Chapter 220

Chapter 220: Straightforward; Charlotte, I Want to See You

Dinner time.

Tang Liuli poked at the steaming pile of rice with the tip of her chopsticks, her pretty little face looking dazed. She absentmindedly tasted the food cooked by the Pure White Witch, feeling lost and confused.

There was no choice but to slowly think again.

The embarrassment of walking into an adult store alone and the fear of being approached by strangers would flood back into her mind, triggering a giant green-eyed cat rolling around the city, crushing tall buildings.

The most important thing was, she didn’t even bring back any naughty clothes!

After charming her cute daughter, the green-eyed cat walked outside alone. Halfway there, she realized the risk of social death and hurriedly bought big sunglasses and a mask by the roadside. She even changed into a hooded sweatshirt, looking like some clumsy spy.

To see the naughty Honey Qing—no, to win over Honey Qing—she bore her shame and took slow steps toward that shop filled with a wicked vibe like butter, her toes already feeling like they had carved out Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Sadly, the socially anxious cat, trying hard to enter the store, was approached by a black-skinned girl with a lip ring inside. Before she could finish hearing the compliment, "Your eyes are so pretty," she trembled and scurried away, shamefully returning to her hotel.

How frustrating! Such a great plan crumbled like this!

Tang Liuli had tears in her eyes. She hated talking like it was a song. She even suggested she buy strange toys from a sassy girl. Who… who would buy such embarrassing things! All she needed were Honey Qing’s long fingers!

Chu Yuanqing looked at the shy cat next to her. She didn’t know what silly thoughts were in this child’s head. Seeing that the cat was not paying attention, she gently patted its head, enjoying the soft and smooth fur, and casually asked,

"Liuli, what were you doing out there? Don’t you feel scared being alone?"

The green-eyed cat snapped back to reality, feeling very guilty. It was also unhappy about this feeling of being underestimated, so it stubbornly replied,

"What’s there to be afraid of when going out alone? I’m not a coward! I’m super brave!"

"I… I can surf and even skydive!"

The Pure White Witch rested her chin on her hand, turning her delicate face slightly, letting her braid fall gracefully. Her clear eyes shone like calm lakes, and with a loving smile, she said softly,

"Yes, I know. Liuli can do many things and has always been amazing."

This person hadn’t even taken off her apron yet. The atmosphere was calm and gentle, her fingertips tinged with a tempting warmth, giving off a motherly and wifely charm. At the same time, she danced with a mercury sword in the afternoon, playing a clear melody that showed her brilliance and grace.

The green-eyed cat was dizzy from being captivated by such beauty.

Honey Qing’s breath was so close, her soft whispers tickled his ears like feathers, making his earlobes turn red and hot.

Tang Liuli felt a little shy from the compliments and noticed the swan necklace hanging on the other person’s chest. It felt like fireworks were bursting in her heart, and her lips curved up. If it weren’t for the worry about the oil on her lips, she would have wanted to jump into the other person’s arms and act cute.

Boohoo, she cherished the gift she gave so much. She knew Mother Qing was the best!

Tang Liuli was super touched. She knew Chu Yuanqing would be the one to promote that Mobius ring pendant and had to wear it almost every day during the recording.

So, when she chose that gift, her thought was that Honey Qing had so few pieces of jewelry, and after the recording ended, it would be useful for matching outfits. She never expected the other person would wear it so soon.

The shy cat held back its embarrassment and softly said:

"I went out earlier to pick a gift for Little Qing, but I just couldn’t find anything I liked."

Well, that doesn’t count as lying, right? After all, sexy lingerie can also be considered a gift!

Chu Yuanqing’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. Feeling a bit shy, she glanced at the necklace around her neck, quietly added some vegetables to the bowl of the shy cat, and said softly,

"Thank you, Liuli, but you really don’t need to give me any gifts. I haven’t thought about how to give everyone gifts back yet."

Tang Liuli, however, didn’t mind. Of course, she would look forward to Chu Yuanqing’s gift in return, but for her, just being able to see Chu Yuanqing every day was the best gift.

But then, a clever idea suddenly popped into her head.

Oh, a gift in return?

The green-eyed cat’s eyes lit up, feeling a little excited. She seemed to have found a way to get Honey Qing to wear those clothes!

Chu Yuanqing blinked in confusion and asked,

"Does Liuli want something?"

Tang Liuli shook her head repeatedly. She had to act like a good girl to cleverly persuade Honey Qing to wear them, rather than just straight up using the idea of a gift to make her wear the clothes.

Although Honey Qing wore that outfit with a face full of shame, reluctance, and even disgust, it still seemed very wrong!

She, Tang Liuli, is not a bad woman!

Chu Yuanqing always felt something was off, but she didn’t think too much about it and instead looked at her lovely daughter.

Chu Wang Shu was happily eating, her cheeks puffed out like a cute squirrel, completely forgetting about calories, enjoying the taste of her ideal mom’s cooking, lost in the warmth of the moment, with a bright smile on her face.

Even though Dad is very nice, he is always busy, and meals are usually prepared ahead of time, so they rarely have the chance to sit together slowly, savoring their food and chatting leisurely.

Looking back carefully, it was mostly sitting alone at a quiet table, finishing her meal by herself, and then going to do the dishes.

So, ever since the base dorm turned into a standalone house and Chu Yuanqing started taking over the cooking, she has enjoyed lively meals, no longer quiet, and filled with warmth.

Since then, Chu Wang Shu has also become more attached to her; she has grown used to having this girl, who is a year younger but so mature, beautiful, handsome, and kind like a gentle mother, by her side.

Because of this, her lovely daughter cherishes travel time extra special; of course, she also likes the adorable Liuli, the big sister Miyuki, who feels like a senior, and the cool yet warm Sister Xie, but only Chu Yuanqing is special.

Without Honey Qing, this trip would be like a gathering of friends.

But with Honey Qing, this time feels more like playing out with family, warmer and deeper, like gold stamped on the beach. Even though one day it might be washed away by the waves, it will shine brightly in memories, hard to forget.

Chu Wang Shu’s happiness is like a diamond falling into a pond, making the gem deep within her soul sparkle with light, collecting tiny wishes, magic, emotions, and all kinds of messy thoughts.

Even if she doesn’t receive the Artificial Lantern from "Dazzling Stage," the potential she inherited from Charlotte and Chu Yuanying makes this almost natural existence, even more advanced than "Cocoon of the Heart," begin to subtly transform her body and evolve herself.

If this accumulation continues until the gem is full, she will gain a perfect lantern, unlocking extraordinary potential as a magical girl.

Chu Yuanqing is happy for her lovely daughter’s joy, and she treasures every meal shared with her daughter.

But…

"Is Little Shu turning into a witch?"

Pure White Witch noticed her daughter’s subtle changes. From the perspective of magic, it was like watching her own bloodline trying to break free from its shell, even sensing the stirrings of life within, bringing a lovely freshness.

It seems that Little Shu’s looks came from herself, but the talent in this area came from Charlotte.

Chu Yuanqing took a relaxed attitude toward this and felt a bit pleased.

She has found her own ending, and if the plan goes well, even if Little Shu becomes a magical girl, she will not become a tool of war.

As a good father, she will understand in her lifetime the magical covenant that Esther spoke of, to make clear the relationship between all witches and the awakening beings about to be born with the officials, giving freedom while also providing limits, to prevent new conflicts after the Disaster Wave crisis ends.

If a person does not think far ahead, they will surely have worries close at hand.

Witches, those "superpower users" guided by humans, awakening beings that may be born after one’s death, and original humans will all come into play once the crisis is fully over or paused.

These elements are on the same level, and the resulting interests and social conflicts are almost all predictable.

Charlotte and her daughter will inevitably grow to the peak existence of witches, attracting unnecessary attention and trouble.

Chu Yuanqing glanced at the game icon on her phone featuring a silver-haired, red-eyed beautiful girl. Perhaps, compared to others, Esther Zhi Meng, a special life mixed with AI, magic, and parts of human souls, who swore absolute neutrality under the covenant, is more suitable for guardianship.

Considering this, she might have to reveal some of her secrets to the other party in exchange for her idol, her daughter, and Charlotte’s safety.

But there’s no rush; she still needs to gather more strength.

At the very least, she must wait until everything is in full bloom and she has a good grasp of the power of the Pure White Witch.

Also, she needs to find time to read all those magic books; she should try to memorize all the spells in a week.

Speaking of which, there should be some magic in there that can easily make her daughter happy, right?

For example, suddenly making a big bunch of flowers appear?

Chu Yuanqing thought for a moment and then gave up torturing her poor imagination; she felt a bit troubled that she really was not good at making little kids happy, so when her daughter got a little older, playing together became less fun.

After dinner, it was already 6:30.

The little idols arrived at the practice room in a car rented by Chen Xiaoxiao and trained until 10:30 before returning to the hotel to rest.

Surprisingly, everyone discovered at the end of their training that they had become quite skilled at dancing. After rehearsing several times and watching the recorded videos, they didn’t notice any obvious mistakes.

It is important to know that in the past, just learning the dance movements and getting familiar with the steps and rhythm, along with memorizing the lyrics and music, took double the time—about 24 hours over three days—let alone the fact that the five-person dance required frequent changes of positions.

Of course, we must set aside Xie Qingxuan, as her skills in this area are top-level, and with the effects of Zen meditation, she can learn a dance in just two days and perform it on stage in a competition against a certain Miss Choreographer with a photographic memory.

The rest of the teammates are more typical.

Therefore, the young idols chatted excitedly, but they also found it a bit strange.

After discussing for a while, they attributed it to their teamwork and the benefits gained from two months of intensive dance training.

Chu Yuanqing knew the reason; Liuli, Qingxuan, and Miyuki were starting to change their life forms, and Little Shu also showed signs of this today. Under these circumstances, while they wouldn’t immediately become superheroes, their idealist organs would subtly help them achieve their deepest "wishes."

In simple terms, treating being an idol as a serious profession made them more efficient during training, allowing them to learn dance faster.

Well, one can imagine this is also the result of the calculated planning of "Dazzling Stage," and the other backup witches are likely in a similar state.

So, there is no need for any behind-the-scenes tricks. Those contestants who have not built the "Cocoon of the Heart" will naturally fall behind the progress of these little idols and will be eliminated by the harsh competition format.

The three performances are the most direct moments of breakthrough.

These 45 days are the only chance for the program group to change the fate of all the contestants.

After all, if we consider "Dazzling Stage" as a project destined for success, then the contestants who remain in the end will share in the profits and hold a higher social status than idols, and even all other artists, being responsible for maintaining Shining City and protecting the existence of humanity.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this is a change of class.

As for failure? After failing, how many people can still live is a question, so there is no need to think about it.

Nighttime.

The wind from the Danube gently brushes against her face, quite pleasant.

Chu Yuanqing quietly slipped out of the hotel, leaving the little idols behind. She strolled along the path next to the lush green grass, gazing at the river sparkling with neon lights in the distance, took a picture, and sent it along with other photos to Charlotte.

The girl said with her voice:

"You are right, the area by the Danube River is perfect for a walk."

"The city has so many lights, even the billboards shine like fireflies."

"The coffee at that café is very bitter, but I saw the little white kitten you mentioned, and it’s very cute."

Chu Yuanqing had seen all the places Charlotte talked about. She reported her journey, speaking in a serious and clear voice to the familiar stranger about her day.

The message on the screen showed it was read, and then a call came in.

Chu Yuanqing’s little hand froze; she wasn’t ready yet, for this quick conversation or a face-to-face meeting. Remembering her talk with Dreamweaver, she pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and nervously yet eagerly chose to answer the call.

"Good evening! Vienna is beautiful, right? You should explore it well so your trip to Austria doesn’t go to waste."

"Also, I saw the photos you sent me! Daxia’s dishes look delicious, and Little Qing is a great cook. I’m starting to envy your teammates!"

"I found that cat nearby and asked the boss to take care of it by using a signed photo. Speaking of which, I haven’t named it yet. Naming it after Daxia food sounds great, like Baozi? Or Youtiao?"

Charlotte’s voice came from the phone, mixing with the wind, soft and lively like a mango, as if dancing with a distant opera, tickling her ears.

How wonderful.

Chu Yuanqing’s tension and worry flowed away like water. She felt embraced by a warm, hazy cloud, and memories seemed to find a thread to connect with her, soothing the pressure in her heart and the pain in her soul through the girl’s bright and sweet voice.

The girl’s lips curled into a smile, even though they were far apart, feeling different night breezes, breathing different scents of fireworks, looking at different shades of the night sky, and illuminated by different city lights, her voice crossed the long years and echoed in her ears.

Chu Yuanqing listened to that person’s voice and absently replied:

"Then let’s call it Crystal… Crystal Bun?"

Charlotte agreed without thinking, deciding on the "dignity" of a cat being stepped on.

Chu Yuanqing sighed with relief that Charlotte didn’t ask why; she really couldn’t explain—"Because your voice is so nice, like crystal"—that silly and awkward reason.

On the other side,

Charlotte took off her shoes and walked barefoot by Lake Constance. She looked at the stage being set up by the lake, with soft neon lights in the background. The shimmering light reflected in her deep blue eyes, and a warm, enchanting smile appeared on her lips as she softly said to Chu Yuanqing:

"Thank you for sharing so much with me. I am very happy."

Chu Yuanqing felt confused about how Charlotte saw her now. She could only reply awkwardly:

"Me too."

Charlotte seemed to sense the nervousness from Chu Yuanqing. Her eyes sparkled as she couldn’t help but laugh and said honestly:

"I don’t know how Little Qing feels, but you seem both familiar and strange, as if I’ve known you for a long time."

And,

—you are special.

Charlotte swallowed those words, her beautiful face blushing like the morning sky. As a girl who had never been in love, how could she say such shameful things?

Yes, she must be modest and graceful, staying calm and bold, approaching the other person step by step, getting to know them before making a move!

Miss Saintess looked at the rippling water at her feet, her emotions churning inside, but she couldn’t help but add softly:

"Yes, that’s why I’ve talked to you for so long. I am usually very busy!"

Chu Yuanqing felt a bit dazed. Even if she completely changed her appearance, would Charlotte still feel familiar to her? Was it because of her name? Or just pure intuition?

The girl’s eyes lowered, holding complicated feelings, she softly said:

"I… I also feel like you are very familiar, like a good friend."

Not yet.

This is a phone call. Even if she believed in dreams, she couldn’t risk her principles.

Charlotte pressed her lips together when she heard this. She didn’t say anything but looked toward the distant lake. After biting her lip, she began to softly sing a German song:

"I found a treasure."

"And it bears your name."

Chu Yuanqing listened quietly. The sound that came from the girl’s lips was as gentle and lovely as always, like a breeze weaving through the glowing twilight. With the way she pronounced each word, the tone and breath changed, bringing different beautiful scenes.

"So beautiful and precious."

"And worth more than all the money in the world."

When Charlotte got to this part, she paused slightly. The light in her kaleidoscope-like eyes sparkled, and her lips formed a shy yet adorable smile. With a mischievous look, she decided not to continue singing and was about to say goodnight.

But in the next moment,

The Pure White Witch looked at the waves of the Danube River. It was as if she saw those familiar eyes through the shifting neon lights. She smiled and softly said:

"Charlotte, I want to see you."