Chapter 275
That is, Charlotte's birthday is only two weeks away, so we need to start preparing her gift now.
But just like having a blue-green modifier in her own app, the Saintess Maiden, who is pampered by the Holy United States, is unlikely to lack money; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she has everything.
Therefore, the option of finding an opportunity to buy a gift at a shopping mall can be directly ruled out.
As for adopting the mindset of Golden Haired Doggy and dressing in revealing clothes to send herself out, Charlotte might like it, but what's the difference between that and being forced to wear such clothes to a party? It's still a no-go.
Just as Qing Bao was deep in thought, there was a knocking sound at the door.
After the door opened, a child prodigy, wrapped in a coat and wearing a hood, sneaked into the room.
The girl raised her watery emerald green eyes, and with a hint of shyness, removed her disguise, unbuttoned her clothes, revealing her upturned cat ears and a sexy yet adorable black and white maid dress, with a matching tail swaying slightly behind her.
Then, the Liuli Cat Cat pattered off its slippers and knelt on the Pure White Witch's bed. It looked at Chu Yuanqing, its soft cat ears twitching, and revealed a cute yet shy smile, asking softly:
"Xiao Qing, is there anything you want to order me out of?"
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P. S.: There's probably going to be a ball scene at the birthday celebration. Would you like to see Qing Bao dressed as a man and dancing the male dance, or Charlotte dressed as a knight and dancing the male dance?
P. S.: Also, I haven't decided on a birthday present yet, so please post it in the comments and let me know! (You can also tell me what kind of slice-of-life scenes you'd like to see.) And please vote with your monthly tickets!
Volume 1: Hehehe, bounty offered at the end of the month!
I didn't owe too much from the last round (the biggest tip was the 4,000 blades I gave myself), so I'll just add 1,000 more updates a day to pay it off. To prevent laziness, I'll start again as usual, setting the limit at 40,000 words. After all, I also managed to collect monthly tickets this time, and I estimate this book's lifespan will be shorter than Qing Bao's.
200 razor blades, 2000 words.
400 monthly votes, 2000 words.
Items worth 20,000 Cat Coins, 2,000 words.
The Silver Treasure Chest (A Happy Ending) - 6000 words.
Golden Treasure Chest (A Happy Ending) 30,000 words.
Volume 1: 261. Revealing the Past, Adorned with a Cat's Tail, and Retribution for the Saintess. (5K)
The room was brightly lit.
The girl's curly eyelashes trembled, her emerald eyes were full of spring, her tender and lovely face was rosy, her alluring rouge was just right, her small mouth was so moist as if she had just applied a lip mask, and her beautiful legs were in a duck-sitting position, supporting the shape and curve of her black stockings.
Chu Yuanqing rarely saw Liuli dressed like this. The stockings on her legs were beautiful, black with a hint of her original thigh flesh color showing through. They appeared to be between 30 and 40 deniers thick. The skirt, so short that it didn't even cover her thighs, undulated with the swaying of her tail, its fluffy texture clearly visible in the light.
The cat ears peeking out from Tang Liuli's black hair had a strange freshness and softness. She blinked her eyes and stared straight at the Pure White Witch. When she found that the other party had not made any move, her pert nose wrinkled in dissatisfaction, showing the arrogance of a cat.
Chu Yuanqing silently locked the door from the inside, adding a layer of soundproofing magic to prevent her Little Cotton-padded Jacket from accidentally entering. She sat down next to the Liuli Cat Cat, stroking its freshly washed, smooth hair, and couldn't resist pinching its warm ears, asking:
"Liuli ate chocolate-covered liqueurs again?"
Upon hearing this, Tang Liuli Proud puffed out her chest and happily said:
"No, I just wanted to give Xiao Qing a nice reward."
The girl spoke, a little shyly tugging at her skirt, her small face earnest as she said:
"Because... because Xiao Qing cares about my feelings more than I imagined. Even though I have no reason or right to restrict you, Xiao Qing still admitted... admitted that, so I'm very happy and want to do something for you."
Tang Liuli's eyes misted over even more. She mustered her courage and slowly lifted her skirt with her small hands, revealing a leather leg ring on her thigh-high stockings. A suspiciously suspicious Remote Control was attached to the ring. Above that was a rounded, slender curve and an area that wasn't for children.
The Green Eyed Cat stammered as it hit a straight shot:
"Look, last time I... I was drunk and bullied Xiao Qing, making Xiao Qing wear an apron and cat ears. This time... this time I'm sober, and I'll let Xiao Qing... bully me back hard!"
Chu Yuanqing was greatly shocked.
Remote Control? What kind of Remote Control is this?
Did Liuli borrow several strange props from Xiao Xuan?
However, it must be admitted that the scene of the Social Anxiety Cat mustering up her courage, hiding small toys while remaining sober and not drunk, and then actively lifting her skirt to reveal everything, is truly absurd yet subtly alluring, making it extremely tempting and easy to deliver a powerful blow.
And...
These cat ears and tail seem much more realistic than normal props. They feel warm and soft to the touch and even twitch reflexively. Something just doesn't feel right.
Could it be that Liuli learned some strange magic, or perhaps she actually borrowed some magical artifact from Charlotte?
The Pure White Witch's eyes shimmered with a watery light. Rather than arousing a lustful desire for Liuli, it was more accurate to say she was completely captivated by her cuteness. She couldn't help but smile, gently hugging the other, stroking the cat's head, and continuing to ask:
"Don't rush, let's talk first."
"Liuli seems nervous, doesn't she? Tell me about something else that makes you happy, just like Liuli wants to understand me better, I also want to understand Liuli better."
"It's not the kind of assignment that's written on paper and asked for my review, but something deep in your heart that you truly want, something that will truly make you feel at peace and happy."
After acknowledging these feelings, Chu Yuanqing decided to stop treating the original Magic Replenishment days as simply nights for intimacy and Magic Replenishment.
Firstly, Magic Replenishment is no longer very meaningful at present.
Secondly, after confirming that the Little Idol were all comrades with deep past ties, she decided to stop running away and wanted to have a genuine heart-to-heart conversation with them in the remaining time, saying everything she could before leaving.
So, this seemingly absurd and ridiculous shift schedule actually became a chance for her to have one-on-one conversations with her Little Idol.
Chu Yuanqing agreed to let Charlotte and Xie Qingxuan come together yesterday because the Golden Haired Doggy was very perceptive and belonged to the wonderful type who didn't need much heart-to-heart talk; they could complete all normal interactions between couples simply by exchanging magic.
But if it were Little Sakura or Liuli, it would be a completely different story.
Even though Magical Girl are amazing, able to exchange emotions and true feelings through magic, not everyone is an intuitive type like Golden Haired Doggy. Some seemingly superficial exchanges are essential stages for some people.
Moreover, regarding the topic of the first playthrough, which she never actively mentions or directly reveals, it's time to move beyond the stage of letting everyone actively adapt to speculation and to the point where she unveils the veil and the fog, revealing the truth.
Upon hearing this, Tang Liuli slowly lowered her skirt, her rounded thighs rubbing together, producing an alluring sound of stockings slapping against each other. She regulated her rapid breathing, suppressing the restlessness deep within her lower abdomen, her tail swaying behind her as she whispered:
"I... I feel very happy being with everyone."
"Xiao Qing knows that I'm practically familyless now. I was essentially sold into participating in Flash Dance, so unlike Yayoi who has a clear goal of becoming an idol, I'm always confused about the future."
"I don't want to be an actress anymore; it would make me feel like I'm continuing down the path my mother laid out for me."
The girl stared at her stockings as she spoke, and after Chu Yuanqing pinched her cheek, she mustered her courage, looked directly into those gentle, golden eyes, and frankly shared her inner thoughts:
"Because my mother has set up a trust, making money doesn't mean much to me, so... I've actually thought about getting kicked Withdraw from Competition as soon as possible, then retiring from the industry, just staying in one place and doing nothing, or simply traveling the world."
"I admit I've thought about suicide, because... I'm so lonely. I have no friends, no family, I don't know where to go, and I don't know what to do during holidays. I often suffer from insomnia and have to take a lot of sleeping pills."
"But then I met Xiao Qing, and my health miraculously improved a lot. I also saw many of my old fans still supporting and liking me at the Public Performance. I started to feel that maybe I could stay in the entertainment industry."
"Now, I want to face my past squarely, and I want to continue to work hard for you, for them, and for myself."
Chu Yuanqing listened quietly until the end. She touched Liuli's hair, pressed her forehead against Liuli's, smiled gently, and whispered:
"It must be tough. Overcoming the fear of the past and the shadow of being scrutinized by the public requires a lot of strength and ability. Liuli has definitely been working hard."
"But you don't have to work that hard. There's no need to force yourself to move forward quickly. Just keep going little by little. I really like the independent and courageous Liuli, and I also like the timid and cowardly Liuli who hides behind others."
"Because, it's all you."
Tang Liuli could feel Qing Bao's warmth so close to her. Her forehead was cool, and her breath carried the scent of toothpaste and flowers, like fine mint, brushing against her nose with a cool touch. The words that came from her lips were clear and gentle, like the soothing sound of an accordion, each word composing a poem in her heart.
The joy, as grand as a city shrouded in mist and rain, fell gently into the depths of the soul, causing the lanterns in the [Cocoon of the Heart] to sway and ring, like ancient bells fluttering in the wind. Each ring signified the throbbing of the heart, bringing the rush of blood and the clamor in the ears.
The misty haze in the depths of the Liuli Cat Cat's eyes, so overjoyed she ignored the strange sensation at the base of her legs, and pounced into the Pure White Witch's arms, giving her a rewarding kiss on the lips. She then wrapped her arms around the witch's neck and whispered:
"I like Xiao Qing too, I like her a lot, I like her a lot."
"I... lately I've been having a lot of dreams. They're magical and cruel, bizarre and fantastical, like they're happening in another world. But I don't know why, every time I dream about them, I like you a little more, and I like everyone else a little more too."
"Moreover, I can sense that Yayoi and Xiao Xuan feel the same way, as does Charlotte. Although it's embarrassing, I don't know why, but calling her 'older sister' feels like an old habit."
The Green Eyed Cat trusted the other woman completely. Sitting on the Pure White Witch's lap, she swayed her fluffy ears and tail, continuing to tell her troubles and secrets, reciting trivial things that no one would normally listen to or talk about.
Compared to Se Se—who was willing to patiently listen to her, encourage her, and repeatedly affirm her shortcomings— Chu Yuanqing's attitude gave her a greater sense of security.
Chu Yuanqing listened patiently until the end before speaking frankly:
"Liuli, those dreams are your past memories."
"But this past might be different from what you imagine. It doesn't come directly from the past ten years or so of your life. To put it another way, it's more like it comes from another time and space."
Tang Liuli seemed thoughtful, but wasn't shocked. Her imagination was always boundless; after ruling out the possibility of it being a shared memory with Qing Bao, she guessed a similar possibility. She blinked and imagined:
"So, is there some kind of magic similar to Steins; Gate that caused me, Xiao Qing, Yayoi, Xiao Xuan, and Charlotte to inherit the memories and emotions of [me] from another timeline, or rather, a parallel world?"
Chu Yuanqing stroked the cat's ears, smiled, and said softly:
"Liuli is indeed very clever; this answer is very close to the truth."
"Just assume that's how it is for now. The truth will come out once your memories return to a certain extent."
This level of understanding is just right; it doesn't cause worry about the future of the world, anxiety about illusory tragedies, or the ability to guess everything about oneself at once, yet it also allows for a swift understanding of the whole truth in the end.
Hmm, it would be best if Liuli could temporarily misunderstand that the Chu Yuanqing in her memories is her gender-swapped counterpart from a parallel world, so that she wouldn't have to worry about the society dying for a while!
After hearing the semi-affirmative answer, the Green Eyed Cat muttered to herself that her relationship with this memory was closer than that of a parallel universe; it was more like a save file that had been reloaded after experiencing it firsthand.
But is that really something magic can do? That seems far too exaggerated.
In comparison, inheriting memories from a parallel universe seems more magical and plausible.
But those things aren't important right now; what's important is...
The Liuli Cat Cat curled up in the Pure White Witch's arms, its tail swaying more subtly. It buried its flushed face in its chest, its eyelashes trembling, its voice quivering slightly.
"Um, Xiao Qing... well, if you don't need the Remote Control, I'll take the tail and ears off first!"
Chu Yuanqing didn't understand. She was bewildered for a moment, then subconsciously reached out and pinched the soft, fluffy tail. After feeling its body temperature, she curiously stroked it, running her fingers along the fur. When she was almost at the base of the tail, she felt the Liuli Cat Cat in her arms move.
The girl slumped in his arms, her eyes unfocused, tears welling up, her entire being radiating weakness. She bit her earlobe and whispered:
"Xiao Qing, stop touching it! The cat tail and cat ears are a gift from Sister Charlotte yesterday. She said it was all my fault that Xiao Shu misunderstood me, so... so she gave me this set of magical items."
"After using it for the first time today, I realized that after the magic was applied, the cat ears and tail really seemed to grow into the body. It even seemed to be connected to the nerves through magic, and it looked very natural."
"But... but who knew that after being touched by external forces, the magical feedback nerves would receive this... this strange feeling. Every time Xiao Qing touches me, it feels like she's touching... touching other parts of me."
After listening to Liuli's embarrassed introduction of the props, Chu Yuanqing realized that the Remote Control wasn't for controlling the "lantern," but rather for controlling the movement frequency of the tail and cat ears. It was a very green and healthy product, a unique cat toy that could be shown on a children's channel.
The Pure White Witch even began to feel ashamed. Her first reaction was that the Remote Control must be a toy that the golden retriever often used, but it turned out that Liuli gave her the Remote Control just so she could control the rhythm of the cat ears and the cat tail. It seemed so innocent and pure.
Chu Yuanqing decided not to disappoint the cat's kindness. She lifted Liuli's skirt, took the Remote Control from her leg ring, and asked curiously:
"Liuli, there are no buttons on the Remote Control. Did Charlotte explain to you how to use it?"
Tang Liuli barely recovered, and she whispered:
"I don't know. Sister Charlotte said that Xiao Qing will know how to use it after she sees it."
Chu Yuanqing stroked the Remote Control with some confusion for a while, then sensed a strange attraction. She suddenly realized what it meant, and after channeling some silvery magic into it, she saw the cat's jet-black ears and tail turn a uniform, frosty white. She couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:
"It can even change color! That's amazing!"
At this point, the Social Anxiety Cat realized something was wrong.
But before she could even voice her opinion, Qing Bao, curious about what other colors it could turn into, poured several times more magic power into the Remote Control in one go, causing the originally quiet cat ears to turn into airplane ears, and the tail to tremble and wag strangely and rapidly.
Finally, as the magic power surged, the speed instantly reached its maximum, but then suddenly, at the moment of fullness, it lost control. The fluffy tail drooped down involuntarily, and the Liuli Cat Cat in her arms was defeated, falling fast asleep, which was quite embarrassing.
Knowing she had caused a "big disaster," Chu Yuanqing guiltily pinched Liuli's tail, thought for a moment, and then, as if to make amends, completed her daily Magic Replenishment before picking up the cat to take a bath.
During this time, she also took off the gift Charlotte had given her.
Well, it's called a gift, but given Charlotte's personality, she probably wouldn't give it to her as an apology; she just thinks it would look cute on Liuli.
Of course, seeing the "malicious" setting of the Remote Control having no speed settings, Miss Saintess was also somewhat trying to play a trick on the two of them.
However, she probably didn't expect that the embarrassing Green Eyed Cat would lose all its prizes so quickly, causing the prank to end the game directly. If it had been a Golden Haired Doggy, it probably would have been able to keep playing even after wearing out three pairs of stockings.
After helping Liuli change into her pajamas, Chu Yuanqing didn't carry her back to her room as usual. Instead, he simply put the cat in his own bed, intending to sleep with her under the covers.
There's no way around it; I slept in until I naturally woke up yesterday along with Charlotte and Xie Qingxuan. It would be a bit unfair to send Liuli back now.
Chu Yuanqing placed the cat ears and tail on the bedside table, a helpless smile on her face, and remarked with a touch of melancholy:
"Charlotte, just how many strange things have you plundered from the Countermeasures Bureau?"
The Pure White Witch sometimes thinks she should really check out the couple's space to see how many "treasures" she can find, but she guesses she wouldn't be able to find all of the Saintess's personal collection even after searching the entire space.
After all, it wouldn't be surprising if Charlotte, who has mastered spacetime magic, had seven or eight secret spaces. Not to mention, with the Blue-Green Modifier, the whole world is her warehouse, and it's just as convenient to retrieve them by setting up a portal.