Chapter 305

"But at least this time I got to see everyone properly, and I even got to see our daughter."

Charlotte smiled happily. The reason she was so enthusiastic about bringing the other Little Idol over and organizing music parties time and time again was because she knew that after she left, given the personalities of Qing Bao, Liuli, Yayoi, and Xiao Xuan, it would be impossible for them to develop so rapidly in the short term.

Chu Yuanqing's days are numbered.

Regardless of whether there is still a chance to salvage the situation, she must prepare for the worst in advance.

Therefore, neither Xiao Qing, nor Yayoi, Liuli, Xuan Bao should have any regrets because of this.

In the end, everyone received the recognition and response they couldn't get in the first playthrough, which is perhaps the only consolation amidst the mountain of bad news.

Charlotte didn't want to complain about the unfairness of fate, but she did miss being with everyone, living a life full of laughter and playful banter every day.

Because this is the kind of miraculously wonderful daily life that everyone has been longing for but unable to achieve in the first playthrough.

How blissful it would be if this kind of life could continue indefinitely!

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs".

After this birthday celebration ends, the countdown to parting will officially begin. Once the Magical Girl training is completed, the 45-day period will soon be up.

The planning for <FlashDance> is accelerating, and the competition format is changing almost constantly. Under these circumstances, the date for their next meeting is also uncertain.

So...

Charlotte picked up her camera and snapped a picture of the Little Idol practicing their dance. Her eyes crinkled into a bright, enthusiastic smile as she earnestly said:

"We must create more beautiful, precious, and memorable memories."

Volume 1: Chapter 288. The Pure White Witch's Approval, Cover (5K)

The sun is setting.

Outside a flower shop in the old town.

Charlotte fiddled with her camera, capturing the beautiful moment the girls were giving flowers. She looked up at the Pure White Witch in front of her, who was holding a large bouquet of flowers. After thinking for a moment, she bought a bouquet of Ronsard Gems from the flower shop and inserted it into the bouquet full of tulips, Forget-me-not, sage, cornflowers, and lisianthus, adding a few more vibrant colors to it.

--Lonza Gemstones.

Chu Yuanqing remembered it. Shortly after arriving in Vienna, a little girl on the roadside gave her a bouquet of Ronsard jewels. This poetic and romantic name comes from Pierre de Ronsard, known as the "Rose Poet" in the 16th century, who wrote the famous Sonnet to Hélène.

The Pure White Witch looked at everyone. Having lived through a post-apocalyptic world of scarcity and then spent seventeen years in modern times struggling financially, she naturally didn't understand the practical value of giving flowers. However, she could read the sentiments hidden within them. Her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she sincerely thanked them:

"Thank you, I really like it. As a return gift, let me cook today?"

In an instant, apart from Charlotte, all the Little Idol cheered in different ways.

"Yay!"

"I want to eat osmanthus jelly."

Braised pork ribs with scallions.

"Anything Xiao Qing cooks is fine!"

After hearing the cheers of her Little Idol, Charlotte glanced at the sunflower in her daughter's arms, then casually looked at Qing Bao, put away her camera, walked to the front with her hands behind her back, turned around to look at everyone, and smiled alluringly and adorably, saying:

"Xiao Qing, I will preserve this bouquet of flowers forever, this magic of time. Let me teach you on the way back."

Chu Yuanqing hadn't even had a chance to speak.

The Social Anxiety Cat lowered her emerald green eyes and looked at the pink roses her beloved had given her. Her adorable face was filled with surprise and delight. She quickly followed the Saintess with small, quick steps and whispered:

"Sister Charlotte, I want to learn this magic."

The Little Cotton-padded Jacket followed closely behind, carrying a sunflower, hopping along as Charlotte did so. She wore a shy expression, longing yet hesitant to speak, but after waiting a while and seeing her mischievous mother not say anything, she finally mustered her courage, overcame her "fear" of being held and pinched on the cheek, and spoke up:

"I also want to preserve the sunflower that Xiao Qing gave me carefully; I don't want to see it wither."

Kiriwake Yayoi tempted, but she always felt that Charlotte had bad intentions, so she simply stayed next to Chu Yuanqing and didn't fall for it.

Anyway, once Xiao Qing has learned it, I just need to tell her; I don't need to learn it myself.

Charlotte enjoys the happiness of being adored and needed by her Social Anxiety Cat and her adoring daughter.

Unfortunately, before she could enjoy it for long, a certain Golden Haired Doggy only knew how to hit straight shots quickly stepped forward, grabbed the Saintess's wrist, and said very honestly:

"I want to learn, please teach me quickly."

The Doomsday Diva couldn't pretend she couldn't hear, so she regretfully skipped the happy moment of being pampered by her daughter and cat and switched into her good teacher mode. While explaining magic on the way, she would occasionally interject with some interesting stories about the Countermeasures Bureau, the Utopia, and Magical Girl. As she talked, the Little Idol's attention shifted from magic to these little gossips, and they couldn't help but start asking all sorts of questions.

Chu Yuanqing watched as Charlotte used her little trick of controlling the conversation. As she followed the group, she felt as if she had become a little younger. She couldn't help but look down at the flowers nestled together in her arms, revealing a bright smile, and she also took the initiative to bring up some things from the past.

Unlike Charlotte, however, she had never worked in the Countermeasures Bureau and only told short stories from her first playthrough.

Many of them are experiences in the Gap World, and some basic information about certain special Calamity Beasts.

And so, these lively and beautiful girls, their laughter echoing in the afterglow of the setting sun, slowly made their way back to the castle, amidst the wistful or kind gazes of passersby.

Dinner was delicious as usual tonight.

The Little Butterfly and the Forget-me-not are playing happily.

Green Eyed Cat and Little Sakura kept a close eye on the perverted dog, preventing her from doing anything shocking again.

Because...

When Xie Qingxuan caused trouble last time, her sister was right there.

This time, Xiao Yu, completely unaware that she was being used as a sex toy, was enduring her physical fear of Chu Yuanqing to attend this final banquet in order to see her sister a few more times, a truly moving and tragic situation.

Chu Yuanqing glanced at Xiao Yu, whose legs were trembling, face was pale, and who looked pitiful, and felt somewhat guilty.

Charlotte poked Qing Bao's soft waist and whispered:

"Aren't you going to comfort Xiaoyu? She's leaving tomorrow."

This is Xiaoyu's last day in Salzburg. She will finish her final training session tomorrow morning and then officially leave to return to her position as Captain-Class [Witch], a hard-working employee with no holidays.

"This child is already bad at talking, and you've made her so distracted that she hasn't said more than three words to Xuan Bao in six days. She even forced herself to come over for dinner today. You can't just let Xiaoyu leave like this, can you?"

Chu Yuanqing hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. She looked up at Xiaoyu, who was trembling and had a tense expression. She still felt that Charlotte's attention was a bit off, and couldn't help but ask:

"You're right, but that method of comforting... feels a bit strange, doesn't it? And does it really work?"

Charlotte encouraged him confidently:

"Trust me, it will definitely work. Treat Xiaoyu like Xiao Shu, gently stroke her hair, and she'll soon regain her spirits and won't be afraid of you anymore!"

The Pure White Witch pondered for a moment, still somewhat skeptical. However, for the sake of her student's mental well-being and to resolve the sisterly relationship between Xuan Bao and the other girl, she set aside her concerns, put down her chopsticks, stood up, and publicly grabbed Xie Qingyu's wrist, whispering:

"Xiaoyu, come out with me for a moment."

Xie Qingyu's mind went blank. The moment her wrist was grabbed, what she perceived was not the soft, delicate touch of the other person's skin, but an immense fear as if she were being chased and devoured by death.

In an instant, a burning pain spread through my skin, as if my flesh was being torn apart. My internal organs trembled violently, and the feeling of my cells shattering echoed in my mind. A suffocating sensation, as if my throat was being choked and my soul was being choked, overwhelmed me.

Even though she managed to control herself with her willpower and immediately eliminate the intense hallucination pain caused by the synesthesia, Chu Yuanqing, who was holding her wrist, noticed the subtle expressions on her face, the changes in her muscles, and the momentary stagnation of her magic. He keenly observed the problem.

The Pure White Witch frowned slightly. Without giving Xiaoyu a chance to speak, she pulled her away from the table.

Inside the restaurant, the Little Idol looked at each other in bewilderment.

Xie Qingxuan watched Chu Yuanqing grasp her sister's wrist and walk away, a series of terrible thoughts popping into her mind. She suppressed the urge to follow and continued eating with her eyes down. However, a strange idea sprouted in her mind: to ask Qing Bao what she had done to her sister before going to bed, and then use it to add to the fun.

On the other side,

Chu Yuanqing walked to the Living room closest to them, found a sofa, and sat down with Xie Qingyu. She looked up at the young and inexperienced student, a pleased smile on her face, and said softly:

"Good synesthesia, excellent reaction; you are instinctively adapting to this pain."

"Xiaoyu, you are already showing the makings of a warrior."

Xie Qingyu looked up blankly. She thought she would be scolded for her shameful and weak posture, for her dullness in failing to meet Teacher Chu's requirements, and for her cowardice in not being able to distinguish between daily life and battle.

But what followed was unprecedented praise.

Teacher Chu is so gentle; it would have been okay if she hadn't comforted me.

But just as this thought crossed his mind, the person placed his hand on his head and gently stroked his hair with his fingertips.

Xie Qingyu looked up and gazed at the scene.

The Pure White Witch's eyes still held an unyielding majesty, yet held a touch of endearing intimacy, rippling with a gentle light. She lowered her gaze to her own face and softly asked:

Do you think I'm trying to comfort you?

Chu Yuanqing's lips curled up, and she said earnestly:

"Now is the time to feel comforted."

"So, the assessment you just gave was true. I've always said that Xiaoyu is stupid and lacks talent. I've also been very strict during training sessions, often saying that you're not a qualified Magical Girl, much less a qualified warrior, right?"

"But I say that only because I'm too eager."

Chu Yuanqing frankly admitted her mistakes, and she continued:

"Looking back now, that level of training intensity, even if you searched the whole world, probably not many people could endure it now. But Xiaoyu never complained that my training was too hard or painful, and she never gave up because of it. You met my expectations, peeled away the surface of the hardship, drew strength to move forward, learned a lot, and improved a lot."

The Pure White Witch looked sincerely into the student's eyes and said, word by word:

You are excellent.

"You don't need to fear my accountability, nor do you need to avoid my gaze, and you don't need to dwell on how many times you failed in training."

"Xiaoyu, you are a great student. Carry the mud from your past and keep moving forward with your head held high. I look forward to seeing what kind of results you will give me in the future."

The words had faded.

Xie Qingyu's mind went blank; she had always felt that she did not meet Chu Yuanqing's expectations.

She did bad things to Xiao Xuan, making her an older sister whom Xiaoxuan disliked; she failed to protect her teammates, making her a disqualified captain; she failed to fulfill her best friend's last wish, making her an incurable coward; she cried during training, thought about giving up countless times, and was so dull-witted that she still hasn't mastered the essence of breathing, making her a complete mediocre person.

But all of this was affirmed, healed, and recognized in these words.

How should one describe the emotions that arise from this? Joy, emotion, bittersweetness, exhilaration, and warmth that bursts forth from the bones still bearing the lingering pain, like a mountain spring soaking through the body and then flowing back to the soul ravaged by suffering, allowing the tongue to taste the sweetness of harvest, and finally... turning into falling tears.

Water droplets splattered on the sofa, shattering into sparkling pieces.

Xie Qingyu covered her face, trying to evaporate her tears with magic, not wanting to cry so embarrassingly. But suddenly, she was pulled into a warm embrace by the Pure White Witch, and even her head was resting on the other's plump and soft thighs, her nostrils filled with strange floral fragrance.

Chu Yuanqing wasn't very good at comforting young girls.

Whether Liang Xiaoxiao or Liuli, he used the same methods a father would use to comfort his daughters.

The same is true now.

"It's okay to cry for a while. Everyone has a vulnerable side, and there's nothing shameful about that."

Chu Yuanqing raised her hand and flicked her side braid. The Lantern Gem on her chest shone brightly. She lowered her eyes to look at the person in her arms. The golden light in her eyes no longer resembled the magnificent majesty of the earth's veins, but rather the shimmering, golden sea under the setting sun, expressing loneliness and tenderness.

Xie Qingyu was in a daze. She smelled the fragrance of the rose of Sharon and found herself immersed in a maternal love that was both strange and familiar after many years. It was as if she was anchored in a harbor where she could be perfectly embraced and let down all her guard.

This was a taste that even Su Wan, who was like White Moonlight, had never given her.

Because it's not about blushing and heart-pounding, nor is it about equal and mutually redeeming friendship, or even something more ambiguous. It's simply about a fish falling into the sea, a wanderer returning home, a feeling that only a trustworthy and charming elder can give.

Xie Qingyu was undoubtedly lacking in love. Even though she had healed this part of herself and was not pathological, she was strangely immersed in Teacher Chu, who allowed her to open her heart, and enjoyed a long-lost peace and tranquility.

After a long while, they waited until the other side of the table was almost finished eating.

Xie Qingyu suddenly realized that this was not the time to act cute. If Xuan Bao or anyone else saw her like this, she would lose all her dignity as an older sister and senior!

Well, although it didn't leave much of an air of authority from the very beginning.

The Pure White Witch stroked Xiaoyu's hair, realizing that the person on her lap was aware of her embarrassment, and said with great emotional intelligence:

"Xiaoyu, if you don't mind, please tell me more about Xuan Bao."

In the past, Xie Qingyu would have hesitated somewhat, but now, the affirmation and embrace had caused the Pure White Witch's status in her heart to rise sharply.

Let's say that Teacher Chu was originally someone she would visit and give gifts during holidays, but now she's probably someone she'd hope would come as an elder when she gets married.

So, without any hesitation, Xiaoyu began to reveal her sister's past experiences.

Chu Yuanqing listened patiently; she genuinely wanted to learn more about the people around her.

This wasn't an unfounded idea. Since the memories of their interactions during the first playthrough were completely blank, I decided to try to learn more about them now.

Xie Qingxuan doesn't have many family members, and Hsiao-yu is probably the one who cares about her the most. Naturally, the information she gets from Hsiao-yu is very important.

In contrast, Yayoi could find an opportunity to do the same thing on East Flow Island, but it would be more difficult for Liuli.

However, to avoid Xuan Bao seeing it and misunderstanding,

Chu Yuanqing didn't continue to give Xiaoyu a lap pillow. After chatting for a while and exchanging contact information, he ended the conversation and returned to the dining table where everyone had basically finished eating.

Of course, even so, the Little Idol all felt that something was very wrong.