Chapter 19
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This chapter is edited by Rain. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 19: A Brand New Dark History Is Born
Life is not a rehearsal; it’s always full of surprises.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze.
In the girl’s eyes, the shattered comments reflected like a kaleidoscope, pulling her into a surreal vision of life’s end—a brilliant carousel spinning out of control.
The intense emotions spiraled, morphing from shame to fear, plunging into despair, and finally fading into a strange numbness, as though her body had become weightless.
The clock rewound.
Amid thunderous applause and cheers, Chu Yuanqing moved like a puppet, step by step, to the center of the stage.
Facing the judges, the millions of viewers in the live stream room, and her daughter standing on stage with bright, expectant eyes, Chu Yuanqing’s lips curved slightly into a stiff smile.
Her messy smile resembled the remnants of a time machine pieced together during endless 996 workdays—absurd and fragile.
However, to the trainees in the passenger seats and the millions watching live, the slight curve of her lips was misinterpreted as a confident smile meant to ease tension.
Yes, as the first trainee to face a lifelong fear of the stage, Chu Yuanqing naturally appeared to possess a unique level of courage.
Actress Luo Siling picked up the microphone first and asked with a smile:
“Chu Yuanqing, your resume indicates that you are different from most of the contestants present. You haven’t undergone trainee training and even skipped the talent section during the audition because you lacked a foundation in singing and dancing.”
“I’m curious, what prompted you to take the risk of a lifetime in an industry you had no connection to, and insist on participating in ‘Dazzling Stage’?”
It was a perfect question—a golden opportunity to showcase charm and uniqueness.
Most contestants would have prepared a touching, philosophical story full of positivity, designed to leave a deep impression on viewers and judges alike. And at this moment,
But at that moment, Chu Yuanqing just wanted to run away.
If she still had her magical powers, she’d teleport straight to the North Pole to dance with penguins skimming over the ice.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Chu Yuanqing held her face in her hands, summoning every ounce of wit and social grace she could muster to come up with an answer.
Should I tell the truth?
Absolutely not! Millions were watching in the livestream room.
More importantly, her daughter was standing nearby, gazing up at her with hopeful, sparkling eyes. If she told the truth now, wouldn’t that mean admitting all her earlier bravado had been a lie?
Chu Yuanqing’s thoughts raced like a roller coaster. After what felt like an eternity, she forced two words out of her mouth, her tone calm and serious under the audience’s expectant gaze:
“Dream.”
“I came for my dream.”
Chu Yuanqing stopped speaking, feeling tormented and regretful.
Little Shu, I’m sorry, I lied!
Luo Siling praised with a smile:
“Well, that’s a very standard answer.”
“But in the unique format of our show, saying those words takes a lot of courage. Looking forward to your performance ahead.”
Reactions from the audience and fellow contestants varied.
Most of the contestants assumed Chu Yuanqing had only been accepted because of her appearance. She hadn’t passed the talent segment, and now, starting with the first performance seemed like a recipe for disaster—a cheap gimmick for attention.
The audience’s reactions were mixed. Despite arriving first, Chu Yuanqing had chosen the last seat, a move that seemed modest and unassuming. This humility, combined with her charm, won over many viewers, especially those who appreciated her doll-like looks.
Zhao Dapan, a famous singer-songwriter, took the mentor’s seat and continued the conversation.
“I have a question. Did you always have this dream since you were young? And what made you want to become an idol?”
Chu Yuanqing’s expression remained serious, but her mind went blank, her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. She blurted out the first thing that came to mind:
“Because… I admired those shiny girls on TV.”
Zhao Dapan commented thoughtfully.
“She looks very serious. It seems like she gave a sincere answer.”
Chu Yuanqing felt worse and worse, with a growing sense of despair filling her. She felt like she was falling into a dark abyss.
If Little Shu realized her father was chasing a teenage idol dream, would her career as a parent end on the spot?
People’s joys and sorrows are not always the same.
Choreographer Chen Baijiu seized the opportunity and took the microphone to deliver a sharp remark:
“See light, chase light, become light.”
“Most people go through the first two stages, but very few reach the last step.”
“Chu Yuanqing, I hope your talent matches your courage, otherwise joining ‘Dazzling Stage’ would be a dead end.”
Jiang Chi took off his sunglasses and spoke concisely:
“The performance you have prepared is a famous street dance from a boy band, I personally look forward to your performance.”
The mentor finished his inquiries.
Dream Weaver Rabbit, the show’s mascot, smiled and clapped. Suddenly, the stage lights shifted, and background music filled the air—the song contestants had submitted earlier. There was no time to prepare or overthink. It was time to perform.
The abruptness of it all caused visible tension among the contestants.
Even seasoned performers might falter when thrust into a live broadcast with millions watching. For the trainees, most of whom lacked stage experience, the stakes were overwhelming.
In that moment, one thought unified everyone in the room:
This opportunity was a double-edged sword, and Chu Yuanqing was about to fall on it.
At the same time,
Standing center stage, Chu Yuanqing felt time slow to a crawl.
The heat of the spotlight bore down on her, the smell of burning rubber wafted through the air, and every whisper, stare, and judgment from the audience pressed against her like a physical weight.
Her heightened magical senses stirred awake, sharpening her perception of every detail—the floating cameras, the audience’s emotions crashing like waves, and the critical gazes of the mentors. It all came rushing in at once.
The pendant around her neck shimmered faintly, its embedded grey glass swirling with deeper impurities.
There was no time for second thoughts, no room for shame.
Stripping away her layers of hesitation like peeling an onion, Chu Yuanqing tapped into the resolve of a savior.
She couldn’t afford to make a fool of herself, especially not in front of her daughter.
At this moment, the instincts of past battles resurfaced under the interference of her own will, even though her honed skills were gradually wearing down from erosion. The basic muscle control, body coordination, and neural reflexes could still be maintained.
Chu Yuanqing forgot about her worries, shame, nervousness, and all unnecessary emotions as the music titled “Whisper” played. After that moment, her whole body seemed to retain muscle memory, smoothly flowing and moving in rhythm.
Yes, in rhythm.
The basic rhythm of street dance.
Under the spotlight, Chu Yuanqing danced her steps, but she was not quite skilled in transitioning smoothly. She was a bit inexperienced in keeping up with the music’s beat, just managing to keep pace.
The bug-like skill of controlling her body perfectly allowed her to capture the essence behind this street dance.
Chu Yuanqing could grasp the delicate balance between fast and slow, creating an irresistible sense of pause. She succeeded in showcasing the lazy and relaxed style of hip-hop, and when switching to the next dance move, she burst out with amazing strength, creating a balance of power and beauty in her form.
This overflowing inspiration and emotion managed to overshadow any shortcomings in her movements and rhythm.
At this moment.
On the big screen, her determined gaze and exquisite features dominated every frame.
With uncanny intuition, she seemed to always find the camera, her ethereal yet fragile beauty carving its way into the hearts of viewers.
Her exquisite yet fragile and harmless beauty seemed to cut through the audience’s hearts sharply, like breaking through a siege of thousands of troops, showing an extreme sharpness in every frame.
A minute and a half later, the background music came to an end.
This hastily started performance finally ended successfully and smoothly.
The whole audience fell into a sudden silence for a moment, then they reacted and the applause and discussions rushed in like a tsunami, echoing throughout the entire stadium.
