Chapter 86
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Chapter 86: Chu Yuanqing’s Decision, the Unfolding Disaster Shell
Heart Flow, also known as Mental Flow, refers to a psychological state where an individual becomes completely absorbed in a task. It describes the focus one exhibits when engaged in a specific behavior.
Over time, however, in the world of idols, this concept has evolved into something much more complex. The emotions and thoughts of those in the Heart Flow state are now influenced by external forces, amplifying personal charm, stage presence, and emotional intensity.
This phenomenon caused a great stir when it was first introduced and studied in detail, sparking debates and discussions. The entertainment industry was forced to undergo a major overhaul with the introduction of the “Dazzling Stage” initiative. At the time, many expected such changes, knowing it was only a matter of time.
An idol who truly masters Heart Flow can significantly enhance their appeal as a public figure. However, if their actions are unethical, the consequences could be severe, making it even more crucial to regulate and standardize its use.
The industry’s lack of platforms was partially due to this development.
Xie Qingxuan understood Heart Flow better than most. Her sister had grasped its power during a talent show three years ago, securing the Carry Center crown. She quickly rose to become the leader of a top girl group in Daxia.
As Xie Qingxuan observed Luo Chan, the swirling darkness in her eyes slowly faded. She murmured softly to herself: “Could my sister’s ‘Heart Flow’ have a similar effect?”
“No,” she continued, “Heart Flow forms as a vortex stirred up by the soul. No two ‘Heart Flows’ are identical.”
“So, what abilities does Kirimi Miyuki’s ‘Heart Flow’ possess?” she wondered aloud.
“Could Little Qing’s stage brilliance be linked to her ‘Heart Flow’?”
Suddenly, Xie Qingxuan realized why her sister had always looked down on her. She had believed Xie Qingxuan would never be able to enter the Heart Flow state and would never debut on the “Dazzling Stage.”
Because in idol competitions involving Heart Flow, previous accomplishments can only serve as a foundation. They set a limit but don’t allow one to reach a higher level in a Stage Battle.
Thus, Xie Qingxuan was doomed to be overshadowed by the superior Sakura girls and be outshone by Chu Yuanqing, who lacked any solid foundation in singing or dancing.
But now, things had changed.
A deep darkness swirled in Xie Qingxuan’s soul as she gazed down at Luo Chan. She reached into her mind, grasping Luo Chan’s Dream Puzzle. She inhaled the allure of the Heart Flow that was uniquely hers, a faint smile curling her lips.
“Heart Flow” – to steal the radiance of others.
“Meditation” – mimicking Personality Fragments, forming the Dream Puzzle in an instant.
The union of these two forces could catapult her into a new realm, enabling her to ascend to a higher stage.
“Sister, I will catch up to you, stealing your brilliance, walking over your dreams, climbing to a height you’ve never reached.
Finally, I’ll use your Dream Puzzle to fulfill my own dreams—then discard it casually, trampling on everything you hold dear.”
On the other side, Tang Liuli watched the entire scene unfold, her heart in turmoil. She swallowed nervously, feeling a deep unease.
Unlike Chu Wang Shu, who was confused and oblivious to the situation, Tang Liuli could sense the terror and strangeness in Luo Chan and Xie Qingxuan’s emotions.
Luo Chan’s evil thoughts evaporated, leaving behind only a blank, confused expression. Meanwhile, Xie Qingxuan devoured the same emotions, consuming them entirely. What lingered in the air was an ugly, seething heat, almost darkening her consciousness.
It was horrifying, unsettling.
There was also something off—Tang Liuli had always craved Chu Wang Shu’s affection, and because of this, her own talent remained dormant, unable to activate on its own.
But when Xie Qingxuan grabbed Luo Chan’s arm, her talent surged to life, pulling her into the Heart Flow state—an overwhelming and terrifying sensation.
Tang Liuli became more anxious, huddling close to Chu Wang Shu like a frightened kitten in the rain. She buried her head in Chu Wang Shu’s arms, too afraid to even look at Xie Qingxuan. The dark clouds overhead seemed to hang in suspense, unsure whether to release the storm.
Whispering to herself, the little girl trembled, “Such a terrifying woman… Xie Qingxuan is even worse than that Sakura girl. No, a hundred times worse!”
“The scary Great Devil hides behind a friendly face during the day, but I know she’s plotting something. I need to keep her away from Honey Qing!”
Chu Yuanqing blinked, her eyes tired and confused. The curse that had tormented her earlier was still lingering. She had barely managed to wake up from the illusions in the Sea of Truth and felt on the verge of passing out.
Despite her instincts to listen carefully to Luo Chan’s sharp words, the voice in her ears felt like a spell, pulling her into a drowsy stupor.
It was only after the child weakened that she began to think clearly.
“What’s going on? Why did she suddenly collapse?” Chu Yuanqing thought, her panic rising as she knelt down. She touched Luo Chan’s head, but the girl didn’t respond, appearing unconscious.
“Is this a scam? Or has she exhausted herself by venting to me?” Chu Yuanqing wondered, falling into a deep silence.
Her mind drifted back to the intense competition at Carry Center. She remembered the overwhelming popularity of “Little Deer’s Clumsy Dance,” which had garnered 11.79 million likes. In that moment, she realized other participants might be afraid of being cyberbullied by her fans. It seemed like a legitimate concern.
Her heart tightened with guilt.
Luo Chan’s accusations suddenly seemed justified, and the reality of the situation sank in.
The “Dazzling Stage” was brutal, and out of the 168 contestants, only a handful would debut. The rest would be forever deprived of their chance to perform, leaving them with no hope of becoming idols.
The theme song performance might be the only opportunity some trainees would ever get, and it was impossible for them not to take it seriously, pouring all their efforts into perfection.
Those selected for the main stage were the best of the best, the top contenders who had fought hard to earn their spot.
If her failure to live up to expectations caused them to lose the recognition, applause, and praise they deserved, the criticism they faced would be well deserved.
It dawned on her how late she was to realize this. She had forced the young girl to endure the pressure of cyberbullying and find the courage to speak out.
Chu Yuanqing never wanted to be an idol, nor did she care for the stage. She wasn’t even a performer by heart—merely a misunderstood thief, receiving false love from the public.
But because she had found herself in this position, she had to do whatever it took to make things right.
Today marked the final day of rehearsals. It was too late to switch to the Carry Center now, even if the program team agreed.
What should she do now?
Her dancing and singing were subpar, and her presence on stage was lackluster. She had only her decent physique and fading memories to lean on, trying to recreate the magic of the world’s greatest idol through Heart Flow.
But that stage—what a disaster.
Without the illusions from the Sea of Truth, with her current understanding of Heart Flow and the fading memories of the past, she couldn’t even come close to imitating Charlotte’s essence.
If she took Miyuki’s advice and tried to see herself as Charlotte, could she match the presence of the other two Vice Carry Center members?
No matter what, she had to try.
Anyway, to protect the dreams of these children, she will do her best to fulfill her duty.
Chu Yuanqing made up her mind, temporarily ignoring the risks of using the interpretation method.
Just like many years ago, she still cares more about others’ happiness than her own.
The girl lowered her head apologetically, the pendant on her chest shining pure white. She gently embraced Luo Chan as if giving a blessing, showed a comforting smile, looked around seriously, and said:
“I’m sorry for disappointing you these days. I’m not as talented as you, but I will try my best.”
“On the stage tomorrow, I will try to show you a different Chu Yuanqing and the Chu Yuanqing on the secondary rating stage.”
“So… at least until then, please don’t be sad or unhappy, okay?”
Chu Yuanqing’s eyes were clear and bright, shining brightly in the colorful night. The deep kindness engraved in her bones overflowed in the entire train cabin, even making the usual mocking smile freeze on the lips of Dream Weaver Rabbit, the super AI.
The voices faded away.
All 55 players in the train cabin felt their hearts beating faster subconsciously, unable to take their eyes off each other.
How strange.
Just by looking at the girl’s smile and the guilt in her eyes, a wave of unfamiliar yet familiar shame arose in the depths of their souls. Strong feelings of guilt rushed up, overwhelming the self filled with delusions.
This is like…
A long, long time ago, everyone owed her a thank you.
Ji Shuzhu’s eyes softened. She touched the fabric on her chest, feeling the emptiness suddenly overflowing with shining light, transforming continuously into a strong sense of happiness. Mist filled her cool eyes, making her feel ecstatic, gradually unable to stop biting her lip.
Tang Liuli took the initiative to activate her talent, “stealing a taste.” The self that had just been “tainted” by the Great Devil instantly returned to its original purity. She indulged in this taste mixed with maternal love, yet shining with a touch of divinity, pretending to be unaware to her close friend beside her, secretly enjoying.
Xie Qingxuan quietly activated her “Heart Flow,” dark energy swirling in her eyes, gradually covering her pupils in a chaotic spiral. She didn’t want to steal Chu Yuanqing’s shine, she just wanted to see her more clearly.
Next, she saw an endless sea of darkness, with only a faint but constantly burning light, spreading warmth that could protect the whole world.
Unfortunately, this image only lasted a moment before shattering in her sight, causing the “Heart Flow” to retreat passively, leaving her consciousness and eyes in a painful twitch.
Even worse, the related memories faded away with time, leaving only blurry impressions.
Xie Qingxuan took rapid deep breaths, her dress drenched in cold sweat. She was trembling with fear, forced to exit the “Heart Flow” and even meditation, as fragments of Chu Yuanqing’s personality in her consciousness began to crumble.
She couldn’t even qualify to see that shine, let alone steal it from Chu Yuanqing.
It must be a realm above the “Heart Flow,” or some kind of special state more powerful than meditation.
As the Grade A individuals showed their talents, the entire train carriage went through a grand purification, washing away mental fatigue and negative emotions.
Some girls couldn’t help but cry out, stuttering as they spoke:
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“I know I shouldn’t blame you, I know you work hard every day for the rehearsals, and you have done your best. It’s my own fault for not being good enough. But I couldn’t help but put the blame on you. I am so terrible and bad.”
“I’m truly sorry, I’m really sorry.”
Tears fell, hot and shattered on the pure white skirt, just like the crystal clear purity of the past.
Lin Baor, ranking first among Grade B contestants, fell silent for a moment, scanned around, and earnestly said:
“The main stage is not Chu Yuanqing’s stage alone, it is a stage that all 56 of us must create together.”
“Ask yourselves, if Chu Yuanqing truly shows the same strength on the secondary stage, would you really be happier than you are now?”
The answer is quite clear.
The impact of such a stage, not to mention the main stage contestants, even the two side stages, could easily be stripped of all their shine, leaving all 167 trainees devoured by Chu Yuanqing, becoming mere stepping stones for her.
In other words, things will only get worse.
This is a truth that everyone understands.
Blaming others is always easier than improving oneself, as it helps release negative emotions like jealousy, resentment, and envy, which all contributed to Chu Yuanqing becoming a target for everyone.
And what nobody expected was,
Chu Yuanqing, the target of everyone’s criticism and strange looks for seven days, showed such a dignified attitude after being publicly rebuked and insulted in the car, surpassing everyone’s expectations.
Was Chu Yuanqing really at fault?
When criticism and blame become habits, perhaps only such a shocking incident can make people rethink this issue.
The result of this reflection was mostly silence, with a few speaking up, and some scattered sobs.
Zhou Wenqi, who ranked first in Grade C, pursed her lips and spoke up in response:
“Baor is right. We are a group of dancers performing together. While the main carry position is important, isn’t our coordination and understanding of each other even more crucial?”
“Tomorrow might be the last time many of us perform on stage, but we shouldn’t blame others as an excuse for our own shortcomings.”
“Maybe it sounds naive, but in my heart, idols and the stage are still pure and beautiful.”
“So… if I go on stage with a mindset of blame and complaints, no matter the outcome, I won’t truly feel happy.”
“Instead, perhaps because it could be the last time, we should cherish the moment and enjoy it, shouldn’t we?”
Zhou Wenqi’s words echoed in the carriage, leaving the other contestants feeling puzzled.
Yes.
Since when did they forget their pure longing and joy for the stage?
It’s strange. Despite the slim chance of making it based on their current results, why do they care so much about fame and attention, forsaking their initial intentions and falling into their past despised behaviors?
At the very beginning, all they wanted was to step onto a big stage, be surrounded by many people, sing a song and dance freely.
Isn’t being an idol just a simple thing like that?
People started to speak one after another:
“Wenqi is right, let’s all enjoy the stage tomorrow, okay?”
“Whether we dance well or not, as long as we are happy, it’s a win!”
“Just thinking about it, I suddenly feel nervous yet excited. Are we going to meet our own fans tomorrow?”
“Definitely, everyone will have their own fans for sure!”
“But Chu Yuanqing will definitely have the most fans. She’s so lovely and good-natured that I can’t help but feel jealous.”
With just a few words spoken, the atmosphere inside the train car changed instantly. The previously dull and gloomy feeling vanished, replaced by lively chatter and laughter.
Luo Chan in Chu Yuanqing’s arms was unharmed.
The girl stood up and bowed seriously, quietly said sorry, then thanked with a serious expression, and shyly sat back down in her original place.
By observing her words and actions, she seemed to have recovered her normal emotions in the warm sunlight, erasing the aftermath of the stolen shine.
Chu Yuanqing sighed in relief, sat back in her seat, felt touched by the gentle atmosphere in the carriage, and struggled with how to excel in tomorrow’s performance.
On the other side,
The Dream Weaver Rabbit looked complicated, its crimson eyes reflecting a delicate and divine face like a water lily, adding information to its database and whispered in excitement inwardly:
“What a terrifying personal charm, how noble and sacred her nature is. She hasn’t even fully realized the true purpose of her Heart Flow but can easily make up for the damage caused by dark magic.”
“Chu Yuanqing, you truly are a treasure of the Donghong Federation.”
“Such purity, even as a Disaster Shell and fuel, there is still a chance it will never corrupt.”
