Chapter 101 p2
Lin Xiaozhi had just wanted to act cute, but seeing Wei Zhuoning’s distress, she stopped teasing and asked if she could have a few bites of her lunch.
“Just a little something to settle my stomach.”
Wei Zhuoning looked at her. Normally, Lin Xiaozhi would insist on being fed, but today, she took the spoon and ate quietly by herself.
Was she scared by her words earlier?
“I wasn’t yelling at you…” Wei Zhuoning said, holding the lunchbox, her ears turning red. “Why am I so useless? All I can do is write stories, everything else is a mess, I can’t even speak properly.”
“That’s not true…”
“I’m a bad student, my mom is always worried about me, and I can’t even please you. You’ve dated such beautiful and accomplished people, you have so many admirers, someone like me, am I even worthy of your affection…”
Wei Zhuoning broke into a coughing fit, and Lin Xiaozhi gently rubbed her back.
So, Wei Zhuoning’s aloofness wasn’t because of a lack of affection.
She seemed carefree and indifferent, but she was actually insecure and worried.
Just a silly little rabbit, Lin Xiaozhi had always known.
Lin Xiaozhi took the lunchbox and offered to feed her.
“I can eat by myself…”
“One bite, and I’ll grant you one wish, anything, for the rest of our lives.”
“Huh?”
“Anything at all, just name it.”
Wei Zhuoning blinked, tears from her coughing fit still clinging to her eyelashes, and looked at Lin Xiaozhi, confused.
“Not good enough? Then two wishes for one bite?”
“You’re bribing me with favors just to make me eat? Is there such a good deal in the world…?”
“Yes, of course.” Lin Xiaozhi’s expression and tone turned serious. “I was too reckless before, I made you feel insecure. I have to tell you this—Zhuoning, no matter our backgrounds, our pasts, we’re in a relationship, we genuinely like each other. You don’t have to try so hard, I truly like you, and I’m willing to do anything for you!”
Lin Xiaozhi’s sincerity was even more captivating than her playful smile.
Wei Zhuoning’s heart fluttered. She obediently took a bite.
“I, I’ve never told you this before.” Wei Zhuoning traced patterns on the ground with her finger, slightly nervous. “I come from a single-parent family, I don’t have a father, he left before I was born, my mom raised me alone, my grandparents barely acknowledged us. My mom and I are, well… not very likeable, my grandparents wished I never existed. I’ve never been smart or pretty, the only person in the world who likes me is probably my mom. She was only eighteen when she had me, she didn’t finish school, she worked odd jobs to raise me, and then a workplace accident left her paralyzed, she’s in a wheelchair now. We live in the lower district, you know, you’ve been there, it’s a terrible place.”
Lin Xiaozhi listened quietly and attentively as Wei Zhuoning, for the first time, shared her family’s story.
“My mom can’t walk, but she studied hard and got certified as an AI administrator, she still works at a factory. Even though she can’t walk, I don’t see her as a burden, but just because I don’t, doesn’t mean others feel the same…”
“Are you referring to me? Are you afraid I’ll see your mother as a burden?”
Wei Zhuoning continued tracing patterns on the ground, her nervousness making her oblivious to her actions:
“Not everyone can accept taking care of a disabled person. I’m fine with it, she’s my mom, but I…”
Lin Xiaozhi held her hand, stopping her from tracing patterns on the dirty steps.
Holding her hand tightly, she said:
“I also have something to confess.”
Wei Zhuoning held her breath.
“I never dated Tan Luo.”
“Huh?” Wei Zhuoning was surprised. “Then, everything on the school forum was fake?”
“Half-true, half-false.” Lin Xiaozhi said. “I met her because I wanted to find out more about you.”
Wei Zhuoning was even more confused.
Lin Xiaozhi explained everything.
“I know it’s wrong to pry into your private life, but you were always avoiding me, I didn’t know what else to do.” Lin Xiaozhi hugged her knees. “I wanted to know everything about you. I’m sorry, Zhuoning, for not telling you sooner, forgive me, I was scared, afraid you would ignore me if you knew.”
Wei Zhuoning was stunned: “So you knew about my mom’s situation all along.”
Lin Xiaozhi nodded.
“Since middle school?”
“Yes. So you don’t have to worry, I didn’t think anything of it. If anything, it’s good that you have someone to share the burden with, isn’t it?”
Wei Zhuoning’s face flushed.
“Then, you and Senior Tan Luo…”
Lin Xiaozhi swore that nothing happened between them, that all her firsts were with Wei Zhuoning.
“I might seem experienced, but I also have my insecurities. I was too hasty yesterday, Zhuoning, I finally caught you, and I was afraid of losing you, that’s why I was so careless.”
She whispered in Wei Zhuoning’s ear: “If you’re still angry, you can…”
Wei Zhuoning blushed: “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you want me…?”
Wei Zhuoning was exasperated: “We’re at school! We have classes this afternoon! Don’t say such things!”
It was too tempting!
“Okay.” Lin Xiaozhi pouted and leaned back, looking dejected.
Seeing her expression, Wei Zhuoning couldn’t help but laugh, then broke into another coughing fit.
Lin Xiaozhi rubbed her back: “Feeling smug now that you have me wrapped around your finger?”
Wei Zhuoning, finally calming down, asked:
“Would you like to come to my house during summer break?”
“Huh?” Lin Xiaozhi’s eyes lit up. This was the first time Wei Zhuoning had invited her home. “Really?!”
“Of course, if you don’t mind my small apartment. I can cook, I’ll make your favorite dishes. And I’ll introduce you to my mom, I think she’ll like you…”
Lin Xiaozhi pounced on her, hugging her tightly.
Wei Zhuoning, almost choking, protested: “I can’t breathe!”
Before lunch, Chi Lin had been worried about them, but seeing them return to class hand-in-hand, whispering to each other, she knew everything was alright.
Sha Xinyu, Chi Lin’s new deskmate, was puzzled: “When did the class president and Wei Zhuoning become so close? Are they together now?”
Chi Lin looked at Lin Xiaozhi, who smiled sweetly and gave her an “okay” sign.
Perfect, two birds with one stone.
Chi Lin decided to tell Lou Mi about the desk change tonight, to finally put an end to her jealousy.
Just before class started, Chi Lin’s phone rang. It was a message from Lin Xiaozhi:
“Lin, any tips for the bedroom? I need to improve my skills.”
Chi Lin’s face darkened. What was this about?
She frowned at Lin Xiaozhi and shook her head.
It was math class, and a quiz was announced immediately.
Chi Lin felt good about the test, and her score soon arrived: 102.
Her scores were improving, but there was still room for growth.
Math, besides politics, had always been her weakest subject, and now, having scored over 100, she felt confident she could do even better.
Lin Xiaozhi shared some online courses in the group chat, with helpful study materials.
Chi Lin checked and saw over ten videos, covering key points for all subjects.
Lin Xiaozhi’s recommendations were usually helpful; Chi Lin planned to watch them tonight.
Lou Mi arrived at the club early today. Her relationship with Chi Lin had progressed rapidly, and she felt energized, as if some kind of seal had been broken, her meridians flowing freely, multiple buffs active.
Xie Buyu and Fu Tu hadn’t arrived yet. Seeing a few trainees, Lou Mi challenged them to a practice match.
Lou Mi and two trainees formed a team, 3v3.
After three rounds, Xie Buyu and Fu Tu arrived, just in time to see Lou Mi dominating on the large screen in the lobby.
The trainees had recently won several friendly matches against other clubs’ second teams and were feeling a bit overconfident. Now, they were being crushed by Lou Mi.
Lou Mi was still wearing her ridiculous dragon robe and wielding the jade seal, stamping it on each of their faces after defeating them.
By the end, the trainees were trembling, their plans for slacking off forgotten, and they went to make coffee and practice their skills.
Lou Mi logged out, refreshed, and started her breakfast, browsing the Return to Jianghu forums while eating.
[What happened to Nine Heavens’ guild? Who turned it into an imperial palace?!]
The top post was a screenshot of the guild headquarters’ transformation.
The comments were filled with question marks.
Finally, someone said:
[Remember Little Lin calling Sister Lou “Your Majesty” during the live stream? Is that where this came from?]
[Sister Lou is playing emperor, and she made Xie Buyu a eunuch?! So wild!]
[Why is Fu Tu the Head Palace Maid?! And why is she dressed like that?! HighTowerMiyuki, you owe me therapy!]
[Why is Sister Lou so crazy after getting a girlfriend?]
[Is Nine Heavens recruiting?]
[I can’t imagine how Lou Mi bullies Little Lin in private. She’s playing emperor now, does she make Little Lin wait on her hand and foot? Little Lin is seven years younger!]
[If Lou Mi is the submissive one, I’ll accept it.]
[She’s already calling her Lin Jie, what other possibility is there? That live stream was definitely an accident, no amount of acting can cover that up.]
[Looking for a Lin Xue group.]
[DM me, I’ll add you.]
[Any drivers in the group?]
[Plenty of experienced drivers! Come join!]
***
What the hell?
What drivers?
Lou Mi wanted to report the thread.
Putting her breakfast aside, her curiosity piqued, she created a throwaway account and joined the group.
Were cult members always this efficient?
Since she only had one WeChat account and couldn’t use her real identity, she borrowed one from Fu Tu, who had several.
“Sister Mi, what are you doing?” Fu Tu asked. “Using an alt account to deceive innocent girls?”
“Compared to you veterans, I am an innocent girl! Give me the account!”
Fu Tu: “??”
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