Chapter 111 Part 2
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Chapter 111 Part 2: Marriage Photoshoot – You Have the Right to Love Anyone (2)
Once the timeline had been adjusted, the concept of the disaster beasts was removed, and history underwent waves of transformation, eventually becoming the present era. The comrades who had once been sacrificed no longer faced a future filled with death. Instead, they now embraced the beauty of peace.
But the inability to see them happy with her own eyes remained a deep regret.
Did Sister Ellie end up running a bakery in her dreams?
Has little Carol done well in her studies and grown into an excellent adult this time?
Did Uncle Chen no longer have to deal with the tragic fate of killing his family, transformed into disaster beasts? He must be enjoying a perfect family life now, right?
There were so many old acquaintances whose memories and names had faded over time but still left some kind of impression. Had they been able to fulfill their wishes in this era?
In the end, it was The Last Diva who stayed by her side until the very end.
Charlotte, if your dream is still to become the world’s top idol, then is there a chance I might see you on other stages of “Dazzling Stage” in the time that remains?
A smile spread across Chu Yuanqing’s face, and she felt a little more excited at the thought of this expectation. She asked:
“Miyuki, I’ve seen Hokkaido in ‘Snow Country,’ but what left the deepest impression on me was Echigo-yuzawa. Is it as beautiful as the book describes?”
Countryside wooden houses, old trams, and a struggling young artist—Yasunari Kawabata’s writing paints Echigo-yuzawa as a pure, beautiful, and soul-stirring place. The beauty of emptiness, purity, and sorrow reaches its peak in that setting.
Kirimi Miyuki nodded, her voice tinged with regret:
“I believe I went there during a school trip in my senior year, but I was too caught up in group activities to really explore.”
Suddenly, as if recalling something, the corners of her eyes lifted, and her lashes fluttered like frosted pine needles. Playfully blinking in the light, a smile of anticipation crept onto her lips as she added:
“But Echigo-yuzawa is still there, waiting for us patiently.”
“Little Qing, when you have some free time, you should come visit Hokkaido with me. My little sister and my parents would be thrilled to welcome you. We can go to Echigo-yuzawa together and see if it really matches the one in ‘Snow Country.’”
Chu Yuanqing paused for a moment, surprised, then smiled and said:
“Filming ‘Dazzling Stage’ will take up a lot of time.”
Kirimi Miyuki thoughtfully counted on her fingers and replied earnestly:
“Is that okay? Even if we debut successfully in this competition, it’s only going to last about six months. But, if we consider group activities and competitions in other areas, it feels like a long way off.”
Her eyes sparkled with youthful hope as she added:
“But life is long, and idols don’t stay idols forever.”
“As for me, when I’m ready to start a new chapter, I’ll announce my retirement and say goodbye to Kirimi Miyuki as an idol.”
“When that time comes, it will be about fulfilling our dreams, living for ourselves, and waiting for a happy ending. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
Chu Yuanqing listened, a gentle smile on her lips. She softly replied:
“Yes, it’s a beautiful life. I hope, Miyuki, that all your dreams come true.”
Kirimi Miyuki blinked, then asked seriously:
“What is Little Qing’s wish? When I get home, I’ll make sure to pray to the gods, telling them I want all of our wishes to come true.”
Chu Yuanqing’s eyes curved lovingly as she reached out to gently touch the young girl’s hair, almost as if gazing at a cherry blossom not yet in full bloom. With compassion and joy in her gaze, she smiled and said:
“My wish might be to make everyone happy.”
“Such a clever answer!”
The discussion about Hokkaido came to an end with this casual remark.
Chu Yuanqing, wanting to shift the conversation away from Little Sakura’s curious questions, spoke about everyday matters, hoping to learn more about the other person. But Little Sakura fell for the diversion and soon drifted off to sleep, leaving her initial questions unanswered.
Hokkaido, Echigo-yuzawa.
For Chu Yuanqing, whose life was drawing to a close, these were places she could only visit through videos, books, and photographs.
The next day dawned bright and sunny.
After finalizing the promotional plan with “Dazzling Stage,” the team, consisting of a director, writer, producer, photographer, and art director, set everything into motion.
Filming advertisements is often no easy feat. Coordinating with non-professional venues and local contacts can be quite a challenge.
But for “Dazzling Stage,” with the country’s backing, these were simply not obstacles.
The first scene was simple: filming in the villa’s main area.
Chu Yuanqing wore a wedding dress, her smile as a newlywed, walking naturally as the director instructed, capturing the essence of a joyful moment.
The goal was to make it feel like a cellphone video, casual and full of life, while also showcasing the spokesperson’s charm.
Several frames focused on her wedding dress and the necklace around her neck.
Though the final video would only feature ten seconds of footage, the filming stretched for two hours. The reason? Chu Yuanqing’s smile didn’t appear quite natural enough.
The director suggested she imagine her first love, using that memory to inspire her smile, but she chose a different approach, imagining herself succeeding in a competition, which resulted in a joyful, natural expression that earned the director’s approval.
The next scene took place in front of a red brick wall with A4 papers arranged neatly, spelling out “wedding today,” setting the tone for the day’s theme.
Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki stood in front of the wall, holding balloons of different colors. The amusement they shared over the childish action was evident in their smiles.
The scene aimed to highlight the playful and happy moments of a young couple on the verge of marriage.
Since Chu Yuanqing played the elder in this couple, her role required a loving and caring smile. With Kirimi Miyuki fully involved, the scene was filmed quickly.
After walking hand-in-hand past the wall, the next scene took place in the villa’s backyard, with the two sitting on the grass by an open car filled with potted plants, surrounded by a warm, intimate atmosphere created by some extras portraying friends and family.
Off-camera, Lin Jiu was in charge of a bubble machine, creating the whimsical effect of floating bubbles around the couple.
With flowers in hand, Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki smiled widely, engaging with their ‘family’ in the scene. Later, they leaned against a window with pieces of paper in their hands, each letter forming part of the phrase “you make me smile.”
The images flowed, flaunting their joy for the world to see.
Then came a series of wedding photos with various outfits and poses, each snapshot capturing the love and happiness of the moment.
A transparent umbrella captured their kiss, wrapped in the ambiance of the photoshoot.
Though staged, Little Sakura decided to fully commit for the perfect shot. Chu Yuanqing, not wanting to let down the production, kissed Kirimi Miyuki over ten times to meet the high standards expected of her.
The kiss seemed to symbolize a genuine embrace of happiness.
The next scene featured the couple walking hand in hand on the sunny beach. Tourists milled about, and seagulls soared in the sky as family and friends sprinkled petals over the couple from open car trunks.
As the sea breeze and petals filled the air, Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki exchanged veils, touching their foreheads as they closed their eyes, smiles eternal.
But then, the mood shifted.
The petals withered before they could fall to the ground. The waves intensified. The laughter of family and friends faded, and even the seagulls fell, their wings broken, crumbling into pieces of paper.
Frozen in time, these broken pieces revealed the phrases “wedding today” and “you make me smile.”
The imagery hinted at a bitter truth: their wedding lacked the support of their families and friends. The easy-going joy that had come before was just a façade.
In reality, the same-sex marriage law had not yet passed in Daxia, and a simple love story between two women was still rejected by both society and the law.
Chu Yuanqing quietly removed Kirimi Miyuki’s veil, offering a wistful smile.
The scene turned silent.
A fierce wind swept across the beach, the sky darkened, and the deserted shore became engulfed in dark tides.
Chu Yuanqing sat alone on a rock by the sea. Her wedding dress, now stained with blood and dirt, seemed to carry the weight of society’s rejection. The veil, once soft and sacred, lay soaked in seawater. Her bare feet were covered in blood and mud.
Her long hair and veil fluttered in the wind as she strummed a guitar, playing a powerful melody that resonated with the rhythm of the tides.
The guitar’s sound grew louder, and images from the past flashed by in fragmented moments, pulsing with the waves.
Memories of love—this cliché, seemingly shattered by reality—flickered back to life through the music.
The dark clouds in the sky parted, letting golden light through—a symbol of hope.
The necklace on Chu Yuanqing’s chest broke, forming an endless loop, a Mobius strip, symbolizing the changing times and the breaking of old rules.
Far off, Kirimi Miyuki, breathless and disheveled, returned, clutching the dusty veil in her hand, reminiscent of a heroine in a Japanese drama.
In the next moment, Little Sakura, with tears in her eyes, put on the veil, her smile wide despite the redness in her eyes, and rushed to embrace Chu Yuanqing.
The guitar’s sound shattered, and the golden light bathed the two, drawing them closer with love.
Chu Yuanqing let the guitar fall and stepped barefoot over the Mobius strip, pointing to the veil she had never removed, her lips moving as though saying something.
The scene became dreamy, the edges blurry.
At the end of the shot, a line appeared in the lens:
[You have the right to love anyone.]
You have the right to love anyone.
