Mash-Up Anime World: Anything for Money

"Hakuto-kun, what brings you here today?"

Hakuto glanced at the warm smile on Sayuri's face before reaching into his backpack. He pulled out a small red box and placed it in front of her.

"I heard from Eriri that you've been having nightmares lately..."

"This is a bracelet I got for you from a well-known temple nearby. I hope it helps, Sayuri-neesan."

As he spoke, Hakuto opened the red box, revealing a matching red bracelet.

It was a simple piece, adorned with just a single brown sandalwood bead—minimalistic yet elegant.

"Hakuto-kun, you got this especially for me? That's very thoughtful of you..."

Sayuri accepted the box and carefully examined the bracelet before slipping it onto her wrist.

"Does it look good?"

"Sayuri-neesan looks good in anything."

"Hakuto-kun, you always know just what to say to make someone happy..."

Sayuri let out a soft, melodious laugh before continuing,

"So, what brings you here today?"

"If you're looking for Eriri, she's not home yet. But you're welcome to wait in her room if you'd like."

Hearing this, Hakuto couldn't help but break into a wry smile. Who accepts a gift and then pretends to play dumb right after?

Seeing the awkward expression on his face, Sayuri chuckled mischievously.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore."

"I'll transfer your payment to your account in a little while, don't worry."

Hearing that his payment would be arriving soon, Hakuto's smile returned.

However, in the next moment, he pulled out two contracts from his pocket and placed them on the table.

"Aunt Sayuri, the previous contract has expired. Would you like to renew it?"

"Hakuto-kun, we've been doing this for so long. Do we really need a contract at this point?"

Hakuto didn't respond. He simply raised the documents slightly in his hand, his intent crystal clear—Yes, we do.

Seeing this, Sayuri's smile gradually faded. She picked up the contract and skimmed through it.

After a long pause, she shook her head.

Hakuto, however, didn't seem particularly surprised. He simply put the documents away without saying a word.

The contract duration had always been six months, and over the past two years, Sayuri had signed four of them. 

But this time, she had no intention of signing her name.

She gazed at the boy in front of her—his gentle smile giving away nothing.

Who would have thought that after two years of playing the devoted fool for Eriri, it all came down to something as simple as money?

"Hakuto-kun, after spending two years together… have you really never had feelings for Eriri?"

Hakuto had just finished packing up the contract when he heard her question. He let out a faint smile.

"Sayuri-neesan, why not ask Eriri if she's ever had feelings for me?"

"As for me… Sister Sayuri, you should know better than anyone why I approached Eriri."

Hearing Hakuto's response, Sayuri instinctively let out a deep sigh.

Hakuto slowly stood up from the sofa and gave a slight bow toward her.

"I appreciate your cooperation over the past two years."

"If you ever wish to work with me again, just give me a call."

"Of course, that's only if I'm not already tied to another contract."

With that, Hakuto turned and left without looking back. 

Normally, after collecting his payment from Sayuri, he would leave a small gift for Eriri or wait a few hours just to catch a glimpse of her.

But now that the contract had ended and his primary benefactor had no intention of renewing it, there was no longer any reason to go through those motions.

As for why he had to personally visit to remind her about his payment—well, it all started about six months into their agreement when Sayuri failed to transfer his salary on time for a whole month.

Hakuto had been quite bewildered at the time, thinking she might have simply forgotten. So, he brought a gift and visited her home, tactfully asking about his wages.

Sayuri had been visibly surprised that he would come knocking just to collect his pay, but she admitted it had slipped her mind and promptly transferred the money.

Ever since then, Hakuto made it a habit to visit her every month to ensure he got paid. He wasn't sure if Sayuri had simply taken a liking to the small gifts he brought along each time.

"It's finally over."

Hearing the notification sound of his phone confirming the deposit, Hakuto couldn't help but curl his lips into a smirk.

Over the past two years working for Sayuri, he had earned quite a fortune—two million yen per month, which converted to about 100,000 yuan.

And that was just for his free time on weekdays. If Sayuri or Eriri required his time on weekends, the price was negotiated separately.

Although the two million yen was the rate of the fourth contract—the previous three had been for a lower amount—it didn't really matter anymore.

Moreover, any expenses related to Eriri were also reimbursed by Sayuri.

A job that didn't interfere with his studies, didn't take up his holidays, paid an absurdly high salary, and had only one drawback—being labeled as a shameless simp. 

Why would anyone refuse?

Not only did Hakuto accept it, but he also dedicated himself to the role completely! He learned everything about Eriri's hobbies and did his best to cater to them.

He studied her food preferences, ensuring that both her breakfast and lunch were tailored to her tastes—five different menus for five weekdays, never repeating.

Since Eriri was a fan of anime, Hakuto made sure to catch up on every notable series. 

His room was soon filled with light novels and manga. 

She loved drawing, so Hakuto went ahead and mastered composition, coloring, and other auxiliary skills.

Though Eriri remained somewhat wary of him, making it nearly impossible to put those skills to use over the past two years, Hakuto still learned them with unwavering dedication.

After all, for over two million yen a month, he felt he had to at least put in some effort to earn it.

As for why he could engage in such an under-the-table arrangement at his age—well, that was because Hakuto was a transmigrator.

In his previous life, he had been an orphan, growing up under the scornful gazes and mocking laughter of others. 

Despite struggling to survive, he hadn't even made it to adulthood. And in this world, he was still an orphan.

Being an orphan wasn't easy, even with more than a decade of experience...

That was why Hakuto had no hesitation in throwing away his pride at school in exchange for money. After all, he'd already endured far worse ridicule before.

Back in elementary school, he had already made a name for himself using his face and exceptional conversational skills.

There wasn't a single student who didn't know him, nor a single teacher who didn't like him.

Even the parents who came to pick up their children after school would greet him warmly.

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