Chapter 113: Two Anxious People

[Ever since Eden talked to Sakura once, you felt that Sakura seemed different. Especially in daily interactions, Sakura seemed to be more relaxed and no longer had an inexplicable sense of restraint.]

[In response to your inquiry, Sakura just smiled and said nothing. Even Eden just laughed softly and did not reveal any information to you, as if she intended for you to discover it yourself.]

[Soon, you also discovered the real difference in Sakura... When you and Sakura set out on the journey again, you noticed that Sakura seemed to have put aside her unnecessary thoughts and worries and began to get along with you very comfortably, occasionally showing some intimacy in some unintentional actions.]

[Sakura is just like the cherry blossoms that bloom silently, showing her beauty in silence... As for the doubts and gossips that followed on the Internet, she didn't care.]

[Just like you and Eden said, focus on you, the one she cares about, and follow her heart to express her love.]

[You are naturally happy about this, and are happy to return Sakura's kindness... but the public opinion and gossip that follow are like a tsunami.]

[It's nothing more than some comments about you being unfaithful, unfaithful, two-timing, or "betraying" Eden... It can be expected that they have been preparing these opinions for a long time, and more importantly, it can be clearly felt that someone is pushing these comments behind the scenes.]

[In the end, the accusations from public opinion gradually turned into harm, and even some clues appeared in reality... It made people feel a little disgusted.]

[However, the subtle thing is that those guys who tried to cause trouble for you in real life, after adding a little noise to your Street performances or making a few disturbances, will never show up again... It's because they were dragged away by their families, and in the following days, they encountered several bad things in succession as if after targeting you, they suddenly became unlucky and they no longer wanted to think about you.]

[This reminds many people of your "evil" nature, so those who were originally ready to do something have suppressed their thoughts and turned to venting their emotions through words on the Internet.]

[But... just like before, these things can't affect you. Compared to those boring and disgusting remarks, you prefer to focus on the people and things you care about and like.]

[So, you still smiled and took Sakura on the journey, occasionally returning to Eden, telling each other about the interesting things you encountered... But it was a bit unexpected that Sakura would stay at this time. In the past, she would leave by herself, saying that it was to avoid suspicion, but now... huh?]

[You were stunned for a moment, as if you realized something, and looked at Eden, but you could see her eyes full of smiles. At the same time, she nodded at you imperceptibly, as if to confirm your thoughts.]

[…Okay, now you understand why Sakura has changed recently. It seems you need to think carefully about how to respond to this feeling.]

[However, Eden doesn't seem to want you to think carefully, or rather... she wants to slightly show off her unique position in your heart.]

[So, Eden took the initiative to invite you to go out for fun... No, it should be said that she wanted to go out with her friends for team building.]

[She found a tourist town by the lake and booked it for everyone to have a good rest and play.]

[You are somewhat speechless, but you feel that Eden's consumption concept seems to be getting more and more wrong... But then again, for Eden now, money is really just a number, so it's not too outrageous... right?]

[However, Eden's actions still shocked many other people in the company, especially those who did not often come into contact with Eden. Although they worked in the company, they did not know what the actual situation of the company was, and how rich Eden was now... and now, they can get a glimpse of it.]

[However, those are not things that you and Eden need to care too much about. Right now, Eden wants to focus on you.]

[But before that...]

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"Honey, promise me that you will take protective measures no matter what."

"Mother..."

"Just listen to me first."

Eden's mother held Eden's hand and spoke seriously.

"Although we know that you will reach this point sooner or later, you are not getting married yet... We also know that you plan to walk into that beautiful palace under the gaze and blessings of everyone after realizing your respective wishes, but no matter what, it is not good to do such a thing before marriage."

"Even though we all know that your relationship will eventually lead to this, we are not saying that we are against this, but I just want to tell you... if you are not ready to take on the responsibility of being a parent, you must take protective measures, understand?"

As she spoke, Eden's mother put a few more "little gums" into Eden's hands to show her attitude, which left Eden speechless.

"Mom... you guys are so worried... and we haven't planned on this yet."

"Who knows? Sometimes when emotions come to the fore, it's hard to control yourself... Wait, it seems that this sentence is hard to apply to you..."

At first, Eden's mother spoke meaningfully, but soon she thought of the way Eden and Nozomi got along with each other, which seemed... a little subtle?

That feeling of excessive blandness, that attitude as if they had skipped the passionate love stage and went straight to "living together", even made people wonder if they were in a "Platonic" spiritual love. It made people feel anxious and fond of them at the same time.

I like them because they have a pure and smooth relationship. I am anxious because their progress is too slow, too slow and unhurried, which makes people anxious.

"...Okay, let me put it another way. See if you can take him down tonight. After all, with that boy current state, he will definitely be able to attract girls."

After realizing this, Eden's mother immediately put aside her original concern about her daughter's health, changed her attitude, and began to care about Eden's love progress.

'... why do I have a vague sense of déjà vu that [you are not allowed to date during school, but you must get married immediately after graduation]... It's a one-second switch, right?'

"Mom... you guys are worrying too much..."

Eden didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"But... Mom, you're right. Nozomi has become... somewhat popular with girls lately..."

"…Why don't you act quickly? If that child is a stone, you will be a stone too, right?"

Eden's mother heard the subtext in her daughter's words, put her hands on her hips, and glared at her in pretend anger.

"If someone gets robbed, don't come crying to me. I won't comfort you."

"No."

Eden placed her hand gently on her chest and spoke softly.

"He will always be by my side... just like I promised him."

This is the only thing that Eden is confident about.

"…You kid."

She tapped Eden's forehead somewhat helplessly to vent her frustration, but this behavior only caused Eden to laugh cheerfully, making her even more helpless.

"Forget it, you should just solve your own problems... as long as you don't regret it later."

"Yeah, sure."

Eden smiled, then seemed to sense something. She turned around and found Nozomi walking towards her with her father, and they seemed to have just finished their conversation.

Just looking at my father's expression... it seemed like the conversation wasn't going well and he was sulking?

"Alright, alright, you two little guys go play by yourselves, we two old guys won't bother you... We also have our own world to live in."

Without giving Eden any time to ask anything, Eden's father pushed Nozomi directly to his daughter's side and then urged the two to leave like driving ducks, as if he didn't want to see these two anxious and troublesome guys again.

"Go, go."

"Well... Dad, Mom, I hope you have fun."

"Alright, alright, I know you have good intentions, just go!"

Under the urging of Eden's father, Eden and Nozomi smiled at each other helplessly, nodded politely, turned around, and left, heading towards their own cottage.

"...These two kids are really annoying. They keep dragging their feet and making me anxious to death."

Watching the two figures walking away, Eden's father's gaze stayed on the two people's hands that had been held together at some point. He pinched his brows with a headache, revealing a "mask of pain".

"What do you mean?"

"To say that Nozomi is a blockhead... that's not right. Anyone can tell from his words that he likes Eden. But to say that he is not a blockhead... he has no initiative at all and there is no progress at all. He is just standing there like a block of wood... no, like a stone! He doesn't even move. I want to say that he is incapable of anything. It's really annoying."

"Haha... maybe this is how those two kids get along. Maybe they'll do some intimate things where we can't see?"

"Hmph... if that's the case it's more like that."

"It seems... you quite like that child Nozomi?"

"...It's okay. After all, Eden likes him very much, and he can stand with Eden, which is the most rare thing."

Eden's father crossed his arms, glanced to the side, curled his lips, and spoke helplessly.

"To be honest, I can't imagine Eden being with other people, and I can't imagine Nozomi being with other people... No, I can still imagine this."

Eden's father began to grit his teeth again.

"Is this brat attracting attention again recently... I remember it was that model named Sakura, right? This brat is just standing there trying to attract girls, right? Don't let me catch him..."

"Why are you so angry... They will handle it themselves, and... maybe Eden has talked to her about it?"

Gently holding her husband's hand, Mother Eden smiled softly.

"When I discussed this with Eden just now, she seemed to know about it. And... maybe this trip arrangement is a sign that Eden herself wants to take the initiative? After all... she deliberately arranged a house for the two of them to stay in."

"Humph... Let the girl take the initiative, that guy is just like this, just a stone... No, more wooden than a stone!"

"Look at you, you've made yourself so angry that you've lost your mind... Let's go, let's leave the rest to the children themselves~"

Dragging her husband, Mother Eden walked away with a smile.

"I found a place where we can play quietly. Let's go there and have a look. We haven't played together for a long time. How about we reminisce a little bit?"

"...Um."

Put aside your troubled thoughts for a while and enjoy this "world for two" that belongs only to them.

......

.........

"Mom and Dad are a little worried..."

Eden put away the "little gums" in her hand without leaving a trace, and then spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"This is also a way for them to care about you."

"It should be us."

Eden slightly corrected Nozomi's statement.

"Yeah, it's us~"

Nozomi did not hesitate and repeated what Eden said.

"But what did Dad say to you? I feel like he seems a little angry."

"Uncle? He... um... just asked if there was anything particularly intimate between us, but then he seemed a little angry, saying that I was a big piece of wood or even a stone... Do I look like one?"

"To be honest, a little bit~"

"Why do you feel the same way, Eden? Fans say so, uncles and aunts say so, and now you say so too. I will be sad, okay?"

When they stopped at their lakeside cottage, Nozomi looked unhappy.

"I need a hug as an apology~"

"Hehe~"

Eden hummed happily a few times, and then, as if she had expected it, she reached out and hugged Nozomi, and blew softly and tenderly in his ear. She then let go of Nozomi and looked at his embarrassed look, and laughed happily, with a hint of success in her plan.

"Hmm…"

"Are you angry? Then..."

Eden leaned forward slightly and whispered softly in his ear.

"Want to do it again?"

After that, she took the initiative to rub his cheek again, then quickly stepped back slightly, winking at him with a hint of cunning.

"But... we have to wait until later, okay?"

After opening the door, Eden walked in, crossed the living room, and came to the fence of the cottage, leaving only her back to Nozomi.

"…It seems like I've been played."

Nozomi tilted his head, thinking about something, but he didn't mind it very much. He just followed her into the cabin, looked at the interior decoration and furnishings of the cabin, and explored the cabin... After all, this was where he and Eden were staying for the next two days~

"hehe..."

Turning slightly to the side, she could see Nozomi exploring the house with great interest. Eden chuckled twice and did not disturb his interest... She just stood by the fence, looking at the lake not far away.

In the dark night, the silver moon and stars are reflected on the lake, making people feel as if they are in a sea of stars. The oars gently create ripples, disrupting this quiet and beautiful scenery... Only at this moment can people realize that this is a lake, not a mirror reflecting the stars.

If you move your eyes a little, you can see a small boat in the lake with some faint lights on it, and you can faintly hear Rin's cheerful laughter.

What Eden could see was Sakura playing on the lake with her sister, Sakura seemed to have noticed something, and they looked at each other from a distance.

"Shh…"

Eden placed her index finger lightly on her lips and closed one eye slightly, signaling to Sakura in a slightly cute manner not to disturb them now... and then waved her hand politely to say goodbye to them.

Sakura also understood and just waved her hand politely. She continued to row the boat, bringing the playful Rin towards the dock.

Sakura would not go to Nozomi now and ask for trouble... At this time, Nozomi would definitely choose Eden without hesitation, she was not that stupid... Besides, she would still have a lot of time to spend with Nozomi in the future, so there was no rush.

"...Sister, what secret code did you exchange with Sister Eden just now?"

Rin asked curiously after the boat carrying two people moved away from the cabin where Eden was.

"… Rin, what are you talking about?"

"Because my sister seemed to be smiling happily just now as if she had thought of something good."

"Is there…?"

Sakura subconsciously touched the corner of her mouth and found that it was indeed rising.

"Yeah, and the smile is a little... disgusting... it hurts!"

"Nonsense."

Sakura knocked on Rin's head lightly, then hesitated for a moment, let go of the oars, letting the boat stay in the lake, and immediately took out a guitar from under her feet.

"Oh~ Sister, are you going to sing? I was wondering why there was this on the boat, it turns out it's for you, sister..."

"I just learned a little bit and wanted to give it a try... After all, I've been around them all day, and I've been influenced by them, so I want to try it out."

Sakura said casually, and then tried the notes a little awkwardly, trying to play the melody in her memory.

"It's okay, sister. I will support you even if you play it badly. Ah, but is it really okay for you to play it as it is, sister?"

"It's not what you think."

Sakura glared at Rin. Although she knew that her musical taste was somewhat "unique", there was no need to say it so directly... She, Sakura, would not deliberately play those tunes in public.

Now, she just wanted to... understand them a little better, get closer to them, and learn a thing or two. It shouldn't be a big deal, right?

So, Sakura tried to play some simple tunes, and after getting familiar with them for a while, she played the melodies she had memorized.

Hmmm~

Gently and tenderly, like a slowly blooming cherry blossom.

In the distance, Eden was leaning against the fence, staring at the glowing boat, and could faintly hear Sakura's unskilled melody and singing.

"…So beautiful~"

Eden smiled and praised softly.