Chapter 258
Chu Yuanqing listened patiently to her Little Cotton-padded Jacket's explanation of science, much like an old father traveling with his children. Her clear eyes rippled like water, like harmonious music, gentle in the light, and the corners of her lips curved into a smile.
There was a time when I would play this role when I took Xiao Shu out to play.
Now, as time goes by, the roles are reversed. Perhaps this is what it feels like to be a parent and watch your children grow up. It's a mix of joy and loss, sadness and happiness, with incredibly complex emotions, but the warmth of happiness will stay with you all the time.
The Little Idol didn't stay long; they just strolled around, took a few photos, and then took the mountain cable car to the old town.
Ten minutes later, sunlight streamed onto the Salzburg Fortress, which stands atop a green cliff, with the old town nestled at the foot of this landmark building.
The Doomsday Diva gazed at the vibrant world under the clear sky, unabashedly grasping Chu Yuanqing's soft hand. Amidst the Green Eyed Cat's bristling glare, she led everyone to a spot for a group photo. Afterwards, she smiled and said:
"Everyone should create many wonderful memories with Xiao Qing!"
"Such opportunities are rare."
Upon hearing this, Tang Liuli confidently replied:
"My phone's photo album is full of Xiao Qing; I've been keeping a record of them!"
Charlotte, curious, leaned closer and peeked at the Green Eyed Cat's priceless photo album. Under the cat's puffed-out cheeks and pleading gaze, she admired it for a while before praising it:
"Yes, Liuli has indeed been watching Xiao Qing the whole time. She's recorded almost everything: eating, walking, daydreaming, gazing at the sky, smiling, frowning, and even her back view. But that's not enough. There aren't enough photos together. Why don't we take this opportunity to take some more?"
The young woman smiled and spoke, then pushed the bewildered, Social Anxiety Cat into Chu Yuanqing's arms, making the two of them stand in a street where they could see the distant green cliffs, blue sky, and Salzburg Fortress. She took out a seemingly treasured old camera and began to direct and take pictures:
"Liuli, don't forget to smile. You're so cute when you smile."
"Mmm, come a little closer. Xiao Qing is a bit taller than Liuli, they look like sisters."
"Xiao Qing, don't stare straight at the camera, it looks very unnatural! Liuli is great, no wonder she's acted in movies, she's very professional."
Charlotte took pictures for five or six minutes before stopping. She looked at the many photos in her camera with satisfaction and said with a smile:
"Okay, shall we let Yayoi and Xiao Qing take the photos next?"
Little Sakura blinked blankly, and before she could say anything, she was pushed into Chu Yuanqing's arms. The alluring floral fragrance that made her body weak and her cheeks flushed pink, she stood up in a slightly flustered manner, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looked up at him, and showed an awkward yet cute smile.
Click—the sound of the camera shutter being pressed rang out.
"Perfect! This is a fantastic shot! Yayoi's expression is so beautiful; innocent girls are always the cutest."
Kiriwake Yayoi was even more embarrassed by Charlotte's remarks. She said "Wait a minute" and hurriedly tidied her hair and clothes, wanting to present a better image to the camera, but then she heard several camera shutter sounds.
Little Sakura looked up in embarrassment and annoyance, only to meet Charlotte's mischievous and wicked smile. She had been photographed again, completely manipulated.
Charlotte quickly finished taking the photo of the two of them and urged Xie Qingxuan to go as well.
Chu Yuanqing understood the significance of this action and didn't find it annoying. She simply stood obediently next to the golden retriever, while remaining slightly wary to prevent a sudden attack.
Although I don't dislike Xie Qingxuan's sudden stolen kiss, but... it's one thing if he does it in front of Charlotte, but he absolutely cannot do it in front of his innocent, naive, and clueless Little Cotton-padded Jacket!
Well, thankfully Xie Qingxuan was quite well-behaved, standing motionless to the side, appearing very obedient.
Charlotte, however, had some objections to this, and she suggested:
"Aloof beauties are also my type, but they don't suit group photos. Xiao Xuan, don't look at me, try looking at Xiao Qing more?"
After obtaining approval, Xie Qingxuan turned his head to look at the face of the Pure White Witch. Her cold and indifferent eyes, as if peeling away the outer shell of ice and snow, revealed a childlike purity and softness, like thawing spring water, and her peach-colored lips looked even more beautiful.
"Adorable! This is the real Xiao Xuan!"
Charlotte seemed to be quite charmed by the unexpected contrast between the aloof beauty and the Golden Haired Doggy, which made her take photos much more efficiently. When she put down her camera, she seemed a little reluctant to leave, and even secretly hoped to have a threesome with Xie Qingxuan and Qing Bao.
Of course, from this perspective, Little Sakura's innocence and the Green Eyed Cat's timidity and social anxiety can also be part of the fun at a large party.
Chu Yuanqing had no idea what terrifying things Charlotte was thinking. In a good mood, she took the initiative to walk to Little Cotton-padded Jacket's side, took her hand, and led her back to the spot where they had taken the photo earlier, asking Charlotte to help take this precious father-daughter photo.
However, after taking a few photos, the young mother couldn't wait to hand the camera to Kiriwake Yayoi, clearly not wanting to miss the opportunity to take pictures with her daughter.
Charlotte and Chu Yuanqing sandwiched the Little Cotton-padded Jacket between them, turning their photo of the two of them into a family portrait.
Kiriwake Yayoi's photography skills were quite good, above average for a Sakura JK (high school girl). After taking the photos, she returned the camera. Watching Charlotte happily thank her, she felt that the rhythm of the group had been completely disrupted by the other girl.
Chu Wangshu also felt that something was amiss, but because she liked Sister Charlotte and Qing Bao very much, she ignored these unnecessary details and continued to happily stroll through the old town with everyone.
Charlotte, familiar with the area, led everyone to the famous Grain Alley in the old town. From there, it's a short walk to shop number 9, the birthplace of Mozart.
This is a narrow alley about three meters wide, lined with pale yellow shops on both sides, with various trademarks and signs hanging on the second floor.
The Doomsday Diva, seeing an opportunity, was delighted and kept snapping photos.
Those colorful and creatively designed iron signs are interesting works of art. She had visited Salzburg with Sister Ellie when she was a child and took these photos back then. Now, revisiting the place and taking some more photos is like a testament to the passage of time.
Charlotte complained as she took the photos:
"I was in Salzburg not long ago, but that Xiao Meng gave me so much work, it was like a performance review, it was driving me crazy. I just finished clearing out the evil spirits here, and I had to rush off to other places."
Kiriwake Yayoi thoughtful, and she said:
"So, the Dream Weaver Rabbit allows you to form a team by yourself not because you're being willful because of your Magical Girl talent, but because it makes it easier for you to be a tool?"
Charlotte looked away guiltily upon hearing this, but then immediately nodded confidently and said:
"Yes, that's right, Xiao Meng is just that outrageous! Look at her behavior on the show, it's so wicked, she's practically the villain on the opposite side of Magical Girl in anime!"
Upon hearing this, the Little Idol immediately believed it.
Indeed, the Dream Weaver Rabbit doesn't look like a good thing at all.
Chu Yuanqing, however, found it difficult to remain composed.
Although some of the Super AI's actions were indeed annoying, she was certain that Astrid was the one being bullied by Charlotte. The fact that she was the only one in the group was probably just like Yayoi imagined, a result of this Saintess favored by the Holy United States.
As for going to work, just look at the frequent updates of Miss Saintess's social media accounts with her check-in selfies to know how hard it is; she practically has the words "easy and carefree" written all over her face.
Unfortunately, to prevent being bullied at night, the Pure White Witch could only remain silent and watch as the Dream Weaver Rabbit was "smeared" by Charlotte.
Xie Qingxuan, however, grasped the key point and asked:
"What is 'disaster energy'?"
This word evokes a familiar yet unsettling feeling.
Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment, then explained:
"The monsters that appeared in the square that day are collectively called 'Calamity Beasts.' They have a spread mechanism similar to a plague, and can turn humans into similar monsters as well."
"And the aura of disaster is such a source of infection. Prolonged exposure to it can easily erode one's spirit and distort one's emotions. If the concentration of the aura of disaster is extremely high, it can even be enough to distort the soul, causing a phenomenon called 'disaster transformation' that leads to one's degeneration into a beast."
"In short, it is a very dangerous thing that must be eliminated."
Chu Yuanqing's parents, as well as most of humanity in the old era, died from this extremely cruel catastrophe, which is why she reacted so strongly to the small concentration of catastrophe gas she saw in the base.
Although the calamity energy in the [Flow State] Development Lab comes entirely from E-Class- and D-Class [Calamity Species], its danger level is almost compressed to the level of hallucinogens, but in essence, it is an extremely terrifying soul killer and genetic poison.
Even now that she understands some of the secrets of the <Flash Dance> project, she still holds a conservative attitude towards humanity's use of disaster energy.
The reason why Chu Yuanqing did not refute the official proposal was twofold: firstly, his words carried little weight, and even if he used the pseudonym Chu Yuanqing, which was equivalent to "Pure White," he could not persuade the official to abandon one of the most important aspects of the "Flash Dance" project.
Secondly, she already has a way to handle the aftermath of the official mishap and successfully protect the participants.
This knowledge point gave Tang Liuli, Xie Qingxuan, and Kiriwake Yayoi a strong sense of déjà vu, and they quickly accepted the terrifying premise that could easily lead to the end of the world.
Chu Wangshu was still shaken, but at the same time, she had a more direct understanding of how her Dad had saved the world.
Without that Pure White High Wall, countless people would have lost their Dad and mothers, and it might even have turned into an extreme movie scenario like Resident Evil. I wouldn't have the peaceful life I have now.
Thinking about it this way, Dad really is great, a very powerful hero!
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket felt a sense of Proud, then squeezed her phone again, full of anticipation for the future.
Yesterday, after seeing Charlotte, I impulsively sent a message to my Dad (although I retracted the most crucial sentence), and today I actually received a reply about my mom.
--[Next time we meet, I'll tell Xiao Shu about her mother.]
Chu Wangshu counted on her fingers. If the Third Performance still gave tickets to the contestants' families, she would probably be able to see her Dad again in a little over a month. By then, she would have become a full-fledged Magical Girl, and maybe she could give her Dad a surprise.
Hmm~ Even if it doesn't scare Dad, it should at least teach him a lot of things that other kids shouldn't know, right?
Thinking about this, Little Cotton-padded Jacket couldn't help but feel happy. She couldn't wait to become better, whether as an idol or Magical Girl, she had to improve quickly and be worthy of the title "daughter of the Savior".
Chu Wangshu longed for it, saying:
"When we become Magical Girl, we can be like Charlotte, clearing out disaster Calamity Beasts and helping so many people."
Charlotte pinched her daughter's cheek and said confidently:
"That's right, Xiao Shu will definitely be very powerful then, and we might even need Xiao Shu to protect us."
Looking at Charlotte, who had easily cheered up her daughter with just a few words, Chu Yuanqing couldn't help but add seriously:
"The prerequisite for helping others is being able to protect yourself."
"No matter what, always remember to act within your capabilities; Xiao Shu's safety is the most important thing."
Chu Wangshu nodded obediently. She blinked, feeling a little conflicted. She had a feeling... that these were words her Dad would say.
Looking at the three of them, Kiriwake Yayoi felt a strange sense of unease, as if she couldn't quite fit in.
Besides, aren't both Charlotte and Xiao Qing a little too concerned about Xiao Shu?
Little Sakura subconsciously sensed the reality of a family of three, but when three girls of nearly the same age walked together, her rational mind couldn't quite grasp the truth.
Even with Sherlock Liuli's extraordinary wisdom, it would be difficult to see through the truth hidden beneath the surface.
Well, the Golden Haired Doggy, on the other hand, had recovered the most memories and guessed some of the connection between Chu Yuanqing and Chu Yuanqing. It seemed to have a keen understanding of everything and was thinking about how to have a child for Qing Bao.
The group Xiaoxiao as they strolled through the tranquil old town, taking many photos under Charlotte's guidance. Along the way, they passed an elegant cemetery with a well-maintained garden, white angel statues, and rows of crosses.
This place seems to be quite famous; an Austria poet once praised it as a secret garden where paradise smiles and gazes upon you.
Charlotte didn't take any photos here. She puffed out her cheeks, feeling that the cemetery was unlucky, and immediately pulled Chu Yuanqing toward the stone steps leading to Salzburg Fortress.
This ancient castle, built on a mountain, may not look impressive, but it truly deserves to be called a landmark. Its presence can be seen everywhere in the old town, not only in narrow back alleys but even in the gaps between rooftops.
Even at the magnificent church where everyone had just taken photos, you could still see the ancient castle and its walls in the distance, but there wasn't much to see up there. After taking some photos, everyone quickly got off the bus and went to another landmark.
Charlotte led the way, her goal clearly defined. Along the way, she passed many Baroque-style shops, buying lots of gifts for her Little Idol, as well as local snacks and drinks. They strolled along until they reached the bridge connecting the old town and the new town.
This structure, called Buck Bridge, connects the town at one end to the square at the other. It sits on the Salt River and looks quite ordinary, but what's interesting is that the metal mesh along the bridge is covered with love locks from all over the world.
Over time, it has become a popular scenic spot for tourists.
Locals affectionately call it Lover's Bridge, because legend has it that couples who hang love locks here will never be separated.
It may sound cliché, but for couples, a trip to Salzburg without visiting this place feels like something's missing.
Seeing this, the Green Eyed Cat realized something was wrong, and she immediately bristled, looking at Charlotte.
After seeing the hearts drawn on the locks, Xie Qingxuan looked around and began searching for a place to buy locks.
Kiriwake Yayoi, feeling somewhat weary, looked at the smiling Charlotte and asked softly:
"You went to the antique shop all by yourself just now, did you just go to buy a love lock?"
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket was confused, finding everyone's reactions and conversations strange.
This is Lover's Bridge, not a friends' bridge. What does it have to do with our group, and why do we need to buy a lock?
Charlotte turned her head and smiled sweetly, saying:
"Congratulations, you got it right! As a reward, how about I give Yayoi one of my favorite pink locks? Isn't it cute?"
Little Sakura watched as this person took out a heart-shaped lock from his bag and placed it in her palm. She felt utterly bewildered and lost.
Charlotte spoke as if stroking Tang Liuli's fur, then handed her a heart-shaped lock with a cat's paw print on the back, making it impossible for the Green Eyed Cat to look at her with the eyes of someone looking at a bad person anymore.
Soon, Xie Qingxuan also received a heart-shaped lock with a dog paw print on the back.
Chu Yuanqing was the last to receive a love lock, but hers was much larger, about four or five times the size of the others.
After delivering the lock, Charlotte, not wanting to neglect her adorable Little Cotton-padded Jacket, took out a pre-prepared ceramic piggy bank from her purse, placed it in her arms, coughed, and said:
"This is to test your magic control. Everyone, try to carve your names on it using magic."
Chu Wangshu suddenly realized, "Oh, so that's how it is."
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket naively believed this obviously childish rhetoric and immediately squatted intently by the bridge.
In order not to damage the gift from her sister Charlotte, she carefully manipulated her magic and tried her best to write her name on the painted pottery piggy bank, her concentration was extremely high.
Subsequently, other Little Idol also began secretly engraving their names.
However, unlike the innocent Little Cotton-padded Jacket, after everyone finished engraving their names with magic, they didn't forget to add a heart, and most importantly, the three characters "Chu Yuanqing".
Soon, the locks for the Golden Haired Doggy, the Social Anxiety Cat, Little Sakura, and Charlotte were completed.
Qing Bao, who had been deliberately given an oversized heart-shaped lock, remained. After writing her name, she stood there blankly, as if pondering the philosophy of life.