Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

"Huh?"

Violeta hesitated for a moment, then chuckled. "Hehe, to be honest, I haven't really practiced much."

She wasn't too into dancing, but martial arts-now that was her thing. There was a kind of similarity between the two.

Some movements seemed difficult, but in reality, they were easy to complete if you found the right point to exert force.

Of course, all of this came from Violeta's past life on the set, where she worked as a stunt double and martial arts performer, paying the price with all sorts of injuries.

She knew how to utilise the force points of her limbs and muscles to complete certain movements.

But, even with her seemingly casual tone, it wasn't going to be a walk in the park without real experience.

Hazel scoffed. "Oh, please, spare me. What you call 'casual' isn't something I haven't practiced. I know exactly how difficult it is. Otherwise, people like Vivian wouldn't be stunned."

If everyone could do it, it wouldn't be called a super-difficult skill.

"Vio, you're amazing!"

"Thanks."

Violeta smiled. "I can manage moves like that, but if you want me to dance properly, that's a different story."

Hazel rested her hand on Violeta's shoulder. "But to dance well, you need a solid foundation, just like building a pyramid. Without a base, how can you reach the top? As the saying goes, 'The stage in a minute ten years of practice backstage.""

Violeta nodded. "Yeah, you're right."

Hazel said, "Wait till next spring's Lotus Competition. My sister and I will go head-to-head with Lucy. That's when the real showdown begins."

That year, while Vivian was shining, Grace was down on luck.

You couldn't just breeze past this so easily. Even insiders were probably looking forward to the spring Lotus Competition!

The competition between Vivian and Grace had never stopped. They were no longer young enough to be bickering on stage, so they left that to the younger generation.

The true skill was seen in whose disciples, personally taught, could outshine the others.

The two returned to the banquet hall.

The dinner had already begun, and Grace led her three disciples to each table to toast, then introduced Violeta to them, creating a warm atmosphere.

Halfway through the meal, the music from the neighbouring banquet hall drowned out the conversation. Since the two halls were so close, the sounds from across were crystal clear.

It seemed that Declan had arrived next door. He and Vivian were speaking on stage, their voices carrying over.

They were sharing intimate declarations of love, flaunting their affection shamelessly.

It was hard to believe it wasn't orchestrated by Vivian to disgust Grace.

Grace kept her cool, just munching away.

Hazel muttered under her breath, "How annoying."

Vivian deliberately scheduled her birthday party right next to Grace's in the same venue, even just to annoy Grace, didn't she?

But her plan backfired today.

Because Grace's side had quite the show going on too!

Suddenly, a hotel staff member rushed in from outside, saying, "Ms. Grace! There's a delivery for you outside."

Taylor said, "Just bring it in. Why do you have to personally go out?"

The staff member looked troubled. "It's two large trucks! We can't bring them in."

"What!?"

Two big trucks for a delivery? That doesn't sound like a regular package. It's more like a freight shipment!

Who knows who sent this birthday present. But it's definitely bold!

Grace and the rest stepped out of the banquet hall and headed to the hotel entrance.

There, they saw two large trucks parked on the street outside the hotel.

When the truck drivers saw Grace coming out, they got off the trucks and went to the back to pull down the curtains. As soon as the curtains fell, the interior lit up with twinkling lights, revealing that the trucks were filled with nothing but perfumed roses!

"Wow!"

The hotel staff gasped in amazement, covering their mouths.

So many perfumed roses!

They smelled amazing and looked stunning!

Taylor and the others looked at Grace with a surprised look.

Grace stood there, clearly taken aback by the unexpected sight.

Nydia exclaimed, "The roses are so beautiful!"

Hazel chimed in, "Yeah! What a pleasant surprise! Who's so thoughtful to arrange such a big surprise?"

Grace cleared her throat.

Suddenly, Nydia remembered something.

Recently, Grace went on a tour in Heokrish. There was a wealthy businessman in Heokrish who fancied her and bought out the entire show. But Grace scolded him and got the tickets refunded. Later, rumours of a romance between Grace and the Heokrish businessman surfaced.

Could these two trucks of roses be from the Heokrish businessman?

He was a suitor, pursuing Grace.

If it was from him, it wouldn't be surprising.

Taylor asked, "Grace, could it be that dude Knight from last time?"

Grace pursed her lips. "How boring. What's the point of having so many flowers?"

She turned and walked back into the hotel.

People passing by started taking out their phones to snap pictures of the roses in the trucks. Nydia and Hazel couldn't resist either. They took out their phones and snapped a picture before joining Grace back in the banquet hall.

Before long, a crowd had gathered outside, drawn by the sight of the two trucks of perfumed roses.

It naturally also caught the attention of those in the neighbouring hall.