"Mom, Chu Chu was wrong, please have mercy!" Dressed in pajamas, Chu Chu had her cheeks pinched by Li Mingxue, who dragged her toward the bathroom. She flailed her arms as she protested, but she didn't dare struggle too hard or try to escape. It was clear she knew just how terrifying her mother could be.
"Lian'er wakes up earlier than you even when she's more tired. You were just sitting there waiting for your awakening, at most you spent a bit of energy during that time. How could you be that exhausted? You're just being lazy and wanting to sleep in." After tossing Chu Chu into the bathroom, Li Mingxue stood with her hands on her hips, scolding sternly.
"That's because… because… alright, Chu Chu admits she was wrong. Chu Chu promises never to do it again!" Even though she knew she could hardly keep that promise, Chu Chu still said it. Because if she didn't, her mother would surely storm in and make things worse.
As for the real reason? How could she ever dare say it aloud? That would be outright challenging her mother's authority—and if she did that, she'd be thrown into the balcony pool to play the role of a human boat.
"These few days, you'd better stay put and stop causing trouble. We just got back home, and we ran into far too many incidents while we were out. Something about all of it feels off to me. I'll investigate it myself. Since we're home now and Lian'er has gained real strength, I don't have to be so cautious anymore. Leave the rest to me, and you just make sure to protect her." Li Mingxue's expression softened slightly, but her tone carried weight. Clearly, she hadn't dragged Chu Chu here just to make her get up—it was because she had something important to discuss.
What Chu Lian had told them seemed, on the surface, like the natural result of her missions, identity, and system-related matters.
She hadn't thought too deeply about whether there might be something else at play.
But as a mother—and a peak-level powerhouse who stood at the summit of the world—Li Mingxue saw further, and deeper.
She knew all too well that in the cultivation world and the Otherside, many so-called coincidences were rarely mere accidents. Beneath them often lay unseen connections—links invisible to most.
Her goal now was to find that thread, trace it carefully, and uncover the truth hidden at its source.
She would never allow anyone—no matter who they were—to hurt her daughters again.
"Mom, I think so too. It feels like there's some invisible hand behind all of this, manipulating everything. Whether its intent is good or bad, we can't tell yet—but one thing's certain: it's already set its sights on Big Sis." Chu Chu wasn't stupid. From the moment her mother pulled her aside, she knew something serious was being discussed. Hearing those words, she immediately voiced her own thoughts.
They spoke through the closed bathroom door, their voices low enough for only each other to hear. Not a single word leaked beyond.
Their shared goal was simple—to quietly resolve these matters behind Chu Lian's back, without letting her know or worry.
Right now, she was the target of certain forces. If she got involved any further, it would only draw her deeper into danger.
And this wasn't just about risk—it could mean stepping into a trap, walking straight into the enemy's hands.
If that happened, it wouldn't be something solvable by simply unmasking the mastermind. It might well drag the already unstable cultivation world into complete chaos.
"In any case, leave everything to me. Your current strength is enough—you can serve as your sister's right hand. Besides, the seal I placed on you has already been broken by your own willpower. From now on, you'll face no limits on your growth. That puts my heart at ease." Li Mingxue let out a quiet sigh, her eyes soft with complex emotions.
These two daughters, who had grown under her watch since childhood, had finally taken their own steps forward—they were maturing.
She couldn't cling to them forever, dreaming they'd remain by her side for life.
Born as phoenixes, caged for twelve years. One day they would spread their wings, soar across valleys, and roam the nine heavens. It was time they flew toward their own skies.
This private conversation, unknown to anyone else, became a secret and a promise between Chu Chu and her mother. No matter what the future brought, she would stand firmly behind her elder sister, unwavering and true.
That noon, the meal Li Mingxue prepared—with Chu Lian helping at her side—took an hour to complete.
Aside from the ever-drowsy Anna, who still hadn't gotten out of bed, this lunch was the most peaceful meal the group had enjoyed in a long while.
It wasn't because the food was especially delicious, nor because they felt particularly safe here—it was simply because they were home, surrounded by family, in a familiar place where they no longer needed to stay constantly on edge.
After lunch, Li Mingxue told them to go about their own business while she remained behind, smiling warmly as she cleaned up the table by herself.
It had been so long since she last saw her daughters. Being able to personally cook a meal for them made her heart overflow with warmth—the taste of this moment was sweeter than any dish she had ever made.
Seeing her mother in such good spirits, the girls didn't argue. After a brief discussion, they decided to go up to the fifth-floor rooftop to rest.
Lying on the clean terrace, the three girls rested their heads side by side, gazing at the distant sky.
Wisps of white clouds drifted lazily across the blue, and the sunlight that bathed them felt indescribably gentle. Once, this kind of peaceful sky had meant little to them.
But after all the darkness they had endured, they now understood just how rare and precious this calm, ordinary life truly was.
"Big Sis, are you going to be busy again soon? Do you need Chu Chu's help?" After a long moment of silence, Chu Chu was the first to speak.
She had hesitated before asking—it wasn't an easy question. Her elder sister had always been the type to shoulder everything alone, never letting others interfere. She didn't know if that was still the case now, but she wanted to try.
"Yes, there's a lot to do." Of course Chu Lian understood her little sister's feelings. And indeed, she could use help now—there were far too many tasks ahead. Even with three heads and six arms, she wouldn't be able to handle it all.
"Then… is there anything Chu Chu can help with?" Chu Chu's eyes lit up immediately, her heart pounding in hope. Was her elder sister finally willing to let them work together this time?
"Silly girl, of course there is. Your big sister may be amazing, but her time and energy are still limited. I can't do everything myself, nor can I make every task perfect. Naturally, I'll need your help. Otherwise, if I keep pushing alone, I'll just wear myself out." Chu Lian reached over and gently squeezed Chu Chu's hand, her voice soft with affection.
"Lian didn't keep you from helping because she didn't need it," Inori said as she took Chu Lian's other hand. "It's just that she always felt embarrassed asking others for help. But now that we've all gone through so much together, she's opened her heart to us. She knows that even if she asks, we won't think any less of her."
Noticing Inori's gesture, Chu Lian smiled and used her free hand to hold Chu Chu's remaining hand. The three of them formed a small circle—hands linked, hearts connected.
"You're right, Inori. I used to feel awkward relying on others. But now, that hesitation is gone. I want to walk this road together with all of you. That way, every achievement we make will belong to all of us. Doesn't that sound wonderful?" Gazing up at the endless blue sky, Chu Lian felt as if she could fly straight into the stars.
At last, she let go of the needless shyness that once held her back, revealing her true heart to the girls beside her. It was her way of telling them—they were important to her. Incredibly important.
"Then can you tell Chu Chu what she can help Big Sis with? Whatever Big Sis asks of me, I'll definitely do my best!" Chu Chu's heart was pounding wildly. The way her elder sister spoke just now—it sounded almost like a confession!
Of course, that was assuming she ignored the little plural suffix "us."
"Let me think…" Chu Lian began listing off her plans one by one. "There's the Bunbunmaru Newspaper's weekly issue, the serialization of Sword and Fairy, cosplay shoots for over ten loli characters, a few song covers to record… Then there's the virtual game project. That'll take a long time—lots of groundwork to prepare first. After that, the Youth Literature Contest, resolving Lux and Nana's curse, the upcoming trip to Japan, and two and a half months later—the Zhao Family's birthday banquet…"
She counted through her responsibilities carefully, realizing with a wry smile that the list wasn't short at all—it was overwhelming.
"Big Sis, did I hear that right just now? The Bunbunmaru Newspaper—the one that always publishes those, um, benefit photos of you—that's yours?" Chu Chu wasn't paying much attention to the other tasks. It wasn't that they were unimportant, but her focus had locked entirely on the first thing her sister mentioned. She blinked in disbelief as she asked the question, stammering slightly.
"Mm, yes, it's mine. I made it using a device I bought from the Dimensional Store—it's basically a way to divert public attention. At the time, I'd just finished slapping back at those who tried to smear my name, and they hated me to the bone. So I needed something to redirect their focus while also boosting my popularity. Looking back now, I'd say it worked pretty well." Chu Lian didn't try to hide anything, except for two key details—the true origin of the Bunbunmaru Newspaper and the fact that it earned her Integrity Points. Everything else, she told Chu Chu honestly.
"Then why did Big Sis post her own photos for everyone to see? Chu Chu never even saw those herself! Now that I think about it, that's really not good." Chu Chu pouted, her possessiveness over her sister flaring up. She wasn't absolutely controlling, but when things crossed into her emotional boundaries, her feelings were strong.
If other girls saw them first, she could accept it with just a twinge of jealousy—and use that as motivation.
But strangers seeing them before her? Those random people who bought the newspaper? That was unacceptable!
"You know, those photos are still stored on my computer. If you want to see them, you can. The password's my birthday." Chu Lian immediately understood the reason for Chu Chu's unhappiness. Amused yet touched, she realized just how deeply Chu Chu cared for her.
"Hmph, of course! Everything that belongs to Big Sis is what Chu Chu treasures most." Chu Chu's pout turned into a delighted grin, and her mood instantly lifted.
"In that case, since you care so much, I'll leave the Bunbunmaru Newspaper in your hands from now on. Make sure to keep the weekly updates every Monday. As for special reports or extra editions, that's up to you. But remember—never print more than one million copies at a time, or your dear sister here will be in trouble. Don't ask why; I'm not telling you."
Seeing how serious Chu Chu was about it, Chu Lian thought for a moment before entrusting the Bunbunmaru Newspaper to her. Still, she had to give a few warnings—better safe than sorry.
Of course, she had no idea about Chu Chu's secret online identity.
After all, Chu Chu was none other than the founder of the fan alliance Church of Push Down Chu Lian—an underground group dedicated to her!
Under her command were countless fans with wild imaginations—obsessive, shameless, and absolutely unrestrained. If Chu Chu ever needed sensational headlines, she knew exactly where to find them. They could spin scandals so juicy that even professional tabloids would blush.
Naturally, this was something Chu Lian didn't know—and Chu Chu intended to keep it that way.
Though she was thrilled at the thought of officially managing her sister's highly influential Bunbunmaru Newspaper, she made sure not to show it too obviously.
After all, even if Chu Lian was gentle now, Chu Chu knew her sister's temper very well. If she ever found out that Chu Chu herself was the one behind the Church of Push Down Chu Lian, she'd probably throw her off the fifth floor to demonstrate a perfect head-first dive.
"Yes, ma'am! I promise to fulfill my mission and develop the Bunbunmaru Newspaper brilliantly!" Chu Chu tried to contain her excitement, but her trembling voice betrayed her glee. This was a powerful weapon in her hands—those who had dared to insult her sister were about to regret it.
"Don't go attacking people at random," Chu Lian reminded her calmly. "If they start boycotting the Bunbunmaru Newspaper, it won't stop its publication, but it'll still slow down its growth and influence."
"Understood! But Chu Chu will never forgive anyone who slanders others—or attacks Big Sis!" Chu Chu said firmly, her eyes burning with conviction. Knowing she couldn't talk her out of it, Chu Lian simply sighed and dropped the subject.
"The way the newspaper is distributed is rather special. I'll show you how it works later—it's not something I can just explain in words."
"Mm-hmm, Chu Chu will listen to Big Sis in everything!" Chu Chu's obedient smile was adorable—but whether she'd actually follow instructions to the letter, that was another story.
"As for everything else," Chu Lian continued, "I can ask Xiu'er and the others to help with the cosplay shoots. For the serialization, I'll get Yanran involved. Song covers can be handled by Ya'er and Inori. That'll take a load off me. Then there's the game project—but that'll have to wait until everyone gathers again. Before that, I'll need to hire a few experts from the Dimensional Store. No rush, though."
"Lian, can we visit the Dimensional Store sometime?" Every time she heard Chu Lian mention it, Inori and the others became curious. They had just survived a dangerous ordeal and hadn't dared ask before—but now, the question came naturally.
"That's fine. Once there's a chance, I'll definitely take you all there…" Chu Lian trailed off as she suddenly remembered something—her hidden-class quest. Had she completed it yet?
"So tell me, how did I end up with such a foolish host…" Ayase's helpless sigh echoed in her mind, while Shiroha's screen instantly filled with flashing complaints, scrolling so fast that Chu Lian could only groan helplessly.