Chapter 3
Lou Lixing faltered, but he had to press on. Chi Lin had been caught by the police and wouldn’t be released without a guardian.
He explained the situation to Lou Mi.
“Wow, skipping school to go to an internet cafe, fighting and kicking down doors. Pretty impressive. If she’s that tough, what can a few cops do? I bet she’ll blast her way out with a rocket launcher any minute now.”
Lou Lixing was on a business trip, about to start a video conference. His subordinates hovered nearby, eager to discuss the meeting, while he, hair slicked back, face stern, had to secretly plead with his daughter for help.
He maintained the imposing demeanor of a judge, yet his words were soft.
“Please, Mimi. I’m begging you. I’ll make it up to you when I get back. I promise I’ll discipline Chi Lin.”
“Right. You’ve practically got a template for those empty promises. You may not be tired of saying them, but I’m tired of hearing them.”
“Yes, yes, I always get tongue-tied around you. It’s because I love you the most.”
“…Are you trying to butter me up again? Just stick to the script.”
Lou Lixing ushered his team into the conference room. He stood by the door, pleading with Lou Mi until his throat was dry, then heard the sound of a car door closing.
“Mimi, are you going out?”
“What do you think?” Lou Mi fastened her seatbelt.
“Where are you going?”
“To pick up your precious girlfriend’s precious daughter, of course. Otherwise, my day will be ruined.”
Lou Lixing felt a wave of relief. He knew his daughter well. Mimi was all bark and no bite.
“Thank you, my dear. You’re the best daughter in the world. I’ve already ordered that limited-edition mattress you wanted. It’ll be delivered tomorrow afternoon.”
Lou Mi put on her sunglasses and smirked. “Brown-noser.”
Chi Lin sat on the internet cafe’s sofa, rubbing her leg. This body was incredibly weak, clearly unused to exercise. A simple kick had left her aching.
While tending to her injury, she continued to observe her surroundings.
The room was large, with a central area filled with tables and chairs, and several enclosed booths.
She had been in one of those booths earlier.
Upstairs, there were so-called VIP rooms, seemingly larger and more luxurious, commanding a higher price.
People in this era rarely used physical currency. She saw no silver or copper coins, no banknotes. They simply used facial recognition for transactions. Every shop likely had a device like the one the female officer carried.
This was a place of entertainment, judging by the young people coming and going.
She couldn’t see inside the booths, but they apparently offered holographic games. Those metal pieces, placed on the temples, allowed one to travel to another dimension.
This ability was similar to the Preceptor’s Soul-Chasing Secret Art, yet here, it required only two metal pieces, while the Preceptor paid with his life.
She wondered what the Preceptor would think.
Besides the holographic games, she saw rows of tables with large glass screens in the main area. These were called “traditional games.”
Traditional games didn’t require the metal pieces. One simply sat down and played, at a seemingly lower cost. If she had been playing a traditional game earlier, she might not have been so disoriented. The images were confined to the screen, the characters flat and easily distinguishable. And her foot wouldn’t be hurting so much…
This era was beyond her comprehension. Even games were so advanced. What other wonders awaited her outside?
The male officer updated the cafe’s network security system. The female officer stood by the door, watching as a car pulled up and a tall woman stepped out.
As Lou Mi entered the cafe, two young men near the entrance froze, whispering:
“Am I seeing things? Does that woman look like…?”
“Holy crap, Lou-jie?!”
“No way! It’s HighTowerMiyuki?!”
Who would have thought a legendary esports star would appear in this small internet cafe?
The entire cafe erupted. People poured out of the booths and VIP rooms, snapping pictures, even livestreaming.
Lou Mi: “…”
The female officer was also surprised. “Who is that? A celebrity?” she asked her partner.
The male officer was a “Return to Jianghu” player and a fan of Lou Mi. He never missed her streams. Seeing his goddess in person, even more stunning than online, his knees almost buckled.
But he had to maintain his composure on duty. “You don’t know her? She’s an esports god! A once-in-fifty-years talent! Beautiful, skilled, everyone calls her Lou-jie.”
The female officer raised an eyebrow. “Play fewer games and do more work.”
The male officer mumbled, “But you asked…”
It was all her dad’s fault. She had forgotten to wear a mask in her haste.
She had hesitated before getting out of the car, but figured she could just quickly pick up the girl and leave discreetly.
She had kept her sunglasses on, but…
This internet cafe was surprisingly crowded…
Chi Lin was also taken aback by the commotion. Who was this person, causing such a stir? A celebrity of this era?
The female officer approached Lou Mi. “Are you Chi Lin’s older sister?”
Lou Mi replied, “I’m her mother’s boyfriend’s daughter.”
The officer processed this. “So, still her older sister. The thing is, she’s only 17, a minor. It’s against the law for minors to enter Class B entertainment venues. Not only did she enter this internet cafe, she also assaulted someone and damaged property. She should be detained…”
The officer launched into a lengthy lecture. Mid-sentence, she noticed a timer running on Lou Mi’s phone screen, accompanied by a voice recording indicator.
“Miss, are you recording me?”
Lou Mi saved the recording. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to use it against you. I’m just recording this for her mother. I’m sure she’ll know how to handle this. Now, can we go?”
“Sign here,” the officer said. “The damages will be deducted directly from her guardian’s account.”
Lou Mi signed neatly on the digital screen, her face automatically scanned by the device.
As she put down the stylus, she said, “Chi Lin.”
Chi Lin immediately stood up.
“Let’s go.”
While they were talking, Chi Lin’s foot throbbed, preventing her from approaching. She had vaguely heard the word “sister.”
Could this person, the cause of all the excitement, be the older sister of this body’s original owner?
Chi Lin limped forward and bowed respectfully.
“Thank you for your trouble, Elder Sister.”
Lou Mi: “…”
What did I just hear?
For two years, this little hellion had made her life miserable, addressing her with a disrespectful “Hey!” Now, this troublemaker, the epitome of rudeness, was calling her “Elder Sister”?
Lou Mi removed her sunglasses and scrutinized Chi Lin.
Chi Lin stood respectfully, looking like an innocent little mouse.
Who are you?
Lou Mi turned to the police. “What did you do to her?”
The male officer quickly denied any wrongdoing. “We didn’t do anything! Just a little talking-to. The body cam was on the whole time. You can’t accuse us of anything!”
As they left the internet cafe, Lou Mi was surrounded by fans, peppering her with questions about the Winter World Cup, the impact of Xiao A and A Bao leaving the Nine Heavens team, the progress of new member selection, and her confidence in winning the championship this year.
Lou Mi was taken aback. These players’ questions were as sharp as any professional reporter’s.
“There will be a live press conference next week,” she announced. “Ask your questions then, and I’ll answer them all.”
Finally breaking free, she led Chi Lin to the car.
Chi Lin observed Lou Mi putting her sunglasses back on. The original owner’s sister was even more popular than she had imagined.
Having a famous sister in this strange era gave Chi Lin a sense of security.
Lou Mi got into the car. Seeing Chi Lin still standing by the door, she lowered the passenger window, stuck her head out, and said coldly, “How long are you planning to stand there? Haven’t you caused me enough trouble already?”
Chi Lin: “…”
This person was fierce. The relationship between these sisters seemed different from what she had expected.
Chi Lin wanted to get in, but the vehicle, though spacious, had no horses pulling it.
Could it be self-propelled?
If so, why was the door so small?
Chi Lin stared at the car window, puzzled.
Not only was the door small, it was also waist-high. How was she supposed to get in?
Lou Mi had forgotten that the automatic passenger door was malfunctioning and often needed to be opened manually.
Used to being alone in her car, she often forgot to get it fixed.
Just as she reached for the door handle, Chi Lin ducked, and like a seal slipping into water, slid through the open window and landed gracefully in the passenger seat.
Lou Mi stared, dumbfounded by this bizarre maneuver.
Chi Lin sat up straight, smoothing her clothes.
Thankfully, I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood. A high car door is no obstacle.
Lou Mi looked at her with an expression of utter bewilderment.
Chi Lin tilted her head, confused. “?”
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