Chapter 74
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Chapter 74: Ji Shuzhu: I’m Sorry, Little Ning
As soon as the results were revealed,
All the players unconsciously glanced at the stunning beauty of the host.
Chu Yuanqing’s eyes widened in shock, feeling extremely uncomfortable, wanting to run away on the spot.
The girl’s fair delicate face, with a strained expression, was on the verge of breaking down. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she felt. Her toes hidden in small shoes started to squabble, almost knocking down a replica of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Unable to bear the humiliation, she clenched her fists tightly.
Darn, why is this red-eyed rabbit so wicked? What’s the difference between this and a public execution?
Curse it, she really didn’t want to dance in a skirt in front of Little Shu, and even felt extremely embarrassed because of the intense emotions shown in "Heart Flow"!
Just the thought of that scene made Chu Yuanqing’s heart explode like fireworks made of sardine cans, brutally assaulting all her senses, forcing her to savor the despair within.
The young girl’s soft body trembled slightly, as dozens of eyes roamed over her, the sticky feeling of their touch made her whole body numb, creating a wave of terrifying shame.
Using her strong willpower, Chu Yuanqing maintained a calm expression, appearing indifferent on the surface. But secretly, she brought her legs together, unable to resist tidying her skirt quietly. With delicate fingers, she smoothed out the hem, trying to cover more of her smooth pale skin with the fabric.
The skirt length of the program group is 39 centimeters. Considering her own leg length, five centimeters shorter might cause a wardrobe malfunction, and even shorter would be considered scandalous.
Too short! This dress is really too short for a middle-aged father!
Chu Yuanqing didn’t even dare to look back at her own lovely daughter, because she knew that the girl must be looking forward to seeing her on stage more than anyone else at the moment.
And that’s exactly the truth.
Chu Wang Shu was even happier when she saw her receive a Grade A, than when she herself got a Grade B.
The audience in the live room saw the little girl transform into a boastful person, and then continue to excitedly chatter on in a cute manner.
The followers of the court all clasped their hands in admiration, praising Honey Moon as a worthy first appointed crowned divine child, demonstrating their respect and admiration for Godly Qing, equal to that of the other believers.
Chu Wang Shu’s eyes sparkled as she stared unblinkingly at the big screen, happily saying:
"I can’t wait for Qing Qing’s performance!"
Dream Weaver Rabbit was still using his imagination to promote the idea that strength is the most important factor in determining the winner on stage.
Tang Liuli had no interest in this and was focused on Chu Wang Shu who was standing very close by, her face looking serious.
Chu Wang Shu, a mascot who didn’t compete but was already at the finish line, was incredibly important to Honey Qing, almost like a daughter.
So, in order to deal with Little Sakura, she needed to make good friends with the other person!
She was prepared for this.
For someone with social anxiety, initiating social interactions felt extremely difficult.
Despite being a former top actor, even without using Heart Flow, she could deceive herself and briefly portray her past self, bringing back that… former child star who once shook the Daxia film industry!
Well, simply put, it’s me playing myself.
This is also why she, burdened with multiple mental illnesses, could still step onto the stage and perform normally.
From this perspective, Tang Liuli calling herself a super paper tiger is truly fitting.
As long as she wants, she can always recreate the classic scene that made tens of millions of people cheer "Lord Qing is back", relying on nostalgia to regain popularity and gather an extremely terrifying fan base.
This can be seen as a strategic move in the early stages of the voting process in "Dazzling Stage".
Of course, neither self-deception nor "Heart Flow" can last long.
If Tang Liuli does this, she will be trapped in a dangerous cycle, making her nothing more than a fierce paper tiger.
But for now, these things are not important!
Tang Liuli took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slowly opened them after three seconds.
In that instant, it seemed as if time had reversed seven years.
The gloom in the young girl’s emerald eyes dissipated, replaced by a warm smile.
Her lips curved up, the cute teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, delicate fingers brushing aside the bangs on her forehead to reveal a face that netizens once considered divine, exuding a sunny and youthful atmosphere, like a heroine in a movie or drama.
Perfect condition, great temperament!
Tang Liuli took the opportunity while Dream Weaver Rabbit was still talking nonsense, she confidently took the initiative, naturally stood up, gently adjusted her skirt, and sat down next to Chu Wang Shu, revealing a flawless smile.
Before she could come up with any social pleasantries,
Chu Wang Shu turned her head and her expression changed from confusion to coldness, then to slightly widened eyes filled with surprise. She then excitedly leaned in, grabbed Tang Liuli’s hands, and said:
"Wow, are you the child star who played Delaina in ‘Magical Girl Delaina’?"
"I’ve always been a huge fan of yours, can you give me an autograph?"
Tang Liuli was greatly shocked, she was completely amazed.
Huh? Why is your opening line almost identical to Honey Qing’s? Are you perhaps Honey Qing’s niece?
Tang Liuli’s thoughts scattered, almost immediately breaking character, like a deflated balloon, returning to her gloomy and timid social anxiety self.
She nervously lowered her head, flicked her bangs back to her forehead, feeling annoyed by her lack of acting skills, her mind getting more active, her eyes suddenly sparkling.
Wait, it’s actually quite possible.
– Chu Yuanqing, Chu Wang Shu.
Both of them have the surname Chu, combined with "Magical Girl Delaina", and the intense love the former has for the latter, it’s very normal for them to be relatives.
In other words, this is the most logical explanation. Otherwise, why would Honey Qing show such deep affection towards someone she just met recently?
The more Tang Liuli thought about it, the more it made sense.
Even though Chu Wang Shu denied their relationship on stage, once all possibilities were excluded, the remaining answer, no matter how unbelievable, would definitely be the truth.
Seeing through all the fake disguises, the pure and profound love in Chu Yuanqing’s heart must have a specific cause-and-effect relationship that can be traced back, and being relatives is the best explanation!
As for why she didn’t reveal the "truth" on stage?
In the blink of an eye, Tang Liuli imagined countless messy family relationships, including dramatic plots like true or false heiresses.
Haha, I am so clever!
In a flash, Tang Liuli understood everything, feeling as if she had inflated like a pufferfish, thinking she was a reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes and experiencing some invincible loneliness.
Can Little Sakura do it? Can others understand Honey Qing like this?
Win, win, win! She has already won too much today!
Tang Liuli looked up at the bright-eyed, expectant little girl, almost instinctively reaching for her autograph book in her pocket, wanting to impress her.
But in the next moment, she instantly realized that she couldn’t give her autograph directly, otherwise… What if she guessed everything correctly, then Honey Qing wouldn’t need the autograph she wanted?
This was a way to lose favor, absolutely not an option!
Painfully giving up the quick way to increase Chu Wang Shu’s favor, Tang Liuli blinked and softly said:
"I don’t have paper and pen now, I will bring them to you next time."
Later on, to avoid disappointing the other person.
Tang Liuli controlled her social anxiety, took the initiative, and started a hesitant conversation with the other person on the topic of "Magical Girl Delaina."
Despite being awkward during the conversation due to social anxiety, luckily Chu Wang Shu had a good attitude and was very friendly, like meeting a childhood idol, naturally approachable, and quickly developed a relationship.
While a subtle chemical reaction was occurring over here,
The debate promoted by Dream Weaver Rabbit was coming to an end, and it smiled, saying:
"Now, please enjoy Chu Yuanqing’s performance on stage."
As the voice faded, Chu Yuanqing’s entrance scene started playing on the big screen.
To keep the audience engaged, the camera work during the entrance was very different from yesterday, seemingly designed to capture attention from different angles and present a more fantastic stage effect.
At that moment, everyone, except Chu Yuanqing who pretended to be asleep, including the other contestants and the audience in the live stream room, all focused their attention on the big screen.
Among them, Ji Shuzhu was particularly serious. Her cold phoenix eyes showed increasingly intense passion as she concentrated on watching Chu Yuanqing in the video, even ignoring the worries and care of her close friend beside her, she excitedly whispered to herself in her heart:
"Chu Yuanqing, let me see your performance."
"Whether that sparkle is real or fake, we will soon find out."
The background music in the screen filled the room.
The person in the spotlight started to dance.
However, in the first twenty seconds, apart from the initial beauty impact that made many potential female admirers unable to control their heartbeats, wanting to kiss the lips that tasted like peach oolong, the rest of the performance could only be described as ordinary.
Whether in terms of the expressiveness of the dance, the singing skills and emotional delivery, or even down to the details of the movements, everything seemed quite rough, at best reaching a Grade C level, which was considered barely satisfactory.
Yet, even so, it still prompted a lot of people to sigh in amazement.
"Leaving aside everything else, that face is truly exquisite, both pure and tempting. From afar, it seems to be gradually dyed like a watercolor painting, flawless. Did she really only apply lipstick?"
"…Just take a look back, and you’ll see. She didn’t even wear lipstick today, but still looks exactly like the girl in the photo shoot."
"Chu Yuanqing’s face is so camera-ready, and how does she manage to have fair skin and be slim at the same time, with such a perfect waist-hip ratio? The curves and contours are just lovely! I want to touch it."
"What a brave heart she has! Isn’t she afraid at all? To her, the audience on the stage seems non-existent."
The contestants’ focus was all on Chu Yuanqing’s attractiveness and figure, as well as her strong mentality, but they still couldn’t figure out why Tutor Group gave her a Grade A.
But this thought didn’t last long. Once the dance began at the 30-second mark, Chu Yuanqing in the video entered a state called "Heart Flow."
Next breath,
The frenzy of bullet comments in the live chat suddenly came to a halt.
It was as if all the contestants’ discussions were paused.
The loud noises inside the room suddenly disappeared, as if time stopped, skipping several frames and going straight into a silence so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
In that moment.
In that instant.
In that breath.
The shining on the stage, like the rising sun spreading its radiant light all around, also like endless snowy mountains, fractured and scattered in the epic years.
The abstract but clear, filling the whole body with a deep sadness, intense like the water of life, burning the whole body like 96-degree heat, bringing a painful sensation deep into the bone marrow.
But as Chu Yuanqing’s singing tone changed, the sound of "Candy" next to the ear gradually blurred, as if turned into a warm and gentle lullaby, touching the soul with a sense of redemption, dispelling the dark despair.
A holy and solemn tribute began to sing.
In the blurry vision, the Land of Salt slowly sank.
The girl sat alone in front of the horizon, using her toes to play with the sunset in the sea. Her profile was like a fairy in the lake, with a captivating smile at the corners of her eyes and lips. Her gentle gaze seemed to transcend time, gazing at the distant world as if giving a blessing or a prayer.
In an instant, a huge sense of happiness overwhelmed the previous suffocation and loneliness.
All illusions faded like receding tide, leaving only the figure in sight, gradually walking away with a slender back on the stage.
The chasing lights on the stage dissipated, the false prosperity withered, leaving only loneliness and emptiness.
Everyone inside the room fell silent.
The audience in the live stream reacted before the contestants did:
"At least ‘Dazzling Stage’ has re-recorded a version with lens effects. Though not as stunning as the live broadcast, it can still be a memory to cherish and look back on in the future."
At the same time.
The shock given by Charlotte left the contestants in a state of confusion.
Is this the stage? Is this dancing? Is this "Candy"?
Chu Yuanqing’s performance is not just about getting a Grade A or not, but challenging their perception of the idol industry.
So idols can even do this kind of thing?
With enough stage presence and personal charm, can idols suppress even the self-expression in choreography and songs, and show a unique stage aura of their own?
So amazing, truly worth pursuing.
An idol? This is an idol!
This is what "Dazzling Stage" aims to cultivate, idols who can truly shine on stage!
Looking back now, what Dream Weaver Rabbit said before doesn’t seem so childish anymore.
If the path to the idol peak is so splendid, then the weight of the phrase "victory is decided on the stage" will far exceed their imagined limits, filled with endless possibilities and variables!
After recovering a bit, many players looked at Chu Yuanqing with particularly intense eyes.
If you can team up with this person, the chances of winning will definitely be high, right?
Although there is a 99% chance of being overshadowed and even deprived of one’s own shine, as long as they win, the bonus tickets they receive can allow them to stay for another round, which is a completely profitable deal.
The thought of Chu Yuanqing not being a suitable match had long been blown away, leaving only leg-hugging and self-doubt like, "Are the other Grade A’s also so amazing?"
Chu Wang Shu and Tang Liuli transformed into a bragging duo, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Xie Qingxuan pursed her lips, realizing deeply for the first time in this talent show that she was not as good as someone else.
Such stage charisma, such almost hallucinatory stage presence, are things that normal dances can never permanently display.
Even though her singing and dancing experience and skills had accumulated to a nearly peak level at this age.
An idol lacking the decisive element is like a supercar shell without an engine, unable to show its true shine at all.
At that moment, the laughter of the older sister echoed in her ears once again:
"You can’t beat me, you, who don’t love the stage and don’t want to be an idol, will never enter the ‘Heart Flow,’ the ‘Dazzling Stage’ will not nurture someone like you, a second-rate product."
– Second-rate product.
Xie Qingxuan first realized what a second-rate product meant.
Yes, in the presence of such a dazzling stage, even idols who can’t enter the ‘Heart Flow’ can only be classified as inferior second-rate products.
Xie Qingyu was right, her dance lacked emotion, like an inanimate object, even her dreams were borrowed creations, not related to the stage and idol themselves, filled with childish stubbornness and childishness, tinged with a bit of naive humor.
Without making changes in other ways, she, as a second-rate product, would soon be overtaken by other players with essential elements in unexpected ways, bringing about another shameful defeat.
So…
Xie Qingxuan’s eyes lowered, the deep gaze swirling with dark clouds, emotions deep within her being crushed by the weight of her heavy past, she looked around at the other participants, whispering softly:
"Sorry, can I borrow your dreams for a while?"
The voice faded away.
With a mental state called meditation, elevate it to the misty clouds, freeing the mysterious territory of the brain, and start constructing personalities such as Chu Yuanqing, Tang Liuli, Kirimi Miyuki, and even the rest of the Grade A.
However, due to the lack of information, the first personality puzzle constructed belonged to the person who hugged in the bathroom.
At this point, the irreversible path of devouring dreams finally unfolded.
On the other side.
Kirimi Miyuki looked stunned, taking a long time to come to her senses, revealing a surprised and bright smile.
The girl’s heart was not filled with loss or a sense of being surpassed, only excitement at seeing the opponent, and… joy at seeing a higher level!
So there is such a lofty sky above the Heart Flow?
Idol, this is an idol!
The most excited and joyful person in the whole crowd was Miss Choreographer.
Ji Shuzhu’s eyes filled with a misty haze, her lips moved to exhale hot breath, her usually cynical pretty face turned excited and happy, she couldn’t help but tightly grip the fabric in front of her chest, a pure smile spreading across her lips.
——Filled up.
After so many years, her hollow heart was filled to the brim for the first time with sparkling brightness.
The feeling of happiness that permeated her entire body was enough to make the heart used to tasting coldness and despair immediately surrender and give up.
Ji Shuzhu’s soul floated in the sky, she sighed contentedly, muttering to herself in her heart:
"I’m sorry, Little Ning."
"The one who can satisfy me now is no longer you."
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Updated: 2024/12/03
Nullparadox
The author has some serious talent in emotional descriptions…