Chapter 302
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket was greatly shocked. Her mind was filled with the words "substitute literature," and she shook her head vigorously, slapping her cheeks hard.
It's fake! Impossible!
Because Charlotte and Qing Bao are now a couple!
If... if it really is as she imagines, wouldn't it turn into a terrifying love triangle story?
Thinking of this, Chu Wangshu was too afraid to ask her Dad directly about Charlotte. She rallied her spirits and asked indirectly:
"Dad, if you met a girl who perfectly fit all these criteria, and even resembled Mom in other ways, would you... fall for her?"
In the church,
The man's eyes were lowered, his face resembling a Greek statue in the moonlight. His magically formed pupils held a near-ash color, the last vestiges of red and black. He reached out and gently stroked the tattered pages of the Bible with his scarred fingers, answering with unwavering certainty:
"Won't."
"Because Xiao Shu's mother is unique; there's only one. No matter how similar others may be, they are ultimately not her."
Hearing her Dad's earnest tone, Chu Wangshu felt a pang of sadness. She began to feel guilty. Her Dad hadn't found her a stepmother in the past 17 years and had always been incredibly devoted to her mother. She figured he would probably end up alone in the future.
But she suspected that her Dad was using Charlotte as a substitute for her mother? That kind of thinking was utterly despicable!
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket felt that her misunderstanding was too much, and she immediately dismissed the absurd possibility that her Dad was using Charlotte as a substitute for her mother.
But deep down, doubts still lingered.
Chu Wangshu's instinctive intuition was warning her; she knew that Charlotte's striking resemblance to her mother must conceal some special secret.
Wait a minute, speaking of which, when Charlotte first met her, she stuffed a sun hat into her arms, and later gave her a gift during dinner. Charlotte also sat next to her the whole time. After that, apart from Qing Bao, Charlotte seemed to like her the most.
Furthermore, the other party seems to know a lot about my family history, and always subtly hints that we all look alike, as if suggesting something. Could it be...?
Charlotte, is she really her sister!?
Chu Wangshu's pupils dilated as she considered this possibility. In an instant, countless pieces of information and clues connected, making her thoughts flow smoothly.
Right, if Charlotte is her older sister, then of course she would resemble her mother a lot, and of course she would know so much about her Dad, and would have even more reason to like and be close to her.
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket immediately felt relieved. She explained why she always felt the other person resembled her mother: it's because an older sister is like a mother, not to mention that her older sister Charlotte really does look like her mother.
Chu Wangshu was both delighted and excited, and at the same time, she was glad that she had held back and hadn't directly asked her Dad if he liked Charlotte. Otherwise, wouldn't that have been directly questioning whether her Dad was a wicked father?
Can...
If she didn't misunderstand, why couldn't they just acknowledge each other?
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket thought hard, then quietly asked while holding the phone:
"Dad, have you ever provoked any very dangerous enemies in the past?"
This question is tantamount to telling Dad that he knows the other person's past was not ordinary.
But there was nothing she could do; the fact that she didn't directly ask, "Do I have an older sister?" already showed a lot of self-control.
Chu Yuanqing pondered for a moment. A very dangerous enemy? Would the Sea of Truth and the Disaster God count?
Ultimately, she could only give a vague answer:
"Well, I'd say that happened before."
However, this answer successfully prompted the imaginative Chu Wangshu to fill in the gaps in her own mind and fill in the logical conclusion that "Charlotte is the older sister".
The fact that her Dad gave up his role as Savior and chose to be an ordinary office worker to raise her alone must have been accompanied by many unspeakable secrets.
This could potentially involve the mother!
As for Charlotte, she had no biological parents and was raised by the nuns in the town. Doesn't that indirectly say a lot?
The more Chu Wangshu thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was the correct answer. He was overwhelmed with mixed feelings, his brain was overheating, and he didn't know what to do.
And...
If Charlotte is her older sister, does that mean I should Xiao Qing "brother-in-law"?!
At the same time.
The Pure White Witch was in the master bedroom on the third floor of the castle, trying to calm the Saintess was snuggling up to her and eavesdropping on the phone through the Contract Chain, and telling her not to keep touching her.
Charlotte's eyes sparkled as she happily pressed her cheek against Qing Bao's soft, rounded cheek, and said expectantly:
"I've hinted at so much to Xiao Shu this time, it won't be long before she figures out that I'm her mother!"
Chu Yuanqing felt that Charlotte was being a little too optimistic. She pinched Charlotte's cheek and teased her:
"Don't dream. The fact that you and Xiao Shu are the same age is enough for Xiao Shu to rule out this possibility immediately."
Charlotte couldn't wait to shower Xiao Shu with maternal love. She puffed out her cheeks, pinched Qing Bao's soft waist, and said unhappily:
"Xiao Qing is so unromantic."
"You know what? There's a special connection between mothers and daughters. I liked Xiao Shu the first time I met her."
"When Xiao Shu sees me doing the same thing, she'll definitely guess the truth, and she'll hug me, call me 'Mom,' and act all cute and affectionate with me."
Chu Yuanqing patted the Saintess's head, deciding not to say anything to discourage her, and instead continued to chat with her somewhat absent-minded daughter.
After that, she stopped bringing up these sensitive topics, allowing the father and daughter's conversation to return to its usual rhythm, and hung up the phone an hour later.
The Pure White Witch snapped her fingers wearily, and her Magic Clone, far away in the church, stuffed the Bible back into the Mobius Ring's imprint space, where it melted into the moonlight and vanished completely.
Hopefully, doing this will make Xiao Shu accept the truth more quickly when we confront each other.
Just like how the authorities planned to expose themselves to prevent the Cult of Disaster Gods from causing trouble, she is also laying the groundwork for future family harmony.
Chu Yuanqing skillfully tied her long, snow-white hair into a ponytail, then changed into a maid outfit with a slightly disgusted and ashamed expression. Relying on the buff brought by the outfit, she drained Charlotte, who wanted to find her Little Cotton-padded Jacket, in just ten minutes.
The progress of the lantern-carrying project has returned to 6.1%.
The Pure White Witch ignored the torn stockings on her thigh. Suppressing her rapid breathing, she calmly analyzed and calculated the various times in her mind. She returned to her room first, pushed open the Möbius Gate, and returned to the space full of stars to cleanse the wreckage.
One hour later,
Chu Yuanqing exhausted her magic power, stopped her homework for the day, and walked outside, murmuring to herself:
"It's Xiao Xuan's turn to Magic Replenishment today. I wonder if she can keep up with my progress in breaking the lantern tomorrow."
Ten minutes later, fast forward to 5,000 words of the plot.
The brilliance of black and white shines brightly in the soul, yet fades at the fingertips.
Xie Qingxuan's platinum blonde hair was fluffy and smooth. Her eyes were half-closed, and even the dark cross in her pupils softened, filled with a hazy and astringent mist.
The girl's thick eyelashes drooped down as she hugged the Pure White Witch's arms. Her full, upturned eyelashes pressed out elastic curves, making her look clingy and alluring, with a kind of bewitching charm mixed with innocent cuteness.
Unfortunately, it didn't last.
Since the need to train Captain-Class [Witch] and baptize a large number of high-level calamity remains,
Chu Yuanqing was constantly lacking in mana, which made her like a young widow whose switch had been flipped. Although she seemed to be pure and aloof, she was completely unsatisfied when it came to actual combat.
Even though Golden Haired Doggy have a high tolerance for desires, they can't hold out for long before they give in.
The Pure White Witch was slightly disappointed. She was far ahead of the Little Idol in terms of levels, and relying on her higher level to bully them naturally led to this situation. She patted the Golden Haired Doggy's head, looked at its dazed expression, and murmured:
"Alright, Xuan Bao has already tried her best. The lantern is about 7% complete, which is about right. At most, she'll just make Xiaoyu cry a few less times. It's not a big problem."
However, this sentence is like triggering some strange button.
Xie Qingxuan seemed to recall the thrill she had experienced under the dinner table. Her hazy eyes cleared, and before Chu Yuanqing could leave, she grabbed his wrist. The chaotic emotions made the parched "Cocoon of the Heart" in her soul shine brightly and come back to life.
The magic continued to expand under the stimulation of immorality.
The Golden Haired Doggy quickly recovered from its period of calm and declared it was ready for another battle.
What followed was a series of repeated defeats and continued fighting.
Chu Yuanqing was greatly shocked. She had never seen Xuan Bao so resilient. Just how much did this child want her to kill Xiaoyu? He actually relied on his belief to quickly replenish his magic power so many times. It was like milking a cow, squeezing it back and forth for a long time but still not being able to squeeze it dry.
During this time, the Golden Haired Doggy also asked Qing Bao to talk more about Xie Qingyu.
This is indeed a very strange request.
But since it could satisfy the needs of both sisters at the same time, the Pure White Witch thought for a moment, didn't notice anything amiss, and obediently did as she was told.
"Xiaoyu respects me a lot. She's a stubborn and old-fashioned girl, which is a bit like you."
"And... unlike what I imagined, although she's Captain-Class, she doesn't have any arrogance. Well, should I say she lacks confidence? So she's more likely to sincerely face her shortcomings and humbly ask me for advice."
"Oh, right, Xiaoyu came to see me after dinner tonight and said she'll still participate in tomorrow's training. She really wants to become stronger and isn't cowardly; it's just that her legs are shaking a little cute."
"Speaking of which, Xiao Xuan could actually try to accept her, because... in a sense, Xiaoyu has stopped being a normal person since she got Violet."
As Chu Yuanqing spoke, she couldn't help but head towards mediating the sisters' relationship, selectively saying some good things about Xie Qingyu in an attempt to make up for the student's pain of being almost beaten up several times that morning.
Unfortunately, from Xie Qingxuan's perspective, hearing these biased comments towards her older sister while playing Dota 2 becomes quite ambiguous in various ways.
Although the reality was completely different, Qing Bao's relaxed and upbeat tone gave the confused Golden Haired Doggy a sense of beauty, as if she were listening to an NTR report, causing her repeatedly drained magic to surge back.
Finally, after pinning the bewildered and innocent Pure White Witch to the bed and teasing her until she was completely exhausted, even before she fainted, she jealously bit Qing Bao's ear and said, "You're not allowed to like your sister," before closing her eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
It took Chu Yuanqing ten minutes to come to her senses, and she was filled with mixed feelings.
Huh? Could it be that in Xiao Xuan's eyes, he's some kind of womanizer?
Although Xiaoyu is pretty, she's not some player who'll seduce any pretty girl she sees. If it weren't for her past experiences in the first playthrough, even in her current group, everyone would probably maintain a respectful relationship... right?
Okay, since I need to Magic Replenishment, I'll probably still have to do a lot of kissing, but I don't know how many kisses I'll get.
Chu Yuanqing patted her cheeks guiltily, shaking off these fancy distracting thoughts. Looking at the mess on her body, she simply constructed Magic Armor, cleaning herself up completely. Then she stepped out of the window, flew into the sky, and looked down at the garden on the back of the castle.
Flash Dance's cutting-edge technology is trustworthy. The photo studio for the portrait shoot has been set up. Just by looking at the size and appearance, it doesn't seem like a product that was built in a few hours. It even has the aesthetic of a minimalist art exhibition.
The Pure White Witch entered the venue, and the first day of the photo shoot officially began.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
During this period, the internet was abuzz with the new CP pairing of Charlotte and Chu Yuanqing. With mutual promotion, both sides expanded their fanbase and gained many more international fans.
The training of the Little Idol is thriving. In the process of magically transforming their bodies and evolving their Life Form, their memory, physical fitness, coordination, and even other aspects are improving, making their dance training increasingly efficient.
Chu Yuanqing also noticed something amiss.
Because... she clearly transformed into Magical Girl the moment she grasped the Lantern Gem, but without the addition of magic, her physical condition, while not exactly weak, was rather delicate, meaning she completely lacked the advantages associated with magic.
Yes, this is most likely a side effect of the lantern being almost completely shattered at the beginning.
Aside from the photoshoot schedule, the only noteworthy thing during those five days was the training of Xie Qingyu, the Captain-Class "Witch".
First, she gained a basic understanding of the <Shine Meditation Method>.
Secondly, his magical power increased by 10%, his willpower was greatly honed, his combat experience finally began to take shape, and his control over magical power greatly improved.
Finally, after dozens of near-death tortures, she finally grasped the basics of breathing, and was able to try to integrate her limbs, muscles, bones, nerves, and even passive energy fields into magic in moments when time slowed down, forming an extremely wondrous physical technique.
Although the amount of magic she could integrate and control was limited, preventing her from reaching a very high level of power, it greatly reduced her weaknesses in close combat. At the same time, she finally truly learned a "technique" from Chu Yuanqing.
Xie Qingyu herself was very satisfied with this, and at the same time, she had even greater respect for Teacher Chu.
However, the Pure White Witch's own reaction was quite subtle, because this was something she originally wanted the other party to learn directly during the one-hour extreme life-or-death test.
As a result, this dim-witted student took five days to learn it, and even then, the technique was sometimes effective and sometimes not, which disappointed her somewhat. At this rate, the other person would have to repeat this level of training for two or three years before they would have a chance of reaching the complete level.
This is an optimistic estimate that ignores the plateau period and the upper limit of individual talent.
In other words, Xie Qingyu couldn't grasp the basic prerequisites of the Martial God Skill, and therefore couldn't inherit his mantle.
What Chu Yuanqing considered insignificant and even disappointing in terms of progress was considered astonishing news in the eyes of Astrid, and even in the entire Donghuang Federation and Holy United States.
It's important to know that the Combat Power ceiling of the Countermeasures Bureau is these Captain-Class Magical Girl.
Although Xie Qingyu's serial number was average and not among the top, her astonishing progress in less than a week was still a historic breakthrough, which must have shocked the senior management.
Upon hearing this good news, the head of the Donghuang Federation's Countermeasures Bureau was so overjoyed that he couldn't help but pop open a bottle of champagne.
Some high-ranking officials in the Holy United States who originally did not recognize the other party as the "Beacon" tacitly accepted the other party's status due to such illustrious and special achievements.
And it is under these circumstances that...
Chu Yuanqing found the Dream Weaver Rabbit and proposed a compelling plan:
"Astrid, Xiaoyu's talent is rather ordinary. Could you find a few more Captain-Class Magical Girl who can bloom [Full Bloom] and are even smarter to train with me?"