"Let's meet up with everyone first," Ning Zhiyuan quickly said, noticing Chu Lian's embarrassment and stepping in to defuse the situation.
The other girls had already covered their mouths to stifle their laughter. They had all seen this coming—it was only a matter of time. Now they were just waiting to see how Chu Lian would explain things later.
"Honestly... she's hopelessly dumb sometimes." Ayase, her clothes slightly torn and face showing signs of exhaustion, couldn't help but rub her forehead as she looked at Chu Lian. That idiot was going to need someone to clean up her mess again.
With that thought, she opened the system interface, accessed a network connection, and began uploading a series of pictures and videos showing Chu Lian holding Anna to several well-known websites. Alongside them, she added a few deliberately vague captions:
"The appearance of the legendary dragon in America wasn't the most shocking part. After all, mysterious creatures have appeared before."
"What truly surprised everyone was that Chu Lian returned with a mysterious golden-haired, black-eyed girl named Anna. The girl called Chu Lian 'Mommy,' and Chu Lian, in turn, referred to herself as 'Mommy.' What secret lies behind this? Perhaps we'll only know once she returns to Huaxia."
"Regardless of the truth, the fact that Chu Lian now has a daughter seems undeniable. The only mystery that remains is—who's the father? Truly enviable."
"Or maybe not a father... but a mother? After all, same-sex reproduction is no longer an issue nowadays. There's quite a possibility there... Please allow me to let my imagination run wild—this is just too exciting."
"Loli lovers, mother-daughter fans, daughter enthusiasts—rejoice! Imagine this: a loli who's also a mother, both mother and daughter as adorable lolis! A sweet, obedient daughter... oh, heavens, just thinking about it makes my heart flutter uncontrollably!"
"Imagine them both in your arms, calling you 'Onii-chan,' or looking up with pleading eyes, hoping for your affection! What a glorious sight that would be! O sister-con soul, ignite! O daughter-con spirit, break through the heavens!"
"Let us shout it loud: Lolis are supreme, wives are the best! Mother-daughter combo, could anything be greater? This era belongs to moe! A new age where lolis are legal, wives are idols, and mothers are adored—it's the genesis of love and purity itself!"
Lowering her hand, Ayase smiled with satisfaction at her handiwork. There was simply nothing more perfect. It had been so long since she'd... well, not toyed with, but boosted Chu Lian's popularity like this. She was just a bit out of practice.
If Chu Lian ever saw this, she'd probably go insane. Her private matters, the ones she least wanted the public to know, had just been casually turned into global entertainment by Ayase.
But truth be told, there wasn't much Ayase could do to stop it. After all, photos and videos of Chu Lian and Anna had already spread. It was only a matter of time before the internet caught fire with the story. Ayase's interference simply made sure the rumors started off chaotic enough that, when the time came to clarify, it would be much easier to redirect the narrative.
Besides, this would conveniently balance out the negative coverage from the disaster Chu Lian and the others had encountered in America. No matter how one looked at it, they were victims caught in the chaos of war—easy targets for malicious manipulation. This way, public focus would shift to something harmless.
"Phew... finally out of sight," Chu Lian sighed in relief as the elevator doors closed, cutting off the prying eyes outside. For the first time today, she could relax a little.
"Big Sis, how does it feel being a wife? Showing off that mother-daughter affection in public—wasn't it thrilling?" Chu Chu leaned in suddenly, whispering teasingly into Chu Lian's ear as she still held Anna in her arms.
"Ow—hey, that hurts!" The outcome of teasing Chu Lian was predictable: a firm headlock followed by Chu Chu clutching her head in pain.
Chu Chu's greatest improvement recently lay in her mastery of lightning control. Her overall physical attributes hadn't improved as dramatically—most hovering around sixty—but her spiritual power had already reached a bottleneck at ninety-nine, surpassing even Chu Lian's.
However, with that level of physical strength—an eighty-five-point force at several times her normal output—even though Chu Lian had held back, Chu Chu's forehead still throbbed painfully from the flick.
"Big Sis, I was wrong." Chu Chu whimpered pitifully, tears welling in her eyes, which made Chu Lian sigh helplessly. This silly girl was clearly doing it to cheer her up.
"We'll clear things up once we return home. Otherwise, if this spreads too far, it'll be a real headache." Liu Yanran reminded her softly from the side, and Chu Lian nodded in acknowledgment.
They hadn't been online recently, so they had no idea how chaotic the internet had become back in Huaxia and Japan.
It had all started with the MV for Tori no Uta filmed by Chu Lian and her friends on Mount Tai. The serene and nostalgic atmosphere evoked memories of a simpler time and deeply touched countless viewers.
Then, after arriving in Japan, the live performance version at Miss Sakurako's Café appeared online—followed by a maid-outfit performance version.
The latter, in particular, was edited into a short multi-part video titled My Goddess Maid and uploaded to M Station, where it went viral. It not only drew massive attention but also sparked a nationwide craze for buying maid costumes.
At that time, the sudden launch of the official "Chu Lian Maid Outfit Special Limited Edition" store caused an instant buying frenzy, with thousands of preorders placed by fans within hours.
Even those who noticed something suspicious couldn't stop the collective enthusiasm of the gentlemen who combined their devotion to lolis, maids, idols, and Chu Lian herself.
Now, after a series of such events, despite having debuted only half a month ago, Chu Lian was already on her way to becoming M Station's trendsetter and symbolic figure.
Before one wave of attention could fade, another rose in its place. Even if she herself hadn't made an appearance, every little incident from their school trip had become a topic of public fascination.
When Chu Lian and her group arrived in Miami, the dragon's appearance drew global attention. Fans everywhere had been worried about their safety.
But just when everyone learned they were safe, another incident blew up—one that completely shifted public focus away from the mythical dragon.
The news that Chu Lian was a mother, accompanied by numerous photos and videos, spread wildly across the internet, sparking massive discussion. It was simply too shocking to ignore.
Fortunately, most people in Huaxia who knew Chu Lian's background understood that this so-called "daughter" couldn't possibly be her biological child. Still, the story was fascinating enough to capture everyone's curiosity.
Of course, not everyone was kind. Some people took the opportunity to attack or insult her—but it wasn't worth mentioning. Those types only soured the mood.
Online, the ones who deliberately tried to slander Chu Lian were quickly met with two outcomes: either being completely ignored as trash or being swarmed and crushed by her fans.
Everyone had had enough of such people. After Chu Lian had once publicly expressed zero tolerance for malicious trolls, her fans began following her example—rallying together with fiery determination. And truthfully, they rather enjoyed it.
To fight heaven, earth, or people—it was all exhilarating. But to fight trolls? That was pure joy. Crushing them with facts, then letting others come in to metaphorically "whip the corpse"—that was true satisfaction.
It was perhaps for the best that Chu Lian remained unaware of all this. Otherwise, she might have lost her temper completely, and one of the few skyscrapers still standing after the war might have been reduced to rubble.
After all, when a tsundere violent loli lost control, things tended to get... explosive.
"Alright, everyone, head to your rooms now. Do you all know where you're staying?" Ning Zhiyuan led them to the floor reserved for Class One and turned to ask.
"We do, teacher. You can go handle your own matters—we'll rest properly." Chu Lian nodded. Zhao Ziming always sent her details ahead of time, so she wasn't worried.
"Remember, we leave around six to head to the neighboring city, then board the flight to England. Make sure you rest well until then." Ning Zhiyuan looked at their tired faces and reminded them gently.
"We will. Teacher, you should rest too..." Chu Lian glanced at the other girls, her heart filled with both affection and gratitude.
"Alright then, I'll leave you all to rest. See you in the evening." Ning Zhiyuan waved her hand and left on her own, leaving the girls standing in the hallway.
"Finally, we can rest properly..." As soon as they opened their doors and stepped inside, each girl relaxed completely, sinking into the sofa or the clean, soft blankets, not wanting to move at all.
Even though she herself was exhausted, Chu Lian still reminded them gently, "Go take a bath first. Otherwise, you'll feel sticky and uncomfortable all over."
"Big Sis, you've worked the hardest today. You go first—we'll wait until you're done." Chu Chu waved her hand lazily, echoing the sentiment of the other girls.
"Yes, you go first. We'll bathe later." Hearing their urging, Chu Lian smiled helplessly but accepted their goodwill. She stood up, glanced at Anna—whose eyes sparkled with expectation—and pulled her up with a gentle hand. The two headed for the bathroom together.
This child probably didn't even remember how to bathe properly... best if she helped her herself.
When Chu Lian came out, freshly washed and dressed, the others had regained some energy. They were lounging comfortably, eating snacks and chatting quietly.
Seeing the peaceful scene, Chu Lian shook her head with a faint smile. Fatigue washed over her like a wave, and she yawned softly before climbing into bed.
She was utterly drained. If she hadn't been holding herself together with sheer willpower, she would've collapsed hours ago.
Anna, now dressed in a white pajama set, watched her mommy crawl into bed with sparkling eyes. Then, with a delighted little hum, she climbed in after her, nestled into Chu Lian's arms, found a comfortable spot, and closed her eyes contentedly.
Seeing the two of them asleep, the other girls soon followed. One by one, they took turns bathing, washing away the dust and exhaustion from the long day, finally feeling refreshed.
Though most of them hadn't fought directly, the strain of the recent battles had worn them down mentally and emotionally. It was already midday, but none of them had any appetite—they only wanted to rest.
It was as if they had planned it beforehand. Each girl, after bathing and drying her hair, quietly climbed onto the same bed where Chu Lian slept, not caring how crowded it became.
Only Kurosaki Satsuki remained separate, lying calmly on another bed with her usual stoic expression. Meanwhile, Liu Yanran, Ruriko Nana, and Lux Lyle—who had all now naturally joined Chu Lian's group—followed after Inori, Chu Chu, and Li Xiu'er, curling up together beside them.
Their soft, warm bodies pressed close. Even though the bed was large, with eight girls piled together, it still seemed small.
Still, the sight was undeniably captivating. Beautiful girls in light pajamas, sleeping side by side—it was an image too pure and too enchanting to describe.
Yes, it would be a warm and quiet afternoon. Except for one white-haired girl who couldn't quite fall asleep... everything was calm, peaceful, and good.