Chapter 69
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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 69: Life Is Full of Surprises, Savor a Mother’s Love
Inside the bathroom.
Chu Yuanqing quickly composed herself.
From her perspective, the past 17 years had always been like this, so there was nothing to feel sad about.
After all, the curse of the Sea of Truth isn’t as gentle as the repulsion phenomenon of the magic power source. The worst rampage erosion is far more painful than the current minor symptoms of coughing up blood.
Chu Yuanqing’s daily life is like squeezing tomato juice from a meat grinder. Others cannot detect any difference, but only she can taste the hidden rusty flavor within the sweetness.
By now, her senses have deteriorated to the point of being indistinct; even if she tries hard to examine herself, she cannot perceive much bitterness and hardship.
Pain has a threshold.
When this threshold is raised to a certain level, slight pain can be considered happiness.
Chu Yuanqing has always felt very happy.
Even if achievements are forgotten, brilliance is buried, and sacrifices seem in vain.
Even if she stoops to make a living, worries about basic necessities, and endures curses and torment all day long.
Even if this career and experience, seen by others, could be deemed tragic and unfair by any measure.
But… she witnessed a brand new era, saw a world without the concept of the Calamity God.
This hard-won peace not only proves the value of everyone’s sacrifices but also shows that the deaths she had accumulated in the past did not lead to a hopeless end.
And that is enough.
Chu Yuanqing truly felt happy and even grateful for the lingering authority that allowed her to survive until her daughter reached nearly adulthood under the curse that could be called the root of the world.
So, there is no resentment, no questioning, no struggle.
Since she has accepted the outcome, the usual hardships along the way don’t matter.
The girl skillfully put on her player’s uniform, pulled on loose short sleeves that covered her high-arched shoulders, and took out a hair tie with a small dinosaur charm from her pocket.
This was a small gift given to her by the assistant when she delivered a box of cosmetics sponsored by “Dazzling Stage,” which proved more useful than the freebies from the supermarket.
Chu Yuanqing bit her lip slightly as she tied up her silky black hair with the hair tie, creating a cute high ponytail. With a somewhat pale face and slightly curled lips in the mirror, she looked like a lively and youthful girl, murmuring to herself:
“Hmm, the negative effects on my body have subsided, and my complexion seems fine.”
“But why did the lantern have a negative reaction?”
Chu Yuanqing considered it and concluded it was because of the accident on stage.
Although the lantern charm pendant managed to suppress and defeat the curse of the Sea of Truth with the positive emotions of the live audience, it was like a rusty sword covered in dust, with almost unlimited potential for witchcraft but very poor in all aspects of strength.
Looking at it this way, it was still the fault of the Sea of Truth.
Chu Yuanqing was like a shining Gemstone that awakened to its potential with the lantern pendant.
However, her fragmented and cracked soul made her lantern pendant exist in a state of Schrödinger’s strength.
To say it was weak, it could gather magic energy comparable to a sea through live feedback, influencing a country’s territory.
To say it was strong, its magical power was very barren, unable to even use basic spells like water dragon blast or fire dragon spell, like the most ineffective magical girl.
So, it’s quite abstract.
She could only conclude that the counterattack on stage caused her pendant to enter a state of overload, which would naturally backfire on her afterwards.
After all, the pendant was essentially equivalent to the magical girl’s true form.
“Audience feedback, positive emotions, magic resistance, curse confrontation, rejection reactions…”
Chu Yuanqing contemplated silently, clarifying the logical chain.
The girl tilted her head slightly, lifted the pendant in front of her chest, and with delicate fingers, touched the dull shattered glass in the center as if teasing a kitten. She then looked somewhat guilty, swayed a little, and immediately stayed still, pretending the pendant was lifeless, sighing somewhat helplessly.
The magical girl’s pendant possessed a very weak spirituality.
How to explain it? It’s somewhat like a companion spirit similar to a soul.
A witch’s potential precisely determined the spirituality of the pendant, among which the more special ones could transform into various forms, some even intelligent enough to be companions, assistants, friends.
As for Chu Yuanqing’s pendant…
Well, like her soul, it existed in a half-dead state.
Even though it had absorbed some magic this time, it had barely regained some spirit, not even matching the cats and dogs on the roadside, only able to show a few emotions. It would likely remain this way until the end.
Chu Yuanqing had no desire to torment small animals. After leaving the bathroom and seeing the empty dormitory, she changed into her sneakers and went to find her precious daughter as planned.
Although there was no way to communicate in the underground base, seeing how Little Shu had been crying earlier like a fool, the child would probably reluctantly attend additional training.
In other words, they just needed to wait in front of the designated practice room.
The specific results of the secondary ratings would be announced after everyone had finished.
Chu Yuanqing’s access pass hadn’t been updated yet, but due to the encouragement mechanism of mingling around, the paths to the various practice rooms were almost unrestricted for everyone.
However…
When she confidently walked to her destination, she noticed that the Grade B practice room’s sign wasn’t showing it was occupied.
Huh? Is Little Shu not at training?
Impossible, to think that she could predict this wrong!
Chu Yuanqing felt like her heart was being torn apart. She sadly took three steps back, sinking into a strange brainstorm, starting to doubt how well she knew her daughter, feeling increasingly defeated as she contemplated it.
I must be a terrible father!
The girl’s delicate and lovely face remained unchanged, but her energy visibly diminished, looking a bit lost like wilting flowers and plants.
The audience in the live room eagerly observed Chu Yuanqing’s gorgeous appearance while starting to imagine various scenarios:
“Haha, Honey Qing, come dunk on me! ❤️❤️❤️!”
“Hey, what are you saying?!”
“Haha, no need to guess, Honey Qing is already at Honey Moon’s practice room door, must be here to see Honey Moon.”
“Indeed, makes sense. Now we’ll see who is Honey Qing’s true love.”
As more comments like this appeared, the bullet comments went wild, gradually evolving into a fierce battle between different CP fans.
“Annoying, Little Sakura is the coolest.”
“So frustrating, stop spreading rumors. Everyone knows that our Miyuki is always together with Honey Qing, so close that they cry. You outsiders don’t understand anything!”
Ah Qiu.
Chu Yuanqing sneezed, feeling a chill instinctively.
The girl frowned slightly, a hint of cute doubt showing on her pretty face. She warily looked around, focusing her gaze on the nano cameras that couldn’t be seen by the naked eye, her eyes becoming deep and mysterious.
The people in the live stream must be discussing something weird, right?
Upon realizing this, Chu Yuanqing’s glance revealed a rare hint of disdain. She felt it was unsettling to stay here any longer, so she directly left, beginning her search for her adorable daughter.
The audience in the live broadcast room turned into screaming enthusiasts.
“Oh my goodness, those eyes that look like they’re seeing something filthy, I can’t take it! Honey Qing, let Mommy have a taste!”
Chu Yuanqing felt like there was a vengeful ghost behind her, her scalp tingling and feeling cold. She couldn’t help but touch her forearm, quickening her pace silently, feeling somewhat annoyed.
So irritating! What are these people watching the live stream thinking?
Why does her sense of danger keep giving strange warnings?
Wait…
Chu Yuanqing paused in her steps, suddenly considering a possibility.
Could it be that after the first episode aired, they had also released that interview segment?!
The girl experienced a sudden realization, as if everything had suddenly become clear.
Yes, it must be so.
What other reason could explain the constant feeling of crisis?
It must be because news of her public image collapse has spread online, causing the live stream room to be filled with trolls!
So…actually, many people are now harshly criticizing me, making me sneeze for no reason and feel strange, right?
Chu Yuanqing sorted out the logic, and the more she thought about it, the more sense it made.
The girl appeared relaxed, her eyes sparkling with extreme happiness.
Misfortunes may be blessings in disguise!
Even if she wins on stage, what does it matter? Character is most important, and she loses significantly in this aspect. Will there be any twists on the road to elimination? Don’t underestimate Daxia’s determination to reform the entertainment industry!
Chu Yuanqing suddenly felt enlightened and extremely happy, even finding time to reflect on her previous self during her bath, feeling that she had been too impatient back then.
Mistakes don’t matter! Life is full of surprises!
At this moment, she viewed the strange unease caused by excessive excitement as a storm before a rainbow’s arrival, accepting it with joy.
Chu Yuanqing walked briskly, almost forgetting the generation gap she had just felt with her adorable daughter, but at the corner leading to the Grade C Practice Room, she unexpectedly encountered a certain little girl.
Chu Wang Shu’s cold and flawless face showed traces of gloom and loss as she leaned lazily against the corridor.
The little girl raised her head to gaze at the dome, appearing lost in thought. She wore a form-fitting player’s uniform that accentuated her slender curves and graceful figure. Even in simple stillness, she was captivating with a melancholic beauty.
What is this child doing?
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment, walked closer, and gently poked her daughter’s collagen-filled face with a slender finger, asking with confusion:
“Little Shu?”
Chu Wang Shu startled for a moment, her pupils visibly trembling. The gloom on her face dissipated like sunlight breaking through clouds, revealing a lovely smile as she let out a small cheer:
“Qing Qing! Did you come to find me? I’m so touched!”
The little girl didn’t wait for a response, becoming like a simple creature as she reached out to hug her “good friend” who smelled like her mom, burying her head like a bear cub into a soft cushion and giving it a gentle rub.
Chu Yuanqing unconsciously patted her daughter’s head and honestly replied:
“I came to your practice room to find you, but I didn’t see you earlier.”
Chu Wang Shu pulled her head back, feeling slightly dizzy, and shyly released the hug, secretly wiping her nose with her hand as she pretended to be serious:
“Um… Qing Qing was the first one to perform, right? I thought you would come out soon, so I waited for you by the Grade C Practice Room.”
Chu Yuanqing suddenly felt guilty.
She had spent considerable time in the bathroom due to side effects, making Little Shu wait for at least three hours. The Grade D participants were probably already being evaluated; no wonder this child was daydreaming here.
At the same time, she also felt proud.
Little Shu had done this to comfort her friend who might have failed on stage.
Look! My daughter, whom I raised, is so lovely and considerate!
“It’s getting late now. Are you going to the cafeteria for dinner?”
Chu Wang Shu blinked and confidently replied,
“No!”
“Then let’s go together, shall we?”
Chu Wang Shu nodded firmly. She thought her Grade B rating would soon be revoked, so she wanted to enjoy the cafeteria’s menu before that happened.
She had even purposely left out 300 calories, then silently made a new plan and calculated the calorie distribution for next week’s meals, preparing thoroughly.
Chu Yuanqing didn’t think as deeply. Despite her good cooking skills, due to past experiences, the distinction between tasty and untasty food had blurred for her, and she didn’t care much about her diet.
As for calories…
The magical girl’s body doesn’t need to worry about such things. Even if she eats abundantly, it can be transformed into magic power. If necessary, it will also be directed to places where she needs to gain weight.
Ten minutes later, in the cafeteria…
Chu Yuanqing skillfully used a knife and fork to cut the tender steak into small pieces, then placed them all on a porcelain plate. Sprinkling some chopped parsley on top, she silently pushed the plate toward her daughter, gazing at her admiringly, and asked:
“Would you like some oil and vinegar dressing on your salad? I can help you mix it.”
“Yes, please!”
“Adding some white pepper to season this bowl of creamy corn soup will enhance its flavor. Does Little Shu prefer it lighter or richer?”
“Whatever Qing Qing likes, I like!”
Chu Wang Shu gently answered, looking like a hungry little animal, both obedient and endearing.
The little girl blinked her eyes, reflecting a gentle and serious profile in her pupils. She appeared somewhat dazed and couldn’t help but smile.
Chu Wang Shu has always been disciplined since childhood. She can handle everything herself, doing so decisively like a sharp blade cutting through enemies effortlessly.
But perhaps, when facing someone like Chu Yuanqing who resembles a mother figure, she becomes clumsy, impulsive, immature, and even more prone to embarrassment or acting spoiled.
Yes, that’s how it is now.
Though she can quickly cook steak herself, tasks such as tossing salad and refilling the pepper shaker are simple for her.
However, when Chu Yuanqing helps with these trivial matters, Chu Wang Shu feels a warmth of being cherished filling her chest, and even her tongue seems to taste sweet happiness.
Chu Wang Shu started to suspect she was under a spell.
But if it’s a spell cast by Qing Qing, it seems there’s nothing worth resisting; rather… it’s simply fantastic!
Chu Wang Shu vigorously shook her head, patted her cheek, and asked:
“Qing Qing, how do you feel about your stage performance this time?”
Chu Yuanqing paused while mixing the salad, her expression subtle as she said uncertainly:
“It should be… considered good, right?”
“At least better than what I expected.”
This response was cautious.
Because Chu Yuanqing herself was unsure of how her stage performance had turned out, her mind had been deeply immersed in old dreams at that moment, relying solely on her subconscious to complete the performance.
Despite having memories, she felt that her dancing was just average.
After all, her dance foundation was there, even if she tried to replicate Charlotte’s memories, it wouldn’t immediately improve her skills.
Judging from the significant magical transformation from the lantern pendant, the stage’s impact was surprisingly effective?
Chu Yuanqing thought for a long time but still couldn’t guess what rating she would receive.
The reason was simple: she couldn’t find a specific reference point at all.
At that time, the stage was full of virtual projections, the Tutor Group was in a closed room, and contestants couldn’t watch from backstage. The bullet comments in the live room were also kept secret from them.
So, even though she blindly trusted Charlotte, she couldn’t imagine what her stage would look like.
Chu Wang Shu didn’t think much, she just thought the other person’s stage performance was great, and said somewhat enviously:
“Maybe you could get a Grade B? Qing Qing is so talented.”
The little girl drooped her head dejectedly, tears welling up in her eyes as she praised her steak:
“Waa, waa, waa, I did so poorly, I feel like I’m going to drop down a grade, I need to eat a few more bites before dropping.”
The audience in the live room knew both people’s ratings. As they watched the conversation between the two dummies, the screen filled with “hahaha” bullet comments, full of laughter and joy.
Meanwhile, on the other side was the main channel.
Last in Chu Yuanqing’s dormitory, Liang Xiaoxiao stood on the secondary rating stage in third place, with a Grade D.
