Goddess Development Plan

"Mm, that's right. So please help convince the magazine staff to start reprinting..." After explaining everything to her father, Chu Lian repeated her request once more. Only after receiving his confirmation did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, she knew very well that modifying an already finalized magazine and rushing it into print wasn't a simple or easy matter. Even with their company's considerable strength, it would still require time to prepare. This might even lead to a limited initial print run, further weakening the influence of her new novel.

But that didn't matter. What she needed now was the effect of slowly heating a frog in warm water. If there was too much fanfare right from the start, it would only hurt her in the end. For now, she just wanted the story to quietly seep into people's hearts over time.

Of course, she was well aware that her request this time was a bit over the top. After all, she was technically just a new author at the company. Even if she was someone they planned to fully support in the future, receiving such preferential treatment was still a stretch. Her father would definitely have to negotiate and make some sacrifices.

But this was a fair exchange. Once the magazine's sales started to improve, the credit would go to her. By then, she was sure any resentment they had would fade significantly. She had no doubts about this—she was confident.

"Phew, Xiu'er, sorry to keep you waiting…" Although she hadn't lingered anywhere on campus, she had walked several laps around the sports field while explaining everything to her father, leaving Li Xiu'er to follow under the warm sun until she was lightly sweating.

Originally a bit tired, Li Xiu'er instantly perked up after hearing Chu Lian's apology. She shook her head and gave her a shy smile. "It's nothing. If it weren't for your help earlier, I might still be stuck in there right now. Oh, by the way, Chu Lian, you said your novel will be released early tomorrow? Is it really okay to change plans like that?"

"It's fine. At most, it'll cost us a few benefits or resources. But compared to the gains we'll get, those costs aren't worth mentioning. So don't worry about it..." Chu Lian gave her a confident answer, gently pinching her nose.

"Oh right, weren't you really looking forward to my new novel? Want me to tell you about the story?" Chu Lian checked the time—still over thirty minutes before class started—so she wasn't in a rush. She found a shady spot and sat down, then turned to ask Li Xiu'er.

It was clear that Li Xiu'er was very tempted by the offer. As a reader, who wouldn't want their favorite author to personally tell them the story? But it was precisely because she was a true reader that she didn't accept right away.

She didn't want to spoil a beautiful story by hearing the plot too casually.

In her mind, Chu Lian's novels should be held gently in her hands and slowly savored—watching the characters come to life in her mind, envisioning their every word and movement, their smiles and sorrows, etching them deeply into memory.

That was the greatest form of support she could offer her idol, and also the best way to experience a book.

Noticing Li Xiu'er's hesitation, Chu Lian thought for a moment and quickly guessed what was on her mind. She smiled gently and said, "Actually, I'm not going to tell you the story itself. What I want to share is the reason why I wrote this novel. Would you like to hear that?"

Upon hearing that, Li Xiu'er nodded without hesitation. Behind every novel lies the author's hard work and creative journey. Many people aren't interested in those things—but for those who truly care about the author and love their work, it's something they deeply want to know.

As someone who fit that description perfectly, Li Xiu'er was no exception. To have Chu Lian personally tell her the story behind the story—it was a delightful surprise.

"I want to hear it. I want to know everything..."

She was greedy, yes—but adorably so.

Seeing her like this, Chu Lian leaned in close, shoulder to shoulder, resting her head on Li Xiu'er's slender shoulder. She closed her eyes and began to speak softly: "Actually, I just wanted to write a moving story—one that would let countless people immerse themselves in it, to feel every emotion of its characters, their joy and sorrow, and the fleeting world they live in..."

Her voice was gentle, like a breeze stirring the hair by one's ear—soft and touching. Tina, perched on her other shoulder, had already been a little sleepy. After hearing Chu Lian's voice, she finally couldn't resist the temptation of slumber and let out a yawn before dozing off.

The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows through the leaves. The two girls sat closely together, a tender scene like a painting—a moment of stillness in the otherwise bustling campus.

Some people came and left quietly; others paused to watch and reluctantly walked away after lingering glances. A few sat at a distance, quietly observing; some even took out notebooks, unfolding paper to sketch the scene before them.

And more still, having recognized Chu Lian, pulled out their phones, cameras, or camcorders to capture this gentle, glowing scene beneath the sun-dappled trees: the two girls resting lazily on a wooden bench, closely leaning on each other.

Surely in due time, these photos and videos would begin circulating within Chu Lian's fan circles.

Especially with Chu Lian dressed in a camisole and white stockings—this would undoubtedly send countless lolicons cheering, and even more people would come to see another side of her.

Beyond her talent, her music, her literature, and her beauty—there was also that innate, irresistible allure. Like a black hole that absorbed light, once your gaze lingered on her too long, you'd unknowingly be drawn to her, grow fond of her, and want to protect her.

Time passed in this rare moment of quiet, unnoticed by anyone, until the sound of the prep bell broke the stillness.

Rubbing her eyes, Chu Lian sleepily lifted her head from Li Xiu'er's shoulder and softly asked, "Xiu'er, is it time for class already?"

"Mm, the prep bell just rang. There's five minutes left. Did you sleep well?" Li Xiu'er nodded softly and asked in return.

"How long did I sleep? It felt like a really long time..." Chu Lian didn't know why, but she felt an unshakable fatigue deep within—a weariness from the soul that she couldn't resist or erase. The only thing that could soothe it was sleep.

"You were asleep for just over twenty minutes. You were originally telling me the story behind your writing, but partway through, you just dozed off. Seriously, did you not rest well last night?" Li Xiu'er's tone was tinged with concern. She wasn't upset about missing the story—she was upset that Chu Lian wasn't taking better care of herself.

Knowing that Li Xiu'er was simply worried, Chu Lian didn't make any excuses. She forced a smile and said, "It was a bit late last night, but I shouldn't be this tired. Maybe it's just because everything's been piling up lately and I haven't rested properly. Once I relaxed, it all caught up with me."

"Silly Chu Lian, don't push yourself so hard next time, okay? Do you know how worried I get? I'm always afraid you'll collapse from exhaustion. Your health isn't just your business—it's mine too! If you fall ill, I'll be worrying about you every second... I still want to read your novels for the rest of my life, you know..." Li Xiu'er poked Chu Lian's forehead with her finger, speaking passionately. But as she went on, her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely above a whisper.

Clearly, she was extremely embarrassed. After all, those words could be so easily misunderstood. She realized it the moment they came out of her mouth, but her reflexes hadn't caught up in time. Only after she had said so much did she realize she should stop.

Moved by the shy girl before her, Chu Lian stood up, extended a hand, and gently held Li Xiu'er's delicate fingers. In a soft yet firm voice, she said, "I promise I won't push myself like this again—not just for me, but for you too..."

Raising her head, sunlight streamed through the leaves and cast speckled shadows across the grove, blurring her features. But Chu Lian remembered one thing clearly—her smile was beautiful, radiant...

After the two of them left, the onlookers who had stayed behind slowly dispersed, reluctant to part from the beautiful scene they had witnessed. Who knew if such a moment could ever be seen again?

In time, as the photo of Chu Lian and Li Xiu'er leaning together spread, this very spot gradually became a popular meeting place for couples. After all, that picturesque scene was just too beautiful...