Green plums cannot become lovers.

Now, she has come to love every time he gets close to her and every time they touch each other.

Even though most of the time he forcefully held her hand and made her do things she was afraid to do, she never complained.

On the contrary, she would feel very happy.

Because of his encouragement, I accomplished something I never thought possible, like today, having fun with a group of girls I didn't know.

Despite a minor hiccup along the way, when he was hurt, he immediately stood up to teach the other person a lesson, and didn't even feel the pain from the minor injury on his hand.

With him around, every day was filled with light, and even the harm that my family brought me was not so unbearable.

"Shizuka, what are you looking at?"

"No, it's nothing."

Caught peeping, Shizuka Kuze quickly shook her head in denial. Seeing this, Asuka An didn't expose her, but instead, as if remembering something, took the girl's hand again.

"By the way, let's not go home yet, let's go buy some things."

What should we buy?

"Buy food."

When they heard that they were going to buy food, Marina became interested again and quickly followed them.

Kuze Shizuka looked at the hand being held by the boy. Their palms were sticky with sweat, but she couldn't bear to pull away.

When the three of them arrived at the place to buy food, it turned out to be a vegetable market.

"Is this what you meant by buying food?"

Marina gritted her teeth as she looked at An and Asuka, feeling utterly deceived.

"Isn't that right? Look how fresh these vegetables and meat are!"

“…” Marina felt that something was wrong when she heard this, but she couldn’t refute it.

"So, what are you doing here?"

“Buy some things for Shizuka to take home,” Anwa Asuka said matter-of-factly.

He was utterly disappointed in Shizuka's irresponsible mother. If she didn't come back tonight, Shizuka would have to go hungry again.

So he simply spent some money to buy some rice and vegetables for Shizuka, which was only a temporary solution and at least would prevent her from going hungry for a few days.

"Oh."

Upon hearing that it was for Shizuka Kuze again, Marina puffed out her cheeks and responded with a slightly sour feeling.

Seeing this, An and Asuka helplessly patted her head: "Alright, I'll buy you snacks too. What do you want to eat?"

"Potato chips, soda, and milk candy!"

Marina immediately perked up.

"Then go pick one."

"Yay, the bird is the best."

Mari ran excitedly into the store, just as An and Asuka felt their hands being gently tugged.

"What's wrong, Shizuka?"

"Let's go back, let's not buy those things anymore."

Kuze Shizuka shook her head at An and Asuka; she didn't want the boy to spend any more money on her.

"Does Shizuka want to go hungry?"

"In no mood......"

"Then let's buy more to eat, so we won't go hungry."

"But......"

Seeing that the girl still seemed somewhat unable to accept it, An and Asuka thought for a moment and said, "How about this, if you don't want me to spend money for nothing, then write down today's debt, and pay me back when you have the money later, okay?"

"Is this okay? You've already spent a lot of money today, haven't you?"

Whether it's treating them to fast food or buying them water and snacks in the afternoon, it's a huge expense.

"What's this little bit of money? I'm a second-generation debtor."

Seeing the girl hesitate, An and Asuka smiled and said, "Besides, everyone has difficult times. I'll help you out now that you're in trouble, and you can repay me when you're successful in the future. It's a win-win situation."

"All right......"

"Then let's go."

Shizuka finally agreed, and An and Asuka, without further hesitation, pulled her into the market. He first bought snacks for Marina, and then led the two of them around the market.

Surrounded by adults, their three small figures were very eye-catching.

"What an adorable child."

"So young and already helping her parents buy groceries."

"That little boy has such a sweet tongue."

"I wish my child was like that too."

Half an hour later, An and Asuka, along with the two girls, returned to Shizuka's house carrying large and small bags of things.

However, he didn't leave; instead, he started helping with the cleaning. After finishing, he prepared a sumptuous dinner for the girl.

They didn't leave until 7 p.m., after having dinner at the girl's house.

After seeing the two off, Shizuka looked at the clean and tidy house and felt a long-lost sense of suffocation that she hadn't experienced at home.

Today was an incredibly wonderful day for her, and she hoped that every day in the future would be as happy as today.

Although I owe the boy a lot of money, looking at it from another perspective, isn't this also a way of closely linking my fate with his?

Thinking of this, a sweet smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

Everything she has is a gift from that boy, and one day she will repay him.

Just as Shizuka was thinking this, a faint sound came from outside the door. Then, her mother appeared outside.

"Mother......"

A good mood throughout the day made her feel no fear or inferiority even when facing her own mother.

She intended to greet the other person with a smile, but before she could even open her mouth, her mother's emotionless accusations came crashing down on her.

"Shizuka, where did you go this afternoon?"

"Can you please stay home and stop causing me trouble?"

"Also, if possible, break off contact with those two. You've been corrupted by them."

"This is so annoying."

"..."

Her smile froze on her face. Shizuka Kuze stared blankly at her mother, the joy in her heart completely vanishing.

"Kuze, what's wrong? What are you doing in there?"

"Is that your daughter? She's so cute."

"Alright, let's hurry up and go, don't keep everyone waiting."

She watched the unfamiliar man appear, saw him smile at her, and then watched him leave with his arm around her mother's waist.

Kuze Shizuka felt her heart sink into an abyss once again.

Volume One: Chapter Eighteen - A Day in the Life

The wild rice plants grew wildly in the fields and along the roadsides, and the Virginia creeper climbed all over the courtyard walls when no one was looking. The summer temperature reached its peak in August, and the TV would occasionally broadcast reports of several people collapsing from heatstroke in some place.

Fortunately, a heavy rain last night dissipated some of the summer heat, preventing a similar accident from occurring in this small town with underdeveloped medical conditions.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, and the birds’ cheerful chirping woke An and Fei Niao from their sleep.

He frowned slightly, opened his eyes, and then jumped out of bed.

After putting away the books that hadn't been tidied up on the table the night before, picking up the crumpled paper from the floor and throwing it into the trash can, An and Asuka carefully looked around and, finding no dirt, went to wash up.

After washing up, he tidied up the house a bit, and then An and Asuka went out. When they returned, they were carrying a bag of snacks, fruit, and several popsicles.

It wasn't that he was greedy, but the girls were coming to his house today, and he couldn't leave them unprepared.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, An and Asuka sat on the side of the corridor, quietly waiting for the guests to arrive.

The world after the rain felt even clearer, and the small courtyard in front of me seemed to come alive under the clear sky.

The creeping vines hang down, adorned with the translucent light of the morning sun; the dewdrops sway, spreading the fragrance of the earth.

Just looking at this scenery, An and Asuka felt their hearts calm down unconsciously.

He didn't know how long he waited, until sleepiness came over him again, before his guests arrived.

The doorbell rang, and when I opened the door, I saw two girls standing at the front door.

"Why did you all come together?"

"We happened to meet on the road."

"Oh, okay, then come in."

An and Asuka, too lazy to ask too many details, simply stepped aside to let the two girls into the house. As soon as they entered, Marina sprawled out on the sofa.

"You lazybones, didn't you get enough sleep last night?"

"No." Marina lay listlessly on the sofa and said, "My parents argued last night until very late."

"...I see."

An and Asuka fell silent.

Although he had tried his best to stop the man from cheating for the past two months, it was no use no matter what he did; he stopped one woman and then another.

It's as if 'cheating' has been written into that man's underlying code, and it can't be left unwritten.

Now it's too late to stop him from cheating. All he can do is minimize the harm that Marina's parents' relationship has caused her after it has completely broken down.

If all else fails, he can only resort to the worst-case scenario: to win over Marina's mother and become her father.

Of course, he would only use this method as a last resort.

"It's okay, Asuka, Mom and Dad will make up soon."

Seeing the boy remain silent, Marina offered words of comfort. In her mind, her parents' argument this time would be just like the last one, and they would make up quickly.

It's impossible for them to reconcile.

Looking at the innocent-looking girl, An and Asuka ultimately decided not to tell her the cruel news.

"Never mind, have you all had breakfast? I've prepared some fruit and snacks for you."

"no!"

As soon as An and Asuka took the food out and put it on the coffee table, Marina started eating without any hesitation.

Where is Shizuka?

"I've already eaten."

"real or fake?"

"real."

"Goo~~"

The girl had barely finished speaking when her stomach growled. This made Shizuka Kuze's face turn bright red instantly, and she looked at An and Asuka with a somewhat flustered expression.

"They even said they'd already eaten."

An and Asuka looked at Kuze Shizuka with amusement, knowing she was embarrassed. So, he simply picked up a piece of gummy candy from the plate next to him, unwrapped it, and fed it to the girl.

"Here, eat."

"..."

Kuze Shizuka blushed as she looked at the boy in front of her, who had a serious expression on his face. After hesitating for a few moments, she finally opened her mouth slowly.

A cloyingly sweet gummy candy was put into my mouth, so sweet it made my heart ache.