Chapter 21
For the next few days, Lou Mi observed Chi Lin closely, concerned about her emotional state.
She avoided arguments, deferring to Chi Lin whenever possible. They coexisted peacefully, almost like real sisters.
Lou Lixing, noticing the lack of complaints from his daughter, inquired about the situation at home.
“Mimi, how are you doing? Is Xiao Lin still causing trouble? Don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
Lou Mi: “Oh, I have a dad.”
Lou Lixing: “…”
“Don’t tell me you’ve disowned me just because I’m away on business!”
Lou Mi chuckled. “Just kidding. I’m fine. That little brat can’t do anything to me. I’ve got her under control.”
Lou Lixing, only half-believing her, promised to return within a week.
“No rush,” Lou Mi said. “Focus on your work.”
Lou Lixing, hearing her unusually mature tone, grew even more worried.
…
The video of Chi Lin’s sword dance had spread from the school forum to Weibo, gaining thousands of reposts.
“Who is this ethereal beauty? The simple backdrop suggests a school performance. Is she a high school student?”
“Her dancing is incredible! Is she a dance major?”
Experts weighed in, noting her precise movements and advanced martial arts skills.
“Please tell us who she is!”
“I know her! She’s my classmate! Chi Lin from South Lake Third High. The video doesn’t do her justice. She’s even more beautiful in person.”
Marketing accounts, sensing the video’s viral potential, reposted it, further amplifying its reach.
Chi Lin, unaware of her newfound internet fame, was rushing to school, about to be late again.
Thirty seconds left. The security guard cheered her on.
Five seconds… almost there!
Just as she was about to step through the gate, someone grabbed her arm.
“Are you Chi Lin?”
“Is ‘White Dew Unsettled’ your creation?”
Before she could react, several microphones were thrust in her face.
“Who are you?” she asked, recognizing the cameras and equipment from street interviews she had seen online.
The reporters, sensing a viral story, had tracked her down.
They explained their purpose, wanting to interview her about the inspiration behind her sword dance.
“And many netizens are curious about you. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?”
Chi Lin, hoping to increase her visibility and reach the Empress, explained the meaning of “White Dew Unsettled.”
“It’s a line from the Classic of Poetry. ‘Luxuriant is the knotgrass, and the white dew has not yet dried.’ It describes the longing for someone who is seemingly unattainable, yet the speaker believes in their existence. I tried to express this feeling through dance, the wavering between certainty and uncertainty…”
Chi Lin spoke eloquently, her composure surprising the reporters.
She had addressed larger crowds before, unfazed by the cameras and microphones.
“White Dew Unsettled” was originally inspired by her budding feelings for the Empress. Now, in this new era, separated from the Empress, its meaning resonated even more deeply.
Her heartfelt explanation, combined with her graceful demeanor, captivated the online audience.
“She’s even more beautiful in real life!”
“No filters!”
“Not only can she dance, but she’s also articulate and intelligent.”
Initially, the comments were overwhelmingly positive, but soon, some negative comments appeared.
“Don’t be fooled. I go to South Lake Third High. Chi Lin is a loser, a failing student. This is just a cheap publicity stunt.”
“And her personal life is a mess. She’s into both guys and girls.”
…
Chi Lin ignored the online comments. She had no time for such distractions.
She discovered the library’s restricted section, containing rare historical archives and manuscripts, including local gazetteers from various regions, a potential goldmine of information.
She spent every spare moment poring over these documents, searching for clues about Dayuan.
She also read books on the relationship between body and soul, exploring philosophical and scientific perspectives on past lives.
Besides her research, she focused on her studies, aware of the importance of good grades in gaining social acceptance and facilitating her investigation.
Balancing her research, studies, and daily life was challenging, but she found it fulfilling.
The impact of “White Dew Unsettled” continued to spread. One day, as she entered the elevator, a junior high student approached her.
The girl, small and shy, her hands hidden in her sleeves, nervously presented Chi Lin with a letter.
“Senpai… please accept this…”
Her face flushed crimson, her body trembling. Chi Lin, always soft-hearted towards girls, accepted the letter.
She didn’t need to open it to know its contents.
It was amusing that even in this technologically advanced era, handwritten letters remained the preferred medium for expressing romantic interest.
Only a handwritten letter could convey the sincerity of one’s feelings.
The girl scurried away, and Chi Lin placed the letter in her backpack.
“Quite the charmer. I never got love letters from junior high girls,” a voice said.
Teng Jiang’s head poked out of the Class 1 window, whistling at her.
Chi Lin quickened her pace, but Teng Jiang intercepted her.
“Don’t be so cold,” he said. “Give me a chance. I was the first to notice you, the first to give you a gift. You accepted that girl’s letter but threw away my gift. That’s harsh. Don’t you believe in first come, first served?”
Chi Lin, blocked by him, couldn’t escape. Teng Jiang, not wanting to offend her, flashed a charming smile.
“Are you free this weekend? We could go to the library. I can tutor you. Just tutoring, nothing else.”
His classmates overheard his last remark and erupted in laughter.
“Shut up,” Teng Jiang said. “I’m trying to woo my future wife.”
Liu Huixin, eavesdropping from around the corner, fumed.
How had that idiot Chi Lin suddenly become so popular?
She had effortlessly memorized the difficult text, crushed the robotic snake (which had cost Liu Huixin a month’s allowance), and now, after her stunning performance at the Cultural Festival, she was attracting even more attention.
Was Chi Lin playing dumb all along?
She had wondered why Chi Lin seemed so unfazed by recent events. Perhaps she had been orchestrating everything.
Had Chi Lin planned to participate in the Cultural Festival all along, even without Liu Huixin’s interference?
Liu Huixin’s jealousy intensified as she witnessed the growing number of admirers surrounding Chi Lin.
What was so special about her?
So what if she was pretty? Looks couldn’t buy happiness.
And Teng Jiang’s persistence was infuriating.
Chi Lin had thrown away his “Bewildered Universe,” and he was still pursuing her? Did he have no pride?
He was the school heartthrob!
Liu Huixin’s jealousy reached its peak when she heard Teng Jiang’s playful yet sincere remark about “wooing his future wife.”
Chi Lin, feeling a wave of revulsion at Teng Jiang’s oily charm, considered taking a detour to avoid him, but then remembered the Preceptor’s words.
The Empress’s reincarnation could be anyone, of any gender or social standing.
Teng Jiang’s persistence reminded her of the Empress’s own efforts to break down the barriers between them.
What if… what if the Empress had been reborn as a man?
She looked at Teng Jiang more closely.
He was indeed handsome, the kind of face that might appeal to a woman who preferred men.
“Are you a good student?” she asked.
“If anyone else asked, I might be modest,” Teng Jiang replied. “But since it’s you, I can confidently say, yes, I am.”
Liu Huixin, unable to contain herself any longer, interjected, “Chi Lin, that’s rude! Teng Jiang is in the top 20 in our grade!”
“Oh,” Chi Lin said. “So, what time at the library on Saturday?”
Teng Jiang, surprised by her easy agreement, stammered, “Nine am on Saturday. I’ll pick you up!”
“No need,” Chi Lin said. “I’ll take a taxi.”
Liu Huixin, witnessing Chi Lin’s nonchalant demeanor, was convinced she was playing hard to get.
She had deliberately thrown away his gift to pique his interest!
How shameless!
As Liu Huixin was about to confront her, a voice interrupted.
“Oh, I’m too late. I wanted to ask Xiao Chi Lin out too. Can I join you?”
Liu Huixin turned and saw Tan Luo, a senior and the school’s “goddess,” standing behind her.
Tan Luo too? Is this a joke?!
Liu Huixin’s composure crumbled.
The attention from insignificant admirers was one thing, but Teng Jiang and Tan Luo were the school’s most popular students, admired by countless others. What did Chi Lin have that she didn’t?
Tan Luo casually draped an arm around Chi Lin’s shoulder. Chi Lin discreetly stepped away, creating some distance.
Tan Luo, unfazed, smiled mischievously.
“I’m a good student too. Want to study together?”
Few would believe she was referring to academics, not something else.
Tan Luo, with her stunning looks and reputation for romantic conquests, didn’t look like a high school student. And she had curled her hair today. Hopefully, she wouldn’t run into the Dean of Students.
Teng Jiang, annoyed by this unexpected interruption, was about to dismiss her when Chi Lin agreed.
“Sure, let’s study together.”
Chi Lin had heard of Tan Luo, the perennial top student, her scores legendary.
Except for one time, when a broken bone had forced her to miss the Chinese exam, resulting in a second-place ranking, she had always maintained a significant lead over the other students.
And she was apparently capable of balancing academics with romantic pursuits.
Chi Lin, observing Tan Luo, noticed a certain resemblance to the Empress’s demeanor.
She could be the Empress’s reincarnation.
In the Class 6 classroom, Wei Zhuoning, seeing Tan Luo, felt a surge of schadenfreude. Remembering Lin Xiaozhi’s past entanglement with Tan Luo, she nudged her deskmate excitedly.
“Hey, your ex! She’s moved on!”
Lin Xiaozhi, busy with her practice questions, glanced up and smirked.
“That girl is trouble. You should be more concerned about your A Lin.”
Wei Zhuoning: “…”
Despite the jab, Wei Zhuoning’s curiosity was piqued.
She had only heard rumors about Lin Xiaozhi and Tan Luo.
She wanted to ask…
But would that seem like she cared?
She took a deep breath, suppressing her journalistic instincts.
“So it’s settled,” Tan Luo said, smiling at Chi Lin. “See you on Saturday.”
“I’m coming too!” Liu Huixin blurted out, unable to bear the thought of Chi Lin spending time with Teng Jiang.
Teng Jiang, though annoyed by her intrusion, couldn’t object, since Chi Lin had agreed. He would use this opportunity to get closer to Chi Lin and secure a solo date next time.
Tan Luo and Teng Jiang added Chi Lin on WeChat and left.
Liu Huixin, desperate for attention, was ignored by both of them.
Saturday.
Finally free from the green school uniform, Chi Lin wore a peacock blue hoodie, ripped jeans, and trendy sneakers, purchased online with the system’s help.
She admired the casual and expressive fashion of this era.
She wasn’t fond of ripped clothing, but it was so prevalent in fashion magazines and online that her aesthetic sensibilities had been slightly influenced.
Her adaptability and open-mindedness allowed her to blend in seamlessly.
As she was about to leave, she ran into Lou Mi in the living room.
Lou Mi, seeing her in casual clothes, paused, surprised.
“I’m going out, Sister,” Chi Lin said, heading for the door.
“Where are you going?” Lou Mi asked.
“To the library.”
Chi Lin, usually seen in a shapeless school uniform, looked surprisingly stylish in her casual clothes.
Dressed up for the library? Unlikely.
Lou Mi watched as she left.
Did that little brat have a date?
“Mi-jie, are you there?”
Pagoda’s voice echoed from the holographic video conference in her study.
Lou Mi returned to her workstation and rejoined the meeting.
“Let’s continue,” Zhuo Jinglan said. “It’s been a long journey… please welcome our newest member, Hu Hu, to the Nine Heavens team!”
The small group applauded enthusiastically.
Everyone knew how difficult it had been to find a suitable replacement, someone who met Lou Mi’s exacting standards.
This was the third batch of trainees Zhuo Jinglan had recruited, over fifty candidates in total, all highly competitive players, some with years of professional experience.
They had all strived to join Nine Heavens, to play alongside HighTowerMiyuki.
But Lou Mi’s standards were impossibly high.
As the team captain and core player, her approval was essential.
Zhuo Jinglan, exhausted by the search, continued her efforts.
With Zhuo Jinglan frustrated, Pagoda and Xie Buyu remained cautious, avoiding any missteps.
Three months… it had taken three months…
Finally, Lou Mi had approved Hu Hu! The Nine Heavens team was almost complete!
“Return to Jianghu” matches were played in teams of four, with teams often having one or two substitute players to adapt to different opponents.
Zhuo Jinglan hadn’t slept well since Xiao V and A Bao left.
Now, finally, she could relax. She almost opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Pagoda and Xie Buyu were also relieved.
Lou Mi still wasn’t entirely satisfied with Hu Hu. She found his ID, “Hu Hu,” rather silly. In-game communication relied on voice chat, and calling out “Hu Hu” made her feel like an ape.
But as long as he was skilled and compatible with the team, she wouldn’t complain.
Hu Hu, eighteen years old, was surprisingly pretty, with pale skin and slender arms, but his gameplay was aggressive and powerful.
He and Pagoda seemed like opposites, but their synergy was excellent.
The team discussed celebratory plans.
Xie Buyu: “Mi-jie, we need a team-building activity to welcome our new member!”
Pagoda: “Mi-jie’s treat!”
“Treat! Treat! Treat!”
“Team building! Team building! Team building!”
Lou Mi, never stingy, agreed. “Team building it is.”
“Yay—!”
“But we always just eat and drink. Too uncultured. Let’s do something… educational this time.”
Everyone: “?”
“Let’s go to the library,” Lou Mi said seriously. “We can read books, discuss our worldviews, and bond intellectually. That’s the best kind of team building.”
Everyone: “…”
Mi-jie, blink twice if you’re being held hostage!
Library team building? What in the world…
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