Green plums cannot become lovers.

An and Asuka stood in the shade at the station exit, carrying a plastic bag from a convenience store. They were wearing a simple white T-shirt and dark shorts, watching the train arrival information displayed on the station's large screen.

The Shinkansen from Tokyo will arrive in three minutes.

He glanced at the time, then at the bag in his hand. Inside were chilled bottled water, wet wipes, and a small box of mints. Simple, practical little things; it's always good to have them on hand, whether you ever need them or not.

Three minutes later, the train arrived at the station on time. The doors opened, and passengers filed out. Among the bustling crowd, one figure stood out.

She was a tall, slender young woman, estimated to be around 1.7 meters tall. Her long legs were accentuated by the black wide-leg trousers, making them appear even more shapely. She wore a simple white shirt, the sleeves casually rolled up to her elbows, revealing her fair forearms. Her long, burgundy hair was tied into a neat single ponytail, swaying gently behind her with each step.

Her face was exquisite and beautiful, with well-defined features and a mature woman's charm. But what was most captivating was her aura—an innate presence that blended competence and nonchalance. Even when her face was expressionless, simply surveying her surroundings calmly, one could feel her undeniable presence.

It's Akane Akasaka.

Time seems to have left few marks on her, or rather, the years have only made her more charming. She looks more composed and confident than last year, with the sharpness of a career woman and the sensibility of an artist perfectly blended in her.

Many people around her were subtly glancing at her. Some young men were secretly observing her, some women her age were casting envious glances, and even a few girls who looked like middle school students were whispering among themselves, "Is that person a celebrity?"

"so beautiful......"

"Such a refined air..."

Akane Akasaka seemed used to the attention she received; she paid no heed to the stares and focused intently on searching for something in the crowd. She carried a silver suitcase in one hand and a dark brown leather backpack slung over her other shoulder, suggesting she had come directly from work.

Soon, she heard a familiar voice.

"Sister Zhu Yin".

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible in the noisy station. She turned her head and saw the boy standing by a pillar not far away, waving at her.

The moment Akane saw An and Asuka, her previously expressionless face melted away like ice being illuminated by sunlight. A genuine smile bloomed on her lips, a warm and sincere smile that softened her entire demeanor.

"Feiniao!" She quickened her pace and walked over, her wine-red ponytail drawing a graceful arc behind her. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

“No.” An and Asuka shook their heads, took out the bottle of chilled mineral water from the bag and handed it over. “We just arrived a little while ago. Are you thirsty? Have some water.”

Fine water droplets condensed on the bottle, making it look especially tempting in the summer.

Akane Akasaka took the water bottle, her fingertips touching the cool surface, and a relieved smile appeared on her face: "What a thoughtful little thing."

She unscrewed the bottle cap and tilted her head back to take a few sips. The cool water flowed down her throat, dispelling the heat of the journey. She sighed and looked at An and Asuka: "You really understand me. I'm definitely a bit tired after sitting in the car for more than two hours."

"There are also wet wipes and mints in the bag," An and Asuka said. "Do you need them?"

"Wait a minute." Akane Kousaka put the water bottle back in the bag. "Let's go back first. Marina and the others are waiting at home, right?"

"Yes, we're preparing lunch." An and Asuka nodded and walked with her out of the station.

The two walked side by side, one mature and beautiful, the other elegant and tall, forming a unique sight in the crowd. Many passersby cast curious glances, speculating about their relationship—siblings? Teacher and student? Or...?

But the two of them were completely oblivious to the stares. Akane Akane asked An and Asuka about their recent situation with great interest, and An and Asuka answered her questions one by one. Their conversation was relaxed and natural, with laughter ringing out from time to time, and the intimate atmosphere made it impossible for anyone to interrupt.

Stepping out of the station, a wave of summer heat hit them. An and Asuka took a parasol out of their backpacks, opened it, and handed it to Akane Akasaka.

"No need to be so meticulous," Akane Kousaka said, but she still happily took the umbrella. "I'm not a child anymore."

"The sun is too strong," An and Asuka said. "Besides, Zhu Yin's skin is so good, it would be a pity if she got sunburned."

These words were spoken so naturally and sincerely that Akane Akane couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You're getting better and better at talking."

They walked along the shade of the trees, the space under the umbrella was small, and the two were very close. Akane Akane could smell the faint, refreshing scent of soap on the boy, while An and Asuka could smell the mature woman's scent mixed with a light perfume.

Akane Akasaka came this time mainly to discuss future plans with the others.

A whole year has passed since last summer vacation. Everyone has changed a lot and made considerable progress in this year. The plans made last year have been largely completed; now it's time to plan for the next step.

Sitting on the bus home, Akane Akasaka looked out at the street scene and sighed, "Time flies. This time last year, you had just signed the contract, and the future was still uncertain. Now..."

She turned to look at An and Asuka, her eyes filled with satisfaction: "You've both grown a lot."

"Thanks to Sister Zhu Yin's guidance," Anhe Feibiao said earnestly.

“Guidance is only part of it; what’s more important is your own effort.” Akane Akasaka shook her head. “Especially you, Asuka. You not only grow yourself, but you also lead them forward, which is no easy feat.”

An and Asuka didn't reply, they just smiled slightly.

Indeed, everyone has made great progress this year.

Marina and Shizuka's manga and novels have gained considerable popularity and influence after a year. Marina's manga "Oath Under the Stars" has accumulated tens of thousands of fans on manga platforms, and the first volume of the collected edition has sold over 50,000 copies, which is a remarkable achievement for a middle school student.

Shizuka's novel "Little Summer" was nominated for a new literary book award. Although it did not win, the nomination itself proved the quality of the work.

More importantly, they earned a considerable income through their creative work. Over the course of the year, their combined royalties and fees amounted to several million yen. While this is still far from the earnings of top professional writers and manga artists, it's a substantial sum for middle school students.

Now, whenever there's a need for money at home, Marina and Shizuka almost always volunteer to pay. Paying utility bills, buying groceries, furnishing... they always try their best to share the household expenses. An and Asuka have tried to refuse, but each time they can't resist their insistence.

“We’re family,” Marina always says. “And we were able to earn this money because of us. If it weren’t for Asuka, I probably would have given up drawing long ago.”

Shizuka also said softly, "Asuka has done so much for us, we should at least share some of the housework and expenses."

As a result, An and Asuka found themselves completely transformed into "gigolos" being kept by "rich women," as Marina jokingly put it.

Of course, he didn't feel uncomfortable in this situation; on the contrary, he felt a sense of satisfaction that "his children have grown up." Watching them grow from a vulnerable state that needed protection into someone who could stand on their own and even take care of others, this sense of accomplishment gave him more satisfaction than any material reward.

Therefore, Marina and Shizuka can be temporarily excluded from this year's plans. They already have a clear direction for their development and a stable source of income. What they need to do next is to continue along this path, accumulate more works, and increase their influence.

The main focus of this plan is on Anhe Feiniao and Xiao Ai.

Xiao Ai is pursuing an idol career, a talent she was born with. After a year of systematic training—vocal music, dance, acting, posture, makeup, and etiquette—she has already acquired the strength and confidence to debut.

Akane Akasaka arranged for her to have top-notch teachers in the industry, with three online classes a week, plus occasional training trips to Tokyo during holidays. Ai's progress was astonishing.

“Ai is very talented and hardworking,” Akane Akasaka said to An and Asuka in the car. “I watched her recent training videos. Her stage presence is strong, and her voice is excellent. If she debuts now, there’s no problem at all.”

“But she’s still in school,” An and Asuka said.

“I understand.” Akane Kousaka nodded. “So we need a plan that allows her to continue her studies while also starting her idol activities. I’m considering having her debut as a student idol, with activities mainly taking place on weekends and holidays. This way, she can gain experience without affecting her studies.”

An and Asuka pondered the proposal. Student idols are not uncommon in Japan; many high school and even junior high students engage in idol activities during their spare time. If arranged properly, it could indeed be a feasible solution.

As for himself

Before the Lunar New Year, he released a mini-album of instrumental music, *The Four Seasons*, which included four original piano pieces. However, due to its mini-album format and his relatively low profile, the market response wasn't particularly enthusiastic. Nevertheless, professional music critics highly praised the album, believing his compositional skills and emotional expression had reached a professional level.

The album sold only tens of thousands of copies, earning him some money—not much, but at least he didn't lose money. More importantly, through this album, he gained some professional production experience and made connections with several people in the industry.

He wasn't discouraged. After all, even the best actors and actresses played supporting roles or even bit parts before they became successful, and even top musicians may have experienced periods of obscurity before they became famous.

Along the way, he has experienced too many ups and downs - family changes, life pressures, misunderstandings from others, self-doubt... Compared to those, the mediocre market response to an album is really not a setback.

On the contrary, this failure motivated him to work harder, allowing him to see his shortcomings and identify areas where he needed to improve.

So, after a period of rest and recuperation, he also needs to consider his next album. Success requires accumulation; take it one step at a time, there's no rush.

“I have some ideas about your next album,” Akane Akasaka said. “The market for instrumental music is relatively niche. If you want to gain a wider impact, you might need to consider adding vocals. Or, you could try some more mainstream styles.”

“I want to make an album with a thematic concept,” An and Asuka said. “It’s not just a simple collection of songs, but a complete story, a theme that runs throughout.”

"Oh?" Akane Akasaka's eyes lit up. "Tell me more about it."

The two continued their discussion on the bus, completely losing track of time. It wasn't until the driver announced, "We've reached the final stop," that they realized they had missed their stop.

"Ah, we were so engrossed in our conversation that we didn't even have time to admire the scenery," Akane Akasaka said with a smile, though her eyes were full of excitement.

“It was clearly Zhu Yin who asked first,” Anhe Feibiao shrugged helplessly.

They got off the bus and walked all the way home.

It was already past 1 p.m. when I got home. Marina, Shizuka, and Ai had already prepared lunch, a sumptuous summer meal: cold noodles, salad, grilled fish, miso soup, and chilled watermelon.

"Welcome back, Sister Zhu Yin!" Three girls stood at the door to greet you.

"I'm back." Akane Kousaka smiled and hugged them one by one. "Wow, you prepared so much delicious food? Thank you for your hard work."

"It's no trouble at all!" Marina said happily. "It's rare for Akane-nee to come here, so of course we have to treat her well!"

Lunch proceeded in a pleasant atmosphere. Everyone ate and chatted, sharing their experiences and insights from the past year. Akane Akasaka listened carefully to each person's situation and offered professional advice and evaluation.

After the meal, the formal planning meeting began.

Five people sat around a low table in the living room, on which were laptops, notebooks, and various documents. Akane Akane took out her prepared proposal and began to explain in detail her plans for each person for the coming year.

Marina and Shizuka's plans are relatively simple: continue creating, accumulate works, and try new themes and styles. Akane Akasaka suggests that Marina could try short manga and participate in some manga competitions; she suggests that Shizuka could start conceiving the framework for her next novel while writing some short stories and submitting them to literary magazines.

Ai's plans are a bit more complex: debut as a student idol, form her own fan club, and begin small-scale performances. Akane Kousaka has already contacted several small performance venues for her and negotiated a student idol contract with an agency. The activities will primarily be scheduled for weekends and holidays, so they won't interfere with her regular studies.

As for An and Asuka's plans, they were the most detailed. Akane Kousaka devised a complete music development plan for them:

In the second half of the year, preparations will begin for the second album, themed "Growth," which will include 6-8 songs, including instrumental and vocal tracks, in an attempt to expand the musical style and influence.

The plan was detailed and practical, with both short-term goals and a long-term vision. An and Asuka read it carefully, asking questions from time to time, which Akane Akasaka answered one by one.

The discussion lasted all afternoon. By the time the last item was finalized, it was already getting dark outside. The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting warm shadows on the living room floor.

"Alright, that's about it." Akane Akasaka closed her laptop and rubbed her slightly sore neck. "Does anyone have any questions?"

The four looked at each other, then shook their heads simultaneously.

“Then it’s settled.” Akane Kousaka smiled. “Let’s work hard together for the next year.”

"Yes!" the four of them said in unison.

It was getting late, and An and Asuka invited Akane Kousaka to stay at their house. It was a bit of a distance from the station, and they still had more details to discuss the next day.

Akane Akasaka did not refuse; this small home already felt like a second home to her.

Originally, the four of them were supposed to share two rooms, but today's situation is a bit special. Marina is going home to stay for the night.

Therefore, the allocation of bedrooms needs to be adjusted.

The final decision is: Ai and Shizuka will share a room, Akane Akasaka will share a room with An and Asuka, and An and Asuka will sleep on the sofa in the living room by themselves.

"Sister Zhu Yin, why don't you sleep here?" An Hefei pushed open the door to her room.

Akane Kousaka entered and looked around the room. It wasn't large, but it was very tidy. A double bed stood against the wall, covered with dark blue sheets. The desk was piled high with books and sheet music, and several concert posters and photos of the light music club adorned the walls. Several potted plants sat thriving on the windowsill. The entire room exuded a clean and orderly atmosphere characteristic of young people.

"And what about you?" Akane Akasaka turned around and asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll sleep on the sofa,” An and Asuka said casually. “Anyway, it’s summer, so it doesn’t matter where I sleep.”

"Ho~~" Akane Akasaka drawled, a sly glint in her eyes, "Are you shy? Afraid to sleep with your older sister?"

“No,” An and Asuka replied quickly, “I just felt it wasn’t quite right.”

"What's inappropriate about it?" Akane Akasaka teased him deliberately. "Anyway, I'm your older sister, what are you afraid of? Or is it..."

She took a few steps closer, leaned down slightly, and looked directly into An and Asuka's eyes: "What inappropriate thoughts are you having?"

The two were very close, and An and Asuka could clearly see the playful glint in her eyes. He took a step back and said helplessly, "No matter what, I'm fifteen years old now. Sister Zhu Yin, you should be more careful, otherwise it won't be good for your reputation if word gets out."

"Hehe." Akane Akasaka chuckled, stopping her teasing. "You're quite the little adult. But..."

She looked around the room and said, "This bed is quite big. Actually, we can sleep together. I don't mind."

“I mind,” An and Asuka said firmly. “Sister Zhu Yin, please rest well. I’ll go prepare the bedding.”

With that, he turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute," Akane Kousaka called out to him.

An and Asuka stopped and turned around: "What's wrong?"

"Talk to me for a bit." Akane Akasaka walked to the window and looked at the darkening sky outside. "I can't sleep. Besides, we haven't had a proper chat in a long time."

There was a hint of weariness in her voice. An and Asuka hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay."

The two went out onto the balcony. The summer night breeze carried a slight coolness, dispelling the daytime heat. The sky was deep blue, and a few stars had begun to twinkle. The faint chirping of insects in the distance added a touch of life to the tranquil night.

They leaned against the railing, gazing up at the night sky.

"How are your studies this year?" Akane Akasaka asked. "To be honest, I've been focusing on your musical development and know very little about your academic performance. Isn't that a bit irresponsible of me?"

There was a hint of self-reproach in her voice. As an elder, as a guardian in a sense, she had indeed rarely inquired about An and Asuka's studies. She was so focused on his musical talent that she neglected other aspects.

"It's alright, it's passable," An and Asuka replied calmly.

"That's good." She said softly, "You'll be graduating soon, so don't spend too much time on music and clubs. I know those are important to you, but studying is important too. Take your time, there's a long road ahead in music, no rush."

She paused for a moment, then added, "After all, you're a student too, so I still need to be concerned about your studies. Otherwise, if you don't graduate, I'll be a sinner."

These words were spoken half-jokingly and half-seriously. An and Asuka sensed the concern in the voice, and a warm feeling welled up in their hearts.

"Yes, I know, I'll manage to balance it."

After a moment of silence, Akane Akasaka asked again, "By the way, are you going to Tokyo this summer vacation? Subaru misses you a lot. Before I came, she said she wanted to come with me. But I stopped her, saying you would go to Tokyo to see her."

Anwa Subaru... that black-haired girl, Anwa Asuka's blood-related younger sister.

An and Asuka recalled the scene in Tokyo last year. The girl who always found various excuses to come to his agency to see him, the girl whose eyes would light up when she listened to him play, the girl who gave him chocolates when they parted and also received drumsticks as a gift from him.