Green plums cannot become lovers.

"That's outrageous!"

The three girls reacted at the same time, shouting out in embarrassment and annoyance. Marina grabbed a tissue and threw it at him, Ai glared at him angrily, and even Shizuka showed a rare "really" expression.

"Asuka, you're so mean!" Marina accused. "We were so worried about you, and you lied to us!"

"I knew I shouldn't have given you that opportunity!" Hoshino Ai pouted and said angrily, "I should have just let you play awkwardly by yourself!"

Although Shizuka didn't speak, she looked at him with a gentle yet reproachful gaze.

An and Asuka caught the tissues, their shoulders shaking with laughter. Seeing their sulky faces, the lingering gloom in my heart seemed to dissipate.

"Okay, okay, I was wrong." He raised his hands in surrender, but the smile on his face didn't fade at all.

The three girls glared at him for a while, but soon they couldn't help but laugh themselves.

Marina broke down in laughter, saying, "Alright, alright, considering how 'hard' you've worked today, we'll just forgive you."

“Yes,” Shizuka nodded, her voice gentle, “No matter what Asuka does, we will forgive you.”

When she said this, her eyes were serious and firm, without a trace of joking.

Xiao Ai blinked and said matter-of-factly, "That's what happens when you're a bird."

These words are so natural, so natural, that they seem to be the most unexplainable truth in the world—because you are a bird, we are willing to forgive everything about you; because you are a bird, we are willing to stand by your side; because you are a bird, therefore... you are you, irreplaceable.

As An and Asuka looked at them, at the unconditional trust and love on their faces, they suddenly felt their eyes sting.

He quickly lowered his head, pretending that the heat had stung his eyes, and blinked rapidly to suppress the sudden dampness.

When he looked up again, he had his usual smile back, even with a hint of teasing: "You guys are so generous, be careful I end up with two more girlfriends."

He expected to hear fierce opposition—"No!" "Dream on!" "Aren't we enough for you?"

However, the three girls' reactions once again surprised him.

They looked at each other, and then—

Hoshino Ai raised her chin, with a "I'm not afraid" expression: "Hmph, if you can hook up with Kasumigaoka-senpai and Eriri-san, then that's your skill, and we have nothing to say about it."

Marina stood with her hands on her hips, exuding confidence: "Exactly! But I want to make it clear—we are the official wives! First come, first served, don't you understand?!"

And Shizuka... Shizuka, in the calmest tone, uttered words that sent chills down An and Asuka's spines:

"As long as Asuka can manage by then," she said with a smile, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze, but the meaning behind her words was anything but gentle, "After all, we won't give you a chance to discuss or rest."

An and Asuka's smiles froze.

A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down his forehead.

Seeing his sudden surrender, the three girls couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, Asuka, your expression is hilarious!"

"Look how scared you are!"

"Just kidding, you idiot Asuka!"

Laughter echoed in the warm living room, like a string of crisp wind chimes, dispelling all the gloom.

Dinner ended amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.

Shizuka and Ai cleared away the dishes, while Marina brewed a pot of hot tea. An and Asuka were "ordered" to rest, sitting on the sofa watching their busy figures.

The living room lights were dimmed to a soft, warm yellow, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows lay the Tokyo night view, with countless lights twinkling like stars. Inside, it was warm and cozy, with the aroma of tea wafting through the air; everything was eerily peaceful.

After the three girls finished their work, the four of them gathered in the living room again.

An and Asuka opened their laptops and continued finishing touches on "Ember Knight." The game had been in development for nearly four months and was now finally in its final stages.

This is a classic roguelike game from his distant memory—randomly generated maps, a rich variety of weapons and skills, unique monster shooting, and the addictive gameplay of "dying and starting over, but getting stronger each time."

He believes that even in this world, such meticulously crafted works will surely shine.

The three girls each found a comfortable spot and stayed by his side.

Xiao Ai sat cross-legged on the carpet, a small mirror in front of her, practicing her idol's signature smile. Her expression switched between "sweet and cute" and "full of energy," and she would occasionally hum a few lines of a new song.

Marina was nestled in the armchair, a thick sketchbook spread out on her lap. She chewed on a pencil, sometimes frowning in thought, sometimes quickly sketching a few lines, clearly working on a new manga panel. The light shone on her focused profile, and that unusual seriousness made her look much more mature than usual.

Shizuka chose a spot by the window, curled up in the beanbag chair, and held a hardcover novel in her hands. She read slowly and carefully, occasionally pausing to gaze out the window in contemplation before continuing.

Moonlight streamed through the glass, bathing her in a soft glow.

The living room was quiet.

The only sounds were the crisp tapping of the keyboard, the scratching of a pencil across paper, the occasional soft turning of pages, and Xiao Ai's off-key humming.

But this quietness is not desolate; on the contrary, it is filled with a warm sense of fulfillment. It's like sitting around a fireplace in winter; even without speaking, you can feel each other's company and warmth.

An and Asuka's fingers flew across the keyboard, lines of code flowing across the screen. His thoughts were completely immersed in the game world—the AI ​​logic of the monsters, the balance of skills, the difficulty curve of the levels... These technical issues occupied his mind, allowing him to temporarily forget the unpleasantness of the afternoon.

Time flowed slowly and peacefully.

The hands of the clock on the wall quietly slid past nine o'clock, then toward ten. The noise of traffic outside the window gradually subsided, and the Tokyo night entered its relatively quiet latter half.

Just then—

"Ding dong!"

A crisp cell phone notification suddenly rang, breaking the tranquility of the living room.

“Ah, it’s mine.” Marina looked up from her sketchbook and reached for her phone on the coffee table.

She unlocked her screen and saw that it was a message from Eriri, so she clicked on it.

However, the moment Marina saw the message, her light smile froze.

She stared at her phone screen, her eyes slowly widening, her lips slightly parted, as if she were frozen in place, completely motionless.

The other three people in the living room immediately noticed something was wrong.

Xiao Ai stopped humming and turned her head in confusion: "What's wrong, Marina?"

Shizuka closed the book, her gaze quietly settling on Marina's face. Having grown up together, they rarely saw such a serious—even solemn—expression on their usually cheerful and lively childhood friend's face.

As for Anwa Asuka... Anwa Asuka stopped typing and slowly raised her head.

His expression was calm, as if he had long anticipated this moment. There was no surprise or panic in his deep brown eyes, only a kind of resigned composure.

"Asuka!" Marina finally found her voice. She jumped up from the sofa, her voice trembling with excitement. "Did you run into Auntie this afternoon when we left?"

"Auntie?" Xiao Ai didn't react for a moment, blinking her eyes. "Which auntie?"

But Shizuka understood instantly.

Her expression changed slightly, and her voice was soft but exceptionally clear: "The mother of the bird."

"Huh?" Xiao Ai was stunned. A look of confusion flashed in her purple eyes, which quickly turned into shock.

The atmosphere in the living room changed instantly.

The previous warmth and tranquility seemed to have been torn apart by an invisible hand, revealing something heavy beneath.

"You ran into her, didn't you?" Marina walked up to An and Asuka, placed her hands on the coffee table, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at him. "Aunt Miho! You ran into her, didn't you?"

Her voice trembled, not with anger, but with a mixture of heartache, worry, and some deeper emotion.

Of the three girls, if we were to say who spent the most time with An and Asuka, and who knew his past best, it would undoubtedly be Marina.

Because, before meeting Shizuka and Ai, during those most difficult childhood years, Marina was almost An and Asuka's only playmate and only childhood friend.

The two families lived very close to each other, so close that from the second-floor window of Marina's house, one could see directly into the small yard of An and Asuka's house.

She remembered the always quiet little boy, the way he sat alone in the yard looking at the sky, the occasional arguments coming from his house, and that autumn—after his mother left, his back to her as he stood alone at the door waiting.

She had witnessed the family's breakdown and seen An and Asuka at their most lonely and helpless. Because of this, she understood better than anyone the source of the boy's inner strength—it wasn't innate, but rather forged through the trials of life.

She never expected that the woman who had disappeared for eight years would reappear.

An and Asuka looked at Marina, observing the emotions surging in her amber eyes, and nodded gently.

“Yes,” he said calmly, “we met.”

"Where did you meet her? When? What...what did she say?" Marina asked in rapid succession, her voice growing increasingly urgent.

Shizuka stood up, walked to An and Asuka's side, and gently pressed Marina's shoulder: "Marina, calm down."

Xiao Ai came over, her purple eyes filled with worry: "Feiniao... are you alright?"

As An and Asuka looked at the three girls surrounding them, and saw the undisguised concern and heartache on their faces, the emotions that had been suppressed in their hearts all afternoon suddenly found an outlet.

He let out a soft breath and then smiled.

The smile was so gentle that it stunned the three girls.

“I’m fine,” he said softly but firmly. “Really.”

He paused, then continued, "I met her at the amusement park entrance this afternoon. She was with her new husband and their child, a family of three visiting Tokyo."

He spoke calmly, as if he were narrating something that had nothing to do with him.

“We had dinner together and chatted for a while. She’s doing well and is happy. That’s enough.”

"That's it?" Marina's voice trembled. "Did she...did she apologize? Did she explain? Did she...?"

“Maria.” An and Asuka interrupted her, reaching out to gently grasp her hand. The girl’s hand trembled slightly with excitement, and her palm was a little damp.

"None of that matters anymore."

He looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "I don't hate her, nor do I resent her. Those past experiences... though painful, are what made me who I am today."

His gaze swept across the three girls' faces: "It's precisely because of what I've been through that I met you all, and that's why I understand how to cherish everything I have now."

When he said this, his eyes were clear and firm, without a trace of reluctance or pretense.

“I’m very lucky,” he said with a smile. “Really. If it weren’t for that past, I might not have achieved what I have today, I wouldn’t have met you, I wouldn’t have met Shizuka, and I wouldn’t have met Ai. Maybe I would have grown up in a ‘normal’ family and lived a ‘normal’ life, but then… I wouldn’t have met you all.”

He squeezed Marina's hand, then looked at Shizuka and Ai: "I am more grateful to have you than to have a complete family."

The living room was so quiet you could hear the wind outside the window.

The three girls looked at him, at this boy who had so openly revealed his innermost thoughts to them, and their eyes involuntarily reddened.

Xiao Ai was the first to break down, tears streaming down her face. She rushed over and hugged An and Asuka tightly, crying, "Silly Asuka... what nonsense are you talking about..."

Shizuka's eyes also welled up with tears, but she simply reached out and gently grasped An and Asuka's other hand, holding it tightly and firmly.

Marina's tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back. She looked at An and Asuka for a long, long time, then suddenly reached out and flicked his forehead.

"Idiot." Her voice was nasal and strained. "From now on, you're not allowed to hide things like this from us."

An and Asuka paused for a moment, then laughed: "Okay, I won't hide it."

“And also,” Marina wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, trying to make herself look more fierce, “as punishment for your dishonest confession—”

She paused, then exchanged a glance with Shizuka and Ai.

The three girls simultaneously revealed a smile that was a mixture of heartache, tenderness, and a touch of "mischief."

"Tonight," Marina announced, "you're going to play video games with us until dawn!"

“Yes!” Xiao Ai nodded vigorously, “Feiniao, you’ll be our personal nanny!”

Shizuka smiled and said, "I'll prepare a midnight snack and hot drinks."

As An and Asuka looked at them, at these three girls who expressed their care and companionship in their own ways, the last bit of gloom in their hearts vanished.

"Is it really just about playing games?"

If that's all, then it's alright; he can still manage.

"Hmm." Shizuka Kuze smiled gently and said, "What do you think?"

Seeing her like this, An and Asuka couldn't help but swallow.

Is it still useful to admit your mistake now?

"you guess."

An and Asuka didn't sleep well that night.

Volume 1: Chapter 199 Mother

Mondays are always exceptionally busy for Rouge En Rouge.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a corridor filled with the sounds of ringing phones, typing, and discussions from meeting rooms. Employees in business attire hurried by, carrying folders, while the air mingled with the aroma of coffee and the complex, distinctive smell of photocopiers.

An and Asuka walked through the familiar bustling scene, heading straight for the heavy solid wood door at the end of the corridor. The nameplate on the door simply read "President's Office".