Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Although Akira is Wakaba Mutsu's real son, even a son couldn't possibly know his mother's daily schedule during her teenage years.

“I know, and Su Shi probably knows too… but you shouldn’t go, you’ll scare Mutsu.”

Lixi's gaze was unfriendly, but she still answered the question. As if to discourage Xiao from giving up, she added a crucial piece of advice—

"Besides, Xiangzi should be inseparable from Hemu. She is much more protective of Hemu than I am. I advise you not to make trouble for yourself."

But it was precisely this sentence that gave Xiao a wicked thought.

"I have no choice but to go now."

"...Are you a masochist?"

Chapter Thirty-Two: I Was Born So That I Could Meet You

He combed his hair into an adult style and put on a handsome casual outfit.

Xiao stood in front of the mirror, examining his clothes. He had put a lot of thought into his attire for meeting Mu, even spending a considerable amount of money on new clothes. Li Xi would probably complain, "Where did this peacock come from?"

However, after buying the clothes, a large sum of living expenses was inexplicably deposited into Xiao's card. It seems that the force majeure that led her to this situation was quite considerate, actually knowing to provide timely help when she was in dire need.

Never mind, money is just an external thing; everything is just to leave a good impression on Mu.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong with her outfit, Xiao hummed a little tune and quickly went out the door.

The destination was a plantation near Tsukimori Academy. According to Riki, Mutsu often went there to buy seeds for the horticulture club and would also cultivate some of her favorite plants there one or two days a week.

Today is one of those days.

The thought of seeing Mu soon filled him with excitement, and his steps became lighter.

"Actually... before Mu adopted Xiao, she went through a very difficult period. Perhaps it started after Xiangzi's accident, or perhaps it was even before that..."

He recalled what Aunt Su Shi had once told him.

"But then Xiao appeared, and Mu slowly got better. So everyone and I have to thank Xiao."

The gentle Aunt Su Shi wanted to comfort him, but young Xiao Xin was thinking of a different possibility.

"If only I had been by Mu's side back then, I could have protected her!"

"This...this kind of thing can't be done, can it..."

It seems nothing is impossible in this world, Aunt Su Shi.

Pulling herself out of her reverie, Xiao took the tram to her destination and followed the flow of people off the platform.

Perhaps it was a blessing from heaven that gave him the opportunity to realize his childhood fantasy, allowing him to meet Mutsu, who had returned to her teenage years, and all the aunties as a peer.

When he arrived at the plantation closest to the Moon Forest Girls' Academy, the not-so-crowded interior allowed him to quickly spot the figure he had been longing for.

That was a long-haired girl with green hair, holding the fertilizer and seeds she had just bought, squatting in a corner with her back to the door, quietly planting something.

Xiao first scanned the area to make sure that there was no sign of Toyokawa Shoko, the monitor, before quietly walking to Wakaba Mutsu's side.

then--

"Mu, what are you doing?"

"?!"

His sudden voice almost made the girl drop the shovel, which made him laugh out loud like a mischievous little boy who had successfully caused a ruckus.

"It's me, it's me. Do you remember me? My name is Kazama Akatsuki—you can just call me Akatsuki."

Since Mu was squatting by the potted plant, he simply bent down and squatted down next to her, gazing at her profile.

However, Mu slowly shifted his gaze, his expression somewhat stiff as if he didn't know how to talk to him.

"...I remember, you are Auntie Mud Stick."

"How come you're still stuck with this unfounded impression of me even after several days?"

"Because that's what Xiang said..."

As Mu said this, she shifted her body to the side, clearly having taken Xiangzi's advice to heart: "Mu, you must keep your distance from that ill-intentioned guy."

Damn it, Teacher Da Xiang, you've done so many bad things...!

However, Xiao did not get discouraged. It was perfectly normal for Mu, who did not know him at this stage, to be more compliant with Xiangzi's opinion.

Thinking this, he moved his body a little closer to Mu.

"Mu, do you think I'm a bad person?"

"..."

This somewhat aggressive approach, which might seem a bit overbearing to an introvert, didn't faze the long-haired, green-haired girl who wasn't good at socializing.

"I don't think so..."

She picked up the shovel she had been using to dig the soil again, her gaze still fixed on the seed she had nurtured in the very center of the flowerpot, but she responded directly to his kindness.

If Ye Mu could sense that the smiling boy beside her meant her no harm.

Rather, it was overflowing with goodwill and affection.

"...Why are you so good to me..."

This puzzled Mu somewhat; the only explanation was her status as a second-generation star who was frequently in the spotlight.

When Ke Xiao heard the question, she simply blinked and gave an answer without changing her expression.

"Do I need a reason to be with Mu? I'm just happy as long as Mu is breathing beside me like this—I think it's an innate talent."

"Well……"

Ruo Yemu was somewhat speechless. She couldn't understand why this guy could say such alluring yet heavy words so casually.

"Have you planted them?"

In the end, she simply blurted out this ambiguous question.

"I've planted them. Mu Yi gave them to me and I'll go back and plant them. Those cucumber seeds."

But Xiao picked up on her words without even thinking, instantly understanding her meaning as if she were a mind reader.

"Well, that's good."

Mu nodded and quietly handed the water bottle to Xiao, who was squatting beside him. After a moment of surprise, Xiao immediately took it.

"...I will always be a partner of Harmony."

He tilted the watering can to water and moisten the dry soil in the flowerpot.

"Maybe I was born just to meet you."

Most people would immediately be alarmed upon hearing such mutterings.

However, Ruoye Mu is no ordinary person.

"……Really?"

If it were anyone else, hearing such weighty words would probably send chills down their spine, but Ruoye Mu took it seriously.

Even though she knew this person was just a stranger of the opposite sex whom she had only known for a short time, Mu just couldn't bring herself to be wary of him.

There was even a hint of intimacy that seemed to come from nowhere.

Perhaps he really is a good person.

"However, Xiang said that Xiao was a pervert who trespassed on private property."

"Uh……"

Although Xiao was happy that Mu was finally willing to call him by his name so affectionately, she seemed to still prioritize Xiangzi's feelings for the time being.

"Xiang also told me to be careful, and if Xiao broke into my house one day, I should call her and the police."

At this point, Wakaba Mutsu raised his head and looked at the boy with calm and gentle eyes.

"But I won't."

"Mu...!"

"Xiao, we still need to water the cucumbers; we can't let the police take us away."

"Uh……"

Well, the little bit of emotion that had just welled up in Xiao's heart has receded again. It seems that his mother's feelings for him are still only at the level of a stranger with whom she has a good impression.

But it's okay, he has plenty of time to gradually get along with her.

"Well, there was actually a misunderstanding between me and Xiangzi. I'm not some kind of pervert who breaks into people's homes."

Just as he put on a flawless innocent expression, intending to clear his name,

"Oh? Really?"

Suddenly, a clear, cold female voice came from behind him.

not good.

The silver-blue-haired girl crossed her arms in front of her and looked down at Xiao, who was squatting next to Mu.

"If there's any misunderstanding, let's clear it up face to face—why are you here?"

Toyokawa Shoko's expression was very serious and indignant, seemingly because Akira had appeared unintentionally next to Mutsu without her noticing.

Yes, she realized she had almost had her crystal stolen.

Chapter Thirty-Three: I Was Here First

After her unexpected encounter with Aunt Doroki, who called herself Kazama Akira, that day, Toyokawa Shoko had somewhat lowered her guard against him.

The reason was simple: this person seemed to have no ill intentions towards her or Mu, and even seemed to have an unusual fondness and favoritism towards Mu... She could temporarily believe that he would not harm Mu.

However, if the favoritism goes too far, the nature of the situation changes completely.

Imagine a pervert who suddenly shows up in your house one day, ransacking it, and then shows an unusually strong interest and affection for your childhood sweetheart, even confessing his love to her right in front of you...

Toyokawa Shoko is facing the first crisis of her life: her childhood sweetheart and love interest may be kidnapped by a curly-haired boy who suddenly appears out of nowhere.

This kind of plot seems to be quite common in novels, where the female protagonist encounters a "suddenly appearing" type of love interest, and her childhood sweetheart suffers a painful defeat...

My head always feels itchy, like a lawn is growing on it.

No, no, this is absolutely unacceptable.

From then on, Xiangzi implemented the "Battle to Protect Mutou" plan.

Whenever she had free time, she would stay by Mu's side. Mu enjoyed being cared for by Xiangzi and didn't feel anything was wrong with it.

The plan had been progressing smoothly until today.

Xiangzi accompanied Mu to buy gardening products in the plantation around the school. However, he went to the restroom briefly and delivered the thing that should never have been released to Mu's side.

"If there's any misunderstanding between us, please be frank with me, Kazama-kun."

Actually, it's a bit difficult for her to even manage a proper smile. Toyokawa Shoko now has a complicated feeling towards Xiaopo: "You little brat, you broke into my house, rummaged through my underwear, and tried to steal my childhood sweetheart."

"That's the misunderstanding, Xiangzi—we don't have anything to say to each other directly."

"Oh? Is that so? But I just overheard you confessing your deepest feelings to Mutsu. Mutsu, don't believe his sweet talk, okay?"

"Uh-huh……"

"How could this be! If there's even the slightest hint of falsehood in my love for Mu, I'll be forever barred from the entertainment industry and from ever going home!"

"What kind of oath is this... By the way, why are you here, Kazama-kun?"

Xiangzi sighed and rubbed her forehead. Every day at work, as a customer service representative, she had to deal with a bunch of androids who talked nonsense. After work, she also had to prevent her childhood sweetheart from being harassed by perverts.

And how exactly did this pervert know Mu's daily movements?

"Hmm... because I have a telepathic connection with Mutsuko? You see, at least I know that although she obeyed you, Xiangzi, she still listened to a little bit of my sweet talk—"

"If you keep being so glib, don't blame me for kicking you out, okay? Hmm..."

As Toyokawa Shoko scanned the two of them, she inevitably noticed the kettle that Akira was holding in his hand.