Goddess Development Plan

When Chu Lian saw the people entering, she didn't have time to say anything before Li Xiu'er stepped forward nervously, walked behind Li Mingxue, and respectfully said, "Auntie, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

"A... A-Auntie?" Chu Lian was stunned. She had no idea when her mom became Li Xiu'er's aunt. Mechanically, she turned to look at her mother, who winked at her playfully.

"Ah, Xiu'er. Long time no see. How's your father doing?" Her mom responded indifferently, as if she wasn't very interested in this so-called older brother.

"Father is doing well. He still thinks about you often. Sometimes, when he's lost in thought, I can tell he really misses you," Li Xiu'er said, standing straight with her hands behind her back. She looked clearly nervous.

From the side, Chu Lian could even see a shy blush rising on her cheeks, creeping all the way to her ears. But with her aunt present, she didn't dare move and instead looked at Chu Lian with pleading eyes.

"Ahem, Mom, can we talk about this after the meeting? Xiu'er, come sit next to me." As her friend and idol, Chu Lian couldn't let a girl who had just become her relative stand there as if being punished. So she spoke up to her mom.

Her mom's eyes narrowed slightly—she seemed reluctant to allow it. But when she saw the pleading look in Chu Lian's eyes, she sighed and nodded.

Freed from her aunt's intimidating presence, Li Xiu'er seemed relieved. She gave a slight bow to Li Mingxue, then quickly walked over and sat next to Chu Lian.

Luckily, the conference room was large, with about thirty seats in total. Half were already occupied by the principal and school leaders. The other half were filled by Chu Lian's mom, herself, Li Xiu'er, and the two suited men who came with her. Three unfamiliar individuals sat on the other side.

These people didn't seem affected by the strange atmosphere. They minded their own business, never letting their eyes linger on anyone for more than three seconds. It felt less like they were waiting for a meeting and more like they were preparing for battle.

Since everyone hadn't arrived yet, Chu Lian leaned closer to Li Xiu'er and whispered, "Xiu'er, why did you call my mom your aunt? If you're relatives, why haven't I ever seen you before?"

She truly couldn't understand. If the original Chu Lian had deliberately hidden this memory from her, then maybe… But in nearly a year, why was there no contact at all? So it likely wasn't a hidden memory—they simply hadn't met.

But if that family hadn't contacted her in over a decade, how did Li Xiu'er recognize her mother so quickly and act so respectfully—like she was facing a revered elder?

"Auntie would come by our house occasionally when Father wasn't home. She'd gather with us for a while, then leave before he got back. It seemed like she didn't want him to see her—or maybe she didn't want to see him. I don't know why. Father never talks about it, and no one else dares ask. Mother told me not to question it too much, so..."

Li Xiu'er didn't know much. Every time she saw Li Mingxue, it was in her own home. Everyone treated her arrival as a great honor. If she asked about her aunt's identity, no one would say a word. Over time, this built a deep reverence within her.

"Mom's family? She's never talked about them before..." Chu Lian frowned slightly. In her heart, she felt a vague sense of resistance toward this suddenly revealed family. Of course, this feeling wasn't directed at Li Xiu'er.

Chu Lian genuinely liked this cute, shy, yet sometimes surprisingly bold girl and wanted to be friends. The extra layer of family connection only made their bond tighter. Nothing else really mattered.

She wasn't the type to judge people based on background or status. Her standards were always heartfelt: if she liked someone, she liked them. If not, she didn't. This mindset sometimes led her to treat people very differently, but that's just how she was—guided by her heart.

"Can you tell me when my mom usually visits your home?" If her mom truly had ties to a powerful family, then maybe some patterns would become clear from that.

"Auntie used to come at the start and middle of each month and would leave the next day. But since that incident ten months ago, she only comes once a month, and usually doesn't even stay overnight. I think... I think it has something to do with you..." Li Xiu'er said this cautiously, glancing nervously at Li Mingxue, afraid she might scold her.

"Ten months ago... that was right after I arrived in this world, wasn't it? Mom, what made you change your mind back then? Could it be...?" Chu Lian pushed that thought aside and suddenly grasped Li Xiu'er's hand, whispering, "So did you know I was your cousin from the beginning?"

Startled by Chu Lian's action, Li Xiu'er glanced around. Seeing that everyone else was absorbed in their documents and not paying attention, she let out a sigh of relief and replied, "I only just found out... Father told me before we left home. He said that if possible, I should try to get you to visit our house. Because Auntie never let anyone from home contact you. If I hadn't ended up in the same class after your school transfer, I wouldn't be an exception either."

"Visit them? I think I'll pass. I'll wait for Mom's decision." Chu Lian chose to dodge the issue. She knew that going there would only bring major trouble. It wasn't paranoia—it was an instinctive premonition. Even if it wasn't always reliable...

"I see... I'll go back and tell Father. I hope he won't be too disappointed... Also, um, can I still be your friend? Even though we're..." Li Xiu'er looked a bit disheartened by Chu Lian's refusal, then asked in a slightly trembling voice.

"Of course. I never choose friends based on who they are. If I like someone, I pursue the connection. And I really do like you..." As she said this, Chu Lian's cherry lips were already very close to Li Xiu'er's soft pink ones. If she leaned in just a little more, she could easily kiss her.

Clearly, Li Xiu'er noticed this too, but she didn't know what to do. Should she back away or pretend not to notice? Just as she hesitated, the door to the conference room opened again and a few people walked in.

It was a handsome young man in a white suit, a seductive woman in a light lavender dress, and a well-groomed man in his thirties.

The new arrivals were none other than Wang Tingsi, Wang Shiyu, and Wang Hao.

They had arrived late because Wang Tingsi had spent a long time lost in the forest, and Wang Shiyu and Wang Hao had wasted quite a bit of time searching for him. Otherwise, they would have arrived just a few minutes after Li Xiu'er and the others.

The conference room, which had space for thirty, now held twenty-six people. Judging by the setup, the remaining four seats were likely reserved, so the meeting would have to wait until everyone arrived.

"Not simple at all... that man... hehe..." Her mom's silvery, bell-like laugh rang softly by her ear. Following her gaze, Chu Lian saw she was looking at Wang Hao.

"Miss Li, nice to see you. I hope the planning for this event can be finalized soon so everyone can have a smooth collaboration," Wang Hao said with a beaming smile, seemingly oblivious to their gaze, as if genuinely happy to see her.

"Hehe, nice to see you too, Manager Wang. This project is meant to be a win-win after all. The sooner the prep work is done, the sooner we can begin. So I hope you'll go easy on us..." Her mom replied with a rare, radiant smile. In this moment, she looked as demure and refined as could be—nothing like the sly, dark-humored mother she was at home.

"Is this the real Mom?" Chu Lian murmured as she watched her.

"No, the real Mom... is the gentle one who faces you all..."