Chapter 643

"What nonsense are you talking!"

Medlin's body stiffened, her entire face darkening, then gradually glowing from within outward.

The glow was faint; areas dense with blood vessels (like cheeks and ear tips) lit up first, fading gradually toward the edges.

Blushing?

Rod laughed.

So this is how Star-Spirits blush? Interesting.

"I should remind you—the left side is missing a layer."

Rod said, pausing his raised hand mid-retraction, "Because it dips inward a bit."

"What?!"

Medlin gasped in shock and quickly looked down.

There's nothing wrong—it's exactly the same as usual!

"Pfft—"

The scoffing sound came from Haley.

Medlin froze completely, finally realizing her actions had just confessed everything.

She stepped back several paces, the fluorescent flush on her face intensifying.

She glared fiercely at Haley.

"Is this the person you brought? So crude and disrespectful! You're ruining the Human Rank of our Star-Spirits!"

Haley was laughing so hard she was wiping tears.

"Sorry sorry, my friend speaks too bluntly—accidentally exposed your secret, haha. Don't worry, ha ha ha, I won't tell anyone. Hahaha!"

"You!"

Medlin was furious.

In her argument with Haley, her defeat and the exposed vulnerability left her momentarily unable to find a counterargument.

"You two wait for me in the Trial! I'll eliminate you first!"

She swept her sleeve and walked away.

Rod watched her petite back and said:

"I know a good disguise method—using slimes for mimicry and adhesion. Not only is the shape highly malleable, but the drape and elasticity are also excellent. If you need it, feel free to consult me."

Medlin paused her step, turned back, and shot him a furious glare.

Her face was now fully glowing with fluorescence.

"Hahaha, the way Star-Spirits blush is so amusing."

"Medlin is two cohorts younger than me, but she's already reached Rank 8. Her avant-garde puppets are powered by a strange extraterrestrial meteorite core—not only do they rival the strength of Rank 8 Body-Building warriors, but they also possess considerable spellcasting ability."

"Was she your former rival?"

"Since childhood, always."

Haley's eyes shone with gratitude: "Thank you for standing up for me just now."

"We're friends, right? And this Trial is so important to you—why didn't you just tell me? What if I got delayed?"

"Oh come on, I'd definitely find a way!"

She spoke nervously, lowering her head and repeatedly stabbing her food with a fork.

Rod was always warmhearted toward friends: "Is your father ill? You know Sharon—she's a decent Wen Yi Fa practitioner."

"No, it's just age. I want him to pass his final days with dignity. Let's not talk about this. By the way, have you felt your Nu Yi Ke Yin getting hot?"

"A bit. Why?"

"I forgot to tell you—the Nu Yi Ke Yin device requires close proximity between master and slave within a certain time after they meet."

"Mmm."

Haley blinked her eyes playfully.

Seeing Rod's helpless expression, her mood brightened further.

She feigned reluctance and extended her slender, elegant hand.

"Even though I don't want anyone to see, as a friend I can't let you suffer—come on, let's hold hands and take a walk."

Hmmph.

Step one toward capturing this man has begun.

Coral Bay, Top Floor of the Cloud Rain Inn.

Sunlight streamed through the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.

Below, the harbor stretched out, hundreds of sailboat masts like a birch forest stripped of branches, clustered around Coral Bay's docks.

Farther out on the sea, three merchant ships adorned with sirens' statues were turning, their stern castles' gold paint sparkling like starlight in the sun.

Lela Starwhisper curled up on the sofa, her eyes gleaming.

The feather pen in her hand flowed continuously, scribbling lyrics and musical notes nonstop onto her notebook.

Her absolute pitch and powerful imagination allowed her to clearly write out the basic structure of a song without needing instrument tuning.

Like automatic detail completion in her mind.

And unlike her rich, rhythmically pulsing inner world,

the angry shouts of her manager Camille, berating the door guard, still echoed and pounded outside.

Hammering at Lela Starwhisper's dwindling inspiration.

Yet despite this, a draft of a new song still squeezed out amid dangerously low inspiration.

Lela stared in delight at the musical notes on the paper, dancing lightly and elegantly to the hummed syllables.

When the song ended, she sat down on the sofa, her excitement unabated.

"This might be the best song I've written in so long."

Whether a song becomes popular depends on market testing, but whether it is good can be judged by the creator themselves.

At least Lyla believed this new song of hers could be compared to the nursery rhyme she composed with her parents when she was a child.

However.

After the excitement came the vast emptiness of fading inspiration.

Lyla Starwhisper was addicted to the feeling of thoughts and ideas constantly leaping in her mind; she now felt a sense of loss.

"If I continue to stay by that Mr.'s side, will..."

Crack—

The double doors of the luxury room opened.

The harsh sound of the latch striking scattered her wild thoughts.

Camille, her manager, walked in with a face as pale as iron.

"Lyla! This time, no matter what you say, I won't let you go out again!"

"Camille, I'm sorry."

"Pouting won't work, Lyla! This was an attack by an extreme fan! If that Mr. Rod from Coral Bay hadn't happened to pass by, do you think you wouldn't know what would have happened?"

"Mm."

"And why didn't you bring your spell satchel! Your combat power isn't enough to protect yourself; you have your father's things in there!"

"I forgot..."

Lyla felt a bit of fear now as well.

Her tender, white, slender feet stepped onto the carpet, tapping lightly as she leaned affectionately against Camille's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Auntie Camille."

Feeling the girl's body heat.

Camille's nose tingled, and she couldn't help but shed tears.

Gently stroking her cloud-soft hair, she said, "Don't do these things again, Lyla, or I won't be able to explain to your father. At the very least, you must bring your spell satchel and equipment."

"Mm, mm, I promise! I'll never leave your sight again, and I won't even take off my spell satchel when I sleep!"

Saying this, she took the pink custom spell satchel Camille handed her and fastened it to her waist.

Smiling, she spun around and patted it.

Camille was amused by her, her expression softening: "Write good songs."

"Okay! But I have to use the restroom; I'm about to burst~~"

"Girls aren't allowed to say that. Go on."

"Okay~~"

Watching the girl skip away, Camille smiled and shook her head, then picked up the new song draft from the table.

She was naturally knowledgeable in the field; after a glance, she couldn't help but feel slightly surprised.

The quality was good.

Calming her mind, Camille carefully compared the draft and played it through on an instrument.

The more she played, the happier she became; the more she played, the more excited she got!

Judging by her years of experience as a manager, this song had immense potential! It might even have a chance to hit the Music Celebrity Chart!

"Lyla, you are truly amazing!"

She couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

However, in the empty room, there was no proud response from the girl as there usually was when praised.

Camille's smile froze, and panic surged in an instant.

In the next moment, she burst open the bathroom door; the small space was still empty.

A note was stuck in front of the vanity mirror.

— 'Don't worry, Camille, I went to find inspiration~~'

(End of this chapter)