Green plums cannot become lovers.

He turned to Akane Akasaka and nodded: "Okay, from now on, we'll call you 'older sister' whenever we're out."

It was just a form of address; he didn't care. Besides, everything Akane Kousaka had done for them—the sincere contract, the meticulous considerations, the heartfelt respect—had already earned his approval. Calling her "older sister" was both a way of expressing gratitude for her help and an expression of equal respect.

“Shizuka, Ai,” An and Asuka said, looking at the other two girls, “call them older sisters.”

Kuze Shizuka and Hoshino Ai exchanged a glance and spoke almost simultaneously, their voices clear and sweet:

"elder sister!"

"Sister Zhu Yin".

An and Asuka then looked at Akane Akasaka, a rare gentle ripple appearing in her usually calm eyes. He nodded slightly, his voice clear:

"Sister Zhu Yin".

In that instant, Akane Akasaka felt as if her heart had been gently struck by something soft and warm.

"Akane-nee" is not the polite "Ms. Akasaka" or the distant "Teacher Akasaka," but the affectionate "Akane-nee." This simple address, spoken by these four children, seems to possess a strange magic, instantly bridging the distance between her and them.

She looked at the young boy and girl before her—An and Asuka were calm and collected, Marina was lively and straightforward, Shizuka was gentle and quiet, and Ai was delicate and intelligent. They were expressing their acceptance and trust in her in their own ways. A warm current, unlike anything she had ever felt before, quietly flowed through her heart, carrying a slight bittersweet feeling and an indescribable sense of fulfillment.

It was as if... they had truly become her younger brothers and sisters.

Akane Akasaka blinked, suddenly feeling a warmth in her eyes. She quickly lowered her gaze, using the act of fixing her hair to conceal the fleeting emotional turmoil. When she looked up again, a gentle smile had returned to her face, only this smile was more genuine and softer than before.

“Since you all call me sister,” her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, “then let me formally introduce myself to you again.”

She sat up straight, her gaze sweeping intently over everyone's face.

“My real name is Akane Kousaka. ‘Akane Kousaka’ was the pen name I used when I debuted, and it later became my stage name. So, you can call me ‘Akane-neechan’ or ‘Akane-neechan’ in private, it’s all fine.”

“Kousaka…Akane,” Marina repeated softly, then her eyes lit up. “Akane-colored Akane? Like the color of the sunset?”

“Yes.” Akane Kousaka—or rather, Akane Kousaka—nodded with a smile. “It’s that crimson color. My mother said that I was born at dusk, and that’s the color of the sky.”

"What a beautiful name," Shizuka Kuze said softly, her face beneath her black bob haircut filled with gentle admiration. "It suits Akane-nee very well."

Hoshino Ai didn't speak, but the light in her amethyst eyes softened even more. She seemed to really like the imagery the name evoked.

An and Asuka silently memorized this information. Akane Kousaka. A more private, more real name than "Akane Akasaka." The fact that she told them this name was itself a testament to her immense trust.

The atmosphere became more relaxed and natural in the following moments. Their relationship transcended that of producer and potential artists; it developed into a closer, almost familial bond. Akane Kousaka explained the professional terms of the contract in detail, answered the girls' various questions about their creative process and future development, and shared some interesting industry anecdotes and experiences.

As the sun gradually set in the west, its golden light turned into a warm orange-red. Akane Kousaka glanced at the time; though filled with reluctance, she still had work to do in Tokyo.

"I have to go." She stood up, her tone filled with genuine regret. "I need to get back to Tokyo tonight; I have a meeting early tomorrow morning."

"I'll see you out." An and Asuka also stood up.

"Come again, Akane-neechan!" Marina waved her hand, her blonde hair shimmering in the sunset.

"Have a safe journey, Akane-neechan," Shizuka Kuse said gently in farewell.

Hoshino Ai bowed slightly: "Thank you for coming all this way today."

Akane Kousaka—at this moment she wished she were "Akane-neechan"—responded to each question, finally looking at An and Asuka: "Then please take me to the station, Asuka-kun."

The two walked side by side down the street at dusk. The summer heat had subsided, and a cool evening breeze rustled the leaves of the trees lining the roadside. The setting sun cast their shadows long and intertwined.

The silence lasted for a while. Several times, Akane Kousaka hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. The secret that had been swirling in her heart for so long weighed on her chest like a stone. She didn't know if it was appropriate to speak now, but she was even more afraid that she wouldn't have a better opportunity later.

Finally, after turning a street corner, she could see the outline of the station in the distance and stopped.

"Flying Bird." Her voice was a little lower than usual.

An and Asuka also stopped, turned their heads to look at her, and waited for what was to come.

Akane Kousaka took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

She turned around and looked directly at the boy who was half a head shorter than her. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his face, making his features, which were similar to but also completely different from those of An and Sosuke in her memory, appear exceptionally clear at this moment.

“If…” her voice was a little hoarse, “I mean, if you could… would you like to know… where your father… came from? About his family, his past…”

Before she could finish speaking, An and Asuka had already shaken their heads.

“No.” His answer was without the slightest hesitation, his voice as calm as if he were refusing an insignificant invitation. “I have absolutely no interest in where he comes from or who he is.”

"..."

Akane Kousaka opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. The boy's answer was too decisive, too resolute, even carrying a hint of cold indifference.

But then she realized she completely understood—all that man named Anwa Sosuke left this child was gambling, alcoholism, domestic violence, and eventual abandonment. For a child who had endured all of that, it was perfectly normal to feel rejection and indifference towards everything about that man.

If this boy hadn't been strong and intelligent enough, in that situation, any other child might have already... Akane Kousaka didn't dare to think any further.

But she didn't give up. She knew that what she was about to say might offend the boy, but she felt that he should at least have the right to know and the right to choose.

“What if I said,” she carefully chose her words, observing the boy's expression cautiously, “that your father comes from a very influential family? That family… is very wealthy and has a high standing in the art world. If you were willing to acknowledge your ancestry, you might have more money than you could ever spend, and you wouldn't have to work so hard and worry about making a living anymore. You could receive the best education and have a better creative environment…”

She paused, then finally uttered the name: "Asuka, do you know... 'Anwa's family'?"

Her heart was pounding as she asked the question. She stared intently at An and Asuka's faces, not missing a single subtle change in their expressions.

An and Asuka's expressions did change for a moment—but it wasn't shock or sudden realization, but rather a kind of... knowing calm.

"I know." His voice remained steady. "She comes from a family of entertainers, right? I often see Anhe Tiantong's dramas on TV. She acts very well, and I like her very much."

His tone was as if he were talking about a public figure who had nothing to do with him—natural, objective, and even appreciative—but that appreciation was clearly only for the work and acting skills, not for the family behind that surname.

Akane Kousaka was stunned; she hadn't expected An and Asuka to respond in this way.

Anwa Asuka certainly knew the Anwa family and Anwa Tendo; after all, that name was known to almost everyone in the country. But he had never associated that illustrious surname with himself, or rather, he had never thought of establishing such a connection.

"Then you..." Akane Kousaka wanted to say something more.

“Thank you for your kindness, Sister Zhu Yin.” An Hefei interrupted her, his voice now carrying an undeniable firmness, “But I really don’t need it.”

He looked at the streetlights gradually lighting up in the distance, his profile appearing somewhat distant in the twilight.

“I never thought of leaving here to seek refuge with a family that is completely unfamiliar to me.” His voice was soft, but every word was clear.

That family was too distant for him. How should he face those strangers? Should he claim to be that man's son? Even if he shamelessly went back, he probably wouldn't be welcomed.

Although I don't care about other people's opinions, I don't want to mess up other people's homes, and I don't want to put myself in that awkward and troublesome situation.

“And,” his voice softened, and his gaze seemed to warm a little, “I can’t leave Marina, Shizuka, and Ai. We’ve come through the hardest times together. Maybe to others we’re just a bunch of kids sticking together for warmth, but to us, we’re each other’s most important family.”

He turned to look at Akane Kosaka, his usually clear eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the twilight: "Akane-nee, can you understand? Money is important, and a better environment is also important. But there are some things that money and a better environment cannot buy."

Akane Kousaka stared at him blankly, speechless for a moment.

Of course she understands. How could she not understand?

From the moment she first stepped into that old yet vibrant home and saw the natural understanding and bond between the four children, she understood—they were not a group of tragic victims banding together, but a group of brave individuals who had chosen each other in adversity and built their own world.

The boy's choice was neither born of resentment nor naivety. It was a well-considered and clear-headed decision based on his own values. He knew exactly what was most important to him and had the courage to forgo seemingly tempting shortcuts in order to protect those important things.

“…I understand.” After a long silence, Akane Kousaka finally found her voice, which was filled with complex emotions—disappointment, regret, but even more so, deep respect and heartache. “I’m sorry, Asuka. It was my oversight. I shouldn’t have…brought it up that way.”

An and Asuka shook their heads: "You don't need to apologize. I know you meant well."

The two continued walking towards the station, and silence descended once more. But this silence was different from before. It was no longer filled with unspoken secrets and probing, but rather a calm born of mutual understanding.

As she reached the station entrance, Akane Kousaka suddenly stopped and turned to face Anwa Asuka.

“Feiniao,” she looked intently into his eyes, “Although you don’t want to get involved with the Anhe family, there’s something I feel I should tell you.”

Anhe and the birds waited quietly.

“Your musical talent...and Marina’s paintings, Shizuka’s novels...the creativity and expressiveness you possess may not be solely due to hard work.”

Akane Kousaka's voice was soft, yet carried a certain weight. "The Anwa family has been renowned for its exceptional talent in the arts for generations. Although your father... he ultimately fell into depravity, he was once a figure of great promise in his youth."

She saw An and Asuka's brows furrow almost imperceptibly, but the boy did not interrupt her.

“What I want to say is,” Akane Kousaka’s tone softened, “that you don’t have to deny the artistic blood that may flow in your veins from that family just because you reject that person. Your talent is your own. It may have some genetic inheritance, but how you use it, develop it, and let it bloom and bear fruit—that’s entirely up to you.”

She reached out and gently patted An and Asuka's shoulders—the first time she had made such a close gesture all day.

“You can completely ignore Anhe’s family. But please also believe that the light you possess is real and dazzling. It deserves to be seen, cherished, and nurtured. And I, as your older sister, will do my best to help you, so that all four of you can walk steadily and far on your own paths.”

As An and Asuka looked at her, and in the twilight, Akane Kousaka's eyes shone with a sincere and unwavering light. That light contained no pity, no charity, only respect for an independent soul and a deep appreciation for talent.

After a long silence, he nodded.

"Mmm." A simple syllable, yet it carries a heavy weight of trust.

Akane Kousaka smiled. It was a smile that showed relief and determination after shedding certain burdens.

“Then I’ll be going. I’ll get the contract sorted out as soon as possible. Keep me informed of any progress.” She paused, then added, “Also, take care of yourself and them. Call me anytime if anything happens—anytime is fine.”

“Okay.” An and Asuka nodded. “Be careful on the road, Sister Zhu Yin.”

Akane Kousaka gave him one last look, then turned and walked into the station. Her figure gradually blurred in the twilight, eventually disappearing into the surging crowd.

An and Asuka stood still, gazing in the direction of the station, without moving for a long time.

A gentle evening breeze brought the coolness unique to a summer night. In the distance, the city lights lit up one after another, like stars on the ground.

Akane Kousaka's last words echoed in his mind. The Anwa family, the artistic bloodline—it sounded like there was some truth to it.

But so what? Bloodline is just the beginning, not the end. He is Anwa Asuka, the boy who lives with three girls, and none of this is something that bloodline brings him.

As for that distant and unfamiliar family... let it remain in the distance.

He turned around and walked back the way he came. There, there was an old house with warm lights, three girls waiting for him to come home, and the small but solid world they had built together.

A new chapter has quietly begun with that contract and that address of "Sister Zhu Yin".

Volume 1: Chapter 153 I Remember Everything You've Done for Me [6.5k]

The setting sun painted the sky a gradient of orange and crimson, and the lingering heat of the day gradually dissipated in the evening breeze. An and Asuka led Akane Akasaka through the streets of the small town, where lights were gradually illuminating the night.

At her request, he was showing his newly recognized "older sister" around his usual haunts. From the music store he frequented to the used bookstore where he would occasionally spend an afternoon, they finally stopped in front of a rather ordinary-looking building.

The gray exterior walls and unassuming signboard, with only a few brightly colored performance posters pasted at the entrance, set this place apart.

"Is this where you usually perform?" Akane Akasaka looked up at the cursive "Livehouse" sign, her tone filled with curiosity.

She had seen Tokyo's renowned livehouses—grand, modern, and brimming with urban hustle and bustle. But this place before her was simple, even somewhat old-fashioned, yet it possessed a different kind of welcoming vitality.

“Hmm.” An and Asuka nodded and pushed open the heavy soundproof door. In an instant, the unique atmosphere of the underground music space rushed in—the faint sound of instruments being tuned, the faint smell of beer mixed with old wood, and the air of anticipation and restlessness that is unique to rehearsal rooms.

Akane Kousaka followed him inside; the interior seemed more spacious than the outside. The main stage was a small, sunken stage, opposite which were tiered seating areas. At this moment, only a few staff members were setting up equipment. The walls on both sides were covered with layers upon layers of band posters, many of them yellowed and curled at the edges, bearing the marks of time.

"Do you have a regular band here?" Akane Akasaka asked, looking around. Given An and Asuka's drumming skills and songwriting abilities, having a regular band was only natural.

However, An and Asuka shook their heads: "No. I am a free man."

"A free agent?" Akane Akasaka was somewhat surprised.

Support musicians are common in the industry, but they are usually guitarists, bassists, or keyboardists. Drummers... especially highly skilled drummers, are often the core and anchor of the band, and rarely work as "freelancers."

“Yeah, I’ll go wherever I’m needed.” An and Asuka’s tone was very calm, as if they were talking about something very ordinary. “When we need a drummer, we play drums; when we need a guitarist, we play guitar; when we need a vocalist… we can manage to sing.”

Akane Akane raised an eyebrow. They could "make do" even without a lead singer? She recalled his composed drumming during the school festival; it was hard to imagine him singing in front of a microphone. But the boy spoke so naturally, it didn't seem like an exaggeration.

An and Asuka led her around the Livehouse, greeting each staff member they encountered with familiarity.

"Hey, Asuka! No performance today?" An uncle who was wiping the speakers looked up and gave a hearty smile.

Good evening, Matsumoto-san. I brought a friend to see you today.

"Anhe-kun! Thank you so much for saving the day last time, thanks to you!" A young sound engineer with dreadlocks poked his head out from the control room.

"It's okay, has Otoda's new effects pedal arrived yet?"

"We're here! Let's try it next time!"

Everyone greeted him with warm smiles and greetings; the familiarity and respect in their attitudes could not have been built overnight.

When these people looked at Akane Akasaka, a hint of undisguised amazement flashed in their eyes—her appearance, temperament, and the exquisite attire that seemed out of place in this somewhat rugged environment all clearly showed that she came from another world.

Akane Akasaka maintained a polite smile, but inwardly she felt a pang of emotion. The people of this small town seemed even more genuine and friendly than she had expected. The way they looked at An and Asuka held admiration, gratitude, and a kind of affection that was almost like that of an elder for an outstanding junior.

Two young female staff members sat at the front desk. Their eyes lit up when they saw An and Fei Niao.

"Asuka-kun! What brings you here today?" The short-haired one immediately came over, but her gaze couldn't help but linger on Akane Kousaka. "And who is this...?"

"This is Akane-nee, a friend from Tokyo," An and Asuka introduced briefly. "Akane-nee, these are Miyuki-nee and Reina-nee, the receptionists at the Livehouse, they usually take good care of me."

"Hello, I'm Akane Akasaka." Akane Akasaka smiled and nodded.

"From Tokyo? No wonder you have such a great presence!" The short-haired girl named Yue Yi_Yi?Yi Liuqi?II Miyuki was outgoing and made no attempt to hide her admiration. "Are you related to Asuka-kun? I've never heard of you before."

"She's... a sister I just met," An and Asuka replied ambiguously.

Another long-haired girl named Rena was much more observant. Noticing that Akane Akasaka was looking around, she took the initiative to introduce herself: "Akane-san, is this your first time visiting a small livehouse like ours? It might be a bit simple, but the atmosphere is great. Asuka-kun is one of our star support musicians!"