This Joke Isn't Funny

Inside the studio, the atmosphere was a little strange.

"Cecilia, this joke isn't funny."

Vesper shook her head and took a step back. She wanted to argue, wanted to say it was impossible—but reality was right in front of her.

That piece just now, that opera, the elegance of classical music, the romance and weight of opera... none of it could be faked.

A ten-year-old girl had written this?

Where had she gotten that kind of life experience?

At ten, most kids were still saying, "Goodnight, Makka Pakka"!

Vesper felt like her logical core was starting to crack.

"Ce... no, Cecilia." Astra Yao was unusually tongue-tied as well, nearly letting something slip.

Astra Yao took a deep breath and tried to get her expression back under control.

"You didn't call us here just to see this genius, did you?"

The shock Griseo had given her was no less than if the Dihgo Group executives suddenly knelt before her tomorrow, begging her to terminate her contract.

Not only would they waive the penalty fee, they would even beg her to become the mayor of New Eridu.

Yes, it was that absurd.

She had heard of Griseo, the [The Stars] Princess of Sixth Street.

But that had been because of her talent in painting. Now, this little girl had displayed such talent in music... just like Cecilia had said earlier, "The three of us combined aren't as talented as her."

Cecilia let out a soft sigh.

"Yes, Astra. I want to ask you two... to become teachers for those little darlings."

"We're going to teach her?" Vesper raised a hand to point at herself, then at Astra Yao, her eyes clearly asking, Are you serious?

Seeing Vesper's expression, Cecilia suddenly wanted to laugh.

She helplessly rubbed her forehead. "Vesper, Jia Yin... you may not know this, but Griseo only wants to paint."

"...Huh?"

"I've told the little one many times that I wanted her to officially join Angels of Delusion and become my student, so she wouldn't waste that musical talent of hers."

"And then?"

"And every time, she refused, saying she liked painting."

At that, Vesper's mouth twitched.

"I talked her into it again and again before she finally agreed to perform once in a while." Cecilia sighed. "And even then, it was only for the sake of those little darlings."

The lounge fell silent for a few seconds.

Astra Yao and Vesper exchanged a glance, both seeing the same words in the other's eyes—what a waste.

Cecilia put away her helplessness, her expression turning serious. "Astra, Vesper. You both know how detestable the restraints of capital can be."

The two fell silent. As someone who had been through it herself, Cecilia knew their circumstances all too well.

One was trying to scrape together an astronomical contract termination fee to free herself. The other was suffering under the Forbidden Fruit Test, tightly controlled. On the surface, she was a glamorous superstar, but in truth, she was nothing more than a puppet of TOPS.

Their every word and action was tightly bound by their contracts with the Dihgo Group.

And Angels of Delusion was currently at its most dangerous stage—rapidly gaining fans, dazzlingly sharp, yet still ignorant of this industry's rules.

Cecilia had seen far too many children like them.

At their most ignorant age, they signed the most vicious contracts, then had their value squeezed dry by capital step by step until they were discarded.

"So I want to ask you to teach them." She looked at the two of them, her gaze earnest.

"At least before that kind of future arrives, let those little darlings experience free music and receive the best guidance."

Vesper was silent for a long time before she spoke, her tone still as cold as ever. "Cecilia, you should know that we can't arrange our schedules ourselves."

Cecilia didn't respond. Vesper paused, then turned her face away.

"...Tomorrow and the day after. I still have two free days left this month."

Astra Yao watched from the side. Seeing her colleague like this, she couldn't help curling her lips into a smile.

"Then I'll take the day after tomorrow."

She said it and winked at Cecilia. Cecilia smiled.

"Alright."

In the performance hall, after taking photos with the fans, people left in small groups, satisfied.

"Nangong! Aria! Look, we've broken ten thousand followers!!" Onstage, Sunna clutched her phone, her face full of disbelief!

Once upon a time, none of their videos had more than ten thousand views, and more than half of those had been boosted by themselves.

After Griseo came, they reached one thousand followers in a month and ten thousand in half a year!

"I knew Little Griseo was our lucky star!" Nangong and Aria excitedly hugged Griseo and affectionately rubbed against her.

"My little angels, look who's here!"

In the studio, Cecilia emerged with Belle, Astra Yao, and Vesper.

Sunna/Aria/Nangong: "Big Sister Vesper! Big Sister Jia Yin!"

"Hello, Sunna, Aria, Nangong!" Seeing the excited little fans, Astra Yao enthusiastically waved back.

"Hello." Vesper nodded faintly.

Compared to Astra Yao's enthusiasm, her reaction was much more subdued. Then Vesper looked at Griseo and asked, "Little Griseo, can you tell me how you created that work just now?"

"I didn't create it..." Under everyone's astonished gazes, Griseo shook her head. "It's Big Sister Eden's work. I learned it at the Golden Courtyard."

Eden? Golden Courtyard?

As Griseo named a person and place they had never heard of, Vesper didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Um, Teacher Cecilia, Jia Yin, and Big Sister Vesper..."

Seeing this, Belle hurriedly pulled the three adults aside and explained what she knew might be possible.

Griseo was very likely the subject of some kind of human experiment...

Not only might she be unable to grow up, but all of her relatives had died when the Old Capital fell.

Thus, when the three returned to the conversation, the way they looked at Griseo was filled with even more tenderness.

"Alright, little angels!" Cecilia clapped her hands together, smiling as she happily announced, "Do you want to go have fun at Star Ring for two days?"

"Star Ring! Teacher Cecilia, could it be that you..."

Hearing Cecilia say that, Sunna and Aria's eyes lit up as they guessed at a possibility.

As for Griseo, she merely watched calmly. Nangong only let out a reluctant "Oh"—one didn't care about Star Ring, while the other had been there more times than she could count.

"That's right! Since your performance this time was outstanding, Vesper and I have decided to teach you for two days!"

Astra Yao gave the four little darlings in front of her a wink.

"Mm, if possible! I'll set aside one day every month to guide you in the future!" Vesper nodded as well. "Do you want to go?"

Sunna/Aria/Nangong: "Of course we do!!!"

Astra Yao: "Then there's no time to lose. Let's leave now! I'll contact Eve."

Griseo: "Big Sister Belle, am I going too? I want to..."

Cecilia: "Little Griseo, they have the finest paintings in all of New Eridu."

Griseo: "Big Sister Belle, let's leave now!"

Belle: "...Does no one care how I feel?"