Goddess Development Plan

Sitting in her seat, Chu Lian removed the mask from her face and let out a small sigh of relief. If she hadn't had the foresight to wear a mask before going out, she would likely have been surrounded by countless people by now.

After all, as someone from Sucheng, Chu Lian had already begun to gain fame last year as a young literary prodigy. Just a few days ago, she made a stunning impression by performing four versions of "Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake" with breathtaking technique, becoming a hot topic both online and in real life as a "musical prodigy."

Combined with her angelic elegance in a white dress and ethereal beauty in hanfu, she had captured the hearts of many boys and girls alike. Even many older individuals found themselves fond of this young girl who was the same age as their own children. This indirectly accelerated the spread of her popularity—even though she hadn't appeared in the media, it didn't stop people from talking about her.

Last night's school anniversary compilation and a single comment were like pouring fuel on the fire, causing her name to appear even more frequently on various websites' homepages and newspaper headlines.

But Chu Lian knew that beneath this seemingly beautiful progress lay countless hidden dangers. Once those dangers began to fester, they would become real problems—and then she'd be in serious trouble.

The biggest risk was her unstable foundation. No matter how talented she was or how outstanding her conditions, she had only recently appeared in the public eye. Even though she already had many loyal and die-hard fans, that couldn't hide the fact that her fame was built on shaky ground. Her current popularity was still teetering, like walking a tightrope.

Therefore, gradually cooling things down and strategically stepping out of the public eye while staying active online was her best course of action right now.

"Chu Lian, Chu Lian, are you ready yet?" A soft, sweet voice called to her ear, and Chu Lian looked up abruptly. Her sudden movement startled Li Xiu'er so much that she stumbled back a step and almost fell.

"Xiu'er, good morning. I'm feeling fine. I fainted that day just because I was too tired. After resting for a full day, I'm definitely recovered now. Not that I was close to collapsing in the first place, so there's nothing to worry about." Smiling gently, Chu Lian reached out, grabbed Li Xiu'er's little hand, and pulled her to sit beside her at the same desk.

Hearing her words, Li Xiu'er finally relaxed a little. But as her concern faded, her curiosity kicked in. After all, her idol had made quite a few headlines over the past two days.

Although she knew there were some things Chu Lian couldn't talk about, she still wanted to understand her better. Gathering her courage, she asked cautiously, "Then, can you tell me how you did all that? I want to know how you learned music, how you managed to perform 'Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake' with four different instruments, what that comment you posted last night was about, why you fainted, and who that red-dressed lady was..."

At first, she didn't notice anything unusual, but when she saw Chu Lian smiling sweetly, she realized she might have asked too many questions. This realization brought a blush to her already delicate face, turning her cheeks and ears bright red—an utterly adorable sight.

Fortunately, Chu Lian had already prepared how to answer these kinds of questions. She wasn't flustered at all. Instead, she gently said, "Take your time, no need to rush. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you..."

As they spoke, Chu Lian and Li Xiu'er leaned their charming little faces closer together. Sometimes Chu Lian would smile softly, and other times Li Xiu'er would cover her lips to stifle a surprised gasp.

Already the focus of the entire class, Chu Lian's affectionate interaction with Li Xiu'er made for an especially heartwarming scene.

Of course, a few people were exceptions—like Bai Tiange, who sat in his seat blankly staring at Chu Lian's back. Though his eyes were fixed on her, his gaze had long since gone unfocused, lost in thought.

"Ungrateful jerk. I was the one who helped her finish her excuse that day, and now she comes back without even greeting me. So annoying." Cai Ya gritted her teeth, glaring at Chu Lian, then turned her head away in a huff.

She still remembered their rooftop agreement: if she won, Chu Lian would become her personal pianist; if she lost, she'd join the team Chu Lian would one day form and venture out together.

After spending time together these past days, the outcome no longer mattered as much. Instead, a curiosity had taken root—a desire to uncover all of Chu Lian's hidden secrets and follow in her footsteps.

That desire had only intensified after Saturday's school anniversary results. It was now deeply embedded in her mind. At the same time, she began to worry—did Chu Lian still remember their agreement? After all, with her talent, Cai Ya truly couldn't keep up anymore.

Judging by the current situation, it seemed she had forgotten. Otherwise, how could she be chatting so cheerfully with Li Xiu'er without sparing her a word? Next time she needs help, I won't lift a finger. Hmph.

Her feelings were complicated—a mix of longing, frustration, and something hard to describe, which left her restless.

"Father was right. In Huaxia, talented people are everywhere. Even if dormant for a while, when they awaken, they shine brilliantly. I believe Chu Lian is the vanguard of this resurgence. Coming here to study and meet them... might truly help me." Lux Lyle sat seemingly calmly in her seat, but her frequent glances at Chu Lian revealed her wandering thoughts.

This gifted girl had been deeply shaken. She'd never heard of someone so talented. Even prodigies like Mozart only excelled at piano, while Chu Lian mastered four traditional Huaxia instruments and the guitar. Add to that her composing, songwriting, poetry, and prose skills—she was unparalleled.

"If she can help me, then I'll honor the family vow—even if she's a girl..." With a sigh, she propped her cheek with one hand, staring dreamily out the window.

"I really like you, but you don't belong to me. You're like the wind, the clouds, the sunlight, and the rain—never mine." Zhang Feng quietly picked up his pen, recording his thoughts. What was once a brand-new notebook was now a third full—all dedicated to his feelings for Chu Lian.

"If one day I become the wind, the clouds, the sunlight, or the rain, I'll always be by your side. Even if you aren't mine, I'll still embrace you."

Sensing something, Chu Lian looked up from her conversation with Li Xiu'er and glanced thoughtfully at Zhang Feng, her smile so gentle it stunned him.

After a while, he snapped out of it, looked at the words he'd just written, hesitated, and then crossed them out. Below, he wrote: "My thoughts were too greedy. There's no need to wish for so much. If she remembers someone named Zhang Feng one day, that alone would be enough."

"Maybe... the burden of the Ruriko family can be resolved through her..." Ruriko Nana lay on her desk, resting her head on her arms, gazing at Chu Lian's back as she recalled the red-dressed woman's words, murmuring softly.

She didn't know why, but she felt an inexplicable closeness to Chu Lian—perhaps it was her painting-like elegance, or some mysterious aura she couldn't explain. Somehow, she wanted to entrust her lineage's burden to Chu Lian.

"Let's wait. If she comes into contact with that kind of power, then... maybe it's possible..." The future was still far away. For now, what mattered was bonding with Chu Lian.

Everyone had their own thoughts—not just because of Chu Lian's talents, but because of her incredibly captivating aura.

What they didn't know was that Chu Lian's Innate Spiritual Body had already begun transforming her physique, giving her an increasingly otherworldly presence. Most importantly, her Goddess Value had increased by 6 points, reaching 13—nearly double the previous 7. It was only natural that her allure to others had grown.

Just then, Chu Lian's school bag suddenly shook, and a small kitten tumbled out. It climbed up onto Chu Lian's desk and, facing the whole class, let out an adorable cry...

Meow~~