Chapter 196
"Well, since Xiao Qing is alright, everyone should go touch up their makeup."
"We haven't seen the result of the match yet."
After saying that, the three Little Idol went their separate ways.
Kiriwake Yayoi went to the dressing table.
Xie Qingxuan sat on the sofa, wiping the lipstick marks from the corner of her mouth with a cotton pad.
Tang Liuli went to the bathroom alone, pushed open the shower door, went in to take a shower, and began to pay the price for the sins she had committed in the past hour.
In the changing room, Chu Yuanqing used magic to smooth out the wrinkles in her clothes and then used the buff from her Magic Armor to cleanse her delicate and beautiful face, restoring her original sacred, solemn, pure, and immaculate appearance.
So when the Little Cotton-padded Jacket returned to her dressing room, she found the same scene as before she left. Only when she went into the changing room and put on her new performance costume, the rich floral fragrance in the air and the damp marks on the floor, which had just been mopped, vaguely indicated what had happened there.
Um, don't get me wrong, that's not Chu Yuanqing's, it's Green Eyed Cat's.
After that, the team acted as if nothing had happened, sharing the joy of victory and chatting idly while waiting for the second round of the competition.
On the other side,
The Dream Weaver Rabbit also confirmed Nightmare's death with data from various countries. It glanced at all the surveillance cameras installed in the venue, but Chu Yuanqing was no longer visible in them.
The Super AI muttered to itself:
"Is this method magic, the power of calamity, or is it directly related to [Pure White]?"
When Xie Qingyu returned, she and Violet had already reported back on the information about Chu Yuanqing.
The conclusion was that, as Captain-Class [Witch], she was unable to sense any trace of magic from the other party.
If the technique isn't extremely unique, then it means the other party possesses another wondrous power system.
Of course, what deserves more attention than the words spoken by this nightmare is something else entirely.
"The true form of [Pure White] has been found."
This statement, coupled with the intelligence from 17 years ago that Chu Yuanqing did not exist in the world, is too thought-provoking and too earth-shattering to be anything but, enough to cause a major earthquake in the entire Human Alliance.
Dream Weaver Rabbit has made a decision.
Chu Yuanqing is very mysterious, but the fact that he is willing to continue to appear here openly proves that he intends to communicate with the authorities. Perhaps... the mystery of [Pure White] that has puzzled humanity for 17 years will be officially solved today.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit lowered its eyes, gazing at the azure planet on the Virtual Screen, its gaze touching the epic, magnificent, pure white wall, and whispered:
"Chu Yuanqing, will you bring new hope to humanity?"
Or perhaps, you already are.
Volume 1: Chapter 188. Lay the cards on: I am [Pure White]. (5K2)
Time passed.
All 33 teams in "Flash Dance" took to the stage one after another to complete their performances and determine the winners and losers.
As with previous rounds of the show, this round undoubtedly involved a significant element of luck.
Which group will be performing, the strength of the opponents, whether the chosen dance music is suitable for the competition, the skill level of the teammates, and how many audience members are fans...
Details like these are often more important than the actual strength itself.
For example, were the teams that faced off against Chen Yining and Chu Yuanqing at the start weak?
A team with a composition of 1B2C2D.
One team consists of 3C1D1E.
Among them, the team with B-Class was already in the middle to upper range among the 33 teams, but the opponents they encountered were too strong, making them appear dull and losing most of their brilliance. As a result, they couldn't even get a third of the vote pool.
These two losing teams cannot participate in the next round and will not receive any winning team votes. The current individual votes will determine the final results, and it is estimated that 8 out of 10 players will be eliminated, which is equivalent to being kicked out.
Similar cases abounded during the stage competitions.
Most of the losers in this round could not avoid elimination. Many contestants, even knowing that the camera was right in front of them, did not have the energy to maintain their facial expressions after leaving the stage, and could not help but tear up and cry.
It was the bitterness of a shattered dream, the grievance of years of hard work going to waste, the regret of never being able to step onto the stage as an idol, and even the relief of falling off a tightrope while walking a long way, feeling a weight lifted from one's shoulders.
These mixed colors, stirring a stinging, bittersweet feeling in the heart, are perhaps the very essence of idol talent shows.
--Unreachable, therefore dazzling.
The stage and idols are just like that.
"Flash Dance" has no behind-the-scenes manipulation or rigging. It is a rare program in the Chinese Entertainment Industry that judges winners purely on stage performance, restoring the purity of idols, willing to give everyone a chance to shine, and willing to let everyone pursue their dreams. It has maintained this commitment to this day.
For many contestants, becoming an idol is mostly a stepping stone to gain enough popularity and traffic to be noticed by investors, film TV dramas, and take on commercials. Their core goal is simply to make money and have a better life.
But people change. The closed environment, the Program Group's rules, the special atmosphere, and the stage competition all made many girls who were indifferent to idols pick up their shattered dreams in two months, gradually piece together their shining selves on stage, and see the grand light in the distance.
This is the magic of idols; you can't understand their charm without experiencing it firsthand.
Therefore, even if they are unfortunately eliminated, they will continue to watch the show and choose to witness firsthand how far the contestants from the same region can go, until all their former competitors have fallen along the way, and only then will their dreams slowly dissipate, just like their youth that has died.
As Chu Wangshu watched the scene on the screen, the joy brought by the PK victory had faded away amidst the tears of the girls who had taken to the stage over the past hour. In its place came a subtle sense of bewilderment and a touch of deep melancholy.
If...
What will happen to her if she can never perform on stage again?
This is a very interesting question. Just two months ago, she was a high school student who had studied folk dance and never imagined that she would be on a stage with so many people watching.
Chu Wangshu wasn't worried about being eliminated at all during the competition. Her only concern was whether or not she should call her Dad, like a carefree fool.
This idea didn't change during the Second Evaluation. She was so sad when she stepped down that she threw herself into Chu Yuanqing's arms and cried. It wasn't because she was afraid of not being able to be an idol, but because she felt that she had missed the opportunity to improve her family's life and reduce her father's burden.
As for idols and the stage?
Those are all illusory things, like toys displayed in a fancy shop window. You've never had them, so naturally you're not afraid of losing them, nor are you saddened by it.
However, the two months of intense training and repeated stage battles gave her a wonderful sense of accomplishment, which made her look forward to the future and yearn for the seemingly unattainable Debut Spot.
Recently, after a long, tiring day, she would occasionally stand on the stage after a performance, basking in the audience's gaze, breathing in the heat of the spotlight, and Heart Tide pounding amidst the cheers.
"I want to become a real idol."
After experiencing the disappointment of others, Chu Wangshu gained a clear understanding of her own heart for the first time. She was lost in thought as she looked at the stage PK entering the second round on the screen. The girls on stage were shining in the light, just like the ones she had dreamed of.
At that moment, the girl understood Kiriwake Yayoi.
This senior, who could still be brave even after wasting seven years of his youth, must have had these same feelings many years ago.
"So, it really does light up when you're on stage."
Chu Wangshu unconsciously muttered to herself, a smile of both frustration and joy appearing on her face. She suddenly felt that she hadn't worked hard enough in the past few weeks, so much so that she still didn't have a real sense of groundedness.
Perhaps...
It's fine as it is now.
In the past, when Chu Wangshu went on stage, she would always think about how to make her Dad proud. She wanted to be a bright and clear moon to prove that the man's years of hard work had not been in vain.
However, the reasons for taking office now go beyond that.
Chu Yuanqing didn't notice the Little Cotton-padded Jacket's gradual transformation. Her long eyelashes were draped over her eyelids as she closed her eyes to rest. The new Magic Replenishment buff was like a hot spring, soaking her entire body and spreading warmth to her flesh and soul, along with the magic flowing through the rose, nurturing drowsiness.
The backlash caused by [Echoes of the Past] was not as severe as the periodic rampage of the curse, and it subsided completely ten minutes after the Magic Replenishment began.
So, in the end, the subsequent events were essentially the Pure White Witch using her body to comfort the Little Idol who were "terrified" by the nightmare.
Of course, there are also advantages.
This was, after all, the first four-person party. Even if it only went as far as kissing, it still involved four magical properties, which was equivalent to a high-purity compound Magic Replenishment. The fusion of four Heart Tide created an even more wonderful chemical reaction.
In short, the soul repair rate, mana recovery rate, and the efficiency of the lantern in converting positive emotions have all been greatly improved, translating to a 500% increase. It's somewhat like the [Shattered Golden Cup], but more multifaceted and can be stacked with it.
In addition, the lantern was covered with an " AT AT Field" that blended cherry blossom pink, emerald green, and jet black, with the same function as the one the Golden Haired Doggy had given it last time.
Chu Yuanqing calculated that the Magic Replenishment buff would last for about a week, but considering that the Little Idol would take turns sleeping in bed every day, it would last for several more weeks. In addition, with the aftermath of the second Public Performance, they might be able to replenish their current mana level before the effect ends.
--Provided that the curse of the Sea of Truth doesn't get any worse.
"As expected, lifespan has not increased."
"Perhaps this is the limit of Magic Replenishment before they become true Magical Girl."
Chu Yuanqing was not surprised by this. The amount of time she had left was already the best possible outcome after all the checks and balances. How could she possibly fill the gaps so easily?
Even if the rate of soul repair were increased tenfold, a hundredfold, or a thousandfold, it would still not be able to keep up with the rate of shattering.
Therefore, even if Dream Weaver Rabbit had no intention of talking to Chu Yuanqing, she would still take this opportunity to use her Magic Clone to connect with the authorities, formally understand the current situation of the world, and find a way to die in a way that maximizes her own advantage.
On the other side,
Xie Qingxuan's expression was indifferent, and her eyes were much more serious than usual. Her attention was entirely focused on her nemesis on the screen.
Yes, I'm referring to that sharp-tongued, aloof, and somewhat capricious older sister— Xie Qingyu.
Why did my sister come to Flashdance?
"What is her purpose? Is she trying to use this position to make me see the gap between us? Or is she trying to prove that even if I successfully debut, I won't be able to catch up with her achievements as an idol?"
"Or... just like before, they think I'm not worthy of being an idol at all, that I can't perform anything decent on stage, and they want to sit in the closest spot, hoping I'll make a fool of myself on stage?"
Xie Qingxuan thought about it seriously, considering a whole host of possibilities, but the more she thought about it, the worse she felt.
Yes, she completely eliminated the possibility that the other person simply wanted to see her.
The girl's eyes were cold and piercing, a dark cross shimmering in her pupils. Even her usually restrained aura began to resurface. She murmured to herself:
"Xie Qingyu, this time, I will not lose to you again."
The Green Eyed Cat instinctively sensed the dangerous aura and fearfully moved closer to Chu Yuanqing, resting its head on his soft, fragrant thigh.
The child prodigy blinked her emerald eyes warily as she hugged the Pure White Witch's waist, beginning to suspect that the other had seen through her secret and was therefore jealous of her extraordinary talent that allowed her to enjoy Qing Bao three times.
Haha, this wicked woman has no idea how many twisted trials she has endured for this happiness! This is a kind of happiness that only the truly enlightened can enjoy!
Kiriwake Yayoi glanced at Tang Liuli's actions, too exhausted to react further. That's how Social Anxiety Cat are; they always like to imagine all sorts of things, then jump around in surprise, which is quite adorable.
As for whether Xiao Qing was sexually harassed...
Since taking turns sleeping in the bed, the innocent Little Sakura has been trying to turn a blind eye to these things, attempting to toughen herself up. Otherwise, she'll eventually be ruined by the increasingly chaotic relationships within the group.
At this point, the second round of the competition was nearing its end.
Ten minutes later, the group returned to the stage after a two-hour hiatus.
At this moment, it was already dusk outside, but the audience below the stage showed no signs of fatigue.
Chu Yuanqing, with her impeccable mental discipline, controlled her Magic Clone to remain in its original position, fulfilling her promise to her daughter immediately, and then smiled at the audience.
This act of performing immediately elicited a strong positive response from the audience. A chaotic clamor surged from below the stage, with many subtle comments strongly requesting to see the white-haired, golden-eyed man again, causing the lantern in my chest to tremble.
Fortunately, to prevent vote-soliciting, Flash Dance didn't give the contestants much time to interact with the audience. The virtual reality system then activated, and the music filled the venue, officially starting the performance.
The audience.
Looking at his daughter's figure and the [scaled light tide] that had soon filled the air, Chu Yuanqing felt a mix of emotions.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit appeared beside me without my noticing. Its body was constructed from code and radiated a magical glow. It was clearly not an ordinary Virtual Projection, but rather a form resembling its true form, as if to show sincerity.
This Super AI used some kind of technology to shield itself from the surrounding noise, weaving a space within a small area where it could easily converse, and whispered:
"Your daughter has a very special talent. According to predictions, she is expected to reach the Sea-level magical power of a [Witch] after [Full Bloom]."
"But even so, faced with Disaster Tide that is about to engulf the entire world, a [Witch] cannot change the overall situation."
Chu Yuanqing was not surprised by the appearance of the Dream Weaver Rabbit.
Rather than saying this was an inevitable outcome, she used magic to demonstrate the power of the other systems, shattering the official's helpless nightmare. With her daughter in Flashdance as a weakness, negotiating first was the most reasonable solution than to forcefully control her without saying a word.
In comparison, she was more surprised by the form in which the Dream Weaver Rabbit existed.
The mascot that appears before us is essentially a Magic Clone of myself, except that it contains materialized data code and is closer to the original entity.
In other words, even if the so-called Dream Weaver is just a Super AI, it is still a Super AI has come to life in some sense.
Chu Yuanqing said bluntly:
"You want to know a lot from me."
"Coincidentally, so am I. I want to know everything about the Calamity Beasts, including its origins in this world and the progress of the Disaster Tide's expansion."
Dream Weaver Rabbit fell silent for a moment; this was a very strange question.
At the very least, someone who can easily kill B-Class Calamity Beasts shouldn't ask such a "common sense" question.
Dream Weaver Rabbit asked: