"I'm delighted to visit Sudi High School, Huaxia's most renowned school, today. Seeing how spirited all of you are makes me worry about America's future. With so many outstanding talents in Huaxia, America will have to work even harder." Standing on the platform erected for him in the plaza, Mr. President began with the sort of formal pleasantries nearly every president delivered upon arriving in Huaxia.
"Mm, it has been half a year since my last visit to Huaxia, and each visit brings a different experience. It truly is fascinating. Although I had long heard of Sudi High School's reputation, I never expected to visit so soon."
"All of you are remarkable. Even I, the president, feel inferior before you." At this point, Mr. President made a joke. "After all, I only know how to rap. Compared with geniuses like you, who can produce beautiful music with a mere movement of your fingers, I'm far too ordinary."
His words made the students smile. Although the president spoke so modestly, who present did not know how extraordinary his background was? In terms of talent, had he not become president and instead pursued music, he might already have been a world-famous musician.
Many students had heard his improvised performances. They were every bit as pleasant as the songs of famous rappers at certain concerts. The only difference was that he was an amateur, while they were professionals.
"Seeing how outstanding all of you are makes me imagine a future in which the efforts of young people like you erase every barrier between Huaxia and America. Students from both nations will communicate fluently in Chinese and English, forming close bonds with one another. There will be no discrimination, no contempt, and no one will deliberately insult the other side."
"Even if we cannot become as close as brothers, we will not remain complete strangers. When hardship strikes, we will extend a hand. When help is needed, we will offer it without hesitation. In times of danger, everyone will stand united. Even if we are not brothers by blood, we will share bonds every bit as strong."
"Whether we face natural disasters, man-made calamities, or all manner of accidents, we will never give up and never compromise..."
Listening to Mr. President's impassioned speech from the stage, Chu Lian yawned, looking thoroughly bored. No one present truly believed his words were as innocent as they sounded. A profound ambition lay concealed within them.
"Big Sis, it sounds like Mr. President really wants America to annex Huaxia. Although he seems to be speaking from a neutral position, or even from Huaxia's side, making it sound as though he wants Huaxia to annex America, actually..." Listening to the speech drained all of Chu Chu's energy, so she leaned toward Chu Lian and quietly complained.
"Eek, don't say that aloud. Mr. President still needs to save face. It wouldn't look good if we embarrassed him, would it?" Although Chu Chu had voiced Chu Lian's own thoughts, as her big sister, Chu Lian still had to warn her in case someone overheard and used her words to stir up trouble.
"I know, I know. Chu Chu is very careful. I refuse to believe anyone could hear what I'm telling you under the cover of my spiritual perception." Chu Chu glanced around. Everyone nearby was from their class, and the seven members of Seven Rain were seated together in a corner. Others might pay attention to them, but they had no way of hearing what they said.
"Let's stop talking about this. Once he finishes, we'll have to prepare for our performance. Fortunately, just like the previous individual performance competition, this event has separate stages. Otherwise, who knows what problems might arise by the time it's our turn?" Chu Lian yawned and deliberately changed the subject. Who knew what else they might say if they continued?
"Fine." Chu Chu pouted and stopped discussing the subject with her. Instead, her eyes wandered around, first toward Lux, who was dressed like a princess, then toward the classically elegant Liu Yanran, before shifting to Nana in her cherry-blossom kimono. Finally, her gaze moved between Li Xiu'er, who resembled a pure green lotus, and Cai Ya, who looked like a noble young lady. She sighed inwardly.
"Why didn't we choose matching outfits? Everyone wearing something different looks so strange." She was not wrong about that.
However, compared with everyone else's more conventional attire, her own outfit was even stranger. She wore black stockings and high heels with a long black Gothic dress. Big Sis beside her had paired a qipao with white stockings and high heels.
Chu Chu's outfit was purely Western, while her big sister's blended Chinese and Western styles. At least in Chu Chu's opinion, her big sister was the most beautiful person present. It was not merely her appearance, but her aura.
Of course, if Chu Chu changed into Downfall of Castle and Country, her charm would increase considerably as well. However, with her figure, putting on a qipao would mean no one would pay attention to the performance. They would only watch her.
"Phew, let's get ready." Roughly half an hour later, Mr. President finally began his closing remarks. Chu Lian immediately stood and addressed the girls beside her.
"All right." Everyone had been waiting quite some time for this moment. Hearing her words, they all stood with relaxed expressions. No matter what kind of opponents they faced this time, they were confident they could seize most of the attention.
"The performance is finally about to begin. I've waited so long... yawn." In the distance, within the area reserved for visiting guests, Li Mingxue saw Mr. President leaving the stage and Chu Lian's group rising to their feet. Knowing the show would begin soon, she stretched lazily, sounding rather pleased.
"Matriarch, should we take these things over there, meow?" Tina, who had been dozing beside Anna, immediately woke when Li Mingxue spoke. She stood, obediently pointed at the packages of pastries and desserts before her, and looked toward Li Mingxue.
"Of course. They'll probably get hungry. Didn't we spend the whole morning preparing these for them? And Anna, stop sleeping." Li Mingxue stroked Tina's little head, then shook Anna, who was still slumped over, to wake her.
"Mm? Where's Mommy?" Awakened from her sleep, Anna rubbed her eyes and looked around dazedly. When she failed to see Chu Lian, her waist went limp, and she began collapsing onto the table again.
"If you go back to sleep, I'll leave you here and won't let you go find your mommy." Li Mingxue glanced at her. Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it instantly jolted the girl awake.
"I'm sorry!" Li Mingxue frightened her more than anyone else. No matter how one looked at it, she was far more imposing than Mommy. Although Anna still loved Mommy the most, Li Mingxue's words were equivalent to the highest possible command.
"Mm, good girl." Smiling faintly, Li Mingxue stopped paying attention to the now fully awake Anna. She turned to glance at Inori and Kurosaki Satsuki, who were sitting quietly, and frowned inwardly. Those two truly were somewhat troublesome.
"Has the performance already started?" Inori rose and looked first at Li Mingxue, then outside. Chu Lian's group had been assigned to Stage One according to their class, several hundred meters away. She was already growing impatient.
"Almost. We'll head over now." Seeing her reaction, Li Mingxue breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought the girl was still feeling dejected.
Unlike their dawdling, the white-haired girl stood immediately. The instrument case on her back accidentally struck a chair, producing a clear clang that sharpened everyone's attention.
"Satsuki." Li Mingxue knew perfectly well that Kurosaki Satsuki's case contained no instrument, but two katana. She had gone to considerable trouble to bring them inside. Hopefully, those two blades would not be needed today.
"There are only five minutes left before we begin, and we still haven't finished moving everything. Everyone, be careful." Large instruments such as the piano had already been placed onstage. They were now arranging the smaller instruments, chairs, and stools.
It was not that no one else had offered to help. The girls had simply refused for various reasons, insisting on doing everything themselves. Since they were so stubborn, no one could do anything but let them.
The stage had been enclosed by a black curtain. Outsiders could not see what was happening inside, but those within could use the sunlight to make out the silhouettes outside. It was a very unusual fabric and was said to be extremely expensive.
However, after Chu Lian saw it and learned about its properties, her thoughts immediately wandered in an improper direction. This material would clearly be very useful at certain times. Ahem.
"Don't think about anything right now. Don't look at the cameras, and don't worry about whether Mr. President will come over. Although I think the school's arrangements are idiotic, since we accepted this task, we must do our best. Everyone, give it your all."
After moving everything onto the stage and finishing their preparations, Chu Lian clapped her hands. Once everyone looked toward her, she extended her hand.
They had spent so much time together that everyone was already familiar with this gesture and immediately understood what to do.
One by one, the girls reached out and stacked their hands atop hers, passing their confidence to her.
"One, two, three!" After moving their joined hands up and down three times, the girls pulled them back. Their eyes were filled with trust as they looked at her.
"All right. We only need to remember that once this is over, we'll enter a long period of rest. It'll be summer vacation!" Chu Lian smiled brightly, and her words made all the girls laugh in unison.
That was right. Summer vacation was almost here. They only had to work hard now, and afterward, they could rest.
As their laughter faded, the performance time arrived. Everyone returned to the position where they were meant to stand or sit and watched the curtain slowly open. When sunlight poured inside, they basked in the sensation of countless eyes focusing upon them.
"Today, let us give everyone a celebration. Believe me, we won't disappoint you." Leaning her cherry lips toward the microphone, she parted them slightly and spoke those words.
As her fingers plucked the long strings of the guzheng in her hands, they entered their performance state completely.
"She's grown up. Watching them like this for the first time suddenly makes me feel as though my daughter has grown wings and is about to soar into a higher sky." Li Mingxue's eyes overflowed with gratification. More than anything, she had wished to see Chu Lian and Chu Chu grow. She had waited a very long time for this moment.
"Wolf-fang moon, the beauty grows haggard. I raise my cup and drink down all the wind and snow..." The girl began to sing, her voice as heavenly as nature itself, unconsciously drawing everyone into a trance...
The cameras faithfully captured every movement of the girls onstage. Although there was background noise at the venue, the beautiful singing flowing through the speakers still intoxicated countless viewers watching the live broadcast from their computer screens.