The way Uma Musume looks at me is so scary!

Megumi Ardan wanted to reveal the truth about her fragile feet, but she swallowed it back at the last second before she could speak. She didn't want Xiu Xingmeng to look at her with such pity.

She had lived under such scrutiny for so many years, and it was only with great difficulty that someone finally treated her like a normal racehorse girl. Meguro Ardan didn't want the only person in the world who treated her normally, Hideyoshi Dream, to also become someone who pitied her.

"Is it because you haven't run in a long time that you're scared?"

Xiu Xingmeng asked softly. She had been the same way when she first forced herself to start running. Having never trained before, she had long forgotten what running felt like, and was filled with fear at the beginning.

She was forced to train hard and get into Tresson because of the pressure of her mother's medical expenses, so Xiu Xingmeng knows how difficult it is for someone who hasn't run for a long time to take another step.

Previously, she could only bear this pressure herself, but now Megumi Ardan doesn't have to.

"But don't be afraid."

"Because I will help you."

Xiu Xingmeng wouldn't dare say she had a wealth of experience, but she had indeed trained with the aura of the Holy King from her childhood, and had her own understanding of how to guide people.

Furthermore, she systematically learned some things from Chizuru Haibara, and while she might not be considered exceptionally skilled, she was more than capable of assisting Aldan Meguro with his rehabilitation.

"You might get hurt..."

Megumi Ardan muttered to herself, not wanting Xiu Xingmeng to discover that she had glass legs, and even less wanting the other party to feel guilty because of her injury.

"As long as I'm here, nothing will happen."

Mubai Aldan hesitated, but Xiuxingmeng would not. She could exchange items to solve the injuries caused by training. At most, it would only cost a few thousand points, which she could earn back at any time.

Moreover, Xiu Xingmeng felt that she had no chance of improvement in the next few months, so she might as well help the other party train and rehabilitate to regain her form.

Only in this way can I repay the other party for taking care of me over the past few months.

Megumi Ardan has always longed to return to the arena, but every time she steps onto the training ground next to the courtyard, she recalls the pitying and compassionate looks from everyone.

The reason I've been living in seclusion in the courtyard for so long is because I don't want to see those kinds of looks again. If I get injured again during training, everyone who came to take care of me will definitely look at me like that again.

So she kept running away and avoiding the competition. Every time she tried to muster the courage to step onto the field, she would give up. Just like in the competition years ago, she was always just a little bit short.

But today, Xiu Xingmeng gave her the courage she needed, pushing her to break through that seemingly insurmountable barrier.

Meguro Aldan was an extremely strong racehorse girl; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to race despite the pain of her glass leg. So, after Hideyuki Yume fulfilled her last bit of determination, she had no more hesitation.

It's just an injury, hasn't she been injured before?! The desire to run, the desire to step back onto the field, roared in Megumi Ardan's heart, almost bursting out of her chest to proclaim to the world.

Seeing the increasingly determined look in her eyes, Xiu Xingmeng smiled and asked.

Do you want to run?

"Of course! I think about it all the time!"

Megumi Ardan wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes and nodded earnestly to Xiu Xingmeng.

Chapter 208 You Hide It From Me

After Meguro Aldan agreed, Xiuxing Meng led her towards the training ground without any hesitation. Although the nearby racehorse girls cast questioning glances at the two unfamiliar faces, neither of them felt uncomfortable.

For them, who had already made up their minds, this amount of attention meant nothing.

During the subsequent testing and training, Xiu Xingmeng discovered that Megumi Ardan's physical condition was actually quite superior. Even after retiring for a long time, he still maintained an extremely high level, as if his body was constantly exercising.

Combining her observation of Aldan's previous resentment, she felt that Aldan must have been secretly training herself to reach such a level.

However, Xiu Xingmeng wasn't the only one who was shocked. Megumi Ardan was also surprised by Xiu Xingmeng's training level, even though she knew from her previous independent training that Xiu Xingmeng's level was actually quite high.

But Megumi Ardan never expected that the plan for the Embroidered Star Dream could be so precise and perfect, almost comparable to some of the new trainers who had just entered Central Treson.

Although she may not be as systematic as many newly trained trainers, Xiuxingmeng has the advantage of rich experience. She is a racehorse girl herself and has trained herself from scratch twice. She has more practical experience and is not as nervous as many novice trainers.

She could clearly perceive the limits of each of Megumi Ardan's abilities, but this was only the initial testing phase. Xiu Xingmeng did not intend to let Megumi Ardan start pushing her limits so quickly, but instead devised a step-by-step plan to help her rehabilitate.

Moreover, because she is a racehorse girl, she can follow behind Meguro Ardan and immediately interrupt and correct him if she notices anything wrong, which is more precise than a regular trainer who can only observe from afar.

Although it was just a little rehabilitation exercise, it was quite time-consuming. Before Xiu Xingmeng could finish testing every data point of Mubai Aldan, the sun had already set.

Under the setting sun, Aldan, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, had fine beads of sweat constantly seeping from her fair neck, but her eyes were brighter than ever before.

Having not exercised for a long time, she felt that long-lost excitement as she stepped onto the green track again. The love for racing, ingrained in every racehorse girl's instinct, made Megumi Ardan feel real about her life once more.

This feeling was even stronger than when she was studying and working at home in the north, because it was something she desperately longed for but could never reach.

Although every muscle in his body was no longer sore, Megumi Ardan still looked at Xiuxingmeng with extremely expectant eyes and asked.

"What's next, Star Dream? What are we going to test next?!"

Before she could say more, Xiu Xingmeng gently patted her on the head. Xiu Xingmeng looked at Mubai Aldan with a puzzled expression and said helplessly.

"What time is it and you still need to practice?"

"It's okay! No matter how late the training goes in Central Tressen, there are always people at the training ground!"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Xingmeng sighed and said helplessly once again.

"That's because they live in the dorms, while we have to take the tram back."

Hearing her words, Megumi Ardan finally snapped out of his excitement from training.

"Oh right, I forgot."

The training she hadn't experienced in a long time made Meguro Aldan subconsciously feel like she had returned to the past, back to the time when she was still living in the dormitory, making her completely forget that she was now back at the Meguro home.

Seeing that Megumi Ardan looked a little embarrassed, Xiu Xingmeng smiled before speaking.

"Let's continue tomorrow."

"We're missing so many things today, not even a notebook or a timer. We'll get them tomorrow."

Meguro Aldan nodded excitedly at first, but as if she had thought of something, she hesitated and said something.

"But... Xingmeng, is it really okay for you to train me like this? The Emperor's Autumn Appreciation Festival is in a few months. I think it would be better to focus on myself first."

Xiu Xingmeng was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect that Megumi Ardan would still think of her under such circumstances. She thought for a while before speaking.

“It’s alright. Didn’t you entrust your dream to me? I’m the racehorse girl chosen by Megumi Ardan, so I can naturally fulfill your expectations.”

Then, before she could catch Aldan asking further questions, she continued.

"And I remember there was a race called the Dream Cup, where retired female racehorses could make a comeback."

"Aldan wants to return to the competition, and the Dream Cup is the best choice. In order to return to the competition, we must do more rehabilitation."

Somewhat confused by the information in Xiu Xingmeng's words, Megumi Ardan nodded blankly.

Xiu Xingmeng breathed a sigh of relief after successfully changing the subject. She didn't want to tell Megumi Ardan about the Northern Family's bloodline curse, as she wouldn't be able to solve it anyway, and it would only increase Megumi Ardan's worries.

Xiuxing dreams of bringing Meguro Aldan back to the arena to repay him, and she doesn't want him to get caught up in meaningless troubles because of her.

Therefore, she planned to bury the matter of her bloodline curse until the very last moment. To this end, Xiu Xingmeng also began to make arrangements, and leaving the Northern Family to Dai Jianshi was one of the parts.

She had previously thought about how to make Megumi Ardan, who had always helped her, happy, but fortunately, that was also resolved today. As long as she could bring her back to the Dream Cup, the task that Embroidered Star Dream needed to do in this scenario world would be over.

The future of the second scenario world inspired Xiuxingmeng. After she finished her mission, everyone would continue to grow and move towards the future. Therefore, Xiuxingmeng also believed that Meguro Ardan would find her own future after the Emperor's Autumn Viewing.

With this thought in mind, Xiu Xingmeng buried the curse of her bloodline deep in her heart.

Like Xiuxingmeng, Meguro Ardan also kept her glass foot condition a secret, not wanting Xiuxingmeng to worry about her condition and affect the Emperor's autumn viewing.

As for her physical condition, Megumi Aldan was confident that she could handle it well. She was already familiar with the pain because of her glass foot, so even during training and rehabilitation, she was confident that she could control her performance and not let Xiuxingmeng see it.

If he really can't take it anymore, he can just ask the family doctor for another treatment. Besides, he's heard that the medical technology in the Mejiro family has improved a lot in recent years, and Aldan believes he can manage.

Driven by their mutual concern, they tacitly began to deceive each other.

Chapter 209 The Truth Comes Out

Under such mutual deception, Xiu Xingmeng and Megumi Ardan spent their days together, during which time the two naturally became suspicious of each other because of their respective concealments.

For example, why isn't Xiuxing Meng training yet? No matter how outstanding her talent is, she can't participate in the Emperor's Autumn Appreciation without even practicing. Moreover, she herself has said that Narita Shirohito will be at his peak at the Emperor's Autumn Appreciation. Meguro Ardan thinks that even Xiuxing Meng needs to practice more.

She didn't want her own issues to prevent Xiu Xingmeng from realizing her talent.

Megumi Ardan was the same. Xiuxing Meng had asked her many times why her speed always gradually decreased halfway through the race. According to the data she observed, Megumi Ardan was far from reaching her limit.

Xiu Xingmeng didn't see any signs of injury on Meguro Aldan, and even when she asked, Meguro Aldan always said that he was fine.

How could Mubai Aldan tell her the truth? Her glass feet were the root of her inferiority complex. As long as she could keep it a secret for another day, she would not tell Xiuxingmeng in advance. If Xiuxingmeng knew that the training she arranged every day was making her feel pain, she would feel extremely guilty.

This is not what Megumi Ardan wanted to see. It was clearly the track she herself wanted to embark on. Xiuxingmeng has already wasted so much time for her, making the victory of the Emperor's Autumn Viewing uncertain. How could she bear to see Xiuxingmeng torment herself because of this?

Although they had been tacitly keeping it a secret from each other, they both knew that the truth would eventually be revealed.

Xiu Xingmeng needed to be more specific about the timing; she knew her lie would end after the Emperor's autumn appreciation ceremony.

But Megumi Ardan's vision was much blurrier. She didn't know how long her body could hold out. Like glass, it wouldn't be noticeable to others until the moment it inexplicably broke.

This time might be very late, perhaps even after the Emperor has finished enjoying the autumn scenery, or even before he participates in the Dream Cup.

This time may be very soon, perhaps in the months leading up to the Emperor's autumn viewing.

Megumi Ardan didn't know either. She could only try her best to enjoy every day she was still on the training field. This kind of life would eventually come to an end, but she wanted to try her best to feel the sound of the wind and the scent of the grass before that day came.

With only one month left until the Emperor's autumn viewing, Xiu Xingmeng stood somewhat puzzled at the entrance of Tressen School, waiting for Meguro Ardan.

She didn't come yesterday, and since there was no way to contact her, Xiu Xingmeng assumed she just wanted to take a day off and didn't think much of it.

But today, as the agreed time arrived again, Meguro Ardan still hadn't shown up.

This was somewhat beyond Xiu Xingmeng's expectations. In her opinion, although Aldan didn't know why she hadn't been willing to give her all, she had always been very hardworking and serious, and she really wanted to return to the competition.

Taking a day off to be lazy is one thing, but Xiu Xingmeng absolutely did not believe that she would hide for two days in a row.

However, she and Meguro Aldan had no way to contact each other, so if she wanted to see her, she would have to go to the Meguro family. Naturally, Xiuxingmeng really didn't want to go to the Meguro family, which she hated.

She had thought about breaking up with Megumi Asami before, but because of this feeling of disgust, she had kept putting it off until now.

"So I guess I still have to go..."

Xiu Xingmeng leaned against the school gate and sighed. Just as she was about to get up and turn towards the tram stop, a black luxury car suddenly rushed in front of her, blocking her way.

Looking at the car that seemed strangely familiar, Xiu Xingmeng frowned, but before she could speak, the car window rolled down.

Before her stood Megumi Takamori, with dark circles under his eyes. His usually neat and tidy updo was now casually tied up, and the already curly ends of his hair were a complete mess.

Seeing the disheveled Meguro Takamine, Xiu Xingmeng's expression remained unchanged. In her view, this was the price the Meguro family had to pay for manipulating public opinion.

"What's the point?"

She said in a cold tone that although she had just made up her mind to go to the Meguro family to find Meguro Aldan and Meguro Asama, it did not mean that Xiuxingmeng would treat them well.

In her view, the entire Mejiro family was a group of power-hungry and despicable people who would do anything for the Emperor's reward. Mejiro Takamori, as the heir to the family headship, was definitely one of them.

She might have prepared everything from the very beginning when she came to the Northern family, so how could Xiu Xingmeng possibly treat her well?

Upon hearing Xiu Xingmeng's words, Meguro Gaofeng also raised his eyebrows, looking ready to have a big argument with Xiu Xingmeng at the entrance of Treson.

But she ultimately sighed and swallowed her words. Megumi Takamine rubbed his increasingly throbbing temples and said with an indelible weariness in his voice.

"Can you let me explain properly?"

"I was tricked into going to the Mejiro family last time I heard your explanation."

"How are you going to explain this time? Did you really trick me into becoming Meguro's racehorse girl?"

Xiu Xingmeng said in a mocking tone. Mubai Gaofeng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, but still tried his best to suppress his anger.

"What do you mean by 'become'? You already have the blood of the Meguro family, so naturally you are the Meguro family's racehorse girl!"

"How arrogant! You might as well say that all the racehorse girls in the world that have won the Emperor's Prize belong to the Mejiro family."

"What exactly do you take the Meguro family for?!"

"What do you think?"

Seeing Xiu Xingmeng's cold smile, Mubai Gaofeng could no longer bear it. She pushed open the car door, grabbed Xiu Xingmeng by the collar, and questioned her sharply.

"Even if you hate the Mejiro family, what about Aldan? Aldan can't be wrong, can he?!"

"What do you mean?"

Xiu Xingmeng frowned slightly, not understanding why Meguro Gaofeng would suddenly mention Meguro Aldan here.

Megumi Takamori's hands trembled slightly as she growled at Xiu Xingmeng with an indescribable anger in her voice.

"Didn't I tell you? That boy Aldan has been recuperating in that courtyard because he's frail and sickly!"

Xiu Xingmeng remembered that she had indeed mentioned it to her once, but after being deceived by the Meguro family, Xiu Xingmeng had already taken all of Meguro Takamine's words as lies.

Moreover, she didn't see any signs of weakness or illness in Megumi Ardan. She hadn't complained once when they were at the Northern House, and she hadn't given up on training either.

"It's just a lie to lure her to that courtyard. If it weren't for the environment there and Megumi Ardan, how could you have fooled me even once?!"