VOL.05

"Oh dear, a sparrow is just a sparrow, how could it possibly become a phoenix!" Mother sighed, "Look at those who go to competitions, each one either has good looks or comes from a wealthy family. How can our family’s Ma Qiuxiu compare? We have nothing! If you don’t have the fate of a princess, then don’t dream of being one. As a mother, all I hope is that she doesn’t get into trouble or face disasters, and that she can live honestly and steadily!"

"Maqiuqiu!" As soon as I returned home, my mother's strong contralto voice resonated in the living room, "Why are you only back now?! Didn't I tell you earlier that your aunt would be coming today? What happened... Oh? What happened to your foot?!"

I lifted my head to look at the small flower pot on the desk and discovered that, at some unknown time, the small flowers on the branches had already withered

In the end, I still gave up

A tear, quietly sliding down the cheek

Indeed... I am not a princess at all, so why should I dream of being a princess in the end... Even if I exert all my efforts, there are still many things I cannot change, isn't that so?

Sigh... In this regard, my aunt also sighed in distress, "Today's children always imagine themselves as Cinderella. If everyone could become a princess like Cinderella, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Indeed...

Ma Qiuqiu is an ordinary sparrow, so ordinary that it cannot be more so, transforming into a phoenix... perhaps it can only be a beautiful dream that will never come true...

"Participating in 'Tomorrow's Star'? Isn't that great? I know about this competition; I've heard that if you win the championship, you will become a big star in the future! Then wouldn't your Qiuqiu soar to great heights and transform into a phoenix?"

The words of my mother and aunt are like a large awl, piercing deeply into my heart. It hurts so much

I turned around with the last bit of strength in my body and walked into the room, shutting the door behind me. My mother's voice sounded from outside the door: "Oh dear, this child! Ever since she joined that 'Tomorrow's Star' program, she hasn't been coming home on time every day! It makes me worry about her every single day!"

"It's nothing... just a bruise, I've already applied some medicine..." I forced a faint smile on my face, took my backpack off my shoulder, and politely greeted my aunt, who was sitting in the living room drinking tea, as I passed by.