"It's like where the forest elves live!"

"Look, they're having a performance! I've seen it on the TV drama 'Quartet'!"

The lively voices of youth drifted up from beneath the terrace.

Dubian Che looked toward the sound, as four girls halted their rental bicycles and hurried over toward them.

Mayi Asuka glanced subconsciously at the waterside terrace, her gaze meeting Dubian Che's across an elm tree.

Next to him, Jiutiao Meijie and Kiyono Lin naturally noticed his seemingly casual glance and turned their attention toward the four girls.

"Ah, no seats left!" Ichiki Aoi lamented.

"Many people are standing to watch; we could too... There, someone is leaving! I'll go grab the seats!" Yuzao Haomei dashed off and managed to secure a spot.

"Sorry about that!" she said with a smug smile at the tourists who had also tried, and failed, to grab seats, then called out to the others, "Mayi, Kui, come quick!"

"Haomei, you're amazing!" Ichiki Aoi ran over.

"Mayi, let's go too," Hanaoka Chaozi called to Mayi Asuka, who was trailing behind.

"...Okay." Mayi Asuka withdrew her gaze from Dubian Che and followed Hanaoka Chaozi over.

"That is Mr. Dubian's lover," Mrs. Jiutiao observed the situation.

"She's quite a pretty girl," Mrs. Kiyono commented.

Jiutiao Meijie sneered disdainfully and took a sip of her juice.

The two parties had no interaction, not even exchanging greetings.

After several songs, Mayi Asuka suddenly approached.

The five of them watched her, especially the two ladies, with keen interest. Despite their scrutiny, Mayi Asuka remained expressionless.

Upon approaching, Mayi Asuka didn't seek out Dubian Che but said to Jiutiao Meijie, "Meijie, can I have a word with you?"

"Go ahead," replied Jiutiao Meijie, legs crossed, placing her juice down and folding her arms.

"Thank you for letting Che spend the day with me."

"Just know that he's mine."

"Okay." Mayi Asuka nodded softly, "Che initially intended to reject me, even going so far as to wish me dead, but I can't live without Che. If it weren't for that, Che would never do anything to wrong you, I'm sorry."

Jiutiao Meijie gave her a glance.

She had heard about this from Dubian Che before, but hearing it from Mayi Asuka herself felt entirely different.

Even as Mayi Asuka said these words, her expression remained flat.

Jiutiao Meijie understood Mayi Asuka's personality from what Dubian Che had told her.

She wasn't genuinely apologizing; she lacked such emotions. She was merely using her sharp mind to do things that wouldn't trouble Dubian Che.

Not troubling Dubian Che wasn't her true intention. Everything she did was solely to stay with him.

"I don't care about you at all; you're tolerated here only because of Dubian."

With that, Jiutiao Meijie gestured with her hand, indicating Mayi Asuka could leave.

Mayi Asuka nodded, then said to Dubian Che, "Che, good night."

"Good night, Mayi," Dubian Che replied.

After Mayi Asuka left, Mrs. Jiutiao took a sip of Karuizawa whisky, "That girl's quite interesting."

"Yes, Meijie must feel a little relieved," Mrs. Kiyono, sipping her beer, said, "Love is truly terrifying; it's all psychological warfare."

"Youzi, don't purposely stir the pot," Mrs. Jiutiao put down her glass, "Meijie has accepted the current situation; she just needs to live well."

"That's not enough, since it's not my Lin who won."

"Mother, I don't need such tactics."

Dubian Che looked at Jiutiao Meijie, who shot him an impatient glare and frowned, "What are you looking at?"

"It's evening, I'm seeing if your eyes will shine."

"The last song! Everyone, sing along with us!" the guitarist at the front shouted.

A low hum of guitar strings began a familiar tune known throughout the Island Country.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics closed with a mass choir singing this song; it was also the finale at the Red and White Song Festival — "Auld Lang Syne"

"The light of fireflies, snow above the window"

"The time spent studying, accumulating day by day"

"In a daze, years have passed by the door"

"Now, as we open it today, we must part"

Everyone hummed along softly, as did the ladies.

Summer days like extinguished street lamps, the end of the season drew one day closer.

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