Goddess Development Plan

Even when her mom parked the car in the parking lot, Chu Lian still wore a listless expression. Anyone would feel the same if they were set up by their own mother. While it wasn't a big deal, it was still incredibly embarrassing! Sure, she might have lost her integrity, but that didn't mean she lacked a sense of shame. This was real life, not an anime—there weren't that many freebies to show off to others!

But when she saw her mom get out of the car, then come around to open her door with a soft smile on her lips, her bright eyes full of anticipation, and reaching out to take her hand like she wanted to bring her along to the meeting—Chu Lian's heart softened.

So, if she didn't want to disappoint her mom and only considered her own feelings, then like it or not, she'd have to attend school dressed like this today.

"Just treat it as a rehearsal. Outfits like this will definitely be part of the future. I need to overcome this mental block. Get used to it... get used to it..." Taking a deep breath, Chu Lian silently repeated this to herself.

She shot a glance at her mom, who was clearly pleased with herself, and placed her small hand into her mom's palm while hugging Tina with her left arm. Because her mom had gotten out of the car, the nearly-doomed dead cat had managed to escape a crisis and now curled up in her arms, trembling, with an expression like it had just narrowly survived a catastrophe—which made Chu Lian snicker.

Unnoticed behind her, a car slowly pulled up, and out stepped a handsome young man in a suit. When he spotted her, he froze in place, his gaze fixed on her.

Wang Tingsi had come early to school today for a reason, even though it was only Tuesday. He arrived half an hour ahead of schedule, but just as he stepped out of the car, he caught sight of a beautiful figure not far off—and instantly, all of his attention was captured.

He had never seen Chu Lian dressed like this before. Compared to her usual pure and cute look, she now carried an added touch of fatal allure. Like the apple in Eden, she exuded a unique charm that made one want to pluck her and take a bite.

"That's... Auntie Li Mingxue? Why is she here? And with Chu Lian..." Thankfully, he wasn't so dazed that he didn't notice the woman holding Chu Lian's hand was her mother.

"Could it be... related to today's matter?"

Before he could think further, the two in his view had already walked away. Afraid of losing her trail, Wang Tingsi turned to the person inside the car and said, "Uncle, I'll go ahead. You and Sis go on without me. I'll catch up later."

A voice came from behind, that of the company's general manager: "Tingsi, don't forget you're also part of today's negotiation. Remember, don't let personal matters interfere with official business."

His steps paused. Wang Tingsi responded, "I understand. I'll be there shortly."

"Good. The chairman wants you to perform outstandingly in this task. Don't hold back." His words were like a blade carried on the wind, stabbing into Wang Tingsi's heart.

"Don't hold back, huh?..." His pace quickened, yet he felt more directionless than ever. The figure he had seen was now completely gone. Those words echoed in his mind as he recalled all his recent efforts, which had been met only with Chu Lian's complete indifference. Suddenly, he murmured something even he didn't fully register: "Maybe... it was always meant to be like this..."

The scenes of her treating him so differently from others flashed through his mind.

"First, stay at least three meters away from me; second, don't get too close; third, I don't want to see you; fourth, don't appear in my line of sight; fifth, only speak where I can't see you; sixth, don't disturb me; seventh, I won't hear anything you say. Alright, go ahead and speak..."

"You have thirty seconds to say whatever it is. If it's nonsense, please don't waste your breath. Thank you..."

"I understand. It has nothing to do with me, but thank you for the warning. I'm just an ordinary person, not some Daughter of Fate. You've got the wrong person..."

"If... if the time comes, I think... I can do it." That was what he had told himself—and what he had decided.

Not far away, in the car, the man Wang Tingsi called "Uncle," dressed in a suit, adjusted his tie. His face, half-shrouded in shadow, showed no expression. But after hearing those words from Wang Tingsi, a smile crept onto his lips—part contentment, part satisfaction.

From behind him came a seductive female voice: "Wang Hao, is this really for his good? Using this method to manipulate his emotions, planting the subconscious idea of giving up on that girl—isn't that too cruel? No matter what, he's still just a child, and that girl has every right to become the Wang family's daughter-in-law, to be my sister-in-law."

"She does have the qualifications. But she's also a major source of trouble. I have a feeling that whoever ends up with her will face danger. You have to trust me. After all, my primary profession is a fortune-teller. I can see certain people's futures."

"And Wang Shiyu, don't forget—she may very well be the Daughter of Fate of the Otherside. You know better than I do how much trouble the Daughter of Fate brings. You're a Rift Guardian, aren't you? I'm still Wang Tingsi's uncle. If necessary, I have the right to make certain decisions for him. Even if he ends up hating me, I can bear that responsibility for the Wang family."

"Heh, if I weren't a Rift Guardian right now, just being her sister would be enough reason for me to deal with you. Just this once. If there's a next time, I won't let it slide."

"If you truly disagreed, you should have stopped me from using Hypnotic Voice earlier. Saying all this now is just your way of easing your guilt. Still too young... you can't keep your composure. For the Wang family? Heh, that won't be the case for much longer... As for her future—whether it turns out that way or not, as long as I say it does, it will." He smiled faintly, offering no rebuttal to Wang Shiyu's words. But in his heart, a thought formed that would leave her utterly shocked if she ever heard it. If only she had... then everything that followed wouldn't have happened...

"Oh my, that lovestruck little boy didn't catch up to you. Want to wait for him?" Ayase's teasing voice drifted beside her ear. But Chu Lian shook her head. "I don't think that's love—it's possession. Just like what you told me last night. Honestly, what you said really made sense. If you hadn't said it, I probably still wouldn't have figured it out."

"The reason he's like this toward me is just because I accidentally saved his life once and helped him fulfill a dream. That made him think I was special. But once he grows up, the pressure from his family and the countless temptations in this world will cloud his judgment. He's not someone with a firm will—there's no way he could resist all the easily accessible distractions."

Chu Lian's indifference toward Wang Tingsi wasn't just because of her deep aversion toward men, now that she had become the opposite sex. It was also about his own shortcomings.

Love, affection—he didn't understand them. But as someone who had lived a previous life, she understood plenty. She knew all too well how easily such emotions could be mistaken for love.

To quote a song lyric: "But darling, that isn't love. Like a spirit who wandered into the wrong forest, that love is clearly mistaken."

Perhaps she would be the one he most wanted to possess in his worldly journey—but she would never be the only one. He would watch her distant figure while walking forward, all the while drowning in countless temptations and lovely distractions.

She had understood this from the very beginning. It was a common mindset among those with high talent and powerful backgrounds but immature minds. A likely future—one that wasn't far off.

While she chatted back and forth with Ayase in her mind, her mom had already led her quite a distance, passing several school buildings before arriving at the school's administrative building. The teachers' activity center and the offices of school leadership were all located here.

And it was also the starting point for the so-called literary competition. Decisions would be made here on how it would be held and in what format.

Though she had missed much of what her mom said due to her conversation with Ayase, there was a silver lining: she forgot all about the outfit she was wearing and didn't feel the shame of being stared at with strange eyes.

"Hey, I brought you along because you're already a famous figure in Sucheng—a genius literary girl. This collaboration needs your cooperation," her mom said, holding her hand as they walked up the stairs gracefully. "Besides, don't you think this is a great promotional opportunity for your new book? I really believe in this competition and hope you can win the top spot."

"I believe Little Lian'er can definitely handle this kind of scene, right?"

Amid her mother's expectant smile, Chu Lian arrived at the door of a conference room. Inside, quite a few people were already seated...

And when the two of them entered, the people inside began sizing them up with various looks.

Chu Lian could feel tiny goosebumps rise on her skin. She had the distinct feeling of being surrounded by a pack of wolves. Those gazes came not just from young men and middle-aged folks, but also from several elderly individuals.

Her mom, on the other hand, remained calm and poised under their eyes, fully back in her role as a career woman. Chu Lian, however, grew increasingly uncomfortable. Those gazes were far too invasive, and the majority seemed locked onto her legs in white garter stockings.

If her mom hadn't noticed her awkwardness and pulled her to a seat, she might have fled the room already.

But in truth, most of it was just her own psychological projection—exaggerating the shame from being stared at. She would get used to it soon.

Because more guests were arriving. A few more people entered right behind them.

She turned around and looked—a bit surprised, and a bit enlightened...