Green plums cannot become lovers.

"You must be tired from your journey!" She walked over quickly and took the backpack from An and Asuka's shoulders with practiced ease, as if she had done it countless times before. "How are you? Are you getting used to the Shinkansen?"

"It's very comfortable, thank you for the arrangements, Akane-neechan," Kuze Shizuka replied politely.

"Akane-neechan!" Marina rushed over and hugged Akane Kousaka, then let go shyly, sticking out her tongue. "Sorry, I was just too excited!"

Akane Akasaka smiled and ruffled her hair: "It's okay, I'm glad to see you so energetic. How about Ai? Are you tired?"

Hoshino Ai shook her head gently, a faint smile playing on her lips: "I'm not tired, I slept for a while in the car."

Anwa Asuka watched Akane Kousaka interact naturally with the three girls, his gaze softening for a moment. Then he asked, "Shall we go to the agency first?"

"Yes, the car is already waiting." Akane Akasaka led them to the parking lot. "Let me show you around first and introduce you to the team. Then... if you'd like, you're free to do whatever you want this afternoon. You can visit Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji Temple, or even Akihabara if you'd like."

“I want to go to Akihabara!” Marina immediately raised her hand.

“Then I want to go to the Tokyo National Museum…” Shizuka said softly.

Hoshino Ai looked at An and Asuka: "Where does Asuka want to go?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment: "Let's take care of business first. We'll talk about it after we've finished touring the office."

Rouge en Rouge's office is located on the fifteenth floor of a modern office building in Shibuya. When Akane Akasaka led four teenagers who were clearly minors out of the elevator and through the automatic glass doors, the receptionist and the staff in the open-plan office area all cast surprised glances at her.

"Hello, President!"

"Ms. Kousaka, you're back."

Greetings rang out, but everyone's eyes couldn't help but linger on the four children—especially the black-haired boy walking beside Akane Akasaka. He was so young, yet his expression was unusually composed, even carrying a calmness beyond his years. And the three girls, one with lively blonde hair, one with serene black hair, and one with exquisite purple hair, were all unique and extraordinary.

Akane Akasaka clearly noticed the employees' curiosity, but she didn't explain immediately. She simply smiled and nodded in response to their greetings, then led the four of them straight to her office.

"Was that the president's relative just now? So young..."

"That boy is really good-looking, and he has a very special temperament."

"The three girls are all beautiful in their own way... Are they new models? Or voice actresses?"

A hushed murmur drifted up behind them. Marina couldn't help but chuckle, leaning close to An and Asuka's ears to whisper, "Asuka, they're guessing who we are!"

An and Asuka gave a soft "hmm" and didn't say anything more. Kuze Shizuka nervously tugged at her clothes, while Hoshino Ai remained calm, though a thoughtful look flashed in her purple eyes.

Akane Akasaka's office is spacious and bright, with a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the bustling streets of Shibuya. The office's decor is simple yet artistic—a wooden bookshelf occupies an entire wall, filled with books, scripts, sheet music, and various artworks.

On the other side of the wall hung posters of works she had helped create. Her desk was neat and tidy, with only a computer, a few documents, and a cup of coffee that was still steaming.

"Please sit wherever you like." Akane Akasaka gestured to the sofa area by the window. "Would you like something to drink? Tea? Juice? Or coffee—but you're still young, so please drink less coffee."

"Tea will do, thank you," An and Asuka said.

The other three girls also ordered tea or juice. Soon, the secretary brought over drinks and some delicate snacks.

Akane Akasaka sat down opposite her and opened her tablet: "Let me give you a brief introduction to Rouge en Rouge. Although you've already seen it in the materials, it will be more intuitive to explain it face-to-face."

For the next hour, Akane Kousaka gave a detailed introduction to the company's various departments—music production, publishing, talent management, game development, and so on. She also pulled up a list of the company's works, many of which were names that Marina and Shizuka were familiar with.

"These were all... made by Akane-nee-nee?" Marina's eyes widened, her face filled with admiration.

"It's the result of the team's joint efforts." Akane Akasaka smiled modestly, then looked at Asuka Anwa, "Asuka-kun, I have some preliminary ideas about your development plan and would like to hear your opinion."

An and Asuka sat up straight: "Please speak."

“Considering your age and studies, I won’t arrange too many commercial activities for you at this stage. The focus is on accumulating works and improving your skills.” Akane Akane pulled up a plan. “First of all, I hope that you can complete a mini-album in the next six months—all of your own original songs. I’m not pursuing quantity, but every song must be done seriously, and I will arrange the best production team.”

An and Asuka nodded; this direction aligned with his expectations.

"Secondly, I plan to arrange regular professional courses for you. These will not only cover music, but also music theory, arrangement, vocal training, and even some basic stage performance and media relations courses. Most of these courses can be completed online, and you can come to Tokyo for intensive training during winter and summer vacations."

"What about Marina and Shizuka?" Anwa Asuka asked.

Akane Akane smiled and said, "Regarding Marina's artwork, I have already contacted a senior manga artist who is willing to take her on as a remote apprentice and guide her in drawing techniques and storyboarding. As for Shizuka's novel, our publishing editors were very interested after reading it and are willing to serve as her editors, helping her revise her work and striving for a win in next year's newcomer award."

Marina and Shizuka exchanged a glance, both seeing excitement and gratitude in each other's eyes.

“As for Ai,” Akane Kousaka said, looking at the purple-haired girl, “your voice is excellent, but there is still room for improvement in your singing technique. I have arranged a vocal coach for you, and I also hope that you will continue to participate in band activities with Asuka—your ‘light music club’ performance videos have already gained some popularity online, which is a good starting point.”

Ai Hoshino nodded seriously.

Akane Akasaka turned off the tablet, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with unusual sincerity: "I know all of this happened very quickly. You may feel uneasy or have doubts. But I want to tell you this—I believe in your talent, and I believe in my judgment. Signing this contract is not the end, but the beginning. This road will not be easy, but I will walk it with you."

The office was quiet for a moment.

Anhe Asuka spoke first, her voice clear and firm: "Thank you, Sister Zhu Yin. We will do our best."

The other three girls nodded vigorously as well.

Akane Akasaka smiled, a smile that contained relief, anticipation, and a barely perceptible sense of relief.

After the afternoon work meeting, Akane Akasaka finished dealing with urgent matters and went to the rest area. Four boys and girls were sitting there—Marina was drawing something in her sketchbook, Shizuka was reading a book she had taken from the bookshelf, Ai was gazing out the window in a daze, and An and Asuka were tuning their guitars.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Akane Kousaka walked over and sat down opposite An and Asuka.

"It's okay, Zhu Yin must be very busy with work," Shizuka said considerately.

Akane Akasaka smiled, her gaze falling on Asuka and Anwa. After hesitating for a moment, she waved to Asuka and Anwa: "Asuka, there's something... I want to ask you."

An and Asuka came up to Akane Akasaka and looked at her.

"Wait a minute, would you like to... go to Anwa's house?" Akane Akasaka's voice was soft. "Just to meet Grandma Tendo, as a talented young man I know. She heard about you from me and really wants to meet you."

An and Asuka's expressions remained unchanged, but a fleeting emotion seemed to pass through the depths of their calm eyes. He paused for a few seconds, just about to refuse—

“Go and take a look,” Akane Akasaka said before he could, her tone earnest. “I won’t tell them your true identity, and they don’t even know you exist.”

She paused, her voice softening further: "Grandma Tendo... she's always missed your father, and she's always talking about him. The last time I visited her, she said that if Sōsuke were still alive, his child would be grown up by now, and perhaps even a gifted one..."

An and Asuka's fingers unconsciously brushed across the guitar strings, producing a soft vibrato. He looked down at the calluses on his hands—the marks left by years of practicing the instrument.

Father... that word was almost synonymous with memories of violence, the smell of alcohol, and ultimate emptiness for him. He had never felt warmth from his father, only fear, disappointment, and the coldness of being abandoned in the end.

But Grandma... that elderly woman I'd seen on TV, always gracefully and calmly playing various roles, that national treasure-level actress respected and loved by countless people.

"She doesn't know I exist?" An and Asuka finally spoke, their voices so calm that it was almost emotionless.

Akane Akane shook her head: "Nobody knows. After Sosuke left the Anwa family, he cut off all ties with the family. He got married, had children... nobody in the Anwa family knows any of these things."

The long silence was broken only by the faint sounds of traffic from the distant street and the anxious turning of Mari's sketchbook in the rest area.

Finally, An and Asuka raised their heads, looked at Akane Akasaka, and then at the three girls beside them who were looking at them curiously.

“Okay,” he said, his voice soft but clear. “I’ll go.”

“I want to meet her,” he finally said, his voice soft but carrying a decisive tone, “just as… an audience member who admires her acting skills.”

Akane Akane gazed at his calm profile, a complex mix of emotions welling up within her. She understood that this might be the boy's final test of that family, and also a confrontation with his own conscience.

“Okay,” she said softly, “I’ll make the arrangements.”

On the way to Anwa's house, the atmosphere in the car was somewhat awkward. Marina, Shizuka, and Ai stayed in the agency's rest area, accompanied by their assistants to visit other departments, while only Anwa, Asuka, and Akane Kousaka went.

The black sedan wound its way through Tokyo's bustling streets and gradually entered a quiet residential area. The streets here were wider, lined with neat rows of trees and detached houses of various styles, and the air was filled with a calm and reserved atmosphere that was completely different from Shibuya.

“The Anwa family’s residence is over there.” Akane Akane pointed to a Japanese-style garden surrounded by a tall wall. “Grandma Tendo has lived here most of the time these past few years, and occasionally goes to her villa in Karuizawa to recuperate.”

An and Asuka looked in the direction she pointed. Through the exquisite wrought iron gate, they could see neatly trimmed pine trees in the courtyard, a winding stone path, and a building deep inside that blended traditional and modern styles. It wasn't as luxurious and ostentatious as they had imagined; instead, it exuded a refined and understated elegance.

The car stopped in front of the door. Akane Akasaka got out and rang the doorbell. Soon, a middle-aged woman in a kimono came out to open the door. Seeing Akane Akasaka, she bowed respectfully: "Miss Akasaka, you've arrived. The old lady is waiting for you in the tea room."

"Thank you for your help, Mrs. Sanae." Akane Akasaka nodded slightly, then turned to gesture for Anwa and Asuka to follow.

Stepping into the courtyard, Anhe and the birds truly felt the atmosphere. Everything was orderly, yet it exuded a kind of... tranquility. Not a lifeless tranquility, but a serene quiet that had been tempered by time. Carefully tended moss and low shrubs lined the pebble path, and in the distance came the crisp sound of bamboo tubes striking stones—a startled deer.

The tea room is a small, detached building nestled deep within the courtyard. Its sliding doors are open, revealing the simple furnishings inside. An elderly woman in a light gray kimono is kneeling before the tea table, gracefully arranging the tea utensils. Hearing footsteps, she looks up.

At that moment, Anwa Asuka saw Anwa Tendo.

Unlike the glamorous, national treasure-level actress on television and in magazines, the elderly woman before me was more real, and more...ordinary. Her hair was gray, neatly tied in a bun at the back of her head, and her face bore the wrinkles of time, but her eyes—those eyes were still bright, still sharp, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

"Grandma Tendo, I've brought him." Akane Akasaka stopped at the entrance of the tea room and bowed slightly.

Anwa Tendo's gaze passed over Akane Akasaka and landed on the boy behind her. His gaze was calm, yet it carried a scrutinizing quality as he slowly and carefully examined her.

"Come in, Qian, and this one too..." Anhe Tiantong's voice was the same as on the phone, old yet clear.

The two women took off their shoes and entered the tea room, sitting down opposite each other at the tea table. Mrs. Sanae quietly withdrew and closed the door.

Only three people remained in the tea room. Anwa Tendo continued her work, placing matcha powder into the tea bowl, pouring in hot water, and whisking it quickly with a tea whisk. Her movements were fluid and graceful, every detail precise and beautiful, like a silent performance.

The tea was ready. She handed the first bowl to Akane Akasaka and the second bowl to Anwa Asuka.

"Please use it."

An and Asuka accepted the teacup with both hands, gently swirled it twice according to the etiquette of tea ceremony, and drank it in three sips. The tea was slightly bitter, but left a refreshing sweet aftertaste in their throats.

Anhe Tiantong watched him drink tea, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashing in his eyes—this child's manners were just too perfect.

“Qian praised you to the skies on the phone,” Anhe Tiantong finally spoke, his tone gentle but with the scrutiny of a senior looking at a junior. “She said you’re a once-in-a-century musical genius. Can I hear some of your music? Not a recording, but a live performance.”

The request was somewhat sudden, but An and Asuka didn't seem surprised. He put down his teacup and calmly looked at the old man: "Now?"

“There’s a Japanese-style room behind the tea room, with a piano inside that my granddaughter used to use.” Anwa Tendo stood up. “If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind. 10? Qi? Put? Think device% Siwu Lu” An and Asuka also stood up.

Akane Akane watched the two of them, feeling both nervous and expectant. She didn't know what An and Asuka would play, nor how Grandma Tendo would react.

The Japanese-style room wasn't large, but against the wall stood a well-maintained grand piano. An and Asuka sat down on the piano bench, opened the lid, and tested a few notes. The intonation was excellent.

He closed his eyes, seemingly contemplating what to play. A few seconds later, his fingers gently touched the keys.

It's neither "Summer" nor "Hotaru no Hikari". This is a piece that Akane Akasaka has never heard before.

The opening notes are soft and lonely, like the breath of someone gazing at the stars alone in the dead of night. Then the melody gradually unfolds, neither joyful nor sad, but an extremely complex emotion that is difficult to describe in words—longing, melancholy, relief, and a touch of almost tender farewell.

An and Asuka played with great enthusiasm, their bodies swaying slightly with the music. Light from outside shone through the washi paper sliding door, casting soft shadows on their profile.

At that moment, Akane Akane suddenly realized that this piece of music might be the most authentic reflection of the boy's inner feelings at this moment—his feelings for the family he had never met, for those complicated and unspeakable blood ties, and for his loneliness and perseverance along the way.

Anhe Tiantong listened quietly. At first, her expression was pure admiration, but gradually, a hint of confusion crept into that admiration, then shock, and finally an almost undisguised unease.

She looked at the boy in front of the piano, at his completely immersed state in the music, at the lines of his profile, his lowered eyelashes, his slightly pursed lips when he was focused—it was all too familiar. Not that his appearance was exactly the same, but that spirit, that unique temperament that emanated when he was immersed in artistic creation, overlapped with someone in her memory.

As the music ended, the last note slowly faded into the air. The Japanese-style room was completely silent.

After a long silence, Anhe Tiantong finally spoke softly: "What's the name of this piece of music?"

An and Asuka's fingers remained lightly on the piano keys, without an immediate reply. He turned his head to look at the old man, Liu Ba-Yueyi, his eyes clear and calm.

“Rain,” he said. “It’s called ‘Rain’.”

"Did you write this?"

"Yes."

Anwa Tendo remained silent for a long time. Her gaze lingered on Anwa Asuka's face, her expression complex and difficult to decipher—there was amazement, nostalgia, a hint of almost imperceptible pain, and a deep, almost intuitive guess.

Akane Akasaka's heart was in her throat. She was worried that Anwa and Tendo would notice something and ask that question they shouldn't have.

But in the end, An and Tiantong simply took a slow breath and regained their usual elegance and composure.

“Qian is right,” the old man’s voice carried a heavy affirmation, “You are indeed a genius. No, the word genius may not be enough... There is a weight of the soul in your music.”

Anhe Asuka bowed slightly: "You flatter me."

“No, you flatter me.” Anhe Tiantong shook his head, then suddenly asked, “Child, what’s your name?”

This is a very ordinary question, but at this moment, in this situation, it seems to carry an immense weight.

Akane Kousaka was about to interrupt, but An and Asuka had already answered.

He raised his head, looked directly into Anhe Tiantong's eyes, and spoke each word clearly and steadily:

"Peaceful Birds".

Time seemed to stand still.

Anhe Tiantong's expression faltered slightly upon hearing the surname. Her pupils contracted slightly, and her lips moved gently, but no sound came out.

In those brief one or two seconds, countless emotions flashed in the old man's eyes—surprise, confusion, disbelief, and a deeper, more profound tremor, as if something had been touched.

“Anhe… Asuka.” She repeated the name slowly, her voice very soft, as if she were savoring each syllable.

Akane Akasaka's heart was pounding. She immediately stepped forward, smiling as she tried to break the awkward silence: "Yes, what a coincidence, isn't it? You share the same surname as Grandma Tendo. But Asuka-kun is from that small town over there, so it's probably just a coincidence."

She spoke quickly, with a deliberate ease, but Anwa and Tendo didn't seem to be fully listening. The old man continued to stare at Anwa and Asuka, his scrutiny deepening.

She seemed to be searching for something, comparing something, confirming something in the boy's face.

An and Asuka let her look at them, their expressions calm and undisturbed. But only they knew the complex emotions that swept through their hearts the moment they uttered that name—expectation? Resistance? Or some kind of instinctive stirring of blood ties that even they themselves couldn't define?