Chapter 47

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This chapter is edited by Rain. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 47: Little Shu, You Are Destined to Become the Moon
The next day.

After dressing and grooming herself in front of the mirror, Chu Yuanqing checked the digital clock and saw it was already six o’clock in the morning. Even though she had only slept a little after studying music theory with Heart Flow for six hours last night, her skin and face looked youthful and radiant, and she felt energetic.

Inside the room, Tang Liuli was still fast asleep. Xie Qingxuan and Liang Xiaoxiao had not returned the whole night. The former had access to a practice room with a guest room, which made sense. The latter was probably disturbed by the anxious environment created by “Dazzling Stage.” Unable to sleep, she had likely decided to train all night rather than return to the dormitory.

Chu Yuanqing walked out of the room. The surroundings were silent as she passed through a corridor displaying advertisements until she reached the cafeteria, where a few players were scattered around. Most hurried by, uninterested in socializing. They simply grabbed bread and milk or packed a box of salad and boiled chicken breast before leaving the cafeteria.

Chu Yuanqing understood the situation and could imagine how the other players were pushing themselves. Since Dream Weaver Rabbit’s inspiring words yesterday, the entire underground base had quickened its pace. Everyone was caught up in the intense and conflicting competition atmosphere, spinning like a top. Stopping would mean being left behind, a lonely gear in an unforgiving machine.

Chu Yuanqing began to worry. Had Little Shu been practicing all night too? No, her daughter was still underage! Chu Yuanqing couldn’t help but reflect. She should have reminded Little Shu when they separated yesterday that even if she couldn’t drink warm milk and go to bed by eight, she shouldn’t stay up all night!

This was a matter of principle. The old father’s worries grew heavier.

“Qing Qing? I’ll treat you to mashed potatoes!”

From a distance, Chu Wang Shu spotted her and hurried over, hugging her like a koala. The little girl’s eyes darted around, looking left and right. When she didn’t see the Sakura girl, a smile grew on her face.

Qing Qing was mature, stable, and super cute—a perfect connection! A long time ago, someone told her that everyone’s fate in life was limited. Whether it was a great friend or the perfect partner, it only happened once, and it had to be cherished.

So…

She wouldn’t let her friend be stolen by the suspicious Sakura girl. At least, she wouldn’t be the one left behind!

Chu Yuanqing was unaware of her daughter’s thoughts. She turned her serious little face toward her daughter’s radiant, collagen-rich cute face, nodded reassuringly, and said:

“Great. Remember to sleep early and wake up early in the future!”

Chu Wang Shu blinked in confusion but still nodded under the inexplicable pressure. Then, the two sat together for breakfast, shared their respective rated food, and started chatting.

To these same-age friends, it was just an ordinary moment, mundane and trivial. Only later, in moments of reminiscence, would they realize its preciousness. But Chu Yuanqing cherished this moment deeply. It had been so long since she sat down peacefully to talk with her daughter like this.

Now, the erosion of the curse almost made her forget when it all started. When had their father-daughter relationship begun to strain? Thinking carefully, it seemed to have started then.

On her daughter’s 12th birthday, for the third time, he broke his promise and left her alone in the cramped, dark rental house, blowing out the candles on the huge cake in solitude. At that time, Chu Yuanying knelt in a dark alley, hearing the cracking sound of glaciers in his ears. It felt like his soul was being dragged into a dangerous place. The past difficulties turned into overwhelming challenges, causing his heart to ache constantly.

Tick tock, tick tock.

The blood he coughed out stained the carefully prepared birthday gift in his arms. It was the first time he realized he didn’t have much time left.

Since then, the relationship between father and daughter began to subtly change. Chu Wang Shu didn’t mind his third missed appointment, but she noticed the unfamiliarity and numbness when her dad returned home. Chu Yuanying, on the other hand, didn’t care about when he would die. He cared about how to make his daughter accept his departure and live well on her own.

Their intertwined thoughts and mutual confinement gradually stiffened the relationship to its current state. Chu Yuanqing understood. Because she understood, she cherished their current conversation.

At first, their chat felt nostalgic and a bit awkward. As it went on, Chu Yuanqing realized that Little Shu was not as unreliable as she had imagined. Although she was casual with herself, she maintained a good sense of distance from other contestants, balancing social interactions with a touch of innocence. Despite the oppressive atmosphere in “Dazzling Stage,” she remained calm, objectively assessed her strengths and weaknesses, and planned her future training.

Breakfast time passed quickly. Reluctantly bidding farewell, Chu Wang Shu headed to the Grade B practice room to prepare for class. The classes arranged by “Dazzling Stage” offered a lot of freedom. Two big classes in the morning ran from seven to twelve-thirty. The same schedule applied in the afternoon, from one-thirty to five-thirty. Players could freely choose their courses and adjust their training time accordingly.

Chu Wang Shu’s singing foundation wasn’t strong, and she had never encountered dances like “Candy” before. Hence, her training plan was detailed, showing the same earnestness she had when she meticulously wrote her high school study plans on paper.

Chu Yuanqing watched her daughter’s figure gradually disappear, feeling a bit melancholic. Her expression dimmed, a mix of confusion and understanding in her eyes, born from life’s experiences.

Years later, memories resurfaced.

Suddenly, she recalled a line from a forgotten song: “Love resides deep in the heart, hard to express.” Chu Yuanqing once had moments of youthful courage, ready to embrace challenges and face formidable obstacles. Those lyrics had seemed boring at the time. How could a hero enduring countless deaths be too timid to speak the truth?

But later, she learned it was true. Saving the world wasn’t as great as it seemed—unable to embrace her loved ones, budgeting carefully for trips to the market, negotiating prices with old ladies selling celery. Still scrambling to change diapers, feeling lost when her daughter fell ill, and apologizing to colleagues without a trace of pride.

It was the same now. She couldn’t say it; she couldn’t express it. She could only stay silent and numb, like an irresponsible father. She could only speak to her daughter peacefully through a different identity, like a thief lusting after another’s glory, hidden in a prosperous kingdom.

“Little Shu, you will become the moon.”

Chu Yuanqing whispered softly, her lips slightly curved. She let go of distractions, turned, and left, leaving behind the shadow of yesterday standing alone.