Sleeping With My Step Daddy
Chapter 77: "Blind Date"

Chapter 77: "Blind Date"

One week later — Kai’s Graduation Day

"Let’s take a group photo!" Reiji grinned, waving Kai over. "Come on, Kai!"

Kai shook his head. "Nope. I have something important to do. I need to go."

But Reiji grabbed his arm and dragged him to the center. "Just two minutes."

Kai sighed, standing there emotionless as the photo was taken.

Not far away, Takeshi stood quietly, holding a bouquet of flowers, watching his son with a proud expression. After a moment, he walked over with a soft smile.

Kai turned when he saw him. Takeshi pulled him into a hug.

"Congratulations, my son."

"Thanks, Dad," Kai replied flatly.

Takeshi looked at him with a fond, wistful gaze. "I wish your mom were here to see this. To see how grown up and accomplished our son is. I’m so proud."

Kai didn’t respond. His silence carried weight.

Takeshi handed him the bouquet. "I’m sorry, son... that I’m late."

Kai took the flowers. "It’s okay, Dad."

"I have a special gift for you," Takeshi said, and Kai blinked in confusion.

"But," Takeshi continued, "I have work to attend to right now. Let’s meet at dinner?"

Kai nodded. "Okay, Dad."

"Tonight’s special," Takeshi said with a hopeful smile. "After a long time, the whole family will be together for dinner. Please come."

"I’ll come," Kai replied.

"Oh, and Kai—" Takeshi’s voice lightened, "—you remember your blind date is today?"

Kai sighed. "Yes, Dad. I already told you... I’m not ready for any relationship."

Takeshi patted his back gently. "I believe you’ll like the man I chose. Just give it a chance."

Kai didn’t have the strength to argue. He already knew—he would obey in the end.

"...Okay, Dad."

"Don’t be late," Takeshi said with a chuckle. "He came a long way just for you."

Kai, clearly frustrated, muttered, "Okay, Dad... I won’t be late."

Takeshi pulled him in for another hug. "My precious son."

Kai didn’t smile. He just stood there, like always—obedient, quiet, and carrying the weight of a heart that hadn’t healed.

Takeshi gently patted Kai’s shoulder. "Son, I need to go now. Let’s meet at dinner—and don’t forget to tell me how your blind date goes."

Kai forced a smile. "Okay, Dad."

Takeshi left with a satisfied smile, unaware of the storm brewing inside his son.

Kai let out a quiet breath, then muttered under it, "So I need to find a way to escape this blind date..."

Just then, Yuki—Kai’s loyal secretary—hurried over.

"Kai sir, let’s go. You have a meeting scheduled."

Kai sighed and asked, "Yuki, what’s on the schedule after the meeting?"

Yuki checked the tablet and replied, "Sir, right after the meeting... you have the blind date Mr. Takeshi arranged."

Kai blinked. "What? Isn’t it in the evening?"

"No, sir. It’s scheduled during lunch."

Kai groaned under his breath and walked toward his car. Yuki followed him respectfully, sensing his boss’s irritation.

Kai sat in the car, eyes fixed on the window. The world outside blurred as his thoughts drifted far away.

Has Bast forgotten me by now?

He probably hates me... I hurt him so badly that night.

Is he doing okay? Did he move on? Maybe he’s with someone else now... someone handsome, mature—maybe he’s even getting married.

But I miss him. I miss him so much.

"Kai sir?" Yuki called softly.

Kai snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him. "Huh?"

"Are you okay, sir?"

Kai nodded faintly. "Yeah... I’m fine."

He turned back to the window, his voice barely a whisper. "But first, I need to get rid of this blind date... I can’t accept anyone else in my life. No one but Bast. He’s the only one for me. No one can ever take his place."

Then, as if a thought struck him, Kai looked at Yuki.

"Yuki."

"Yes, sir?" Yuki quickly responded, sitting beside him in the car.

Kai leaned a little closer and asked in a serious tone, "Can you tell me how to ruin a blind date?"

Yuki’s eyes widened. "S-Sir? I think I misheard that."

Kai shook his head, dead serious. "You heard me right. Tell me... how do I ruin a blind date?"

Yuki gave an awkward smile, unsure whether to laugh or panic.

Yuki scratched his head awkwardly. "Sir... to be honest, I don’t know how to ruin a blind date."

Kai shot him a sharp, cold glare.

Yuki flinched.

Kai (bluntly): "Yuki, maybe you don’t need a job anymore. How about resting at home instead?"

Yuki blinked, stunned. A second passed before his brain processed the threat.

Yuki (panicking): "N-No! I’m sorry, sir! I’ll research it right now. I’ll find everything you need to know!"

Kai leaned back in his seat with a smirk, folding his arms.

Kai: "That’s more like it."

Yuki fumbled to open his tablet and began frantically searching how to ruin a blind date.

A short while later, the car arrived at the company building. Yuki quickly hopped out, rushed to Kai’s side, and opened the door like the most loyal assistant in the world.

Kai stepped out, expression unreadable. He walked straight toward the building.

Kai: "After the meeting, we’ll talk about ruining the date."

Yuki (bowing, still nervous): "Y-Yes, sir."

---

Meanwhile, at Takeshi’s office...

Takeshi sat alone in his private office, slowly sipping wine as he stared blankly out the window. The memory of his meeting with Sebastian Vaughn replayed in his mind like a haunting reel.

[Flashback – One Week Ago]

The restaurant’s private room was quiet, filled with an air of tension.

Takeshi sat across from Sebastian, his voice unusually calm.

Takeshi: "Bast... I know I wronged you. I wronged both you and my son."

Sebastian didn’t speak. He just watched him carefully.

Takeshi continued, looking straight into Bast’s eyes. "The truth is... Kai didn’t break up with you by choice. I threatened him. I told him that if he didn’t walk away from you... I’d end my life."

Bast’s fingers curled slightly, but his face remained unreadable.

Takeshi (softer now): "I thought things would go back to normal once you were out of the picture. But I was wrong."

He paused, his voice cracking just a little.

Takeshi: "Kai changed. He stopped smiling. He stopped talking. He shut himself away... and ended up hospitalized for a month. I kept telling myself I did the right thing... but now I see I was just a coward. A stone-hearted father who couldn’t understand his own son’s love."

He looked down at the wine in his glass, ashamed.

Takeshi: "Sebastian Vaughn... Can you return to Kai’s life? I don’t recognize my son anymore. He’s forgotten how to live. And as a father... I can’t stand watching him wither like that."

There was a long silence.

Bast finally spoke, his voice steady but full of emotion.

Bast: "Mr. Takeshi... I love Kai. I always have. And if you allow me back into his life... I promise—on my life—I’ll love him, take care of him, and make him happy... until my last breath."

[Present – Takeshi’s Office]

Takeshi sat in silence, his eyes on a framed photograph of a smiling woman—Jennifer, Kai’s late mother. He gently traced the edge of the frame with his thumb.

Takeshi (softly): "Jen... I hope you’re happy. I’m trying to fix the mess I made... for our son."

---

[At Kai’s Office – After the Meeting]

The meeting had ended, but Kai still sat at the head of the long table, arms crossed, eyes lost in thought. Yuki sat across from him, fidgeting nervously, clearly debating whether to speak.

Finally, Yuki cleared his throat.

Yuki (hesitant): "Sir... about the blind date sabotage... I did a little research."

Kai (bored tone): "Mm. Speak."

Yuki: "Well, according to my findings, the best way to ruin a blind date is... to be rude."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Rude?"

Yuki (nodding quickly): "Yes, sir. Very rude. Mr. Takeshi is traditional, right? So I’m guessing he arranged someone from a wealthy, high-class background. These types usually have big egos. If you’re cold and dismissive, they’ll probably get offended and walk away."

Kai looked unconvinced. "And if he doesn’t? What if he tells my dad everything and Dad starts doing weird emotional blackmail again?"

Yuki leaned in a bit, whispering like they were plotting a crime.

Yuki: "That’s why you need to do it carefully. Cold, but controlled. Hit where it hurts—but with class."

Kai (dryly): "So ruin his ego, but don’t give him evidence?"

Yuki (grinning): "Exactly, sir."

Kai sighed. "Go on."

Yuki cleared his throat, now fully in character, his voice deep and dramatic.

Yuki (mocking Kai’s tone): "When he shows up—he’ll probably have flowers—don’t look at him. Don’t greet him. Just stay seated, act disinterested. And then say—"

(Yuki raised his hand, acting like Kai)

"’Mr., I’m not interested in you. I’m already in love with someone else. This meeting is a waste of time. You should leave.’"

Kai blinked, stunned by Yuki’s performance.

Yuki (nervous again): "T-That’s just a sample, sir. You can improvise if you want."

Kai stared at him for a second, then looked away, mumbling.

Kai: "Not bad..."

Yuki (relieved): "Thank you, sir!"

Kai (coldly): "But if it doesn’t work, I’ll make you go on the next blind date in my place."

Yuki (eyes wide): "N-No need, sir! It’ll work—I swear!"

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