Can We Get Married First?  71

Chapter 71

Fueled by last night’s passionate kisses, Lou Mi was brimming with energy, like a thief in the night. Meeting after meeting, practice match after practice match, strategies changing constantly… Even the ever-patient Fu Tu was starting to feel the strain, but Lou Mi remained radiant, her excessive cheerfulness bordering on unsettling.

“See that?” Xie Buyu whispered to Fu Tu. “Lou Jiejie’s practically glowing. She must have absorbed someone’s life force last night. That’s the mark of someone who’s no longer single.”

“Maybe she’s just trying to boost our morale. Why do you always think the worst?” Fu Tu scolded.

“You’re wronging me this time,” Xie Buyu said.

Fu Tu waited for her to elaborate.

“I’m not thinking that far. Our Mi-jie has been single for 25 years. Expecting her to hit a home run on her first try is a bit much. Below the belt is definitely out of the question. Above the neck, that’s as far as it went.”

Fu Tu was confused. “You’re saying Mi-jie has been this happy all day just because of first base? Holding hands and hugging isn’t that exciting, is it?”

“What else could it be? Remember how you were after your first kiss? Like you were on drugs. But even a love-struck Mi-jie is still in her twenties. Hand-holding and hugs aren’t enough. At least… this far.” Xie Buyu tapped her lips.

Fu Tu’s gaze followed her finger, lingering on her lips.

Xie Buyu nudged her forehead, snapping her out of her trance. “What are you thinking about? We’re talking about Mi-jie, okay? Focus. I bet after a few more rounds, she’ll hit a home run. Then she’ll change her profile picture and lipstick shade.”

Not content with gossiping with Fu Tu, Xie Buyu went to chat with Hu Hu and Slay. “Mi-jie’s in a great mood today. You can get away with anything, she won’t get mad.”

Hu Hu and Slay: “Really?”

“I bet Fu Tu’s life on it.”

Fu Tu: “???”

“But cherish it while it lasts. At Mi-jie’s current pace, who knows when she’ll be this happy again.”

Thanks to Lou Mi’s good mood and leadership, the team’s efficiency skyrocketed. They finished practice early, and Lou Mi hummed cheerfully on her way home.

Nearing her apartment, she realized she was empty-handed. I’ve been waiting for me all day, and I’m going home without a gift? Will she think I’m unromantic? Panicked, Lou Mi remembered the most important thing before entering the building. Someone inexperienced in love could learn the techniques, but the nuances of relationships were harder to master. Her anxieties were fueled by overly dramatic movie and TV tropes.

There was a bus station less than a kilometer away, surrounded by flower shops and dessert kiosks. Knowing Chi Lin wasn’t fond of overly sweet treats, Lou Mi chose a strawberry cake that looked both delicious and aesthetically pleasing, not too sugary.

She also bought a bouquet of black roses. The contrast between the dark roses and the bright cake seemed to fit Chi Lin’s unique personality.

Carrying her gifts, Lou Mi drove towards Longrun Gardens, singing along to the latest love songs, feeling like every lyric was written about her.

Just as she was belting out a tune, drowning out the original singer, Lou Lixing called.

Lou Mi quickly composed herself and answered with a serious face.

“Mi Mi, your Auntie Peng and I have something to do tonight. We’ll be back late…” Lou Lixing was worried Lou Mi would be upset. It was an important time for her, and they, as her family, should be there to support her. But he had a crucial project he couldn’t leave, and Peng Ziyuan’s new product launch had hit a snag, requiring her and her team to work overtime.

He braced himself for Lou Mi’s reaction.

To his surprise, Lou Mi didn’t seem angry at all. Before he could finish explaining, she said, “Focus on your work. I’m not a child, don’t worry about me.”

She stopped herself from adding, You can even sleep at the office, Chi Lin and I will be fine alone at home.

Relieved, Lou Lixing gave her a few more words of encouragement before ending the call and messaging Peng Ziyuan. “Yuan Yuan, you were right. Mi Mi doesn’t care if we’re home or not.”

“Of course, you didn’t believe me. Mi Mi and Xiao Lin are just starting their romance, we shouldn’t be in their way. Give them some alone time. The auspicious date I picked might come in handy soon.”

So, no parents tonight. Just her and Chi Lin, alone under the same roof.

Lou Mi’s heart pounded. If Chi Lin was still as compliant as last night, would they rekindle their passion, perhaps even explore new territories?

Lost in her fantasies, Lou Mi barely registered the journey from the car to the elevator, her mind playing a private movie starring her and Chi Lin. The ringing of her phone startled her.

Who is it now?

Struggling to free one hand, she checked her phone. It was Zhuo Jinglan.

Having heard Xie Buyu and Fu Tu’s gossip, and seeing Lou Mi’s unusually cheerful demeanor, Zhuo Jinglan suspected it was related to Chi Lin, that they might have made their relationship official. After observing Lou Mi for a while, she decided the gossip might be accurate.

Remembering Lou Mi’s near-disastrous distraction during the first match, she decided to offer a gentle reminder. “Lou Mi, I don’t care about your personal life, but we’re in the middle of the World Cup. Focus on the matches! After the tournament, you can do whatever you want, I’ll even carry you on a sedan chair. Just stay focused for these few days. As the top seed, we have a maximum of eight matches. You’ve already completed one-eighth. Just endure it, it’ll be over soon.”

Lou Mi rolled her eyes. Why is she reminding me? I’m not that irresponsible. Last time was a special circumstance. With that “special circumstance” resolved, and if tonight went well, their relationship would be on solid ground. From now on, she would be the one in charge, with Chi Lin as her loyal supporter.

Zhuo Jinglan’s message, however, had the opposite effect, stirring her rebellious spirit. Why should I endure it? What if my girlfriend flies away? Can Zhuo Jinglan replace her?

As the elevator ascended, Lou Mi started unbuttoning her coat. She was confident in her appearance, her makeup flawless, her skin glowing. She undid her coat, then her blouse, almost ready to strip the moment she saw Chi Lin. Too aggressive? Not at all. Chi Lin loves this kind of thing!

The elevator dinged, signaling her arrival. Lou Mi tousled her hair, her eyes half-closed, striking a seductive pose. Hearing footsteps, her heart leaped. She stepped out of the elevator, her long legs, clad in rare high heels, leading the way.

Come to me, baby. Tonight, I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of.

“Jiejie?”

Hearing the elevator, Chi Lin came to greet her, but before she could speak, Lou Mi embraced her.

Chi Lin: “?!”

“I have good news,” Lou Mi whispered in her ear, pressing her against the wall, just like last night. “We’re alone tonight.”

Chi Lin’s reply, however, was “Not necessarily…”

Lou Mi: “???”

Just then, a pair of wide eyes peeked out from behind Chi Lin.

“Who’s this?!”

Lou Mi grabbed the owner of the eyes by the collar, lifting them up.

It was a little girl, around six or seven years old, in a green dress, holding an ink-stained brush. Dangling in the air like a caught mouse, she kicked and struggled furiously.

Where did this come from? Lou Mi hadn’t noticed the brush at first. A kiss, and now we have a kid? Who are they kidding?

Looking at the disheveled Lou Mi, Chi Lin asked, confused, “Was it windy outside? Is that why you look like this?”

Lou Mi, her seduction attempt backfiring, glared at Chi Lin.

Chi Lin: “?”

“What do you mean ‘where did this come from’?” the little girl yelled, swiping at Lou Mi’s face with her ink brush. “I have a name! I’m Yan Mingming!”

Her feeble attack was easily dodged. Lou Mi shoved the flowers and cake into Chi Lin’s arms, snatched the brush, and drew a large black X on the girl’s face.

The girl, seeing her reflection in the elevator doors, burst into tears.

Lou Mi, her eardrums assaulted, pushed her onto the sofa. “Whose kid is this?!”

Chi Lin sighed. “Grandpa Yan’s granddaughter.”

Lou Mi: “What? I thought he only had a grandson?”

“His grandson was here too, but Grandpa Yan forced him to practice calligraphy. He got bored and wanted to go home, so Grandpa Yan took him back and left his granddaughter here to continue practicing.”

“Grandpa Yan was here, too?”

Chi Lin, dark circles under her eyes, said wearily, “Yes, thankfully he’s gone now.”

The past few days had been hell for Chi Lin. Already stressed and anxious from her search for Her Majesty and her encounter with Tan Luo, she had barely reached the apartment when she saw Grandpa Yan playing chess with the security guard, his grandchildren in tow.

“Ah, Little Chi, my master, you’re finally back!” Grandpa Yan declared, checkmating the guard.

Before the bewildered guard could react, Grandpa Yan introduced his grandchildren, urging them to address Chi Lin as their master.

The boy, engrossed in his game console, barely mumbled a greeting. The girl, however, stared at Chi Lin, recognizing the “sword-dancing fairy” from the video, and called out sweetly.

“Wait a minute, Grandpa Yan, I never agreed to take on more disciples.” The word “disciple” now made Chi Lin cringe. After poisoning and scarring Tan Luo, she’d been pestered with requests to become Tan Luo’s master. What is this era’s obsession with discipleship?

Thankfully, Chi Lin’s agility allowed her to escape Tan Luo’s pursuit. And now, another potential disciple?

Grandpa Yan chuckled. “It’s alright, you don’t have to formally accept them. Just teach them a few calligraphy strokes. You wouldn’t deny me this small favor, would you? Your calligraphy is far superior to those charlatans who flaunt their awards. I trust you with my grandchildren.”

Lou Mi: “And you just let him in?”

Chi Lin had wanted to ask Grandpa Yan about Danzhou opera. As a connoisseur, he might know something. With Lou Mi away, she could ask freely without arousing suspicion.

It turned out to be a wise decision. She did get a crucial lead from Grandpa Yan.

As the children practiced their calligraphy, Grandpa Yan, sipping tea, launched into a lecture on Danzhou opera. “Danzhou opera originated in Danzhou, hence the name. The exact location of Danzhou is unknown, but I heard from Old Lou that it has another name: Yuqiang.”

Hearing the familiar “Yuqiang,” Chi Lin leaned forward, listening intently.

“Yu is probably also a place name, likely a larger area than Danzhou. Based on the scenes depicted in the opera, the kingdom of Yu was once very prosperous, but then it declined for some reason, barely mentioned in historical records. Old Lou has been trying to find more information, but it’s been difficult.”

Chi Lin frowned. “Yes, why did it decline…”

Grandpa Yan suddenly said, “I have a theory. This Yu… it might not have been within the borders of our current country.”

Chi Lin gasped. She’d had similar thoughts. “You mean…?”

“It could have been a city in another country. That would explain why it’s barely mentioned in our history books.”

“But Dayuan… I mean, Yu’s culture, language, and customs are very similar to ours. It seems like a direct lineage.”

“Our country has a history of five thousand years, and there might be many unrecorded dynasties before that. Countless wars, cultural exchanges… it’s impossible to track everything. Our people are very… adaptable. No matter what country, religion, or customs, within a few centuries, they become assimilated. Even if not completely identical, they become very similar. It’s possible that Yu’s culture and customs were integrated into ours through trade or war, passed down through generations. Look at the smaller countries around us, they’re still heavily influenced by ancient Chinese culture. Perhaps this Yu, barely mentioned in our history, was once very powerful, exporting its culture to us. Danzhou opera could have been transmitted that way.”

Chi Lin: “Is it possible for a powerful nation to be unrecorded by its neighbors?”

“Yes, it is. Many legendary dynasties exist only in our imaginations, with no archaeological evidence to prove their existence. But Yu did leave some traces, otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about it now.” Grandpa Yan chuckled. “If we dig deeper, we might find more historical records. It’s just that there’s little mention of it in our own country’s history.”

Grandpa Yan’s words gave Chi Lin a sense of direction. She had speculated similarly, but lacking a deep understanding of Chinese history, she hadn’t been able to find any supporting evidence.

Grandpa Yan, despite his often annoying personality, had provided a crucial insight, illuminating her path.

Dayuan did exist. Her Majesty’s reign, the golden age she had ushered in, wasn’t a dream. Its prosperity, its beauty, had all been real.

The thought made Chi Lin’s heart ache.

As a gesture of gratitude, she patiently taught the children calligraphy.

Grandpa Yan’s grandson was eager to leave, but his granddaughter, Yan Mingming, refused to go.

Grandpa Yan was exasperated. “You didn’t want to come this morning! Why are you refusing to leave now?”

To everyone’s surprise, the eight-year-old declared, “I’m staying here to be Fairy Sister’s wife!”

Chi Lin: “…”

Grandpa Yan almost had a heart attack. “What did you say?!”

Hearing Chi Lin recount this, Lou Mi echoed Grandpa Yan’s outrage. “What did you say?! Whose wife?!”

Before Chi Lin could answer, Yan Mingming, still sporting the black X on her face, puffed out her chest and marched up to Lou Mi. “Chi Jiejie is mine! The first time I saw her, I decided I’m going to marry her!”

Chi Lin: “But we just met today…”

Yan Mingming: “I saw your video 35 days ago!”

Chi Lin: “…” What is it with the Yan family and their persistence?

Lou Mi stared at her, speechless. As a successful 25-year-old, the perfect goddess in the eyes of her fans, a reliable captain to her teammates, she couldn’t possibly argue with an eight-year-old, could she?

Just as Chi Lin thought the situation was under control, Lou Mi bent down and pointed at Yan Mingming. “You don’t get to decide who you marry. If you don’t get your little butt out of here right now, I’ll give you a childhood trauma you’ll never forget.”

Yan Mingming: “I’m not afraid of you!”

Lou Mi: “Good. I won’t rest until you’re crying your way home tonight.”

Facing off against a child, Lou Mi had lost all semblance of regal composure…

Chi Lin rubbed her forehead, her dark circles deepening.