When one is immersed in hard work, time flies the fastest. In the blink of an eye, three days had passed. It was Saturday, May 2nd—the day of the school festival.
Because she had previously declared that she would prove herself at the festival, Chu Lian had been the most diligent during the past few days. Whether it was band practice or personal training, she pushed herself to the limit, resting only when she was truly exhausted.
Every night after returning home, she would wash up and go straight to bed after finishing her novel. In the morning, she would wake up early and train alone as soon as she arrived at school.
It was the first time Ayase had seen Chu Lian work this hard. Watching this stubborn little girl, she sighed softly in a place where Chu Lian couldn't hear: "So it really did awaken your competitive spirit—proving yourself, silencing doubt, and retaliating against those behind the scenes? But that might not be a bad thing. Let it push you to fully realize your potential…"
Last night, after finishing her novel, she went to bed before nine. Waking an hour earlier than usual, she arrived at school and saw her classroom still mostly empty—unsurprising for a little past six in the morning.
She carried a case on her back—inside was a top-quality 21-string guzheng that she had specially commissioned. It was the best instrument she could currently obtain to showcase her mastery of traditional music.
She knew very well that while she had already posted videos of her guzheng playing online, only those who truly looked into it understood her actual level of skill. But that wasn't enough to leave a lasting impact. That's why she decided to reveal her trump card.
These were abilities she had never shown anyone before—only she and Ayase knew of them. Originally, she had planned to unveil them gradually, step by step. But this wave of public doubt had unexpectedly become the perfect breakthrough opportunity.
Though she was angry, she never lost her ability to think clearly. She could see the enormous opportunity hidden behind the questioning. If she could seize it, completing the so-called mission would become a breeze. And the system would surely be pleased to see such progress—of that, she was certain.
As a strategist, Chu Lian understood the risks weren't low. Even if she succeeded, a wave of trouble would inevitably follow. But she had come to realize that her previous worries had been excessive—needless fretting over things that didn't matter. Now, using this incident as a springboard, she no longer needed to hold back.
She understood the nuances. As long as she didn't actively involve herself in real-world controversies, all the debates and rumors would eventually fade. What would remain was the immense popularity she would gain.
Of course, she had also considered the possibility of failure—along with the resulting backlash, mockery, and the potential destabilization of her still-fragile foundation. She had thought all that through.
But she didn't believe she could fail—not with this level of preparation. She would prove that this world truly held many things beyond the realm of common sense, including super-geniuses.
"The performance is about to begin. Many will perform on stage, many will watch below. Some will emerge as victors, others as losers. And on this day, it all begins. I'll show you what a true powerhouse looks like…" Her eyes were fixed on the book in her hands, but she couldn't read a single word. Her thoughts were elsewhere.
Adjusting the case on her back, she picked up the wooden box beside her desk. Nestled between two elegant, dark-purple wooden cases, Chu Lian appeared especially petite and delicate.
These items were not light—one was manageable, but two stacked together were clearly a burden for someone only 1.4 meters tall.
Still, she made no sound of complaint, silently carrying them toward the door—until someone stepped in her way.
Chu Lian looked up to see a slightly upset Li Xiu'er standing in front of her. "Xiu'er, good morning…" she paused, then smiled, hoping to brush it off.
"I'm not doing well," Li Xiu'er shook her head. She met Chu Lian's eyes and gently bit her lip before saying softly, "I always come early. These past few days, I saw you leaving the classroom alone but didn't say anything. I'm glad I have this habit—otherwise, I wouldn't have seen this side of you."
She reached out and took the wooden box from Chu Lian's arms. But its weight took her by surprise, and she staggered a few steps back, barely managing to hold onto it.
Seeing her clumsy struggle, Chu Lian stepped forward to take it back. But Li Xiu'er sidestepped and said firmly, "I don't care what your reasons are. Today, you have to listen to me!"
"Have you considered whether your body can really handle carrying so much weight? What if you trip or get hurt—won't that stop you from performing? If you can't perform, the doubt will drown you, right? Didn't you say you wanted to prove yourself?"
Chu Lian opened her mouth, about to say something—when someone appeared behind her and took the guzheng case off her back. Before she could react, it was already in someone else's hands.
She turned around to find Ruriko Nana smiling. Seeing her look back, Nana's large eyes curved gently. "Lian, it's not okay to have trouble and not tell your friends."
"Xiu'er and I knew what your performance today means, so we decided to come even earlier. See? Caught you, our stubborn little Lian."
"These things—leave them to us. What you need to do is rest and be in your best state for this afternoon. Okay? Nana and Xiu'er really want to see your performance!" she said, mimicking Chu Lian's trademark head tilt adorably.
"Then be careful. They're really heavy," Chu Lian relented with a gentle reminder.
"We're not as clumsy as you," Li Xiu'er teased with a sigh of relief. She had worried that their actions might upset Chu Lian—but thankfully, she didn't object.
Their concern wasn't misplaced. Chu Lian wasn't someone who couldn't tell good from bad. Even if they broke something accidentally, she could always borrow from the school. It wasn't about practicality—it was about care and thoughtfulness.
Chu Lian walked slowly in front, followed by Nana with the guzheng and Xiu'er with the wooden box. Their pace was slow—under the weight, both girls were already panting softly but didn't stop to rest.
Li Xiu'er had been paying close attention to Chu Lian and knew all about the doubts surrounding her. While she didn't know who was behind it, she knew someone wanted to harm her.
She had wanted to help but realized she couldn't do much beyond silently supporting her and cheering her on.
To her, Chu Lian was talented and mysterious. But mystery also meant uncertainty. She believed in Chu Lian—but not everyone did. Many just wanted chaos for entertainment.
So these past few days, all she could do was observe quietly and help however she could.
Ruriko Nana's intentions, however, were more complex. Chu Lian had already ranked her fourth among worthy allies, which meant she wasn't as innocent as she appeared. She was smart and calculating.
Born in Japan but educated in Huaxia, she was a blend of both cultures—and perhaps had her own goals to achieve.
Helping Chu Lian might be part of that plan. But Chu Lian sensed that this time, Nana's intention was genuine—so she didn't mind.
She couldn't yet decipher Nana's true goal, but she could clearly sense there was no malice. Whether through her keen intuition or Ayase's instinct, she could tell good from evil.
"Let's hope nothing unexpected happens today…" Chu Lian turned her face slightly as the morning sun broke through the horizon, casting a golden light on her face. It gave her a serene, sacred glow that made the two girls watching her from outside the window momentarily dazed.
Today, Chu Lian was dressed in a pure white quju hanfu. Her long hair was tied with a white ribbon, her wrist adorned with a white pearl bracelet, and her feet clad in embroidered white shoes. Even her inner layers were white.
This full-white ensemble maximized the passive charm boost from her "Orchid in the Valley." At this moment, she was like a goddess descended to earth. Every movement, every smile, exuded soul-stirring beauty that drew people in.
Even more impactful was her expression—calm and focused as she played the guzheng. Her delicate hands danced across the strings, elegant notes emerging with each pluck, paired with her soft humming voice. In that moment, her charm reached perfection.
"If someone could capture this moment on film, I think everyone who saw it would fall in love with her…" Ruriko Nana whispered softly—words no one else would hear.