After their confessions were rejected, they regretted it for the rest of their lives.

Kurimaki Tsuruo slowly walked over and stood in front of the two, her cool, gray-brown eyes falling on Funagi Azusa's face.

She didn't have much emotion; if it weren't for Xia Weichan's request, she wouldn't have come to a place like this.

"Come with me."

"I need to train!"

Funagi Azusa slapped away Kurimaki Tsuruo's hand, which was about to take hers.

She raised her head, her brows furrowed, her peach blossom eyes devoid of any gentleness, and her lips parted to reveal a menacing fang—a sign of the girl's anger.

However, her agitated behavior did not cause any change in Kurimaki Tsuruo's expression.

Her aura remained undiminished; she calmly stated:

"Didn't Xia Weichan tell you?"

"What?"

"The matter of giving you special treatment."

"..."

The girl's expression froze, and she stood there in silence.

At this moment, Zhou Juzi remembered what Xia Weichan had mentioned to her yesterday: that someone would be arranged to specifically guide her…

Is that person Tsuruo Kurimaki?

At this moment, Gao Jingshu, who was standing nearby, interrupted the awkward atmosphere by observing the two of them:

"Since it's what the boss said, I won't say anything more. I'm leaving now."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Only Azusa Funagi and Tsuruo Kurimaki remained in the corridor…

"It seems you're not too keen on this, so I won't waste my time. Tell Xia Weichan later that I've at least asked her."

Kurimaki Tsuruo wasn't displeased by Funagi Azusa's attitude; she was too lazy to mentor newcomers anyway.

If it weren't for Xia Weichan talking to her about Xia Weiyu's past yesterday, which allowed her to learn more about things she wanted to know,

I owe someone a favor.

It's for this reason; otherwise, Tsuruo Kurimaki wouldn't have agreed to take Tachibana Azusa with her.

After all, she didn't even have the energy to take care of herself.

"Please...wait a moment."

Just as she was about to turn and leave, her hand was suddenly grabbed by Zhou Juzi.

This surprised Tsuruo Kurimaki.

But the sudden physical contact was also unpleasant, she said coldly:

"Speak your mind, don't touch me, let go."

"I didn't say I wasn't going..."

Zhou Juzi said, her tone carrying a hint of defiance.

Since it was Xia Weichan who said it, no matter how much the girl disliked Kurimaki Tsuruo, she would still go.

It's just a little awkward.

Azusa Funagi is slightly taller than Tsuruo Kurimaki, but her presence is much weaker.

Because their experience and expertise on stage are not on the same level.

The difference of debuting half a year earlier was fully reflected in the training that Xia Weiyu provided.

"Okay then."

Kurimaki Tsuruo's delicate face remained expressionless, as if she didn't care what Azusa Funamoto's answer was; her tone was indifferent.

"I've booked you a private room."

.........

"Don't be afraid of other people's gaze, and don't let your eyes wander. Look straight ahead and don't look around."

A dozen minutes later, in a private room in the training area.

Kurimaki Tsuruo stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching Funagi Azusa pace back and forth.

After her gaze fell on the other person, she frowned as she looked at Zhou Juzi.

"A pretty face on stage will attract more attention, but are you going to glare back at all those scrutinizing gazes?"

"..."

Zhou Juzi remained silent, averting her gaze from the other person.

She didn't know why, but she always didn't want to listen to Kurimaki Tsuruo speak, even though the other was a man of few words and said far fewer than Gao Jingshu.

But she had a sense of resistance in her heart.

This room was similar to the one Xia Weichan used to train with her, but it made Zhou Juzi feel even more uncomfortable than the large training room.

"Do you have a problem with me?"

Without any preamble, Kurimaki Tsuruo asked the question; she was always straightforward and concise in her speech.

"Do you dislike my attitude?"

"no…"

"Is that so? Everyone I ask gives that answer, but they say something completely different in private."

Tsuruo Kurimaki didn't care; she herself disliked socializing and maintaining interpersonal relationships.

It doesn't matter anymore. Ever since Xia Weiyu left, the girl's heart has long lost any emotion towards the outside world.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she continued:

"If you continue like this, I can't teach you."

"I…"

Zhou Juzi was momentarily speechless, her tone hesitant, her pink lips parted slightly but she didn't continue.

Kurimaki Tsuruo didn't give her a chance to remain silent.

"Speak your mind."

"Are you and...Xia Weichan very close?"

"Just because of this trivial matter?"

Upon hearing this, Kurimaki Tsuruo pursed her lips.

To be honest, she also felt inexplicably disgusted by the girl in front of her.

But this emotion did not come from Zhou Juzi, but from herself.

She knew that Zhou Juzi was Xia Weichan's lover, and Xia Weichan was Xia Weiyu's younger brother.

This always reminded her of what Xia Weiyu had done to her.

But compared to Zhou Juzi, who was with Xia Weichan from the very beginning and was very obedient and well-behaved,

Reflected in this light, Xia Weiyu's relationship with herself...

The regret that arose from this association made Kurimaki Tsuruo think of her past self for not appreciating Natsumi Yu whenever she saw Funagi Azusa.

She dislikes her former self.

Kurimaki Tsuruo paused for a moment, then said in a flippant tone:

"Alright then, I like Xia Weiyu, any objections?"

The girl deliberately blurred the word "余" at the end, intentionally making Zhou Juzi misunderstand it as a kind of condescending "provocation".

And just as she had predicted,

Upon hearing this, Zhou Juzi's pupils contracted sharply, her eyes widened, and she turned her head abruptly to look at her. Biting her lip, she made a sound from her throat:

"What did you say?"

"..."

This tough stance surprised Tsuruo Kurimaki somewhat.

But I wasn't too surprised; I'd had similar reactions before.

but…

Zhou Juzi reacted more strongly, causing her to take a small step back.

Kurimaki Tsuruo then added:

"I was talking about Xia Weichan's brother, not Xia Weichan herself."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you misheard me."

Kurimaki Tsuruo said with a disdainful look:

"Also, the resentment you just showed indicates that you have a strong side to your personality, which is much better than a weak and submissive one."

"I've always had this kind of personality."

For Azusa Funagi, refuting Tsuruo Kurimaki's claims had become instinctive.

"Besides, I don't have any good feelings towards you."

"It doesn't matter. I just want to tell you one thing: don't assume that every girl in the world will like your boyfriend. Listing me as a rival is a waste of your energy."

"..."

Tsukizuki was speechless at Kurimaki Tsuruo's lighthearted words, but felt uncomfortable. She bit her lip lightly and retorted:

"I never even thought of that..."

"Who knows?"

Looking at her, Kurimaki Tsuruo, to be honest, felt a pang of jealousy towards Xia Weiyu's "younger brother."

But that's even more ridiculous.

Kurimaki Tsuruo waved her hand.

"I have absolutely no feelings for Xia Weichan, you can rest assured. Although I don't know why you, as her official girlfriend, are reacting this way, let me emphasize this first..."

"You can remember the aura you just exuded; that's very good."