Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Charlotte’s Competition for Love, Even a Happy Future Has an End

Chu Yuanqing looked at Charlotte’s profile; her delicate little face was serious, with a gentle and nurturing warmth in her eyes, and her pink lips curled into a sunny, sincere smile.

Although she valued her dignity and role as a mother, her daughter’s feelings had always been more important to her.

Whether as a father or as a mother.

As long as Little Shu is happy, she will do her best in the remaining time.

From the night they stayed in the same dorm and slept close together, seeing her daughter’s dependence made her realize that her current body and identity could provide her lovely daughter with some of the maternal love she needed.

So, if Charlotte feels inadequate, she can still be there to support her.

However, this statement was a strong blow to Miss Saintess, who aspired to be a good mother.

Charlotte puffed up her cheeks out of jealousy and glared at the Pure White Witch, as though she were a villain, although the witch appeared confused and innocent.

How annoying, why is Honey Qing so motherly?

After the truth comes out, Little Shu will definitely think Honey Qing is more like a mom!

Miss Saintess angrily ate several bites of the strawberry sundae before putting it aside, then lunged at Chu Yuanqing and began to pinch strange places with her hands, seeking revenge.

Chu Yuanqing, feeling ticklish, weakened and fell to the ground, with the unreasonable Miss Saintess pressing her down. She was confused about why Charlotte felt embarrassed, only to taste the other’s cool lips and the flavor of the strawberry sundae.

Meanwhile, the little idols dancing not far away noticed the strange behavior of the "audience" below, but due to professional ethics, they could only continue to focus on the stage, trying hard to keep their spirits from being distracted by the scene below.

However, Pure White Witch eating ice cream was just too funny.

Even Little Sakura, who was the most serious and passionate about the idol stage, couldn’t help but sneak a few glances at Honey Qing, causing her cute face to blush shyly; she had to rely on her willpower and muscle memory to keep dancing normally.

After finishing her ice cream, Chu Yuanqing replenished the magic power spent during Little Yu’s training in the morning, then had the energy to handle the panting Miss Saintess. She carried her back to the chair and made sure she sat properly.

Looking at Charlotte’s pouting face, Pure White Witch found her sulky expression so cute that it was almost funny. She vaguely guessed the reason and gently spoke to her:

"Okay, I won’t take Mom’s place from Charlotte."

"Little Shu definitely likes you the most."

Charlotte is easy to comfort; just a few words and she starts reflecting on herself. She quietly pulled Chu Yuanqing over and gently patted her plump thigh that was covered by her skirt, signaling her to lie down here.

Chu Yuanqing bit her lip and glanced at the dance team rehearsing not far away. She felt embarrassed to do this in front of her daughter and the other little stars, but to make Charlotte happy, she chose to follow along.

Charlotte nodded in satisfaction. She lowered her gaze and gently extended her palm, tracing her beloved one’s hair and features with her fingertips. After a moment of warmth, she said, whether in admiration or with a sigh:

"It hasn’t been long since she changed, but Little Qing already has such a feminine charm."

"Magical girls are truly amazing."

Chu Yuanqing was instantly affected by this comment. Her chest filled with the shame of social embarrassment, and her pretty face turned red. She couldn’t help but sit up and insist,

"No way!"

Miss Saintess quickly hugged the person who was trying to get up. The frost-blue in her eyes showed the marks of magic, and she quietly used her magic to capture this precious moment. Then she relaxed and nuzzled her face against Honey Qing’s hair, showing a mischievous smile and said with satisfaction:

"Hmm, indeed, Little Qing looks the cutest when she is shy. It’s funny how before, no matter how I teased her, I never saw this expression."

"But I really like this side of you, so lively and full of energy. You must not turn back into that cold, hard ice princess again."

Chu Yuanqing felt a bit deflated. She fought the urge to hide her face in embarrassment and let herself be held, like a little penguin that fell on the ground, choosing to play dead.

Charlotte thought it was adorable and hugged a bit tighter. She softened her voice and whispered:

"Alright, alright, no more jokes. Little Qing has always been gentle, and now she has become so pretty and cute. Holding a lantern allows you to radiate your true charm, which definitely feels very motherly and feminine."

"This is a sincere compliment! Even though Little Qing might feel shy, I believe our daughter would definitely like it, and so would I."

The Last Diva finished speaking and couldn’t help but puff her cheeks in jealousy, quietly complaining:

"But this side of Little Qing really puts pressure on me; I feel like that child would much rather call you ‘Mommy’!"

Chu Yuanqing did not feel this was a compliment at all. She rarely acted stubborn and buried her head in Charlotte’s soft lap, playfully poking the pretty shape of the girl’s belly button with her fingertip.

Charlotte was always ticklish and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Her slender waist instinctively bent backward, loosening her grip on Honey Qing’s arm, allowing her to successfully escape from the hug.

Miss Saintess thought Honey Qing was too sly and just wanted to poke back right away.

Unfortunately, before this little couple could continue their playful banter, the small idols, who had been patiently enduring their antics, finally finished a rehearsal and walked over, giving the two "troublemakers" stern looks that condemned them for interrupting the training atmosphere.

Chu Wang Shu’s little face was serious as she delivered a reprimand typical of a discipline officer:

"Sister Charlotte, everyone is training hard, but you are just here flirting with Little Qing. That is really too much."

"This behavior is as bad as deliberately bringing watermelon and cold drinks to disturb the upperclassmen watching the freshmen’s military training."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuanqing felt alert; she didn’t want to be embarrassed by her daughter’s scolding. She quickly handed a matcha milk drink to her cute daughter, thoughtfully inserting a straw to avoid a lecture.

Charlotte felt that her daughter was treating her differently and, a bit jealous, directly hugged her lovely daughter. She blocked the discipline officer’s lecture with her embrace and, in a huff, asked the question that silly parents often ask their children:

"Little Shu, quickly tell me if you like me more or if you like Little Qing more!"

The adorable daughter’s mind was completely overwhelmed.

Huh? How strange, wasn’t she teaching Sister Charlotte? Why did it suddenly jump to such a delicate situation like a battleground?

But…

Sister Charlotte smelled so nice and felt so soft, with a warm scent that made one want to feel cuddly.

The girl’s cheeks turned pink; she had wanted to push the other away and speak loudly, but the charm of The Last Diva and the family bond made her feel so warm and friendly that she couldn’t help but feel dizzy and couldn’t get angry at all.

Chu Wang Shu was caught up in her mother’s mood; she looked at Charlotte’s face, confused, and quietly said:

"Um, um, I like Sister Charlotte and I also really like Little Qing, so why do we have to choose?"

Charlotte puffed out her cheeks and complained playfully:

"I don’t care, just tell me quickly."

Chu Wang Shu thought that Sister Charlotte was being a bit unreasonable, but her extraordinary talent allowed her to faintly sense the sweet smell of the other person’s Flower of the Soul, enabling her to "read" the strong affection and deep feelings like family.

So, the lovely daughter, who lacked love but was kind and had a good temper, simply couldn’t stand up for herself.

The girl could only think hard about why Charlotte asked this question, trying to get to the core to solve the problem.

Chu Wang Shu worked her brain hard and soon grasped a moment of insight.

Oh right, if Charlotte is my long-lost sister, then my behavior of treating Honey Qing like a mom really seems like I am taking away the position of sister from her.

So, in this case, the more Sister Charlotte likes me, the more she will feel jealous!

The lovely daughter seemed to suddenly understand; it was as if she had grasped the truth and knew the situation well. She looked at Charlotte seriously and explained subtly:

"Sister Charlotte, you are different from Little Qing to me."

"No matter how much I like Little Qing, Sister Charlotte has qualities that Little Qing cannot match."

Well, in a way, Honey Qing and Charlotte are both like her mothers, but the latter is related to her by blood, so they cannot be compared.

However, the riddle man’s words felt like a bombshell to Charlotte.

Huh? Could it be that Little Shu really guessed I am her mother?

The Last Diva felt both nervous and happy. She looked at her daughter, who resembled Chu Yuanying and had some features like her own, and a rush of motherly love flooded out like a broken dam. She leaned down and kissed her lovely daughter’s forehead, saying with joy, ‘I knew Little Shu was the cutest!’

"I knew Little Shu was the cutest!"

After saying that, she couldn’t help but pinch her daughter’s cheek.

Chu Yuanqing found it amusing. Ignoring Charlotte’s affectionate gestures towards her lovely daughter, she handed a small cake to the jealous Tang Liuli to calm this green-eyed cat.

The Pure White Witch quietly took out all the flowers from her space and gave each of Liuli, Miyuki, and Little Xuan a bouquet of pink roses, showing a somewhat apologetic smile as she said…

"I’m sorry, I don’t know much about flowers. The shop assistant said that pink roses are beautiful this season, so I got you all the same ones."

Little Sakura’s jealousy disappeared like smoke. Her eyes sparkled as she held the specially wrapped pink roses, with her name written on the leaves in Dongliu language, filled with pure joy.

As the most innocent girl in the group, she really loved this kind of romantic gift.

And… putting aside the fragment of memories from the first playthrough, the acquaintance with Honey Qing during New Game Plus led to feelings, kisses, being intimate, and being acknowledged as lovers, creating a subtle sense of being swept away by a playboy.

Although Little Qing was seen as a playboy, he seemed more like a goddess surrounded by many admirers.

But anyway, this process could be seen as a natural progression, or it could feel a bit unclear.

So, giving flowers, something couples do, felt like a boost for Kirimi Miyuki, strengthening the symbol of being lovers and her sense of identity as a couple.

Xie Qingxuan was a bit confused; she didn’t have any special thoughts about giving flowers, but she could see Little Qing’s affection for her. After receiving the roses, she politely said thank you and sweetly kissed the Pure White Witch’s cheek, beginning to admire the pink roses in her hands.

The tag on the wrapping was drawn with a little dog by Honey Qing, which was quite cute.

Tang Liuli didn’t have time to eat the little cake; she was lost in the happiness of receiving flowers and forgot that just moments ago, this person was kissing Charlotte right in front of her. She smiled and said with a hint of joy:

"I don’t mind! As long as Little Qing thoughtfully gives me flowers, I am very happy."

Kirimi Miyuki snapped back to reality after hearing this and nodded in agreement:

"I think so too, and…"

Little Sakura glanced at the chair and the bouquet of sunflowers in the other person’s hand, which was clearly meant for Little Shu, and asked:

"Didn’t Little Qing buy flowers for herself?"

Chu Yuanqing replied in surprise:

"No, she didn’t, but that’s okay."

Kirimi Miyuki had a different opinion on this and firmly disagreed:

"How can this work? If we all have it, Little Qing should have it too."

"Right, how about on our way back, we each buy a bouquet for Little Qing?"

As soon as this idea was suggested, Liuli and the golden-haired dog beside her agreed. Even Charlotte, who was too busy pinching the cheeks of her adorable daughter, stopped her mischief for a moment and raised her hand to show her support.

Chu Yuanqing took the chance to rescue her cute daughter from the bad mommy’s arms and handed over the sunflowers she had bought, smiling softly and saying:

"Last time you went with Dad to see the Van Gogh exhibition, I thought you wouldn’t mind sunflowers, so I got this for you."

Chu Wang Shu joyfully hugged the sunflowers, wrapped in decorative paper that smelled of ink, their golden petals blooming gently, releasing a soft fragrance mixed with the scent of sunshine.

The little girl had always loved sunflowers since her dad often gave her these meaningful flowers on her birthdays, and she beamed a happy smile and nodded, saying:

"Yes, thank you Little Qing, I really like sunflowers."

Chu Yuanqing gently patted her head and said softly:

"As long as you like it."

Charlotte watched with interest and decided in her heart that she must give her daughter an even better gift that would make her happy. Otherwise, if she asked about the previous question, her lovely daughter might unhesitatingly say her favorite was Honey Qing.

Chu Yuanqing took off her sports jacket, which was hiding her figure, revealing her sleek yoga outfit. She skillfully tied her hair into a ponytail and looked at her little idols, asking apologetically:

"Alright, let’s talk about buying flowers later. I’ve missed quite a few training sessions recently. Can everyone help me get used to the current dance progress first?"

After saying this, Pure White Witch turned to Charlotte and said seriously:

"This is also to ensure we can show the best performance to the townspeople at Charlotte’s birthday celebration, so you sit here and enjoy your ice cream. No causing trouble and no sulking."

Miss Saintess thought that this sounded a bit strange, and she protested:

"I’m not a little kid! Even if Little Qing doesn’t say that, I won’t cause trouble!"

To this, Chu Yuanqing just patted her head and joined the little idols to check the schedule, starting to break down the dance moves and continue memorizing their positions and beats, diving into learning the dance music.

Charlotte looked at the Pure White Witch with a graceful and familiar pose, her pink lips slightly curled, and quietly said to herself:

"Although the time is short, Little Qing has the charm of an idol, making me unable to resist looking forward to sharing the stage with you, enjoying the cheers and applause from the audience and fans, shining brightly in the spotlight."

Unfortunately, even if we act stubborn, after going through the routines together for three performances, it is almost time to part ways for now.

The Last Diva looked up at the scenery outside the glass wall and sighed deeply.

This is unavoidable; the plan for "Dazzling Stage" needs everyone to grow with enough popularity.

To ensure that each witch can grow properly, the official group behind the program cannot allow both lighthouses to be in the same team in the same competition. That would be unfair to the competitors from the same area, or even the same country.

Now Chu Yuanqing is in the Donghong Federation, and she is in the Sacred United Country; the development of both sides does not interfere with each other and complements each other, making it the best way to grow.

Therefore, directly joining the team with former teammates, husband, and daughter to create an idol group like a galaxy battleship can only exist in dreams for now, which is indeed a shame.

"But at least this time, I got to see everyone and meet our daughter."

Charlotte showed a happy smile. The reason she was so eager to bring the other little idols over to have fun together again and again was because she knew that after she left, with Honey Qing, Liuli, Miyuki, and Little Xuan’s personalities, they wouldn’t be able to develop so quickly in such a short time.

Chu Yuanqing’s time is running out.

Whether there is a chance for a change or not, she must prepare for the worst ahead of time.

So, whether it is Little Qing, Miyuki, Liuli, or Honey Xuan, no one should be left with regrets.

From the result, everyone received the recognition and response that they could not get in the first playthrough; perhaps this is the only comforting thing among a mountain of bad news.

Charlotte did not want to complain about the unfairness of fate, but she was indeed a little attached to being with everyone, to the lively and cheerful life of playful days.

Because this was the wonderful daily life that everyone had always longed for but could not reach in the first playthrough, like a miraculous dream.

If such a life could continue forever, how happy would that be?

Unfortunately, there is no such "if."

After this birthday celebration ends, the farewell countdown will officially begin. Once the magical girl training is complete, the 45-day deadline will soon be up.

The planning for "Dazzling Stage" is speeding up, and the rules for the competition are changing almost all the time. Under such conditions, the deadline for meeting again has become uncertain.

So…

Charlotte picked up her camera and captured the scene of the little idols practicing their dance. The corners of her eyes lifted, revealing a bright and warm smile as she said earnestly:

"We must create more beautiful and precious memories that are worth remembering."