Chapter 135
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Chapter 135: Little Sakura’s Determination
Changing room.
Tang Liuli’s departure left a heavy silence lingering in the air.
Kirimi Miyuki stood alone, motionless.
In that quiet moment, thoughts raced through her mind, countless doubts emerged, and all the suppressed issues from before rose to the surface, fluttering chaotically.
The girl pursed her lips, jealousy and suspicion mixing with irrational anger, twisting together into distorted emotions. She struggled to swallow her grievances and sadness, yet couldn’t prevent herself from gripping the towel tightly. In her downcast eyes, a dark paranoia smoldered like embers.
Why did this have to happen?
Clearly, whether forming a team with Little Qing or sharing a bath together, should have been joyful experiences.
Both Xie Qingxuan’s words and Tang Liuli’s secret meeting with Chu Yuanqing pierced her heart like sharp blades, causing a painful tearing sensation. Intense possessiveness spawned a tangled web of emotions, causing her recently stabilized mindset to collapse once more.
If…
If they can do it, why can’t I?
The vibrant cherry blossom color in Kirimi Miyuki’s eyes, resembling whirling snow in the light, briefly revealed a fierce edge, but then gradually shed its color bit by bit in a wave-like sense of self-negation, fading into weakness and softness.
The hand clutching the towel slowly relaxed.
Little Sakura quietly folded it neatly, placed it back on the bench, and remained silent with her gaze lowered.
Tang Liuli was correct; their relationship had always been this way. After bringing Chu Yuanqing back into the team, the fragile alliance naturally dissolved, reverting to a state of complete competition.
Whatever progress the other party and Chu Yuanqing made, there was no obligation to inform her. Getting angry and confrontational would only sacrifice dignity and grace, transforming her into a creature distorted by emotions and desires.
–Idols can have desires too.
But the condition is that these selfish desires mustn’t destroy Kirimi Miyuki’s own ideal.
Kirimi Miyuki likes Chu Yuanqing.
This affection is a treasured sentiment that allows her to nurture a youthful and pure emotion befitting her age, and as long as she views it as a meaningful life experience, she can even channel it into a more brilliant performance.
And such pure, youthful innocence, radiant like a gemstone, filled with hopeful and longing beautiful emotions, should remain untainted by impurities called “possession” and “jealousy.”
Kirimi Miyuki looked earnest and whispered softly:
“Liking someone is a personal matter.”
Nobody achieves perfection.
Perhaps she could never completely eliminate those ugly desires of possession, jealousy, and anger within her heart.
But as long as she remains true to herself, the pure and determined Kirimi Miyuki who hasn’t forgotten her initial purpose, she will never project such emotions onto Chu Yuanqing, or toward her “rivals.”
Kirimi Miyuki closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and murmured to herself:
“Perhaps I should examine myself more carefully.”
Since embarking on her dream-pursuit at age 12, her life had been consumed by work, school, training, and the demanding activities of being an idol.
Seven full years had passed since then.
Throughout these 7 years, she relied on her passion for idols and her determination to achieve her dream, maintaining herself in an idealized idol state, even developing the Perfect Interpretation Method as a tool to regulate her inner feelings.
But ultimately, regardless of how strong her character is, or how deeply she loves performing, limitations exist. Without friends to confide in, or hobbies to relieve stress, she repressed herself for extended periods, concentrating all her energy on being an idol, which eventually led to certain issues.
In reality, after being forced to disband her group, enduring multiple setbacks, and facing rejection from the Tokyo “Dazzling Stage” audition, she could clearly perceive the changes within herself.
The most evident changes were her emotional instability and carefully concealed paranoia.
In the idol industry, these problems could be masked by her love for performing and strong self-discipline.
Especially after joining Sea City’s “Dazzling Stage,” she achieved successive victories, stepping onto increasingly larger stages. She received more attention and adoration than throughout the previous 7 years combined, and her earlier mental struggles gradually receded.
After all, nothing heals quite like transitioning from hardship to success.
At this stage, she was supposed to focus entirely on her career, investing all her efforts into debuting on the “Dazzling Stage” and becoming an idol admired by countless people nationally and globally.
Although that was indeed happening, part of her attention remained drawn toward Chu Yuanqing, who theoretically was her competitor. This even influenced her important decision when selecting teammates.
Kirimi Miyuki began questioning herself – she wasn’t shallow or naive regarding love, nor did she previously incline toward romantic relationships with women. Why had she fallen for Chu Yuanqing, transcending her former beliefs?
Was it because Chu Yuanqing assisted her when she nearly fell embarrassingly?
Was it because they shared remarkably similar values, both treasuring the stage to an extent that seemed foolish to others?
Was it the aura of warmth, charm, and kindness that Chu Yuanqing exuded, surpassing Kirimi Miyuki’s previous experiences?
Or perhaps it was Chu Yuanqing in a wedding dress, glowing in the sea breeze and sunlight like a divine being descending to earth, with eternal grace in her fleeting glance?
Kirimi Miyuki originally intended to reflect on whether she truly liked Chu Yuanqing by revisiting what transpired between them.
What simultaneously comforted and embarrassed her was that the more she reflected, the clearer her feelings of love became, like ink diffusing through her mind forming Chu Yuanqing’s smiling face, becoming tender and irresistible.
The girl pressed her lips together and continued contemplating.
She sensed there were still elements she couldn’t comprehend, those mysterious and elusive factors that gave her a sense of destiny, like a saint praying with certainty.
After thoughtful consideration, Kirimi Miyuki confidently reached a conclusion.
“It’s love.”
Falling for someone always involves reasons we can’t fully articulate, and she realized there were even more reasons beyond that, confirming that this feeling was indeed what people called love.
As she arrived at this conclusion, she suddenly recalled an old film called “Zhong Wuyan,” experiencing a moment of clarity.
The girl appeared dazed and pensive.
That was a romance film with a simple storyline. It depicted Zhong Wuyan and King Xuan of Qi falling in love. However, just as their destined relationship was about to unfold, a fox who admired Zhong Wuyan appeared.
The fox’s love was pure yet savage. She used a love curse to make Zhong Wuyan ugly, compelling her to love the fox in return, or remain ugly forever. But Zhong Wuyan firmly declined.
Enraged, the fox transformed into a beauty named Xia Yingchun and seduced King Xuan of Qi herself. Sometimes appearing as a man, sometimes as a woman, she strangely developed feelings for both King Xuan of Qi and Zhong Wuyan, triggering a series of events.
What remained with her was a conversation between Zhong Wuyan and the fox.
– “What is love, truly?”
– “Love means giving everything to your beloved unconditionally, sacrificing all, simply wanting to make them happy and joyful.”
– “No, love is about possession, destruction, and even ruination, employing any means to obtain what you desire, disregarding if the other person suffers, separating when necessary, and burning bridges.”
The fox answered thus because she perceived Zhong Wuyan’s love differently.
After Zhong Wuyan was affected by the love curse, she was repeatedly rejected by King Xuan of Qi for her ugliness, even betrayed and imprisoned, and eventually, as King Xuan of Qi became addicted to gambling, she was used as a wager and lost.
Despite her heartbreak and suggestion to part ways, deep inside she still harbored sincere and foolish love.
Zhong Wuyan’s response directly addressed the little fox’s love, using the threat of a love spell to make demands, which aligns with the concept of possessiveness, destruction, and ruthlessness.
Kirimi Miyuki didn’t comprehend when she first watched it, but now she somewhat grasped the meaning. She realized her past emotional self resembled a fragile little fox, nearly harming the person she cared for had she proceeded further.
If this love would wound Little Qing, could it still be considered love?
Love may encompass desires, but love unable to control desires becomes merely a destructive flame.
The pink haze in Kirimi Miyuki’s eyes evoked a blend of shame and understanding. She transcended impure and narrow desires, making a profound decision in her heart.
Chu Yuanqing is truly beautiful.
But if attaining this beauty requires dragging divine beings into mundane existence, sinking into filth, and being reduced to clay for embracing, she would prefer never approaching the other person.
The pretty face of the girl, previously clouded with fatigue and shadows, now displayed a sincere and cheerful smile. She whispered to herself inwardly:
“I refuse to become the kind of person I once disliked.”
“I’ve always pursued that perfect and radiant idol, deserving of everyone’s admiration; even if I develop feelings for someone, I will maintain my principles.”
“Therefore, even when it’s painful and challenging, I must not allow my desires to control me and harm others.”
And miraculously, in this moment of determination, the “Cocoon of the Heart” within the soul radiated brilliantly, purifying the chaotic emotions and rendering the heart clearer. Like a soft luminescence washing over the self, even the Rose Oath removed and placed in the bag emitted a spectrum of light.
Splash, splash.
The sound of unseen waves washed past her ears.
The rose bud flourishing on the platinum earring appeared surreal momentarily, as if establishing a more profound connection with her soul.
Kirimi Miyuki dismissed it as imagination, recovered her strength, shook off the peculiar sensation resembling a cleansing, and without dwelling on this detail, she walked confidently from the changing room to find Chu Yuanqing.
…
…
Simultaneously, in the central chamber, unexpected data calculations prompted the super AI called Dream Weaver to open its eyes in astonishment as it observed the status display of the six Artificial Lanterns.
The Mobius loop indicated a connection rupture, signifying complete integration with the host’s soul.
The goddess Xie Qingxuan’s attire was elaborately entwined with vibrant black lines in the 3D projection, denoting an expedited integration process through Plunder Shine and the prevailing Heart Flow.
Following that were Tang Liuli in the early phases of forming the Cocoon of the Heart, the mainstream idol Kirimi Miyuki, and the closely matched duo Chen Yining and Ji Shuzhu.
One of the mainstream idols, immersed in solitary reflection, unexpectedly cleared internal impurities and reverted to a state of purity, overtaking Tang Liuli and approaching Xie Qingxuan in a brilliant holographic display of the Rose Oath.
It’s significant to note that the fusion progress of the Lanterns symbolizes the rate of witch development.
Any enhancement in growth velocity is reason for elation, as it merits constant monitoring.
The crimson eyes of Dream Weaver Rabbit gleamed with delight as it applauded and exclaimed cheerfully:
“Liang Xiaoxiao, because of you, established a special ‘Cocoon of the Heart’.”
“Tang Liuli, by being with you, fulfilled the absent components of the ‘Cocoon of the Heart’.”
“During the period Xie Qingxuan collaborated with you, the cultivation efficiency of the ‘Cocoon of the Heart’ rose by 679%, and after parting from you, she chose to embrace her authentic self.”
“Even the most noble and pristine idol reservist, on the second day of partnering with you, shimmered brightly, considerably increasing the fusion advancement of the lantern.”
“Was this mere coincidence, or an unforeseen stroke of fortune on the stage?”
“If this extraordinary chemical reaction continues to manifest, perhaps… Sea City might emerge as one of the top three intense regions in the global ‘Dazzling Stage’ in the future.”
…
…
At 9:30 PM, in the dormitory.
Tang Liuli felt somewhat melancholy as she transferred her blanket to Chu Yuanqing’s room. She reclined on the plush bed and forgot her disagreement with Little Sakura. When she shut her eyes, all she could visualize was the scene from the bath.
The green-eyed cat flushed as she contemplated. She rolled to her side, embraced her blanket, and shifted the pillow away. She pressed her face against the sheets where Chu Yuanqing had slept, wrinkling her nose like a small creature as she inhaled the fragrance. It seemed as if she was burying her face in Chu Yuanqing’s chest, detecting milk and floral scents.
This troublesome imagination!
Tang Liuli felt a twinge of regret and considered discussing with Little Qing about not taking the pillow and blanket. That way, it would feel like sleeping together, and they would certainly enjoy pleasant dreams.
Additionally…
“Little Qing’s physique is so wonderful, everything is ample and her skin is supple and silky. She appears flawless. Should I consult a nutritionist to craft a diet and exercise regimen for me to become more refined and attractive?”
Tang Liuli fantasized and felt uneasy.
Today’s interactions in the bath provided her valuable insights, but her relationship with Chu Yuanqing remained stagnant. Even if she confessed to that Sakura girl, there wasn’t much to boast about.
Confound it, she should risk being perceived as mischievous and bestow Chu Yuanqing with a kiss!
And contemplating this,
The green-eyed cat felt somewhat disheartened, even if she approached Mother Qing, it appeared they couldn’t draw each other into an intimate proximity, perhaps even cautious enough to be placed on a restricted list. In future, even routine cuddles might become incredibly challenging.
“How should a girl pursue another girl?”
“In a conventional heterosexual relationship, it involves conversation, presenting gifts, caring for each other, venturing out together, and eventually matters will align.”
“But regarding girls, it seems performing those actions doesn’t truly distinguish oneself.”
“And upon reflection, initially it was acceptable, but now in my everyday interactions with Honey Qing, I’m completely in the phase of being nurtured. Disregard attempting to court her, it feels as though I’m the one being pursued, correct?”
Tang Liuli grew increasingly frustrated, she felt she should consult Honey Moon.
Little Wang Shu was an intelligent and outstanding student, who might offer some sagacious counsel, but regrettably she couldn’t inquire today, as the other was enjoying bedtime narratives read by Mother Qing.
As for how she knew with such precision…
After developing her aptitude in “Heart Flow”, it had evolved into a range ability and domain skill. Now, merely a wall apart, nothing could prevent her from capturing motherly affection!
Tang Liuli felt increasingly proud, displaying a slightly inflated yet endearing smile. She believed her talent was becoming more extraordinary, and she was confident that someday, even from halfway across Daxia, she could capture Honey Qing’s maternal love.
If she were to share it with the world, permitting everyone to experience this Divine Qing’s compassion, it would truly be a magnificent ability capable of redeeming the world!
Though she would privately indulge in it herself, it didn’t diminish the tremendous power of this skill!
Can that silly dog achieve it? Can that fierce Sakura girl accomplish it?
Winwinwin! She had already triumphed numerous times!
Tang Liuli contentedly rubbed against the bedsheets, completing her bedtime spiritual triumph ritual. She closed her eyes, savoring the illusory pleasure of being victorious, gradually drifting into slumber.
…
…
On the opposite side,
Chu Yuanqing closed the fairy tale book in her grasp, she glanced at her adorable daughter’s sleeping countenance, gently stroked the hair strands on her forehead with her fingertips, her rosy lips moved silently, bid goodnight, then pulled back the blanket on one side of the bed, preparing to lie down to sleep.
– Knock, knock, knock.
And with the subtle sound of knocking on the door, an unexpected visitor entered the father and daughter’s room.
It was Kirimi Miyuki.
