Vivian considered for a moment, then held her hand and smiled gently.
"Hello, I'm Vivian."
"I know~"
Ying Qianhuan drew out the word, winking with a playful smile.
"After all, Sister Vivian, you were very famous in the news recently! The TV in the school cafeteria played your interviews every day. I thought you looked familiar, but I only dared to be sure after Uncle Liu Ma mentioned it~"
Vivian paused, a flash of understanding in her eyes.
"So... that conversation you struck up at the station wasn't because of Liuli's concert?"
"Aw, was I found out?"
Ying Qianhuan stuck out her tongue, completely unfazed by being exposed.
At her words, the train compartment instantly went quiet.
Chen Kong and Vivian struggled not to burst out laughing, their shoulders shaking violently.
Liu Ma, meanwhile, was like a statue, frozen on his seat with his hand still propping up his chin. The smug smile on his face slowly vanished, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
It turned out that the conversation at the station wasn't because they shared a 'common idol,' nor was it because of his 'mature charm,' but because of Vivian?
Liu Ma quietly lowered his head, staring at the tips of his shoes. Even the horns on his head seemed to droop as he mumbled, "So, all the adventure stories I just spent half an hour telling were just buildup..."
Crack!
The scene cut to an exaggerated close-up of Liu Ma. He instantly stiffened, turning into a grayish-white stone statue as if hit by Medusa's stare. In the next second, he 'crashed,' cracking into several pieces, even his horns crumbling to dust.
Ying Qianhuan couldn't help but chuckle at his miserable, defeated state.
She then reached out and patted Liu Ma's arm for comfort. "Oh, come on, Uncle, your stories really were interesting! Much better than the news!"
Liu Ma looked up, still unconvinced. "Really?"
"Really!"
Ying Qianhuan nodded hard, her twin pigtails bouncing excitedly. As if afraid Liu Ma wouldn't believe her, she quickly added, "Besides, Uncle, you look so mature at only nineteen! That gives people a lot of security! My grandpa says guys like that are the most reliable~"
Hearing the word 'reliable,' Liu Ma's eyes lit up again, and his back unconsciously straightened. He clearly felt good about himself again.
Watching the newly smug Liu Ma, Chen Kong shook his head helplessly, then exchanged a look with Vivian that said, 'This silly boy is so easy to trick,' but a smile tugged at his lips.
Ying Qianhuan secretly watched Liu Ma's 'happy to be praised' look, a flash of mischief in her eyes.
This fool was just as easy to trick as he was before.
Watching Liu Ma being effortlessly manipulated by Ying Qianhuan on screen, the special episode's comments scrolled rapidly again.
'Liu Ma: Heartbreak, being consoled, getting smug again, getting heartbroken again, getting consoled again... the whole cycle is lighting fast~'
'Ying Qianhuan: Flirt and run? No, flirt and then console~'
'Something's not right, very not right. I smell a fellow traveler! (A comment from a certain "Green Tea")'
'Why do I feel like Liu Ma is about to get into trouble? He's way too easy to manipulate.'
"What is it, Tendo? What are you laughing at?"
On the lavishly decorated concert audience stand, Jing Liuli had just finished a dance rehearsal, light sweat on her brow. She politely declined the bottled water offered by a staff member and curiously looked at Tendo, who was seated in the front row.
Tendo glanced at the still-smirking Liu Ma on the dimension screen, then smiled and retracted his gaze.
"Nothing, I just feel like everyone has changed quite a bit since leaving the base."
"Oh?"
Jing Liuli looked at Tendo in surprise, then quickly winked at little Danica who was sitting next to Tendo.
Little Danica instantly understood. She pulled out a bottle from her small backpack—it looked like pure water but was actually a soda—and tossed it with a flick of her wrist toward Jing Liuli on the stage.
The soda arced through the air, about to land in Jing Liuli's hand, but suddenly paused mid-air as if pulled by an invisible string. It then turned 45 degrees and landed steadily in Tendo's hand.
Seeing this, Jing Liuli stamped her foot in anger, gritting her teeth. "Tendo! Are you being childish or what!"
Tendo nonchalantly twisted the cap open and took a big gulp right in front of Jing Liuli.
"What's childish? I was just thirsty."
"If you're thirsty, why don't you get your own water? Why steal mine!"
"I am getting my own, aren't I? And I found some?"
Saying this, Tendo smugly shook the soda in his hand, practically carving the word 'Arrogant' onto his face.
Jing Liuli: "..."
So, your idea of 'getting' is 'getting from me'!
She couldn't beat him in a fight, and she couldn't win an argument.
Jing Liuli finally grabbed the pure water bottle handed to her by the staff, twisted the cap, and fiercely chugged it down, her throat bobbing as if she were taking revenge on Tendo by drinking the water.
Finally, Jing Liuli put down the bottle, huffing out a threat.
"Just you wait, Tendo. Someone is coming to deal with you soon."
"You'll be crying and begging me then, hmph!"
Tendo was utterly unafraid of this threat. Threatening him with Caroline?
Naïve!
When Caroline arrived, it was anyone's guess whose side she would take!
After a short rest, Jing Liuli returned to her rehearsal on the stage.
The stage lights came back up. Jing Liuli took a deep breath, turning back to the center of the stage. Her recently childish and sulky demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by incredible focus.
Every dance step was precise to the millimeter, every hand movement carried a starlight-like grace, and even the arc of her hair was perfectly controlled.
Tendo leaned back in his chair, his gaze softening. Despite her usual lazy and playful attitude, Jing Liuli was astonishingly serious on stage. In her own words, she was using this method to bring joy to everyone. It was just like how she used to put all her beautiful dreams into 'candy' when she was a child.
[Name: Huan Qianying]
[Stars RankWhile Jing Liuli focused on her rehearsal, Tendo looked at Liu Ma and the others on the dimension screen, or rather, he looked at Huan Qianying, who went by the name 'Ying Qianhuan' in the scene.
: NO. 30]
[Star Core: Thousand-Faced Spider]
[Star Source: Persona]
[Personality: Variable, skilled in disguise]
"Wearing a mask when she was little, and still wearing one now. It must be tiring..."
Little Danica tilted her head curiously, her antenna-like hair bobbing with the movement.
"But Mr. Tendo, Sister Liuli isn't wearing a mask?"
She had clearly seen that Jing Liuli only had light foundation on her face when she touched up her makeup; there was no mask.
Hearing this, Tendo adjusted his sunglasses and smiled. "I wasn't talking about her. She's one of the few among us who is true to her word."
"Oh, really?"
Danica scratched her head, wondering who Tendo was referring to if not Jing Liuli.
Before Danica could figure it out, she was captivated by Jing Liuli's clear singing voice suddenly filling the stage. The little girl, who often got snacks from Jing Liuli, instantly abandoned Tendo, scampered to the front row of the audience, and cheered loudly.
"Go, Sister Liuli, you can do it!"
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