Chapter 385

After sending the question mark, the two of them very politely added another sentence.

Xu Ling: "That's it?"

Pei Xiaotong: "Who doesn't know that Qing Bao is Magical Girl?"

Xu Ling: "Auntie, did you stay up all night watching <Flash Dance> and Little Idol's content again? Promise me you'll go to work properly, okay?"

Pei Xiaotong: "Sister Youyue, you're three years older than Ling Bao, it's time for you to be a mature adult. Don't make a fuss over unfounded rumors."

Xu Youyue was furious. She decided to teach these two children a lesson about what dirty adults really are!

So, without saying a word, she sent the photo she had just taken with Chu Yuanqing and Chu Wangshu to the group chat, turned off her phone, put it on silent mode, went to get her luggage, and then returned to the group chat. Looking at the screen full of question marks, she was very happy.

"Hmph, didn't expect that, did you? I just got off the plane after returning from Austria, and it turns out I'm on the same flight as Qing Bao and the others."

Ignoring the comments about the photoshopped pictures, Xu Youyue began to praise the two Little Idol, proudly showing off her joy and happiness, which made the girls grit their teeth in envy.

Xu Ling: "Waaaaah! I also want to meet Qing Bao in person and take a picture with them!"

Pei Xiaotong: "Sigh, actually, I knew it wasn't photoshopped just by looking at the silly face of Sister Youyue when she squatted down in the photo. I'm so envious."

A question mark popped into Xu Youyue's head. She sneered and sent over the autographs she had requested for the two of them.

Chu Yuanqing and Little Cotton-padded Jacket both wrote one. The power of four signed postcards was so terrifying that Xu Ling, who was rolling around on her bed in her apartment, jumped up with joy, like a salted fish that had been scalded by a hot oil pan.

So the two of them quickly transformed into sycophants, praising Xu Youyue's various virtues, which propelled her to a terrifyingly high position.

Leaving aside the farce here, since their luggage was in the storage space, Chu Yuanqing and Chu Wangshu had already left the airport, got into different taxis, and waved goodbye.

Chu Yuanqing had the driver take her to the city center, then got out of the car and left. As she walked along the bustling streets filled with people, she noticed that the billboards and building screens around her were either playing various disaster evacuation and refuge notices on a loop, or advertisements for Flash Dance and Magical Girl.

During the six months in the ideal world and the week outside, the authorities have allowed some Magical Girl to reveal their true identities as idols and announced that they will be stationed in some cities to protect the people.

At the same time, it was proposed to build a stage facility in the corresponding city, specifically for Magical Girl, that can be charged with shimmering light, provide shelter to the people, and amplify the damage to the Calamity Beasts.

Construction has officially begun in Sea Capital, and given the efficiency of magic and advanced technology, it is estimated that it will be completed soon.

"They're really eager!"

Chu Yuanqing spoke softly. She understood the urgency of the authorities. With her reminder, those decision-makers probably knew that time was running out.

If they want to save the world through Flashdance, they need to make a big move soon.

These special stages, which will ignite sparks around the world, are precisely one of the core elements of the <Flashdance> project.

The difficulties and technical barriers involved have already been overcome; the current approach is simply to bring out past experience to give the public confidence.

What's missing now is Magical Girl who can perform on so many stages.

This is indeed a difficult goal. The more than 3,000 Little Idol in the training camp are already the core of the <Flash Dance> project. Extending outwards further would only reach ordinary idols who have basically not been touched upon [Flow State].

Even if this show continues to produce a steady stream of Magical Girl, and more and more children step into the realm of "Flow State," it will still be difficult to fill this gap.

Some of these positions will inevitably be filled by Magical Girl who are not from the <Flashdance> program but are senior members.

That's why the Magical Girl took the risk of revealing her identity.

If we don't do this, and then temporarily put the other person on stage, we won't be able to attract the most popularity and buzz.

Of course, more importantly, the <FlashDance> project was centered around one city after another, and at that time, only [Lighthouse] could be broadcast live and seen globally.

As for the other girl groups, they will only be seen by the local city's live audience.

Under these circumstances, it is necessary to expose the idol's identity, establish a presence in a city, and gain the love and affection of the local people in order to receive the most intense and dazzling attention at the most crucial moment.

"Is there still time?"

Chu Yuanqing herself didn't know the answer to this question, but she had a premonition that this moment of peace, walking among the crowds like this, was probably the last time.

"They've finally arrived."

The Pure White Witch looked up and saw Little Cotton-padded Jacket wearing a mask and hat lingering downstairs in front of a tall building not far away, looking somewhat hesitant.

This is the company she used to work for.

Book 1: 358. You are the last Child of Man, and the stars crown you. (5K)

Sea Capital, Hongtai District.

Building 1, Luowan Garden Phase 3, Wutong Street.

Li Peipei sat at the front desk, upright and serious, looking intently at the computer screen. She skillfully browsed the gossip on Weibo, and as soon as she heard footsteps approaching, she would switch screens instantly without making a sound, clearly having mastered the skill of slacking off.

"Excuse me, could you tell me which floor Chu Yuanqing's office is on?"

The girl had her hair tied in a bright and youthful high ponytail. She had a great figure, and even her simple sportswear accentuated her beautiful curves. Her small face, no bigger than a palm, was covered by a mask. Her long, curled eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her clear, gentle eyes were bright and soft. Her voice was pleasant and distinctive.

Li Peipei felt the other person looked strangely familiar yet was also very cute. She lowered her guard, hesitated for a moment, and then replied:

"You're looking for Brother Chu? Oh, unfortunately, he was fired a few months ago."

Chu Wangshu was struck dumb, as if by lightning; her mind went blank, and she was completely stunned.

This unprecedented news shattered all the expectations, joy, and excitement I had held in my heart, like a sharp blade piercing my heart, leaving me feeling cold and bitter, and momentarily at a loss.

The girl's throat was dry. She took a deep breath and asked:

"Dismissed? When?"

Li Peipei thought for a moment, deciding the issue wasn't very important. She recalled the date and gave a rough estimate. Then, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, she muttered under her breath:

"Brother Chu is a really good guy. He used to be the top salesperson, but he wasn't feeling well at the time, his mental state was terrible, and he wasn't very good at handling things, so the new manager found a reason to fire him."

Chu Wangshu murmured:

Is that so?

"Yes, I think it's a real shame too."

Li Peipei was quite emotional; she missed the days when the other person worked at the company.

After all, Chu Yuanqing was one of the most eye-catching people in this building.

This isn't a company that trains artists; where would you find such a weathered, melancholic, yet handsome, and well-built older man?

Honestly, Brother Chu's aloof demeanor, cool eyes, and the air of someone with a story to tell, along with a touch of decadence and a very husbandly vibe, make him the kind of guy that makes rich women want to protect him and explore him.

Unfortunately, she has seen many wealthy women and pretty girls try to pursue her, but all of them have failed miserably and none of them have been able to generate much gossip for her.

However, if the other person is the type who lives off a woman and is easily won over, then the charm won't be as great.

After being fired, Chu Yuanqing didn't really want to go to work for a while. She even completely lost her reason to wear makeup at the company. From then on, she went to work every day without makeup, completely giving up.

When talking about the other person now, it's natural to feel compelled to complain a bit.

"But Brother Chu should be doing well now. His daughter is really popular online, you know about <FlashDance>?"

"Chu Wangshu from the Sea Capital division is his daughter. She now has over ten million followers on Weibo, and she should be able to achieve financial freedom soon."

Li Peipei sighed as she spoke, realizing she had almost forgotten about Chu Yuanqing; the two weren't really close after all.

However, the popularity of "Flash Dance" made many people in the company pay attention to a certain live broadcast of this episode. Someone posted it in the company group, and hundreds of people watched the video of Chu Yuanqing and Little Cotton-padded Jacket visiting the art exhibition.

Now everyone knows that Chu Yuanqing's daughter is going to become a big star.

Because of this, many people in the company group complained about firing the other party's supervisor. If Chu Yuanqing were still working here, even if they didn't ask for the other party's daughter's autograph, it would be good to hear more gossip.

After the recent revelation that Flash Dance is directly related to Magical Girl, this gossip, which had quieted down in the company for a while, was dug up again by the employees and continued to be discussed, making it impossible for anyone to forget.

After all, whether it's Little Idol or a big star, it doesn't really affect people's lives. But when it comes to Magical Girl who are exterminating Calamity Beasts, it feels like your own company has fired the father of a future superhero.

Of course, what was most shocking about this incident in her eyes wasn't how beautiful Brother Chu's daughter was, how much money she could earn in the future, or how high her achievements would be, but rather...

Brother Chu is only 37 years old, and his daughter is almost an adult!

Well, considering that the other party has had no romantic history for many years and has raised his daughter alone, it gives people the impression that his wife is a very awful woman.

This gave her a unique perspective on the matter; she felt that Chu Yuanqing had truly endured a lot, finally reaping the rewards of his years of hard work and no longer needing to work overtime day and night for his daughter's future.

Chu Wangshu's eyes were unfocused, and she listened absentmindedly, her mind filled with the date her Dad resigned, the events of that day replaying in her thoughts.

The day her Dad was fired was also the anniversary of her mother's death, and it was also the day she argued with him and had a cold war with him, and then packed her suitcase and went back to live at school.

So, did Dad not go to the memorial service that day because of work? And was he fired because he was too willful?

Chu Wangshu was in a state of utter confusion. She didn't blame her Dad for not telling her these things; she only blamed herself for being too oblivious, so oblivious that she couldn't perceive the pressure her Dad was under.

If she hadn't ended up here by chance, and if the receptionist hadn't been so easy to talk to, she probably wouldn't have known this news for a very long time.

The girl felt guilty and sad; her nose stung, and she pursed her lips, asking:

"Sister, can you tell me more about him?"

Li Peipei hesitated upon hearing this, instinctively wanting to refuse, but before she could answer, the young girl in front of her took off her mask, revealing a beautiful and familiar face.

The woman recognized Chu Wangshu almost instantly. Her pupils dilated, her heart trembled, and unable to contain her excitement, she lowered her voice with reason and asked hesitantly:

"You are... Brother Chu's daughter?"

Chu Wangshu nodded in agreement, put her mask back on, and then simply placed her ID card on the front desk for Li Peipei to see. Li Peipei glanced at another seat behind the front desk and politely asked:

Can I sit there?

Li Peipei nodded without hesitation, deciding to risk having her wages docked and openly slack off.

Just kidding. To put it bluntly, even if you lose a month's salary, it wouldn't be as valuable as getting Chu Wangshu's autograph. If she really becomes Magical Girl someday, who knows, her autograph might be worth a fortune.

Moreover, even without any financial gain, and setting aside the voyeuristic desires arising from the celebrity effect, she was quite interested in chatting with Brother Chu's daughter.

There's no way around it, pretty girls are just so appealing.

Chu Wangshu walked around the front desk and sat next to Li Peipei, looking both obedient and adorable.

Li Peipei honestly said:

"I'm not that close to Brother Chu. It's just that he's quite eye-catching, so I often get to hear his gossip. So, I might not be able to answer what you're asking."

Chu Wangshu had expected this. In her memory, her Dad was a man with almost no social life. He had no good friends to go out drinking and eating with, nor any ambiguous relationships that could make him a stepmother. He lived a life of asceticism and lacked human warmth.

It's hard to imagine that the boy who saved the world, who was like a blazing fire, offering salvation to humanity, would burn out his youth in such a mundane, ordinary, and even frustrating way, spending a full 17 years of his life in this way.

Even after spending half a year in the ideal world and subtly probing Charlotte about her Dad, she still couldn't understand what he was avoiding or waiting for.

Charlotte said that [Pure White] is the high wall that Dad built for mankind, which suppressed thirteen Disaster God powerful enough to destroy this galaxy.

In other words, the Dad nipped the crisis in the bud before it even officially emerged. So how did the mother die?

Chu Wangshu believed that the Countermeasures Bureau was not her Dad's enemy; otherwise, her sister Charlotte wouldn't have joined them. The two were more like parallel lines that did not interfere with each other.

Therefore, there must be a deeper and more complex reason behind it.

Chu Wangshu wanted to know the answer.

To this end,

"I want to know him better."

The girl continued:

"So, you can talk about anything related to your Dad."

After that, the two chatted on and off for over an hour.

At the receptionist's request, Chu Wangshu took a photo with her and got her autograph before leaving the company building with her handbag. Walking under the bright blue sky, looking at the bustling traffic of this steel city, she felt a little lonely.

Although I got the company's HR's WeChat through the receptionist, they didn't know where my Dad was working now.

"No matter what, they should still be in Sea Capital, right?"

Chu Wangshu was somewhat unsure. She sighed and decided to go back to her alma mater first.

Even though I really wanted to go straight home, I had made an appointment with my homeroom teacher and a good friend at school, so I still had to go to school first.

The girl decided that after she finished, she would buy groceries, go home, cook, and see if her Dad would come back.

As for sending a text message to the other party...

The little girl had this tempting option pop into her head, but she immediately rejected it. She knew that if she told her Dad, she would definitely see him that night.

But she was even more curious about how the house had changed while she was away, and how the other person was living.

So she took a bus that went her way, popped up in the class group chat after a long time, changed subway lines three times, and arrived at her destination half an hour later.

Because it's summer vacation, the "Flash Dance" sign in front of Haido Foreign Language Private School has been removed after the event ended, making the surrounding area seem somewhat deserted.

Chu Wangshu wasn't wearing her school uniform, but the gatekeeper was clearly very familiar with her face and could enter simply by scanning her face.

The Little Cotton-padded Jacket went to check on the homeroom teacher's office first.