Green plums cannot become lovers.

In the evening, An and Asuka and the girls left STARRY.

On the way home, Marina suddenly spoke.

"Asuka, should we go to that roadside concert?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment and said, "It's not certain yet. Let's find out more about the situation first."

"I think it's great!" Marina's eyes sparkled. "It sounds like a lot of fun to compete with the End Band!"

Xiao Ai nodded in agreement: "Yes! And participating in more activities is also good for us!"

Shizuka said gently, "It is indeed a good opportunity. We can communicate with more bands and test our skills."

"If I participate, I'll have to practice twice as much for the next two weeks."

Eriri didn't speak, but there was a hint of expectation in her eyes.

An and Asuka looked at them.

"Let's find out more first. If the conditions are right, we'll participate. If not, then forget it."

He defines his band as playing in a relaxed and happy way. If it's too utilitarian and puts pressure on the girls, he'd rather not set any goals at all.

"Yay!" Marina cheered.

-

That evening, An and Asuka returned home and searched for "street concert" on their computer.

The official website was found very quickly.

It is indeed an event jointly organized by several well-known music agencies, open to all aspiring bands that have not yet debuted. It is held annually and is quite large in scale; it is said that many now-famous bands originated from this event.

The registration requirements are very simple; any band can participate, and there are no fees involved.

The initial selection involves submitting a video, and those who pass will participate in a live performance. The live performance is divided into several rounds, and the winning band will receive a signing opportunity with a record company, as well as a certain amount of prize money and resource support.

An and Asuka carefully read the rules.

The live performance will be held in a large stadium in Shinjuku. The date is two weeks later, at the end of July.

He thought for a moment, opened the group chat, and sent the link.

Anhe: Take a look. If you want to participate, you need to prepare seriously for the next two weeks.

Soon, replies followed one after another.

Marina: I've finished watching it! I feel like I should definitely watch it!

Xiao Ai: I think we should give it a try too!

Shizuka: The rules are quite clear, and the venue isn't far away, so I can participate.

Kasumigaoka Utaha: Since we're going to participate, let's give it our all.

Eriri: ...Anyway, I'm just killing time.

An and Asuka smiled as they read their replies.

—Okay, then I'll go talk to Sister Zhu Yin about it tomorrow.

He put down his phone and looked out the window.

A gentle breeze blew in on a summer night, carrying a hint of coolness.

What will the stage look like in two weeks?

He was starting to look forward to it.

The next day, An and Asuka arrived at Rouge En Rouge.

In mid-July, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the building's lobby, casting bright dappled patterns on the floor. He took the elevator to the floor where the president's office was located, walked through the familiar corridor, and arrived at the door he had visited countless times.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Pushing open the door, Akane Akasaka was sitting behind her desk, holding a document in her hand. She looked up when she heard the sound.

When she saw it was him, she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, what a rare guest!" she said with a hint of teasing. "What brings our busy man here?"

An and Asuka went in and sat down opposite her.

"Sister Zhu Yin, you're joking. I've come here because there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Oh?" Akane Kousaka put down the documents, leaned back, and folded her hands on her knees. "Tell me about it."

An and Asuka briefly recounted the story of the roadside concert.

“Our band wants to participate, but after all, I am also an artist under Sister Zhu Yin’s management. Although I have the freedom to do as I please, I can’t do whatever I want just because of that. So I came to tell you.”

Akane Akasaka smiled slightly after hearing this.

"That's all?"

"Ah."

“You can participate in any performance as long as it’s not a commercial one.” Her tone was casual, as if she were talking about something trivial. “You don’t need to ask me every time.”

An and Asuka looked at her.

"What if we win the championship and someone else poachs us?"

Akane Akane paused for a moment.

Then she laughed.

"You won't leave."

Her tone was firm, without the slightest hesitation.

An and Asuka raised an eyebrow.

"Are you so sure?"

“Of course.” Akane Akasaka shifted her posture, leaning slightly forward, her wine-red eyes looking directly at him. “Ms. Matsutsuki, Ai, your growth, and proof of your hard work are all here. I’ve seen how much you’ve given here, and I’ve seen you grow from a middle school student into who you are today.”

She paused.

"So I know you will never leave, no matter how generous the offer is."

An and Asuka were stunned.

He looked at the woman in front of him—the woman who had taken a liking to him and signed him when he was still an unknown junior high school student. Over the years, she had given him the greatest freedom, the fewest constraints, and the most support.

She didn't treat him as a tool to make money.

Instead, they genuinely considered him...one of their own.

“...Sister Zhu Yin.” His voice was a little soft.

"Ok?"

“What you just said is all correct.” An and Asuka nodded, a slight smile on their lips. “But you’ve omitted one important piece of information.”

"what?"

"you."

Akane Akane paused for a moment.

An and Asuka looked at her with earnest and sincere eyes.

"Because of Zhu Yin's presence here. So no matter what, I will never leave Rouge En Rouge, and I will never leave you, Zhu Yin."

Akane Akane was stunned.

She just looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her wine-red eyes.

Moving.

Glad.

There was also something... something she herself couldn't quite put her finger on.

But she quickly realized what was happening.

She didn't lose her composure; instead, she chuckled softly, using a teasing tone to mask the fleeting thrill she felt.

"That's why so many girls like you."

An and Asuka smiled too.

"This is my good fortune."

"You're such a narcissist." Akane Akasaka stood up, walked up to him, and reached out to ruffle his hair.

An and Feiniao did not dodge, letting her rub them.

After kneading, Akane Akasaka turned around to pour tea.

But before that, An and Asuka had already picked up the cup on her table and handed it to her.

Akane Akasaka paused for a moment, then took the cup and sat down on the sofa next to her.

She poured herself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly.

An and Asuka also got up and sat down opposite her.

The office was quiet for a while.

Then Akane Kousaka spoke.

"By the way, why did you form a band?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"At first, it was because I wanted to try different interests. Music and games are both things I like, and being able to do both at the same time feels very fulfilling."

"And now?"

"Now there's another objective."

"What is the purpose?"

An and Asuka looked at her and smiled.

"Help Sister Zhu Yin train more capable assistants."

Akane Akane was stunned.

"Train...capable assistants?"

“Yes.” An and Asuka nodded. “Marina, Shizuka, and Ai go without saying, but Eriri and Shiu-senpai are both very promising. If we can train them, they can be of great help to Akane-nee in the future, whether it’s making music or games.”

He was telling the truth.

Those two girls were indeed people he wanted to cultivate.

It wasn't because they were people around him, but because they were truly talented.

Akane Akane looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile held a sense of relief, satisfaction, and a touch of pride.

"You silly child, when did you become so eloquent?"

“It’s not that it can talk,” An and Asuka shook their heads, “it’s the truth.”

Akane Akane looked at him without saying anything more.

But a warm feeling welled up inside me.

This boy has really grown up.

She gently swirled the teacup in her hand.

"Alright. Then you should train him well. Just let me know if he needs any resources."

"Thank you, Sister Zhu Yin."

"You're welcome."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

With Akane Akasaka's support, An and Asuka could confidently proceed with their next task.