Chapter Twenty-Five: Sakurako Kinoshita

The Tide Rider Through Time

"Mary! Why is it you? Where is Kathleen?" Wei Hua asked in surprise. Mary stretched her slender waist and lay down on the bed, striking a seductive pose for Wei Hua before replying, "Why couldn't it be me? If Kathleen can seek you out, why can't I? Am I inferior to Kathleen? Kathleen went back to visit her grandfather, Mr. Brown, today. Professor Brown isn't feeling well."

"Mary! Please go back to your room! If Kathleen finds out you came to my room dressed like this in the middle of the night, she'll be angry. It will damage the friendship between us. Our investment plan is at a crucial stage; such things would not be beneficial," Wei Hua said to Mary.

"Why? Why can Kathleen come to your room, but I can't? Back then, all three of us had relations with you in Kathleen's room. Why can Kathleen be your girlfriend, but I cannot?" Upon hearing Mary's words, Wei Hua immediately realized that the problem he'd feared had come to pass. If he handled this poorly, his Excellence Private Investment Company might not survive, and then where would his funds come from?

"Mary! When I asked for your opinions back then, all three of you said you didn't mind. Kathleen only became my girlfriend after that. Why are you bringing this up now?"

"I didn't understand it at the time, but now I do. I not only want you as my boyfriend, but as my husband. As soon as you're old enough to marry, I want us to wed immediately. A boyfriend as outstanding as you must not slip away," Mary said. Wei Hua's headache grew; things had reached their most dangerous point. The bond between the three women was at risk of irreparable damage, and Jessie had yet to make her position clear. No matter which side she chose, it would complicate matters. Wei Hua exerted great effort to persuade Mary to return to her own room.

The next evening, before Wei Hua could devise a solution, Kathleen and Mary arrived at his room in succession. Wei Hua knew Mary's actions were deliberate, but he had no way to stop her. Kathleen, seeing Mary's attire, instantly understood. Thus, war broke out between the two women. Jessie, hearing the commotion, also entered Wei Hua's room. Upon seeing both Kathleen and Mary there, and noticing their provocative dress, Jessie immediately grasped the situation. Rather than calming the quarrel, she poured oil on the fire, insisting that Wei Hua must also be her boyfriend. The three women argued fiercely in Wei Hua's room. Fortunately, the apartment they rented was well built, so their quarrel was inaudible outside.

Ultimately, Wei Hua could no longer endure the chaos and managed to silence them with a loud shout. He said to the three, "In my heart, all of you hold equal standing. According to the Chinese attitude toward women, I should take responsibility for all three. But I respect your choices, so I leave the decision in your hands. I do not wish to destroy your friendship, but look at yourselves now. Go back and think carefully: is your friendship more important, or is competing for me? Have you even asked for my opinion? Our investment plan is at its most critical juncture; do you want it to fail?" Hearing this, the three women looked at one another and each left Wei Hua's room.

After they departed, Wei Hua sighed and collapsed onto his bed in frustration. The problem would not be easy to resolve—he had no idea how to settle the tangled affairs between himself and the three women.

Despite the tension among them, the women did not let it affect their work. Their cooperation remained seamless. In April 1974, the price of oil in the United States soared to forty-four dollars per barrel. After delivering all their holdings, Excellence Private Investment Company's funds reached seven hundred million dollars. According to the agreement between Wei Hua and the three women, each of them was now a multimillionaire. Wei Hua finally had enough capital to launch his plan. The relationships among the three women remained awkward, and Kathleen rarely visited Wei Hua's room during this period, but their attention toward Wei Hua only intensified.

One day, Wei Hua received a phone call from Kinoshita Yoshisuke, inviting him to dinner the following evening at the Kinoshita dojo. The next night, Wei Hua arrived punctually at the entrance. Kinoshita Yoshisuke and Sato Eimon greeted him at the door. After some polite exchanges, they led Wei Hua inside. In the banquet hall, he saw a Japanese woman dressed in formal kimono. Upon seeing Wei Hua enter with Yoshisuke and Eimon, she bowed to him. Sato Eimon quickly introduced her, "Mr. Wei, this is Miss Kinoshita Sakura of the Kinoshita family. She has come from Tokyo specifically to meet you." Then he turned to Sakura, "Miss, this is our family's important partner, Mr. Wei Hua. The materials you brought from Tokyo were collected at his request."

"Mr. Wei, I am Kinoshita Sakura. I often hear your name from my father, especially recently, as the business intelligence you've provided has helped our family reverse difficult circumstances. But the main reason I came is that my cousin told me you are a martial arts prodigy. I have loved martial arts since childhood and believe myself to be exceptionally talented. Now, even my cousin cannot defeat me, so one purpose of my visit to America is to spar with you," Sakura said to Wei Hua.

"Sakura! Your uncle did not send you to America to spar with Mr. Wei. You were sent to manage the family's communications with Mr. Wei. How can you challenge him?" Yoshisuke hurriedly scolded Sakura after hearing her words.