Can We Get Married First?  49

Chapter 49

In Dayuan, girls celebrated their coming-of-age at fifteen with a hairpin ceremony.

On their birthday, families hosted a banquet, the daughter dressed in new clothes and adorned with a new hairstyle, offering a toast to her parents to express her gratitude.

These ceremonies were often grand affairs. Chi Lin remembered standing for hours, almost freezing to death.

In this era, however, birthdays seemed to be more about fun and stress relief.

Chi Lin’s eyes widened at the sight of Lou Mi’s impressive liquor collection. Lou Mi pointed out various bottles: whiskey, sake, plum wine, red wine, white wine.

“I think you should start with plum wine. It’s popular with girls.”

“Which one is the strongest?” Chi Lin asked.

“Strongest? Probably the whiskey.”

“Can I try that one?”

The excitement in Chi Lin’s eyes was undeniable.

“Whiskey? Your first drink? What if you get sick? You’ll regret it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is Sunday. I can stay home and rest,” Chi Lin replied.

“Were you a drunkard in your past life? Eager to get wasted on your birthday?”

Despite her teasing, Lou Mi retrieved the whiskey bottle.

As Chi Lin reached for it, Lou Mi held it out of reach.

“I’m in charge of this bottle. I decide how much you drink. Deal?”

“Deal,” Chi Lin said eagerly.

Lou Mi, amused by her enthusiasm, pinched her cheek.

“You’re so cute when you’re being greedy. This is just a small gift. Didn’t my dad promise you a car? We’re going car shopping tomorrow. And I have another surprise for you.”

Chi Lin, her gaze fixed on the whiskey bottle, said, “I don’t need anything else. Just this.”

The doorbell rang. The property manager had arrived with the cake, wearing a party hat and carrying a small bouquet of flowers.

Chi Lin opened the door to a chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

She stood there, holding the cake, a forced smile plastered on her face, until they finally left.

She returned to the living room, wiping the sweat off her brow.

“Behold, my masterpiece,” Lou Mi said, unwrapping the cake box. “I designed it myself. You’ll love it.”

Chi Lin hadn’t expected Lou Mi to be so thoughtful.

She opened the box and saw a stick figure, its arms and legs outstretched, surrounded by… green blobs.

“What is that… thing… doing?”

“It’s you, practicing Five Elements Fist! Isn’t it a perfect likeness?”

Chi Lin: “…”

She had seen similar artistic styles in ancient texts. Lou Mi was indeed a… unique artist.

“I made the candles too,” Lou Mi said, retrieving a box of candles. “I’ll go check on your parents.”

As she sent a message to Lou Lixing, they emerged from the elevator.

“Zai Zai! Happy birthday!” Peng Ziyuan, her arms full of gifts, rushed towards Chi Lin, her high heels clicking against the floor.

Chi Lin hurried to intercept her, fearing she might trip.

Lou Lixing also carried a large, elaborately wrapped gift.

“Open it! See if you like it!” he said excitedly.

Lou Mi, rolling her eyes, said, “Why would you make her open it now? What if she hates it? That’s so awkward.”

“Mimi’s right,” Lou Lixing said. “I’ll put it in your room, Xiao Lin. You can open it later.”

Chi Lin thanked him, slightly embarrassed by Lou Mi’s bluntness.

Peng Ziyuan and Lou Lixing filled the smart refrigerator with groceries and had Chi Lin choose the menu for dinner.

Chi Lin, browsing the system’s recommendations, was intrigued by the roasted whole lamb, a familiar dish from Dayuan.

“Someone’s hungry,” Lou Mi said. “Looks like you’ve fully recovered.”

Peng Ziyuan hesitated. Roasted whole lamb seemed like a lot of effort.

XH could prepare the lamb, marinating and seasoning it, but they would have to grill it themselves.

Lou Lixing, sensing her hesitation, said, “If she wants it, we’ll make it. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Lou Mi, scrolling through her phone, said, “Save the romantic gestures for later, Dad. We don’t have a grill or charcoal. We have to buy them.”

“I’ll go buy them now!”

“I already ordered them,” Lou Mi said, holding up her phone. “They’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Lou Lixing, instead of being annoyed, beamed with pride.

Our Mimi is so efficient.

The grilling equipment arrived, and they set up the lamb in the courtyard.

As the lamb roasted, the aroma of grilling meat filled the air.

“Make a wish, Chi Lin,” Lou Mi said, like a birthday party emcee, guiding Chi Lin through the ritual.

“A wish?” Chi Lin wasn’t familiar with modern birthday traditions.

Peng Ziyuan, seeing her confusion, her eyes welling up, said, “It’s my fault. I was always too busy with work to throw you proper birthday parties. Just a gift every year, and a cake… sometimes. You can make a wish, Xiao Lin. Close your eyes and make a wish, then blow out the candles. Your wish will come true.”

Lou Mi lit the candles, their design matching her stick figure drawing.

Chi Lin closed her eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles.

As the candles extinguished, a burst of sparks erupted, forming a miniature firework display of the stick figure performing Five Elements Fist.

Peng Ziyuan shrieked with delight.

“Is that you?” Lou Mi asked, beaming.

“Did you draw that, Mimi?” Peng Ziyuan exclaimed. “It’s so cute! The cutest birthday candles ever!”

Peng Ziyuan’s dramatic flair was perfect for such occasions.

Lou Mi, embarrassed by the unexpected praise, mumbled, “Yeah, I drew it…”

As Peng Ziyuan continued her enthusiastic praise, Chi Lin, seeing Lou Mi’s flustered expression, smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.

Lou Mi, her pride restored, asked, “What did you wish for?”

“You’re not supposed to tell,” Lou Lixing said. “It won’t come true.”

Lou Mi rolled her eyes. “That’s an old wives’ tale. You have to say your wish out loud for the spirits to hear.”

“Is that how it works now?” Lou Lixing asked, confused.

“Yes, you’re old,” Peng Ziyuan said. “Xiao Lin, can you tell us your wish?”

Chi Lin had initially wished to find the Empress.

But as she closed her eyes, she saw her family’s smiling faces.

She changed her wish.

She would find the Empress, with or without a wish.

But if she could wish for something, she wished for Lou Mi, Lou Lixing, and Peng Ziyuan to be happy, now and always.

It wasn’t a secret. She told them her wish.

“Why just us?” Lou Mi asked, feeling slightly excluded. “It’s the four of us. A family.”

Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan agreed, and Chi Lin smiled, seemingly accepting their inclusion.

But her gaze shifted away from Lou Mi’s.

They ate the cake, and Peng Ziyuan, scooping up some frosting, dabbed it on Chi Lin’s nose.

Chi Lin, stunned by this act of… vandalism, didn’t react, and Lou Mi, grabbing a handful of frosting, smeared it on Chi Lin’s cheek.

Chi Lin’s hair was now covered in frosting.

“It’s a birthday tradition,” Lou Mi explained, backing away quickly, knowing Chi Lin’s… reflexes. “Prepare yourself for the ritual!”

Chi Lin, remembering the annual Peach Blossom Festival in Dayuan, where people threw peach blossom petals at each other as a blessing, understood.

She had been a formidable force during the festival, her aim and force unmatched.

In this era, it was frosting.

She was in a good mood tonight. And there was plenty of frosting left.

As Lou Lixing reached for the cake, Chi Lin’s arm swept across it, scooping up a large amount of frosting.

Lou Lixing saw a blur of motion, and the cake was… bald.

He looked up, meeting Chi Lin’s mischievous gaze.

Lou Mi, hiding in the corner, knew what was coming.

Poor Dad…

Before she could warn him, Chi Lin flung the frosting at his face.

It landed with a splat, covering his features, the excess splattering on the wall behind him, leaving a perfect imprint of his head.

Peng Ziyuan shrieked and ducked.

Lou Lixing, blinded by the frosting, stumbled backward and landed on the sofa.

Lou Mi: “…”

Chi Lin: “…”

Why didn’t he dodge?

She had miscalculated…

If this was a birthday tradition, why hadn’t he reacted?

She froze, realizing her mistake.

Modern people were so… fragile.

.

“Uncle Lou, are you okay?”

Chi Lin stood at the doorway of her parents’ bedroom, her voice soft and apologetic.

Peng Ziyuan, emerging from the bathroom, her hair wet from helping Lou Lixing clean up, said, “He’s fine! Just a little… surprised by Xiao Lin’s impressive skills.”

Lou Mi, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, said, “Those are some serious skills. Leading a group of senior citizens in martial arts. Dad, you have to talk to Grandpa Yan. Morning exercise sessions are one thing, but bringing random children to our house for calligraphy lessons? Chi Lin is busy with her studies. She doesn’t have time for that. And did he even pay her?”

“He did that?” Lou Lixing asked, surprised.

“He even ambushed her at the school gate!”

Lou Lixing, turning to Chi Lin, said, “Don’t worry, Xiao Lin, I’ll talk to him. I won’t let him bother you again.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” Chi Lin said.

The aroma of roasted lamb had filled the courtyard, even reaching the security guard, who muttered about how delicious it smelled.

They ate the lamb, the cold night air and warm, savory meat a perfect combination.

Chi Lin, despite her preference for a lighter diet, enjoyed the lamb, her favorite meat besides fish.

The lamb, rotating slowly on the automatic grill, sizzled as Lou Lixing seasoned it with spices and sauces.

Lou Mi carved the meat, her arm aching after a while.

“Let me do it,” Chi Lin said, reaching for the knife.

Lou Mi, trusting her skills, especially after witnessing her accuracy with the frosting earlier, handed her the knife.

“We’re all counting on you,” she said. “I’ll get the wine. Lamb and wine, a perfect pairing.”

“Yes!” Lou Lixing exclaimed. “Xiao Lin is eighteen now. She can drink!”

“Do you want some wine, Xiao Lin?” Peng Ziyuan asked.

Lou Mi, returning with the wine, answered for her.

“She’s already had some. She snuck a sip earlier, but I caught her.”

Peng Ziyuan looked surprised. “Really? You like wine, Xiao Lin? I didn’t know! Mimi knows you better than I do. She even suggested the birthday party. You should be grateful to your sister.”

“Don’t tell her that,” Lou Lixing said.

“Why not? They’re both only children. They need to rely on each other. When we’re gone, they’ll be family,” Peng Ziyuan said, then turned to Chi Lin. “Do you… like your sister?”

Lou Mi, having just returned with the wine, paused, hiding behind a tree, eavesdropping.

She wanted to hear Chi Lin’s honest opinion.

Chi Lin, her back to Lou Mi, her hair still in a neat bun, nodded slowly. “She’s been very good to me.”

Lou Mi’s heart warmed. That little brat… she does have a conscience.

But why had Peng Ziyuan exchanged a look with Lou Lixing after asking that question?

Lou Mi suspected a hidden agenda.

Chi Lin, though usually sharp, could be naive at times.

Lou Mi, fearing her parents might manipulate her, emerged from her hiding spot.

“Here’s the wine! I’ll open it. Dad, get some glasses.”

“I’ll get them,” Peng Ziyuan said, and left.

Chi Lin went to check on the lamb. Lou Mi, opening the wine, beckoned Lou Lixing closer.

“Dad, are you and your girlfriend ganging up on my sister now?” she whispered.

“What? No!” Lou Lixing denied immediately.

“Then what were you asking her?”

Lou Lixing chuckled nervously, a telltale sign of being caught.

“What are you doing?” Lou Mi asked, annoyed. “Chi Lin and I have our own… dynamic. You don’t have to… interfere.”

“We’re not interfering. You two are getting along so well.”

Lou Mi: “?”

“Mimi, be honest with me. Is there… something more than friendship between you and Xiao Lin?”

Since witnessing Lou Mi make Chi Lin cry, he and Peng Ziyuan had been observing them closely, noticing their increased closeness.

Perhaps “closeness” wasn’t the right word, but their relationship had undeniably improved, exceeding their expectations.

Lou Mi narrowed her eyes. “What are you thinking, Dad?”

Lou Lixing, channeling his inner CEO, said, “Exactly what you’re thinking.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. If there’s anything between us, it’s sisterly love. Are you projecting your own romantic feelings onto us?”

“That’s good to know,” Lou Lixing said, relieved.

“Good to know? You were practically begging me to get a girlfriend last year, and now you’re relieved I’m single?”

Lou Lixing was about to explain when Lou Mi interrupted.

“And what era are we living in? Do I need your permission to date? Are you going to arrange a marriage for me next?”

Lou Lixing: “…One question from me, and a hundred answers from you.”

Lou Mi: “Then don’t ask.”

Lou Lixing almost cried. What kind of daughter did I raise?

Lou Mi’s outburst triggered the familiar pain in her chest. She glared at Lou Lixing.

“I didn’t say anything!” he protested.

Lou Mi, calming down, realized her reaction had been… excessive, like someone trying too hard to deny something.

Had Lou Lixing noticed?

…

Chi Lin, having carved the lamb and served everyone, saw Peng Ziyuan returning with glasses.

They finished the lamb and a bottle of wine, then Peng Ziyuan, still not satisfied, went to the kitchen and prepared skewers of beef and vegetables.

She emerged, carrying a mountain of skewers, and saw Lou Mi and Lou Lixing, each with a new bottle of wine, already half-empty.

They were also playing a 3D holographic card game, the battle scene projected onto the air above the table.

Each round lasted about three minutes, loser taking a drink.

“Isn’t that a lot of alcohol?” Peng Ziyuan asked, concerned.

“We’re celebrating! Cheers!” Lou Lixing exclaimed, his face flushed after losing eight consecutive rounds.

“You should stop,” Peng Ziyuan said. “Remember what happened last time you drank too much at your parents’ house?”

Lou Lixing winked at her. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m sober.”

Lou Mi, still battling Chi Lin, said to Lou Lixing, “Auntie, you should take him inside. He’s had enough. He just tried to play a card on my side of the board.”

Peng Ziyuan, putting down the skewers, coaxed Lou Lixing inside.

Now, it was just Lou Mi and Chi Lin.

Chi Lin was a quick study, even with games.

She had defeated Lou Mi in the arcade, but “Return to Jianghu,” even the card game version, was Lou Mi’s domain.

And Chi Lin, having underestimated the potency of modern alcohol, was now seeing double, losing every round.

Her face and neck flushed, her gaze slightly unfocused, she sighed. “I can’t beat you.”

Lou Mi, her own tolerance for alcohol not particularly high, was also feeling the effects of the wine and the lamb.

Seeing Chi Lin’s disappointment, fearing she might quit, she said, “I’ll give you a two-card advantage.”

Chi Lin, struggling to find her chair, stumbled and sat down heavily.

“I don’t need your charity.”

“But you can’t win otherwise.”

Chi Lin chuckled. “The Empress used to say the same thing when we played chess.”

“Bi Xia? Your classmate?”

Chi Lin, her mind fuzzy from the alcohol, simply giggled, reaching for her wine glass.

“Hey!” Lou Mi exclaimed, reaching for the glass, then, losing her balance, fell out of her chair, landing at Chi Lin’s feet.

“Rise, my loyal subject,” Chi Lin said, amused.

Lou Mi, her knees and forehead throbbing, quickly stood up, ignoring the pain, and snatched Chi Lin’s wine glass.

“You only drink when you lose. You already drank for the last round.”

“This wine is good… but it’s strong…” Chi Lin mumbled.

“Let’s play another round.”

“I can’t beat you.”

“I’ll let you win.”

“Don’t bully me. You’re too good…”

Chi Lin was losing her grip on reality, her mind floating.

She couldn’t even see the cards clearly, her fingers pressing random buttons on her phone.

Lou Mi, also feeling dizzy, finally lost a round.

As she was about to congratulate Chi Lin, she saw Chi Lin reaching for the wine, the last glass.

“That’s mine!” she said, grabbing the glass.

Chi Lin, not hearing her, drank the wine.

Lou Mi, disappointed, saw a drop of wine on Chi Lin’s lips and, unable to resist, leaned in and licked it off.

It was sweet and… soft.

She licked her lips again.

Chi Lin smiled, her expression soft and inviting.

She leaned against Lou Mi, and Lou Mi, her last shred of rationality reminding her that sleeping here would be a bad idea, helped her back to the bedroom.