Chapter 36
Fearing the situation might escalate, Ms. Qi quickly offered Peng Ziyuan a glass of water.
“Ms. Peng, we’re here to solve problems, not create them. We all want what’s best for Chi Lin, right? Please, have a seat. Let’s discuss this calmly.”
Ms. Hu, intimidated by Peng Ziyuan’s outburst, retreated.
Peng Ziyuan took the water, remembering her doctor’s advice to avoid stress and anger, which aggravated her thyroid condition.
She had been practicing mindfulness and maintaining a calm demeanor, but her daughter being bullied was her trigger point.
She could tolerate anything else, but not this.
“Chi Lin!”
Dong Xiangwen, the self-proclaimed “know-it-all,” rushed over to Chi Lin’s desk.
“Your mom is here! She’s fighting with Ms. Qi in the office!”
Chi Lin, shaking her head at the distorted historical accounts in her textbook, was startled by the news.
She knew Peng Ziyuan had been called to the school because of the cafeteria incident.
But why hadn’t Ms. Qi informed her directly?
She rushed to the office, expecting a chaotic scene.
But the office was surprisingly peaceful.
Peng Ziyuan and Ms. Qi stood side by side, Ms. Qi smiling nervously.
Two unfamiliar women were shaking hands with Peng Ziyuan, apologizing profusely.
Peng Ziyuan’s expression was calm and composed, her demeanor regal.
Chi Lin recognized the look. It was the same expression the Empress Dowager wore before ordering an execution. The two women were like her attending servants.
There was no fight, just… a surprisingly harmonious scene.
Chi Lin’s sudden entrance was awkward.
They all turned to look at her. Peng Ziyuan’s regal composure vanished instantly, replaced by her usual dramatic flair. She rushed towards Chi Lin, engulfing her in a hug.
“My baby! My precious child! Why didn’t you tell me about this? You poor thing! Let me see you!”
She cupped Chi Lin’s face, her movements too swift for Chi Lin to dodge.
Unlike the previous head-crushing grip, this time, her touch was gentle, her fingers stroking Chi Lin’s cheeks.
Chi Lin, already cringing at the overly affectionate terms, felt suffocated by the embrace.
“Mother, please… restrain yourself,” she gasped.
Peng Ziyuan finally released her, reluctantly, after Ms. Qi cleared her throat.
“This is Chi Lin? Such a fine young lady,” one of the women said.
“And so well-mannered,” the other added.
Chi Lin, recognizing them as Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan’s mothers, felt a flicker of amusement.
She wasn’t exactly “well-mannered.” If she were truly virtuous, these mothers wouldn’t be here.
“You flatter me,” she said, her words a subtle jab at their hypocrisy.
Years of interacting with the scholars of the Hanlin Academy had honed her skills in veiled sarcasm.
But the mothers, oblivious to her subtle mockery, continued their praise.
“Such eloquence! No wonder her grades have improved so much. Minxuan should learn from you.”
Chi Lin: “…”
She was being praised for her… deviousness. Perhaps she should have been less clever.
Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan’s mothers had planned to demand Chi Lin’s expulsion.
“Assaulting another student in the cafeteria? That’s outrageous!”
“And no one even helped our daughters! People are so apathetic these days!”
But after hearing the audio from the video, witnessing Peng Ziyuan’s confrontation with Ms. Hu, and realizing their daughters had been the instigators, they had changed their strategy.
They had seen the mother’s ferocity. The daughter must be equally formidable.
They couldn’t risk provoking such a family.
“Let’s be reasonable,” Xu Yifang’s mother said to Jiao Minxuan’s mother.
“Yes, let’s not make enemies,” Jiao Minxuan’s mother agreed.
And so, Chi Lin found herself being praised by three mothers.
It wasn’t the scene she had imagined.
Ms. Qi, who had anticipated a chaotic confrontation between the parents, was also surprised by the peaceful resolution.
She hadn’t even had a chance to mediate. Instead, she found herself being lectured by the mothers.
“The school should have intervened and prevented this misunderstanding. How could you let them fight?”
“This isn’t the children’s fault. The school should take responsibility.”
“It’s the school’s duty to guide and educate students. Where’s the Dean? I need to speak to him.”
Peng Ziyuan, seeing their sincere apologies, joined the chorus of complaints against the school.
Her casual remarks were more effective than any formal complaint. Ms. Qi, flustered, couldn’t get a word in edgewise.
Peng Ziyuan walked Chi Lin to the school gate. It was still during school hours, so Chi Lin couldn’t leave.
“Go back to class, baby,” Peng Ziyuan said, stroking her head, her eyes filled with love. “I’m so sorry you had to go through this. I should have been there for you.”
Peng Ziyuan’s unconditional love was a foreign concept to Chi Lin, who had never known a mother’s affection.
She envied the original owner. The mother she resented was actually kind and protective.
“I’m fine,” Chi Lin said. “I don’t mind. I just… don’t want you to worry.”
She wasn’t sure how to interact with a mother, having only known a father and older sisters.
She had seen other girls act spoiled and affectionate with their mothers, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Peng Ziyuan, touched by her daughter’s maturity, hugged her tightly.
“Knowing you care about me is all that matters. I’ll do anything for you, baby. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Peng Ziyuan’s tears fell on Chi Lin’s arm, warm and comforting, like a mother’s embrace.
Chi Lin, her heart softening, hugged her back.
Due to the parents’ reconciliation and apologies, the school decided on a lenient punishment.
Chi Lin, Xu Yifang, and Jiao Minxuan received a public reprimand, their names displayed on the school’s website.
The reprimand was reposted on the school forum, sparking outrage among Chi Lin’s supporters.
“This is unfair! Chi Lin was defending herself!”
“So self-defense is punishable now?”
“Poor Chi Lin!”
Xu Yifang and Jiao Minxuan, already scolded and punished by their parents, now faced the scorn of their classmates, their whispers and stares a constant reminder of their humiliation.
They had always been bullies, relying on their small clique for protection, but now, facing a larger, more powerful force, they were powerless.
And they were genuinely afraid of Chi Lin.
They believed the rumors about her… supernatural abilities.
Chi Lin, the sword-dancing fairy, had become a legend, the video of her performance going viral, even trending on social media.
Some admired her, others accused her of seeking fame.
Chi Lin ignored the online chatter, her focus on her search for the Empress.
However, her newfound fame attracted media attention. Reporters wanted to interview her, and even a popular TV show invited her to appear as a guest.
Chi Lin, unfamiliar with modern media, was unsure how to proceed.
Fame would increase her chances of being noticed by the Empress.
But her unusual abilities might attract unwanted attention.
Fortunately, she knew a contemporary celebrity.
She could ask Lou Mi for advice.
Lou Mi returned late that night, looking tired and annoyed.
Chi Lin, mustering her courage, offered her a cup of calming tea and explained the situation.
Lou Mi: “Appear on TV? Don’t do it.”
“Why not?”
Lou Mi, a seasoned celebrity, explained, “Once you’re in the public eye, there’s no escape. Your every move, your friends, your life… everything will be scrutinized. You’ll have to wear masks and sunglasses everywhere, afraid of making a single mistake. You’ll be constantly judged and criticized. Do you want that kind of life?”
It sounded like the life Chi Lin was used to.
She had been the subject of public attention since childhood, a prodigy in both academics and martial arts, the favored companion of the princess, who later became Empress.
Her writings had been circulated throughout the empire.
She didn’t mind scrutiny, but the speed and reach of modern media were far greater. Living under constant surveillance, as Lou Mi described, would be a hindrance, even for simple tasks like visiting the library.
She decided to maintain her current level of fame.
It was enough that people knew of a sword-dancing, martial arts master at South Lake Third High. They didn’t need to know her face.
These rumors might reach the Empress, and it would be easier for Chi Lin to move around without being recognized.
Perfect.
Having made her decision, she asked Lou Mi, “Do you… want to be a celebrity?”
“A celebrity?”
“You’re prettier than most idols. You could be famous.” Lou Mi sat down, stretching her legs, her muscles sore from a day of practice.
Her words, however, were sharper than her aching muscles.
Chi Lin had heard the term “idol” often, but she didn’t know its meaning.
Judging by Lou Mi’s tone, it wasn’t a compliment.
“Only someone as beautiful as you, Sister, deserves to be an idol,” Chi Lin replied, returning the compliment, regardless of its meaning.
Lou Mi, expecting an argument, was caught off guard by Chi Lin’s unexpected praise.
She couldn’t possibly be reflecting. The important question was: how beautiful did Chi Lin think she was?
She sat up straight, took a sip of the calming tea Chi Lin had prepared, and asked casually, “Oh? And how beautiful am I?”
Chi Lin smiled internally. Lou Mi, despite her fame and constant praise, still craved compliments.
She didn’t want to overdo it, so she simply said she didn’t know what a true goddess looked like, but if goddesses looked like Lou Mi, everyone would worship her.
Lou Mi scoffed. “That’s a bit much. You’re laying it on thick.”
But her smile betrayed her pleasure.
Lou Mi went to take a shower, humming cheerfully.
Chi Lin had learned a valuable lesson.
Even the most beautiful women never tired of compliments.
Wait… did I just compliment Lou Mi?
I complimented someone other than the Empress…
Even an unintentional compliment was a transgression.
Chi Lin felt a pang of guilt. Returning to her room, she bowed towards the east, as if praying to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me,” she whispered. “Finding you is proving difficult. I sometimes resort to… flattery to build relationships. Please don’t be angry.”
While Chi Lin wallowed in guilt, Lou Mi, refreshed from her shower, cheerfully joined the late-night video conference with the trainees.
As the trainees connected, Zhuo Jinglan, noticing Lou Mi’s unusually cheerful demeanor and subtle flirtatiousness, asked, “What’s with the good mood, Mi-jie? Share the joy.”
Lou Mi smiled mysteriously. “Some things are best kept private.”
Zhuo Jinglan was about to tease her further when the last trainee joined.
The trainees were mostly Lou Mi’s die-hard fans, many having joined the club specifically to play with her.
Zhuo Jinglan wouldn’t dare embarrass Lou Mi in front of them.
The meeting, led by Lou Mi, was an introduction to the Nine Heavens team’s traditions and values for the new recruits.
Lou Mi, using the holographic projection feature on her phone, appeared in the virtual meeting room, dressed in formal attire.
Chi Lin, having finished her apologies to the Empress, organized her research materials and prepared to tackle her geography homework.
As she sat down, a message arrived in the Class 6 group chat.
It was a link from an unfamiliar user, someone she hadn’t seen before.
The link’s title: [A Matter of Life and Death for Class 6!!!]
The dramatic tone and excessive exclamation points were… familiar.
Chi Lin, sensing trouble, clicked the link. A prompt asked if she wanted to cast the webpage to a screen.
Her knowledge of modern technology was limited, acquired through trial and error and the system’s explanations.
What did “cast” mean?
She remembered her classmates and Lou Mi using this feature to project their phone screens onto a wall or even the air, enlarging the display.
Curious, she selected “Cast.”
A message appeared: “Searching for available networks.”
Available networks? What did that mean?
As she was about to ask the system, another message appeared: “Connected to HighTowerMiyuki.”
“HighTowerMiyuki…” The name was familiar.
Where had she seen it before?
Or perhaps she hadn’t seen it, but the connection to Lou Mi was undeniable.
Where was the projected image? She looked around her room.
Lou Mi’s bedroom.
“…So, individual heroism is not a viable strategy in modern esports. It’s a team effort…”
Lou Mi’s holographic projection vanished, replaced by a webpage.
Lou Mi: “?”
Zhuo Jinglan, Xie Buyu, and the trainees all stared at the screen.
“What happened?”
“What is this?”
Lou Mi checked her phone. Her projection had been overridden.
What was this? The South Lake Third High forum?
Had Chi Lin hijacked her projection? How?
How did she know her password?
“Hey!” she exclaimed, but no one responded.
Chi Lin, still looking for the projected image in her own room, saw the title of the forum post:
[A Matter of Life and Death for Class 6!!!]
Poster: Ask Me How I’m Doing When I’m Sad
Content:
You wanted proof of Chi Lin being a kept woman? Here it is.
[Picture 1]
[Picture 2]
[Picture 3]
Is that Chi Lin in the car? Recognize that profile?
Can you deny it’s her? You all know what the goddess looks like.
And her “sugar mommy”? A thirty-something-year-old woman who takes taxis. How pathetic.
Two words: cheap and tacky!
Is this the kind of person you want in Class 6?
Sharing a classroom with such a… disgusting individual?
Boycott Chi Lin! Expel her from Class 6!
Maintaining a healthy learning environment is everyone’s responsibility!
Xie Buyu stared at the screen, speechless. “What the…”
Zhuo Jinglan coughed repeatedly, gesturing for Lou Mi to close the webpage.
The trainees had all seen it.
Lou Mi, however, oblivious to Zhuo Jinglan’s frantic coughing, read the entire post, her gaze lingering on the three pictures. They looked… familiar.
They were blurry, long-distance shots, Chi Lin’s profile visible, but the “thirty-something-year-old woman” was only seen from behind.
Others might not recognize her, but Lou Mi did.
That’s… me!
Lou Mi was used to rumors, even outrageous ones, but being called a “thirty-something-year-old woman” was a step too far.
She wasn’t even thirty yet! And even if she were, was thirty old?
People lived to 130 these days! Thirty was practically a teenager!
She was still in her prime!
Furious, she ended the meeting and stormed into Chi Lin’s room.
Leave a Reply