Green plums cannot become lovers.

“Yes,” An and Asuka nodded. “I hung it on the doorknob.”

"I'm really sorry." Songyue Ying spread her hands, pretending to be annoyed. "I thought it belonged to someone else, so I didn't care after seeing it, but then it ran away somewhere."

An and Asuka paused for a moment, then remained silent, simply watching her.

Matsue Sakura felt a little guilty under his gaze, but quickly broke the brief silence with a chuckle: "Just kidding!"

She took a dark gray wool scarf from her desk drawer, waved it, and a genuinely happy smile appeared on her face: "Here, I've kept the scarf you gave me. It was so warm last winter."

Actually, she didn't know who sent the gift bag at the time. She finished her overtime work early that day and left the school, only to see the bag on the doorknob the next day. She initially thought it belonged to another teacher.

It wasn't until later, when she heard from other teachers that the boy had come to the school to give the teachers Christmas clothes and gifts, and had even come to see her, that she realized it was actually a gift for her.

There wasn't even a single greeting card.

“Matsuzuki-sensei, you’re a twenty-five-year-old adult, for goodness’ sake.” Anwa Asuka shook her head helplessly, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing. “Why do you still like to play pranks like an elementary school student?”

"You brat!" Songyue Ying glared at him, but her eyes were full of laughter. "Don't you know that age is a woman's worst enemy? Don't you dare say it out loud!"

“Yes, yes.” An and Asuka nodded obediently, walked to Matsue Sakura’s side, took out the small gift box from their pocket and handed it over, “Matsuue-sensei is forever eighteen years old. Here, this is this year’s Christmas present.”

Sakura Matsue's eyes lit up instantly. She blinked, looking curiously at the beautifully packaged little box: "What's this?"

"You'll see when you open it yourself," An and Asuka said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Songyue Ying accepted the gift without hesitation and carefully unwrapped it. When she opened the box and saw the silver necklace inside, her eyes widened in surprise.

The necklace features a delicate musical note pendant with smooth, graceful lines that shimmer softly under the office lights. The chain itself is also exquisitely crafted, appearing both stylish and elegant.

She picked up the necklace and examined it closely, liking it more and more with each look. Her fingers gently caressed the musical note pendant; the cool touch from her fingertips warmed her heart.

"You're not so bad after all," Songyue Ying said with a smile, her tone full of satisfaction.

Over the years she's been a teacher, she's had a few hundred students who have graduated, though not many. But of all those students, only this boy in front of her makes a point of returning to his alma mater at Christmas to give his teachers gifts.

This sentiment is more precious than the gift itself.

"Is this just for me, or do all the other teachers have one?" Sakura Matsue asked curiously, though she already knew the answer in her heart.

An and Asuka raised an eyebrow: "I'm not that rich."

"Hehe." Songyue Ying was even happier, her eyes crinkling with laughter like a little girl who had received a favorite gift.

She carefully placed the necklace back in the box, then looked up and scrutinized the young man before her. Two years had passed, and he had indeed changed a lot, but some things remained the same: the bright light still shone in his eyes, his calm yet sharp demeanor, and his maturity beyond his years.

He has really grown up a lot compared to two years ago.

He's grown much taller; the boy who used to only reach her shoulder is now almost taller than her.

His face had lost its childlike innocence, his features were more defined, and there was a touch of composure between his brows. Even his voice had changed; it was no longer so clear and crisp, but carried a unique quality of youth, somewhere between naivety and maturity.

"Come, sit down and let's talk." Songyue Ying pulled over a chair next to her. "Tell me, how have you been these past two years?"

An and Asuka sat down and began to briefly recount their recent situation. He mentioned signing with Rouge en Rouge agency and how Akane Kousaka had mentored them.

Matsue Sakura listened attentively, nodding occasionally, her eyes filled with pride.

"I knew you would amount to something," said Sakura Matsue sincerely after An and Asuka finished speaking, her voice filled with deep satisfaction.

From the day this young man first stood on the stage, she knew he was no ordinary person.

After all, he only learned a few lessons from a TV program and had never even touched a guitar before, yet he was so amazing on his first stage performance.

"What about your childhood friends?" Matsue Sakura asked. "How are they?"

“They’re at home, and they’ve signed contracts too,” An and Asuka replied. “Marina is drawing manga, and Shizuka is writing a novel.”

"Oh, that's really impressive," Sakura Matsue exclaimed. "A group of remarkable children."

Of all her students, only these three were truly outstanding. Perhaps after graduating from junior high school, they would remain among the best.

The two chatted for a while longer, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant. Matsue Sakura asked An and Asuka many questions about music composition, which An and Asuka patiently answered. Time slipped away quietly during their conversation, and the sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, casting long shadows in the office.

When a break in their conversation occurred, An and Asuka finally asked the question they had always wanted to ask.

“Teacher,” he said softly, looking directly at Matsue Sakura, “why were you crying just now?”

Matsue Sakura's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal: "Crying? You must be mistaken. I'm not crying."

An and Asuka didn't speak, but just looked at her quietly, their eyes calm but with an undeniable seriousness.

Silence fell in the office again. Sakura Matsue tried to avoid his gaze, to brush it off with a joke, but under his focused gaze, she found she could no longer pretend.

“Something happened at home,” she finally said in a low voice, her gaze falling to the wood grain on the table.

"What is it?" An and Asuka asked, their tone gentle but firm.

Songyue Ying bit her lip, her fingers unconsciously twisting together. She didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to tell this student she had always been so proud of about her troubles. She should maintain the image of a teacher in front of him—strong, reliable, and always able to provide guidance.

But at this moment, she felt so tired and so helpless.

"Hey, don't worry about it." She forced a smile, trying to make her tone sound more relaxed. "I'm a teacher, do I need you to worry about me? Don't worry, I'll be fine."

An and Asuka looked at her; her usually smiling eyes were now veiled in shadow, and the curve of her lips seemed forced. She was clearly sad, yet she was pretending to be fine.

He saw through her lie but didn't press the matter. He wouldn't force the teacher if she didn't want to talk. He simply nodded and said, "Okay. But if you need help, or just want someone to talk to, feel free to come to me anytime."

Songyue Ying paused for a moment, then looked up at him. The boy's eyes were earnest and sincere, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness. This pure concern made her heart ache, and she almost burst into tears again.

She quickly lowered her head, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down.

She didn't want to cry, but the thought of her terrible fate made her unable to stop crying.

Her parents forced her to find a 'husband'.

The man was the son of her father's friend, thirty years old, ran a small company, and came from a well-off family. However, he had a gambling addiction, frequently drank heavily, and had a chaotic personal life. She firmly disagreed with the marriage, but her family wouldn't listen to her.

“You’re already twenty-five. If you don’t get married soon, no one will want you!” that’s what her mother said.

“Their family is so well-off, what are you dissatisfied with?” The father thought so too.

No one asked her what she thought, no one cared whether she was happy. In her family's eyes, she was just a commodity that had reached marriageable age and needed to be married off quickly.

This morning, she received another call from home, ordering her to spend Christmas with that man tonight.

“Cultivate your relationship properly, and don’t throw tantrums,” the mother said sternly on the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Songyue Ying felt a wave of despair. Looking at her red-rimmed reflection in the mirror, at herself being cornered by her family, she was suddenly overcome with grief and finally couldn't hold back her tears in the office.

She loved teaching, loved music, and loved watching her students grow. She originally thought that her life could go according to her own wishes—finding someone she loved, building a warm family, and continuing to pursue her beloved career in education.

But now, it seems that all of that is about to be taken away.

"Asuka," Matsue Sakura suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Do you think... people should live for themselves, or for their families?"

She didn't know why she asked such a question; perhaps it was because the boy himself had a more tragic past.

An and Asuka looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "I believe that people should live for themselves first. Only when you are happy can you truly make the people around you happy."

Songyue Ying gave a bitter smile: "But my family will say that this is selfish."

“That’s not selfishness, that’s self-love,” An and Asuka said earnestly. “If you don’t even love yourself, how can you love others properly?”

"Matsuzuki-sensei, there's nothing wrong with being a little selfish."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Songyue Ying suddenly raised her head and looked at the boy in front of her, who was ten years younger than her. She suddenly felt a little ironic; she, as the teacher, was the one who needed her student to enlighten her.

But those words were like a ray of light, shining into the shadows in her heart.

"You're right," she said softly, a genuine yet still bitter smile playing on her lips.

An and Asuka looked at her and suddenly said, "Teacher, do you still remember what you said to me when we graduated?"

Matsue Sakura blinked: "I've said a lot of things, which one are you referring to?"

“You said that music is free, and life should be free too,” An and Asuka said slowly. “Don’t be bound by anything, whether it’s other people’s opinions or established rules. Be brave and pursue what you truly want.”

He didn't have many deep impressions of the graduation ceremonies six years ago, but he always remembered the words that Teacher Songyue said to him when she held his hand that day.

Sakura's vision blurred. She quickly turned her head away, not wanting the boy to see her tears.

After a long while, she calmed down, turned around, and gave An and Asuka a bright smile: "Thank you, Asuka. Really... thank you, teacher. I will definitely work hard."

The sky outside the window was darkening, and the Christmas daylight was coming to an end. An and Asuka checked the time, stood up, and said, "Teacher, I should go."

"Mm." Song Yue nodded and stood up as well. "Thank you for coming to see me, and thank you for the gift. I really like it."

She picked up the gift box containing the necklace and held it tightly in her hand, as if it were some precious treasure.

An and Asuka walked to the door, then turned back and said, "Teacher, if anything happens, please call me anytime."

"I understand." Songyue Ying nodded with a smile. "Go back now, your childhood friends are definitely waiting for you."

An and Asuka gave her one last look before turning and leaving the office.

The door closed softly, and the office returned to silence. The smile on Songyue Ying's face gradually faded as the boy left.

By the time An and Asuka returned home, it was completely dark. The wind and snow outside were getting heavier, and the howling wind stung their faces.

He parked his bicycle, shook off the snowflakes from his clothes, and then opened the door to his house.

Welcome back!

Three voices rang out simultaneously. Marina, Shizuka, and Ai were all gathered in the living room, where a sumptuous feast was laid out on the table—roast chicken, salad, stew, soup, and apple pie that Marina had specially learned to make. The small Christmas tree was twinkling with colorful lights, and wrapped gifts were piled up under it.

This year's Christmas finally looked a bit more like last year's.

"It smells so good." Anhe Feiniao took off her coat and walked to the table.

"We've been waiting for you!" Marina said happily. "Sit down, let's eat!"

The four sat around the table, hands clasped together: "I'm about to start eating!"

Dinner proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere, with everyone sharing their experiences of the day and discussing future plans with smiles. An and Asuka didn't go into detail about Professor Matsue, only briefly mentioning that they had returned to their alma mater to visit their teachers.

"How is Ms. Matsutsuki?" Shizuka asked softly, remembering the gentle music teacher.

"Yes, she's fine." An and Asuka nodded, but they didn't know if she could really get over it.

Those words only had a psychological effect and could not truly solve Ms. Matsue's problem.

After dinner, they exchanged Christmas gifts. Ann and Asuka prepared a bracelet for each of the three girls, each with a different design, but all were exquisite. The girls, in turn, worked together to knit him a long, warm, dark gray scarf.

"We knitted it together!" Marina said proudly. "Although Ai's part was a little loose, Shizuka's part was a little tight, and mine was a little crooked..."

"But overall it looks pretty good!" Xiao Ai added, her purple eyes sparkling under the light.

An and Asuka took the scarf and wrapped it around their necks. The soft, warm touch carried the rustic charm unique to handmade items.

"Thank you, I like it very much," he said earnestly.

Night fell, and light snow began to fall outside the window again. The four of them sat in the living room by the kotatsu, watching the Christmas special on TV, chatting, and enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

An and Asuka looked at the three girls beside them, and seeing the warm smiles on their faces, their hearts were filled with peaceful contentment.

On that day, he sent gifts and blessings to many people. But in the end, he received far more than he gave.

There are the innocent smiles of the orphanage children, the teachers' heartfelt gratitude, Teacher Songyue's rediscovered smile, and this irreplaceable warmth right here beside me.

Anwa Asuka took out her phone and saw it was a text message from Matsue Sakura:

"Thank you, Flying Bird, Merry Christmas."

He smiled slightly and replied, "Merry Christmas, teacher. Keep it up."

Then he looked up and gazed out the window. Snowflakes fell silently in the night, covering the small town and the scars of the past.

A week later, An and Asuka saw Matsuzuki Sakura again.

It was a cold afternoon before the New Year, with fine snowflakes falling from the sky. An and Flying Bird were invited by a local band to perform a small show at a café called "Time Capsule".

This café is known for its retro style, with dark brown wood decor, vintage gramophones, walls covered with old movie posters, and the air filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and soft jazz music.

As he walked into the café with his instrument and the rest of the band, his gaze inadvertently swept over the window seats and then settled on one.

That figure looked familiar.

Sakura Matsue sat in the third booth by the window, her back to the door. Today she was wearing a beige turtleneck sweater, her long brown hair loosely draped over her shoulders, making her appear somewhat slender from behind. Opposite her sat a man who looked to be around thirty years old.

The man's appearance was quite ordinary, the kind you'd easily blend into a crowd. But he was impeccably dressed, in a dark gray suit, a light blue tie, and his hair was neatly combed. At that moment, a gentle, polite smile played on his lips as he lightly tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly discussing something interesting.

Is he Ms. Matsue's boyfriend?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when An and Asuka recalled the suppressed sobs they had heard in the music office on Christmas Day. The despair and exhaustion in those voices contrasted sharply with the soothing music and warm lighting in the café at that moment.

He didn't greet them or stop walking; he just took a deep look at their backs before following the band members backstage.