Green plums cannot become lovers.

"Humph."

Matsue Sakura let go of his hand and followed An and Asuka into the house, whereupon she was treated like an emperor.

"Teacher, this is a hot water bottle. Please hold it and apply it to your hands for a while."

"Teacher, I'll go pour you some tea."

"Teacher, would you like an apple? I've peeled one for you."

She was just sitting on the sofa when the boy had already thought of everything. She didn't even need to think; she could just enjoy herself.

Looking at the boy bustling around for her, Songyue Ying couldn't help but narrow her eyes in satisfaction. She knew that even as a teacher at school, she never received this kind of treatment; in fact, this guy didn't even pay attention in her classes, which made her quite resentful.

But now, she was being served so meticulously, which made her very comfortable.

However, all of this was definitely done by the boy to get her to say good things about him to his parents. She wouldn't be easily bribed, and she would definitely say what needed to be said.

"You think you can soften my heart this way? That's impossible!"

"What are you saying, teacher?" Anwa Asuka found it a bit amusing. She placed the cookies she had prepared in front of Matsue Sakura as she said, "I'm just doing my best to be a good guest. I'm not trying to bribe you."

"Alright, teacher, please try it."

Looking at the boy's open smile, Songyue Ying suddenly felt that she was really petty. How could she use such dirty thoughts to doubt the feelings of a boy?

"If the teacher feels guilty, they should leave immediately."

"......"

The guilt that had just risen in her heart vanished completely because of the boy's words. Sakura Matsue glared at Anwa Asuka, wishing she could tell his parents right now.

But we still haven't seen his parents. Did they go to work?

Matsue Sakura asked curiously, "Where are your mom and dad?"

"He went out and hasn't come back yet."

Indeed, parents who can raise such outstanding teenagers must be outstanding themselves, working even on weekends.

"When will they be back?"

"I do not know either."

An and Asuka smiled and shook their heads, but Matsue Sakura didn't believe them, thinking that the boy was deceiving her again.

"Don't know? You're thinking of using this method to discourage me again, aren't you? Let me tell you, it won't work this time. Since they're not home now, I'll just wait until they come back."

She had to fight for this boy's opportunity and not let his talent go to waste.

"Then it might take a long time for Ms. Matsue."

"I will wait no matter how long it takes."

"Well, that's fine."

An and Asuka stood up, and upon seeing this, Matsue Sakura quickly asked, "Where are you going?"

"Preparing lunch, the teacher doesn't want to go hungry, right?"

Volume 1: Chapter 47 Let's Try to Rely On Him

To Songyue Ying's surprise, she saw another classmate here during lunch. The other person was the one who came out of the room of the second-class shopper.

However, she didn't pay much attention to it, just taking it as a casual visit between kids during the holidays, since the two seemed to have a particularly good relationship at school.

After a somewhat awkward dinner, Matsue Sakura offered to help the two check their homework, but was refused.

"Teacher, do you think I look like someone who needs their homework checked?"

"Shizuka doesn't need it either, I've already checked her out."

The boy's arrogant tone made her grit her teeth, wishing she could pin him down and ravage him.

But the thought that she was visiting his home today made her realize that if the boy complained to his parents, her teaching career would be over.

Matsue Sakura was a little reserved during her first home visit. She didn't know what to do except wait, while the boy sat opposite her reading a book, silent and serious.

However, he would occasionally frown slightly, looking troubled. At these times, he seemed more like a primary school student pursuing knowledge, lacking his radiant confidence.

"Anhe, would you like me to teach you?"

Faced with such a boy, Songyue Ying's tone and attitude became much more serious. It just so happened that he was reading a music-related book, and she happened to be a music teacher.

How could there be such a coincidence in this world?

Songyue Ying looked at the boy, and then saw him move aside slightly. This made her eyes light up, and she couldn't wait to sit down next to him.

"Quickly tell the teacher, what don't you understand?"

"Oh, this is it. How stupid of you, you don't even understand something so simple."

"However, it's quite good that you took the initiative to learn the knowledge in this book."

Sakura Matsue chattered away as she taught him, and she discovered that the boy grasped things very quickly, making her marvel at his talent.

However, as she continued teaching, she gradually noticed something was amiss. The boy would skim over some difficult parts, while asking unnecessary questions about some simple ones.

"You're kidding me, aren't you?"

How could that be?

"Stop pretending, I've already figured it out."

Matsue Sakura glared angrily at An and Asuka, who remained calm. She had thought she would finally get a chance to perform well, but instead, she had become the clown.

"You brat dared to make fun of me, I'll remember this grudge."

Sakura Matsue sat down opposite the boy, deciding to ignore this guy who had hurt her feelings, but her gaze still lingered on him.

The February sun shines gently and not intensely, sparsely; melting snow drips from the eaves, dripping softly.

The warmth and tranquility of the room enveloped the two of them, and Songyue Ying unconsciously relaxed her body, her fatigue from the past few days being magnified infinitely at this moment.

"Haa~~~"

Matsue Sakura covered her mouth and yawned, then slowly lay down on the table and fell asleep.

When I woke up again, it was already dusk, and the setting sun shone through the window onto the eaves.

Songyue Ying slowly opened her eyes, feeling comfortable all over, and her fatigue had greatly subsided. She unconsciously pulled the blanket over her shoulders, squinting her eyes as if she wanted to sleep a little longer.

But then, as if she had just thought of something, she froze and immediately stood up to look around.

The hall was empty except for her, and Songyue Ying felt a sudden panic.

Oh no, she actually fell asleep at her student's house! She's such a useless teacher. It's so late; the boy's parents should be home by now. Will she leave a bad impression on them?

Just as Songyue Ying was feeling a little flustered, a familiar voice from the boy came from the side.

"Matsuzuki-sensei, come and eat when you wake up."

"Huh?"

Songyue Ying turned her head to look to the side and saw that the boy was holding a pot of rice, and several home-style dishes were already laid out on the table.

"Anhe, classmate..."

Sakura Matsue called out unconsciously, and the boy seemed to have guessed what she was thinking, so he said, "Don't worry, teacher, no one but me has seen your terrible sleeping posture."

"..."

After looking around and confirming that there was no one else besides the boy, Matsumatsuki Sakura breathed a sigh of relief.

She stood up, rubbed her slightly numb arm, and then walked to the table and sat down. But she quickly stood up again.

No, she didn't come here to eat.

"Kid, haven't your mom and dad come back yet?"

"Teacher, please sit down first." Anwa Asuka looked at Matsuzuki Sakura with a slight smile and said, "It's just what I should tell you about this."

"..."

Sakura Matsue felt that the boy's smile was a little different from usual, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was different.

She obediently sat down.

"Although you probably think I was lying to you before, I really don't know when they will be back."

"Because they have been away from home for a long time. If you do the math, my father has been away for a year and a half, and my mother for a year."

"Huh?"

The boy's calm words struck her like a boulder. It was only at Songhui that she came to her senses and looked at the boy in disbelief.

She tried to see any signs of lying on the boy's face, but his gaze was calm and composed, revealing no trace of deception.

"you you......"

This statement was a huge blow to her.

"You see, it's precisely because I knew the teacher would act this way that I didn't want to tell you. I've given you so many chances, but you still insist on pursuing this to the end."

She wouldn't have believed it if I had told her earlier, but she can't accept it now.

He didn't want too many people to know about his family situation. He didn't want people to talk about how unlucky and miserable he was, or to be cautious around him or to always give in to him. That would take away a lot of the fun of socializing.

Not to mention, if someone were to use this to make fun of him, he would be extremely annoyed.

He had hoped to discourage Ms. Matsue, but he underestimated the determination... or rather, the sense of responsibility of the person in front of him.

"..."

At this moment, Songyue Ying felt a lump in her throat. She had never imagined that what she was waiting for was not the boy's parents, but such a cruel truth.

She recalled how optimistic and respectful his parents always seemed when they were mentioned, and she had always assumed that the boy's family must be wonderful.

But now... what has she done?

“Teacher, since you’ve chosen to pursue this to the end, you should have been mentally prepared instead of acting like this.”

“I chose to tell you the truth because I was moved by your sense of responsibility, not to make you feel guilty. If you do that, I will feel like I am the one who did something wrong.”

"..."

Upon hearing this, Songyue Ying felt even more pain in her heart.

The boy's story was not as wonderful as others imagined.

The father was a gambler who lost all the family's money and then disappeared. His mother later followed in his footsteps and left the family.

His only support, his maternal grandparents, treated him like a stranger, because in their eyes, that idle fellow had tricked the shrine maiden who was supposed to inherit the shrine, and their child carried the blood of a 'sinner'.

Although the boy didn't say much, only briefly recounting his experiences in a few simple sentences, Songyue Ying couldn't help but tear up after listening.

She knew that beneath the boy's calm descriptions lay a series of sorrowful stories.

Even so, he remained so lively, cheerful, and helpful. He was such an outstanding child, yet he experienced such a tragic event.

She couldn't imagine how he had managed to get through it all alone, with those two people abandoning him and his family turning a blind eye.

Just thinking about it makes her heart ache terribly.

"Teacher, I'm not telling you this because I want you to think I'm miserable. I want to tell you that my life isn't as bad as you imagine."

"So you don't need to cry like this for me."

Aside from being slightly short of money, his life was fairly normal. Besides, without those two adults around, he could do many things on his own without being restricted.

For example, bringing girls to stay at home.

In short, he is very satisfied with his current life.

"But, but..."

Matsue Sakura sniffed. This guy made it sound so easy, but how could she not feel sad for her student after hearing such a thing?

What a pair of bastard parents! They could abandon such a well-behaved and sensible child.

If she had a choice, she really wanted to say to the boy in front of her, "Be my son!" Since the couple didn't cherish him, she would protect him herself.

But even if I wanted to do it, my family would definitely disagree.

"Alright, teacher, you should leave after you finish eating. It's getting dark, and your family will scold you if you don't go home soon."

An and Asuka joked.

She had the answers she wanted to know, and she had eaten. If she stayed any longer, the sun would set, and it wouldn't be safe for her to go back alone.