Can We Get Married First?  34

Chapter 34

“What happened?”

Lin Xiaozhi, having missed the main event while getting food, returned to find the cafeteria still buzzing with excitement. She asked Wei Zhuoning, concerned.

“Your precious Class 6 students are running wild,” Wei Zhuoning said, recounting the incident.

“Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan again?” Lin Xiaozhi sighed. “I’ve already reported them to the Dean. He’s keeping an eye on them. They have a long list of offenses. Next time, it won’t just be a call home.”

“But they started it!” Wei Zhuoning protested. “Someone was filming. The video should be evidence, right?”

“The only evidence on video is me pinning them down,” Chi Lin said.

Wei Zhuoning: “…”

As predicted, the video of the cafeteria fight went viral on the school forum before afternoon classes even started.

South Lake Third High’s headline news:

[Cafeteria Showdown: Fairy vs. Two Ogres!]

The videographer was clearly talented, the footage steady and clear, capturing every detail.

And the angle was perfect, showcasing Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan’s smug expressions and Chi Lin’s swift and decisive counterattack.

The moment Chi Lin slammed Xu Yifang’s face into her plate, accompanied by gasps from the surrounding students, was perfectly captured.

And the subsequent takedowns of both girls.

Ignoring the noisy background and poor audio, the video was worthy of a theatrical release.

“Was this staged?”

“No, I was there. It happened so fast. Those two ogres were picking on the fairy.”

“Anonymous: I’m from Class 6. Those two girls are friends with CL’s former deskmate. They had a falling out, and now they’re targeting CL.”

Wei Zhuoning, seeing Chi Lin being dragged into the drama, replied, “It wasn’t a ‘falling out.’ They were bullying her.”

A reply: “Wei Zhuoning? The clueless one from the video?”

“The one who froze when the fairy unleashed her powers.”

Wei Zhuoning: “What the fuck? Who are you? Show your face!”

“Back to the topic. So CL actually knows martial arts? The sword dancing could have been a performance, but that kind of strength isn’t something you can fake.”

“She pinned them down with one hand! Not just strength, but technique.”

“I asked my brother. She’s definitely trained.”

“Even most guys can’t do that. How did she get so strong?”

“She’s so slender, yet so powerful!”

“Our school flower is a martial arts master!”

“I’m not interested in… muscle girls, but one detail caught my attention.”

[Zoomed-in screenshot]

“Look at this.”

The picture zoomed in on Chi Lin’s neck, revealing a glimpse of a ring she was wearing as a pendant, hidden beneath her uniform collar.

“Isn’t that a designer ring?”

“Weren’t there rumors about her being poor and relying on classmates for food? How can she afford that?”

“It’s probably fake.”

“I’m an expert in identifying fake designer goods. That ring is definitely real.”

The forum thread devolved into a chaotic mix of discussions about camera techniques, martial arts, Chi Lin’s background, and the authenticity of luxury goods.

Then, someone brought up Liu Huixin, mentioning her obsessive pursuit of Teng Jiang, her failed attempt to sneak into his house, and her humiliating encounter with his guard dog.

And how she had instigated Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan to target Chi Lin out of jealousy.

The thread reached over 800 replies. An anonymous user, “Rotten Fish Pond,” defended Liu Huixin, claiming she had been supporting Chi Lin financially.

“If not for Liu Huixin’s generosity, Chi Lin would have starved. Use your brains before spreading rumors.”

Another anonymous user, “Wu Baiyuan,” retorted, “Are you Liu Huixin? Everyone knows your family is on welfare. And you’re receiving financial aid. If you have that much money to spare, I’ll help you write a statement declining the aid. Let someone who actually needs it benefit from it.”

“Rotten Fish Pond” was indeed Liu Huixin, her username itself an insult to Chi Lin.

But who was Wu Baiyuan?

Liu Huixin was stunned.

Since the library incident, she had been avoiding direct confrontation with Chi Lin, fearing her… strange powers.

But she hadn’t given up on revenge.

She had been spreading rumors about Chi Lin being a freeloader and a kept woman.

She was behind several anonymous posts on the school forum, but they hadn’t gained much traction.

Today, Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan had taken matters into their own hands. Liu Huixin had been in the cafeteria, watching from a distance, cheering them on.

She had anticipated a humiliating defeat for Chi Lin, a chance to reclaim her position as Teng Jiang’s favorite.

But Chi Lin had turned the tables, her counterattack swift and brutal.

Liu Huixin knew this incident would only increase Chi Lin’s popularity.

The sword dance video had already gone viral. She couldn’t let it happen again.

She had to discredit Chi Lin while the thread was still trending.

But her attempt had backfired spectacularly.

Who was this Wu Baiyuan? How did they know about her family’s financial situation?

And they had even tagged her, revealing her real name…

Who… who could it be…?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Chi Lin approaching her.

“Liu Huixin,” Chi Lin said softly.

Liu Huixin jumped, startled, knocking over several chairs.

The classroom fell silent.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s acting strange…”

“Why is she so scared of Chi Lin?”

Chi Lin said, “Ms. Qi wants to see you.”

Ms. Qi? Why? Is it about the forum post?

Even Ms. Qi knows now?

Will my parents be called? They’ll kill me if they find out about my failing grades.

Liu Huixin, her mind racing, nervously made her way to the office.

Chi Lin, observing her, guessed the reason.

She had overheard Ms. Qi discussing Liu Huixin’s declining grades with another teacher. Ms. Qi had asked Chi Lin to deliver the message.

Liu Huixin wasn’t afraid of her, she was afraid of the consequences of her own actions.

What goes around comes around.

But… who was this “Wu Baiyuan” on the forum?

With three minutes left before class, Wei Zhuoning was frantically typing on her phone.

She was almost at the climax of the chapter. Once the new character appeared, A Lin would unleash her ultimate move!

But she was stuck on the character’s name.

She was terrible at naming characters, hence her habit of borrowing names from her classmates.

As she struggled, Lin Xiaozhi, appearing beside her, offered a suggestion.

“How about… Wu Baiyuan?”

“You scared me! You’re worse than Liu Huixin!” Wei Zhuoning exclaimed, then considered the name. “Wu Baiyuan… I like it. Can I really use it?”

“Of course,” Lin Xiaozhi said, her chin resting on her hands, her gaze fixed on Wei Zhuoning. “Anything you want, I’ll give it to you.”

Wei Zhuoning blushed, remembering their kiss at the movie theater after the museum trip. “You’re crazy!” she said, her voice louder than intended.

.

Back home, Chi Lin printed the research materials she had gathered.

The system estimated eight minutes for 143 pages.

Chi Lin decided to take a bath while she waited.

As she stepped into the bathtub, her foot met… nothing.

She gasped, grabbing the edge of the tub and pulling herself back, her heart pounding.

She stood outside the tub, staring at the water, confused.

Then, she realized.

She put on her clothes, opened the bathroom window, and looked at the sky. The guiding star was aligned with the moon.

If she entered any large body of water today, she would be transported back to Dayuan.

Preoccupied with her life in this era, she had forgotten about the guiding star.

Lou Mi, on her way to the kitchen, heard the commotion in Chi Lin’s bathroom and knocked on the door.

“What are you doing? Are you okay?”

Chi Lin, her forehead damp with sweat, replied, “I’m fine.”

“Be careful in there,” Lou Mi said. “You’re not a child anymore.”

Chi Lin, not wanting to reveal anything, said, “I’m not doing anything. Just go.”

Lou Mi, taken aback by her cold tone, paused.

What’s wrong with her now? We were getting along last night. Is she having another episode?

Normally, she would have pounded on the door until Chi Lin apologized.

But Chi Lin was in the bathroom. Dragging her out would be… awkward.

She decided to let it go and address it later… if she remembered.

Chi Lin, listening at the door until Lou Mi’s footsteps faded, returned to the bathtub and cautiously reached into the water.

The non-slip surface at the bottom of the tub… vanished.

She saw a dark abyss.

If she entered it, she would return to Dayuan.

Taking a deep breath, she slid into the tub and swam towards the abyss.

It was cold and silent, devoid of light and sound.

She tried to open her eyes, but it made no difference.

There was nothing here, except her.

Was this what awaited her after death? An endless void?

Her heart ached.

One day, she would cross this darkness, carrying the light of her life, and return to her homeland, reunited with the Empress, never to be parted again.

The sensation against her skin wasn’t water. It felt… different.

A strange thought crossed her mind: she was swimming through time.

The thought gave her pause.

The Preceptor had said she would return to the moment she left.

But he hadn’t said she could return multiple times.

What if this was a one-way trip?

The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She turned and swam back towards the light, the familiar warm glow of her bathroom.

From the abyss, it seemed faint and distant, like a flickering candle about to be extinguished.

She swam faster, her desperation growing.

She broke the surface, gasping for air, coughing violently as the bathwater entered her lungs.

Lou Mi, carrying a plate of ice cream waffles, passed by Chi Lin’s room and heard the coughing.

Having forgotten her earlier annoyance, she knocked on the door, concerned.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Chi Lin couldn’t answer, her throat constricted, her body wracked with coughs.

Lou Mi, alarmed, opened the door and saw Chi Lin, her clothes soaked, coughing uncontrollably, her wet uniform clinging to her body, almost transparent.

She quickly wrapped a towel around Chi Lin, rubbing her back.

Chi Lin’s coughing subsided, her face flushed, her usual composure replaced by a surprising vulnerability.

Lou Mi, averting her gaze from Chi Lin’s exposed skin, looked at the bathtub.

“What happened? Tell me the truth. Were you practicing your… martial arts?”

Chi Lin, noticing her gaze, remembered the abyss.

She couldn’t let Lou Mi see it.

She quickly cupped Lou Mi’s face, turning her head, their eyes meeting.

The warm bathroom light illuminated their faces, the moment charged with an unexpected intimacy.

Chi Lin saw her own reflection in Lou Mi’s dark eyes.

Lou Mi’s features were indeed striking, her eyes captivating, reminiscent of the Empress’s beauty.

Even Chi Lin’s heart skipped a beat.

Why is she staring at me like that?

What is she going to do?

Lou Mi finally spoke. “Chi Lin,” she said, pointing at her neck, “did you hear a crack when you… twisted my head?”

Chi Lin: “…”

“I can’t move my neck! Did you break it? You finally attacked me!”

Chi Lin’s mind went blank, her cheeks burning with shame at her earlier inappropriate thoughts.

She helped Lou Mi to the sofa and gently straightened her neck.