Chapter 55

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Chapter 55: The Terrifying Succubus, and the Redeemed Soul of DD

Chu Yuanqing was first surprised, then delighted.

Yay, an interview!

Suppressing her joy, Chu Yuanqing gave her daughter an apologetic look, nodded slightly in farewell, and then followed the assistant sister out the door with quick steps.

Chu Wang Shu watched the figure of Chu Yuanqing leaving with a sense of loss, but then she cheered up when she realized something.

If Qing Qing was going to be interviewed, it meant she might get more screen time on the show, which was a good thing!

But…

So, the distance between us became even greater.

Thinking about this, Chu Wang Shu felt more and more anxious and a sense of crisis.

You see, Chu Yuanqing’s popularity outside is already as high as that of the sakura girl.

Although her Grade B assessment is higher than the other party, it can only be considered passable, if she fails in the second assessment, she will only be left even further behind.

Assuming that she gets eliminated while the other party debuts.

The latter will sooner or later rise to the top of Daxia Country and even the whole Donghong Federation under the support of the "Dazzling Stage" global level project, shining brightly on the world stage.

By then, even if Chu Yuanqing doesn’t mind.

Her schedule and work plans are destined to be disconnected from the person who lost the idol qualification for life, their relationship will gradually drift apart, their life paths will turn from crossing to parallel, there is a high probability that they won’t meet again.

Chu Wang Shu didn’t want to walk towards such a future.

Even though they had only recently met, an unexplained intuition in their hearts had been emitting special signals since the moment they first met.

Chu Yuanqing was unique, and this uniqueness was more than just friendship.

Even though she didn’t want to admit it in her heart, and thought it was too magical.

But the truth was, she could truly see through the person’s cold and immature exterior, to a mature and gentle heart, and could feel sincere care, almost like warmth and compassion.

Chu Wang Shu was from a single-parent family, she had never tasted a mother’s love.

Perhaps because of this, in her interactions with people, she had always been the perfect student, polite and obedient, studying hard, disciplined to the point of not having any leisure activities, maintaining a distance from everyone, never softening or compromising, taking everything seriously.

Like a finely crafted sword that had been tempered repeatedly, its blade shining and sharp, when it cut through the water, it blended with the moonlight, as if it could shatter at any moment.

People like her often had very few friends.

Chu Yuanqing, for many years, she has only been this proactive, even becoming completely unlike herself as a result.

Because she was so much like her long-lost sister, and even her mother who she barely remembers, both imagined to be as warm and accepting as a rocking cradle by the fireplace.

Chu Wang Shu sometimes wonders if she lacks motherly love too much?

Otherwise, how could she sense such irresistible love like poppies from her peers?

The girl has been intentionally suppressing and even disregarding these feelings, wanting to just be friends with the other person.

But inexplicably, whenever they are close, she can’t help but act cute, even becoming childish and clumsy, intoxicated by the helplessness in the other person’s eyes and the smile at the corner of their lips, greedily unlike her usual self.

——Chu Yuanqing.

This person, with only one letter different from her father, felt like a sweet enchantment, and yet seemed like a belated gift from fate.

Well, if it wasn’t for the fear of causing her real dad to commit a crime, she even thought about having Chu Yuanqing as her stepmother.

Of course, now she has given up on that dangerous and scary, unrealistic and defiant idea, and is fully focused on staying on "Dazzling Stage", determined to act cute in the name of friendship, like a loving thief!

So, she absolutely cannot be eliminated early!

Chu Wang Shu’s spirit suddenly soared, her eyes full of determination as if burning with fierce fire. She walked out of the room confidently, heading towards the Grade B practice room.

…

…

Interview room.

This is on another floor, with the same cold metal color as the rest of the underground base buildings, the specific style and visual effects will be determined by the virtual reality system.

Chu Yuanqing’s skin shone like jade under the fill light, her long lower eyelashes fluttered, casting shadows that danced with the light, her cherry lips were moist and full, her gaze clear and pure.

The girl’s pretty and delicate face, as always serious, with a straight back and proper sitting posture, her large short sleeves covering the curves, yet revealing a blurred curve with each breath.

This is a kind of charm that is innocent and alluring to oneself, contrasting with a sacred and pure temptation atmosphere.

The assistant sister blinked her eyes and looked at the scene without blinking, her heart beating strongly, then couldn’t help but avoid the other’s gaze.

Oh no, where did Honey Qing, the innocent succubus, come from? Too seductive!

This assistant sister has been mingling in the entertainment industry for many years, gradually becoming extremely disappointed with reality TV shows.

When she graduated, she thought about working in a similar industry, believing that by obtaining insider information, she could prevent tragic incidents of collapsing buildings in the future caused by excessive fan enthusiasm.

With the emergence of "Dazzling Stage," corresponding national enterprises were established in various countries.

Chen Xiaoxiao successfully got the job, signed a stack of confidentiality agreements, and started living a happy life while working and admiring beautiful sisters on the side.

Hmm, currently she’s among all the beautiful sisters in "Dazzling Stage," which includes Chu Yuanqing.

So this interview opportunity can be considered a reward for sure!

Chu Yuanqing looked at Chen Xiaoxiao, who was staring blankly, and asked politely:

"Um, what are we interviewing about?"

Chen Xiaoxiao immediately snapped out of it, coughed a few times unconsciously, quickly took out the proposal given by the program group, to prevent herself from asking any strange questions, and then noticed the beads of sweat at the corner of the other’s forehead, considerately saying:

"There’s no rush for the interview, there’s a shower nearby, you can freshen up before going on camera."

Although she said so.

Chen Xiaoxiao glanced at Chu Yuanqing through the camera beside her.

She was beautiful from every angle, her skin glowing more tenderly after exercising, her eyes showing a calm maturity as if she had experienced a lot in life, making her a stunning protagonist of a youthful novel.

Although she would look even more stunning after freshening up and putting on makeup, there was a natural beauty in her current state, as if "clean water brings out the lotus, unadorned beauty" was embodied in her.

Wow, she’s really pretty.

Haha, this job is great! I hope they assign me to interview lovely girls every day.

Chu Yuanqing didn’t notice anything strange about the serious assistant sister, she just asked:

"Will the interview take a long time?"

"Not long, probably around ten minutes."

"That’s fine, then."

Chen Xiaoxiao nodded, indicating that the filming was starting, asking questions one by one.

This type of interview during program recordings is not uncommon.

Whether it’s for editing into the main film, or for use as bonus clips, it can make the main film and live broadcast more competitive and not worry about losing audience interest.

So, besides Chu Yuanqing, the rest of the Top A players, as well as some standout trainees, will all be scheduled for interviews one after another.

Just saying, the underground base is really big, and the 168 trainees are all in different practice rooms. Without electronic devices, their communication is very delayed, so the news hasn’t spread.

Chen Xiaoxiao glanced at the script and asked:

"Chu Yuanqing, you’re the only trainee among the 168 contestants who has always kept a natural face on camera. May I ask, what’s the reason for doing this?"

This was indeed a question that made her curious.

In "Dazzling Stage," there are also contestants who appear without makeup and still look great, but for example, trainees with a good appearance like Xie Qingxuan, will still do makeup in advance for every public appearance.

Because looking good on camera or not can sometimes be quite mysterious.

Some people who look ninety percent beautiful in person can lose three points in front of the camera. In addition, the big screen already has an enlarging effect, so a beautiful girl with a good face structure but bad skin may accidentally look three pounds heavier, ruining the harmony of their features.

So, doing makeup and contouring, improving the margin of error, and making the face more resistant to scrutiny is the path that every artist must go through.

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and honestly replied:

"Makeup is too expensive, I can’t afford it and I don’t know how to use it."

This is the complete truth.

Chu Yuanqing only had saving money on her mind, even when she came to the show carting a suitcase the whole way, taking the subway and bus, experiencing twists and turns for three hours. She arrived at Zhelong Town’s film base with an ultimate frugal attitude, giving off a sense of impoverished elegance throughout the journey.

That’s why she bought the cheapest clothes and undergarments, only preparing two sets for changing, never even thinking about buying and using makeup, which she found confusing and bothersome.

Although she said these words casually, they sounded pitiful and poignant to others without her realizing it.

Chen Xiaoxiao felt devastated, thinking about Chu Yuanqing’s background and wishing she could slap Dream Weaver Rabbit who wrote this script and herself for asking that question.

Sobbing, Honey Qing, I’m sorry, Mom didn’t mean to hurt your wound!

The assistant sister felt extremely guilty, concealing her unusual emotions and looking at her beautiful younger sister in front of her, who seemed accustomed to it all and showed no extra reaction. She tried hard not to show any pity, feeling a painful heartache and deep sadness.

At that moment, she, who had fallen from being the DD leader in the entertainment industry due to too many collapses, showed signs of being purified and becoming an individual supporter!

(Translator: DD is "Daredemo Daisuki", which translates to "would like anyone" or "I love anyone." This is an idol/wota term that denotes a person being a fan who can like anyone in a certain group, as opposed to only one person.)

The power of the succubus is terrifying.

The interview continued afterwards. As a survival reality show, the special feature of the Lily Camp is a must-try. Therefore, the relationship between trainees and roommates is worth exploring and promoting.

Chen Xiaoxiao asked Chu Yuanqing about her impression of the roommates.

Chu Yuanqing’s response was also very honest. In her old-fashioned and out-of-touch mindset, lesbian relationships and shipping CP were new and unfamiliar concepts. So she naively believed that there was no need to lie and answered each question one by one.

"Xie Qingxuan? I feel like she’s a child lacking love. The description of Great Devil always makes me feel a bit lonely when applied to her."

Chen Xiaoxiao’s heart fluttered.

– Honey Qing and Great Devil can indeed be good friends. She is really gentle!

"Xiaoxiao is very hardworking and cheerful. Although she smiles a lot like her name implies, deep down she carries a lot of pressure and can be fragile."

"I admire her because in her, I see the longing for the stage and dreams."

Chen Xiaoxiao became more and more touched.

Sniff sniff, how can a trainee praise others like this in her own personal interview, she’s really kind!

Chu Yuanqing seemed like a nursery school principal introducing her own child to outsiders, and also like a housewife in an apron sharing her daughter’s virtues at home, proudly saying:

"And then there’s Lulu, her personality is a bit quirky, like a small animal hiding in a burrow, with strong social defenses."

"But even so, she is kind to me, helps me mark music scores, teaches me music theory seriously, shares some industry knowledge with me, and she even signed an autograph for me when we first met. She’s a good kid who appears aloof but has a warm heart."

Chen Xiaoxiao was on the verge of tears.

Chu Yuanqing grew up in soil devoid of love, an environment that should have made her feel embarrassed, narrow-minded, inferior, sensitive, and worldly.

But what happened in reality?

She could face her poverty calmly, accept her flaws gracefully, worry about her roommate as a competitor, answer personal interviews without overshadowing others, and still express her inner thoughts sincerely.

Oh my, how can I have such a great little sister?!

Chen Xiaoxiao’s soul of determination is rapidly being enlightened, she quickly calms her mind, and in her mind, images of 168 beautiful little sisters flash by like in a 3D printer. Finally, she manages to regain her ambition of having 3000 beautiful women in her harem.

Chen Xiaoxiao feels scared, she thinks it’s not safe to be alone with Chu Yuanqing.

This child has a terrifying charm, just looking into those eyes, one can’t help but get lost, not to mention her extraordinary personality. If she stays longer, how can she dominate the other 167 little sisters?

Please let this interview end quickly!

Chen Xiaoxiao thought, and sped up the pace of questioning, after asking about hobbies, preferences, goals, thoughts on mentors, and opinions on the show’s elimination mechanism, she finally arrived at the last question.

"Chu Yuanqing, why did you choose to participate in the competition?"

Chu Yuanqing looked surprised, then almost burst out laughing.

What is a golden opportunity? This is a golden opportunity!

Is this about making someone feel upset, disappointed, and then turning them into a small villain, and harshly pushing them out of the great opportunity to perform on "Dazzling Stage"?

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and carefully chose her words, holding back her joy as she earnestly clarified:

"I’m sorry, I lied to the mentor before."

"The reason I joined the competition was because the program group pays well, just because of that."

As Chu Yuanqing said this, her tone slightly faltered as she whispered:

"The stage and idols are not what I am after."

With that said, she felt relaxed and happy.

Great, does this mean I can go home after the performance ends?

Chen Xiaoxiao’s hand holding the script trembled slightly.

Chu Yuanqing is mature and calm, sincere and kind, as if untouched by the world’s distractions like the first snow.

She is so, so good and deserves to be liked by people.

But as of now, she can still suppress the feelings in her heart.

Because Chu Yuanqing is too perfect.

This perfection, like a child who doesn’t cry, is easily overlooked by people, until… the words spoke out:

– "Because the pay for the show is very high."

– "Stage and idols are not things I pursue."

Chen Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that Chu Yuanqing was different from the other contestants.

She came to "Dazzling Stage" for a living and didn’t have the right to chase her dreams.

Even in her heart, she believed that she, with no background in dance, no background in singing, no previous fame, and not even knowing how to do makeup, it was impossible for her to stand on a real stage and become a shining idol.

That’s why she said she had lied before.

Yes, Chu Yuanqing did lie indeed.

But she didn’t lie on stage, or to her teacher, or to the audience, but… to herself.

– "Dreams."

– "I came for my dreams."

Chen Xiaoxiao remembers the tone she used when she said this, so firm that there was no need for thought, without any hint of confusion, as if following her heart, speaking without hesitation.

When the teacher asked her what triggered this dream, the girl who had just been so determined, seemed to wake up from a dream, hesitated for a moment, before giving an answer.

– "Because… I envy those glamorous girls on TV."

Maybe it all started here,

Chu Yuanqing realized she had said something "spoiled".

She had known the harsh reality from the beginning, maybe she had been reminding herself all along not to touch the impossible things while participating in "Dazzling Stage".

Like Cinderella who knew the magic would disappear at midnight, she gazed at the unseen splendor of the world in this life, concealing her envy and loss, constantly telling herself it’s okay.

But is it really okay?

The stage and idols were clearly her dreams.

Why do you have to be so mature?

Why do you have to be so sensible?

You train hard every day, don’t you?

You really like the stage so much that you even gave up the Grade A privileges that were within your reach, didn’t you?

Chen Xiaoxiao felt like her heart suddenly split open, with a sharp pain spreading in her chest, making it difficult to swallow even after trying hard.

The assistant sister’s eyes were wet, and she sniffled.

She signaled to the staff next to her to end the filming and interview. Looking at Chu Yuanqing, who still showed no emotions as if she had long been accustomed to endurance and loss, her lips moved but no words came out.

What should she say? Should she ask her to try harder?

But she had already tried hard – learning music theory, identifying dance styles, starting from scratch to practice dance basics, and training her voice from scratch. It was like a spinning top that would not stop until the fire was extinguished.

Should she say that there are many people outside supporting her, and she should be more confident, to give her hope?

But with the cruel rules of "Dazzling Stage," hope was nothing but poison. Her enthusiasm and expectations would only worsen the inner wounds when dreams shattered.

So in the end,

Chen Xiaoxiao hesitated for a long time, before sincerely wishing Chu Yuanqing good luck as she sent her to the practice room door:

"Dream Weaver Rabbit said, idols are those who can conquer all unfairness and still shine brightly on stage."

"Chu Yuanqing, I believe you are that kind of person."

Yes, as a fan, all you need to do is believe, believe that your chosen idol can do it, believe that your chosen person can truly shine.

After Chen Xiaoxiao finished speaking, ignoring Chu Yuanqing’s confusion, she hurriedly said goodbye and left.

In the mind of the assistant sister, the voices and smiles of the other 167 beautiful sisters gradually blurred with each step, eventually collapsing into mere ink dots and lines, forming an image of a savior with lowered eyes and a smile.

Thus, a fallen DD leader was successfully converted into an extreme supporter, like a devoted disciple.