Chapter 284

Chapter 284: Photo Selection, Exposure Plan, Father-Daughter Dialogue

Chu Yuanqing finished tying her ponytail and looked at the person with white hair and golden eyes in the mirror. This figure with a slim waist, long legs, fair skin, and a large chest was a reality that she could not ignore, even if she tried to forget it.

The Savior Miss took a deep breath and couldn’t help but bite her soft, pink lips.

Although she didn’t want old stories to resurface, she had just encountered a new Calamity God in the illusion today, and her body was already reminding her that she needed to hurry.

To put it plainly, if she could quickly break the circle of popularity and the surge of willpower, then even if she had to do a swimsuit photoshoot, she would have to endure it well. Not to mention she had a choice; since she didn’t have to shoot in a swimsuit, she didn’t have to do anything too revealing either.

So, she could only choose to agree.

Not to mention, Dream Weaver Rabbit’s moral persuasion completely captured the stiff character of Chu Yuanqing.

Because in her mind, having always received kindness from everyone—willpower—she felt fully obligated to meet the expectations of her fans, even if it meant doing some quite embarrassing things; she would grit her teeth and endure.

Hmm, Honey Qing was the type who could easily be controlled and bullied as long as she hadn’t crossed the line.

Chu Yuanqing looked at Esther and asked:

"Will the filming process be very slow? I’ve been really busy lately."

This was a simple truth.

She needed to train Xie Qing Yu in the morning, join the team training in the afternoon, and at night, she had to purify the Disaster Debris, trying hard to prepare the gift before Charlotte’s birthday while every day she needed to fix the broken lantern back to 9%.

The key point was that during this time, she also had to find time to post on Weibo without neglecting any of the little idols, and she even needed to use Chu Yuanying’s identity to reply to her daughter’s messages on another phone, truly a master of time management.

Now, with the added task of taking portraits, my daily schedule is completely overwhelming.

The super AI replied:

"Don’t worry, I will take full responsibility for your photoshoot. It won’t take much time. We don’t need to pick a location or a photographer; we can complete the shoot directly using the virtual reality system."

"Of course, this is only if you are not too picky and can quickly decide on the style you want."

Chu Yuanqing nodded in agreement; the black technology of "Dazzling Stage" was indeed far beyond ordinary technology, capable of quickly producing photos of a quality comparable to top fashion magazines.

But immediately upon hearing about the shooting style, Pure White Witch couldn’t help but show a puzzled expression.

Portrait style? She had no idea about such things. Even though she learned a lot about idols from Little Xuan, this area remained a complete blind spot for her.

Esther seemed to have planned this ahead of time and directly said:

"We have already preset dozens of styles that suit you. You can choose freely."

After speaking, countless pages popped up on the screen, filling the dance room’s ceiling with a dazzling display that left people feeling dizzy and unsure of what to do.

Chu Yuanqing glanced at a few of them and felt overwhelmed; she had no confidence in her taste and didn’t want to waste time, so she helplessly said:

"Why don’t you pick for me? Choose according to the preferences of my fans, and just randomly pick an outfit that’s not too revealing and has a slightly more serious vibe."

As soon as she finished speaking, the countless images on the screen quickly disappeared, leaving behind a scene projection that Chu Yuanqing recognized very well.

It was from a little while ago when she transformed in public, revealing her true self to passersby, as she changed into a gradient gray dress and showcased her magical girl pose.

Esther’s expression remained unchanged as she firmly stated:

"Well, Little Qing, you’re really lucky; now you won’t even need to change clothes. The theme for this photoshoot is determined to be ‘witch.’"

Chu Yuanqing felt like she had been tricked, but since the Magic Armor style was a dress, which revealed less than the typical stage skirts, she wasn’t too bothered. She turned to the silver-haired, red-eyed Miss Bunny Girl and asked:

"Does the Countermeasures Bureau currently have any plans to reveal the magical girls to the public?"

Esther was a bit surprised. She guessed the other person probably knew a lot of insider information from Charlotte. Without holding back, she said directly:

"Yes, but it is just a precaution to prepare for the future."

"Have you heard of the Church of the Gods? They are a group that uses the power of disaster beasts, hiding in corners of the world, waiting to cause chaos and spread doomsday theories."

"According to the observations from the Astrolabe, they are going to organize an unknown plot soon. The most concerning part is revealing the existence of disasters to the world, which could lead to a lot of negative opinions."

"If this happens, it will greatly affect the final goal of the Dazzling Stage project."

The super AI said seriously:

"We don’t have much time left; similar plans need to be prepared in advance."

Chu Yuanqing felt a sudden realization in her heart.

Although "Dream Weaver" is a global super AI and the higher-ups have given it a green light, it is powerful enough to quickly eliminate any discussions about disasters on the internet, but this unbeatable control is only limited to the online world.

In reality, preventing the spread of such a cult is already a troublesome matter; even if 99% can be stopped, it cannot prevent followers infused with the power of disaster beasts from causing a big incident.

Because, comparatively speaking, there are too few magical girls, and the elite among them are busy guarding restricted areas, the Countermeasures Bureau naturally lacks confidence in fully preventing the Church of the Gods’ schemes.

After all, even if it is impossible to recreate a miracle like "Pure White" that spans the globe, they can still learn similar methods and announce the coming of doomsday in a simple and direct way.

Under this condition, there is a way to keep negative opinions to a minimum.

That is to adopt the idea that it’s better to open up than to block, by making the existence of magical girls public, and even during this process, actively uncover a part of the disaster, portraying the magical girls as trustworthy superheroes, equal to hope.

This way, even if the panic from the disaster and doomsday cannot be erased, the shine provided by the magical girls can be amplified, turning the situation back to its original favor.

But this plan has a huge flaw and disadvantage.

Esther fell silent for a moment and said:

"But unless it is absolutely necessary, we will not carry out this plan."

Because…

Although the purest and most positive shining has increased more than once, it can theoretically raise the success of the "Dazzling Stage" project, the panic, fear, dark thoughts, and even the malice deep in human nature will mix into the shining, becoming a poison that corrodes the soul.

In simple terms, the little idol responsible for acting as the "Disaster Shell" will face unexpected torment, and the final central figure, the "Lighthouse," will have their chance of survival completely erased, making it a certain death.

This is an extremely extreme double-edged sword.

Esther would explain things clearly, just like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, because this plan concerns the lives of Chu Yuanqing and Charlotte. She has an obligation and responsibility to inform them in advance and gain the "Lighthouse’s" approval.

However, Chu Yuanqing did not think much about it. She had already decided her own fate and thought of a way to kick Charlotte out. She didn’t believe this action concerned her own benefits. She simply nodded to indicate she understood and said straightforwardly:

"So, what information do you want to reveal in this photoshoot?"

Dream Weaver said softly:

"The theme is [witch], but part of it is also about idols."

"The cover will show your true self, with white hair and golden eyes, dressed in Magic Armor, while the back cover will show your usual disguise with black hair and black eyes. The idol theme will lean towards a stylish photo book direction, while the [witch] theme will be more artistic, literary, and fantastic."

Pure White Witch understands this meaning; it is like making this photo book into a future boomerang.

At first glance, it looks plain, but later it raises many questions.

Additionally, her hair and eye color issues have already been noticed by many observant people.

Whether in the second performance appearance or in the recent broadcast program, there was no clear explanation from the officials about the change in Charlotte’s eye color.

Furthermore, "Dazzling Stage" has never added similar effects for the other little idols, so many viewers have become quite interested in this detail and have imagined some strange theories.

If the photo style purposely intertwines the [witch] and idol themes like twins, it will create more buzz when released.

Furthermore, one could directly spread rumors that Chu Yuanqing is a magical girl.

The next step is to let the officials guide public opinion, making the answer lean towards special effects.

Chu Yuanqing nodded and said:

"I have no questions now; when do we start filming?"

Esther replied:

"Any time is fine. If you set aside a little over an hour each day for filming, you can finish before the performance."

Thus, the plan for the photo shoot was initially set, and the AI shadows quickly dispersed.

Chu Yuanqing walked out of the dance studio’s lounge and rejoined the afternoon training. During dinner, she mentioned this to the other young idols and voluntarily said that she would use every day from 7:00 to 8:30 for the photo shoot.

As for the location, Esther instructed the staff that day to build a high-tech photography studio in the castle’s back garden, and she stayed ready for filming 24 hours a day, effectively saving travel time with money.

That night, Chu Yuanqing, following her usual routine, used Magic Clone to travel several dozen kilometers away, landing in a small, unmonitored church in the old town. She skillfully pulled out a hollowed-out Bible from a drawer, took out her phone, and called her lovely daughter.

Since the trip, the father and daughter have almost called each other every day when they have some spare time.

However, because of their different situations, Chu Yuanqing can only take calls between 8 PM and 9 PM in Austria.

When Dream Weaver Rabbit turned into an app and entered the phone, the worried father had to make Magic Clone appear dozens of kilometers away every time he called his daughter, just to feel a little at ease, living each day like a secret agent.

In the picture, a handsome but weathered man sits in front of a statue of Jesus. His back is straight, his dull gray eyes are lowered, and he holds a Bible in his hands, his expression serious yet gentle, as if guiding people toward goodness and persuading wrongdoers to surrender like a priest.

Even the light from the Bible shining in the darkness seemed like a divine gaze, giving it a special meaning and creating a wonderful atmosphere.

"Dad, have you been eating well lately?"

"Is work very hard? If it’s too hard, you can quit. I believe I can take care of you now."

"By the way, you didn’t reply to my message last night. Did you have trouble sleeping again and not get a good rest?"

Unfortunately, as soon as the adorable daughter answered the call with her usual three questions, the atmosphere was completely shattered.

Chu Yuanqing found it funny, she embellished it a bit, and after answering "truthfully," she looked at Weibo search for entries and information about her daughter. Then, she opened her WeChat recent chat records and changed the topic:

"Little Shu, your high school has a stand with your poster at the entrance. Dad took a moment to go see it, and the photos are beautiful, with many of your fans gathered around."

"By the way, your homeroom teacher called me to ask if they could include you in their enrollment brochure for next year. They said if I agree, they will refund all your past tuition fees."

The more Chu Wang Shu listened, the more embarrassed she felt. She never thought such things would happen after becoming famous. Plus, her high school was not a performing arts academy. How could they use a yet-to-debut idol as a highlight? Were they not afraid of leading students astray?

To be honest, it would make more sense if Sea City Art University approached her.

As for the full tuition refund, her grades were excellent. She could have gone to the best public high school, but the current school invited her with a generous scholarship to boost their future college entrance exam results, and she didn’t even have to pay for meals each year.

And as a private school in Sea City, the yearly tuition is as high as twenty to thirty thousand, so the idea of a full refund would mean giving her almost eighty thousand for free, which is just plain bribery.

Oh, thinking of it this way makes sense; private schools charge a lot, especially special programs like international classes that can cost hundreds of thousands a year. If school leaders could get dozens more fans to apply, then eighty thousand is really not much.

How awful, so cunning!

Chu Wang Shu said with strong conviction:

"Dad, please refuse Mr. Yao for me. Our school has good facilities, teachers, and atmosphere, but if the grades are not outstanding, the value here is too low. I don’t want anyone to think it’s because of me that they came to this school."

"School is a place of spreading knowledge, and the choice in this regard should be more careful and serious."

Chu Yuanqing nodded in agreement. She wasn’t lying; Little Shu’s homeroom teacher did call, but she just didn’t answer. The rest of the conversation was sent through WeChat, but she understood her daughter’s character and chose to refuse without thinking much.

Of course, it didn’t matter much if Little Shu chose to agree.

After all, with the blue-green modifier, it was easy to make an identical transfer appear in the bank account.

Inside the church,

The father was somewhat silent. He leaned back slightly in the chair, looked up at the painted ceiling of the church, and outside the simple transparent wooden frame window, at the moonlight that looked especially bright after a rain, he softly asked:

"Are you happy these days?"

Chu Wang Shu was startled by the words; of course she was happy, finally soaring to greater heights, seeing hope for changing her family’s situation in a very short time, and during this time, resolving differences with her only family member and being able to talk heart-to-heart like before.

Isn’t this too lucky?

But strangely, she still felt a pang in her heart.

Some things are like this, knowing too much is not better than knowing nothing.

If it were before, she could have honestly said she was very happy, because this person gave her enough strength to escape her family’s apparent humiliation, but now?

When Dad asked her if she was happy, the first thing that flashed in her mind was of the other person, covered in wounds and blood, yet still calm and indifferent, as if nothing could crush his youthful spirit.

If she were to solve problems that such a person could not, then she would have to become stronger than him, right?

But it is really difficult; Sister Charlotte said that even the strongest magical girl today wouldn’t have been able to match Dad’s opponents back then, which means that even Sister Little Yu, or Little Qing with their terrifying fighting power, would still not be enough in front of him.

This feeling of helplessness.

This feeling is hard to explain, and she doesn’t know what to do.

This feeling of guilt and shame for only now realizing part of the truth.

These feelings have built up over time, and the emotions she has been holding back suddenly collapse with a light question, "Are you happy?"

Chu Wang Shu felt a bit dazed; she sniffed, feeling a bittersweet ache in her chest, fighting the urge to cry out loud, took a deep breath, and said softly:

"I am happy, but just this isn’t enough."

The man closed his eyes, smiled softly, and said:

"As long as Little Shu is happy, that’s all that matters."

"If you are happy, I will be at ease and feel happy too."

This is a sincere truth, plain and simple without any embellishments.

If parents love their children, they plan for their future.

As parents, they must carry heavy burdens for their children.

Whether it is the Calamity God, Disaster Wave, Church of the Gods, or the end of the world, she believes these should not be things for her daughter to worry about, face, or fight against.

All of this simply comes together in a wish, which is to be happy.

Chu Wang Shu always hated being treated like a child by her dad, but this time, she suddenly didn’t know how to reply.

The girl even felt a bit guilty. If Sister Charlotte told her these things, and it was all a "leak" of the other person’s making, would her choice to become a magical girl in such a dangerous job make her dad worry and feel sad?

But if she didn’t become a magical girl, she truly didn’t know how to reach the truth or how to help her father, who was once so powerful and called the savior.

Chu Wang Shu struggled for a while and carefully asked:

"Dad, if one day I want to do something very risky, always filled with crises and storms, even something that lasts a lifetime, what would you think?"

The man in the church was silent for a long time. His expression softened as he looked at the statue of Jesus in front of him and spoke the truth from his heart:

"I would be very worried, and I might not want you to do that."

"But at the same time, I would be very happy."

"Because… that reminds me of your mother."

This was an unexpected answer.

Chu Wang Shu did not expect her dad to mention her mother. She couldn’t help but ask:

"What does Mom look like in Dad’s eyes?"

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and answered:

"Your mom is gentle and a bit rebellious. She loves to collect every beautiful moment, cherishes time, enjoys playing pranks, and has beautiful eyes that shimmer like peridot, with colors that blend together."

"Little Shu, the country you are in is her hometown."