Watching Kiyono Lin, Jiutiao Meijie revealed a mocking smile.

"The game seems to be starting," Dubian Che said as he hung up the phone, "shall we go watch it?"

After a brief discussion, the Wind Instrument Club members, who had come for this very reason, quickly packed up and set off for Shengong Stadium.

"We'll also go and cheer for our school's students," Xiaoquan Aonai, representing the three teachers and Mayi Asuka, declared.

"Mr. Xiaoquan," Mrs. Jiutiao said with a lively and youthful smile, "would you like to join us to view the irises? Che thinks the irises are best viewed this season."

"I..." Xiaoquan Aonai glanced at Jiutiao Meijie and replied with a gentle smile, "I'll pass, I've already agreed to watch the game with Ichiki."

"What a pity," Mrs. Jiutiao said regretfully, tilting her head, "then, see you next time, Mr. Xiaoquan, little Mayi."

"See you next time, Jiutiao!" Xiaoquan Aonai bowed slightly.

"..." Mayi Asuka nodded subtly.

Mrs. Jiutiao stood up, walked over to Kiyono Lin, and draped her arm around her shoulders:

"Little Lin, you'll join us, won't you?"

"Aunt Zhenji, please don't just lean on me," Kiyono Lin pushed her away.

"Aunt Zhenji?" The people packing up drinks, bento boxes, and cakes, including Xiaoquan Aonai, looked over.

"Don't you know?" Jiutiao Zhenji said, "Actually, by seniority, both Meijie and I are older than little Lin."

"Let me introduce her again," Dubian Che seized the opportunity, "This is Meijie's mother, not her sister."

Everyone was slow to react, looking at Dubian Che and Mrs. Jiutiao with doubt.

"I'm serious," Dubian Che added.

"Really?" Akiko asked cautiously.

"Of course, do you think I would joke about this?"

"Wow—" A chorus of surprised squeals from the girls caught the attention of the other visitors.

"Is it true?!"

"Jiutiao's mother looks so young!"

"She really does look like her sister!"

"Ah!" Xiaoquan Aonai came to her senses and quickly bowed, "Hello, nice to meet you for the first time, I am Jiutiao Meijie's teacher, Xiaoquan Aonai!"

"I'm sorry, it's rare for me to go out and have a good time, so I felt like teasing Mr. Dubian and my daughter," Mrs. Jiutiao said with a gentle smile.

With just a change in her smile, she transformed from a youthful girl of 19** to the elegant matron of 20**.

Everyone immediately became more reserved.

Having revealed her identity, Jiutiao Zhenji lost interest in further interaction and turned to link arms with her daughter and Kiyono Lin, heading toward the iris field.

"Lin, you know, today when we arrived, I asked Mr. Dubian to choose between me and Meijie, and he chose me."

"Lies."

"Meijie, you tell her!"

"Can you not cling to me, it's so hot."

"Do you dislike Mom?"

"I dislike Mr. Kiyono."

"Ara, I feel the same way."

"You two have such a rapport, you must actually get along quite well!"

"Not at all."X2

In the midst of their banter, Dubian Che said to Mayi Asuka and Xiaoquan Aonai, "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Xiaoquan Aonai asked, puzzled.

"My attitude just now..."

"It's okay," Xiaoquan Aonai started smiling, nonchalantly stating, "you were supposed to be accompanying Meijie today, and besides, she's... Anyway, Mr. Dubian, I won't hold it against you for behaving this way!"

"Yeah," Mayi Asuka nodded in agreement, "as long as I am Che's, nothing else matters."

"Is that really okay?" Dubian Che looked at them.

"To say it doesn't matter would of course be impossible," Xiaoquan Aonai laughed, "but I understand it's hard for you, right? It's only with mutual care and consideration that life can be happy, isn't it?"

"..." Dubian Che was at a loss for words.

Even though he had put some distance between himself and them in front of Meijie, being polite, they still understood him, no, they accommodated him.

"Besides," Xiaoquan Aonai said, with anticipation and a bit of shyness, "didn't you promise to take me out after the rainy season?"

"I'm going too," Mayi Asuka stared at Xiaoquan Aonai.

"Eh? This..."

"I'm going too," Mayi Asuka stared at Xiaoquan Aonai.

"Mayi, you could go separately with..."

"I'm going too," Mayi Asuka stared at Xiaoquan Aonai.

Not knowing what to do, Xiaoquan Aonai turned to Dubian Che, who smiled and said, "Teacher, you decide. See you later."

"Mr. Dubian, I..."

"I'm going too," Mayi Asuka stared at Xiaoquan Aonai.

"..."

◇

Dubian Che caught up with the three, and Kiyono Lin tried to pull her arm back from Mrs. Jiutiao's grasp: "Mr. Dubian, help."

"I can't help." Dubian Che casually walked with his hands in his pockets, "I don't want to get entangled."

"You, come here," Jiutiao Mei turned her elegant profile and commanded.

"Oh."

Jiutiao Mei looped her other arm through Dubian Che's.

Side by side and arm in arm, they walked under the gaze of passersby. To ordinary people, such a display might cause embarrassment, but all four of them were indifferent to the public eye.

In the flooded iris field, the irises looked like daffodils, only varying in their hue.

White, peach, light purple, dark purple, and other colors competed for brilliance, stretching to the depths of the forest.

At the base of the iris plants stood little signs with names like "Universe" and "Cloud Garments," designating the variety of each iris.

At the edge of the flower field, photographers and painters sketching en plein air worked, while inside, gardeners tended to the flowers.

Dubian Che was curious to look at the photographers' lenses and the painters' canvases, to see the scenery they were capturing.

"The irises are indeed beautiful in the rainy season, let's go to Ueno to see the lotuses later," suggested Mrs. Jiutiao to the three.

"How about next week instead?" Dubian Che said, "Seeing one type of flower a day, that way we can have a good mood twice."

Mrs. Jiutiao smiled and gazed at Dubian Che.

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