Chapter 89
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Chapter 89: Chu Yuanqing’s Choice, Gate God
Zhelong Town
Behind Chu Wang Shu was a cluster of antique buildings, made up of multiple film and television shooting scenes. She gazed at a Parisian-style antique shop in the distance, next to it was a pure white church in the English style.
As soon as they got off the bus, Dream Weaver Rabbit gave each participant a mobile phone, announcing that everyone could freely move around the film and television base until 10 o’clock at night.
The young girl nervously pursed her lips and lowered her gaze, looking at the number on the phone screen. She had originally planned to gather courage with her good friend before calling her father again.
Little Qing said she had something to attend to first, and Liuli seemed preoccupied, making it awkward to disturb them. After much thought, she decided to go by herself.
Chu Yuanying’s phone ringtone was a Japanese song, echoing in the summer wind as it still hadn’t been picked up:
"Even if you gather up the fragments of the shattered yesterday one by one, you know the interrupted page…"
[Yesterday’s memories are shattered into pieces. Even if we try to put them back together, we know our story has already come to an end.]
Dad, will you answer the phone?
…
…
Clatter.
The phone slipped from her hand onto the ground.
Chu Yuanqing looked down, her trembling fingertips and palm covered in sticky blood. She endured the pain as the images reflected in her retina shook violently.
——This is the price of that performance.
Whether it’s the highly efficient imitation learning of "Heart Flow" or self-hypnosis, imagining herself as Charlotte, she couldn’t truly replicate the charm of the world’s top idol.
These methods can make the dance more agile and the mood more immersive, but they won’t fundamentally change the idol’s overall strength, nor can they show any powerful style.
In simple terms, unlike other players who reveal special abilities through strong desires, she, always having to fight against curses, only stays at the shallowest stage with "Heart Flow," nothing supernatural about it.
Currently, only the "Heart Flow" ability developed by Tang Liuli has a chance to simulate Charlotte’s charm.
So, she chose a different extreme method.
That is—taking a few strands of Charlotte’s blessing and inserting them into a lantern as a manifestation of the soul.
This is the farewell gift from The Last Diva, recording some of Charlotte’s emotions and memories.
When the blessing falls into the lantern, creating a beautiful azure moment, her personality will inevitably be colored.
Under these circumstances, simulating with "Heart Flow" can naturally reproduce the charm of the world’s number one idol, truly embodying the concept of "channeling the gods."
This approach is like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Charlotte’s blessing, like many of her remaining blessings, is now used to ward off the curse of the Sea of Truth. Drawing on this blessing may not shorten her life, but it will intensify the pain caused by the curse a hundredfold in a short period of time.
In addition, the adverse reaction from the excessive absorption of magic by the lanterns also contributes to this tragic situation.
Chu Yuanqing has a high tolerance for pain. Currently, she is mainly struggling with physical tremors and moments of unconsciousness caused by her shattered and repaired soul.
The girl looked dazed and lost in thought for a while, until her gaze fell on the dirty phone beside her, with the still vibrating answer button. It was as if the phone was urging her urgently, prompting her to answer the call.
She forcefully wiped her hand, stained red, on her pure white skirt, unable to control a cough.
Nearby, the phone’s ringtone continued to echo, with the volume set low. A serene and ethereal female voice sang softly, lingering in the room:
"From a freezing season, I dreamt of taking only you away, dreams spilled over, memories telling lies…"
[In the season almost frozen, I took only you away, encountering drifting and falling dreams, our memories are lying]
Chu Yuanqing’s ears were filled with noisy buzzing, the pleasant singing voice fragmented, striking her heart with disjointed words and phrases. Ignoring everything, she picked up the phone with her clean hand, finally pressing the answer button this time.
The singing stopped.
The bathroom was silent for a moment.
On the phone, Chu Wang Shu went silent for a moment, seeming nervous before speaking:
"Dad, did you see that text message?"
Chu Yuanqing’s mind went blank, and she was speechless.
Text message? What text message?
Is it… the message Little Shu sent me before the game?
Chu Yuanqing did remember receiving a message from the other person initially.
However, after getting off the car and taking the phone from Dream Weaver Rabbit, she quickly made excuses to leave her lovely daughter and Tang Liuli, and went to a coffee shop with few people, followed by coughing up blood continuously, during which she never had the chance to check her messages.
Chu Yuanqing was a little flustered.
To understand, from the daughter’s point of view, this text message has been sent for over a week. Even if busy with work trips, there was no reason not to see it.
Chu Yuanqing immediately looked at the bloodstains on the phone screen. Her retina had not fully recovered, and the images that came into view were sometimes distorted, sometimes trembling. Even wiping the screen with her sleeve, she couldn’t see the message clearly at all. Currently, she could only use magic to adjust her voice, saying nervously:
"I did see it."
Chu Wang Shu looked somewhat skeptical:
"…Really? You’re not just hearing what I said and now looking through message records, are you?"
Chu Yuanqing coughed a few times, silently wiping away the red stains from her lips. The lantern hanging in front of her chest was overheating like an overload, and in a state of magic rejection, even a magic trick like adjusting her voice would put a huge strain on her body.
Swords cut, hammers pound, whips lash, pots cook, hangings tighten, nails kill…
Curses twist senses, confuse minds, deceive souls, like intentional torture, creating a cruel illusion filled with thorns.
Chu Yuanqing got used to it. She furrowed her brows, coughed a few times, a bead of blood slid down her jaw, her clear golden eyes filled with gentleness, she smiled, and changed the subject:
"How come? Oh right, you guys have a performance today."
"I took a quick look at the live stream, you were standing in the third row on the main stage, dancing great. But the dance for the theme song looks quite different from the ethnic dance you learned. Did you find it challenging to adapt while learning it?"
"And in the first episode, I saw the contestants on your show, they were all eating vegetarian… cough cough, with such intense training, it’s better to eat more nutritious food, it’s free anyway."
Chu Wang Shu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, her heart pounding, feeling a bit at a loss.
These greetings seemed ordinary, but they were the attention and warmth she hadn’t experienced in many years, something she never expected before making the call.
The little girl felt like fireworks exploding in her head, her lips couldn’t help but curl up slightly, she shook her head, shaking off the dizzying happiness, feeling relieved but also uneasy.
Lately, Dad seems a bit strange.
From giving her money when coming to school to talk to her, to a series of greetings on the phone, these were unprecedented events in recent years.
And in this situation, with no warning in between, could it be that… because she forgot her mother’s anniversary, she suddenly realized that she had been neglecting those around her, and decided to make amends?
Chu Wang Shu could only think of this possibility for a moment.
Over the years, her father never mentioned her mother, and there wasn’t even a photo of her in the house. Even when she tried to secretly look through her father’s phone a few years ago, she found no trace of her.
Even in the cemetery, there were no clues on her mother’s gravestone. To the naked eye, it was just a monument with several black squares carved into it, the meaning of which was somewhat unclear.
When Chu Wang Shu was young, she asked what her mother’s name was and why it wasn’t engraved on the gravestone.
At that time, her father, who appeared weathered but still retained a bit of youthful vigor in his appearance, always showed a complicated expression when asked about it. It seemed like a mixture of sadness and confusion, and the answers she received were either evasive or a change of subject.
As time went by, she stopped asking altogether.
Looking back now, she thought that the mysterious nature of her parents’ relationship and past must have been incredibly tumultuous, which would make any changes on his part quite… reasonable, right?
Chu Wang Shu replied while imagining different scenarios in her mind.
But as she thought more, her eyes widened suddenly, thinking of a more reasonable yet unsettling and inexplicable possibility.
My dad… he wouldn’t be looking for a stepmother for me, would he?!
This is a very reasonable deduction.
Because generally speaking, what can cause a significant change in the mental state of a single father, the most obvious thing that comes to mind is entering into a new relationship, reigniting hope for life.
Chu Wang Shu couldn’t hold it in any longer, she cautiously probed:
"Dad, has the landlady come to talk to you recently?"
Chu Yuanqing tried to recall, but couldn’t remember much. Her vision had somewhat returned to normal, currently she was carefully reading her daughter’s text messages, and casually replied:
"We didn’t talk much. Why are you asking about this?"
"Oh, just curious. What about the lady next door who paints and runs a yoga studio? And your attractive junior colleague who always brings you coffee at work, how are your relationships with them?"
"An ordinary acquaintance."
"That client sister who came to thank you last time, and the one who loves cosplaying…"
Chu Yuanqing answered while trying to hide her coughing and reading messages due to her poor concentration, unaware of the reality of the crooked building.
Chu Wang Shu suddenly woke up from her questioning, remembering the purpose of her call was to have her dad come to see her. She quickly brought the conversation back on track, asking with some anticipation:
"Dad, are you free now?"
"The program group said that players are allowed to move freely here today, and can also meet their family."
– I want to see you.
The daughter’s words subtly expressed this meaning.
After a moment of silence, Chu Yuanqing, accustomed to the curse’s backlash, was almost coughing up blood from the experience. Rather than enduring the pain of meeting, she cared more about… Should she respond to her daughter’s expectations as Chu Yuanying’s herself?
If she responded, Little Shu would be happy.
But if their relationship gets closer, will all his efforts in teaching his daughter to be independent, to live without him, and not to have expectations toward him go to waste?
But if she doesn’t respond, can Little Shu accept her own death?
Chu Yuanqing used to think that if she made their relationship icy, her daughter wouldn’t be too sad when she left.
But now, she’s starting to doubt that idea.
Because…
The text message from Chu Wang Shu seems to confirm her mistake.
[Dad, I’m going to record ‘Dazzling Stage’.]
[Well, I actually wanted to discuss with you before deciding whether to audition or not, but because you forgot Mom’s anniversary that day, I impulsively decided to audition and unexpectedly got through.]
[I’m sorry I didn’t tell you when you came to see me at school that day.]
[But it’s never too late now. I know that even if I had told you, you would have said to go do what you really want to do.]
[Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to know about topics related to people my age? Then go take a look, even though I probably won’t be featured in the show, but you never know.]
[Lastly… if, I mean if.]
[If I could debut through this show and become the moon on stage, I would surely earn a lot of money. I could buy a big house in Sea City then, and you wouldn’t have to work hard all day.]
[Dad, we haven’t had a good chat in a long time. If that day really comes, let’s find a place to sit down, whether it’s a café, an aquarium, or a bench in the park. Let’s have a good talk.]
Chu Yuanqing couldn’t remain indifferent.
Over the years, his daughter, who had been gradually rebellious and increasingly distant, not only overcame her own misunderstandings, but even if she didn’t know the full story, she chose to forgive her years of numbness and alienation.
And the last sentence was nothing short of an invitation to let go of past grievances.
Chu Yuanqing thought she knew her daughter well, but the emotions in the text of the message were like a stab to her heart, making her taste her own pride and ignorance.
Chu Wang Shu is a top student in her grade, very hardworking and obedient.
She finishes all the food she cooks and never wastes any.
She willingly puts on an apron, goes to the kitchen to wash dishes, and takes care of most of the household cleaning.
She doesn’t have her own computer, is very thrifty, her closet is mostly filled with clothes from discount stores, and she rejects all social activities at school that require money.
She is not very rebellious, just lonely and kind, she saves her pocket money to buy cat food, sits on the roadside to feed small animals and daydream, and doesn’t have many friends.
But…
Chu Yuanqing still thought her daughter would somewhat hate her.
Or rather, she hoped her daughter would hate her, even to the extent of being indifferent to news of her death, or even feeling happy to receive a large insurance payout.
Unfortunately, as the father Chu Yuanying was too clumsy, numb and slow, it was only when he became aware of his current state that he realized his initial decision might not have been correct.
So, as Chu Wang Shu held her breath waiting for an answer, the other person’s voice slowly came down:
"I have work today, I can spare some time, but not for long. Is that okay?"
The young girl’s eyes sparkled with joy, she nodded pleasantly but suppressed her emotions, responding calmly:
"Yes, that’s fine."
"Alright, it will take me about an hour to drive over. I’ll call you when I arrive."
Chu Yuanqing hung up the phone, struggling to stand up and looked at her messy reflection in the mirror.
The girl’s knees were scraped on the tiles, her clothes and hem stained with bright red, the blood on her palms no longer sticky, but almost dried up and vibrant, complemented by her white hair and golden eyes, all exuding a sense of brokenness that seemed otherworldly.
The scene in the bathroom was even more terrifying, resembling a postmodern abstract painting, with thick layers of blood like graffiti, running down the sink onto the tiled floor, resembling a crime scene untouched by the perpetrator.
But luckily, as a magical girl, her blood was made of magic. By washing it with magic, she could clean it all away with a steaming effect.
Similarly, the bloodstains on her face, hands, and clothes could also be easily cleaned using the same method.
Even the smell would only leave behind a pleasant scent like roses.
In fact, she could now smell flowers instead of the strong smell of blood throughout the room.
Therefore, one hour set by Chu Yuanqing was enough to end the rejection phenomenon inside her body, stabilize the magic power source, and easily get rid of all the traces.
The only thing to consider now was how to meet Little Shu.
Chu Yuanqing chose to pay such a high price not only to not hold back the rest of her team but also to prepare to meet her daughter.
Though the eyes of the live audience on the stage could be annoying, the magical energy generated from their positive emotions was extremely powerful, even comparable to live broadcasts with millions of viewers.
Hmm, two thousand live audience members, compared to millions of online viewers.
There was always this feeling that she was urging herself to quickly hold a concert with 100,000 people, thinking that it would make her soar to the sky in one fell swoop.
Let’s not think about the wonderful reasons for now.
Anyway, after experiencing a strong rejection, the magical power source of the lantern pendant expanded about ten times, transforming her from an ultimate loser magical girl to a slightly loser magical girl!
The Magic Clone, which used to be considered as "advanced magic," could finally be used normally now, enough to last for two hours.
Chu Yuanqing had a plan: while the "Chu Yuanying" clone was talking to Little Shu, she also needed to pass by to show her presence, creating evidence that both of them were present at the same time, completely separating herself from the identity of "Chu Yuanqing."
With this move completed, no matter how Little Shu imagined things, she wouldn’t suspect that Chu Yuanqing was her dad.
Sacred Separation Spell!
Just as Chu Yuanqing felt secure, she couldn’t help but cough a few times.
At the same time, the faint sound of a lock turning could be heard.
Chu Yuanqing was taken by surprise when her gloomy and beautiful sister entered the bathroom without a word.
Tang Liuli’s mind went blank, and in the mirror, she saw a overwhelming image from the bathroom, reminding her of a terrifying scene from her past that her mother left a shadow on.
But then, like a gift from the gods, a person came and helped her break free from those memories.
The golden depths of Chu Yuanqing’s eyes shimmered like sunlight on Walden Pond, her white cascading hair symbolizing the first snow on the mountain peaks, her delicate features and pale skin resembling dew-kissed petals.
In that moment, the dazzling charm dispelled the shadows in her heart, replacing them with deep sadness and fear.
Because…
The drop of blood on the girl’s lips trickled down her chin, symbolizing the fading of life, shattering on the tiles like a mermaid turning into foam as it reaches the land.
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Updated: 2024/12/03
Nullparadox
It hurts to see that I caught up QAQ but I’m sort of glad that she true appearance has been seen:>