Green plums cannot become lovers.

A wave of intense regret washed over Huang Mao.

When he saw the band "Thornless" on the event list, he only glanced at it; it was an all-female band with no debut record and none of the members were well-known.

In his view, this was clearly an easy target, the kind of amateur band that squeezed into the music festival through connections or luck, and he hated bands that relied on connections the most.

But he never expected that behind this "easy target" band stood the "Flying Bird".

"me……"

The young man stammered, unable to speak; his lips moved, but no coherent sentence came out.

Just then, a voice came from outside the crowd, and the crowd parted to let a middle-aged man squeeze in.

An and Feiniao recognized this person; he was in charge of the west side secondary stage of this music festival. They had met once before when coordinating venue and equipment arrangements. He was a decisive and efficient person.

Nishimura had only come to check out the commotion when he heard it, but once he squeezed into the crowd and saw who was confronting the blond-haired man, his expression immediately turned serious.

It was a bird.

Nishimura's heart skipped a beat. He knew very well who Asuka was. Not to mention his influence among music fans, his relationship with Akane Akasaka alone was enough to make any event organizer think twice.

If Asuka gets harassed here, it won't be something that can be resolved with a simple argument.

"Mr. Asuka, what happened?" He walked over quickly, his tone clearly concerned.

When the blond-haired youth saw Nishimura appear, the last trace of color drained from his face, and his complexion turned ashen, like a piece of paper just pulled from the water.

An and Asuka didn't embellish or downplay the incident. He calmly glanced at the blond-haired man and, under the man's desperate gaze, truthfully recounted what had just happened.

From the moment he led the five girls out of the lounge, to when the blond-haired guy stopped them in the corridor and said, "An all-girl band, huh? I hate all-girl bands the most," and then to the later statement, "I don't know what kind of deal was made behind the scenes," he didn't hide any details or exaggerate any words; he simply recounted the whole story.

"What? Such a thing actually happened?"

Upon hearing this, Nishimura's eyes suddenly sharpened.

He turned to look at the blond guy beside him, his gaze as cold as a knife, and his tone turned stern: "Which band are you in? Don't you know that it's forbidden to have conflicts with other bands during the music festival?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a lot of weight in the quiet corridor, causing those around him to unconsciously lower their breathing.

“This violates the rules of this music festival,” Nishimura said, emphasizing each word. “I’m expelling you from this music festival!”

These words struck Huang Mao like a heavy hammer blow to his heart.

The blond-haired man swayed, almost losing his balance.

Their band came from Kyushu Island in the south, and it takes several hours to get here by Shinkansen.

They brought their instruments and luggage, squeezed into cheap capsule hotels, and paid for their own rehearsals, meals, and equipment rentals, all in order to appear at this music festival, make a name for themselves, and let more people know the name of their band.

They prepared for this opportunity for two whole months, even carefully calculating their return travel expenses, afraid of spending an extra penny.

If they are expelled from the team here, all their hard work along the way will have been in vain.

It's not just about his efforts alone; it's also about how he should face the other members of the band.

How can he face his friends and fans who support them back home? They are still waiting for news of them, waiting to see photos and videos of them at the music festival.

“Mr. Nishimura,” the blond-haired man’s voice trembled almost as he said, “I…I didn’t mean to…”

"Hmph, not on purpose?" Nishimura sneered, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Do you think I'd believe that? So many people saw it. Do you think I was targeting you?"

What he said wasn't wrong; quite a few people did see what happened just now.

The blond-haired guy stood in front of several girls, spewing rude remarks and acting arrogantly. Even if Nishimura didn't pursue the matter, this was, at best, a verbal altercation, and at worst, malicious provocation. According to the music festival rules, punishing him was entirely justified.

A murmur of discussion arose from the surrounding crowd.

Some people felt the punishment was too harsh and sympathized with the blond-haired guy. After all, they were all in the music industry, and everyone knew how hard-won such an opportunity was.

But some people think he deserved it, since he had to provoke others for no reason. Others have a more realistic view: losing a band means they might get more playing time, and the audience's attention will be more focused on the remaining bands.

From this perspective, it's not bad.

The blond-haired man stood there, opening his mouth but unable to utter a sound. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Nishimura's expression or turn to look at the girls' faces. His hands clenched unconsciously, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

Just when he was almost in complete despair, a voice rang out again.

“Mr. Nishimura, there’s no need to be so harsh.”

The blond-haired man suddenly raised his head and looked at the person who had spoken in disbelief.

An and Asuka's expressions remained calm, without any particular emotion.

"Eh? What does Mr. Asuka mean?" Nishimura turned his head with some surprise.

He thought he was doing exactly what the boy wanted, helping him vent his anger, getting rid of that clueless guy, and giving those five girls an explanation. He'd seen this kind of thing countless times in the industry; when a big star was offended, the organizers would step in and clear them out—it was commonplace.

“I didn’t mean to get rid of him.”

An and Asuka first explained to Nishimura, then turned to the bewildered blond-haired man, "You may have some misunderstandings. But what I want to say is, if you really have the ability, then beat us on this stage, instead of just talking backstage. That's not your band's motto, is it?"

His tone was calm and unhurried, as if he were reasoning with a junior who had made a mistake, rather than confronting someone who had just spoken rudely.

The blond-haired man stared at him blankly, not reacting for a long time.

He had expected to be expelled from the show, to be sent back to Kumamoto Prefecture in disgrace, and to suffer the torment of facing the disappointed looks of his teammates upon his return.

But he never expected that he would receive such words.

It's not about forgiveness or letting go, but rather a single statement: if you truly want to prove yourself, let your music speak for itself.

The blond-haired man's eyes immediately reddened.

It wasn't because of resentment or anger, but a more complex emotion... shame, gratitude, and an inexplicable impulse. He felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face, but not on the cheek; rather, it was a slap to the very place of pride and arrogance within him.

"I'm sorry...it was my fault."

He bent down and bowed deeply to An and Asuka.

An and Asuka looked at his hunched back, their tone unchanged: "The person you should apologize to is not me."

The blond-haired man stiffened. He understood what those words meant, straightened up, turned around, and bowed deeply once again to the five girls standing beside him.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong just now, please forgive me!"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying an undisguised regret.

The five girls looked at each other.

It's impossible to say that I'm completely unconcerned, after all, being told such hurtful things to my face would make anyone feel bad.

Especially on such an important day, just before going on stage to perform, being suddenly doused with cold water feels like someone spitting into your pot while you're carefully preparing a feast.

But they could also tell that the blond-haired man in front of them was genuinely regretting it; he wasn't faking it or being perfunctory. The shame and apology in his eyes were undeniable.

Moreover, An and Asuka have already brought the situation under control and given them enough face, so there's no need for them to keep pressing the matter.

Anhe Mao spoke first, waving her hand and speaking in her usual cheerful tone: "Never mind, I won't hold it against you."

Jing Qinrencai added, "Don't say that again next time. Regardless of whether you like any type of band, at least respect their efforts."

Momoka Kawahara glanced at the blond-haired man, said nothing more, and simply nodded, accepting the apology. Rupa leaned against the wall, shrugged slightly, indicating that he had no objections.

Ebizuka Tomoyuki frowned and said, "Go back. I don't want to see you again."

Yellow Hair straightened up, bowed to them again, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, turned and strode out of the corridor. His figure disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor, his steps hurried, as if fleeing, or as if he had finally unloaded a heavy stone.

The crowd gradually dispersed. Some cast admiring glances at An and Feibiao, while others whispered about what had just happened. Still others shook their heads, feeling that the handling of the situation was too lenient. If it were them, they would have kicked the blond-haired guy out to feel better.

Nishimura stood there, looking in the direction where the blond-haired man had disappeared, then turned to look at An and Asuka, and said in a slightly sentimental tone, "Mr. Asuka, you are truly a magnanimous person."

An and Asuka smiled but didn't respond.

He wasn't magnanimous; he simply felt that using power to suppress someone was the most pointless approach. What truly makes people remember is never fear, but respect.

If that blond guy learns from this experience and focuses on making good music, then today's lesson wasn't in vain. If he remains unchanged, then it only proves that he truly doesn't deserve any attention.

He turned around and looked at the five girls.

"Alright, let's put this matter behind us."

His tone became relaxed again, "Now you should be thinking about what's going on on stage. Come on, go get some fresh air by the stage. I bet you don't want to be cooped up in the dressing room anymore."

Five girls followed him out of the corridor and into the warm autumn sunlight.

A breeze blew across the lawn, carrying the scent of dry grass and the damp aroma of the distant lake. On the stage in the distance, staff were adjusting the sound system, the intermittent hum of the circuitry echoing in the air.

The music festival began in the afternoon.

Volume 1: Chapter 302 Studying

October is already late autumn.

The air carries a hint of coolness unique to this season, especially when standing under the shade of a tree. When the wind blows, a layer of goosebumps will rise on your bare arms.

But this slight chill was quickly dispelled by the warm sunshine. The autumn sun is neither as scorching as in summer nor as weak as in winter. It hangs perfectly in the sky, enveloping the entire park in a soft golden halo, making the grass blades that have begun to turn yellow on the lawn shimmer.

At noon, the audience began to enter from entrances in all directions.

The flow of people was like several thin streams, converging from the subway station entrance, parking lot and bus station. There was a slight congestion at the entrance, and then, like water bursting through a dam, it spread out towards the main stage and the various secondary stages.

The crowd was mostly young people, but there were also some office workers who looked to be in their thirties, and even a few young parents pushing strollers. Music festivals are no longer a niche event in Tokyo.

The entire venue can hold approximately 20,000 people. From above, the crowd looks like colorful chess pieces scattered on a chessboard, moving about in twos and threes, sometimes walking, sometimes stopping, with conversations and laughter everywhere. The air is filled with the aroma of food: grilled meat, fried noodles, takoyaki, and the smell of fried chicken wafting from the makeshift drink stalls.

The performance, featuring both thorny and thornless performers, was scheduled for 3 PM, but it was only a little past noon.

The girls have plenty of time to wander around.

"Let's go, I'll show you around first," An and Asuka called out, leading the way for them.

Five girls followed behind him, their eyes filled with an undisguised curiosity and excitement.

Although they work in the industry and have performed in many livehouses, this is their first time participating in a music festival of this scale. Standing here watching the audience coming and going, the stages of all sizes, and the various vendors and merchandise, they feel like children being taken to an amusement park for the first time, wanting to see everything and curious about everything.

An and Subaru walked at the front, looking around as they went. Their eyes swept from the roadside stalls to the stage in the distance, and then from the stage to the audience spreading out picnic mats on the lawn. They kept sighing with admiration.

"Wow, it's huge...much bigger than I imagined..."

"After all, it's a venue that can accommodate 20,000 people."

Ebizuka Tomo walked beside her, his tone carrying a subtle tension. The thought that in just a few hours they would be standing here facing hundreds or thousands of audience members made her stomach involuntarily clench slightly.

"Let's go check out the main stage first," An and Asuka said, leading them onto the main road leading to the center of the park.

The main stage, located in the very center of the park, is the largest and best-equipped stage of the entire music festival.

Before you even get close, the deafening music hits you like a ton of bricks. The bass drum vibrates like it's hitting your chest, and even the ground beneath your feet trembles slightly. The distorted tone of the electric guitar cuts through the air, mingling with the cheers and whistles of the audience, creating a noisy and enthusiastic wave of sound that swallows up everything else around you.

The atmosphere was lively, or rather, noisy.

But for a rock band, being noisy is never a bad thing.

An and Asuka, along with the five girls, squeezed to the edge of the crowd and stood below the stage watching the band perform.

They recognized the band on stage; they were a very famous and talented band in the Japanese rock scene, and they had been incredibly popular for several years. Their albums sold well, their tours were always sold out, and they were a regular headliner at various music festivals.

At this moment, they are showcasing their rich stage experience on stage. The lead singer's voice is so steady that it seems to have been measured with a ruler, and every high note lands precisely in a comfortable position.

The guitarist would occasionally walk to the edge of the stage and make exaggerated strumming gestures for the audience below, eliciting screams from the crowd. The drummer taunted the audience by spinning his drumsticks in the air, catching them steadily, and then delivering a powerful blow to the floor drum.

What truly amazed the girls was the lead singer's MC skills.

Hello to all the friends who have come to this music festival!

He held the microphone, and his voice carried through the speakers to every corner of the venue.

"Oh!!!" The response from the audience was like a mountain roaring and a tsunami.

Why is there no sound? Did anything unpleasant happen to everyone today?

He deliberately lowered the microphone, pretending he couldn't hear clearly. The audience immediately responded with an even louder shout.

"Oh!!!!"

This time the cheers were several times louder than before, almost lifting the roof off the stage.

Several girls stood in the crowd, their hearts pounding as they were swept up in the fervent atmosphere. Their eyes were fixed intently on everything happening on stage.

Every movement of the lead singer, every interaction of the musicians, and every synchronized response from the audience were like a brand new map unfolding before their eyes.

The places where Youci and Wuci performed before are not even in the same league as this place.

But they also know in their hearts that this level of achievement doesn't happen overnight. Only they know how many years they've walked, how much sweat they've shed, and how many times they've endured indifferent reactions from the audience, all of which led this band from obscurity to their current status.

"Learn more," An and Asuka said softly, standing beside them.

He didn't spout any grand principles, just touched on the subject briefly.