Green plums cannot become lovers.

Aki Tomoya's voice rose noticeably with excitement, instantly attracting the attention of many around him. "Why didn't we tell everyone about something this important? This is definitely one of the most shocking campus news stories of the year!"

Shizuka maintained a polite smile and nodded gently: "Yes, Aki-san. Thank you for your support."

However, this was only the beginning of Aki Tomoya's "speech." Completely immersed in the dual excitement of "discovering a shocking secret" and "meeting his idolized author," his words flowed like a machine gun:

"This is amazing! Seriously! I've been following it since the first volume! Kuze-san... no, Shizuka-sensei! Your capture of everyday details and handling of emotions are truly astonishing! Especially in the third volume, the description of the male protagonist finding the female protagonist Shizuko, who is struggling financially, on a snowy night and wrapping a scarf around her—my eyes welled up with tears when I read that! That kind of silent, unspoken tenderness is simply a model of youth novels!"

"Teacher, may I ask a few questions about the creative process? Is this work based on a real-life prototype? The characters' interactions feel so realistic; are they based on your own observations or experiences? Also, what's the direction the plot will take later...?"

Aki Tomoya talked on and on, asking one question after another without leaving any room for pause. Kuze Shizuka was initially able to maintain a smile and give brief replies, but she quickly found herself completely unable to get a word in edgewise and could only listen passively.

A hint of trouble and embarrassment gradually appeared on her face—on ordinary days, she might have interrupted the other person tactfully but firmly, but at this book signing event in front of everyone, as the author, she could not show obvious impatience, lest she leave a bad impression on other readers or staff.

A slight commotion began to rise from the back of the line, and the waiting readers showed anxious and displeased expressions.

Just as Shizuka was feeling helpless, a calm and clear voice broke through:

"An Yi."

An and Asuka walked over at just the right moment, their steps steady, their faces bearing a polite smile, but their tone leaving no room for doubt.

“I’m glad you like Shizuka’s work so much. However, as you can see, there are many readers waiting. The signing session is limited in time, so could you please finish signing first and leave more opportunities for interaction later? You’ve already taken up quite a bit of time.”

"Anwa-kun?" Aki Tomoya only then noticed Anwa Asuka's presence, his face showing obvious surprise. "What are you doing here? And wearing staff uniforms..."

"That's not important."

An and Asuka gently but firmly interrupted his questioning, turning to gesture for him to look at the increasingly long waiting line behind them. "The important thing is that other readers also yearn to interact with the author and get autographs. As someone who also loves the work, I believe you can understand everyone's expectations and are willing to be considerate of Shizuka—she needs to be responsible for every reader who is present."

Following his direction, Aki Tomoya turned around and noticed the many disapproving gazes behind him. His face flushed red, and he finally snapped out of his fanatical state.

"Ah...yes, I'm sorry! I got too excited!"

He hurriedly bowed to Shizuka, then turned to the back of the line to apologize, "I'm so sorry for taking up everyone's time! Kuze... no, Shizuka-sensei, please sign this for me!"

He quickly turned to the title page and handed it over, his movements appearing somewhat flustered.

Kuze Shizuka secretly breathed a sigh of relief, gave An and Asuka a grateful look, then quickly and attentively signed Aki Tomoya's autograph and gently said, "Thank you for your support."

Aki Tomoya took the book, seemingly wanting to say something, but under the calm gaze of Aki and Asuka and the urging atmosphere from behind, he swallowed his words, thanked them again, and hurriedly left the signing area.

The minor incident subsided, and the book signing continued smoothly. The young woman had regained her composure, greeting each reader with a gentle smile. Sunlight streamed through the bookstore's glass windows, illuminating her profile and making her earnest expression appear exceptionally serene and beautiful.

Around 12:30 pm, the book signing event came to an end.

Shizuka Kuze's signing speed was steady and smooth, and the long queue gradually shortened. Only when the last satisfied reader left with a signed book and the bookstore staff began to tidy up the scene did the tense atmosphere truly relax.

Shizuka let out a soft breath, put down her pen, and rubbed her slightly sore wrist. Maintaining a smile, focusing on signing autographs, and engaging in brief exchanges with readers for nearly three hours straight was quite taxing on both her physical and mental strength. However, her face showed no signs of fatigue, only a serene and contented glow.

"Thank you for your hard work." Anhe Asuka handed over a bottle of warm water that had been opened and a clean handkerchief at the right time.

"Thank you, Asuka." Shizuka took the water, sipped it, and glanced at the gradually emptying autograph area, her heart filled with emotion.

The genuine affection from those unfamiliar faces, the encouraging words like "I really like your book" and "Please keep writing," all turned into a warm current flowing into my heart.

"How are you feeling?" An and Asuka sat down in the chair next to her and asked softly.

“I was more nervous than I expected,” Shizuka said honestly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the water bottle, “but also… I was happier than I expected. It’s a special feeling to see people feel warm and even inspired by my story.”

She turned to look at An and Asuka, her deep purple eyes brimming with a gentle smile, "It's all thanks to Asuka being here."

“I didn’t do anything; it was all your own hard work and talent.” An and Asuka shook their heads.

“No,” Shizuka’s voice was soft but firm, “I feel at ease when you’re here.”

Just like countless days and nights in the past, as long as she knew he was in the next room, she could immerse herself wholeheartedly in her world of words.

Just then, the editor in charge of Shizuka's book signing came over, beaming: "Shizuka-sensei, today's event was a great success! The readers' response was excellent, and the sales exceeded our expectations. At this rate, we can start planning the pre-sale for the next volume. Please take a break; we might need to take some promotional photos later, and then..."

“Excuse me,” An and Asuka politely interrupted the editor, “Shizuka has some school club activities this afternoon that she needs to prepare for. Could you please streamline the subsequent filming and wrap-up work as much as possible? She looks a little tired.” As he spoke, his eyes fell on Shizuka’s slightly pale face with concern.

The editor then noticed Shizuka's fatigue and quickly nodded, "Of course, of course, it was my oversight. Shizuka-sensei is still a high school student; her studies are the priority. We just need to finish the necessary procedures as soon as possible."

The girl gave An and Asuka a grateful look. She was indeed a little tired, but more importantly, she remembered that Asuka had another thing to do that afternoon and couldn't let her own affairs delay it.

The subsequent process was indeed quick. After taking a few simple promotional photos and answering a few brief questions from the editor about her future creative plans, Shizuka was able to "get away".

"Are you sure you don't need me to take you home?" An and Asuka asked again at the back door of the bookstore. Marina and Ai had already sent messages saying they had prepared a celebratory lunch at home.

"No need, it's not far from home, and the editor will arrange a car to take me."

Shizuka shook her head and stuffed a small, delicate paper bag into An and Asuka's hands. "Here, take this. It's a handmade cookie that a reader just sent. I tried one, and it's not very sweet. You should like it."

She paused, looking at him softly, "Good luck this afternoon... Please give my regards to Kasumigaoka-senpai."

She clearly knew about An and Asuka's plans.

Although it seemed that the boy would soon have another girl by his side, she did not harbor any petty jealousy.

This boy brought her hope for life, and she didn't want to make things difficult for him under any circumstances.

An and Asuka were slightly taken aback, then smiled: "I know. Be careful on the road, let me know when you get home."

After watching Shizuka leave in the car arranged by the agency, An and Asuka checked the time; it was just past 12:30 PM. Kasumigaoka Utaha's autograph session didn't start until 2 PM. He rubbed his stomach and decided to find a place nearby to have lunch first, and also to sort out his thoughts.

The afternoon sun shone even brighter, and the streets were bustling with people.

An and Asuka sat in a quiet café for almost an hour, scrolling through the rehearsal videos Xiao Ai had sent and the sketches of the autograph session drawn by Marina on their phones, a smile unconsciously playing on their lips. When it was almost time, they got up and headed back to Kadokawa Bookstore.

Compared to the bustling morning, the bookstore was much quieter in the afternoon. He went straight to the book signing area on the other side of the bookstore, which he had noticed earlier that morning. It was already set up, with a poster featuring the cover of "Love Metronome" and the pen name "Xia Shizi" standing to one side, and behind a long table covered with a dark blue tablecloth, books and signing pens were neatly arranged.

However, the scene was glaringly deserted.

"I really don't know what the company was thinking, why they would hold a book signing event like this."

"Indeed, judging from the sales figures, it's clearly not good enough; it's a complete waste of time and energy."

"Perhaps it's a last-ditch effort, although a grand funeral is more likely."

Several staff members huddled together and whispered, which An and Asuka overheard.

Everything was exactly as he had found online.

At first, he thought that with the girl's writing style and ideas, "Love Metronome" should sell well.

But after searching online that day, he realized that things were not as optimistic as he had thought.

The girl's novel sold pitifully low sales and received virtually no discussion online.

The time is 1:50 pm, and there are still 10 minutes before the event starts.

Only a few readers lingered in front of the autograph area, seemingly more like curious passersby than dedicated fans. Compared to the long, winding queue at Shizuka's place that morning, the emptiness here felt particularly desolate.

An and Asuka didn't go forward immediately. He stopped by a bookshelf that allowed him to see the signing area without being too conspicuous, his eyes searching for that familiar figure.

At 1:55, Kasumigaoka Utaha appeared, accompanied by staff.

Today she wore a sleek, charcoal gray long-sleeved dress with a beige knitted cardigan over it. Her waist-length black hair was as smooth and shiny as ever, with the ends swaying gently with her steps.

Her makeup was exquisite, yet it couldn't conceal a faint weariness in her eyes, and a certain almost frozen calm. Beneath that calm, An and Asuka seemed to sense a tense, resolute determination, as if she had made some kind of mental preparation.

She sat down behind the signing table, her back ramrod straight, her hands elegantly folded on her knees, her gaze fixed straight ahead, as if she were facing not an empty space, but a packed auditorium. However, her wine-red eyes, which had always been shrouded in a misty, aloof quality, were now unusually clear, and unusually quiet.

The staff tried to say something encouraging, but she only nodded slightly and didn't react further.

At 2:00 PM sharp, the autograph session "officially began".

A few readers approached, some buying books and asking for autographs, others simply looking around out of curiosity. The process was quick; in less than twenty minutes, the signing table was empty again. Soft background music played in the bookstore, making the silence in this corner seem even more unsettling.

Time ticked by, and occasional customers glanced over, but most only glanced before leaving. The staff's smiles gradually faltered, and they hesitated several times before speaking. Kasumigaoka Utaha, however, remained in her original pose, like a beautiful yet cold marble statue. Only the occasional unconscious curling and loosening of her fingers betrayed a hint of inner turmoil.

An and Asuka noticed her gaze repeatedly drifting towards the entrance before quickly withdrawing it, the light in her eyes gradually dimming. She seemed to be mentally preparing herself for what might be a doomed "first book signing."

He took out his phone and glanced at the time: 2:40 PM.

Taking a deep breath, An and Asuka emerged from behind the bookshelf, their steps steady as they crossed the somewhat empty space and arrived at the autograph table.

"Good afternoon," his voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet environment. "Excuse me, is Ms. Xia Shizi's book signing still going on?"

Upon hearing the voice, Kasumigaoka Utaha's body trembled almost imperceptibly, and she raised her head.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the side window, landing right on An and Asuka's shoulders, giving them a soft golden hue. He wore his usual reassuring, peaceful smile, holding a brand-new copy of the first volume of "Love Metronome" in his hand.

Those deep, wine-red eyes, the moment they saw him, rippled like a stone thrown into a deep pool. Surprise, a moment of unexpected relaxation, and some deeper, more complex emotion flashed through them.

“...Anhe?” Her voice was lower than usual, with a hint of barely perceptible hesitation.

"Senior." An and Asuka naturally switched to the campus address, as if this was just an ordinary rooftop encounter.

"Sorry, I was with a friend at an event this morning, and it ended a bit late, so I'm a little late."

His explanation was understated, making no mention of the morning's grand occasion, nor showing any unusual reaction to the current quietness.

He opened the book to the title page and gently pushed it towards Kasumigaoka Utaha: "If it's convenient, could you please sign this for me? And... if possible, could you write a short message? Just write..."

He thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Disappointment is inevitable, but there will always be a rainbow ahead."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze fell on the title page, then slowly moved to his face. The sincerity and peace in his eyes were like a warm breeze, dispelling some of the stiffness that had settled around her.

She didn't speak, but simply picked up the pen beside her. The pen tip hovered above the page for a moment, then fell, the strokes flowing smoothly. She signed her pen name, "Xia Shizi," and then carefully wrote the sentence he had requested on the back.

Her handwriting is like her personality, elegant yet with a strong character.

After finishing writing, she pushed the book back and lightly tapped the title page with her fingertip: "...Thank you for coming."

"Of course, I promised."

An and Asuka took the book, their fingertips tracing the fresh ink marks before carefully putting it away. He didn't leave immediately, but instead naturally pulled out a chair prepared for readers and sat down diagonally to her. "When I came over just now, I saw some readers looking for the signing area; they'll probably be there soon. I'll wait here for a bit, is that alright?"

His tone was so natural, as if he were just an ordinary reader who happened to have some free time and planned to stay a little longer, rather than someone who deliberately stayed to keep someone company.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at his composed profile, then gazed at the entrance—which remained empty. But she understood his unspoken intention.

The taut shoulder line finally relaxed almost imperceptibly.

“...Whatever you want.” She said softly, her gaze returning to the table, but the icy loneliness that had enveloped her had quietly melted away.

An and Asuka just sat there quietly, occasionally checking their phones and glancing at the people coming and going in the bookstore.

His very existence is like a reassuring rock.

Whether it was her persistence in waiting that worked, or some unexpected opportunity that quietly arrived, shortly after the first batch of more than twenty readers finished signing their books, a series of slightly hurried footsteps and low conversations suddenly came from the other side of the bookstore.

Kasumigaoka Utaha had just finished signing the last book in her hand and was about to look up to say something to An and Asuka, who had been sitting quietly to the side, when she was interrupted by a surprised young female voice from not far away:

"Found it! It's over here!"

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw several young people who looked like high school or college students excitedly pointing towards the autograph area at the entrance to this area. Then, as if a floodgate had been opened, more figures emerged from that direction—in groups of three or five, or alone, most of them holding paperback copies of "Love Metronome," their faces filled with the joy and anticipation of finding something they had been looking for, and they quickened their pace toward this area.

This time, it wasn't just a handful of people. A crowd gradually gathered, quickly forming a new queue in front of the signing table. While not as long as the winding line that morning at Shizuka's event, there were at least fifty or sixty people, and it seemed more were joining. For a signing event that had previously been almost deserted, and where the publisher had perhaps given up hope, this was undoubtedly a sudden and delightful turnaround.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was stunned. Her wine-red eyes widened slightly, clearly reflecting the scene gradually coming to life before her. Confusion and bewilderment briefly crossed her mind, but were quickly overwhelmed by a more surging, genuine joy. It wasn't a vain satisfaction, but a comforting gratitude—her words were truly seen and cherished by so many people. The staff members nearby were even more delighted, rushing forward to help maintain order, their voices brimming with enthusiasm.

"Ms. Xia Shizi! I've finally met you in person! You're even more elegant than I imagined!"

"Teacher, I'm a new reader who just recently got into this series. I read the first volume in one go and I really love the delicate yet restrained emotional descriptions you use!"

"Phew... thank goodness I made it in time, I almost thought I was going to miss it. Teacher, please be sure to continue writing!"

"I've watched Sayuka's final monologue countless times, and each time I gain new insights..."

Each reader who came forward, whether shy or enthusiastic, briefly expressed their feelings. These words, though perhaps ordinary, were incredibly sincere, like tiny sparks falling into the lake of Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart, rippling out warm waves. She listened attentively, her pen seeming to move with more steadiness as she signed autographs, occasionally glancing up to offer a faint, yet much more vibrant, smile, or briefly answering a question or two about the characters.

An and Asuka remained seated in their unassuming spot, watching as Kasumigaoka Utaha gradually became surrounded by readers and the "bustle" that belonged to her. The icy aloofness she possessed melted away in the sincere interaction, replaced by a serene and engaged radiance. A slight smile played on his lips, and the last trace of worry in his heart vanished.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the scratching of pens on paper. The book signing was originally scheduled to end at 4 p.m., but due to the continuous influx of readers, it was extended by nearly an hour. Finally, at 5 p.m., the last satisfied reader left with a signed book, and the bookstore's loudspeaker softly announced closing time, bringing this event, full of twists and turns, to a close.

The staff began tidying up the venue, their faces beaming with relief. Kasumigaoka Utaha gently put down her pen; her wrists were a little sore from holding the same position for so long, but she felt strangely invigorated. She looked at the figure who had been with her for almost the entire afternoon.

An and Asuka stood up, stretched their stiff shoulders, and walked to the table.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at him silently for a few seconds, her wine-red eyes appearing exceptionally deep under the gradually brightening lights of the bookstore.

"You did this, didn't you?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a tone of certainty. She was keenly aware of her work and her previous popularity; gathering such a large readership in such a short time was by no means a natural occurrence.

"Why can't it be that everyone genuinely likes your work and your senior's work?" Anhe Asuka asked with a light smile, her eyes clear.

“I understand.” Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her head slightly, her tone firm. She believed in the quality of the work, but also understood the realities of the market.

Seeing her reaction, An and Asuka stopped beating around the bush and nodded frankly, "Yes, I did recommend it." He explained, his tone as casual as if he were talking about something insignificant, "But I just shared my thoughts on 'Love Metronome' on my Bicobico account and mentioned today's book signing. That's all."

He paused, then looked at her sincerely: "As for whether people will read my sharing, whether they will be willing to come to the bookstore after reading it, and whether they will really like your book after coming here—these depend entirely on themselves and on the work itself."

His words carried a sense of certainty: "And the facts have proven that my senior's book is absolutely worth being seen and liked by more people."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared blankly at the boy before her. The last rays of dusk streamed through the bookstore's tall glass windows, casting a warm golden hue over his sharply defined profile.

He stood there, his smile serene, his eyes clear, without the condescension of a benefactor or the obsequious flattery of someone trying to please. He simply stated a fact—he had done a small thing, and her work had seized the opportunity through its own strength.