Goddess Development Plan

"Virtualization: The host may choose to enter a Data World, placing themselves in a virtual state. Once activated, the world will appear through the lens of a virtual MMORPG, where all entities are displayed in the form of data. All physical attributes and abilities will be shown as data forms."

"Note: Only the host perceives the world as virtualized; the reality itself remains unchanged. Each activation consumes 1,000 Fantasy Points, and 10 Fantasy Points per hour during operation. This ability can be toggled on and off freely."

Chu Lian's first instinct was to check what exactly the system meant by "virtualization," and she was met with the above message. After reading it, she became contemplative.

Virtualization essentially made the world appear to her as if it were a virtual online game. Although the physical world remained the same, she could utilize the convenience of the MMO interface to view people's stats and abilities.

She had already envisioned how, in inevitable future battles against enemies, activating this ability would reveal her opponent's stats and capabilities in full detail—as long as they weren't protected by unknown trump cards or mysterious skills. Everyone would become completely transparent in her eyes.

Another benefit: once activated, it could help her pinpoint talents and resources amidst the vast sea of people. Even if she missed something, this would still allow her to quickly gather a massive amount of talent.

In other words, once the system upgrade completed, the majority of the world's secrets would become visible to her? With this kind of ability, if she founded a company, she could undoubtedly make it grow rapidly in a short amount of time.

Unfortunately, she had no money right now...

Yes, Chu Lian's current finances were pitiful. The musical instruments she'd purchased had cost 900,000, leaving her with less than 300,000 yuan in her account. Until her next round of royalties arrived, she couldn't afford to count on anything.

Alright, even with money it wouldn't be feasible. She still needed to attend school. Whether she had time to manage a company was questionable. Even if she did, she lacked the necessary skills.

Anything unrelated to fantasy, artistry, literature, or entertainment could only be unlocked in the skills tab—but that tab required Skill Points, which wouldn't be available until the third phase.

And then there was her age. As a minor, she couldn't legally register a company. Even if she found a loophole to create one and ran things from behind the scenes while someone else handled operations, she had no one trustworthy enough to rely on.

Her parents had their own jobs and couldn't just drop everything to help her. Even if they supported her wholeheartedly, they couldn't recklessly risk the stability of their household.

Her older brother and sister were still in school, so there was no chance of involving them before graduation. That left Zhao Ziming and Wang Tingsi, but she absolutely didn't trust either of them.

Having experienced certain things in this world, she harbored an instinctive aversion toward unrelated males. If she ever asked those two for help, she must have lost her mind.

Of course, there was the option of asking Ayase. But Ayase couldn't stay in the outside world for long. Her active time in the real world was limited, and the closer she was to Chu Lian, the longer she could remain; the farther she got, the shorter her time lasted. While she did have abilities to extend this period, it wasn't worth it.

If Ayase were to vanish mid-task due to a time limit, wouldn't she terrify everyone else present? Besides, Chu Lian wasn't even sure Ayase would agree to help. Knowing her personality, she'd avoid this kind of responsibility like the plague.

Even if, hypothetically, all these impossible conditions somehow became reality, Chu Lian doubted anyone would take a thirteen-year-old CEO seriously. Even if she owned 100% of the shares, no one would respect her authority.

Moreover, she had just stirred waves in the music world and announced her retirement. If she suddenly launched a company just days later, wouldn't that be a betrayal and deception to her fans? Such a move would strike at her very foundation, and she'd never be foolish enough to make that choice.

And if people found out about her starting a company, the consequences would be massive whether she succeeded or failed.

If she failed, the ridicule would be endless. People would say things like, "Why would a genius student waste her talent on this?" or "Did she really think she could succeed at anything just because she's gifted?" The media would churn out negative coverage, discrediting reports would fly, her fans would be disappointed, and even her teachers and parents would criticize and "guide" her. All of that pressure could completely crush the path she'd been building, maybe even destroy her chance of doing business in the future.

And if she succeeded, it would be even worse. Leaving aside whether people would question how a child could start a company, the moment they began investigating the reasons behind her success, many things would inevitably be exposed.

They'd wonder whether the things she presented were really created by her alone. Public scrutiny would only intensify. For someone who hadn't yet matured, this would be a disaster. She'd never forgotten the lurking enemies in the shadows, nor the interest groups already opposing her.

Even her fans would begin asking, "Does starting a company mean you'll stop caring about us? When is your next work coming out? Will you focus entirely on the company from now on?" Questions like these couldn't be answered in a way that would ease their concerns.

If she went down this path, she would definitely lose those fans who hadn't yet solidified their loyalty. Without fans, her system tasks would take much longer to complete.

That was why starting a company was a forbidden move for her right now. Touching it would only end with her alienated and in an irreparable mess.

"You're clearly just overthinking things and using a pile of excuses to mask your lack of confidence. There are countless ways you could handle this, but instead you just convinced yourself to give up. Classic you." Ayase's slightly mocking voice suddenly echoed in her mind, startling Chu Lian—then immediately making her smile.

She couldn't help but feel relieved. Since last night, Ayase hadn't appeared once while she was awake. She had even called out to her this morning without any response. Now that Ayase had spoken, it meant she was back.

A wave of comfort passed through Chu Lian's heart, so gentle she barely noticed it herself—but not unnoticed by the one who had been watching her, who felt a faint tremble within.

"Ahem, now just isn't the time yet. Once I have both funds and talent, then I can begin. I think... it should only be a few more years. That goal I mentioned before—I wasn't joking."

Chu Lian didn't ask Ayase where she'd been. She understood that if Ayase could tell her, she would have done so already. The silence meant the time wasn't right.

"I want to build a cultural empire centered on literature, with music, film, anime, and gaming as its pillars."

"When the time comes, I want this world to be filled with traces that I once existed. I want everyone in this world to remember my name. I want to become the most admired person in existence."

"I said it, and I'll make it happen, Ayase. I'm not making excuses now—the time simply isn't right. The road ahead is long, and there will be more crossroads to choose from. I can't let my wings be shackled from the start. I want to fly—fly higher, to the very peak, and look down upon this beautiful world..." Lying on her bed, Chu Lian smiled with a sense of relief.

Yes, wasn't this her true goal all along? Whether it was that night, the message Chu Lian had left before disappearing, or the final mission of the system—didn't they all point toward this?

She'd said it so many times, and she understood it clearly. So why did she still hesitate and feel uncertain?

In the end, it was the memories and mindset of her past life that had clouded her judgment...

But now, she could truly spread her wings and soar...