Chapter 55

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

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

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

Chu Yuanqing was initially surprised, then delighted.

Yay, an interview!

Suppressing her excitement, Chu Yuanqing shot her daughter an apologetic look, gave a slight nod of farewell, and quickly followed the assistant out the door.

Chu Wang Shu watched her leave, a sense of loss washing over her. But then, a realization lifted her spirits.

If Qing Qing was going to be interviewed, it meant she would likely get more screen time on the show—a good thing, for sure!

But…

That also meant the distance between them was growing even greater.

As Chu Wang Shu thought about it, a growing sense of anxiety and crisis began to settle in.

Chu Yuanqing’s popularity outside was already on par with that of the sakura girl.

Though her Grade B assessment was higher than the other contestant’s, it could only be considered average. If she failed the second assessment, she’d only fall further behind.

What if she were eliminated while the other contestant debuted?

That would mean Chu Yuanqing would rise to the top of Daxia Country, and even the entire Donghong Federation, with the support of the ‘Dazzling Stage’ global project. She would shine brightly on the world stage.

By then, even if Chu Yuanqing didn’t mind…

Her schedule and career were bound to diverge from the person who had lost the idol qualification for life. Their relationship would gradually fade, their life paths shifting from intertwined to parallel, with a high probability they’d never cross again.

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

Though they had only recently met, a strange, inexplicable intuition had been pulsing in her heart since the moment they first crossed paths.

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

Even though Chu Wang Shu didn’t want to admit it, and thought it was too magical to believe, she couldn’t deny the pull.

But the truth was, she could truly see through the person’s cold and immature exterior to the mature and gentle heart within, feeling a sincere care that radiated warmth and compassion.

Chu Wang Shu came from a single-parent family and had never known a mother’s love.

Perhaps because of this, she had always carried herself as the perfect student in her interactions—polite, obedient, diligently studying, and disciplined to the point of having no time for leisure. She maintained a distance from everyone, never softening or compromising, taking everything seriously.

She was like a finely crafted sword, repeatedly tempered, its blade sharp and gleaming. 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.

For many years, Chu Yuanqing had only been this proactive, even to the point of becoming someone entirely different from herself.

She resembled the long-lost sister she had once dreamed of, and even her mother, whom she barely remembered—both imagined to be as warm and accepting as a rocking cradle by the fireplace.

Chu Wang Shu sometimes wondered if she lacked motherly love too much.

How else could she sense such an irresistible affection, like poppies, blooming unexpectedly from her peers?

The girl had been intentionally suppressing and even disregarding these feelings, trying to maintain a simple friendship with the other person.

But inexplicably, whenever they were close, she couldn’t help but act cute, even becoming childish and clumsy. She was intoxicated by the helplessness in the other person’s eyes and the smile playing at the corner of their lips, greedily enjoying a side of herself that was unlike her usual self.

—Chu Yuanqing.

This person, with only one letter different from her father’s name, felt like a sweet enchantment—yet, at the same time, like a belated gift from fate.

Well, if it weren’t for the fear of pushing her real dad to a breaking point, she might have even considered having Chu Yuanqing as her stepmother.

But of course, that dangerous, frightening, unrealistic, and rebellious idea was now fully abandoned. Now, her focus was entirely on staying on Dazzling Stage, determined to act cute in the name of friendship, like a lovable thief!

So, she absolutely could not afford to be eliminated early!

Chu Wang Shu’s spirit surged, her eyes alight with determination as if fueled by an unyielding fire. With renewed confidence, she stepped out of the room, heading toward 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 gleamed like jade beneath the soft fill light, her long lower eyelashes fluttering, casting delicate shadows that danced with the shifting light. Her cherry-red lips were full and moist, her gaze clear and pure.

The girl’s face, pretty and delicate as always, remained serious, her posture straight and composed. Her large short sleeves draped over her curves, subtly hinting at their shape with each breath she took.

This was a charm that blended innocence and allure, creating a tension between sacred purity and a gentle, almost unattainable temptation.

The assistant sister blinked rapidly, captivated by the sight, her heart racing, before she quickly averted her gaze, unable to hold the intensity of the moment.

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

This assistant sister, having spent many years in the entertainment industry, had grown extremely disillusioned with reality TV shows.

When she graduated, she had considered working in a similar field, believing that by gaining insider knowledge, she could prevent the tragic consequences of fan hysteria—like the occasional building collapse from overwhelming enthusiasm.

With the rise of Dazzling Stage, national enterprises were set up across various countries.

Chen Xiaoxiao managed to secure a job, signing a mountain of confidentiality agreements, and she began living a fulfilling life. Now, she worked diligently by day, while admiring the beautiful sisters of the stage by night.

At present, she stands among all the stunning sisters on “Dazzling Stage”, including Chu Yuanqing.

This interview opportunity is undoubtedly a reward!

Chu Yuanqing glanced at Chen Xiaoxiao, who appeared lost in thought, and politely asked:

“Um, what exactly are we interviewing about?”

Chen Xiaoxiao quickly snapped out of her daze, coughed a few times unconsciously, and hastily pulled out the proposal given by the production team to avoid asking any awkward questions. Then, she noticed the beads of sweat forming at the corner of Chu Yuanqing’s forehead and, with consideration, suggested:

“There’s no rush for the interview. There’s a shower nearby—you can freshen up before we go on camera.”

Although she said that, Chen Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but glance at Chu Yuanqing through the camera beside her.

She was beautiful from every angle, her skin glowing more softly after exercise, her eyes reflecting a calm maturity, as if she had lived through much, making her the perfect protagonist of a youthful novel.

Though she would look even more striking after freshening up and applying makeup, there was an undeniable natural beauty in her current state—like the saying “clean water brings out the lotus, unadorned beauty” perfectly 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 unusual about the serious assistant. She simply asked:

“Will the interview take long?”

“Not long, probably about ten minutes.”

“That’s fine, then.”

Chen Xiaoxiao nodded, signaling that filming was about to begin, and began asking the questions one by one.

Such interviews during program recordings were nothing unusual.

Whether for editing into the main film or for use as bonus clips, such interviews help boost the competitiveness of the main film and live broadcast, ensuring the audience remains engaged.

As a result, aside from Chu Yuanqing, the other Top A players, along with some standout trainees, will be scheduled for interviews one after another.

By the way, the underground base is enormous, and the 168 trainees are spread across different practice rooms. Without electronic devices, their communication is delayed, so the news hasn’t spread yet.

Chen Xiaoxiao glanced at the script and asked:

“Chu Yuanqing, you’re the only trainee among the 168 contestants who’s consistently kept a neutral expression on camera. May I ask, what’s the reason for this?”

It was indeed a question that piqued her curiosity.

On “Dazzling Stage,” there are contestants who appear without makeup and still look stunning, but for those like Xie Qingxuan, who are naturally good-looking, makeup is still done in advance for every public appearance.

Looking good on camera can sometimes be quite a mystery.

Some people who look ninety percent beautiful in person can lose three points on camera. Additionally, the big screen already has an enlarging effect, so a beautiful girl with a good face structure but imperfect skin might accidentally appear three pounds heavier, disrupting the harmony of her features.

Thus, makeup and contouring are essential—minimizing the margin of error and making the face more resistant to scrutiny is a path every artist must take.

Chu Yuanqing paused 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 was the complete truth.

Chu Yuanqing had saving money on her mind the entire time. She traveled to the show with nothing but a suitcase, taking the subway and bus, enduring twists and turns for three hours. She arrived at Zhelong Town’s film base with an entirely frugal attitude, exuding an air of impoverished elegance throughout the journey.

That’s why she bought the cheapest clothes and undergarments, only preparing two sets to change into, never even considering buying or using makeup, which she found both confusing and bothersome.

Though she said these words casually, they came across as pitiful and poignant to others, without her even realizing it.

Chen Xiaoxiao felt a wave of devastation as she thought about Chu Yuanqing’s background, wishing she could slap Dream Weaver Rabbit, who wrote this script, and herself for asking such a question.

Sob sob sob… Honey Qing, I’m sorry. Mom didn’t mean to hurt your wound!

The assistant sister felt overwhelming guilt, masking her emotions as she looked at her beautiful younger sister, who seemed unfazed, as if she were used to it all. She struggled to hide any pity, her heart aching with a deep sadness.

In that moment, she, once the DD leader in the entertainment industry, who had fallen from grace after too many collapses, seemed to show signs of purification—becoming a devoted 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 truly terrifying.

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

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

Chu Yuanqing’s response was equally honest. With her old-fashioned and somewhat out-of-touch mindset, she found lesbian relationships and “shipping CP” to be new and unfamiliar concepts. So, she naively believed there was no need to lie and answered each question openly, 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’s really gentle!

“Xiaoxiao is very hardworking and cheerful. Although she smiles a lot, as her name suggests, 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 her dreams.”

Chen Xiaoxiao felt 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 spoke like a nursery school principal introducing her own child to outsiders, or like a housewife in an apron proudly sharing her daughter’s virtues at home, 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’s kind to me. She helps me mark music scores, teaches me music theory seriously, shares some industry knowledge, and even signed an autograph for me when we first met. She’s a good kid—aloof on the outside, but with a warm heart.”

Chen Xiaoxiao was on the verge of tears.

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

But what had happened in reality?

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

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

Chen Xiaoxiao’s determination was rapidly being enlightened. She quickly calmed her mind, and in her thoughts, images of 168 beautiful little sisters flashed by like a 3D printer. Finally, she regained her ambition of having 3,000 beautiful women in her harem.

Chen Xiaoxiao suddenly felt scared. She realized it wasn’t safe to be alone with Chu Yuanqing.

This child has a terrifying charm. Just looking into her eyes makes it hard not to get lost, let alone considering her extraordinary personality. If she stays any longer, how can she possibly dominate the other 167 little sisters?

Please, let this interview end quickly!

Chen Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and quickly 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 nearly 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, pushing them harshly out of the great opportunity to perform on “Dazzling Stage”?

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment, carefully choosing her words. She held back her joy and 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 for that.”

As she said this, her tone faltered slightly, and she whispered:

“The stage and idols aren’t what I’m after.”

With that, she felt a sense of relief and happiness.

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 everyone.

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

Because Chu Yuanqing is too perfect.

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

– “Because the program group pays well.”

– “The stage and idols aren’t what I’m after.”

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 luxury of chasing her dreams.

Even in her heart, she believed that, 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. She lied… to herself.

– “Dreams.”

– “I came for my dreams.”

Chen Xiaoxiao remembers the tone she used when she said this—so firm that it didn’t require any thought, without a trace of confusion. It was as if she was following her heart, speaking without hesitation.

When the teacher asked her what triggered this dream, the girl who had been so determined seemed to wake up from a dream. She 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 start. 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 as if her heart suddenly split open, a sharp pain spreading in her chest, making it hard to swallow, no matter how hard she tried.

The assistant sister’s eyes welled with tears as she sniffled.

She signaled to the staff next to her to end the filming and interview. Looking at Chu Yuanqing, who still showed no emotion, 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 zero. It was like a spinning top that wouldn’t stop until the fire was extinguished.

Should she say that there are many people outside supporting her, that 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.