Standing by the door, Chu Lian didn't know exactly what was going through their minds, but she could still guess a few things. Yet some things were better left unspoken. Whatever the girls were thinking no longer mattered at this moment—what mattered was that she had finally managed to sort out the turbulence in her heart.
Her life before had been one of detachment—unconcerned with time, untouched by worldly affairs, uninterested in human struggles. Like an immortal hidden in a mortal shell, she had viewed everything with a transcendent calm, seeing the world as something that had nothing to do with her.
Even though she sometimes involved herself in various matters, more often she chose to ignore most things that didn't concern her. It wasn't indifference, nor was it cold detachment—it was simply that she never truly felt a sense of belonging to this world.
Yet as of late, circumstances had begun to change. The many events she had experienced brought her gradually closer to the world, forcing her to face herself and her surroundings more directly. Since Chu Chu's return and Inori's appearance, that feeling had become even stronger.
But along with that came the memories of the Rift at Jiuzhaigou—the broken seal, the Spacetime Traveling Merchant's twisted abominations, the ruins left behind by that massacre, and the lifeless gazes of the survivors. Those images had planted in her heart a quiet rejection of the world.
Then came the journey to Mount Li—the appearance of the First Emperor from two thousand years ago, the revelation of her own origins, the secret of the undying, the guarded gate to the Otherside, and most vividly of all, the questions and answers exchanged atop the mountain. All of it made her begin to doubt the reality of this world.
Even though nothing particularly strange had happened during the trip to Mount Tai—aside from that dream of a past life and the sight of crimson light in the sky—she had, once again, glimpsed the vast spectrum of human existence.
Since arriving in Neon, all those experiences had tangled together in her mind like a knot impossible to undo. Kurosaki Satsuki's mysterious origins, the Otherside's relentless pursuit, the dream in the hot spring that showed her a future yet unseen—it all felt like a carefully woven path, already laid out, waiting for her to uncover step by step.
She had once thought the only strange things in this world were the System and the Otherside. But in just half a month, those assumptions had completely crumbled.
She kept trying—to understand, to accept, to force herself not to think too much. That was why she kept singing—at the survivors' plaza after the Jiuzhaigou disaster, on the way to Mount Tai, in the recording building before her flight, and now, here.
All of it was merely a way to release her emotions. To others, it might have seemed strange—but for her, it was simply how she kept herself balanced, never wanting to trouble others with her struggles.
If Ayase had been by her side during this journey, perhaps all of this would have been different. But Ayase had entered the Punishment Space before their departure. Even though Inori now stood beside her—and held a precious place in her heart—there were some bonds that could never be replaced.
Now, after singing Tori no Uta twice in a row, she felt as if her soul had been cleansed by its purity. She knew—deep down—that she couldn't remain still any longer. The future held countless unknowns waiting for her.
Ayase's companionship, Chu Chu's affection, her parents' care, Inori's attachment, Li Xiu'er's trust, Cai Ya's admiration, her fans' support, and the world's praise—each was like a petal on a blossoming flower.
It was because of these people—each unique, each precious—that she could bloom with such dazzling brilliance.
She didn't yet know that the white rose at her heart had begun forming after her White Rose soul ability was awakened. Only here, in Neon, had it quietly begun to bloom—absorbing every emotion, both dark and light, transforming them into nourishment.
When the rose finally opens in full, radiant and flawless, perhaps the truth behind everything will finally be revealed.
Countless thoughts interwove in her mind like a vast, intricate web—one that ensnared not only her heart but also everything around her. Whether kind or malicious, joyous or sorrowful, nothing could escape its threads.
Fortunately, Chu Lian always seemed to be favored by fate. Every situation she encountered, once she made her choice, would somehow lead her toward a better future—including this one, her current role as a maid.
If not for this experience, would she have truly confronted her own heart and realized what kind of person she wanted to be? If not for this, would she have sung Tori no Uta twice, calming the storm within her soul? If not for this, would she have understood that some things in life inevitably push one to make a choice—even when one already knows the truth but pretends not to?
"Welcome, dear guest…" Chu Lian greeted each customer with a gentle smile, collecting her scattered thoughts and devoting all her energy to her role.
However, while the other maids all said, "Welcome home, Master," she alone said, "Welcome, dear guest." It was impossible not to notice her.
Part of it, of course, was because her appearance stood out among the other maids. While the others were at least sixteen years old and taller than 1.55 meters, she was unmistakably still in her pre-adolescent years—a petite girl barely 1.4 meters tall, with a flat chest and a delicate face radiating both purity and an alluring hint of innocence. Her presence drew the eye irresistibly.
When she spoke those words, her faint blush and shy gaze only made her even more captivating. Any impure thoughts softened under the charm of her natural grace.
Moreover, as each guest passed by, they couldn't help but notice the faint, natural fragrance that lingered around her—a clean, refreshing scent that made them mentally exclaim, What an incredible girl… what a waste for someone like her to be working as a maid!
At that moment, few guests could recognize Chu Lian for who she was. After all, her live performance of Tori no Uta had only just begun spreading across Neon, and the video of her singing in the maid outfit hadn't yet been released. Aside from dedicated ACG fans on N Station, hardly anyone could identify her.
"This is so embarrassing…" she muttered softly to herself. Wherever one went, there would always be people with less-than-pure intentions. And with her appearance—so strikingly beyond the other maids—it was no wonder some gazes lingered a little too long. Especially given her petite frame, which only added to her dangerous allure in a place like Neon, where such preferences, though technically forbidden, still persisted beneath the surface.
Fortunately, Miss Sakurako's Café was well-known among the upper-middle class of Akihabara and Tokyo. Everyone understood the powerful influence behind Kujou Sakurako. So even if some were tempted, they didn't dare act recklessly.
But there were always a few fools who didn't know better…
As Chu Lian bowed to greet the next guest, a tall man stepped in front of her and said in a deep voice, "Could you raise your head for a moment?"
Because she was wearing the Chu Lian Special Edition Maid Outfit, which granted her the "Perfect and Graceful Head Maid" abilities, she instinctively complied—unable to refuse a reasonable request from a customer or master.
She lifted her head… and suddenly found a face leaning in, lips slightly parted, aiming straight for hers.
Startled, her instincts kicked in. The man's face was barely three centimeters away when Chu Lian's defensive reflex overpowered her maid programming. She bent backward, dodging the kiss, then twisted her waist and spun midair in a full 360-degree turn. Her foot struck the man squarely in the chest, sending him flying straight out the door.
Crash! The sharp sound of shattering glass echoed through the café, startling everyone inside and out.
Inside, the girls—along with Kujou Sakurako—immediately realized something had happened and rushed over. Outside, passersby turned at the noise, just in time to see a tall man covered in glass shards crash into a parked car, coughing up blood.
By sheer luck, most of the glass had already fallen away midair, sparing him further injury when he hit the vehicle. Even so, he was gravely hurt. Dazed and barely conscious, he looked toward the small figure standing in the doorway, trying to say something—but his arm fell limply to his side.
Within seconds, a group of men in black suits appeared, rushing to his aid. One older man carrying a medical kit crouched beside him, tending to his wounds without a word. Half of the others surrounded Miss Sakurako's Café, blocking all exits, while the rest shouted anxiously in Japanese, "Waka-sama! Waka-sama!"
Moments later, one of them made a phone call. Chu Lian, with her exceptional hearing, caught every word: "Boss, Waka-sama's been injured—badly. He's in front of Miss Sakurako's Café. We need your orders… Understood. We'll hold position and make sure no one leaves until you arrive."
Frowning, Chu Lian sighed softly and turned to Sakurako. "I'm sorry, Miss Sakurako. It seems I've caused you some trouble. Judging by that reaction, this 'Waka-sama' must be someone quite important."
"Hmph. No matter who he is, anyone who dares cause trouble in my establishment won't be forgiven," Sakurako said sharply, arms crossed, her voice tinged with anger.
"Perhaps this trouble… isn't as simple as it seems," Chu Lian murmured quietly. For now, there was no way to tell. But deep down, she knew—something unusual was about to begin.