As it turned out, Chu Lian had been worrying too much. The group of fans from last night were likely the majority of her supporters in this city. Running into anyone else who could recognize her in this endless sea of people was truly difficult.
After all, this was one of the regions where Huaxia's influence was at its weakest. Although America had been founded relatively late, it had taken advantage of the wealth accumulated during the Age of Exploration and the fact that wars had never reached its own soil. With that luck, it had rapidly risen to become a world power rivaling Huaxia.
It was at this moment that Chu Lian recalled some of the knowledge she had about this world.
Due to history and the relationship with the Otherside, the world had been in constant warfare. Yet, several powerful nations had always remained at the forefront of the global stage. In modern times, Huaxia, America, Russia at the northernmost point, and the European Union at the far west were collectively known as the Four Great Powers of the world.
The four powers restrained and cooperated with one another, but this very balance also weakened the influence of other nations. As a result, no single country could be called absolutely dominant—each was merely the strongest within its own region.
Therefore, for Chu Lian to have extended her influence across neighboring Asian countries like Japan, as well as among some Asian immigrants within the United States, was already the best she could hope to achieve at her current stage.
If not for her near-perfect four-instrument performance of Moonlit Ripples on the Jade Lake, which allowed fans of the song around the world to hear and take notice of her, she probably wouldn't have encountered so many fans here at all.
"But… could it really be that simple?" Chu Lian's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at the group walking beside them—the so-called fans who were supposedly guiding them around Las Vegas. Slowly, a faint realization began to dawn in her heart.
"Lian, we should be careful."
"Big Sis, there's something wrong with them."
"Chu Lian, stay alert."
Almost at the same time, Inori, Chu Chu, and Kurosaki Satsuki all sensed the problem. Only the ordinary human Li Xiu'er remained unaware, though her intelligence and calm demeanor ensured that she betrayed no hint of confusion.
Indeed, although this group behaved exactly like normal fans and looked no different from those they'd met last night, the sharp-eyed girls had still noticed certain subtle irregularities.
Among them, aside from Liu Changyun, Amber, and a few others—five or six at most—the rest were not fans at all.
"There's no need to overthink it. For now, we're safe," Chu Lian murmured softly as she squeezed Inori's small hand. Her words, infused with spiritual power, were carried directly into the ears of those she intended, undetectable by anyone else.
Unless someone possessed strength many times greater than hers, it was impossible to intercept or decipher the message. And clearly, no one in that group met such a condition.
After hearing her words, the girls pretended as though nothing had happened, for they had already noticed a few of the impostors turning their heads frequently to observe them.
Of course, anyone capable of being sent here wouldn't be a fool. Their faces remained the picture of fanatical devotion, the perfect masks of idol-worshippers. Had Chu Lian and the others not already seen through them, they might indeed have been deceived.
"Should we go back now?" Li Xiu'er checked the time. They had been out for over two hours—nearly lunchtime.
After walking for so long, by all rights, they should've already been laden with shopping bags. Yet the reality was that they hadn't bought a single thing.
The reason was simple: everything they had seen along the way was either uninteresting, ridiculously expensive, or just plain strange.
Fortunately, though Liu Changyun and Amber kept chatting with them along the way, they had only taken routes filled with crowds. They never once suggested going to more isolated or less-traveled areas.
That alone was proof enough that, at least in their hearts, they bore no ill intentions. Even when others occasionally approached to suggest visiting some "special spots," Liu Changyun and Amber always skillfully deflected, saying they needed Chu Lian's approval first. And each time, the matter quietly ended there.
Whether or not the two of them had already realized something was wrong with their supposed companions, they did their best to keep Chu Lian at ease.
Even though the places Liu Changyun and Amber had brought Chu Lian's group to weren't exactly to their liking, it wasn't that the two hadn't tried—it was simply that Chu Lian was a little too picky.
After wandering around for a while longer, Chu Lian glanced at the time. The clock hands now pointed to twelve-thirty. It was time to leave—if they lingered any longer, something unpleasant might happen.
She spoke up, "Why don't we head back for lunch? It's already noon. After we eat, we still have other things to take care of—we can't delay too long."
Chu Lian's words were exactly what Liu Changyun and Amber had been hoping for. They both nodded in agreement.
Amber clapped her hands to gather everyone's attention. Once all eyes were on her, she said, "Everyone must be tired, right? Then I'll announce that today's activity ends here. Those who live nearby can head home, and those who don't can come back to the hotel with us for now."
Her tone left no room for argument. She didn't even give anyone a chance to respond before making the decision. It was clear she had absorbed plenty of Huaxia's cultural habits—ignoring the American obsession with "democracy" altogether.
"Mm, everyone did great today. We'll stay in touch with Chu Lian. The next time she visits North America, we'll be notified in advance. Then everyone can see her again," Liu Changyun added, perfectly in sync with Amber. Knowing that the sudden end might draw suspicion, he stepped forward to divert attention. When he saw some of the "fans" looking confused, he quickly continued speaking to steady the mood.
"You made this decision without asking us—don't you think that's too much? I heard Chu Lian mention going back to the hotel, not ending the event!"
"Yeah! We all came out together. Who gave you the right to decide for everyone?"
"We have our own freedom—you don't have the authority to make decisions for us, even if you're the group leader!"
Before long, the "fans" began arguing loudly. It was obvious that this abrupt ending had disrupted some hidden plan of theirs, and that was why they were so angry.
Chu Lian and the others simply watched in silence. After observing for a while, Chu Lian finally understood what these people had been planning. It was time to step in.
"This decision was actually mine," she said calmly, stepping forward. "I'm sorry for troubling everyone because of me for so long."
"We have personal matters to attend to this afternoon, so it wouldn't be appropriate to stay together any longer. Last night we also had to leave right after things ended, and we didn't get a chance to chat properly with everyone. So rather than wasting time, I think it's best to wrap up early."
"This is for everyone's sake as well. I promise, the next time I come, I'll spend a few days with you all. I might even hold a small concert. But this time… please understand." Chu Lian bowed slightly, her expression full of sincerity.
Seeing the very person they were supposed to please speak so earnestly, the others knew that if they kept pushing, something would inevitably be exposed.
Since she had promised to come again in the future, they could only go along with it for now. After all, she was their supposed "idol"—and if fans didn't respect their idol's wishes, that would be far too suspicious.
So, though reluctant, they began to disperse. Most of them had come here with ill intentions, but before their plans could even begin, they were forced to withdraw. No doubt they would be facing harsh consequences later.
One by one, they approached Chu Lian and her friends to say their goodbyes—each turning back several times as they walked away. Their performances were so convincing that if someone said they weren't real fans, no one would have believed it. Their acting could've earned them Oscars.
The last few who remained—perhaps by chance or genuine intent—turned out to be true fans. Their behavior was much more natural. They simply smiled, said their goodbyes, and left cheerfully.
In the end, only Amber and Liu Changyun remained. It was then that everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Chu Lian knew that the two of them had already noticed something was wrong and had been trying their best to protect her.
They acted as if they were just ordinary girls who knew nothing, successfully fooling Liu Changyun and Amber.
Neither side wanted to bring up what had just happened, and so a strange sense of mutual understanding was formed. They each maintained their original attitudes—fans remained fans, and idols remained idols.
Once the crowd had dispersed and there was nothing more of interest nearby, Chu Lian and the others decided to head back the way they came.
Of course, since the two agents accompanying them hadn't left, Chu Lian contacted their leader after confirming their plans to return, passing along a few details.
Soon, on the nearby main street, a row of sleek sports cars came roaring in from the distance and parked neatly along the curb. Several men in black suits and sunglasses stood guard beside them, preventing anyone from approaching.
Seeing this, Chu Lian rubbed her forehead helplessly. These guys were supposedly elite soldiers from Huaxia's special forces—so why were they acting more and more like Hollywood secret agents or bodyguards?
What she didn't realize was that because of her and Chu Chu's special status, these men didn't dare to show the slightest hint of negligence. They also knew they had entered the territory of another superpower, and in order to minimize unwanted scrutiny, they had deliberately adapted their style to blend in with local American trends.
Still… wasn't this change a bit too much? Chu Lian had only requested a stretch limousine, yet several supercars had shown up instead. How were they supposed to fit in those?
The answer revealed itself the moment Chu Lian opened one of the car doors. A synthesized female voice in fluent English spoke up: "Welcome to the Maserati H017 Series Supercar. I am your onboard navigation system. Even if you cannot drive, I can safely take you home."
Alright then—apparently, this was yet another marvel of modern technology, born from the world's wildly divergent technological developments that Chu Lian had once again overlooked.
Without hesitation, she accepted it. Since the car could drive itself, the ride back certainly wouldn't be boring.
With that thought, Chu Lian took Inori's hand and climbed into a silver-white supercar first. The other girls exchanged glances before picking out their own rides.
Li Xiu'er and Chu Chu chose an orange-red car, while Kurosaki Satsuki dove straight into a black one, leaving a blue vehicle for Liu Changyun and Amber.
As for the men in black, each drove a different type of supercar—all black, futuristic designs that looked striking yet didn't outshine the H017s.
The line of gleaming supercars immediately drew countless gazes from pedestrians the moment they appeared.
Even long after they had driven off, people were still standing there, marveling at the sight.
After all—no matter where you go, beautiful women and luxury cars are forever a man's greatest fantasy.