Chapter 362: The Boomerang of the Past, the Lovely Daughter Who Aims to Be the Main Character

Many years later.

Chu Wang Shu finally received her mother’s embrace in reality; her mind was blank, filled with complex and intense emotions, like colorful paint splashing on the Flower of the Soul, causing the sunflowers to glow brightly.

In that moment, memories bubbled up.

The flawed childhood seemed like a galloping carousel, stirred by Charlotte’s words “I love you both,” which lifted the withered ginkgo leaves, allowing the seasons to turn; she felt as if she had returned to the day of her middle school exam, writing a themed essay.

The teacher asked everyone to write about motherly love, about mothers, about warm families, but she could only write about the mother of her dreams, about the brokenness of reality, about her father’s struggles, and about sitting alone at the dining table, looking toward the kitchen, hoping to see her mother’s figure suddenly appear.

The essay on that test received full marks, but in reality, her mother was still not there.

Daddy was of course very nice to her.

But she still felt lonely and couldn’t help but think about when she would see Mommy again. Sometimes, just before bed, she secretly wondered what they would talk about if they really met. Would it be about cosmetics? Or about the people they liked?

Does Mommy drink milk tea? Is she better at cooking than Daddy? Would she worry about grades and school? If someone bullied her, would she run away or bravely fight back?

I don’t know. She doesn’t know any of these things. She can only draw on blank paper, creating an imaginary, non-existent, and cold mother.

But now, things are different.

She can proudly write that Mommy is warm and brave, a super pretty and excellent person.

She can share with everyone that Mommy loves to laugh, captures life’s little moments with photos, cherishes all that is beautiful, and is always gentle and lovely, just like spices and sweets, the best girl ever.

The lovely daughter’s eyes filled with tears, which couldn’t stop falling, landing on Chu Yuanqing’s skin and Charlotte’s heart, burning hot enough to feel like they would sear through their souls, leaving the parents confused and unsure of what to do.

Charlotte looked at her daughter in her arms, filled with love and guilt, feeling a bit remorseful. How did she accidentally make her precious daughter cry again?

Miss Saintess hurriedly squatted down. She gently wiped her lovely daughter’s tears with her fingers and softly comforted her while blinking her eyes and looking at Chu Yuanqing with a pleading gaze, as if to say, “If you don’t help me, I will pout.”

Chu Yuanqing’s long eyelashes hung low, like snowflakes falling down. Her delicate face radiated a calm and peaceful motherliness. She gently stroked her daughter’s back, feeling the child’s soft sobs, and only when the little one calmed down did she softly ask:

“Does Little Shu have something to say to Mommy?”

Chu Wang Shu wiped her tears and said with a sniff:

“I… I don’t know, Sister Charlotte is so mean.”

Charlotte tilted her head to look at her adorable daughter and found it a bit funny. She pinched the girl’s cheek and seriously corrected her:

“You can’t call her sister anymore. A mean mommy is still a mommy. Now call me mommy!”

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuanqing smiled. She looked at her daughter’s flushed earlobes, decided not to let Charlotte tease her shy little girl anymore, and gave the child some time to think. Then she invited:

“Little Shu, you used to say that you wanted to go to the movies with Mommy and Daddy like other kids. Staying at home is a bit boring, so… shall we go to the movies together?”

The little girl broke free from the embrace of the Pure White Witch. She took the tissue that Charlotte offered her and covered her face with it, mumbling awkwardly:

“I… I’m not a little kid; I don’t care about this.”

Charlotte’s beautiful and charming face revealed a bright smile. She leaned closer, blinking her deep blue eyes, and softened her tone, without a hint of her mother’s authority, and pleaded:

“But I care! I haven’t watched a movie with my lovely daughter yet. Won’t you please come with me, Little Shu?”

Chu Wang Shu had a feeling that if she refused, this overly young mother would definitely say something even softer and more sappy like, “Please?” She quickly pushed the approaching Miss Saintess away, turned her face, and continued to speak softly:

“But if Dad invites me, it’s okay to go see it.”

Charlotte’s cheeks puffed up slightly when she heard this.

How could she mention Dad and not Mom?

Little Shu was being too much; if it continued like this, she would start to cause a scene!

Chu Yuanqing tugged at Charlotte’s sleeve. She looked up at her daughter and said softly:

“Little Shu hasn’t had time to take a bath since she got home, has she?”

“I’ll turn on the water heater. You go take a bath and change your clothes while your mom and I clean up the dishes, and then we’ll head out together.”

Even though it was already past nine, there were still plenty of late-night cinemas in Sea City, so a little time didn’t matter.

Chu Wang Shu didn’t rush to do household chores; she needed some time alone.

The information she received in that hour was too complicated. Just the fact that Chu Yuanying is Chu Yuanqing brought so much to think about, not to mention the first playthrough, her biological mother’s identity, and much more information.

There wasn’t enough time to sort it all out while taking a bath.

But it was possible to calm down and clear her mind.

Chu Yuanqing turned on the water heater, covered the leftover food with plastic wrap, put it in the fridge, and placed the dishes in the sink. Just as she was about to touch the grease with her hand, Miss Saintess nearby snapped her fingers and magically cleaned the dishes.

The Pure White Witch was a bit taken aback. She tilted her lips and smiled back, saying:

“I got used to it and forgot that I could use magic.”

Charlotte picked up the bowls and chopsticks. She squatted down, found the dining cabinet a little awkwardly, and carefully put the dishes away. With her head down and a sad look on her face, she asked:

“When do you plan to tell Little Shu?”

Chu Yuanqing wet the dried cloth with water. She paused for a moment before stepping out of the kitchen, wiping the table, and softly replied:

“I’ll wait until she becomes stronger and more mature. That child already knows too much today. She needs some time to slowly process it all. If I tell her directly now, she won’t be able to handle it.”

Charlotte was referring to that issue, which was, of course, her health condition.

But it was the same reason she hadn’t told Liuli, Miyuki, or Little Xuan yet.

Even if she told the truth, it wouldn’t change the situation. Beyond causing worry, anxiety, and sadness, it held no real meaning.

If she told her daughter now, she would not only miss the joy of reuniting with her mother during this week’s holiday, but she would also likely be immersed in the fear and sadness of losing her father at any time.

That would be too cruel.

Chu Yuanqing had prepared a way to keep everyone from being sad, and for now, she just wanted everyone to happily enjoy each day.

This week of vacation was the time she had set aside for her daughter.

During this time, there were her, Charlotte, and Chu Wang Shu; they could spend a warm and peaceful holiday like an ordinary family.

“That’s enough.”

After saying this, Chu Yuanqing glanced at the silent The Last Diva, walked over, and hugged the girl’s slender waist from behind, her nose brushing against the soft hair, touching the delicate neck; she lifted her pink lips and smiled, saying:

“Charlotte, you need to be a good mother.”

Charlotte turned back with a bright smile, the earlier gloom vanished in an instant, and she returned to the joyful and sunny person she usually was. She confidently hugged back, kissed Honey Qing’s lips, and said:

“I already understand Little Shu’s likes very well, and I am very close to being an excellent mom.”

And perhaps to emphasize this point, the Lantern Elf—Forget-Me-Not—landed on her head at some point, blinking its big black eyes, adorably nodding in agreement.

“Hmm, it won’t be long before Little Shu jumps into my bed, asking me to tell her bedtime stories, looking at me with admiration, and asking how girls her age should dress, what perfume to use, and how to be a great idol!”

Chu Yuanqing watched Charlotte proudly imagining the future, thought for a moment, smiled, and said:

“The things you mentioned, the later parts, Liuli, Miyuki, and Little Xuan have taught Little Shu a bit, after all, they are all Little Shu’s seniors.”

As for the earlier parts…

The cute daughter had already snuggled into her bed in the underground base while filming “Dazzling Stage,” listening to her bedtime stories.

Well, but the other little idols had all done the same for themselves.

After hearing this, Charlotte fell into deep thought, not feeling jealous at all; in fact, she hoped Liuli, Miyuki, and Little Xuan would spoil her daughter even more.

It made more sense to say that the motherly love missing for 17 years should be filled by four young moms, and it would surely be quicker than just one mom.

But… that child, Little Shu, should still not have realized, right?

Chu Yuanqing also seemed to notice this issue; she looked at Charlotte with a bit of guilt, afraid that this person might have bad intentions and pretend to cry, claiming that she was a terrible person.

But giving a heads-up wouldn’t work; it would only give Charlotte a reason to “bully” her. It was better to act like she didn’t know anything and avoid trouble.

Meanwhile, the silly couple was chatting.

In the bathroom, Chu Wang Shu had finished her shower. She washed away the warmth of late summer with cool water, letting her magic flow over her skin, shaking off the water drops, and changed into fresh clothes as she walked back to her room.

The little girl dried her damp hair with a towel. She looked at the not-so-narrow wardrobe; the autumn and winter clothes were stuffed in a suitcase and under the bed, leaving only a few spring and summer clothes inside.

Chu Wang Shu was thinking about what to wear out when she suddenly sensed something odd. Familiar snippets flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but murmur in confusion:

“Hmm, why do I always feel like there’s a piece of clothing missing from the wardrobe?”

Normally, a few pieces of clothing wouldn’t be noticed in a full wardrobe.

But after becoming a magical girl, her memory and instincts were much stronger, and she vaguely felt that she definitely knew the answer to this question.

As she thought carefully, the image of her first meeting with Chu Yuanqing a few months ago suddenly flashed through her mind like a bolt of lightning, as if a boomerang flying through time and space had struck her in the head while suddenly revealing clear words.

—”Oh right, right, I also have the same outfit you wore that day! Isn’t that a coincidence?”

—”Huh? Outfit? Same one?”

—”Yes, the light purple printed T-shirt, and the dark gray pleated skirt. I even have the shoes and long socks; I happened to have those too. Isn’t that super lucky?”

Chu Wang Shu was greatly shocked and rummaged through the wardrobe with her little hands, but she did not find the T-shirt and pleated skirt. Lost in thought, after a few months, she finally understood why Honey Qing’s eyes shook back then, and her feelings became complicated.

To be honest, her first reaction was to smile widely.

Because her dad, after becoming a girl, wearing clothes from her wardrobe looked so different from his usual serious and reliable image, creating a cute contrast.

After thinking about it carefully, it is more sad than funny.

Although the other person didn’t say it out loud, considering the behind-the-scenes video of Chu Yuanqing’s audition, the dusty trainee flyer for “Dazzling Stage” on the table, and the time she was let go by the company.

Dad must have put down his role as a father, a savior, and a hero to sing and dance on a talent show to earn money to support the family and himself.

To others, this may seem funny and amusing, something to talk about.

But how does it look from a daughter’s perspective?

Dad has worked very hard; the first half of his life was spent fighting with the Disaster group, fighting for the world, for humanity, and for all the people he loves and who love him.

That young hero, who walked through desolation, broke the crown of the gods, burned time and history, reshaped this world line, and saved everyone, has returned quietly.

There are no honors, no flowers, no thanks, and not even a legitimate way to approach things; even his strength has almost entirely faded because of being a savior, leaving him to struggle to blend in with the crowd while raising his daughter.

In middle age, he has to give up his past glory for himself and humbly fall into the dust, which is neither fair nor funny.

Moreover…

Isn’t it true that Dad wears her clothes because, even after becoming a girl, he is reluctant to spend money on himself?

Chu Wang Shu remembered going to the other dorm with that too-thin suitcase, and the assistant sister delivering sports underwear and cosmetics from “Dazzling Stage” to the other girl, making her feel so sorry for her dad that tears filled her eyes without her realizing it.

These boomerangs of pain stabbed her heart again and again, bringing not laughter and fun, but heavy, unspoken love from a father in various forms.

Looking back now, Dad probably agreed to the request from “Dazzling Stage” to shoot that wedding dress commercial with Sister Miyuki mainly for that endorsement fee.

For a dad who is simple and has almost no entertainment, that endorsement money still can only be for her, his daughter.

The sweet daughter felt sadder the more she thought, even forgetting what clothes to wear. She stood there foolishly, crying, until she heard footsteps approaching, and then she snapped back to reality, quickly wiping her tears and suppressing her sobs, saying:

“Is that you, Dad? I’m changing clothes, I’ll be done soon.”

Chu Yuanqing outside the door said:

“There’s no need to rush; you can take your time to change.”

Chu Wang Shu gave a small “hm” and quickly used a water spell and healing magic to return her rosy eyes to normal. She looked in the mirror and saw her face showed no signs of crying, which made her feel relieved.

Even though she was still very sad, she knew that seeing her tears would only make her dad more hurt, so she had to pretend that she didn’t know anything and act a little heartless.

This was the only thing she could do for her dad.

Now, whether it was material things or other matters, she could not think of any way to help her dad.

The girl quickly pulled out some clothes to change into, without time to think about anything else, and went to the living room to join her parents. The three of them quietly walked downstairs without disturbing familiar neighbors like Grandma Zhang, strolling in the evening breeze as they left the neighborhood.

Though the neighborhood was located on the outer ring, there was a cinema just a kilometer away. Charlotte excitedly searched for movies that had recently been released, energetically sharing with her father and daughter.

“Little Shu, this movie is made by Little Dream! The story is based on the magical girls who sacrificed for the Countermeasures Bureau, and their appearances are exactly the same. Instead of a movie, it feels more like a documentary!”

Charlotte said thoughtfully:

“For the [Astrolabe] and [Dream Weaver], this kind of precise film can be easily created, but it is this ease that can tell the story of many magical girls’ lives.”

Chu Wang Shu nodded in agreement.

The seniors at the Countermeasures Bureau are highly respected; during the time when the public was unaware of the disaster beasts, they lurked in the shadows, silently fighting to their deaths, buried as nameless heroes in the darkness.

Now, the Countermeasures Bureau is undoubtedly bringing them back into the sunlight, widely sharing their achievements through films that help the public recognize their contributions.

On one hand, this provides the flowers and honors they deserve; on the other hand, it lays the groundwork for the fear of disaster beasts, strengthening the public’s sense of crisis, while also using a similar belief that “those who mourn will win,” helping society to withstand pressure.

After all, most of the sacrificed magical girls were still young children; for many people, seeing these children in a documentary destined for tragedy feels like a painful stab to the heart.

This leads to questions like, “Why should these vibrant young girls go to battle?” “How can men harness the power of magic to fight for humanity?” “If even such children are not afraid of disaster beasts, how can we be afraid enough to trouble society?” “At the very least, we should be prepared for support…”

These shifting sentiments, built up over time, will eventually play a significant role in the fight against the Church of the Gods and the Disaster Group.

Thinking of this, Chu Wang Shu suddenly understood the meaning of her father’s words back then.

——[Now, the future is up to you to explore.]

If she could inherit her father’s wishes and take on the responsibilities he bore, completely eliminating the Disaster group, then her father would surely be very happy.

A spark ignited in Chu Wang Shu’s eyes.

What her father wanted to see was a beautiful world where there was no Disaster group, not even in its purest form. As his daughter, if she could create such a world, it would be her way of honoring him, right?

The girl felt a rush of emotions as the Flower of the Soul briefly connected with the Boundless Universe. Like being baptized, she was washed over by immense magical power, and she seemed unaware; she only glanced at her father beside her and the smiling Charlotte, silently resolving herself.

This future will be personally carved out by her, using…

This power called [Son of Mankind].