Euterpe

Chu Chu stood in front of the mixing console, wearing a large pair of headphones, and looked at the two girls in the recording booth. She raised three fingers and then lowered them one by one.

Seeing her gesture, the two girls in the soundproof recording booth began to sing together: "Blooming wildflower"

After this line, Chu Lian stopped singing, and Inori continued: "I beg you, please tell me, why do people fight and hurt each other"

Then came another chorus line: "Valiantly blooming flower."

This time, Inori stopped singing, letting Chu Lian's voice gently hum: "What can you see, from your field? why can't people forgive each other?"

The beautiful and ethereal singing flowed from the headphones, and Chu Chu swayed her head, somewhat intoxicated. Although it was still the unedited raw vocal, their naturally wonderful voices were more pleasant than most people singing along to music.

She closed her eyes, imagining flowers blooming by the riverside, on the grassy slopes, and struggling to grow out of rock crevices, as if she saw someone picking these flowers one by one and then releasing them back into the wind. The questions felt like whispers by her ear, gentle yet penetrating her heart.

It wasn't until the last line faded in their harmonized voices that Chu Chu reacted, clapped her hands, removed her headphones, and made a V-sign with her hand, indicating it was great.

Seeing this, Chu Lian gave Inori a playful smile. After a whole day of singing together and dozens of rehearsals, they finally recorded the song perfectly. It was worth the busy Saturday.

On Friday morning, Chu Lian had fled in embarrassment from Mana's teasing and kiss, but she felt relieved when she saw Inori looking the same as usual when she returned home that evening.

However, it seemed Inori enjoyed sleeping with her. She didn't go to her room last night but stayed in Chu Lian's room, quietly reading a book while Chu Lian sat at her computer, writing, checking social media, and finding information about this world. Their occasional exchanges felt like a cozy and quiet routine.

Chu Lian admitted that after two nights, she had grown used to and fond of spending the nights with Inori. Even though nothing happened between them, this was the feeling she wanted. If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have so quickly set aside her reservations. Even knowing that Inori could fall asleep at any moment, allowing Mana's consciousness to emerge, she still chose to let her in when Inori knocked on the door with a pillow.

The idea of singing together was agreed upon during their chat last night. Chu Lian wanted to help Inori integrate into this world by making her an internet singer, accumulating popularity and recognition so that her unique situation would be accepted.

Before making this decision, Chu Lian understood that it was difficult for a newcomer to stand out in this circle without an astonishing song, a long-standing classic, or a strong production team. So, she planned to use her fame to help Inori increase her visibility.

Of course, in the first few music videos, neither Inori nor Chu Lian would show their faces. Only their voices and beautiful CG images would be featured. After building up some anticipation, Inori would gradually be introduced to the public.

Chu Lian knew that with Inori's appearance and voice, gaining popularity would be easy. However, she worried that Inori might experience the same issues she had, so she arranged it this way.

Admittedly, Chu Lian's approach was overly protective of Inori, but Inori agreed without any objection. In fact, she didn't even understand what it meant to refuse. She just didn't want to hurt Chu Lian.

After considering various options, Chu Lian decided on the Japanese song "Euterpe."

First, it was her favorite anime song. Second, it was Inori's signature song in "Guilty Crown." Third, the lyrics conveyed a beautiful message of peace, and it was rare to hear it sung so beautifully. Lastly, it was the only song Inori still remembered.

Unlike Chu Lian, she didn't have many ways to remember a song for a long time. Although Chu Lian herself didn't know many songs, most of them were obtained through the system. The songs she obtained came with the performance and instrumental accompaniment, and they were engraved in her soul, never to be forgotten.

Chu Lian spent a significant amount of time preparing during the relatively short recording session. She spent 15,000 Culture Points to obtain "Euterpe," brought Chu Chu, who knew a bit about recording studio operations, to serve as the sound engineer, and went into the recording booth with Inori for a duet.

Initially, the two often made mistakes due to coordination issues, unable to transition smoothly. After a painful and long morning, they took a break, found their rhythm, and gradually corrected their previous mistakes, finally achieving a perfect performance.

Looking at the time, it was already past five in the afternoon. Their mother, who had to work due to urgent matters, should be back by now.

"Let's go downstairs first. We can do the sound editing and mixing tonight. I'm worried that if Mom can't find us, she'll look everywhere, and then we'll have to make dinner ourselves..." Chu Lian stretched lazily and spoke casually. She claimed it was out of concern for her mother, but in reality, it was just her laziness acting up.

"Great, great, I love eating what you cook, sister. Forget about Mom, let's go, let's go, okay? Can you reward me for not clinging to you all day, okay?" Chu Chu's eyes lit up at the mention of having to make dinner herself. She rolled on the carpet, acting coquettishly, insisting on eating Chu Lian's cooking.

Chu Lian wasn't swayed by Chu Chu's antics until she saw the look of expectation in Inori's eyes. She then nodded, "Alright, if Mom isn't back, I'll make dinner tonight..."

Hearing Chu Lian agree, Chu Chu crawled up from beside Chu Lian's legs, covering her nose and murmuring softly, "White lace panties, so cute... Oh, nosebleed..."

However, Chu Lian had developed a superhuman alertness regarding her modesty. Even though Chu Chu's mumbling was very faint, she still heard it.

With a twitch of her eye, Chu Lian swung a punch at Chu Chu's face. With a "thud," Chu Chu's body hit the wooden wall, but she acted as if nothing had happened, even letting out strange moans, "Ah~ Mm~ Oh~ So comfortable, sister, harder, ah~~ harder~ Ah... Sister's love is so fierce and passionate~ Chu Chu's heart is melting~"

Watching Chu Chu moan strangely under her feet, Chu Lian resisted the urge to throw her off the third floor. She raised her foot in white stockings, kicked Chu Chu's leg aside, and walked out holding Inori's hand without looking back.

"Oh~ Sister isn't willing to hit me hard, otherwise it wouldn't be just a bit of pain. Really..." After Chu Lian had gone downstairs for a while, Chu Chu got up from the carpet, tidied her appearance, transforming from a pervert into a seemingly innocent and virtuous girl. However, the words she spoke were still highly suggestive.

As they had hoped, their mother was busy with publisher matters and could no longer stay home every day like before, so Chu Lian had to make dinner herself tonight.

Shaking her head and sighing, Chu Lian said, "Alright, what do you want to eat? I'll make it..."

Inori, with a gentle gaze, looked at Chu Lian as she opened the refrigerator and softly said, "Can I eat what Lian likes the most?"

Hearing this, Chu Lian's hand paused for a moment, then she replied casually, "Sure, what I like most is ginger-braised duck. Let me see if we have it..." She opened the freezer and pulled out a duck that was already prepped.

A note poked out of the storage bag. Chu Lian picked it up and read it, a warm smile spreading across her face: "Dear Little Lian'er, Mom might be busy until very late today. So, you'll have to make dinner yourselves. Considering that Chu Chu only eats and doesn't cook, and Inori just arrived and doesn't know how to cook Chinese food, you will have to make dinner."

"This duck was specially prepared by the farm we usually buy from. It was slaughtered this morning and delivered immediately, then stored in the freezer. Although freezing might affect the taste a bit, it's better than waiting a long time for delivery tonight, right?"

"So, make do with it. The ginger is also the best and freshest, tender and delicious, just like your favorite. I put it on the top shelf, remember to get it. Don't ask how Mom knew you wanted to eat ginger-braised duck today, just make it well."

"If there's any left, save some for Mom. If I come back hungry, I'll reheat it. Rest early."

"(A red lipstick kiss) To my dearest Little Lian'er."

After carefully folding the note and placing it on top of the refrigerator, she took out the duck and found the ginger her mother mentioned on the top shelf, then brought everything to the kitchen.

Though dinner would take a long time to prepare, both Chu Chu and Inori, as well as Chu Lian herself, were looking forward to it.

It might not be the most delicious or the most special, but it would certainly be memorable. This dinner, nominally a task for the three of them, contained their mother's heartfelt care.

It was also Inori's first time tasting Chu Lian's cooking, not an unforgettable gourmet dish, but a homemade meal that could warm the heart.

"Lian..." A soft call came from Inori as she watched Chu Lian's happy face...