, then I can only hope this old body of mine holds out a little longer. After all..."
At this point, Saaki Funamoto let out a sigh, as if deliberately conveying a signal.
"It is rather embarrassing to admit. I have only two daughters, yet unfortunately neither of them is suitable to become the head of the Funamoto family. One can only say they are not mature enough yet. I truly hope they will both apply themselves and improve while I am still able, before I end up bedridden, and learn what it takes to become a qualified head of the family."
The smile on Kotomi’s face grew deeper. She understood the implication in Saaki Funamoto’s words.
But understanding it did not mean she could respond directly or hint at it now. The most appropriate approach was simply to nod, remember what had been said, casually shift to another topic, and continue the conversation.
Afterward, she could find a suitable time to relay these words to her father.
"Grandma Funamoto, that sounds a bit too modest. I’ve heard that your eldest daughter, Mari, is a genuine graduate of a prestigious university. Cultured, capable—practically the model example of ’someone else’s child.’ I’ve also heard that within the Funamoto family, most people believe Mari is the most suitable candidate to become the next head."
Kotomi spoke with a gentle smile, as though an elder praising a junior in someone else’s household.
However, when Mari Funamoto was mentioned, the smile on her lovely face carried a faint chill.
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