Chapter 5941

Upon hearing that the master, the eldest lady, and the prominent star Tavana were arriving, excitement rippled through the crowd. Although there was surprise at the appearance of Michaela's close friend, a friend is still just that—a friend, not Michaela herself. The person set to arrive was a notable figure in Japan: Mitsui Yoshitaka, the head of the Mitsui family. Mitsui Yoshitaka is known for being low-profile, a common trait among the successors of the Mitsui lineage. Typically, he seldom engages in large events, but this time he made an exception out of deep affection for his daughter, who is a passionate fan of Tawanna. As a devoted father, he felt compelled to take a more active role. Before long, several bodyguards in black suits cleared the way for a middle-aged couple in their fifties, accompanied by a girl in her early twenties who had a distinctly animated style. Trailing behind them was a white couple. The woman was the renowned Tawanna Sweet, and the muscular man holding her hand, complete with a mustache, was her boyfriend, professional baseball player Trevor Kennedy. As soon as the five entered the venue, applause and cheers erupted from the guests, many of whom shouted excitedly. The most frequent cheers came from "Mr. Mitsui" and "Ms. Sweet." It goes without saying that Mitsui Yoshitaka is regarded in Japan much like the head of the Samsung family is in South Korea; anyone who sees him must show respect. Tawanna Sweet is so famous that there are plenty of fans in attendance, including Claire and Loreen. However, it was curious that while the Mitsui family appeared genuinely happy, with smiles on their faces, Tawanna and her boyfriend Trevor looked somewhat sullen and downcast. At that moment, Sasaki Yukiko leaned towards Charlie and the others, saying, "This couple is Mr. Mitsui Yoshitaka and his wife, Mitsui Masa. The young woman next to them is their only daughter, Mitsui Xinmei." Loreen asked, intrigued, "The leader of such a prominent family only has one child?" "That's quite normal," Sasaki Yukiko replied. "In recent years, fewer Japanese people are willing to have children. Many schools now have more teachers than students, and there are even some with less than ten students. The numbers could decline even further in the future." Loreen nodded, "I understand the low birth rate. Young people in Japan and South Korea don't seem to be interested in having children nowadays, but it’s unusual for wealthy families to not want larger families. Usually, rich families have many children." Speaking candidly, Loreen continued, "With such a substantial business at stake, wouldn't the Mitsui family want a son to inherit it?" "No, no, no," Sasaki Yukiko shook her head, explaining, "In these upper-class families in Japan, having daughters is often preferred over sons. The trend is shifting toward valuing daughters more." "Really?" Loreen asked, surprised. "Why is that?" Sasaki Yukiko whispered, "In Japan, not having a son is not an issue. As long as there’s a daughter, her husband can join the family, taking on the family name. This way, it’s like having a son of your own. A family’s business isn't managed by just one person; even if the son-in-law takes the reins, he’ll do it for the benefit of his children. Strict family laws ensure that the family business continues within the family name." She continued, "Besides, having a son is much like gambling. It’s easy to conceive a son, but the chances of having a son capable of managing a multi-trillion-dollar family fortune is rarer than winning the lottery. However, marrying off a daughter is different. With a significant family business and a daughter, you can sift through millions of eligible men and find someone suitable. It's akin to the saying among the Japanese: getting a son into the University of Tokyo is as hard as climbing a mountain, while finding a son-in-law from there is as simple as closing your eyes and picking a boy."

Loreen couldn’t help but chuckle, "I hadn’t thought of it that way..." Sasaki Yukiko smiled, "It's a customary belief in Japan, which explains why so many wealthy families have only one daughter. Even the well-known Ito family has just one child." "I see," Loreen acknowledged with a slight nod. At that point, the five individuals led by Mitsui Yoshitaka had reached the center of the party. A small stage was set up before them, designated for important speakers, so Mitsui Yoshitaka stepped onto it, surrounded by the crowd. Once on stage, a microphone was handed to Mitsui Yoshitaka. Taking it, he smiled and said, "Thank you all for attending today's gathering. We are fortunate to welcome the famous American singer Tawanna Sweet. Her remarkable talent has captivated even me, someone who typically doesn’t follow celebrities, and has made my daughter a true admirer. Please join me in giving her a warm welcome to Tokyo!" As soon as Mitsui Yoshitaka concluded his remarks, the crowd erupted into applause. Everyone turned their attention to Tawanna Sweet and her boyfriend, who had an overly groomed appearance. Tawanna Sweet appeared to struggle to maintain a smile, saying, "Thank you so much, everyone. Thank you, Tokyo." "That's odd," Loreen murmured, "Why do I get the impression that Tawanna doesn't seem very happy today?" "Yeah," Claire agreed, "It looks like she's forcing a smile. Is there something bothering her about the Mitsui family?" "That can't be the case," Sasaki Yukiko quietly interjected. "Mitsui Xinmei invited Tawanna and her boyfriend to stay at her personal manor. That’s a high honor. Many influential people don’t get that privilege. Because Mitsui Xinmei adores Tawanna, the Mitsui family has gone all out to provide her with top-tier hospitality. If this doesn't make her happy, that would be quite surprising. Even the Speaker of the US House of Representatives wouldn’t receive such a warm welcome." Loreen began to speculate further, "Could it be that she had a falling out with her boyfriend? She looks really down, almost despondent. Or maybe he was seen flirting with another woman?" Claire quickly responded, "Loreen, don't jump to conclusions. Those rumors are just gossip." Loreen chuckled, "I'm just curious! She gets so excited for every concert. It’s hard to believe she’d be this gloomy before her performance. I’m worried it might affect the quality of her show." Charlie suddenly said, "Look closely at her and her boyfriend. Although they both appear unhappy, they’ve held hands the entire time, showing they rely on each other now. This proves Loreen's theory is off; they aren’t fighting. Instead, it looks like they're facing some challenges together, meaning they’re united in this struggle." "Facing challenges?" Loreen questioned, intrigued. "What sort of difficulties could they be dealing with? They’re not lacking in money or love. Besides earning money, they fly around the world on private jets to showcase their affection. What problems could a couple like this have? Surely their parents accept their relationship?" Charlie smiled and replied, "It could be that some bad news just reached them from their hometown, leaving them feeling as if their spirits have been crushed." "Bad news?" Loreen asked, taken aback. "What kind of bad news could possibly trouble such successful individuals?" Charlie smiled, "Haven't you seen the news? Their hometown and most of the country is now red. If I recall, these high-profile stars belong to another color."