Chapter 191
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Chapter 191: Memories of the Past, the End of the Second Round of Competition
The atmosphere inside was very tense.
After today, only 84 out of 165 contestants would remain. Even those who felt confident about advancing would still feel sad and down in such an environment.
Chu Yuanqing looked at the children’s faces and had no extra thoughts; although she didn’t ask about the true plan of "Dazzling Stage," she could guess a little.
Based on yesterday’s experience, the abilities of the little idols’ "Heart Flow" were like the early form of Patronus Magic, and they all belonged to the same category, capable of shining light to defeat Disaster through the atmosphere of the stage.
The only difference between Chu Yuanqing and the other little idols was that her past experiences were so unique that the effect of "Pure White Ode" was somewhat extraordinary, but essentially, they all practiced the same type of magic.
Chu Yuanqing could guess this because, on yesterday’s stage, her "Pure White Ode" was strengthened by Xie Qingxuan, Tang Liuli, Kirimi Miyuki, and even her daughter’s "Heart Flow."
Although the enhancement wasn’t very much, it indicated the final goal of "Dazzling Stage."
If a few teammates with high purity idol power completed "Bloom," officially becoming magical girls and awakening Patronus Magic, then their shining lights would blend, overlap, amplify, and expand through the stage, allowing them to challenge the disaster beasts on a different level.
The key point is, this is also a customizable full-map skill that can inflict friendly damage.
The range that the magical girl senses is the limit of her shining radiance.
If the level were a bit higher, perhaps the shining range could exceed the senses, conveying light based on the distance of the heart, becoming true light in every sense.
This type of stationary area magic, combined with the current situation of many Disaster returning to a dormant state, but cannot be harmed by regular weapons, is practically a blessing for humanity.
Although it feels a bit strange when she thinks about it, for Chu Yuanqing, who has seen much of the world, she quickly accepts this concept.
After all, nearly 20 years ago, she saw The Last Diva use her singing to eliminate Disaster Waves on the battlefield; this action, compared to dancing to defeat disaster beasts, only omitted one dance step, so there is nothing to make a big fuss about.
Chu Yuanqing suddenly froze; it felt like a crack opened in her heart, a strong sense of déjà vu surged, hidden memories from a fractured past stirred, and she indeed remembered Charlotte mentioning such an idea many years ago.
"I really dislike fighting and killing, wouldn’t the Martial God Technique be better for Little Qing?"
"I just want to sing! Oh, and it would be best if it were like an idol, where just singing and dancing can chase away all loneliness and sadness, bringing happiness and beauty to everyone, and resolving all the villainous characters!"
"That’s so cool, right? If I could really do that, I might be the best idol in the world!"
Charlotte sat in front of the burning campfire, her deep blue hair flowing like silk. Her beautiful face was filled with lovely dreams, and the smile on her lips was full of happiness. Her shining eyes seemed to travel through time and space, bright and warm, like a galaxy full of Blooming Flowers.
Strangely, the campfire only lit up the figure of The Last Diva, while the area next to her was swallowed by chaotic shadows, missing a piece, which felt very out of place.
At the same time, the sounds outside of Charlotte felt like they were coming from behind thick ocean water, faintly reaching her ears, leaving behind some unclear words. It was as if there were others sitting by the campfire discussing Xiaoxiao, creating a warm and familiar atmosphere.
Those dark shadows were eroded by the Sea of Truth, conceptually giving life to forgotten memories.
Chu Yuanqing had grown used to it; in the end, only Charlotte’s words remained, sweet like ripe mangoes, filled with hope and smiles.
"If I really create that method, will you come and dance on stage with me? No refusing! You see, even someone as timid as you agreed! It’s not like I forced you, and you have to come too. Let’s make a girl group!"
"You mean Little Qing? Of course, Little Qing should be in the audience! Don’t you want to dance for Little Qing? Hmph, if you don’t want to, I can dance for Little Qing all by myself…"
After that, the sounds of playful banter and laughter were drowned out by the deep sound of the ocean, and the warmth of the campfire in her memories slowly faded away, like an old photo turning yellow, devoured by a strange feeling of distance.
In the end, the campfire went out.
Chu Yuanqing felt warm inside, but she did not want to remember those precious memories. Like items that lose their worth over time, the more she cherished and missed them, the more they were cursed and eroded.
So, since 17 years ago, she refused to recall the past and even took steps to block it out. Only when her brain created a strong sense of déjà vu would certain fragments awaken.
That was now, besides her daughter, the most precious thing she had.
If she could, Chu Yuanqing wished that death would come before forgetting.
At least then, she might be able to lose herself in these unwrapped candies in her final moments, surrounded by the happiness of the past as she passed away.
"Charlotte…"
"Could this magic, centered around the stage, be related to you?"
Chu Yuanqing looked up at the Dream Weaver Rabbit on stage. Perhaps they would know more, but for now, she could not appear as Chu Yuanying. The Magic Clone was not an invincible spell, and this place was a base where the sparks of civilization were preserved, so there was a high chance that there were ways to see through it.
If it weren’t for the fact that the "Annihilated Massacre" had the ability to ignite a burning heart and change the nature of magic, allowing her power to temporarily transform into the flames of Levatin, and tainting this Mythical Armament with the fate of world destruction, Xie Qing Yu and Violet would certainly be able to recognize that it was magic.
Once the special power of the witch comes into play, along with the explosive "Pure White Ode" from that stage, the connection between Chu Yuanqing and Chu Yuanying becomes too tight, and the revelation of their identities is not far off.
So, yesterday when she was talking to her lovely daughter, the "Annihilated Massacre" remained active, allowing her magic to continuously burn with a fiery heart.
The only difference was that when she met her daughter, she only needed to create an outer layer with the fiery heart, while in her cautious meeting with the Dream Weaver Rabbit, she had everything fully activated, leading to a much larger consumption of magic.
This is also why, after chatting with the Dream Weaver for less than half an hour and not fully exchanging many questions and information, she chose to leave; the magic expenditure was too high, and staying longer would reveal her flaws.
Tang Liuli glanced at the serious Honey Qing, who seemed lost in thought. She pondered a moment, her little hand mischievously resting on the smooth thigh of the other, curiously giving it a gentle squeeze, then using her other hand to touch her own thigh for comparison.
Then, the green-eyed cat placed both hands on Chu Yuanqing’s thigh; her skin was as smooth as silk, cool and soft to the touch. With a slight pressure from her fingertips, they sank into the delicate softness, and the sensation improved even more as her palm glided.
Little Qing, what wonderful legs!
Xie Qingxuan saw this and mimicked her, placing her slender palm on Chu Yuanqing’s thigh, curiously giving it a squeeze, and in return received a fierce glare from the green-eyed cat.
Soon, four hands were resting on the thigh of the Pure White Witch. The green-eyed cat and the golden retriever seemed to be competing with each other, playfully giving Chu Yuanqing a thigh massage like little wives, though it was unclear what they were competing for; it looked very childish.
Kirimi Miyuki watched this scene and was silent for a moment.
On the girl’s pure and beautiful face, the smile at the corners of her lips remained unchanged, but her deep eyes held a sense of danger like calm water.
She wickedly poked Tang Liuli’s waist with her finger, making the cat almost puff up in surprise and stand up; Tang Liuli’s restless little hand quickly retreated.
Tang Liuli looked at the bad woman beside her with a mix of fear and anger. She was extremely scared, yet she didn’t dare to be fierce with the terrifying Sakura girl. Instead, she simply hugged Chu Yuanqing’s slim waist and buried her face in the other’s thigh, pretending to be dead, beginning to miss the times spent by Little Shu’s side.
Xie Qingxuan found herself squeezed with no place to put her hands, so she simply withdrew them. She thought Master Liuli was quite smart; at least, when she was replenishing magic before, her little hands were well-behaved, and only her mouth was a bit restless. She never thought she could touch Honey Qing’s thigh, but she would try it next time at night.
Chu Wang Shu watched her teammates play and suddenly felt a little reluctant.
If the third round of the competition isn’t in teams, or if teams have to be reshuffled, then there might not be any chances to live happily like this together again.
Furthermore, parting here means not only separation during the recording period but also a farewell on a life level, making it hard to reunite in the future.
Because everyone’s situation is very special.
Liuli is an actress who has appeared in many TV dramas and movies, Sister Xie is backed by a large entertainment company, and her family is also very wealthy. Sister Miyuki is from an island country, and it is very difficult to succeed in the domestic entertainment industry without debuting.
As for Little Qing, who is also from a common family like her, she is currently the most popular contestant on "Dazzling Stage" in the country, and debuting is almost certain.
In other words, unless everyone debuts and truly becomes teammates, it will be nearly impossible to recreate their current relationship after the show ends.
The lovely daughter felt a bit down thinking about this. In her view, the reason she made it to the second round was that her teammates were too strong, and she was even given a Carry Center role. Otherwise, if her luck was slightly worse, she could easily have been eliminated.
But in the later third and fourth rounds, there definitely wouldn’t be such treatment. The debut spot is indeed too far from her, so how could she talk about debuting with everyone?
Meanwhile, the other contestants were also feeling heavy-hearted.
Liang Xiaoxiao saw Qiu Caixuan, who had reddened eyes in the distance, and fell silent.
She was once her teammate, and Qiu Caixuan’s team did not win the first PK, so they only got about four or five hundred votes. This result was too sad, and elimination was a sure thing.
If it weren’t for Chen Yining’s invitation and Chu Yuanqing’s help, this would likely be my own fate.
There are many girls on stage who are similar to Qiu Caixuan.
Fortunately, Dream Weaver Rabbit did not announce the answers yesterday, giving everyone one more night of free time. Many young girls who thought they would soon leave had already held a farewell party within the team and cried in advance.
Those who had close relationships within the team would also wish the girl with the highest votes good luck, hoping she could take their place and go further to fulfill their shared dream.
Liang Xiaoxiao saw a contestant crying in the cafeteria yesterday. She heard these things while handing the girl a tissue, but it didn’t shake her much; she could still think calmly and objectively.
Those heartfelt moments not only expressed the sadness of broken dreams but also the touching feeling of carrying teammates’ wishes and continuing to move forward. If these clips were included in the fifth episode, combined with the harsh elimination mechanism of "Dazzling Stage," it would easily touch people’s hearts without needing much editing, and the viewership should be good.
At this moment, on stage.
Dream Weaver Rabbit scanned the audience with its crimson eyes, showing the same smile as always, and said:
"Thus, the team competition in the second round, as well as the concluding second performance, has officially come to an end. I wonder if the hundreds of Stage Battles in between have allowed everyone to experience the joy of standing on stage?"
"Of course, no matter if they feel joy or not, starting now, ‘Dazzling Stage’ will officially enter the rapid elimination cycle, competing to select the contestants who have a chance to debut. Sadly, the 81 contestants eliminated today will miss out on the third round of the competition."
"Now, let’s announce the top three teams based on their total votes."
As the announcement was made, a dazzling effect burst in the room, and then five golden crown-shaped marks floated above Chu Yuanqing and the others’ heads, declaring which team was in first place.
Above the little idols’ heads, the jewels in the crowns were engraved with a series of numbers, representing their individual vote counts.
–Chu Yuanqing: 7,398 votes.
–Kirimi Miyuki: 5,481 votes.
–Xie Qingxuan: 5,097 votes.
–Tang Liuli: 4,614 votes.
–Chu Wang Shu: 4,079 votes.
Later, the silver crown, which represents second place, was placed on the head of the young lady from Yunlan Entertainment, while the votes of the five members of the team appeared.
—Chen Yining: 4,798 votes.
—Ji Shuzhu: 3,973 votes.
—Ruan Wutong: 2,581 votes.
—Liang Xiaoxiao: 2,397 votes.
—Lin Baor: 2,199 votes.
Finally, the bronze crown for third place was awarded to another Grade B team, with votes that were generally lower than the previous place.
Dream Weaver Rabbit didn’t give everyone much time to react and continued:
"According to the rules of the competition, the first place, second place, and third place will receive 5,000, 3,000, and 2,000 group tickets, respectively."
"Because we are at the final distribution stage, these tickets will be evenly shared among each member of your team."
As the words fell, the numbers in the crowns above the three teams began to jump.
All the contestants looked at the three winning teams, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy, their emotions quite complex.
You should know that these three teams have won every challenge, and just from the victory group ticket, they have accumulated 4,000 tickets. The reward for third place, for example, gives them a total of 6,000 group tickets.
In other words, even if the audience doesn’t give you a single vote, through team distribution, you will still hold 1,200 individual tickets, allowing you to advance just by being part of the team.
Dream Weaver Rabbit looked around and smiled, saying:
"The rewards have been distributed, and now we will announce the names of the 84 contestants who have advanced, ranked by the number of votes."
After saying this, the super AI showed no signs of keeping secrets, and the crowns above the three teams collapsed, revealing numbers that represented the rankings, slowly appearing above each contestant’s head, announcing the final outcome.
Above Chu Yuanqing is the shining number 1.
This result is not very surprising. Although she did not take the Carry Center role in both rounds, both her performance in the "Pure White Ode" and her dazzling appearance as the Pure White Witch won over the audience, turning almost all the thousands of viewers into her fans.
The second place is Kirimi Miyuki, the third place is Xie Qingxuan, and then there are Chen Yining, Tang Liuli, Chu Wang Shu, and Ji Shuzhu, along with other contestants’ names mentioned in between.
Overall, this result is quite impressive; everyone in the team made it into the top ten. The adorable daughter especially excelled with the Carry Center role and team bonuses, receiving more votes than the Grade A Miss Choreographer.
Well, although Ji Shuzhu did not perform well and the CP fans of "Sun and Moon Book" were too many, believing that Miss Chen performed better, they felt Ji Shuzhu deserved some punishment, leading to the former receiving all the votes. But it also showed that Chu Wang Shu performed excellently on that stage.
Liang Xiaoxiao glanced at the screen above her. Her ranking was 31, which was just enough to be saved, but without the numerous group ticket boosts, she would truly be at risk of elimination.
Of course, if she were not in Chen Yining’s team, with her skills in "Heart Flow," she would surely receive more votes than before.
At this moment, the 84 serial numbers were gradually assigned. Just by looking around a few times, you could see several beautiful girls looking pitiful and teary, clearly devastated and unable to accept the result of elimination.
Compared to the slightly more dignified trainees, the live broadcast room was truly filled with despair, resembling a battlefield crowded with fallen fans. The bullet comments were abundant:
"I’m dying of laughter. Now I understand why the fans become so intense at the end, right?"
People do not share each other’s joys and sorrows. The audience who supports the popular contestants clearly does not have this worry, and they excitedly cheered and celebrated.
"Liuli is so embarrassing! How did they almost lose to Honey Moon?"
Dream Weaver Rabbit looked at the many different people below and had a thousand thoughts in their heart.
According to the original plan, the third round was supposed to be the same as a normal audition performance. However, the news that Pure White only had four months left caused a sudden change to this round’s rules.
Among these 84 contestants, how many can transform in just four months and take on a great responsibility?
Dream Weaver Rabbit thought about this and looked towards the distant Pure White Witch, feeling a sense of admiration for this treasure of Donghong.
Chu Yuanqing, perhaps… there is not much time left for you.
