Chapter 39
Since the groundbreaking game “Reshape the Universe” opened up a new world two decades ago, holographic gaming had become a dominant form of entertainment for young people worldwide.
“Reshape the Universe” paved the way for a surge of popular holographic games:
“Secret Rendezvous,” a dating and social simulation game, setting records for concurrent players and revenue.
“Fantasy Food World,” offering realistic culinary experiences in historical settings.
“Primitive Trails,” allowing players to experience life from the Stone Age onward, interacting with extinct creatures and plants.
These games ushered in a golden age of holographic gaming.
Other popular titles followed, including “Galactic Fighters,” “Crime Scene,” and the current reigning champion, N-T Corporation’s wuxia-themed “Return to Jianghu,” each game influencing fashion and pop culture trends.
Professional esports teams and players enjoyed immense popularity and recognition.
These athletes, representing their countries on the world stage, were not just celebrities, but heroes to their fans.
And now, one of these heroes, a world champion, stood outside Class 6.
HighTowerMiyuki was known for both her exceptional skills and her striking beauty.
But with the prevalence of filters and image manipulation, online appearances were often deceptive. And no one was perfect.
HighTowerMiyuki’s image as a flawless goddess was likely just a persona, carefully crafted for the online world. Few had seen her in person.
Some even speculated she was secretly… unattractive.
Now, here she was, at South Lake Third High, her face uncovered, her beauty undeniable.
The online videos didn’t do her justice.
She was a thousand times more stunning in person!
Lou Mi, seeing the stunned silence, realized her presence had not just caused a commotion, it had stopped time.
She scanned the classroom through the reflective glass, searching for Chi Lin.
“Chi Lin,” she called out, spotting her in the back and waving.
The glint of the ring on her finger caught the light, momentarily blinding the students.
Why is Lou Mi here? And dressed so… elegantly? This isn’t the usual casual, aloof Lou Mi…
Chi Lin, like her classmates, was mesmerized.
Wei Zhuoning, after several attempts, finally managed to snap her out of her trance.
“Chi Lin… HighTowerMiyuki is calling you…”
Wei Zhuoning couldn’t believe her own words, almost ripping Chi Lin’s uniform in her excitement.
Chi Lin, the first to recover, smoothed her clothes and walked to the back door.
Lou Mi joined her, and they stood face to face, the entire class gathered behind Chi Lin, their ears perked up, their phones recording.
Messages flew through the class group chat, summoning students from other classes to witness the spectacle.
Even Gao Xiang and his friends, moments ago ready to brawl, now stood transfixed, their rivalry forgotten.
The power of fandom could indeed bring peace.
Chi Lin felt the weight of countless gazes, a different kind of attention from the one she had been accustomed to, or even the attention she received when with the Empress.
Her relationship with Lou Mi was a strange mix of closeness and distance, familiarity and unfamiliarity.
They were connected only by rumors and a shared household.
Now, standing side by side, the center of attention, Chi Lin felt her cheeks flush.
“What are you doing here?” she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.
“What do you think? Where’s your lunchbox?” Lou Mi asked, her voice clear and loud, her usual commanding tone reaching the entire class.
Lunchbox? Chi Lin remembered.
Peng Ziyuan had mentioned it that morning, but Chi Lin had been preoccupied and forgotten.
Lou Mi held up the lunchbox, smiling.
“Here. Your mother woke up early to make this for you. Don’t waste it.”
Her words were a revelation to the onlookers.
Chi Lin and Lou Mi not only lived together but also with their parents.
And since Lou Mi had said “your mother,” they weren’t blood relatives, suggesting a blended family.
So the “old hag” in the forum post was… Lou Mi?
Who would dare insult Lou-jie like that?
Gao Xiang and his friends were also fans of Lou Mi, Gao Xiang himself a devoted follower.
He was always the top donor during her livestreams, hoping to catch her attention, and he had organized protests on the club’s website when she hadn’t streamed for a while.
His room was plastered with posters of HighTowerMiyuki and the Nine Heavens team. He had never imagined meeting his idol in person.
And he had insulted her online.
He was filled with regret.
“Thank you…” Chi Lin said, taking the lunchbox, noticing the Nori the Demon Child design on the bag. It was the original owner’s favorite character. Peng Ziyuan had been thoughtful.
“Did you come all the way here just to deliver my lunch?” she asked softly.
“Of course,” Lou Mi replied, her voice still loud and clear, ensuring everyone could hear. “What kind of sister would I be if I let you starve?”
The students’ hearts fluttered.
This is so sweet!
Wei Zhuoning grabbed Lin Xiaozhi’s wrist, her breathing shallow.
Lin Xiaozhi looked at her, confused.
Wei Zhuoning’s mind raced with possibilities.
Sisters living together, a blended family!
A rising star and an esports goddess!
She wanted to start a new novel, with these two as the main characters.
This time, A Lin wouldn’t be a side character. She would be the star!
And the other protagonist would be called Mi Xue!
Lin Xiaozhi, unsure of Wei Zhuoning’s reaction, wondered if she was jealous.
She had suspected Wei Zhuoning had a crush on Chi Lin, her constant attention and the use of her name in her novel fueling her suspicions.
To thwart this potential “romance,” she had secured the seat next to Chi Lin.
Once they were deskmates, she could torment Wei Zhuoning with her closeness to Chi Lin.
She even planned to induce Stockholm Syndrome in Wei Zhuoning, turning her jealousy into obsession.
Everything had been going according to plan, but Lou Mi’s appearance had thrown a wrench into the works.
Wei Zhuoning’s attention was now fully focused on Chi Lin.
Her unwavering gaze, her tight grip on Lin Xiaozhi’s wrist…
It made Lin Xiaozhi’s heart ache.
Lin Xiaozhi was clever, even cunning, but she wasn’t omniscient.
She didn’t understand the workings of a writer’s mind, their ability to find inspiration in unexpected places.
She felt like she was losing this battle.
Chi Lin, holding the lunchbox, thanked Lou Mi, then fell silent, the crowd growing larger, their phones recording, their whispers filling the hallway.
“Did you plan this?” she asked softly, referring to Lou Mi’s earlier cryptic remark about “watching the show.”
Lou Mi, looking at the students’ expressions, knew her plan had worked.
“Don’t worry,” she said, leaning closer to Chi Lin, her voice low. “Those rumors will disappear soon.”
Chi Lin, seeing her confident demeanor, was puzzled.
Wouldn’t her high-profile appearance only fuel more rumors?
While Chi Lin, still struggling to understand the nuances of modern social dynamics, worried, Lou Mi remained confident, her plan unfolding perfectly.
She ruffled Chi Lin’s hair, told her to be good, and turned to leave, but the crowd blocked her path.
They surrounded her, eager to take pictures, ask for autographs, even confess their love or ask for mentorship.
Lou Mi, maintaining a gracious smile, answered their questions and posed for pictures.
Students from other schools, hearing about her appearance, rushed over, further adding to the chaos.
The security guards were overwhelmed.
Ms. Qi, seeing the situation spiraling out of control, intervened, restoring order with the help of other teachers and security personnel.
Even the Dean of Students had to make an appearance, but some students refused to leave, chanting Lou Mi’s name.
“Lou-jie! Look at me! I’m Nanfeng1008! I watch all your matches! I love you!”
“Win the Winter World Cup!”
“Nine Heavens rules! Lou-jie is the best!”
Ms. Qi, initially planning to escort Lou Mi off campus, realized it was impossible. She led her to the office, hoping to shield her from the enthusiastic crowd.
Closing the door and windows, blocking out the noise, Ms. Qi finally had a chance to catch her breath.
She felt like Lou Mi’s bodyguard, her clothes disheveled, her collar askew.
Lou Mi, however, looked impeccable, her composure undisturbed.
Ms. Qi had met Lou Mi once before, during the English exam incident.
She had heard rumors about Chi Lin’s famous sister but hadn’t paid much attention.
Today, she witnessed Lou Mi’s star power firsthand.
Her previous low-key visit had almost caused a riot in the office. This slightly more public appearance had almost brought down the entire building.
Ms. Qi asked about the purpose of her visit.
“My sister forgot her lunch,” Lou Mi explained calmly. “I came to deliver it.”
“I see,” Ms. Qi said, then advised, “Your presence here is causing quite a stir, Ms. Lou.”
Lou Mi smiled. “You’re right. You’re clearly a dedicated teacher, concerned about your students. But I wouldn’t be here if my sister hadn’t been… bullied.”
“Bullied? Chi Lin?”
Lou Mi opened the forum post on her phone.
Ms. Qi leaned closer to see, but Lou Mi projected the webpage onto the wall, ensuring everyone could see it clearly.
Ms. Qi and the Dean of Students, who had just arrived, read the post, their faces grim.
Lou Mi, unfazed, pointed at the screen, reading aloud the most offensive comments.
Ms. Qi, unable to bear the insults, asked her to stop.
“What’s wrong with these students?” she said, exasperated. “Wasting their time on such nonsense. Please don’t be upset, Ms. Lou. This isn’t the official school forum. It’s a student-run forum on a different platform. We have no control over it…”
The Dean, realizing the potential consequences of such a dismissive response, especially from a celebrity like Lou Mi, interrupted.
“This is a serious case of cyberbullying. We will investigate thoroughly and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
“That’s what I want,” Lou Mi said firmly. “I want to know who wrote that post, who’s bullying my sister, and who’s spreading these lies. I trust the school will ensure justice for Chi Lin and expose these… malicious individuals.”
Ms. Qi and the Dean nodded in agreement.
“If you need any assistance with the investigation, please don’t hesitate to contact me,” Lou Mi said, projecting her digital business card.
As they were adding her on WeChat, Lou Mi leaned forward, her hands on the desk, her eyes blazing.
“Chi Lin is working hard,” she said, her voice low and menacing. “I won’t tolerate any further disruptions. As teachers, I’m sure you share my sentiment.”
Ms. Qi, intimidated by her intensity, could barely speak. The Dean, chuckling nervously, said, “Of course, of course. This won’t happen again. We promise.”
“Good. I trust you,” Lou Mi said, her expression softening, her earlier fury replaced by a warm smile.
“I’ll be waiting for the results of your investigation.”
“Of course, of course…”
The bell rang, interrupting Chi Lin, who had been eavesdropping at the door. She returned to the classroom.
The students of Class 6, still buzzing from their encounter with HighTowerMiyuki, were too distracted to focus on the lesson.
The geography teacher lectured, while the students, their phones hidden under their desks, chatted excitedly in the group chat.
“Lou-jie is so beautiful! I want to scream!”
“Beauty, kindness, and talent! She’s perfect!”
“Anyone who says no one is perfect needs to see Lou-jie’s picture.”
“You guys are crazy. She’s just a gamer.”
The others ignored the naysayer.
“New fan here! Where do I start?”
“I’ll send you a starter pack. Begin with the 2040 Wheel of Champions tournament. It was a solo competition, and Lou-jie fought her way from 50th place to 1st. Epic!”
“Wow, sounds intense.”
“New fans are so lucky. So much content to catch up on.”
“Chi Lin! Chi Lin! When can we come over to your house?”
“@Chi Lin @Chi Lin @Chi Lin We want to meet Sister Lou! Can you arrange it?”
Chi Lin, her phone on silent, didn’t see the messages, but Lin Xiaozhi, scrolling through the chat, showed her the screen occasionally.
Chi Lin rolled her eyes.
Sister Lou? Since when are we related?
She tuned them out, focusing on the geography lesson, which was still a struggle.
But Lou Mi’s unexpected appearance kept flashing through her mind.
She had known Lou Mi was popular, but she hadn’t realized the extent of her fame.
Dayuan had its share of celebrities, including Chi Lin herself.
But Lou Mi’s star power was on a different level.
The intensity of these teenagers’ fandom was both impressive and slightly alarming to someone from a more reserved era.
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