Chapter 72
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Chapter 72: Slow Xie Qingxuan
When those words were spoken, most of the participants grew nervous.
Dream Weaver Rabbit was correct. Given the virtual reality elements added to the secondary rating stage, Tutor Group’s evaluation criteria would certainly take them into account. Many still held onto hope.
– Others must be performing worse in the dance, right?
– Perhaps stage accidents are occurring elsewhere?
– If Grade A and Grade B contestants also perform poorly, then everyone would be roughly equal, right?
These various thoughts of comparison and self-consolation, filled with the notion of surpassing others, became their best comfort after failing on stage.
However, the mascot’s sneering words, like a cold blade, mercilessly tore through their fragile defense, making the sharp edge pierce their hearts, splashing harsh reality across their faces.
Don’t cling to false hopes.
This is “Dazzling Stage,” a battlefield where combat and competition reign supreme. It bears no resemblance to a third-rate talent show; there is no room for survival here.
Dream Weaver Rabbit seemed to mock them thus, without suspense. With a snap of its fingers, dozens of envelopes spun around and landed precisely before the contestants like falling leaves.
These envelopes were all a mysterious grey color, their edges depicting withered branches and leaves, like invitations to hell, silently awaiting their recipients.
Dream Weaver Rabbit gazed down at all the contestants who had received envelopes, observing their expressions while whispering like a specter:
“Dear ones, won’t you open and see for yourselves?”
“At this moment that shall decide your fate, let there be some ceremony, yes?”
Inside the room.
Nearly all contestants who received envelopes stood bewildered, their minds blank.
Judging by the style and number of envelopes alone, the possibility of them containing Grade A or Grade B was virtually zero, leaving only a few other possibilities… How different was that from a death sentence?
Some participants, unwilling to face reality, even lost the courage to open their envelopes.
In the live broadcast room of “Dazzling Stage,” viewers who had already understood everything couldn’t help but comment with sympathy:
“Oh, the tension there reminds me of receiving my exam results.”
“I wonder who will be first to open their envelope.”
“Ah! Sister Flying Disc opened hers first! How brave!”
Unlike Liang Xiaoxiao and the other contestants, she had experienced more unfortunate stage accidents, destined for a low rating. Combined with a transformation of expectations, she remained calm and broke the envelope’s seal almost without hesitation.
The paper inside crumbled independently, accompanied by a small-scale special effect of light dust, forming dancing large letters.
– Grade D.
Does the gray envelope signify Grade D?
Liang Xiaoxiao felt somewhat surprised that she hadn’t failed to Grade F directly; it seemed her persistence in completing yesterday’s task had earned some sympathy from the mentor.
When other players saw someone open their envelope and cease struggling, they too chose to break the sealing wax.
Soon, various levels of special effects blossomed throughout the multimedia classroom.
——Grade C, Grade D, Grade F.
These three grades randomly emerged from the gray envelopes, transforming the classroom into a gambling hall. Some rejoiced, others grieved, and the overall atmosphere turned gloomy without any high grades.
Many beautiful girls, upon seeing their grades, became red-eyed and broke into tears.
The audience in the live broadcast room sighed.
Though there were some underperformers in the large group, most could understand their tears.
On “Dazzling Stage’s” official website, personal data for 168 contestants includes their weekly practice time. After calculation, each contestant’s average training time is 7 hours daily.
In other words, among these 168 sisters, almost all performed admirably, with most maintaining good grades.
Liang Xiaoxiao’s average daily training of 12 hours is substantial, but many players actually practice in the training room until bedtime every day.
Such intense training requires maintaining the body, consuming mostly salad, vegetables, and boiled chicken breast. Only they truly understand its difficulty.
However, the emotional reward for such dedication proves hard to accept.
Not just the contestants themselves, but even their fans were heartbroken the day before the results announcement. Today, watching their favorites cry again delivered another blow.
“Blast it, my eyes were swollen from crying yesterday. Seeing the beautiful sisters cry today, I couldn’t help but cry again. The director is cruel! ‘Dazzling Stage’ is merciless! Dream Weaver Rabbit can hardly stand to watch!”
“Who would disagree? Of 168 contestants, only a few will reach the final group. The rest are destined to have their dreams shattered, becoming stepping stones beneath the debut positions, facing lifelong regret.”
“Well, truthfully, it’s better to support the popular contestants, though it’s cruel to the other sisters. At least they receive more screen time, have numerous fans, and aren’t easily eliminated!”
Sounds of crying and wailing filled the live streaming room.
In the multimedia classroom, gloom pervaded the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, Dream Weaver Rabbit showed no mercy.
The super AI’s emotional system only responds to Gemstones like Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki; players below this level fail to generate additional excitement.
Dream Weaver Rabbit smiled and clapped, dispatching dozens more envelopes.
These envelopes possessed a uniform leather texture, with gold threads along the edges and gold leaf on the wax seal, presenting a noble appearance.
Chu Wang Shu, her beautiful face troubled, nervously lifted her envelope and muttered:
“The packaging looks elegant; hope it’s not another deception.”
Despite Qing Qing’s comfort and sleeping well the previous night without many concerns, upon entering the classroom, worries about the grading persisted, making her restless.
The girl’s face tensed as she grew increasingly anxious, mumbling:
“Is it Grade C? Or Grade D? Surely it won’t drop to F?”
The audience in the livestream room erupted in laughter:
“So amusing, did Honey Moon come to make us laugh after yesterday’s tears?”
“Honestly, the envelope’s appearance doesn’t directly indicate the rating. It’s quite deceptive, but Honey Moon’s rating isn’t actually low.”
“She and Qing Qing are like hidden talents, one B and one A, both imagining their ratings too low.”
“Laughing out loud, Honey Moon aside, how does the world-renowned stage contributor Godly Qing think she can’t achieve an A?”
Chu Wang Shu steeled herself mentally, prepared for the worst, and opened the envelope.
Radiant light shimmered as the silver pen brilliantly outlined, drawing special effects-filled letters.
——Grade B.
Chu Wang Shu initially appeared shocked, then nearly jumped up with joy. She clenched her fists tightly, punched the air several times, and exclaimed happily:
“Yay, I maintained my level, Qing Qing is the best!”
The live room resounded with laughter and cheers.
“Although, shouldn’t we praise the teacher?”
Chu Yuanqing appeared more frequently in the comments than before.
Clearly, yesterday’s remarkable stage performance had begun showing its influence.
Many new fans joined as believers, differing from the typically impulsive fans, normal fans, and CP fans. They began forming another group called the Qing Sect.
The stage enhanced by Charlotte proved terrifyingly effective. Combining an ancient sense of epic, the devoted fans demonstrated extremely high natural loyalty, spreading like a virus online.
Chu Yuanqing’s instincts warned of something amiss, but her attention shifted to her daughter’s Grade B, making her genuinely happy for the other person.
The girl’s expression softened, her lips curving into a joyful smile.
Though not Grade A, Grade B treatment remains excellent. The equipment differs little fundamentally, and future screen time increases, avoiding invisibility on the show.
This result far exceeds the Grade F Little Shu feared yesterday. It certainly warrants celebration.
However… this child, anticipating demotion yesterday, had ordered numerous high-calorie dishes. She might regret it later when reality sets in, right?
After all, despite maintaining a B rating, she must still follow a vegetarian meal plan through tears to maintain her weight next week.
Meanwhile, the remaining contestants began opening their envelopes.
——Grade B, Grade C, Grade D, Grade F.
Various letter effects bloomed throughout the indoor setting.
The envelope changes this time raised the stakes, filling the air with deception, making the secondary ratings reveal feel like opening a blind box.
The performance impressed, but many contestants buckled under pressure and broke down, some dissolving into tears.
The livestream was filled with emotional scenes as beautiful people shed tears.
The audience gripped their keyboards, ready to wage a fierce battle with the production team.
Dream Weaver Rabbit remained indifferent, ignoring the risk of backlash, and proceeded with distributing the third round of envelopes.
This time, there were nearly a hundred envelopes, ensuring that all contestants who hadn’t received one before finally got theirs.
Chu Yuanqing stared at the envelopes scattered across the table.
The envelopes were crafted in pure white, with the World Tree’s texture engraved upon them. The blooming branches and flowers intertwined, moving slowly in projected form, emanating a sophisticated and premium aesthetic.
Following the pattern of the previous two rounds, the envelopes’ packaging didn’t indicate specific ratings but rather showed the upper limit of possible ratings.
The first round was CDF.
The second round was BCDF.
So now… could it be ABCDF?
Chu Yuanqing pondered briefly, then dismissed the thought.
Well, she’s at most a Grade B anyway. What does it matter if the card pool’s upper limit includes Grade A?
As she casually broke the wax seal, the envelope’s texture seemed to shimmer.
The World Tree’s pattern began to come alive, with verdant branches spreading and growing, as if forming the legendary giant tree, swaying gently in the sunlight, weaving into glittering golden text behind it.
– Grade A.
Chu Yuanqing calmly assessed the situation, suspecting her retinas were malfunctioning. After three seconds of silence, she closed her eyes, then solemnly opened them again, only to see that grand special effect with its chilling letters once more.
– Grade A.
Chu Yuanqing’s eyes widened, feeling as if someone inside her had been struck by lightning, causing a river of emotions to flow backward. She sat frozen for a long time before reluctantly accepting this harsh reality.
Chu Yuanqing couldn’t comprehend it, silently cursing Charlotte for causing trouble.
What unique qualities had she demonstrated during “Heart Flow” to earn a Grade A rating in the demanding “Dazzling Stage” with such limited dance abilities?
The same question troubled the other contestants in the C-level Area.
The prestigious golden legend before Chu Yuanqing proved she had ascended from Grade C, breaking free from her previous status, securing a debut position in the show.
But how? And why?
It’s worth noting that among the contestants seated nearby, some who had practiced in the same room as Chu Yuanqing were well aware of each other’s capabilities.
Theoretically, even if Chu Yuanqing maintained perfect composure, completely ignored the virtual reality test, flawlessly showcased her skills, and performed exceptionally well, she would at most achieve Grade B, nowhere near the elite Grade A.
The attitudes of all Grade C contestants immediately became unsettled.
Consider this: holding an envelope, expecting grades like C, D, or even F, only to witness the underperformer beside you reach seemingly unattainable heights.
How could anyone accept such disparity?
Dance skill comes from consistent practice; no one becomes proficient overnight.
Chu Yuanqing’s meteoric rise made people question her achievements and abilities.
Trainees typically possess high emotional intelligence, being clever enough to mask their true feelings.
The C-level Area’s atmosphere grew tense, with all eyes fixed on Chu Yuanqing, their silence speaking volumes.
Meanwhile, other top contenders eagerly opened their envelopes before the audience.
After observing the golden legendary effects, Xie Qingxuan shifted her attention from the grades toward someone in the C-level Area.
The usually expressionless girl showed a trace of surprise, her eyes revealing complex emotions as she recalled why the other person had stepped onto the stage.
“Because… I want to see everyone’s happy smiles.”
“That’s all.”
Though Chu Yuanqing lacks dancing prowess, earning Grade A under these circumstances proves her dream’s true worth.
Mysteriously, the warmth held in that person’s embrace, different from the care in a cold home, now surged like waves, triggering dopamine release and evoking indescribable feelings.
Xie Qingxuan pressed her lips together, and before she could become peculiar, she shifted her gaze from Chu Yuanqing to Kirimi Miyuki nearby.
Among the original top 14 A-grade performers, only 4 remained, excluding the mundane choreographer and the proudly stubborn miss. Now, just herself and the sakura girl from abroad remained.
Kirimi Miyuki?
Is her dream worth pursuing at any cost?
If necessary, one must devise a way to obtain her Personality Fragments along with the others’, then attempt to meditate and perfectly replicate them once to compare differences and purposes.
Xie Qingxuan learned from her secondary stage failure: to achieve final victory, she must gather various Dream Puzzles, or else… history would repeat itself.
The girl’s eyes lowered, her platinum hair ends swaying gently.
Eventually, she would determine whose dreams best suited the stage and were most likely to defeat that person.
Thus, the other new Grade A contestants couldn’t be ignored.
Xie Qingxuan focused on her roommate in the Grade B area.
– Tang Liuli.
Though they rarely spoke, her impression of Tang Liuli was strong because she constantly accompanied Chu Yuanqing.
This former child prodigy, once incredibly popular, posed a significant threat due to her fame and talent, having unexpectedly advanced to Grade A.
What drives her dream?
Does it hold value worth consuming as a puzzle piece?
Xie Qingxuan attempted to construct Tang Liuli’s personality model mentally.
Based on absorbed information, mostly involving Chu Yuanqing’s bedtime stories and bonding moments, Xie Qingxuan found herself growing irritated halfway through building the model.
Xie Qingxuan’s emotional processing was slow, only now recognizing hints of annoyance and jealousy. As she analyzed these unfamiliar feelings, she silently designated an innocent individual as her primary subject of investigation.
– Is it Tang Liuli? Let’s begin with you as our test subject.
Nullparadox
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