Chapter 200
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Chapter 200: Charlotte’s Confusion, a Familiar Stranger
The sound of the ringtone immediately caught the attention of the little idols.
Xie Qingxuan turned her gaze. Her usually indifferent expression changed, and she couldn’t help but purse her lips.
Although there was some familiarity and fondness for Charlotte, there was also an instinctive sense of crisis. This twisted feeling, like that of a friend but also an enemy, left the golden retriever confused about whether to protect its food or to let it go.
Tang Liuli’s reaction was clearer; she had already guessed everything with her wisdom. When Chu Yuanqing walked over, she felt something was off. Hearing the other person ask for Charlotte’s contact information gave her the same feeling as watching her wife go to the gym for a personal trainer alone.
The green-eyed cat could only watch this scene happen, feeling very distressed. It looked cautiously at Chu Yuanqing’s phone, curious about what the two people would say upon their reunion.
Kirimi Miyuki didn’t understand German; she only learned about the whole situation after Liuli explained it later. She was also puzzled about why Honey Qing was so interested in Charlotte, to the point of asking for her contact information.
Could it be… that person is also a magical girl?
The cute daughter didn’t think too much; she curiously leaned forward, blinking her eyes in anticipation of how the pretty sister would respond to Honey Qing—although she didn’t understand German—she felt a strange flutter in her heart for some reason.
Chu Yuanqing was once again surrounded by four people; she glanced at the few pretending to be silly idols, her delicate face serious, though inside she was filled with embarrassment, she still didn’t say much.
After all, leaving aside the others, Little Shu had the right to see.
Although separated by the internet with a very strange atmosphere, this was indeed the first family gathering in 17 years.
Moreover, even if Charlotte has memories, she wouldn’t recognize her; it’s just a simple greeting, nothing to hold back.
Chu Yuanqing thought about this and felt ready. She unlocked her phone with her fingerprint, and the friend requests in the app were successful. In the cleared chat screen, only Charlotte’s profile picture was shining.
Charlotte’s profile picture is a selfie. The corners of her eyes are lifted as she winks at the camera, her gem-like eyes in clear focus look like a sapphire kaleidoscope. Her stunning face shines with a bright smile, surrounded by what seems like a garden. Since it’s a close-up, the details are not very clear.
The green-eyed cat couldn’t help but mumble to itself:
"Although she is very cute, who uses a selfie as a profile picture? This person is definitely super self-absorbed!"
Chu Wang Shu thought that this picture was pretty as a profile picture and looked quite friendly, but she felt regret that Charlotte was too young—both of them were only 17. If she were seven or eight years older, she would make a great new mom.
But that’s okay, since Dad is so handsome, he can definitely find another new mom!
Kirimi Miyuki wondered whether Charlotte’s eyes were naturally beautiful or a result of the interference from [Heart Flow]; their patterns and textures were beautifully striking. She had a feeling that perhaps… she could draw them with a pencil on paper.
In the jealous gaze of the little idols, Chu Yuanqing clicked on the profile picture and stared for a while, her lips curling up into a nostalgic smile.
In the time when she and Charlotte lived, because of the Disaster Wave everywhere, things like the internet that are common in the new era had already been swept into the grave by the harsh reality.
Among them, electronic products like mobile phones, which need precise components to work, had almost all become piles of scrap metal due to changes in the magnetic field and the environment.
Charlotte loved to capture moments in life and hoped to keep every beautiful instant. In the end times without phones, the only tool she could use was an old film camera.
"Taking pictures is wonderful! We have so many happy things to cherish. Even if we only capture a little with photos, it can bring us joy for a long time, right?"
The Last Diva said this confidently, pulling a smile at the corners of her lips with her fingertips. At the same time, she pressed the camera’s shutter with her left hand, freezing the moment of the boy’s helpless gaze.
There were countless stories like this.
So when she grew up, she had so many treasured photos that her drawer could not hold them all. She could only thread them together and hang them in the single room of the orphanage where she lived as a child, like a starry sky decorated by memories, never to fade.
And on the day of the funeral world line, these photos were buried with her at the bottom of the sea, lost in the cracks of time.
Chu Yuanqing thought this would be the era Charlotte would love.
She doesn’t need to search for signs of life in the barren ruins. Those wonders that only exist in books and legends are now within reach, and thanks to the survival of civilization, recording methods have become diverse, with photos taken on phones able to store many, many images, so there’s no need to worry about running out of space anymore.
Chu Yuanqing pushed away her thoughts. She opened the chat box, feeling a bit anxious. Back to the point, what should she say to start? She can’t just ask where the other person is and then demand to meet, right?
Charlotte is very popular in Austria and is a hot public figure. Saying such things would be too bold; even if she isn’t seen as a scammer, people might doubt her intentions.
In fact, the other person would probably contact her through friends because of her current identity as a girl.
That’s just how Charlotte is; she has always been sincere and warm to girls, without any hidden motives or reasons.
Chu Yuanqing pressed her lips together. She never thought that one day she would rely on this "advantage" to gain Charlotte as a friend. A mix of nostalgia, shame, and strange relief washed over her, twisting her feelings in a very odd way.
The girl suppressed her emotions, took a deep breath, and realized there was nothing to be ashamed of. Just like getting close to Little Shu, she could follow a similar path, becoming familiar with the other person as Chu Yuanqing, and then bring her current social circle along.
This way, even if she were to pass away, there could still be an old friend from a bygone era by Charlotte’s side.
After a while, since Chu Yuanqing hesitated too long, Charlotte seemed to have noticed the long "typing…" status and kindly sent a greeting.
"Hi, hello my friend."
"Please don’t feel awkward about adding friends; a new day brings new encounters. Meeting new friends is one of the things that makes me happiest, and I hope it is for you too."
"Of course, if it’s a pretty girl, I will be even happier, like you~♫."
Chu Yuanqing looked at the familiar greeting and could almost hear the other person’s voice in her ears. She silently stared at the sweet message written in Daxia language on the screen and suddenly felt foolish for being so troubled just moments before.
The green-eyed cat watched, secretly grinding its teeth.
Shameless! Truly shameless!
How awful! So, Charlotte is that kind of "flirty" type? She doesn’t even know who Honey Qing is, yet she has all these smooth lines!
The lovely daughter was greatly shocked, but she quickly understood it as the warm style of foreign friends. She started to feel some affection for Charlotte’s considerate response using Daxia language.
Kirimi Miyuki’s gaze was deep; she glanced at Chu Yuanqing, as if to say, "Don’t let a bad woman trick you easily with her words."
Xie Qingxuan felt a dull ache in her head. For the first time, she understood what a bad woman was. Compared to The Last Diva, Master Liuli and Little Sakura seemed as harmless as a little white rabbit.
Chu Yuanqing had no desire to complain. She thought for a moment and typed back:
"I am Chu Yuanqing."
Hmm, very much a straight talker.
From Charlotte’s side, she sent a voice message.
"Even though it sounds a bit shallow and clichéd, your name does feel very familiar to me."
"Hmm~ Chu, Yuan, Qing, right? Indeed, it takes Daxia language to express the beauty of your name."
"Haha, sorry, was that a bit too shallow? But I really mean what I said. I hope I won’t ruin your imagination of me."
The girl’s tone always rose at the end, her words clear and gentle, filled with rich emotions. You could sense her feelings just by listening, almost imagining her smile and the tiny expressions that showed her struggles. It was easy to like her.
Chu Wang Shu felt that something was not right, but as an outsider, she couldn’t quite figure it out. After thinking for a long time, she simply said:
"She said that Daxia language is spoken so fluently!"
The green-eyed cat was getting furious. Who talks like that?
However, after being angry for a moment, she quickly realized that something was off.
Doesn’t Charlotte know who Honey Qing is?
Tang Liuli came back to her senses. She noticed that this scene was different from the reunion she had imagined, and many more questions filled her mind.
Why doesn’t Little Qing have Charlotte’s contact information?
Why does Charlotte seem to not recognize Little Qing at all? She didn’t show any special reaction when she heard the name.
The green-eyed cat’s brain was overloaded; her CPU was about to burn out. Until the keyword ‘magical girl’ popped into her mind, a kind of answer that wasn’t really an answer emerged.
Yes, these unexplained things are clearly related to the experiences of Honey Qing hidden in the shadows about magical girls.
If we follow normal logic, Honey Qing has never been abroad, so it makes no sense for her to know Charlotte; their life paths are completely unrelated.
But if we include elements of magic, it makes sense whether it’s friendship that develops or dramatic amnesia, or even forgetting each other in the world.
So…
At least for Charlotte, this might truly be their first conversation with each other.
Kirimi Miyuki also had the same doubt, but she was more polite; she felt staring at someone’s phone screen was not good, so she simply looked away and enjoyed the view of the old town from the top of the South Tower.
Chu Yuanqing began to understand why Charlotte was always able to quickly get along with girls, but thinking about it for herself still made her feel something was off, so she could only reply awkwardly by typing:
"No, very sincere. Are you still in Vienna?"
Charlotte sent another voice message:
"Hmm~ Are you there, or should I guess? I have a little secret too, and keeping a bit of mystery makes it more interesting."
"So, let’s leave it at that for today. I have to go play hide and seek with someone."
"By the way, if you can catch me, I might grant you a little wish~♪."
After saying this, the other person sent a cute emoji, and their avatar dimmed, making it hard to tell if something was wrong or if they were just being careful in their first conversation.
Chu Yuanqing was not in a hurry. Knowing Charlotte well, she thought of at least seven or eight ways to draw her out, but there was no need at the moment. She turned off her phone and felt a bit guilty under the gazes of Tang Liuli, Xie Qingxuan, and Kirimi Miyuki.
The three little idols looked at her as if they were seeing a heartbreaker, clearly feeling jealous about her actions.
Chu Yuanqing was not foolish; she knew she was a bit too eager today, which might make her teammates feel strange. However, explaining would be difficult.
There was no way around it. When it came to Charlotte, telling the truth was very sensitive, and lying felt like a bad thing to do. Besides… Little Shu was watching too, so if she had to explain, it needed to be done secretly behind her daughter’s back.
Pure White Witch could only smile apologetically at the little idols, reassuring each of them with a glance to find a chance to talk later.
So, this became a little episode, and the group followed their original plan to visit Saint Stephen’s Basilica and began to excitedly discuss where to try delicious food for lunch.
…
…
Austria, hundreds of kilometers from Vienna, is a small town filled with medieval buildings, nestled in the embrace of a glacial valley, shining brightly under the midday sun.
Innsbruck, a place that attracts snow lovers from all over the world every year, is a famous ski resort.
The Alps rise and fall, while the quiet Rhine River flows through the city. Walking on the narrow streets of the old town, Gothic-style buildings line the sides, and the Baroque-style doors and Renaissance-style arcades create a wonderful atmosphere of the ancient city.
A young girl hummed a tune, her sky-blue hair tied up, shimmering like silk under the sun, and her eyes glowed with colors like opal. Her charming face was filled with a joyful smile as she stood on a street corner, happily looking at the photos on her phone.
"Hmm, I really did a great job taking these pictures."
Charlotte posted it on her social media and then glanced at the name that made her feel a little excited, which seemed familiar. She tapped into the chat box with the note "Chu Yuanqing" and read the last reply of "Okay," her smile softened a bit as she looked into the distance and softly said:
"Chu Yuanqing."
"The more I think of this name, the more familiar it feels. Will you… be the one I am waiting for?"
The girl thought this and felt a bit regretful. She still had some important things to do; otherwise, she would surely be unable to stop herself from going back to Vienna to see this familiar stranger with her own eyes.
Charlotte turned off her phone and, like a fairy untouched by dust, stepped into the late summer sunlight. She softly sang her favorite song, and the whole town seemed to stir with a quiet, powerful wave of feelings, as if it were slowly washing away all hidden dirt along with her walk.
During this time, in various corners of the small town, dark mist appeared from time to time, like spring snow melting under the sun, vanishing between the earth and sky. The hidden Calamity Seeds, like crushed insect eggs, quietly died under a terrifying rule.
The pendant hanging on her chest shone brightly.
The lantern contained thousands of facets like a gem, each surface glowing with different shades of light, mainly blue, green, purple, pink, and black, resembling the dome of a crystal church in Wattenas town, or Charlotte’s eyes.
Even without building a Magic Armor, the Shining Magic released from just the lantern surpassed the strength that most witch teams could weave.
Therefore, this saintess of the Sacred United Country had to take on some responsibility for eliminating Disasters.
Charlotte usually had to go to suppress the forbidden area, but the disturbance during the pure white event strengthened the suppression, allowing her to work easily by just following the national plan step by step.
As for now, due to the acceleration of the Dazzling Stage project and the attack on the Sea City competition area, clearing the performance venue of Calamity Seeds and hidden disaster beasts became the task of this saintess.
Of course, for Charlotte, this task was not very burdensome; she could unleash large-scale Shining Magic without singing, fully supporting the competition tasks while also enjoying a little vacation and playing hide and seek with her fans.
On the other hand, this was also a concern of not being able to teleport; even if Charlotte worked tirelessly for 24 hours on her own, it would be impossible to clear much territory, especially since the Sacred United Country was simply too large.
According to Dream Weaver Rabbit’s estimate, without affecting the saintess’s health, she could clear Austria and the surrounding small countries at most once in 45 days, and wouldn’t be able to ensure the safety of many competition areas.
There was no way around it; the competitors in each area would spread out to dozens of locations for performances, making the scope too wide to manage everything perfectly.
Logically speaking, the setup for performances was not reasonable for the safety of the competitors.
But the problem was that whether they were witch reserves, fuel reserves, or Disaster Shell reserves, they had to rely on stages with live audiences to grow as quickly as possible.
If we consider the stage as a ritual and the idol as a medium, then the audience serves as a finite energy source.
The idea is very simple: emotions have limits, and willpower and focus also have their maximum.
"Dazzling Stage" can attract a large number of audience with three performances, but having dozens of teams in one place creates hundreds of stages, which means that the experience gained is very small for each team.
For example, last time, Chu Yuanqing’s team took at least 70% of the audience’s willpower from the second performance, leaving almost nothing for the other teams, which led to a trend where the idols from nearby Kyoto were starting to catch up to Sea City in quality.
So, with only four months left for [Pure White], the best solution is to let each team perform in different places, gaining a lot of experience on their own to grow quickly.
This is even considering the psychological factors of the performers, which is why a conservative policy was chosen. Otherwise, a military-style, centralized approach to mass-producing performances would be more likely to happen.
However, the shine of Shining Magic comes from the beautiful feelings in the hearts of the idols and the audience. These pure and dream-like elements—love, desire, emotions, and dedication—cannot be built on forced and mass-produced performances.
This is a gamble of putting human destiny on the stage; no one knows the final outcome.
