Chapter 148

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Chapter 148: New Rules, Father-Daughter Call

The next day, early morning.

Sleepily, Chu Yuanqing pulled a pendant from her soft flesh, her eyes shining like clear gems in a lake, emitting a golden radiance. Tears of fatigue fell with a cute yawn, as she gently rubbed a lantern with her soft white fingertips, as if starting up a little person.

"Okay, time to get up."

The little one, acting grumpy like waking up on the wrong side of the bed, turned away. Upon reflection, they realized it was their own fault for slacking off, and guiltily turned back, starting to dance around while trying to explain.

Chu Yuanqing half-closed her eyes, quietly listening, sometimes making a humming sound as if she understood. Her voice, just awakened, was lazy and gentle as the touch of soft feathers on her ear. The sweet milky scent usually hidden beneath her calm tone was now particularly strong, giving her a lovably fuzzy feeling.

The lantern, confused and easy to please, playfully nuzzled the girl’s delicate cheek and murmured affectionately.

It took Chu Yuanqing a few seconds to understand what the little one was trying to communicate. She blinked and mumbled quietly:

"Because you had too much feedback yesterday, you ate too much, got very tired, and couldn’t help but oversleep, right?"

What a silly lantern!

Chu Yuanqing had intended to scold loudly, but considering the lantern’s clumsiness, weakness, and appetite, which were all due to the curse of the Sea of Truth on her, she instantly gave up on teaching.

——It’s unethical to bully small animals.

The girl felt a bit guilty. She sighed helplessly, gently touched the little one with her fingertips, then simply tucked it back into the soft white valley, choosing to ignore the problem and think about other things.

The feedback referred to the Magic Crystal, of course.

This power to extract magic from positive emotions of all living beings, is it a gift unique to the Pure White Witch, or a common strength among all magical girls?

In general, the amount of magic extracted is directly related to how much attention one receives from the outside world.

With all the feedback from yesterday, does this mean she was in the spotlight again yesterday?

After some thought, Chu Yuanqing didn’t pay it much attention.

Especially in this age of the internet, there are many reasons for suddenly becoming known by many, liked by many, and even evoking positive emotions in others.

Especially with the nationwide popular talent show "Dazzling Stage."

As long as she occasionally drops some hints to the public, goes live for an hour, or simply releases some teasers, it is enough to attract great attention. Her popularity will soar, and the increase in Magic Crystals is not surprising.

Moreover… as an old-fashioned person who still doesn’t understand why she is liked, it would be really difficult to come up with the right answer by thinking about it.

After daydreaming for a few seconds, Chu Yuanqing decided to get up. She then realized her lovely daughter was hugging her from behind. Using her hand to push away the arms holding her waist, she found that the child’s little hands were mischievous, resting on her belly button.

Chu Yuanqing couldn’t help but look serious as her face felt itchy!

If she didn’t realize it, it was fine. But once she did, her skin suddenly felt itchy, which made her feel unsafe. However, when she thought that this sensation was brought by her daughter, it gave her a cute feeling as if a small animal’s fur was tickling her, making even this tingling sensation particularly soothing.

A loving smile appeared on Chu Yuanqing’s lips as she remembered the things Chu Wang Shu did when she was young. When the other party was as small as a snowball, she always liked to rub her face against hers, occasionally scratching herself with her hair in a naive way when feeling itchy.

That was the cutest time of her daughter!

Although she was slowly growing up and becoming mature, showing a different kind of cuteness now, the innocence and naivety of her infancy, along with her tiny size, really were the most heartwarming phase.

Chu Yuanqing, feeling nostalgic, moved her child’s hand away, sat up, and looked at her cute daughter sleeping on her side. She pinched her seemingly obedient sleeping face, and couldn’t help but comment on her not-so-obedient sleeping posture:

"You were so well-behaved the first time we slept together, why are you so keen on sticking close to me now?"

After Chu Yuanqing finished speaking, she gently pinched her daughter’s cheeks, waking her up halfway, before getting out of bed to wash up and cook.

The early bird catches the worm.

After today, there is only one week left until the end of the one-month period. According to the team’s insurance plan, they need to start preparing for the challenge in half a week. Three days before the deadline, they will officially begin the final Stage Battle.

So, they only have two to three days left for training.

Although everyone already understands the framework of "Pandora" very well, there are still many flaws in dance moves, body coordination, overall teamwork, and position changes.

These all require practice, even with the help of advanced technology, two to three days is still very tight.

So, during breakfast, the four of them were more efficient than before. They didn’t talk much and quickly solved things, then went to the practice room to start dancing.

Chu Yuanqing’s progress was fast. She gradually mastered the essence of the show "Pandora," especially the techniques needed in many moves, like the wave, which she mastered perfectly with some magical cheating methods.

The key to the wave is to soften the whole body, coordinate each body part in a sequence, and make movements from top to bottom, left to right. As long as the range and strength are correct, it can show a rhythmic motion like a wave.

In simple terms, it requires control over different parts of the body.

It sounds easy, but it needs consistent training to develop almost instinctive muscle memory. Otherwise, many beginners would not be able to achieve the desired results.

In Chu Yuanqing’s prime, no dance was difficult because she had mastered the art of muscle control and body movement to perfection, even delving into the realm of the microscopic.

Despite being cursed and unable to concentrate, she used magic threads to weave a loop through her body, creating a highly efficient method to control her limbs with a "signal" of willpower.

The initial results of this method allowed her to master the rhythm of the dance. If she continued to expand on this, she could gradually apply it to real combat situations, reproducing some past techniques. With the additional boost from the Magic Armor, she could even temporarily switch to being a fierce warrior using close combat.

However, the current progress made a certain lovely daughter feel disheartened.

Chu Wang Shu felt that her many years of dancing practice would soon no longer give her an advantage over Honey Qing. She figured that soon enough, she would not be able to be Honey Qing’s little teacher anymore. Feeling melancholy, she needed Honey Qing to pat her head and give her hugs every night to feel better.

Kirimi Miyuki was also amazed by this rapid growth. More than envy, she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. This newfound motivation in dancing made her more energetic and eager to envision herself standing on the same stage with the others.

Tang Liuli remained calm. As a devout believer that Chu Yuanqing was not just a mere human but a magical girl, she thought it was normal for Chu Yuanqing to do extraordinary things. Being a bit faster in learning to dance was no big deal, in her opinion.

Moreover, "Heart Flow" itself had some peculiar effects. Who knows, Mother Qing’s "Heart Flow" might actually speed up the efficiency of dance practice.

Time passed, and it was high noon.

Chu Yuanqing felt guilty as she glanced at her daughter drinking water beside her, and the green-eyed cat staring at them. She tried to ignore her embarrassment and started thinking about how to go to the private theater to help Miyuki improve [Cocoon of the Heart].

Before she could find an answer to this question, a holographic projection appeared in the exercise room, cafeteria, and entertainment area in zones C1, B1, A1, even in all the public areas, almost interrupting all the players’ rest or training.

The crimson-eyed Dream Weaver Rabbit smiled and said softly:

"Everyone, after such a long time without meeting, you must have missed me, right?"

This mascot liked to waste computing power on irrelevant details. It not only appeared accurately in front of everyone, but also presented various different poses, whether it was politely waving hello, smiling sarcastically with arms open, or simply standing still with hands on its hips, quite mischievous.

Dream Weaver Rabbit shook its head with regret and said:

"It’s a pity that the battle among teammates still has a long 8 days to go before we can officially meet."

"Of course, during this time, I have been watching hundreds of Stage Battles and I am pleased with your choices in facing the matches."

"So, as a reward – I will add an extra new rule!"

Dream Weaver Rabbit smiled with anticipation and softly said:

"Starting today, all players who master Heart Flow will have the opportunity to switch teams!"

"The program group will open up channels of permissions between the A1, B1, and C1 areas. You lucky ones, you can negotiate with teams from any area. As long as the other party agrees, you can directly join that team."

"In other words, no matter which area you are in, if you are accepted by a team in the A1 area, both sides can skip the Stage Battle and advance directly to the second performance. Safely passing through the crisis of elimination in this stage, achieving a win-win situation."

As the words fell, the whole stadium erupted.

This extremely unfair rule was seen as a lifeline for players who mastered Heart Flow.

What was most despicable was that it perfectly undermined the current competitive environment. Any team with players who mastered Heart Flow would shake the core interests.

To give a simple example, all three members of Chu Yuanqing’s team possess Heart Flow.

Suppose one of them gets stuck in switching teams on the last day, though the team has already won the Stage Battle and has a full five members. They would still be forced to reduce their members, facing defeat in this round.

Of course, other players with "Heart Flow" still have a chance to make a comeback. They can quickly switch to another A1 team to advance after being betrayed.

The cost is that the player who is left behind will fall directly from A1 to the pending area of C1, like falling into an abyss, declaring defeat.

The current situation is like this, unless the team has strong bonds, otherwise, the "Heart Flow" holders in B1C1 will most likely choose to switch to an A1 team.

Because by doing so, they can easily advance to the next stage with zero risk.

As for those who are left behind and forced to drop to the lower level area, having to compete with more Stage Battle teammates? No one will care.

If players are not in the same team, their relationship is inevitably turning into competitive opponents, seizing the opportunity to step on others is the right move.

"Use your heart cunningly."

Kirimi Miyuki furrowed her brows slightly and couldn’t help but comment:

"From the time Dream Weaver Rabbit opened the "Heart Flow" development room to us, they must have decided to announce this rule, just intentionally waiting until the last week to reveal it."

"But I don’t understand, what is the purpose of it doing this way?"

Tang Liuli understood the personalities of Chu Yuanqing and the sakura girl, knowing that betrayal was unlikely in their team. Without any particular thoughts, she casually mentioned:

"It’s all for the sake of the show’s effect, after all, talent shows are essentially entertainment."

"Moreover, ‘Dazzling Stage’ has already used the selection criterion of ‘Heart Flow’ to ensure that the strongest group of contestants will advance. It’s not that chaotic. Compared to other talent shows, apart from a bit of malicious fun, it’s unbelievably fair-minded."

Chu Yuanqing had a different perspective on this. She knew the core purpose of ‘Dazzling Stage’. She could figure out why Dream Weaver Rabbit was doing this, most likely to have a legitimate reason to try and keep all the contestants with the potential to become magical girls.

Although Dream Weaver Rabbit kept pushing the contestants to compete fiercely, increasing the likelihood of everyone being eliminated, from her point of view, being eliminated early in the show was actually luckier and happier.

Because… the further one progresses in ‘Dazzling Stage’, the higher the chances of getting involved in its most crucial secrets.

As long as one acquired the Artificial Lantern, it was almost impossible to stay out of it.

Dream Weaver Rabbit looked around as if staring at the faces of all the contestants. It revealed a slightly mocking smile and continued:

"Some of you feel it’s not fair, right?"

"But this is ‘Dazzling Stage,’ only the third season now, and you’ve already captured the attention of millions of people. Looking back at the entertainment history, there has never been a talent show that gathered such a huge amount of popularity."

"Whether you are lucky or unlucky depends solely on your own abilities."

"The winner will be surrounded by flowers and applause, stepping onto the world-class stage with billions of viewers."

"The loser will fade away from the spotlight, permanently losing the chance to be an idol, exiting in disappointment."

"Regardless of whether the rules are fair, everything here will be transparent to the outside world, judged by countless viewers nearing a billion, determining right from wrong."

"What you need to do is turn this humiliation and resentment into fuel for your advancement, creating an unpredictable shining stage!"

The mischievous glint in Dream Weaver Rabbit’s eyes was replaced by burning excitement. It seemed to be looking at everyone and at a dazzling future, whispering earnestly:

"The stage decides victory, as well as fate."

"Everyone, whether you play tricks, betray others, or use sneaky schemes to win temporarily, the program group doesn’t care about your decisions within the rules."

"But remember, only those who believe in this idea can truly reach the end of ‘Dazzling Stage’!"

With that, the mascot smiled.

"Alright, enough side talk. Besides that, the program group has another announcement."

"Today at 1 pm, staff will distribute smartphones to you all. You can use them for two hours, talk to family, post on Weibo, check online opinions, even livestream without any restrictions."

The speaking stopped.

Dream Weaver Rabbit vanished like a dream.

Tang Liuli whispered:

"It’s still as elusive as ever."

Kirimi Miyuki thought for a moment and suggested,

"How about we extend our rest time until 3 o’clock today, and then make up for it by practicing an extra two hours in the evening?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wang Shu quickly agreed,

"Yes, I agree. It’s rare to have time to use our phones. I haven’t contacted my family for almost a month."

Just recently reconciled with her dad, she felt it was difficult to communicate with him due to the busy competition schedule. In between training sessions, she often wondered about her dad’s well-being. Upon realizing she could use her phone, her first instinct was to call Chu Yuanying.

Tang Liuli didn’t object, even though she couldn’t make calls on her phone. It was a good opportunity to check her social media accounts, post on Weibo, reply to fans’ comments, and browse the internet. It was a good way to relax and see what people were saying online.

Places like the "Qing Ci Li Qu" CP fan site were definitely must-visit "attractions."

Yes, it would be great to take a photo with Mother Qing and post it on Weibo together, giving some sweetness to the CP fans!

The green-eyed cat remained oblivious that her CP fans were being won over by Little Sakura’s "Meet You in the Mist," almost shattering her heart. She surrendered to the other side, feeling too clever, lost in her fantasy world, and secretly pleased.

Chu Yuanqing felt very nervous, she slightly pursed her lips, feeling a bit anxious.

No, later she must find an excuse to use her phone alone, otherwise, in order to not reveal her identity, she simply couldn’t answer her adorable daughter’s call.

On the surface, she readily nodded in agreement to Miyuki’s suggestion.

Soon, an assistant sister knocked on the practice room door and delivered all four people’s phones, making sure they were all fully charged.

After grabbing her phone, Chu Yuanqing wanted to make an excuse to leave, afraid that her cute daughter would call her as soon as she turned her phone on.

Unfortunately, a certain usually socially anxious green-eyed cat became the first obstacle at this moment, she used her fingertips to tug on Chu Yuanqing’s sleeve, blinked her beautiful green eyes, and bravely said:

"Little Qing, um…can we exchange WeChat contacts?"

"Okay."

Chu Yuanqing’s heart softened, and she decided to be quick and straightforward by scanning the code and adding the other person as a friend.

Before the green-eyed cat could even cheer with excitement deep inside, Kirimi Miyuki and her adorable daughter followed suit, eagerly requesting to be friends.

Chu Yuanqing treated everyone equally, quickly accepting all the requests while thinking of excuses to start chatting.

In the next moment, she saw her adorable daughter quickly adding a note to herself before clicking on Chu Yuanying’s chat interface and making a WeChat call…