Chapter 42.1

Universal Entertainment: “Announcement regarding false online statements about SGS trainee Lin Weining during 《Starlight Girls》 program.

Our newly signed trainee Lin Weining was accused of bullying fellow trainees by three trainees from her previous company on the eve of the final stage of the 《Starlight Girls》 program, alleging that she stole their spot in the group. This led to widespread rumors about Lin Weining’s character collapse. We hereby solemnly inform friends who care about this matter that these statements are extremely absurd slanders!

Lin Weining’s participation in 《Starlight Girls》 was arranged by her original company and there’s no truth to the claim that she took away someone else’s spot. As for the so-called apology incident involving Lin Weining, our investigation found that on Tuesday afternoon, Lin Weining requested an hour off from the program team to meet with her original manager in the training camp restaurant. Her original manager then took away her phone. Therefore, the apology posted on Lin Weining’s Weibo on Tuesday night was orchestrated by her original manager.

This is an extremely serious case of spreading false information and damaging a player’s reputation. With Lin Weining’s consent, our company has sought help from the police and legal experts to address this rumor-mongering and will not tolerate the masterminds behind it!

Please trust the police and the law.

Thank you to all the friends who have continued to believe in Lin Weining, our trainee, despite the spread of false information. We hereby promise that Universal Entertainment will conscientiously guide our artists, be positive and sunny, honest and trustworthy, and will never engage in actions that violate the law or ethics! “We welcome everyone’s support!”

Universal Entertainment: xx year, month, September 1st.”

Beneath this Weibo post, there was a short video attached. In the video, it was precisely the moment when Lin Weining met with her manager and had her phone taken away. The time in the lower left corner of the video matched the time in the announcement.

Xu Heran lay on her bed playing with her phone, tiredly giving the new announcement from Universal a thumbs-up, then putting aside her phone and falling to the ground.

“I can’t go on, I’m so sleepy.”

In the 《Starlight Girls》 training camp, most of the staff had already left, but everyone’s belongings were still there in the dormitory. Last night, as everyone chatted passionately, somehow they ended up signing their names on the contracts that Cui Qi had brought out.

A group of excited people, sleepless in the early morning, sang and danced in the dormitory, then ate instant noodles and fast food they had bought from a 24-hour convenience store.

At this time, those who couldn’t hold on any longer swayed back to their dorms to sleep, leaving only Xu Heran still holding on.

Little Pearl felt that being young had its advantages.

Of course, she didn’t mean that the other girls weren’t young.

“Hehe.” Xu Heran chuckled, turned over in bed.

The early morning sky was a hazy blue, and the light seeped through the gauze curtains, casting the whole room in a dim and warm atmosphere.

This was the last night they spent at the training camp.

Thinking about the future, the slight drowsiness that had just come over Xu Heran swiftly receded with a “swish.” She turned over and discreetly looked to the side. Xino hadn’t gone back to her own room. She was used to the scent in Xu Heran’s room, and at this moment, she was sleeping soundly.

Her black hair spread out on the light blue bedding, forming curls, carrying a faint fragrance. She lay on her side, one hand resting near her face, the other arm draped by her waist, breathing gently.

Her long lashes were straight and dense, like trees standing in a wilderness, pointing at the sky in a neat row. There were traces of eye shadow still lingering on her thin eyelids, her face was slightly flushed, and her skin was as delicate as white jade.

At some point, Xu Heran, propped up on her arms above her, couldn’t help but tilt her head, resting her chin lightly on Xino’s arm. She lifted her lower leg and gently swayed it in the air.

“Nuonuo~” Xu Heran whispered extremely softly.

“Nuonuo, you’re really good-looking.”

She nuzzled against Xino, “Nuonuo, I really like you.”

The sleeping girl couldn’t hear her coquettish voice, and Xu Heran didn’t need her to. She put her leg down, cautiously moved closer to Xino, lifted one arm, and draped it around Xino’s waist, gently embracing her body.

“I like you.”

Xu Heran murmured, closed her eyes, and drifted off while smelling the faint fragrance of Xino’s hair.

“Smack.”

A heavy slap landed on the fair face of the girl.

The dreaming Xu Heran froze.

Everything before her was blurry, and she could only see a girl waving her arms hysterically, angrily saying something to the girl who had been slapped. The slapped girl remained silent, covering her face and not moving.

Xu Heran couldn’t hear any sound and couldn’t see their faces clearly, but an unexplained anger flared up within her, wanting to rush over, stand in front of the girl who was slapped, and tightly embrace her to protect her.

“Huh?”

Xu Heran was puzzled, where was this, and what did it mean?

The dream scene shattered. A cafe bathed in sunlight, blurred faces, a slender girl sitting in front of a man, lifting her hand to sign her own name.

The scene suddenly became covered in a layer of black filter.

A tightly shut door, shattered cups, and pieces of glass pointing at the man’s throat.

She saw the girl trembling as she stepped out of the room, her hand clutching the broken glass tightly, leaving behind traces of bright red blood on her palm. Yet, the girl, as if rushing towards hope, charged into the sunlight.

“%&&￥, do you think you can escape from my grasp?” The man clutching his neck roared angrily in the darkness.

Who?

Xu Heran furrowed her brows.

The world flipped, a luxury car parked in front of the girl, and again, a face of a stranger man. Though the features were blurred, Xu Heran knew that this person wasn’t the one from the house.

She watched as the delicate girl got into the car, and the scene darkened once more.

Torn contracts, hurtful words, the two men arguing and fighting, and the lone girl standing, exuding confusion and despair.

Xu Heran felt the bone-chilling cold envelop her, helplessness and despair flooding her heart. Her soul trembled lightly as she realized, this was how the girl felt.

She was experiencing another person’s emotions.

Xu Heran thought this might be the entirety of the dream, until one after another, characters appeared. She sensed the girl’s heart growing colder, her expression fading, the scene before her turning darker, until the moment the emergency room’s light went out, as if the sky was collapsing.

The entire world went dark.

When someone stands at the deepest, darkest pit of the abyss, every step thereafter might be a staircase upwards.

She saw the struggling girl gritting her teeth, transforming from a young girl into a mature woman. She saw her becoming more radiant with each passing day, and she saw the men who once tangled with her, who used strong methods to force her, bowing their spines before her. And she merely smiled gently, indifferently crushing their bones into the mud.

But now, there was no light in the world before her.

“This is too ridiculous, who would take characters from a novel as their emotional support? Xu Heran, what were you thinking?”

The girl in the dream froze, lifting her head.

Is it me?

The scene shifted, two girls chatting in a corner of a tavern.

“I didn’t really think about it.” The girl holding her hand lowered her head and whispered softly, “I just like her.”

It just happened that, at the most helpless moment, they met.

The other girl began to speak, but before she could say anything, the door of the tavern swung open, and an angrily charged man burst in, “Is Xu Heran here? Get her out! She’s gotten bold, dares not to answer my calls! Her contract is still in my hands, is she planning to rot by the roadside for the rest of her life, singing forever!”

“What are you saying, singing forever, are you crazy?” The girl stood up, blocking Xu Heran, signaling to her with her eyes. In the dream, Xu Heran watched as the girl with the similarly blurred face rushed out through the back door.

“… Heran, the boss says you’re causing trouble. He’s running a business here and doesn’t want people coming to make a fuss every few days.”

“Alright, I’m sorry.”

Xu Heran watched silently, watching as the girl walked quietly in the dark alley, raising her hand to wipe away the tears on her face.

“It’s alright, Xu Heran, you can do it, just endure a bit longer.”

“Xu Heran, you’re the best! The evil forces of darkness can’t bring you down! Charge on!”

“This falls under the oppressive contract. While it might be troublesome, we will do our best to fight for you. I’ve already handed over the evidence you gave me to the police. They have enough evidence of underage coercion, you’ll be free soon.”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“…”

Is this me?

Xu Heran followed behind the girl with the blurred face in a daze, watching her walk through the dark alley. But this time, there was a dim light illuminating the path under her feet.

The girl hummed a song, dancing in the darkness.

“Hehe, even without a rooftop, this place isn’t bad either, Nuo Nuo, I did it!”

“It’s the strength you gave me!”

The scene before her seemed to overlap, the dimly lit rooftop and the dark alley merging together. The two dancing girls simultaneously raised their arms, their fingertips touching.

In that moment, the mist covering the girl’s face dissipated quietly. The two girls turned their heads simultaneously, and just as Xu Heran was about to see their faces clearly, the world collapsed with a resounding crash.

Xu Heran shot up, clutching her throbbing forehead.

The room was very dark, the thick curtains had been pulled shut at some point. Xu Heran felt her face was wet and raised her hand, finding tears there.

“… How strange.”

Xu Heran murmured, “Very strange.”

She seemed to have had a sad dream, but she couldn’t recall anything about it. All she felt was a heavy pain in her chest.

In the corner, a humidifier silently released a fine mist, and the aroma diffuser on the table emitted a calming fragrance, enveloping the room in warmth.

By her side, the steady rhythm of breathing was the source of instant comfort for her.

Xu Heran exhaled a breath, wiping away the tears on her face, then quietly got out of bed. She pulled out a chair leaning against the wall, sat down, crossed her arms, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

On the bed, the girl with black hair opened her eyes at some point, silently observing her from behind.

“Click.”

A small table lamp on the desk illuminated a small corner, and Xin Nuo watched Xu Heran, who took out paper and started to draw with a pen.

Three months had passed, and the girl had jumped a grade higher. Her slender figure harbored an undeniable strength. She was like a pearl still being meticulously polished within its shell, not yet at her most perfect moment.

Xin Nuo really wanted to see that moment when she would fully grow, and for that, waiting a bit longer was no problem.

Ten minutes later, with a “click,” the table lamp on the desk turned off, and Xin Nuo quickly closed her eyes.

The thick mattress slightly sank as the girl climbed up slowly.

She sensed someone propping up their arm to watch her. Xin Nuo wanted to smile, but she held back with difficulty. It wasn’t until someone lay down, their arm encircling her waist, their head resting peacefully on her shoulder, that she opened her eyes.

It should be a long time into the afternoon now, yet the whole world was quiet. The room was filled with only two low breathing sounds, until the clingy person behind her fell into a deep sleep. Xin Nuo waited for a long time before finally getting up.

She rose slowly, her fingers pinched the paper Xu Heran had left on the table. Using the phone’s screen to illuminate it, she lowered her gaze and read.

Surprise flickered in her dark eyes. Xin Nuo’s expression softened, and she raised the corner of her lips. She picked up the pen Xu Heran had put down and made some modifications to certain sentences. When she was satisfied with the changes, she carefully photographed the paper with her phone, then delicately stored the paper away. After that, she got up and walked to the bedside.

The small pearl on the bed was sleeping peacefully, her brows slightly furrowed as if troubled by something.

“Unhappy Little Pearl,” Xin Nuo said with a smile. She extended her index finger and lightly touched Xu Heran’s forehead, moving it slowly. Seated on the edge of the bed, she supported her chin with her other hand, gazing at Xu Heran with a gentle smile. “Beautiful Little Pearl.”

“The obedient sleeping pearl.”

This was also very adorable.

The girl smiled, retracting her hand. Her slender arm swept over her long hair, ensuring it wouldn’t brush against the sleeping person’s skin. Then, the girl with a smile leaned down and planted a tender kiss on Xu Heran’s forehead.

“Good night.”

【A Happy and Contented Family】

Family Head – Cui Qi: “The two-day break is coming to an end. Please pack your mood and your luggage. Tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock, I’ll arrange for a bus to pick you up. Over the next two years, we’ll all be living together. Please get along well and avoid quarrels.”

“Speaking to you.”

Hahaha, tap here, why is there a pearl?

Why is there a pearl here? “?”

“Who’s quarreling? We usually just fight directly!” Xu Heran said, hopping on one foot.

Jiang Xiaoqiong is not poor: “Why is Xu Heran’s Weibo name Xu Pearl? I also want to use Jiang Qiong is not poor!”

Why is there a pearl here? “Change!”

Haya immediately said, “Then I’ll change mine too.”

“The issue of changing names can be discussed later. Make sure you have everything ready. Next, we’ll be recording the group variety show, and then practicing singing and dancing to prepare for the debut night. The upcoming period will be tough, so please be mentally prepared,” Cui Qi said.

Xu Heran sent a thumbs-up emoji.

“Sister Cui, I feel that the you in our WeChat conversations is gentler than the real you. How about we don’t meet up anymore and just stay in touch through WeChat?”

Cui Qi: “Smile.”

Jian Yueyin: “Ah…”

“This is our group, I was thinking we didn’t have a family group with this name.”

“Hahaha!”

Jiang Qiong sent a screenshot.

The two “A Happy and Contented Family” groups were placed side by side, and everyone laughed even louder.

“Hi.”

Song Fenghua briefly appeared and greeted everyone before going to pack things. Laurel quietly observed the screen.

“Is Xin Nuonuo here?” someone asked.

Xu Heran quickly said, “Nuo Nuo went to visit the nursing home with her mother today.”

“Wow!”

Inside the Universal Entertainment Building, Cui Qi, who was working and checking messages at the same time, put down her pen and her finger landed on the keyboard, circling around Lin Weining who hadn’t responded.

“Lin Weining, you should also pack your luggage.”

Lin Weining asked in surprise, “Huh, am I moving to the dormitory tomorrow?”

Cui Qi chuckled, “You can call me Skin-Peeler Cui. Currently, Universal only has eight artists: the Seasonal Queen and Shining Girls. You’re the only trainee, so you’re the most precious.”

“Please, precious Ms Lin Weining, return swiftly!”

“Please call us the Seven Girls, thank you,” Xu Heran interjected. “We Seven Immortal Maidens will never give up!”

Jiang Qiong popped up and sent a series of laughing emojis.

“Xu Pearl, the other day when I was looking at Weibo, under your reply ‘Who says the Seven Immortal Maidens can’t be eight people,’ there was a user named Late Clear Moon who said…”

“Seven Immortal Maidens are seven fairies plus one pearl hahaha, and you’re that pearl!”

“Hahaha!”

“Hahahaha!”

Xu Heran: “??”

Xu Heran: “Smile.”

Everyone laughed so happily. Who wouldn’t enjoy teasing Little Pearl? Even Xin Nuo sneakily joined in, using the little cat’s thumbs-up emoji.

“I saw it!” Xu Heran threatened.

Haya lay on the bed, texting.

“They said you Seven Immortal Maidens are too down-to-earth, not elegant.”

“Who said that! How can Immortal Maidens be down-to-earth! Immortal Maidens live in celestial palaces, alright? Besides, Immortal Maidens are very beautiful. We’re a group of beautiful Immortal Maidens!”

“No, you’re a pearl.”

“Hahahaha!”

Xu Heran felt like she couldn’t go on like this. She threw her phone aside and lay on the bed, pretending to be dead.

On Tuesday morning, the weather was clear.

At the entrance of the Hai City Top Hotel building, the automatic doors slowly opened, and a tall girl walked out with long strides. She wore white sneakers, a mask on her face, a black baseball cap on her head, and a single-shoulder bag on her back, hands in her pockets.

The girl wore a loose black short-sleeved top on her upper body, and her denim shorts had irregular hems. Her legs were long, white, and radiant, drawing a lot of attention.

Xu Heran took off her headphones and looked around.

A customized nanny car slowly approached and stopped in front of Xu Heran. The car door “whooshed” open.

Inside the car, the black camera lens directly met the girl’s wide blue-purple eyes.

“Hi!”

The accompanying director waved happily at Xu Heran. “This is the SGS idol group variety show. I’m the director here to pick you up. Please get in the car, Xu Heran.”

“Is it starting now?” Xu Heran put her phone and headphones into her pocket and got into the car. “Where’s Sister Cui?”

“Sister Cui is already at your future house.”

Xu Heran nodded and took off her mask and hat, revealing her clean, makeup-free face.

The accompanying director was surprised by her natural beauty and quietly praised, “You look really good.”

Truly deserving of being the first among millions of chosen individuals.

“Who, me?” Xu Heran was adjusting her seat when she heard the words, immediately widening her eyes. “That’s right! Me, an Immortal Maiden!”

The nanny car started and headed towards the direction of the Universal Building in the East District of Hai City.

The accompanying director flipped through her notebook and smiled, “SGS is about to debut soon. Do you have any expectations for the future?”

“Ah, no expectations.” Xu Heran remained composed and calm. “Just not to mess up.”

The accompanying director: “…”

Director! Help!

What you’re saying is true, she’s really hard to deal with!

“Cough… Aren’t we currently selecting our debut song? I heard that you also wrote your own lyrics, do you have confidence in your lyrics? Do you want the lyrics you’ve written yourself to become your debut song?”

Xu Heran humbly smiled. “Anything is fine.”

“It mainly depends on the company’s arrangement. I, the Little Pearl, don’t have any other strengths, just being obedient.”

The accompanying director: “…”

“Did she really say that?” Xin Nuo asked. She got into the car, her cold and frosty demeanor melting away, revealing a light smile.

The driver stepped on the accelerator, the nanny car started, carrying Xin Nuo from the other side of the city, heading towards the same destination.

“Xin Nuo, do you think Xu Heran is obedient? She described herself that way. Do you agree?”

Xin Nuo chuckled. “As long as she has a clear conscience.”

The accompanying director smiled. “But I heard that in front of you, Xu Heran is relatively obedient. Everyone says she listens to you.”

Xin Nuo raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze gentle.

The hotel where Xu Heran stayed was the closest to the Universal Building, spacious and clean. The perpetually new-looking black nanny car circled around the 66-story Universal Entertainment building. It drove on the asphalt road, flanked by rows of residential buildings.

“To meet everyone’s work requirements, Universal Entertainment will provide free accommodation for outstanding employees. In the future, most of Universal’s artists, as well as trainees, will reside here.” The accompanying PD said immediately.

Xu Heran glanced at her, nodded, and didn’t say anything.

Soon, the car passed through the residential area, and a sudden patch of green came into view.

Black, towering railings blocked the casual entry of outsiders. Vigilant security guards stood at the gate, observing newcomers. Intelligent devices automatically recognized incoming and outgoing vehicles. With a “beep” sound, the heavy iron gate opened.

A forest park covering more than seven thousand acres unfolded like a painting.

“This park is only partially open to the public. The closed-off areas are scattered with hundreds of villas that will be sold or rented to excellent artists of Universal Entertainment in the future,” the accompanying director said again.

Xu Heran looked at her again.

“Are you talking to me?” Xu Heran couldn’t help but ask, “Or are you advertising?”

The accompanying director fell silent.

She suddenly remembered something… The villas in this park, the recently constructed residential buildings, and the owner of the Universal Building were sitting in front of her with a bewildered expression – Xu Heran.

The accompanying director: “…Um, yes, I’m advertising.”

“Okay then.” Xu Heran immediately stood up, joining the advertising team. She raised her thumb, “Come to Universal Entertainment!”

The accompanying director was forced to smile and raise her thumb.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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