Chapter 56
After their successful raid on the school forum, Xie Buyu, Pagoda, and the other trainees regularly patrolled it, looking for any new signs of trouble.
Any post about Chi Lin, especially those with baseless accusations, was immediately reported by dozens of accounts.
Even Tan Luo, the forum administrator, noticed a group of anonymous users helping her maintain order.
Pagoda, the first to see the post about the bet, wasn’t sure if she should tell Lou Mi. She discussed it with Xie Buyu.
“Are you trying to sabotage Mi-jie’s love life?” Xie Buyu asked. “This is a perfect opportunity!”
“What opportunity?” Pagoda asked, confused. “I don’t see it.”
“Are you blind? Someone insulted Lou Mi, and her little sister defended her, even risking expulsion. That’s not just sisterly love, that’s true love!”
“But what if Mi-jie already knows? She’s probably more aware of this than we are.”
“If she doesn’t know, we’ll tell her. And if she does know, but is too shy to act, we’ll give her an excuse.”
Pagoda’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant!”
“With our help, Mi-jie will finally find love,” Xie Buyu declared.
“How do you know she hasn’t already? That WeChat message sounded pretty… suggestive.”
“Look at her. No new clothes, no new hairstyle, same old WeChat profile picture and signature. Clearly not in a relationship. When you see her wearing a new lipstick, humming a cheerful tune, and smiling at everyone, then you’ll know it’s real.”
Pagoda: “Seriously…”
“Trust me. I’m an expert in these matters.”
Pagoda, however, was less optimistic.
“Considering your talent for jinxing things, maybe you should just… be quiet. You might ruin it.”
Xie Buyu: “…Do you want me to come over and kick your ass?”
.
Lou Mi, having lost her game, carefully read the forum post.
So that’s why Chi Lin had been studying all night. She had made a bet.
And the stakes were… expulsion? Against a top student in English?
That little brat is fearless.
After reading the comments and piecing together the story, she realized Chi Lin had likely accepted the bet out of anger at Ms. Hu’s insults.
But what was Lu Ke’s motivation?
Chi Lin was using Peng Ziyuan’s old phone while waiting for a new one.
Lou Mi opened WeChat and messaged Chi Lin.
“Studying again this weekend?”
Five minutes later, Chi Lin replied:
“Yes, at the library.”
“The National Library?”
“Yes. Are you coming?”
“Not if you’re with your friends.”
“I’m alone.”
Though not a direct invitation, it was close enough.
Lou Mi sent a message to the Nine Heavens team chat: “Who’s good at English?”
“I lived abroad for ten years, Mi-jie. Have you forgotten?” Pagoda replied.
“I almost got a perfect score on the English college entrance exam. I might be a bit rusty, but I can brush up on it,” Xie Buyu said, then immediately messaged Pagoda privately:
“See? I told you. Mi-jie is taking action.”
A few trainees also volunteered, claiming they were fluent enough to trash-talk foreigners in online games.
“Okay,” Lou Mi said. “Meet me at the National Library. I need your help tutoring my sister. In return, I’ll carry you through any dungeon in ‘Return to Jianghu,’ even the Snowy Peak.”
The trainees were ecstatic. “Seriously, Mi-jie?! The Snowy Peak? We’ve always wanted to farm Origin Flames there!”
“And I’ll pay you triple the market rate for tutoring,” Lou Mi added.
.
Chi Lin waited for Lou Mi in a secluded corner of the library, having compiled a list of questions.
She didn’t want to bother Lou Mi, but she also didn’t want to impose on Lin Xiaozhi, whose “tutoring sessions” were clearly just an excuse to spend time with Wei Zhuoning.
She had benefited from the study materials her classmates had given her, but some concepts were still unclear.
She had been planning to research them herself and ask Lin Xiaozhi on Monday if she couldn’t figure them out.
But Lou Mi had offered to help…
She focused on her vocabulary, not wanting to waste any time.
After memorizing thirty words, Lou Mi arrived, accompanied by a small army of… tutors.
Chi Lin: “…?”
If the group at school had been academic overachievers, these were… professionals.
Their explanations were clear and concise, their real-world examples and creative analogies making even the most difficult concepts easy to understand.
After two hours of intensive tutoring, Lou Mi, having reserved a private room at a nearby bar, led the group there.
The library was too quiet for practicing listening comprehension.
A bar, however, was the perfect place for… shouting.
Only Lou Mi would choose a bar for a study session.
The bar owner, a friend of Lou Mi’s, offered them tea and popcorn, marveling at the sight of so many exam papers. He hadn’t seen those in years.
Pagoda, her English pronunciation the most accurate, read the listening comprehension passages, while the others worked on the questions with Chi Lin.
Chi Lin was surprised by the number of… traps and tricks in the questions.
…
They studied until late at night, fueled by two rounds of snacks. The trainees, their energy depleted, struggled to stay awake, but Chi Lin remained focused.
Lou Mi, not wanting to push them too hard, said, “That’s enough for tonight. I’ll call you all taxis. Get some rest.”
Xie Buyu, seeing none of the trainees mention Lou Mi’s generosity and the immense cost of this tutoring session, decided to intervene.
How would Chi Lin appreciate Lou Mi’s sacrifice if she didn’t know about it?
And without appreciation, how would love blossom?
She patted Lou Mi’s hand.
“Don’t forget about our deal, Mi-jie. Triple the market rate, and a week of dungeon raids in ‘Return to Jianghu,’ including the Snowy Peak. We’re counting on you.”
Lou Mi rolled her eyes. “Can’t we discuss this later?” she whispered.
“No, we’re afraid you’ll back out,” Xie Buyu said.
“I would never! When have I ever broken a promise?”
Chi Lin, overhearing their conversation, looked at them, a question in her eyes.
Lou Mi: “…”
Xie Buyu smiled triumphantly, unfazed by Lou Mi’s glare.
Anything for Mi-jie’s love life.
Mi-jie is so lucky to have a friend like me.
As they prepared to leave, Lou Mi paid them generously and even sent a large red envelope to the group chat.
Pagoda, riding with Xie Buyu, quickly claimed the red envelope and gasped, seeing the amount: over a thousand yuan.
“Mi-jie is serious about this… relationship,” she said.
Lou Mi sent a message to the group chat:
“9 am tomorrow. Snowy Peak raid. Don’t be late.”
The trainees, having just received their generous payment, responded with a flurry of emojis and grateful messages.
Lou Mi, back in her car, saw Chi Lin waiting patiently, her seatbelt fastened, her posture impeccable.
“Should I start lecturing you now?” she joked. “We’re not in school. Relax.”
Chi Lin, whose posture was always perfect, didn’t think she was being… formal.
“Thank you for… everything,” she said.
“Don’t mention it. And don’t listen to Xie Buyu’s nonsense.”
“How much did you pay them?”
“…Market rate.”
Chi Lin stared at her.
“…Triple the market rate.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
Chi Lin continued staring.
“…And I’m taking them on a dungeon raid tomorrow.”
“A dungeon raid? In the game? Is it… difficult?”
“It’s the hardest dungeon in ‘Return to Jianghu.’ It takes about twelve hours.”
“Twelve hours?” Chi Lin was surprised.
“Yeah, twelve hours minimum. Usually closer to sixteen. But I can probably clear it in fifteen.”
Chi Lin nodded slowly.
“So you’ll have to study on your own tomorrow. I’ll tutor you after the raid.”
“It’s okay. Focus on your work. I have plenty to review.”
Then, feeling guilty, she added, “It’s not just ‘your work.’ You’re doing all of this for me.”
Lou Mi, her heart warming, wanted to say, Of course, I am. Glad you noticed. But she maintained a calm facade, adopting a parental tone.
“If not for my teammate sending me that forum post, I wouldn’t have known about your… bet. Just ignore those rumors. They’re not true. Why are you so worked up about it? You’re usually so calm and collected. Why are you so… impulsive about this?”
Chi Lin shook her head. “It’s different.”
Lou Mi, feigning ignorance, asked, “Different how?”
“If it were just about me, I wouldn’t care. But…”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
Lou Mi knew what she meant, but she wanted to hear her say it.
“But what?”
Chi Lin looked at her, her gaze intense.
“You know what.”
Lou Mi, pretending to be clueless, said, “Because it’s about me?”
Chi Lin nodded.
That little brat is so… tight-lipped.
Lou Mi, wanting more, said, “I care about you too. So don’t be so formal. It’s not a burden. It’s what… family does.”
Chi Lin understood her meaning, sensing Lou Mi’s deliberate attempts at… closeness, reminiscent of the Empress’s patient and persistent pursuit.
She knew her own defenses were strong, her aloofness a shield against emotional vulnerability.
She rarely let anyone in.
And force wouldn’t break through her defenses.
Only the Empress knew how to reach her.
And Lou Mi’s approach… was surprisingly similar.
The question of Lou Mi’s identity resurfaced.
They weren’t identical, and Chi Lin hadn’t initially considered Lou Mi as a potential candidate.
But their personalities, their behaviors… there were undeniable similarities.
Chi Lin had no proof, just a feeling.
Was a feeling enough?
Lou Mi had never mentioned anything about Dayuan. She didn’t even know about that era.
And despite Lou Mi’s claim of having no birthmarks, Chi Lin suspected she was mistaken.
Seeing was believing.
She had to see for herself before giving up.
A brilliant idea, a perfectly modern idea, struck her.
“Sister,” she said, “can you do me a favor?”
Lou Mi’s heart melted every time Chi Lin called her “Sister.”
And now, she was asking for a favor?
“What is it?” she asked, already agreeing.
“After I win the bet… can we have a… gathering?”
“A gathering? Like… a party? During winter break? You want to invite your friends over?”
“Yes. Is that okay?”
Lou Mi, wanting to tease her, said, “I’ll… think about it.”
Seeing Chi Lin’s slight disappointment, she added, “It depends on your… performance.”
Chi Lin’s eyes lit up. “I’ll do my best!”
Lou Mi wondered if she had misunderstood.
Did she think I meant her academic performance? The bet?
No, idiot! I meant… your performance… with me…
Lou Mi, looking at Chi Lin’s innocent face, couldn’t bring herself to voice her… less than pure thoughts.
But Chi Lin’s efforts to please her, her willingness to go to such lengths… it warmed Lou Mi’s heart.
Then Chi Lin asked, “Sister, who is A Bao?”
Lou Mi: “…”
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