Chapter 80
Under the watchful eyes of the entire class, the original Chi Lin managed to recite only three words.
Mr. Xia, who had placed so much trust in her and wanted to hold her up as an example, was mortified.
“Alright, you may sit down.” Mr. Xia, unsure of what was wrong, didn’t want to embarrass her further and changed the subject, discussing the focus and key points of the senior year Chinese curriculum.
The original Chi Lin’s face burned as she sat down, still flustered.
Lin Xiaozhi patted her leg under the desk, comforting her:
“Mr. Xia is going through a midlife crisis, don’t mind him.”
The original Chi Lin: “Men have midlife crises too?”
“Of course,” Lin Xiaozhi said. “Men’s midlife crisis symptoms are no less than women’s. Don’t take it to heart. Relax, be yourself. Senior year has just begun. And with us here, what’s there to be afraid of?”
Lin Xiaozhi’s words eased her anxiety slightly.
Unsure who Lin Xiaozhi meant by “us,” the original Chi Lin was certain that most of Class 6 had a favorable impression of her. She even had fans online. Good times were ahead, what was there to worry about?
One step at a time.
So, in the subsequent practice exams, she answered entirely based on intuition. Confidently scanning the filled-in test papers, she figured even if she was just making things up, she should at least get half the points.
That afternoon, in Ms. Qi’s office.
“What is this?!”
Ms. Qi slammed her hand on the desk, the impact jarring her hand.
The original Chi Lin flinched, her eyes darting around.
“11 in Geography, 12 in Math, 13 in English? Are you trying to create a rhythmic pattern with your scores?” Ms. Qi pointed at her. “Come here! Why are you standing so far away? Do you think I’ll eat you?! If I could eat you, I’d swallow you whole right now!”
The original Chi Lin pouted and walked forward: “…It’s just one bad test. Didn’t I do well before?”
“You have the nerve to mention ‘before’? What was your English score ‘before’? Almost perfect! What, you can’t study unless you’re making bets with teachers? Is that all you’re capable of?”
The original Chi Lin’s ears were itching. She wanted to scratch them, but then remembered that the pretentious person she was imitating wouldn’t do that, so she resisted.
“Oh, and a record high of 38 in History. What’s wrong with you? Even if you spent the entire winter break playing around, you shouldn’t be this terrible. Are you doing this on purpose?” Ms. Qi searched for answers on her face. “Do you have a problem with me? Are you trying to get revenge on me?”
The original Chi Lin shook her head.
Ms. Qi was also tired after yelling, her head buzzing from lack of oxygen.
She sat back down, took a sip of tea, sighed, and softened her tone:
“Actually, I was quite pleasantly surprised by your performance last semester. I saw everything that happened, and while I can’t say I completely agree with all your decisions, the learning atmosphere in Class 6 has indeed improved significantly. And not only have you improved yourself, but you also led our class to achieve its first top average score in a single subject… I had high hopes for you, but now I think maybe I shouldn’t put too much pressure on you. I won’t say much more. Whether it’s your studies or your future, it’s your own business. It’s useless for me to worry if you don’t. You can go back to class now.”
“Oh.”
The original Chi Lin left the office and leaned against the wall in the hallway for a long time, staring at the bright blue sky and white clouds outside, feeling dejected.
She could imitate and pretend everything else, but how could she fake studying?
The bitch who occupied her body was so annoying, messing with her academic performance of all things…
Both her mother and the Lous were so rich, what was the point of studying?
It was a waste of effort, just for show.
“Chi Lin!”
Teng Jiang called out to her from the other end of the hallway, holding a basketball.
It was still quite cold in early spring, but Teng Jiang was already wearing his basketball uniform, drenched in sweat, as if he had just finished playing.
“Why are you standing here alone?” He glanced at the office and whispered, “Did you get scolded?”
Imitating the expression from the video, the original Chi Lin frowned and shook her head slightly: “I’m fine.”
“What’s your class doing for the last period this afternoon?”
“Doing?”
“You don’t know? To help relieve stress for senior students, so they don’t burst a blood vessel worrying about the college entrance exams, the last period on Monday afternoons will be free activity time, every other week. Didn’t you get the notice?”
“Maybe there was a notice, but I wasn’t in class just now.”
“It should be the same for everyone. Do some sports, or visit universities, to prepare for choosing your major.”
“Really? That’s great.”
“Don’t get too excited, the class presidents will be keeping an eye on everyone, you can’t sneak off. What’s your class planning to do this afternoon?”
The original Chi Lin didn’t know, but Lin Xiaozhi, appearing out of nowhere, answered for her:
“Calisthenics in the gym.”
Lin Xiaozhi, with her hands in her uniform pockets, walked past and answered casually, then quickly left.
“Oh, our class is doing that too.” Teng Jiang tossed the basketball in the air and caught it, winking at the original Chi Lin. “See you this afternoon.”
The original Chi Lin nodded calmly. After Teng Jiang disappeared from sight, she covered her nose, suppressing her surging excitement.
This guy was sinfully attractive!
The original Chi Lin was eager to make a move.
She could still work on Senior Tan Luo, but Teng Jiang, she had to secure him!
During lunch break, the original Chi Lin didn’t even have time to eat, hiding in a corner of the playground, searching for more information about “Chi Lin,” carefully observing her expressions and speech patterns. This time, there would be no flaws!
For the last period in the afternoon, Lin Xiaozhi led everyone to the multi-purpose gymnasium.
The gymnasium was huge, housing basketball courts, volleyball courts, table tennis tables, and more, all under one roof. It could accommodate half the grade’s students simultaneously. The outdoor soccer field was in a separate area to the east.
Today, Class 1 and Class 6 happened to be exercising together. Class 1 was playing basketball, while Class 6 was waiting for Lin Xiaozhi’s instructions.
Lin Xiaozhi looked troubled: “We’re a bit late, all the courts are occupied. How about we do some light exercises first, and then use the courts when they’re free?”
Everyone asked: “What kind of light exercises?”
Lin Xiaozhi thought for a moment and immediately had an idea.
When her beautiful, cunning eyes landed on the original Chi Lin standing in the back row, the original Chi Lin’s heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
“Lin, come here.” Lin Xiaozhi called her over.
The original Chi Lin puffed out her chest and walked to Lin Xiaozhi’s side with a righteous air—though inwardly, she was extremely apprehensive.
“Let Lin teach us some sword dancing,” Lin Xiaozhi suggested.
What?
The original Chi Lin looked at Lin Xiaozhi in horror. Sword dancing?!
She tried to stop Lin Xiaozhi with a look, but Lin Xiaozhi, smiling with narrowed eyes, didn’t even glance at her.
“Great!” Wei Zhuoning was the first to agree.
Although she didn’t know why Lin Xiaozhi had this sudden idea, she was always the class president’s biggest supporter:
“Lin’s ‘White Dew’ dance was so beautiful, I’ve always wanted to learn it.”
Sha Xinyu chimed in with genuine enthusiasm: “Me too.”
Gao Xiang: “Let’s see it then.”
Class 6 quickly reached a consensus, everyone in agreement.
The original Chi Lin’s scalp went numb. She forced a smile: “Sword, sword dancing requires swords. We don’t have any swords.”
“We do.” Lin Xiaozhi pulled a forearm-length scabbard out of her bag. “I just happened to bring one.”
The original Chi Lin was speechless.
Class president, why would you bring a sword to school?!
Staring at the scabbard, she made one last attempt: “Isn’t it a bit too short…”
Lin Xiaozhi unsheathed the sword with a clang. Unexpectedly, it was a folding sword, doubling in length when extended.
The original Chi Lin: “…”
“Here.” Lin Xiaozhi handed the sword to her. “See how thoughtful I am.”
The original Chi Lin: “You…”
Lin Xiaozhi turned to the students on the other courts and announced:
“Chi Lin is going to perform a sword dance, come and watch!”
The original Chi Lin: “What the fuck!?”
Hearing the exciting news, everyone gathered around.
“Really? She even brought a sword!”
“Is it the ‘White Dew’ dance? Awesome, I get to see it live!”
“Where’s my phone! Quick, quick, I need to film this!”
Wei Zhuoning was also excited, taking out her phone to record.
The original Chi Lin, surrounded by hundreds of people, felt like she was in a zoo.
Lin Xiaozhi clapped her hands: “Everyone, a round of applause!”
Amidst the anticipation, applause erupted, thunderous and enthusiastic.
The original Chi Lin just wanted to stab this witch with the sword.
Lou Mi had slept at the club last night, in her dedicated rest room.
She hadn’t slept well, tossing and turning for over an hour before finally drifting off.
She woke up with a headache. She considered taking painkillers but hesitated, remembering the pre-match practice and meeting scheduled for today.
Painkillers could relieve the pain and might not have much effect on ordinary people, but they could affect her performance and reaction time in holographic games.
She had to endure it and avoid any problems before the match.
Lou Mi went to the swimming pool downstairs for a while and then soaked in the hot spring, finally feeling a bit more relaxed.
It was lunchtime. Lou Mi didn’t have much of an appetite, but her stomach and her brain disagreed, rumbling loudly.
She decided to grab something quick at the club’s cafeteria. Xie Buyu and the others would definitely clamor for afternoon tea later, which meant another meal.
Lou Mi went to the cafeteria on the 7th floor alone. It was quite lively. A group of trainees happened to walk by and greeted her:
“Hello, Captain!”
Lou Mi smiled at them. As they passed each other, a bun hairstyle flashed before her eyes.
Her gaze followed it. Turning around, she saw the girl at the end of the group with a neat bun, wearing a black turtleneck sweater under her team uniform.
Even though she was at the back of the group and they were all wearing the same uniform, the girl wasn’t very tall, but her back view was somehow distinctive.
Lou Mi took note of her and slowed her steps towards the cafeteria counter.
After getting a meat and a vegetable dish, she sat down in a corner to eat. Zhuo Jinglan sat down opposite her at some point.
“Eating so little? That’s not like you.”
“I’m being reserved.” Lou Mi casually joked, not wanting Zhuo Jinglan to ask about her relationship again. It was too embarrassing, so she quickly changed the subject to Nine Heavens’ second team:
“Are we choosing the second team from these trainees?” Lou Mi pointed with her chopsticks towards the trainees sitting nearby.
Zhuo Jinglan immediately became interested: “Yes. Let me tell you, some of these trainees are really good. Not just for the second team, they could even join our first team directly.”
Lou Mi laughed: “Don’t you always say that?”
“This time is different. Last night, Buyu and the others watched the recordings of the trainees’ simulation matches, and they share my opinion.”
“A prodigy?”
Zhuo Jinglan’s expression turned serious: “A real one.”
“Show me the recording.”
Zhuo Jinglan took out her phone and showed her.
After watching for a while, Lou Mi forgot about her food.
“This kid is completely self-taught, right? No formal training?”
“Zero years of esports experience. But her game sense is excellent, and her reflexes are incredibly fast…”
“Did you test her?”
Zhuo Jinglan said: “Yes, her reaction time is 0.64.”
0.64 was a number that even surprised Lou Mi: “Are you sure you didn’t measure wrong? Mine is only 0.61.”
“I’m absolutely sure. Her reaction time is only slightly faster than yours, slower than all the other trainees, even slower than Buyu’s.”
Reaction time was one of the most important indicators of a holographic esports player’s ability. It used to be a secret among players, but with the increasing professionalization of holographic esports, this number had become more and more public, even becoming a reflection of a professional player’s ability and value.
The lower the reaction time, the faster the reflexes.
At her peak, Lou Mi’s reaction time reached an astonishing 0.49, the only person so far to break the 0.5 barrier.
It had been a long time since Lou Mi had seen a professional player with a reaction time below 0.65, let alone a trainee.
Lou Mi took Zhuo Jinglan’s phone and focused on the recording.
Not only were her reflexes fast and her skills high, but her playstyle also felt familiar.
Zhuo Jinglan saw what she was thinking:
“You noticed it too, her playstyle is very similar to yours. Both her movements and her strategy are almost identical. If I didn’t know what you do every day, I’d think you took on an apprentice.”
Lou Mi finished watching the recording and asked Zhuo Jinglan: “Which one is she?”
“The one in the photo I showed you yesterday, Jun Jun.”
She glanced back: “Is she there?”
“Yes, the one in the black turtleneck.”
So it was her.
Zhuo Jinglan said: “Shall we go over and talk to her?”
Lou Mi: “Yeah, I’ll buy the kids some food first.”
“You, always bringing gifts wherever you go.”
Lou Mi ordered a deluxe beef hot pot and went over to the trainees’ table with Zhuo Jinglan.
There were seven or eight trainees, with an average age of 15 or 16, the oldest being 20. Almost all of them were Lou Mi’s fans. Seeing their idol sitting next to them with a huge hot pot, they were both excited and touched.
As their manager, Zhuo Jinglan was good at creating a lively atmosphere, telling them not to be nervous, that Sister Lou was just here for a chat, it wasn’t a life-or-death situation.
Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.
“What are you playing?” Lou Mi saw a plate on the table, a rather old one, engraved with patterns and characters she didn’t recognize, with a few red beans scattered on it.
“Jun Jun is telling our fortunes!”
Lou Mi: “Fortune telling?”
Zhuo Jinglan: “You’re going to be professional esports players, and you still believe in superstitions?”
Everyone immediately said: “Jun Jun is very accurate! Really, really! Jun Jun, tell Sister Mi and Sister Lan’s fortunes too!”
Lou Mi had been observing Jun Jun since she sat down.
Jun Jun wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but her features were delicate. Her eyes weren’t large, and she didn’t seem particularly outgoing, but there was an indescribable aura of intelligence about her.
And coincidentally, she also had a faint mole under each eye.
Chi Lin said: “It’s just a little trick I learned online, it’s not to be taken seriously.”
Everyone continued to urge her, saying that she was actually very accurate.
Lou Mi watched her quietly for a moment, then said:
“Tell my fortune. I happen to have something on my mind.”
With their idol’s request, everyone was even more excited. Chi Lin didn’t refuse any longer, asking Lou Mi to give her a word and then scatter the red beans on the plate.
Lou Mi gave the word “Lin,” then scattered the beans.
Everyone knew she and her little sister were close.
So after she gave this word, many of them covered their mouths, secretly enjoying this “Snow Vegetable” CP moment.
Chi Lin analyzed the character “Lin,” relating each component to different positions on the plate, then compared them to the arrangement of the red beans. After a moment of silence, she said:
“Has there been a recent upheaval in your family? Something you can’t resolve?”
Everyone had been expecting some gossip, but instead, she asked such a serious question.
Lou Mi’s gaze intensified: “Yes.”
Chi Lin looked up at her:
“Don’t rely on your eyes, ask your heart.”
Lou Mi’s skin crawled at her words, and she was speechless for a moment.
Zhuo Jinglan cursed inwardly.
She actually got it right? What kind of divine fortune teller was this?!
After Chi Lin told a few more fortunes, and Zhuo Jinglan talked about the second team, as they were about to leave, Lou Mi lingered behind and said to Chi Lin:
“If I have any questions later, can I come to you again?”
Chi Lin said: “I’m always here.”
The sound of laughter still echoed in her ears as the original Chi Lin kicked a trash can by the roadside.
An elderly woman passing by gave her a sideways glance, and the original Chi Lin snapped:
“What are you looking at, you old hag!”
The old woman shook her head and walked away.
The original Chi Lin was about to explode.
What was wrong with Lin Xiaozhi, bringing up her most embarrassing moment? What sword dance?
An hour ago, she had taken the sword and, forcing herself, tried to imitate the movements from the video.
All the expectant gazes turned to stunned silence after she made her first move.
Cursing inwardly, the original Chi Lin poked randomly in the air with the sword. After a dozen pokes, she realized that her lower body was as stiff as a cement pillar.
Gritting her teeth, she rolled on the ground in slow motion. Before she could complete the roll, her head hit the ground, and her body failed to flip over. She flailed her legs in the air like a turtle before collapsing.
Wei Zhuoning: “…”
Everyone: “……”
“Pfft.”
Someone, emboldened, let out a laugh, triggering an eruption of laughter from the crowd.
The laughter almost filled the entire gymnasium. The original Chi Lin scrambled to her feet and saw Teng Jiang, laughing so hard he was crying, among the crowd.
Enraged, she threw the sword to the ground.
Who would have thought that the sword would snap in two upon impact? And with remarkable flexibility, the broken half bounced back and hit her squarely in the forehead, leaving a bright red mark.
Everyone was in hysterics. The original Chi Lin pushed through the crowd and fled the gymnasium.
Standing on the seaside boardwalk, even the sea breeze couldn’t cool the heat in her face.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Just as she was about to kick another trash can, she heard a man’s voice behind her:
“Did you just insult my grandma?”
The original Chi Lin turned around and saw a tall, burly man standing behind her. The elderly woman from before pointed at her:
“It was her!”
The original Chi Lin took off running. The man chased her from the boardwalk to the main road, for two whole blocks.
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