Chapter 88
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Chapter 88: After the Performance, Coughing Up Blood, a Call From Her Daughter
On the side stage,
Kirimi Miyuki entered the Heart Flow. The dark aura swirling in her eyes, with the intense and dazzling will, pulled in a few strands of cherry blossom-like light pink. Like morning mist, it spread to the depths of her pupils, enhancing both her personal charm and stage presence to another level.
With every breath, the Perfect Interpretation Method, once limited to herself, now had the ability to influence objective reality.
Her experiences, memories, and abilities on stage seemed to materialize out of thin air, as though the perfect version of herself in the future was existing in a quantum superposition.
The young girl smiled with joy, gracefully taking her steps in the dance, creating an atmosphere that felt like an international superstar. Her stage presence remained like a rock in the sea, unaffected by Chu Yuanqing’s brilliance.
It was clear that, as Xie Qingxuan had suspected, the “Heart Flow” awakened unique abilities within each individual. And this ability originated precisely from within, like a reflection of the soul.
Xie Qingxuan’s “Heart Flow” came from intense emotions of wanting to crush her sister’s dreams, resulting in an ability to steal others’ brilliance.
Tang Liuli’s “Heart Flow” stemmed from a natural talent for empathizing with others passively, leading to an ability for mimicry without discrimination, and total immersion in extreme interpretation.
Kirimi Miyuki’s “Heart Flow” came from her love for idols, devotion to the stage, and desire for brilliance. As a result, her awakened ability was pure and well-refined, a manifestation of the transcendent Perfect Interpretation Method.
However, unlike Xie Qingxuan, Little Sakura, once entering the “Heart Flow,” became so engrossed in the stage that she was unaware her Perfect Interpretation Method had evolved into something akin to a bug.
At that moment, Chu Yuanqing’s sudden outburst grabbed part of her attention, delaying this discovery.
The pink in Kirimi Miyuki’s eyes deepened, and a fierce fire burned in her chest. It felt like she had found a kindred spirit, releasing a rush of dopamine in her brain, heightening her emotions and enhancing the purity of her “Heart Flow.”
Yes, this is how it should be.
Little Qing, this is the posture you should show on stage!
The girl’s expression softened with relief and joy. During the week of rehearsals, many had been disappointed by Chu Yuanqing’s performance—not just the main-stage competitors, but also those who saw her as their goal.
But Kirimi Miyuki firmly believed that when Chu Yuanqing stepped onto the real stage, just like the explosion during the secondary ratings, she would surely show a completely different charm than in rehearsals.
So, while Ji Shuzhu and Tang Liuli busied themselves being thieves, Xie Qingxuan stood stunned by the other’s brilliance, and Chen Yining, who was on the brink of entering “Heart Flow,” nearly overwhelmed herself, she embraced it, squeezing out more talent and raising the stage’s atmosphere once again.
In an instant, the secondary stage was like a giant ship on the sea, refusing to be swallowed by the dazzling storm. Under the leadership of Carry Center, it maneuvered through the layers of obstacles, claiming back some degree of dominance from Chu Yuanqing’s brilliance, basking in the audience’s applause.
The pressure then fell squarely on Chen Yining’s shoulders. She had the most stage experience of the three, and her performance during the rehearsals was no less impressive than Kirimi Miyuki’s.
When they stepped onto the stage, they both entered the “Heart Flow” at the same time, instantly reaching a decisive dimension that Chen Yining could not access.
Unwilling.
Very unwilling.
As the background music of the theme song began, Chu Yuanqing, on the main stage, seemed to hold everyone’s hearts in her hands, capturing the majority of the attention like a worshiped deity, earning the title of MVP for the entire event.
Why?
Why is it that after only practicing dance and vocals for a few weeks, she effortlessly surpassed the efforts and hard work of ten years?
Why is it that even though she’s barely been on stage, she can reach the unreachable “Heart Flow,” and even comprehend the realms beyond it?
Chen Yining’s eyes were filled with confusion.
No understanding. No clarity. No knowledge.
At that moment, the feeling of discontent dissolved, and jealousy and envy disappeared. Only confusion remained, slowly giving way to a muddy despair.
Chu Yuanqing’s presence seemed to confirm her lack of talent on the path of being an idol.
Each outburst and improvement from this outsider piled up the weight of “self-doubt” in her heart, forcing her to bow her proud head, to admit her own weakness, to give up on that dream that now seemed increasingly distant.
No, she couldn’t give up yet. She couldn’t despair. It couldn’t end like this.
“I still have to fulfill the promise to Shuzhu. I still stand on a stage watched by an audience.”
“Whether or not I can enter Heart Flow, whether or not I will be overshadowed by them, I must first fulfill my responsibility as an idol, as the Carry Center, and perform the theme song to the end.”
Even as the dark emotion felt like a boulder rolling downhill, her pride and resilience, even her childhood promise with Ji Shuzhu, acted as a baseline restraint, forcibly pushing it deep down.
Chen Yining’s smile remained as she expertly managed her expressions in front of the camera, her raspberry-colored hair swaying in the light. The beads of sweat scattered like shattered gems, her breath and steps precise, perfect, flawless—just as in rehearsals.
The subsequent performances were just as polished.
Her singing was sweet, showcasing her usual charm as the theme song drew to a close. Despite hiding her true emotions, she appeared to be the same as always.
Moreover, Chu Yuanqing’s reason for embodying a goddess once again was ultimately to avoid overshadowing her fellow performers, rather than to outshine the brilliance of the stage.
This led to Charlotte’s beloved lingering notes evoking a range of emotions and even multiple haunting illusions, though they no longer formed the same connection as before. Still, they reached the level that Chu Yuanqing desired.
Apart from initially holding back, Chu Yuanqing consciously balanced herself throughout, toning down her individual charm and shifting the audience’s focus to the collective. It was a deliberate sharing of the limelight, ensuring an even distribution of glory.
By the midpoint, the stage had become a harmonious trio, forming a supportive balance. The charisma of the stage merged into one unified whole, bringing “Candy” back to its usual sweet style and embodying the theme song’s concept, drawing thunderous applause from the audience below.
Chu Yuanqing felt slightly dazed, her hand resting on her chest. The azure hue from the pendant hanging from her neck faded. Her adaptability to the stage felt like the ebbing tides under the moon’s gravitational pull. Intense, witch-like sensory feelings surged within her, and her heartbeat grew stronger.
The girl’s delicate face maintained a smile as she covered the microphone with her small hand, coughing a few times. The slight sweetness in her mouth was unpleasant. She pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, watching the scene below the stage.
Whether it was glittering gold, deep blue, or cherry blossom pink, the colorful glow sticks from 167 contestants’ dreams intertwined, creating a wave-like effect in the audience. Though the fans were scattered and the waves irregular, they still emanated a dazzling sea of light.
Xu Ling, seemingly just awakened from a beautiful dream, her face filled with excitement and joy, never imagined witnessing such a high-level stage performance on her first appearance in a talent show.
The girl, surrounded by thousands of people, waved light sticks along with the crowd, shouting loudly:
“Encore! Encore!”
“Encore! Encore!”
The request for an encore reverberated throughout the live stream. Despite the five to six-minute performance, the intensity of the atmosphere left the audience wanting more, making the energy in the venue even more intense.
Xu Ling, a wealthy young woman, was burning with frustration after hearing the gossip in the group.
The performers on stage felt overwhelmed by the surge of sound waves.
However, due to the program’s restrictions, they couldn’t perform “Candy” again to meet the audience’s growing expectations.
Kirimi Miyuki looked confused, a wide smile on her face as tears streamed down her cheeks.
After seven long years, she was finally standing on a real stage, surrounded by fans chanting for an encore.
Even if only a few of them had come specifically for her, the sight of it filled her with joy—a happiness born from years of struggle and despair. It was an emotion that brought tears and smiles, a long-awaited release.
Many other performers shared the same feeling.
Just thinking about their dreams and the fierce competition in “Dazzling Stage,” they began to truly appreciate how precious the cheers and support were, leading them to tears of happiness.
Liang Xiaoxiao didn’t cry. She couldn’t find her own support color in the sea of lights, just as she couldn’t find her place on the stage or in Chu Yuanqing’s heart.
Perhaps she simply didn’t understand.
Some things shouldn’t be understood too clearly. Like knowing everything doesn’t guarantee happiness.
Instead of digging deep, it was better to see it as a surprise box for the future. Someday, something would leap out, creating fireworks before her.
As for now? She would just enjoy the charm unique to idols and the stage.
Tang Liuli was filled with a mixture of emotions. She saw her name on many signs, with green fireflies surrounding it. Cute characters encircled her name, each representing a role she had played before.
Among them was her earliest role as Magical Girl Delaina, a clear indication of dedicated support from long-time fans. It was something they wouldn’t have done so meticulously if they hadn’t been deeply invested.
But…
“Why? What is there to like about a person like me, who is so terrible?”
“Isn’t it strange? I didn’t say anything at all, just selfishly withdrew from the circle, and when I came back, it was the same. No explanation, no filming. Instead, I became an idol completely unrelated to acting. How foolish must someone be to continue liking me?”
Tang Liuli let out a sarcastic laugh. She wanted to speak these heartfelt words out loud, but instead, like before, she retreated into her shell. She masked herself as a prickly hedgehog, hoping to scare away anyone trying to get close.
However, faster than the curve of her lips turning upwards, were the crystal-clear, scorching tears falling from her eye sockets, and the undeniable guilt.
Socially anxious, irritable, self-deprecating, and stubbornly proud.
Tang Liuli didn’t like this version of herself, to the point of self-disgust and hatred.
The reason she never attempted suicide was because, rather than dying, she was unwilling to become a mother as ugly and insanely crazy as her own. Hence, she bravely endured her deteriorating mental state, choosing to stay in a world that, in her eyes, held no beauty, but was filled with scenes of hell.
And because of that, Tang Liuli just couldn’t understand why there were still fans who liked and supported her.
Only people like Chu Yuanqing in this world deserved to be treated kindly by the world. People like her, with dirty and wild blood running through their veins, shouldn’t be treated this way at all.
Why aren’t you scolding me? Cyberbullying me? Or showing me more of the ugliness of humanity?
Tang Liuli couldn’t accept it. She wanted to escape, but at this moment, Chu Yuanqing seemed to create an invisible barrier with a mysterious and powerful force, making Tang Liuli’s talents ineffective for the first time.
The warm harbor closed its doors to her.
Tang Liuli had to face her inner struggle alone in the midst of pain.
Xie Qingxuan felt some regret, as her perspective on the stage was harsh.
If it weren’t for Chu Yuanqing’s “Heart Flow” protecting the other participants, the Great Devil would have undoubtedly plundered the spotlight on stage, using everyone as stepping stones and climbing to the top alone, embodying a selfish spirit on the stage.
But…
It’s okay, there will always be opportunities to figure it out.
Ji Shuzhu stood beside the two. She looked up at the princess on the side stage. The sadness in her eyes flashed and disappeared. Her beautiful face, usually cold and indifferent, turned resolute and indifferent as she whispered to herself:
“Little Ning, I know you have been trying very hard.”
“But now, the only one who can try to cure my illness is her.”
At the front of the main stage, deep within Chu Yuanqing’s soul, there came the sound of glaciers cracking.
The girl’s heart felt like a sword piercing through her chest, the clanging of metal colliding, and the whispered words of flesh being cut open, all mixed together in the midst of intense pain, intertwined with the cracking and breaking sounds, creating a soft yet desperate melody.
No, hallucinations are starting to appear. I need to leave quickly and find somewhere to rest.
Chu Yuanqing’s eyes looked unfocused. She pretended to fix her hair, took a deep breath, and waited for the audience’s applause to die down slightly before speaking according to the script provided by the program group:
“Even though the performance has ended, the program group has organized an exhibition related to ‘Dazzling Stage’ outside the venue, where you can find some merchandise. For those interested, you can take a look around.”
She finished speaking.
The 168 contestants politely bowed, and the three stages descended, disappearing from sight as the audience looked on with a mix of regret and satisfaction.
Comments flooded the live chat room, discussing their thoughts on the performance.
Shortly after, the live chat room was closed automatically.
With great anticipation, Xu Ling followed the staff’s guidance and arrived at the large exhibition of “Dazzling Stage.” Disappointed, she left the exhibition half an hour later, feeling so frustrated that she couldn’t help but grind her teeth.
The girl sat in a shady spot using her phone to vent to her friends in the group chat, typing rapidly with frustration:
“Oh no, the merchandise at the ‘Dazzling Stage’ exhibition is terrible! There are no posters of the contestants, only merchandise of Dream Weaver Rabbit – figurines, statues, stickers, cushions, keychains, even shirts with its face on them. What a letdown!”
This sentence was sent in a group chat, causing a series of curse words, followed by a heated discussion on how to cook rabbit dishes.
However, shortly after Xu Ling complained, someone online made a similar remark and “luckily” claimed to have encountered the AI version of this mascot, hinting that Dream Weaver Rabbit accurately recognized her identity.
So this person smiled and took out a Xie Qingxuan poster, cunningly offering to sell three cushions in exchange for a poster.
Hmm, that’s just despicably unspeakable.
Xu Ling, as a wealthy young woman, was seething with anger after hearing the gossip circulating in the group.
She wasn’t upset by Dream Weaver Rabbit’s actions of scamming people; rather, she was frustrated with herself for not encountering the actual AI version. If she had, she would have surely bought thirty cushions just to throw them away and proudly kept five posters of Honey Qing and Little Sakura each.
Refusing to give up, Xu Ling spent two more hours wandering around the exhibition, only to leave still feeling disappointed.
While heading home, she dozed off and dreamed about the moment when Chu Yuanqing lowered her gaze to adjust her hair at the end of the stage performance. She suddenly woke up with a jolt, muttering to herself absentmindedly:
“Why would Honey Qing have a problem? I must have read too many fanfictions in the chat group.”
At the same time, in Zhelong Town, at a vintage coffee shop,
The magic inside Chu Yuanqing’s lantern was disturbed, causing her disguise to falter. Her snow-white hair cascaded over her shoulders like mountain snow, her golden eyes glimmered faintly, and her beautiful face appeared pale and fragile.
She was half-kneeling in front of the sink, covering her mouth with her hands, desperately trying to stifle a loud cough. The thick, red liquid trickled through her fingers, dripping onto the cold tiles and shattering into pieces between the gaps.
Clatter.
Her phone slipped from her pocket, and the vibrating ringtone echoed in the room.
On the locked screen, the notification with the number of the adorable daughter kept shaking. Just before it would hang up automatically, a bloodied hand reached out, grabbed the phone, and pressed the answer button.
