Chapter 111 p1
When Wei Zhuoning’s mother saw Lin Xiaozhi, she instinctively gripped her wheelchair.
“Zhuoning is fine,” Lin Xiaozhi tied her hair back, looking more composed. “She’s at the hospital, just some minor injuries and a fever, nothing serious. I’m here to take you to her.”
Seeing Lin Xiaozhi’s sincere expression, Wei Zhuoning’s mother finally felt relieved.
“I’ll wait for her at home.”
“Auntie, it’s a bit dangerous right now, Zhuoning is worried about you being alone, she asked me to come get you.” Lin Xiaozhi video-called Wei Zhuoning, who reassured her mother and told her to go with Xiao Zhi.
Wei Zhuoning’s fever had subsided; she was on her way to Lou Mi’s.
Wei Zhuoning’s mother rarely went out since her accident, her pride making her reluctant to show her vulnerability.
But Lin Xiaozhi was considerate and patient, putting her at ease.
Lin Xiaozhi’s father drove them to Lou Mi’s. They didn’t know what had happened, but they trusted their daughter’s judgment.
Lou Mi’s apartment was spacious, with a loft upstairs.
Before their friends and family arrived, Lou Mi hired AI cleaners, bought mattresses and bedding, and, with Chi Lin’s help, prepared the rooms.
When Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan arrived, Lou Mi said:
“Long story short, Little Lin and I are in some trouble, if you can work from home, please do, if not, I’ve hired bodyguards, take them with you. Don’t go anywhere alone.”
She relayed the same message to everyone, who were understandably worried, but Lou Mi’s calm and decisive demeanor reassured them.
The police were also stationed at Longrun Gardens, along with the community’s security system. If A Bao and Xiao V wanted to attack them again, they would need an army.
Lou Mi and Chi Lin felt guilty for disrupting everyone’s lives. Although no one blamed them, Lou Mi still sent everyone a large red envelope as compensation.
Wei Zhuoning and her mother were stunned by the amount.
Wei Zhuoning: “How many zeros is that?”
Lin Xiaozhi, peeling an orange for her, gave her a “you have no class” look.
Wei Zhuoning and her mother stayed in the loft, with Lin Xiaozhi joining them. The loft was spacious and bright, even more comfortable than their apartment in the lower district.
Wei Zhuoning’s mother didn’t feel like she was hiding; Lou Mi took good care of them, even arranging a two-week leave of absence from her factory job.
Seeing the bodyguards patrolling the community and the lively atmosphere downstairs, her initial anxiety subsided.
Her daughter was unharmed, just shaken.
Thanks to her optimistic nature and Lin Xiaozhi’s constant presence, she quickly recovered.
She became inseparable from Lin Xiaozhi, following her everywhere, her gaze never leaving her.
Wei Zhuoning’s mother noticed everything.
Her daughter had always been independent, taking care of everything since childhood.
While other children were being pampered, her daughter was cooking and cleaning, carrying the weight of their family.
Working part-time while studying, staying up late to write stories, earning money to support them.
This was the first time she saw her daughter’s vulnerable side.
Lin Xiaozhi had offered to sleep in the study downstairs, giving the loft to Wei Zhuoning and her mother, but Wei Zhuoning insisted she stay.
Lin Xiaozhi, of course, wanted to be with her.
They added a mattress to the loft, Wei Zhuoning and Lin Xiaozhi sleeping together, her mother on the bed.
“Next time, no matter what happens, don’t push me away.”
One night, thinking her mother was asleep, Wei Zhuoning hugged Lin Xiaozhi tightly, tears silently streaming down her face.
Lin Xiaozhi smiled and wiped away her tears.
“I wasn’t thinking, I just wanted you to be safe.”
“Let me see your back.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Wei Zhuoning insisted.
Lin Xiaozhi relented.
The wound on her back, from when she had shielded Wei Zhuoning, was deep, two stitches.
Even after several days, it was still a gruesome sight.
Such a beautiful body, now bearing such a scar.
Wei Zhuoning wanted to touch it, but her hand trembled.
“Why are you crying again? I told you not to look.” Lin Xiaozhi winced slightly as she turned, but hid the pain, smiling at Wei Zhuoning.
“I want to see it,” Wei Zhuoning said. “I want to remember, I’ll never forget it.”
Lin Xiaozhi had never seen this side of Wei Zhuoning.
Mature, serious, and devoted.
Tears still lingered on her face, but Lin Xiaozhi saw a newfound strength in her eyes.
A strength she could rely on.
Wei Zhuoning kissed Lin Xiaozhi gently, not caring that her mother was nearby.
This was the person she wanted to spend her life with.
Her mother, pretending to sleep, heard everything, a smile on her face.
Her child had finally grown up.
There was no news from A Bao for over two weeks. Perhaps because of Lou Mi and Chi Lin’s warnings, or their security measures, everything was calm.
Their friends and family continued to stay at Longrun Gardens, returning to work gradually, under constant protection from the bodyguards.
A Tou delivered some news. She had a general location for the drone, but retrieving it and recovering the data after months underwater might be difficult.
Lou Mi transferred another million yuan: “Please do your best.”
A Tou replied quickly: “I’ll deliver, or you get a full refund. By the way, someone is trying to poach A Bao and Xiao V from Gamer, did you know?”
Lou Mi: “Yes, it’s me.”
A Tou chuckled: “Then it’s all good, I’ll update you in a week.”
“Okay.”
Lou Mi had been planning her own esports company while considering retirement.
The company was registered, and recruitment had begun, but she had been focusing on her last season.
Now, with A Bao’s antics, she would accelerate her plans.
Besides training for the new season, she spent her time at her new company.
Lou Mi hadn’t spent much of her earnings over the years.
Her father had provided the apartment, Peng Ziyuan the car, and she rarely went out. She only recently checked her bank account balance.
She could easily poach Gamer’s entire team, or even buy the entire club.
But that wouldn’t be fun.
She wanted to defeat A Bao and Xiao V in the summer tournament, to crush them utterly and humiliate them.
And if they stayed in the professional scene, she would defeat them every time they met.
This was her vendetta against A Bao.
Besides ruining her career, she would also send her to jail.
The summer tournament groupings were announced.
Nine Heavens and Gamer were in the same group, their first match against each other.
The news excited the netizens.
[First match, finals level! This summer tournament is going to be wild!]
[Will Xie Buyu play? She was injured!]
[Even if she’s injured, they have Young Master Lin, and Sister Lou has already promoted two players from the second team, they’re prepared, don’t worry.]
[If Young Master Lin plays, we’ll see ex vs. current! I’m so excited!]
[Don’t be ridiculous, Sister Lou rejected A Bao publicly, remember?]
[How is a pursuer an “ex”?]
[Sister Lou only has a current, no exes, Lin is her first love, okay?]
[As if A Bao is obsessed with Lou Mi. She’s already left Nine Heavens, what more do you want?]
[Stop mentioning A Bao! Leave her alone!]
[Who’s mentioning whom? Look who’s obsessed! You think we want to talk about her?]
The online battles between Lou Mi and A Bao’s fans raged before the match even began.
Previously, Lou Mi’s supporters had the upper hand.
Now, with Chi Lin’s fans and the “Snow Vegetable” and “Lin Xue” CP fans joining the fray, A Bao’s fans were outnumbered.
Recently, there had been rumors about people close to Lou Mi and Chi Lin being attacked.
Some suggested A Bao was behind it, further tarnishing her image.
All of A Bao’s past scandals were unearthed: manipulating trainees, sleeping with fans, match-fixing, having Xiao V stream for her…
These revelations caused many of her fans to leave her fan club, even her biggest supporters switched sides.
A Tou, hired by Lou Mi, was the one who dug up all the dirt. A satisfied client was a happy client; this was her bonus service.
A Bao was also preparing for the match against Nine Heavens, training late every night.
Xiao V always stayed with her.
A Bao tried to check her phone, but Xiao V stopped her.
“What?” A Bao asked. “Are people insulting me online?”
Xiao V didn’t answer.
A Bao reached for her phone, but Xiao V held her hand.
“Don’t look,” she said. “It’s important to stay focused before the match.”
A Bao pulled her hand away and checked her phone.
Xiao V looked at her newly short hair and remained silent.
“So that’s what you were worried about,” A Bao tossed her phone aside. “It’s all true anyway. Lou Mi must have found someone competent to dig all this up.”
A Bao smiled faintly. Xiao V gently lifted her bangs, checking the wound on her forehead.
“Does it still hurt?”
A Bao looked at her: “No.”
“Can I hug you?”
A Bao didn’t answer, and Xiao V embraced her.
“Kill Chi Lin for me,” A Bao said calmly. “If she dies, Lou Mi will suffer forever.”
“Murder means life in prison.”
“Are you afraid?”
Xiao V didn’t answer.
On the day of the match, Lou Mi and Chi Lin headed to the live stream building early, accompanied by their bodyguards, Xie Buyu, Fu Tu, Huhu, and Zhuo Jinglan.
“…Take down A Bao immediately. Once she’s gone, their team will fall apart, Xiao V isn’t a threat. It’s a basic strategy, and they’ll be expecting it.”
Lou Mi and her teammates exchanged glances and smiled.
Xie Buyu was confident. They knew A Bao and Xiao V’s skills.
They were strong, but they had Lou Mi, and now Chi Lin, defeating them wouldn’t be a problem.
Chi Lin whispered in Lou Mi’s ear: “Your Majesty, aren’t you worried they’ll cheat? They’ve been quiet for a while, I would definitely use this opportunity for a surprise attack.”
Lou Mi: “In front of the entire world?”
“Why not? They can just switch bodies afterwards, no consequences for them.” Chi Lin’s voice lowered.
“If Your Majesty wishes, I can assassinate A Bao anytime.”
Chi Lin wasn’t bluffing. She was a skilled assassin, but with modern laws and Lou Mi’s morals, she wouldn’t act rashly without Lou Mi’s consent.
Lou Mi paused, then shook her head:
“I can’t kill anyone. I’m not like A Bao. And if you kill someone, you’ll be a fugitive.”
Chi Lin patted her hand, understanding.
She would use a different approach.
The live stream was indeed the perfect opportunity.
It was risky, but Lou Mi couldn’t back down.
“I have to play this match,” Lou Mi said. “If I retreat now, what about next time? She can always create obstacles, preventing me from facing her directly. That’s her goal.”
Chi Lin held her hand: “I understand, Your Majesty. I know what they’re planning. If they show up, I’ll take them down, once and for all.”
Lou Mi calculated the dates: “So, today is…”
“Yes.” Chi Lin explained her plan. Lou Mi was worried:
“It’s too dangerous, you alone…”
“I have to do this, I brought them to this era. This world shouldn’t suffer because of them.”
Lou Mi, still worried, contacted the police and the security firm.
Chi Lin said, “Too many people will only make things more complicated. Who knows whose bodies they’re using? They’ll definitely make a move today; it’s our best chance. Trust me, Your Majesty.”
Lou Mi knew Chi Lin’s capabilities. Her plan was ingenious.
But still…
“I’m worried you’ll get hurt.”
Chi Lin smiled: “I’m not afraid of getting hurt, I’m only afraid of missing my chance. Don’t worry, Your Majesty, I’ll be careful, for you. I’ll handle this.”
There were even more fans outside the live stream building today, fueled by the A Bao incident.
Their cheers energized Lou Mi.
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