Chapter 199

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Chapter 199: Charlotte’s Friend, Hide and Seek

The girl’s green eyes shimmered with light as she looked towards her idols dancing in the distance. Deep within her chest, a hollow emptiness was carved out, filled with unexplainable nostalgia, joy, envy, and loneliness, all surging like a tsunami into her soul, accompanied by the roaring sound of a strong wind rushing through.

Why did Charlotte appear in her mind?

And why did it feel like that person was so lonely?

These images were too real, and the overwhelming emotions were even more so, shaking her previous thoughts until reason returned, and she regained her calm.

Tang Liuli took a deep breath. She was greatly shocked, feeling a lingering fear. If she truly got lost in it, would she end up treating that woman she had never seen before as a good friend?

Terrifying, it was truly terrifying, this "favorability rating-sharing device!"

The green-eyed cat sensed something was off, as if something was wrong, but after carefully thinking it over, she couldn’t find anything to challenge her conclusion.

Forget it, I won’t think about it; for now, I’ll ignore these little details.

Tang Liuli abandoned her clever mind; she began to feel jealous. Was Little Qing really so concerned about that woman? So much so that she almost got caught up in it herself, thinking it was her own memory!

The green-eyed cat became increasingly alert; all those memories came from Honey Qing. Charlotte’s presence among them indicated a close relationship, and perhaps… she was that mysterious white moonlight!

So, Little Qing wanted to visit Saint Stephen’s Basilica today to get closer to the "Dazzling Stage" competition in Vienna, hoping to bump into the other person?

Tang Liuli took a deep breath; she glanced at Little Sakura, who looked confused, and at the golden retriever with especially clear eyes, as if it had never been tainted by knowledge. She suddenly felt very exhausted, experiencing a sense of loneliness, as if she were the only one awake in a world full of drunks.

Sigh, how can I successfully win over Honey Qing with this group of insects around me?

But it doesn’t matter, I will take action!

The green-eyed cat felt invigorated; she skillfully uncovered Honey Qing’s white moonlight, proving she was not just battling with thin air. With such astonishing talent, could she really lose in this love competition?

Ridiculous, impossible, absolutely impossible!

Kirimi Miyuki did not realize that the cat beside her was looking down on her intelligence; she was lost in a strange nostalgia, whispering to herself:

"How strange, I don’t know why, but I suddenly really want to hold hands with everyone on stage, singing and dancing to the cheers of the audience. Is it the wonderful atmosphere of Vienna? Or do I actually really like street performances?"

When she thought of this, another idea popped up; or perhaps… who else does she want to share that joy felt only on stage?

Little Sakura shook her head, brushing those thoughts away. She felt she had been acting more and more strangely lately. But come to think of it, after being a bottom-tier idol for seven years, she had gained a popularity a hundred times greater in just two months on "Dazzling Stage," performing on grand stages again and again.

In this situation, it’s normal to feel overly excited.

The girl became a bit serious, even starting to think about whether she should learn meditation from some silly dog to adjust her mindset, while also doubting if her "sudden improvement in painting skills" yesterday was a warning sign of a mental breakdown.

Oh no, those paintings can’t just be her imagination, right?

No, when she gets back to the hotel, she has to show those paintings to Little Qing!

After Kirimi Miyuki woke up, she didn’t have time to mention this matter. She silently raised the priority, holding the camera steadily with her small hands and continued recording. The task of making the vlog was done in turns.

Not everyone is a professional blogger, and the task requires simple content without meaningless fluff. So, as long as everyone records some interesting places, it is easy to share three hours of vlog time.

Because the vlog will likely be edited into the program, or even released separately, this task has value beyond points. In other teams, there are probably those who want to take on more responsibilities and show off more.

Kirimi Miyuki wasn’t thinking that way. She was quite curious about what kind of footage a socially anxious cat would record with the camera. Witnessing someone’s daily life from their first-person perspective in a video seemed quite interesting.

Of course, for socially anxious people, doing anything that stands out and attracts attention can feel very uncomfortable, and taking a camera out to film falls into this category.

Hmm, what kind of expression will Liuli show then? It feels like her reaction would be more worthy of being recorded in the vlog, right?

Xie Qingxuan didn’t say anything. As the one who inspired the little idols to change their mindset, she quietly held onto a few remnants of the past.

The Last Diva……

These four words seem to carry a different meaning in her subconscious.

Chu Yuanqing’s thoughts wandered as she raised her eyes to look around at the scenery.

This is the center of the old town, the heart of Vienna is located here.

Saint Stephen’s Basilica overlooks the many different sightseeing groups, horse-drawn carriages, and the stream of people moving between small shops. The clear sunlight brushes over the spire and gently falls to the street corner. The sculptures in the fountain shine brightly, as if they are singing.

The whispers that echoed around the campfire that day linger in the winds of Vienna, falling softly into her ears, making a gentle rustling sound:

"If I really create that method, will you come and dance with me on stage? You can’t say no. Look, even this shy one agreed, and it’s not me forcing them. We have to bring her too, then we can form a girl group!"

"Are you talking about Little Qing? Little Qing will definitely be in the audience! Don’t you want to dance for Little Qing? Hmph, if you don’t want to, then I will dance for Little Qing by myself…"

Charlotte’s voice was like a beautiful opera, and even after many years, when it reached her heart, it still seemed like notes were happily dancing.

Chu Yuanqing closed her eyes and listened quietly. The emotions stirring in her chest were complex, and she murmured to herself:

"So, is this why you don’t want to team up with anyone?"

That person is truly sincere and warm, shining brightly at all times.

But to stick to an unspoken promise, she refused to team up with others and chose to travel alone to unknown places to take pictures, complete tasks, and participate in performances, making her seem lonely and heart-wrenching.

Chu Yuanqing’s emotions were complicated; she knew that the other person must not have regained her memories. Otherwise, with Charlotte’s personality, even while in "Dazzling Stage," she would have no hesitation in skipping work to search for herself, causing chaos in Sacred United Country.

However, since Charlotte intentionally chose not to team up, it means she remembers at least a little.

Chu Yuanqing guessed that Charlotte’s situation was probably similar to Xie Qingxuan’s, with only fragmented images and feelings in her mind, but applying this reasoning to Charlotte could be uncertain.

After all, Charlotte has a very free-spirited personality, goes her own way, and greatly believes in her feelings, which she proudly calls a magical girl’s intuition.

Yes, if it were this person, just a little instinctual resistance would be enough for her to insist on going on stage alone.

So, it wouldn’t be surprising if Charlotte had no memories at all; she is the kind of person who can completely trust her instincts.

Deep down, this decision was merely to wait for those who couldn’t return.

But will they come back?

When they return, will Charlotte really recognize her?

Chu Yuanqing felt a little lost; she knew that the person Charlotte wanted to wait for was just as important to her.

However, in the 17 years of wear in the Sea of Truth, those names that were full of life and carried so many memories, feelings, meanings, bonds, and promises have turned into cold, dark squares, replaced by chaotic shadows and emptiness.

Even if they meet again, it will be a meeting without recognition.

Chu Yuanqing was already a hollow shell full of wounds; the winds from the past would only pass through her, let alone other forgotten old friends. Even if she saw Charlotte again, she wouldn’t be able to recognize her.

The girl’s eyes were dull, and bitterness spread in her heart as she looked at Xie Qingxuan beside her.

If Qingxuan was truly a past comrade and one of the shadows forgotten by the campfire, then Charlotte, who held onto their promise from back then, might still recognize her and at least show her a different attitude from the others.

So, she felt it was her duty to let Charlotte meet Xie Qingxuan.

This reason was like the final weight, making the undecided balance tip completely to one side.

Chu Yuanqing was silent for a long time. She took a deep breath and finally, in this moment, made a decision she hadn’t made in 17 years, whispering to herself:

"Charlotte, I will come to find you."

"Even if I can’t see you in the 45 days before the three performances, I will make Dream Weaver Rabbit help me find you after I confront it."

In the distance, four contestants finished a dance.

Fareeda adjusted her skirt, lifted her brown eyes, and showed a bright and confident smile in response to the friendly looks from the audience.

Today’s sunshine was just right, the mist from the fountain created a beautiful rainbow, and the bells of Saint Stephen’s Basilica rang perfectly as the performance ended, startling the birds flying in the distance, while the nearby visitors and locals looked on fondly. In the distance, one could even see floating animal balloons in the air.

All of this made people feel joyful.

Of course, as the captain of this four-person team, she was even happier to successfully complete a task, moving one step closer to qualifying for the three performances.

Fareeda hummed a song in her heart and wanted to turn around to put away the portable speaker.

Just then, the Pure White Witch walking from afar came into view. Her holy and gentle aura mixed with the church bells for a moment, like an ocean that embraces the world, and as she drew near, the nearby tourists and crowd automatically spread apart.

She was a person as beautiful as a poem.

Fareeda was lost in thought, captivated by that beauty that crossed races. Once she regained her senses, she couldn’t help but excitedly pat her teammate’s thigh and said:

"Danny, I actually saw the real Venus in Vienna!"

Danny, feeling wronged, covered his thigh that had turned red from the pat and exclaimed angrily:

"Nonsense, the Venus of the Sacred United Country can only be Charlotte!"

Well, she seemed to care more about who the name of Vienna belonged to than her sore thigh.

Fareeda said nothing. Charlotte indeed had a mysterious charm that transcended gender, but this unknown girl before her had the same effect.

The key is that, unlike the strong girlishness of the former, this one has a youthful face but an air of maturity, and she also reminds one of a motherly figure.

Moreover, she is not just an ordinary mother; she has a cool, somewhat bland air that makes her very endearing! It is not only more forbidden, more bittersweet, and more exciting, combined with a sacred and serious atmosphere, but it also naturally possesses a kind of alluring contrast.

How could a girl ever compare to this? Not to mention that the other person is also young in age and appearance, which fulfills every need!

This is not Vienna, who else could be Vienna?

There is a psychologist in Austria named Freud, who created a term based on Greek mythology—Oedipus Complex—which simply means an attraction to one’s mother.

Yes, the percentage of lesbians in Austria is as high as 9%.

As one of the 9%, Fareeda particularly favors the Pure White Witch style. She subconsciously adjusts her posture, tries hard to manage her expressions, completely forgetting about the plans after the performance, and decides to bravely move forward, but before she can take a few steps, the other person has already approached her.

Chu Yuanqing politely asked in German:

"Excuse me, may I ask if you are a contestant from ‘Dazzling Stage’?"

Fareeda’s head was spinning; she couldn’t resist the charm of the Pure White Witch, whose voice was so pleasant that she wondered if she should record it on her phone.

Even Danny, who was a firm supporter of Charlotte, couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the face that seemed carved by God, suddenly finding his eyes shining and feeling a bit flushed.

The other two teammates answered eagerly:

"Yes, yes, we are!"

"Hello, big sister, you are so beautiful! Are you a foreign idol? Or maybe a model?"

"Big sister, do you need something from us? By the way, can we take a picture together?"

Although not all little idols are lesbians, it is undeniable that most girls really like beautiful girls, and being approached by someone like Chu Yuanqing would certainly surprise and delight them.

The green-eyed cat behind Chu Yuanqing looked ready to pounce.

Seeing this, Xie Qingxuan’s cute expression changed to one of protectiveness.

Little Sakura quietly served as a tool for shooting vlog material, only thinking it would be hard to imagine what the local Daxia viewers would think of this video clip.

Because of Charlotte, Chu Yuanqing grew fond of this place and felt that the local people were very kind, even the strangers on the street were especially warm. She gave a gentle smile and softly said:

"I am also a contestant of ‘Dazzling Stage,’ but I am from the Donghong Federation’s competition area. I wanted to ask if you are currently preparing for a show performance too?"

Fareeda’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and her feelings grew even stronger.

With Chu Yuanqing’s looks, even if she knew nothing, she could still be a beautiful decoration in the contest and easily succeed.

But ‘Dazzling Stage’ is different; with the strong competition and emphasis on stage rules here, how can anyone get into the top 50% without real talent?

In other words, this girl is not only pretty, but she also has skills in dance and singing; she might even be really good!

Plus, as a fellow contestant of ‘Dazzling Stage,’ she is far away, yet she could still draw a performance in Austria and happen to meet at Stephen Square; isn’t that a destined connection?

Danny didn’t realize her captain had already started to have a crush; she replied:

"Yes, we just left the base yesterday, and we are going to participate in the showcase."

Chu Yuanqing then asked:

"Really? I arrived in Vienna with my teammates yesterday, and I saw an advertisement for one of your contestants singing ‘βίος’ on a building in the square."

Before she could mention Charlotte’s name,

Danny excitedly said:

"You must be talking about Charlotte! She is amazing, her singing is always incredible. It’s a pity she doesn’t form a team; otherwise, I would really want to be on the same team with her."

Chu Yuanqing felt a little dazed; she and Charlotte had grown up together in an orphanage in Final City, and Charlotte had never held back her social circle from her.

So, hearing that name suddenly from a stranger gave her a sense of emptiness and distance.

This was the first time she realized that Charlotte, in this new era, had connections that were separate from their past, and those connections were weaving a shell that would become thicker, until… it buried all the old traces completely.

Chu Yuanqing controlled her emotions and asked:

"Is she also in Vienna for a performance like you?"

Fareeda replied eagerly:

"Probably not. You know St. Stephen’s Basilica is one of the entrances for the ‘Dazzling Stage’ here. There are many nice hotels within walking distance, and only three or four teams from the local performances are staying nearby."

"Charlotte doesn’t need to go far; she is most likely performing somewhere else."

Danny said quietly:

"I don’t know about the others, but Charlotte was eating fried steak in a restaurant in City Park yesterday. She even took selfies at the National Opera House and wandered around Hofburg Palace, finding a few old music scores in a small shop in the square."

Fareeda was greatly shocked and couldn’t help but say:

"How can she live so freely? And Danny, how do you know all this?"

Danny felt a bit proud.

"Because I have Charlotte on WhatsApp as a friend. She is very nice and usually does not refuse friend requests. She also loves to post updates and selfies."

"Besides, can’t you see it on Charlotte’s social media? There will be a delay of at most half an hour because she needs to play hide and seek with her fans."

Fareeda was silent.

Does this person not know how many fans she has? It adds up to almost 20 million across the internet! What kind of public figure shows their whereabouts like this? Sooner or later, something will go wrong!

Danny’s eyes sparkled; she felt both envious and admiring, exclaiming:

"I feel like Charlotte really enjoys it. She always likes to play these games with her fans, but no fan has ever caught her. It’s like she is a fairy."

Fareeda replied without much patience:

"This time is different. Charlotte has gained too many fans in two months. If she doesn’t wear sunglasses and a mask, she doesn’t even need to share her location; many passersby can recognize her just by her looks."

The green-eyed cat was deeply shocked. Just remembering the embarrassing scene at the airport when dozens of fans recognized her made her tremble and curl her toes. How could someone willingly share their address to play hide and seek with fans?

What a scary Charlotte, what a scary The Last Diva! What kind of social nightmare is this?

No, no! People like this are definitely worse than that silly golden retriever! They might even be great at sweet talking. If Little Qing ever met someone like that, it would surely be a disaster!

The green-eyed cat began to think about the possibility of overcoming social anxiety for love.

Chu Wang Shu felt a little envious. What a free-spirited beautiful sister! Even if she had that kind of talent and popularity, she could never do something like that.

Speaking of which, where would that person be today after being in Vienna yesterday?

Little Sakura quietly took notes. She felt that the whole of Austria had fewer people than Sea City, and it was indeed lucky to have such unique individuals in the Vienna region.

Xie Qingxuan remained calm. She seemed to have a "prejudice" against the name The Last Diva, believing that anyone with that title could do such things, finding it strangely unsurprising.

Chu Yuanqing couldn’t help but laugh.

Send the address in real-time and play hide and seek with Fan?

This really sounds like something Charlotte would do.

In fact, this kind of play has been mentioned before by the other person, so doing this is truly showing her true self.

As for safety concerns, there’s really nothing to worry about. Given the nature of "Dazzling Stage," Charlotte would have likely been granted privileges by the authorities, and she probably completed her transformation and has become an official magical girl.

Moreover, her abilities are likely very impressive; she might even be stronger than Xie Qing Yu now.

In this case, it would be incredibly difficult for Fan to meet Charlotte, let alone actually catch this fairy.

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and politely asked:

"Could I please have Charlotte’s contact information?"

Danny probably thought such a beautiful sister wouldn’t be a bad person, so he almost immediately agreed, but he also asked Chu Yuanqing for her WhatsApp contact.

Chu Yuanqing had not registered for WhatsApp yet. After signing up on the spot, Fareeda and the other little idols asked her to be their friend. She felt that these kids were friendly and warm, and definitely not bad people. Without thinking much, she agreed to all of them, which made her teammates glance at her curiously.

The church bells began to fade away.

Pure White Witch reluctantly said goodbye to Fareeda and Danny. She continued with her original goal and walked with her teammates into St. Stephen’s Basilica.

The building design here is indeed very beautiful. The roof, made up of two hundred and thirty thousand colorful tiles, is especially exquisite. Once inside, you can see the tomb of a Roman emperor, a statue of Jesus in suffering, the altar, the pulpit, and many other religious styles shaped by time.

Unfortunately, her reason for coming here was Charlotte. After learning about Charlotte from others and sending a friend request, her mind was no longer here; it was filled with thoughts of when Charlotte would accept her friend request.

It was not until they climbed the three hundred and fortieth step of the southern tower and admired the view of Vienna’s inner city that her phone finally buzzed with a notification.