Green plums cannot become lovers.

Sakura Matsue's body trembled violently, and fear reappeared in her eyes. She gripped An and Asuka's arms tightly.

An and Asuka gently patted her hand, signaling her not to worry. Then he stood up, walked up to the man, and looked down at him.

Before the man could finish his harsh words, he saw a cold glint flash in the boy's eyes. That look sent a chill down his spine, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

"What did you just say?" An and Asuka's voice was calm, yet carried a chilling undertone. "I didn't hear you. Say it again?"

The man opened his mouth, wanting to continue his threats, but looking into the boy's cold eyes, he suddenly felt a strange fear. He swallowed hard and forced himself to say, "I... I said you're finished! I will definitely get my revenge!"

“Oh.” An and Asuka nodded, then suddenly lifted their feet and stomped heavily on the man’s knee.

"Ah—!" The man let out a shrill scream, the excruciating pain in his knee almost causing him to faint again.

"Looks like you still don't understand the situation." An and Asuka crouched down, their voices low, only the two of them could hear, "You're in my hands now, understand?"

Cold sweat beaded on the man's forehead. He finally realized that the boy before him was no ordinary middle school student. The look in his eyes, his skill, and the chilling aura he exuded...

"What...what do you want?" His voice began to tremble.

An and Asuka didn't answer. Instead, they raised their hands and delivered a precise chop to the man's neck. The man's eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness again.

This time, An and Asuka silently prayed in their hearts: "System, keep him from waking up for now."

[Received. Deep-penetrating agent has been applied to the target. Duration: 24 hours.] The system's voice sounded in my mind.

An and Asuka stood up, walked to Matsue Sakura's side, and helped her up: "Teacher, let's go. I'll take you home first."

Songyue Ying looked at the man who had collapsed on the ground, her eyes filled with worry: "Will he...will he die? Should we call the police?"

“He won’t die,” An and Asuka said calmly, “but calling the police will make things very complicated. Your family and your colleagues at school will find out what happened today. Do you want that?”

Sakura Matsue fell silent. She didn't want to. She didn't want her parents to know she had "ruined" the date, and she didn't want it to become gossip fodder for others.

"Let's go." An and Asuka took off their coats and draped them over Matsue Sakura's trembling shoulders, then helped her out of the alley.

The snow was still falling, and the streets were still mostly deserted. The two walked in silence, with Matsuzuki Sakura tightly wrapped in An and Asuka's coat, which still retained the boy's body heat, making her feel warm and safe.

After walking for about ten minutes, Matsue Sakura suddenly spoke softly, "Asuka... thank you."

She didn't finish her sentence, but An and Asuka understood what she meant.

“Teacher, you don’t need to thank me.” An and Asuka looked at the snow-covered street ahead, their voices soft, “But I want to ask you, do you really want to continue like this?”

Matsue Sakura's body stiffened for a moment.

“What happened today might just be the beginning,” An and Asuka continued. “That man won’t let this go. And even without him, your family will keep arranging things for you, one after another. Do you really want to live your whole life according to other people’s plans?”

Matsue Sakura stopped in her tracks. She stood there, head bowed, snowflakes falling on her hair and shoulders, gradually melting.

After a long silence, she finally spoke in an almost inaudible voice, "I don't know... I really don't know what to do... I tried to resist, but... it's too hard..."

An and Asuka turned around and looked at the teacher in front of them, who was ten years older than them but was as fragile as a little girl at that moment.

His eyes were serious and determined.

“Matsuzuki-sensei, if you’re really unhappy, then leave this city,” An and Asuka said. “The world is vast, and there must be a place where you can find peace and happiness. You can go to Tokyo, Osaka, or even abroad. With your abilities, you can find work anywhere.”

Matsue Sakura looked up, tears welling in her eyes: "Leaving...but that means leaving my family..."

"Do they really love you?" An and Feibiao countered. "If they really loved you, would they force you to marry a man you don't love, or even a man of questionable character? Would they disregard your feelings and only consider the interests of their family?"

These words were like a knife, piercing Songyue Ying's heart. She opened her mouth, wanting to defend her family, but found herself speechless.

Yes, if he truly loved her, how could he treat her like this?

“Teacher, your life is your own.” An and Asuka’s voice was gentle, yet carried a strength. “Only you can decide how to live. If your current life is causing you pain, then change it. No matter how difficult it is, it’s better than living a life of regret.”

His life experience was that if things didn't change, he would die a slow death.

Looking at the boy in front of her, at the maturity and determination in his eyes that transcended his age, something in Songyue Ying's heart was suddenly touched.

The struggles of the past week, the fear of today, and the words of the boy at this moment, were like the last straw, breaking down the wall of "obedience" in her heart.

She took a deep breath, and the snowflakes entered her lungs with each breath, bringing a cool and refreshing sensation.

“You’re right.” Her voice was soft, but firm. “I can’t go on like this.”

A hint of relief flashed in An and Asuka's eyes: "You've made up your mind?"

“Yes.” Matsue Sakura nodded, her eyes finally regaining their light. “I’ve decided. I’ll leave tomorrow. I have a college classmate in Tokyo who invited me to work at her music studio. I’ve been hesitant, but now… it’s time.”

“Great.” An and Asuka smiled, a genuine smile of happiness for her. “Do you need any help? Like moving or anything.”

"No need." Songyue Ying shook her head, a relieved smile appearing on her face. "I can manage on my own. I'm an adult now; I can't keep relying on students, can I?"

The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere finally eased a bit.

They talked a lot during the rest of the journey. Sakura Matsue talked about her classmates in Tokyo, about the music classroom, and about her long-held dream of opening her own music studio, teaching children to sing and play instruments, and freely doing what she loves.

An and Asuka listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words. He could feel that when Matsue Sakura spoke of these things, she was radiant. That was the real her, the one who loved music, loved education, and loved life.

By the time I dropped Matsumura off at her rented apartment building, it was completely dark. The streetlights cast a warm glow in the snowy night.

“Teacher, go on up,” An and Asuka said. “Get some rest, and start a new life tomorrow.”

Sakura Matsue nodded and handed the coat back to him: "Thank you, Asuka. Really... thank you so much."

"You're welcome." An and Asuka took the coat. "Have a safe trip, and remember to message me when you get to Tokyo."

“I will.” Sakura Matsue gave him a deep look, then turned and walked into the apartment building.

An and Asuka stood downstairs, watching the light in her room come on, before turning to leave. Meanwhile, Matsuzuki Sakura stood by the bed, watching the boy's retreating figure, her right hand gently resting on her chest.

It seems like something there has changed.

An and Asuka did not go home.

He walked back down the alley, his steps steady, his eyes cold.

The snow fell even heavier, almost burying everything. The alley was deserted, except for the man lying unconscious on the cold ground.

An and Asuka walked to his side, squatted down, and quietly looked at the man with the distorted face.

[System, check if there are any surveillance cameras or pedestrians around.] He silently repeated to himself.

【Scanning... No surveillance equipment or pedestrians within a 100-meter radius.】The system quickly replied.

An and Asuka nodded. He reached out and placed his hand on the man's forehead, the movement very light, as if confirming something.

[System, using the memory implantation and modification function, target: memories of everything that happened today, especially the parts about Ms. Matsuzuki and me.] An and Asuka issued the command.

[Command received. Initiating target brain scan... Scan complete. Target memory extraction in progress... Analyzing key nodes...]

The system's voice echoed in his mind, and An and Asuka could feel a strange energy flowing through his hand into the man's brain. It was a very subtle feeling, like an electric current, or like flowing water, warm and gentle.

[Command implantation in progress... Modification progress 10%... 30%... 50%...]

Time passed slowly, and the snow in the alley grew thicker and thicker. An and Asuka looked at the man in front of them and pursed their lips.

[70%......90%......100%, Modification complete.]

The system's voice finally sounded, and An and Asuka breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew their hands.

The man remained unconscious, but his brows relaxed and his expression became calm, as if he were simply asleep.

[New instructions have been implanted: The target will die tomorrow after falling into the river while driving under the influence of alcohol.] The system reported the result. [All memories of Matsumura Sakura and the host have been erased.]

“Very good.” An and Asuka stood up and brushed the snow off their clothes. “That way he won’t bother the teacher.”

He took one last look at the man, then turned and walked out of the alley.

The snow was still falling, swirling and fluttering, as if trying to cover up all the filth in the world.

As An and Asuka walked home, their minds replaying everything that had happened that day. If he could, he wouldn't want to kill anyone; he wasn't some ruthless monster.

But sometimes, he has to do it to protect the people he cares about.

Perhaps this world truly needs someone to protect those wings that yearn to fly.

Even if the means are not so honorable, even if the process is full of hardships.

But as long as the final outcome is good, and as long as those kind people can find happiness, then everything is worthwhile.

An and Asuka looked up, snowflakes landing on their faces, bringing a cool touch. In the distance, warm light shone from the windows of their house; Marina, Shizuka, and Ai must be waiting for him to come home.

He quickened his pace and walked towards the warm light.

Behind me, the snow fell heavier and heavier, gently covering all traces and all the darkness.

Volume 1: Chapter 157 I'll See You Off~~ [14,500 words]

The next morning, the sky was overcast, and light snow continued to fall.

Sakura Matsue stood at the gate of her alma mater, dragging a small suitcase. She had just completed her resignation procedures, a process that went much more smoothly than she had imagined. Although the principal was surprised, he didn't try to persuade her to stay, only saying regretfully, "Ms. Matsue, are you really sure? The students all love you."

"I've made up my mind," Matsue Sakura replied softly, but with unwavering determination.

Standing at the school gate, looking back at the school where she had worked for five years, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her. The red brick walls, the familiar playground, the faint sounds of reading coming from the teaching buildings... so many memories were tied to this place.

Her first batch of students have gone on to middle school, and some of them still come back to visit her occasionally. She secretly gave lunchboxes and stationery to students from impoverished families, and she listened to the dreams of countless children in the music classroom.

"Goodbye," she said softly, bowing slightly in the direction of the teaching building.

Then she turned around and prepared to walk towards the station.

Just then, she saw a figure standing not far from the school gate.

The boy, wearing a dark gray down jacket and a light brown scarf casually wrapped around his neck, stood quietly with his hands in his pockets. Snowflakes landed on his black hair and melted quickly. He seemed to have been waiting for a long time, as a thin layer of snow had accumulated on his shoulders.

"Asuka?" Matsue Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly walked over. "What are you doing here?"

When An and Asuka saw her, they gave each other a faint smile: "You've come to see your teacher off."

"How did you know I came out at this time?" Songyue Ying asked, then, as if remembering something, added, "You weren't waiting here the whole time, were you?"

"It didn't take long," An and Asuka answered evasively, then looked at the suitcase in her hand, "Is everything settled?"

"Mmm." Song Yueying nodded, her nose suddenly stinging for some reason. She had barely slept a wink last night; her mind was a jumbled mess, a mix of her family's scolding, the man's狰狞 face, and the boy's warm embrace. She only managed a short, hazy nap just before dawn, and when she woke up, she packed her things in a daze, processed her resignation, and didn't even eat breakfast.

“Let’s go then.” An and Asuka naturally took the suitcase from her hands. “I’ve already bought your train ticket. It’s the Shinkansen at 11:30 a.m., and you’ll arrive in Tokyo at 3 p.m.

Matsue Sakura was taken aback by his words: "You little rascal, you really can't wait for me to leave?"

She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. It sounded like she was blaming someone, but she didn't actually mean it that way.

An and Asuka weren't angry. They just looked at her calmly and said, "After all, I don't want to see you sad anymore."

His voice was soft, but exceptionally clear in the quiet snow. Snowflakes drifted between them, the boy's eyes earnest and gentle, and his words struck Matsue Sakura's heart unexpectedly like a warm current.

"You, you..." Song Yueying's cheeks suddenly flushed, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. She looked at the boy beside her, but he remained calm, as if he had just said something completely ordinary.

"What's wrong, Ms. Matsutsuki?" Anwa Asuka tilted her head and asked with some confusion.

"No, it's nothing." Songyue Ying quickly shook her head, inwardly annoyed at herself for overreacting. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "I was just wondering if everyone would miss me after I leave. After all, I've been teaching for so many years..."

Before she could finish speaking, An and Asuka interrupted her.

"I definitely wouldn't want to."

Matsue Sakura was stunned, looking at him with some hurt.

An and Asuka continued, "After all, Ms. Matsutsuki is so annoying. She loves to meddle in other people's business and exploit their labor. If you doze off in class, you'll be punished by standing. She'll even nag you for ages if you don't finish your vegetables for lunch. No one would want a teacher like that."

This series of accusations left Songyue Ying completely stunned. She remembered that An and Asuka had said similar things to that man at the coffee shop yesterday, and at the time she thought he was just saying it to help her out of an awkward situation.

So... so he really thought that way from the bottom of his heart?

A wave of resentment washed over her, and Songyue Ying bit her lip: "You brat, am I really that bad?"

Seeing her slightly red eyes and hurt expression, An and Asuka suddenly burst out laughing.

"Just kidding." He waved his hand, his smile shining brightly in the snow. "Teacher Songyue is beautiful, gentle, and so talented. She's also so good to her students. Everyone will definitely miss you after you leave."

This sudden turn of events startled Songyue Ying again. Looking at the boy in front of her who was smiling like a cunning fox, she realized that she had been tricked again.

"You...!" She was so angry that she raised her hand to hit him, but she lowered it halfway and finally just sighed helplessly, "You child, how did you become so bad?"

"It's all thanks to the teacher's excellent teaching," Anhe Feibiao said with a smile, pulling her suitcase forward. "Let's go, or we'll really miss the train."

Songyue Ying followed behind him, watching the boy's tall and straight back. The grievances in her heart had long since vanished, replaced by a warm feeling.

Yes, that's just how this boy is. He always manages to make people cry, laugh, get angry, and be moved in his own way. Just like yesterday in the coffee shop, he was clearly trying to help me out of a predicament, but he did it in such an infuriating way; just like now, he's clearly trying to comfort me, but he makes me angry first.

"Hmm, that's more like it..." Matsue Sakura muttered softly, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

However, her good mood didn't last long. A biting wind blew in, swirling up the snow on the ground and letting it seep into her collar. Songyue Ying couldn't help but shiver, realizing that she was dressed too lightly today.

She hadn't slept much since last night, and came out in a daze this morning, just throwing on a sweater and a coat, forgetting even her scarf. Now, after standing outside for a while, the chill had seeped through her clothes, making her hands and feet icy cold.