Chapter 203
However, it's important to understand that the threat only works if they care about themselves, and the more they care about themselves, the more concerned they will be about their own safety.
In other words, assuming the nightmare attack caused these girls to have a strong sense of crisis, it would be reasonable for them to break their promise and recruit new people.
Oh no, the logic has gotten stuck in a closed loop!
Chu Yuanqing grew increasingly frightened as she thought about it, her cute little face turning serious. She made up her mind that if such a thing really happened, she would definitely refuse it sternly and absolutely, and make all the girls reflect on their actions.
Even as time went by, and the signs of this Savior's female degeneration became more and more obvious, and her maternal instincts grew stronger, her inner principles and bottom lines never changed. Her contact with her daughter in this capacity was only a helpless act, and being a confidante was the best outcome.
As for overstepping the bounds again, unless her understanding is overturned by Conceptual Level ability, it is absolutely impossible.
And...
Charlotte is still alive! Even though she's the same age as Chu Wangshu now, that doesn't change the fact that she's Chu Wangshu's mother!
Chu Wangshu looked at the very serious-looking Qing Mom, completely unaware of what was going on in her mind. She had only sat down because there was a vacancy, and it seemed fun to have Aunt Qing in the middle. She was also curious about what the other seniors wanted to say.
Hmm, we'll definitely be discussing all sorts of plans for our trip to Austria, right?
I'm really looking forward to it! Where will everyone go for travel first? Should we complete more tasks? What will the commercial performance be like?
Besides, isn't this just using company funds to travel with good friends? We can even use the guise of a mission to openly visit famous scenic spots, record a wonderful time by filming vlogs of everyone having fun together, and even many years later, we'll definitely be happy to look back on it, right?
Chu Wangshu became happier and happier as she thought about it. It was also her first time going abroad, and she felt a mix of unease and anticipation, along with the excitement of not being able to sleep the night before an autumn outing. She blinked her eyes and a smile appeared on her lips.
Kiriwake Yayoi didn't speak. She was annoyed that she hadn't finished folding the origami cranes. If only she could have finished folding them before leaving and given them to Xiao Qing as a gift.
However... going out has its advantages. Originally, her assistant had to buy the containers for the origami cranes, but now she can secretly choose them herself, and maybe even give some more practical little gifts.
Tang Liuli cautiously looked around, not assuming she didn't know why this group of people had gathered around!
Green Eyed Cat knew it all too well; these people were definitely after the chance to share a room with Qing Mom! Especially that shameless Sakura Girl! She deliberately avoided mentioning it, yet secretly sneaked into Qing Mom's room—wasn't it to sneak away, or what?
And that stupid Golden Haired Doggy, why did it have to come and join the fun? Today was supposed to be its turn to be the attending physician, yet it tried to provoke me to my face! How infuriating, is it trying to play some kind of "face-to-face" role-playing game? This is just... just too much!
As Tang Liuli thought about this, she imagined herself tied to the bed, watching the sheets gradually wrinkle, feeling powerless to do anything about it. But as soon as she got to this point in her imagination, she realized something was wrong.
But the bittersweet feeling had already taken hold, and the side effects of empathy returned, making the brain dizzy. The pleasure mechanism was forcibly activated, much like Pavlov's dog, concocting a subtle and twisted kind of pleasure.
The Green Eyed Cat was extremely ashamed, yet also deeply shocked by its own actions.
It's so cute, what's the point of having such a great imagination?!
Tang Liuli loathed this and immediately pinched her thigh, which was rubbing involuntarily. However, the pain did not kill the pleasure; instead, it stimulated her skin to tingle.
The girl pursed her lips and began to beat up the useless Green Eyed Cat in her consciousness. She tried her best to restrain herself with skillful acting, pretending to be calm. Her back was straight, but her arches were secretly tensed, stretching her boat socks into a beautiful arc, making her toes closer to her buttocks.
Xie Qingxuan was always in [Meditation State], so he could clearly see Tang Liuli's subtle expressions, the cat-like stretching of her muscles, and the slight trembling in her curves as she suppressed her emotions.
The girl's expression became serious as she observed more closely, her mind beginning to imagine what amazing things this master of neodymium copper was doing.
Ten seconds later, her platinum eyelashes trembled slightly, her indifferent pupils widened, and a subtle expression of understanding appeared on her otherwise emotionless face. Could it be... that this is the legendary part of treating the audience as part of the play?!
Amazing Liuli!
What a clever cat!
Xie Qingxuan decided to put her learning to use, but she soon discovered that she didn't possess the same extraordinary talent as the Green Eyed Cat. Without using her hands, rubbing her legs, or touching Qing Bao, she simply couldn't generate the desire to arouse her body.
The Golden Haired Doggy was a little disappointed.
Chu Yuanqing couldn't hold back any longer. Why was everyone still silent? Were they playing some kind of "Red Light, Green Light" game behind his back?
Fortunately, at this moment, the most reliable Kiriwake Yayoi, stopped being in a daze. She coughed a few times, looked up at everyone, and broke the eerie, silent scene, saying:
Has everyone packed their luggage?
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone responded.
Xie Qingxuan's words were concise and to the point:
"All packed up."
Chu Wangshu spoke earnestly:
"It's no different from moving dorms and packing up belongings before; it'll be a quick process."
Tang Liuli barely regained her senses and whispered:
"Yes, me too."
Chu Yuanqing was silent for a moment, then replied:
"I was tidying up when you all surrounded me in the middle of the bed."
After she finished speaking, the pretty girls obediently stepped aside like little ducks, blinking their bright, jewel-like eyes as they watched the Pure White Witch hesitantly move under the bed, tidy up some odds and ends, and stuff them into her somewhat worn-out Small backpack.
Subsequently,
Chu Yuanqing placed her suitcase on the edge of the bedside table. She couldn't help but turn around and look at the little girls, asking with a hint of helplessness:
"I'm done cleaning up. Say what you want to say now."
After hearing Little Sakura, Sakura's eyes sparkled as she pulled a tablet from her pocket and confidently declared:
"Of course, we're discussing travel plans. We just decided that the final destination is Saint Wolfgang, but we haven't decided where to go first yet. Our assistant was still asking us about it in the group chat, so we definitely need to consider everyone's opinions."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yuanqing's tense nerves relaxed. So that's what they wanted to talk about. Seeing their nervous expressions, she wondered what they were planning.
The girl's serious expression softened. She realized that everyone was indeed a good child, and she even felt guilty for having imagined so much. She immediately made a perfectly reasonable suggestion:
"If it's about completing the mission, the capital city would be the most suitable, wouldn't it? Vienna alone has enough historical sites to make up ten."
The Green Eyed Cat agrees with this:
"Indeed, churches, museums, and various palaces alone are enough to complete the mission."
Xie Qingxuan commented:
"Vienna also has a Flashdance competition zone. Given Flashdance's marketing efforts, the contestants should have considerable influence locally, and their vlogs will most likely be edited into the show. From this perspective, going there is indeed a good choice."
Chu Wangshu mustered his courage and expressed his feelings:
"Yes, completing the mission is naturally the top priority, but I think we shouldn't treat these 45 days as just a competition, just completing the mission for the sake of completing the mission. Instead, we should cherish this opportunity even more."
"Because... after the Third Performance, we might go our separate ways, and maybe we'll never have the chance to go out and have fun together like this again."
This is an objective fact that no one has voluntarily revealed until now.
Everyone fell silent after hearing this.
The new rules announced by Dream Weaver Rabbit have further accelerated the pace of the finals. The Sea Capital Division may not be able to gather five teams after the third round, and the competition for the Debut Spot and the Center position is very close.
In the end, if one of the five falls behind, or if there aren't even five Debut Spot, separation is the inevitable outcome.
Even a simple separation or falling behind is a better outcome. The more likely reality is that those who have developed feelings for each other will eventually stand on opposing sides, trying to destroy each other's dreams.
So, this might really be the only opportunity for everyone to travel together, just as Chu Wangshu said.
Chu Wangshu's face was serious. Since reconciling with her father, she had resolved some of her inner conflicts and truly learned to be open and honest with others. At this moment, she was extremely frank and mustered up her courage to tell him everything from the bottom of her heart:
"Although I don't know what everyone thinks, I like everyone very much."
"Whether it's Xiao Qing, who always tolerates my willfulness and indulges my tantrums; Yayoi of me; Liuli, who patiently teaches me music theory and shares so much experience with me; Sister Xie, who patiently guides me through the training and even gives me the Center position."
"I like each and every one of you very much, and I cherish the opportunity to eat and live with you all. I truly believe that meeting you in a talent show like Flashdance is a very lucky thing."
"So even if I get eliminated later, I won't regret participating in this show."
"But that's precisely why I want to create more wonderful memories with everyone on this trip."
Sincerity is always a powerful weapon for kind people.
The Green Eyed Cat was deeply moved. Without thinking, she hugged Chu Wangshu tightly around the waist, nuzzled her face against his, and declared:
"Xiao Shu, you're so kind. I... I also want to create more memories with Xiao Shu!"
Although the Sakura Girl was awful and the other blond dog was wicked, she had no desire to travel with them at all. But since Xiao Shu had said so, she wasn't incapable of making a temporary reconciliation with them.
Kiriwake Yayoi was also deeply moved. She had always been the one who cherished the team atmosphere the most. She hadn't thought that her other teammates would share such naive thoughts as she did, but she was surprised that Xiao Shu valued everyone so much. She felt truly healed at that moment.
The soft, cherry-pink depths of the girl's eyes softened, and she smiled joyfully, agreeing:
"Well, this is what I'm thinking. Without affecting our advancement, since we all get to travel abroad together, we should create as many wonderful memories as possible. Such experiences will have extraordinary significance for the stage."
"I'm really glad that Xiao Shu thinks this way. Thank you for being willing to tell us these things."
Xie Qingxuan was clumsy with words, so he simply patted Chu Wangshu's head to show his agreement.
Chu Yuanqing had the most complicated feelings. She felt gratified that her daughter had become more mature, and grateful that everyone had taken her Little Cotton-padded Jacket's feelings seriously.
Moreover, Xiao Shu is right; this trip is extremely important for both her and myself.
Because... this will likely be the father and daughter's last trip.
In 45 days, the program will inevitably complete the selection process within a few weeks, allowing those who pass the test to learn the truth and join the real project behind <Flashdance>, as one of the cornerstones of salvation, to weave that yearning to touch the brilliance of miracles.
Regardless of success or failure, I am destined to carry out the plan.
After all, if the Disaster God' s prolonged failure to revive is truly related to the thirteen powers she possesses, then mutual destruction is no longer an impossible possibility.
Chu Wangshu was completely unaware of this. Surrounded by her companions, she felt a long-lost sense of shame, her lovely face flushed, and she quickly changed the subject to where they were going.
Looking at this exceptionally heartwarming scene, Chu Yuanqing smiled slightly, but still indulgently followed her daughter's lead and continued talking about the previous topic.
Afterwards, everyone sat on the Pure White Witch's bed, diligently browsing online suggestions for scenic spots and historical sites. Each person picked out a few that interested them and began chattering excitedly about planning their trips. The atmosphere was very harmonious.
Similar scenes were unfolding in the other dormitories of the underground base. The contestants were either holding farewell parties for their eliminated teammates or seriously selecting tasks, planning training, thinking about travel routes, and even various other details, all in a very solemn manner.
It's obvious that the new rules proposed by Dream Weaver Rabbit have affected the players' mentality. With 167 players from two regions competing for 50 qualifying spots, the elimination rate is as high as two-thirds. Under such circumstances, no one wants to be the first team to fall behind.
Currently, the contestants in the Sea Capital and Capital regions have come up with many strategies under pressure.
The most mainstream method is the speedrun.
That is, to complete a large number of tasks as quickly as possible, then use commercial performances to accumulate enough points for a comeback, and finally strive to return to the underground base in the shortest possible time to await the arrival of the Third Performance.
This method has two advantages.
Firstly, it's less likely to backfire, ensuring a stable chance to participate in Public Performance.
Secondly, the underground training room is unique, and training here is far more efficient than training outside.
Meanwhile, the internet was already in an uproar.
The despicable act of Dream Weaver Rabbit cutting off the Live Broadcast Room at a crucial moment has drawn widespread condemnation from netizens.
Everyone was speculating about what kind of tricks the Program Group would pull in the third round. The official website of "Flash Dance" announced that the fifth episode would be updated the following evening, and released a batch of stage videos from the second Public Performance in advance, as if to apologize, showing great sincerity.
It even thoughtfully includes the stage that everyone has been eagerly anticipating.
That is, the stage performance with white hair and golden eyes that became a hit even before Chu Yuanqing's show aired.
What's absurd is that the official website deliberately cut out the last 30 seconds of the close-up shot released at approximately 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the performance.
Thus, many viewers who had just been appeased and were about to express their satisfaction were caught off guard and suddenly bombarded with a "broken chapter" bomb. Torn by the agonizing cessation of their emotions, they unleashed their fury, instantly turning red with anger.
"Mommy, Dream Weaver Rabbit, you're too hot!!!"
"Waaaaaah! How could you do this? You cut me off in the last half minute! You monster! You're a monster that harms people???"
"I'm crying! Where's my White-Haired Qing Bao? Give me back my White-Haired Qing Bao from the Great Xia Forces!!!"
"I'm so angry! I'm so angry! I want to eat spicy rabbit heads all day long?!"
"From now on, I'll hate Flash Dance forever, unless Flash Dance's dad gives me a ticket to a Public Performance???"
While Dream Weaver Rabbit and the Program Group were being attacked by the crowd, the official website released an extremely important message, informing all viewers that in order to complete the competition tasks, the contestants have left the base and traveled to all corners of the country, even outside of Great Xia, to perform a commercial show.
As long as you get a photo or autograph from any contestant, you can receive a ticket to Third Performance from the official organizers without any conditions.
What's even more ridiculous is that Dream Weaver Rabbit also revealed hundreds of commercial performance venues on the page at once, indicating that there's a chance that the Little Idol from <Flash Dance> will appear there in the next 45 days.
Netizens were utterly shocked; for a moment, they stopped criticizing the abrupt ending, and their desire to criticize completely overwhelmed their anger.
"You're a real genius, kid. You can do marketing like this? Now you'll have to spend 45 days in jail."
"Hilarious! How could they turn around and sell out all their sisters? What a beastly government!"
"Wait a minute? This commercial performance venue, and those probabilities down to the decimal point... are you kidding these Little Idol like Pokémon? Please, Dream Weaver Rabbit, have some humanity???"
"6. We show fans also need our own Pokemon Go, I suggest <FlashDance> should just release one too???"
"If you're so capable, make a Pokemon Go game where you can actually farm for Qing Bao character in the game), I'll download it immediately and max out my VIP status and all my stamina???"
"Damn it, catching a Little Idol is like getting an autograph, a photo, and Public Performance tickets—what kind of bounty contest is this? I'm forced to become a slave to desire?????????"
Thus, thanks to Dream Weaver Rabbit's hard work, a craze for capturing Little Idol was successfully sparked online, severely damaging the contestants in the Sea Capital and Capital regions who had not yet actually set off.