Chapter 104 Part 1

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Chapter 104 Part 1: Each One’s Understanding (1)

The green-eyed cat’s fur stood on end as if hit by an invisible force, forcing her to halt in place.

She ignored Lin Baor’s disapproving gaze, which seemed to say, “You’re pushing it too far,” and began to think with her clever little brain.

Indeed, even if she joined Xie Qingxuan’s team, she would only be able to follow along, perhaps slipping into their private world occasionally to overhear bedtime stories. There was no real opportunity for her to take the lead.

Tang Liuli had long known that she liked Chu Yuanqing. That was clear to her already.

But even though they now lived and ate together, she still couldn’t bring herself to confess her feelings.

First, she knew that Chu Yuanqing would definitely reject her and demand she write a long self-reflection essay. Secondly, her status had fallen from being a model child to a “bad kid,” and even further to being treated like a pet.

How could a cat like Tang Liuli confess to her owner? All she could hope for was the occasional petting or a few playful interactions. Perhaps no kisses even!

Tang Liuli desired to confess, but to do so, she first needed to raise her status in Chu Yuanqing’s eyes—from being just a pet to once again being seen as a good kid. Then, she could hope to be treated as an equal, or even better, to give herself a chance.

But where did she stand now? She couldn’t even compare to a foreign girl from a small, obscure country who had no fame or influence before.

Her emerald eyes burned with determination. The laziness within her shattered after this bitter realization, and a fierce ambition rose within her—her resentment now fueling her desire to succeed.

Tang Liuli couldn’t afford to lose. As a child star who was famous in Daxia at the age of 11, she was one of the most popular among the 168 participants.

Being an idol in the entertainment industry was just a stepping stone for actors. She should be the one who shines brightest, capable of shaking things up right from the beginning. She should challenge the so-called “Great Devil,” claim the top spot, and dominate as the leading trainee.

However, due to laziness, resistance, discomfort with social situations, and even self-destructive tendencies, she had made little progress in the competition. Her push to make it to Grade A had only been due to Chu Yuanqing’s influence.

It was embarrassing. Compared to the others’ growth, her ambition to rise felt feeble and lacking in drive.

Kirimi Miyuki was right: taking the initiative to recruit Honey Qing into her team was better than passively letting go. That move demonstrated her personal growth.

Wasn’t Honey Qing’s dream to be a dazzling idol?

If Tang Liuli could outshine others in this field, perhaps she could earn more respect and start to erase her past negative impressions.

From now on, she would no longer simply be an actress, nor would she remain a child star prodigy.

She would let go of past shadows and discard former glory.

Now, Tang Liuli aspired to surpass Chu Yuanqing and become a globally renowned idol!

As these intense emotions surged within her, even her Heart Flow seemed to elevate in response.

Without Kirimi Miyuki’s guidance, Tang Liuli—almost instinctively—felt the Heart Flow awaken in her. The barrier that once seemed impenetrable now felt as thin as paper. With a slight shift in mindset, she could feel herself breaking through.

Tang Liuli breathed in deeply, as if seeing a new world. Fear momentarily vanished as she overcame her personal flaws, leaving Chu Wang Shu on the other side somewhat confused. It was as if she saw again the confident girl from TV—her smile radiant, her eyes full of resolve.

She looked up and softly said:

“I accept your invitation, but that doesn’t mean you’re in charge.”

“I will win back Chu Yuanqing in my own way.”

Kirimi Miyuki smiled, responding with a knowing glance:

“As long as that’s enough.”

“Or rather, this is how it should be.”

“After all, we’ve been rivals from the start, right?”

Chu Wang Shu felt exhausted. She grabbed both of their hands, pulling them closer, and smiled:

“Alright, now that we’re teammates, we should make sure to get along well.”

“Whether it’s Miyuki or Liuli, if we want to be successful together, we need to understand each other better than before.”

Tang Liuli looked away, feeling a mix of awkwardness and pride.

Kirimi Miyuki remained silent, as if agreeing passively.

Only Lin Baor, left out of the group, watched the scene with disdain, wondering to herself, “Should I leave?” as she sulkily walked off to the undecided zone.

…

…

Meanwhile, in area C1:

“In that case, the stage PK competition is officially scheduled for noon two days from now,” Xie Qingxuan said nonchalantly, her gaze not once meeting anyone else’s. She gently took Chu Yuanqing’s hand, radiating a sense of dominance, and walked away with an air of quiet aggression as everyone watched.

Chen Yining inhaled deeply, determination gleaming in her eyes. She took the hand of her friend beside her and walked toward the practice room.

Ji Shuzhu glanced at the backs of the two and whispered:

“Actually, we can refuse, Little Ning.”

“Xie Qingxuan and Chu Yuanqing, they rule the two-person battles of area C1, they’re at the top of the hierarchy.”

“Especially Xie Qingxuan. I can tell she’s become more dangerous and aggressive since first entering the competition. Like Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki, she probably already has a firm grasp on the Heart Flow.”

“You know, the two masters of Heart Flow are now competing in the world-class idol arena. Only those who have unlocked Heart Flow themselves can challenge them.”

Chen Yining fell silent. How could she not know these things?

Falling behind one step leads to falling behind every step.

At first, she was eager to compete, but now, constantly outperformed—even on stage—she relied on Chu Yuanqing’s help to maintain an illusion of balance. Her mindset had shifted dramatically over this time.

Despite being proud and resilient, her emotions grew restless and disquieted.

Heart Flow. Heart Flow.

She had spent ten years diligently practicing for this key to becoming a world-class idol, hoping that with Dream Weaver Rabbit’s guidance, she could break through the mental barrier within her mind. But the result had been disappointing.

Even the lower-ranked contestants felt something fresh when they exited the cabin. At some point during the day’s training, they seemed to experience a quickening of their thoughts.

But not Chen Yining. When she entered that cabin, she felt like she had only had a restful nap, no different from being pampered by a professional masseuse or herbalist.

Chen Yining didn’t understand the true workings of the “Heart Flow” training room. She couldn’t tell the difference between the real and the fake. To her, it seemed like all her competitors—whom she once considered inferior—were improving steadily, while she stayed stuck, feeling foolish and unmotivated.

Could it be true that I don’t have the talent for “Heart Flow”?

This doubt festered over time, building into a storm of frustration, anxiety, and confusion inside her. It brewed a poisonous concoction called “self-doubt,” which slowly corroded her once-pure resolve.

Chen Yining knew that if she didn’t break out of this state, not only would she never grasp “Heart Flow,” but her mental stability would eventually crumble too.

Therefore, she needed to restore her confidence before it was too late.

Under these circumstances, Xie Qingxuan’s challenge became a difficult choice.

If she refused, it would mean admitting defeat, giving in to self-doubt, and ultimately losing—whether she fought or not.

So, engaging in the battle became her only option.

Her eyes sparkled with determination, her lips curving in a proud smile, her beauty radiating like a blooming peony.

At that moment, she cast aside all negativity, throwing off the weight in her heart. Like a soldier charging into battle, she ignored the risks and was determined to break through any barriers standing in her way to claim the crown of “Heart Flow.”

Chen Yining spoke quietly but firmly:

“Little Shuzhu, the team we form in this competition might not just last until the second performance.”

“As long as we have any chance, we must make sure our team holds its own against the others.”

“Because Dream Weaver Rabbit won’t give us another opportunity.”

Ji Shuzhu nodded silently.

It was clear that the show’s producers had set up a trap. Considering this, the final team formed that month had a good chance of lasting until the end of the “Dazzling Stage.” Selecting the right teammates was critical.

Especially with the latest broadcast revealing Kirimi Miyuki’s decision to form a 2A1B combination with Tang Liuli. Little Ning might feel pressured by this, and it was understandable that her behavior was becoming more aggressive.

However… Ji Shuzhu had a strange feeling that there was something she hadn’t noticed.

Just as she was about to think deeper, she took a deep breath.

The young lady, who had always been shy, unexpectedly hugged Ji Shuzhu tightly and sincerely. Her chin rested on Ji Shuzhu’s collarbone, and her breath tickled the skin beneath the fabric. Due to the angle, Ji Shuzhu couldn’t see her face clearly.

All she could hear was the soft whisper of Qingmei:

“Thank you, Little Shuzhu.”

“Whenever I think of having you by my side, I feel like I can face anything.”

Ji Shuzhu lowered her gaze. She opened her lips but hesitated to speak. The scent of Chen Yining’s hair filled her senses as her hand gently wrapped around her waist, stroking her raspberry-red hair with a cool touch. She whispered softly:

“Me too.”

If it weren’t for Chen Yining, she wouldn’t have made it through the darkness of three years ago. The first time she cut herself might have been the end.

But because of Chen Yining, she couldn’t let that happen.

She would protect this precious light, a treasure too rare to lose, by any means necessary.

…

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