Category: Can We Get Married First? 

Chapter 78p2

Lou Mi slumped on the sofa, staring blankly ahead, like a week-old corpse.

Zhuo Jinglan hadn’t intended to participate in their young people’s love life discussions, but seeing Lou Mi’s distress, she couldn’t help but speak up:

“Give her a break, will you? Don’t scare Lou Mi like this. Isn’t it just a teenage girlfriend throwing a tantrum? Do you have to make such a big deal out of it? Lou Mi, you know your chameleon little sister’s moods change daily. What she was like before, what she’s like now, and what she’ll be like in the future could all be completely different, it’s not surprising at all. Do you expect a 17 or 18-year-old to have a rational reason for being angry? They can have a huge fight with their parents just because their pillow wasn’t where they left it. They’re still immature, wild animals. Lou Mi, I don’t object to you dating, you’re 25, it’s normal. I only have one request, please remember you’re still playing in the World Cup.”

Lou Mi: “Don’t worry, when have I ever neglected my work…”

For a while, no one spoke in the group chat.

Finally, Zhuo Jinglan concluded: “How about we go out for a drink? Just one drink. Talk to us about what’s bothering you. Maybe by the time you get home, your little sister won’t be angry anymore.”

Xie Buyu and the others chimed in: “Yeah, Sister Mi, come out! We’ll all be there!”

Lou Mi: “Okay.”

Lou Mi left around 4 pm. At 6:40 pm, the original Chi Lin returned home.

She took a different taxi and, after making sure the other person wasn’t following her, got in and went home, filled with anxiety.

When she arrived, no one was home. The Lous weren’t there. The original Chi Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

She went to her bedroom and collapsed on the bed. When she woke up, it was already dark, and she heard people talking and moving around outside.

Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan had both been working overtime recently, their dark circles rivaling each other in intensity.

Today, they had finally gotten off work early and had gone to buy their favorite beef to make sukiyaki at home.

“Here, Yuan Yuan, this slice is for you.” Lou Lixing prepared the egg mixture and cooked the beef, waiting on her hand and foot. “You’ve been working so hard lately, you need to nourish yourself.”

Peng Ziyuan picked up another slice, had him open his mouth, and fed him:

“You’ve been working hard too, dear. But you really should delegate some of your work, don’t tire yourself out so much.”

“I’ll finish this project first, it should be done this year.” Lou Lixing held Peng Ziyuan’s hand and gently caressed it. “Next year, when you have time, we can go on a nice trip. Now that the kids are getting along so well and are so considerate, we can finally relax and enjoy ourselves.”

Peng Ziyuan smiled happily, holding Lou Lixing’s arm with both hands:

“After Mi Mi and Little Lin get married, it’ll be our turn.”

Lou Lixing caressed her face, and just as they were about to kiss, they heard rapid, angry footsteps approaching.

When they looked up in surprise, they saw the original Chi Lin grab a wine bottle from the table and smash it into the pot with all her might.

The boiling soup splattered everywhere.

Amidst Peng Ziyuan’s screams, the pot tipped over the edge of the table. If Lou Lixing hadn’t reacted quickly and blocked it, the entire pot would have landed on Peng Ziyuan’s legs.

The back of Lou Lixing’s hand immediately turned red.

Peng Ziyuan’s hair stood on end. Lou Lixing was also bewildered:

“Little Lin, what are you doing…”

Seeing them openly displaying their affection in the living room, the original Chi Lin trembled with rage—

Did they think she was dead?!

Yes, she had died once, but she was back!

“Are you disgusted with yourselves! Disgusted!”

The original Chi Lin was furious.

Everything else was negotiable, but this, she would absolutely not allow!

Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan looked at her in confusion:

“Little Lin, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Don’t scare your mother.”

They didn’t even know why she was upset?

They were doing this in the living room, and they were asking her if she was unwell?

She saw it now, the original Chi Lin realized, how many dirty deeds they had done while she was gone, and they weren’t even bothering to hide it anymore…

Peng Ziyuan took Lou Lixing to wash his burned hand, and after asking Mr. System, she searched the house for burn ointment.

“Peng Ziyuan, what have you done? Are you really together? Didn’t you say you would love me and my dad forever?”

The original Chi Lin followed her, but Peng Ziyuan didn’t respond.

“Peng Ziyuan!”

Despite her shouting, Peng Ziyuan continued searching for the ointment, muttering:

“Where did I put it…”

“Peng Ziyuan!!” The original Chi Lin’s roar made her throat ache as if it were tearing, and her head buzzed.

Peng Ziyuan finally turned around.

“I’m asking you something!” The original Chi Lin grabbed Peng Ziyuan’s hand. “Answer me! Are you going back on your word? You liar, what kind of mother are you!”

Lou Lixing came out after washing his hand and saw them struggling. He quickly stepped forward to separate them:

“Don’t do this, Little Lin. Whatever it is, talk it out calmly. Don’t pull your mother.”

The original Chi Lin turned to Lou Lixing and yelled:

“You have no right to speak here! Get out!!”

Lou Lixing was taken aback but didn’t leave.

Rage surged through the original Chi Lin, and she dragged Peng Ziyuan away.

“What are you doing?” Lou Lixing grabbed her arm.

“Get your filthy hands off me! Where we go is none of your business!”

The original Chi Lin struggled violently. Lou Lixing noticed that she was incredibly strong, not like a young girl should be.

They were in a stalemate. The original Chi Lin, realizing that her strength was completely different from before, that she could actually contend with a grown man, grew increasingly excited.

“Little Lin, sit down and listen to your mother first.” Even though Peng Ziyuan was usually fearless, able to knock a stranger’s head off with a single kick, she couldn’t bring herself to say a harsh word to her own daughter.

“No! I won’t listen to your bullshit! I’ve been tricked by your lies enough! You said you would love me and my dad forever! And now what!” The original Chi Lin let go of Lou Lixing and grabbed Peng Ziyuan’s collar. “You’re a liar, a bitch! You don’t deserve to be…”

Lou Lixing’s slap cut off her rant.

Caught off guard by the slap, the original Chi Lin loosened her grip. Lou Lixing seized the opportunity to pull Peng Ziyuan behind him.

The original Chi Lin’s face burned. She covered her cheek and stared at Lou Lixing.

Lou Lixing hadn’t expected to actually hit her: “I’m sorry, I…”

The original Chi Lin turned and ran out of the apartment, ignoring Peng Ziyuan’s calls.

Lou Lixing held Peng Ziyuan back: “Don’t go after her yet, let her calm down, or there will be another conflict. I’ll call Mi Mi.”

Lou Lixing frowned as he made the call, muttering, “How could this happen?”

Peng Ziyuan watched her daughter’s fleeing figure from the window. Her gaze flickered, then fell to the floor. She bit her lower lip gently.

Consumed by shame and anger, the original Chi Lin only realized after running out that she was in her pajamas, without anything, not even her phone.

She had to leave tonight, no matter what. She couldn’t stay in this virus-ridden house!

But first, she needed to get her phone.

She planned to take the garage elevator back up to the living room. The elevator opened around a corner, so as long as she was quick enough, those two wouldn’t see her.

Reaching the garage, the system scanned her face and prompted:

[Family Member: Chi Lin access granted]

The original Chi Lin glanced back at the light blue arc projected on the wall and entered the elevator.

After quickly grabbing her phone and bag from the apartment and returning to the garage, she noticed an extra car compared to when she was last here.

She approached it and tried the door. It unlocked, and the system greeted her.

This was indeed her car.

Getting in, the original Chi Lin opened the map app, but she didn’t know where to go.

She missed home, missed Jun Jun’s parents.

But she was unwilling to go back just yet.

Scrolling through her phone aimlessly, she suddenly thought of someone.

She opened WeChat and found “Peach Blossom Pool” in her blacklist.

“What, she smashed the pot? And now she’s run away?”

Lou Mi, in the middle of chatting with her teammates, received her father’s call, which sounded like a joke.

After a moment of stunned silence, confirming that her father wasn’t kidding, Lou Mi immediately grabbed her bag, paid the bill, and said goodbye to everyone:

“Sorry, everyone, something came up at home, I have to go. Let’s chat another time.”

Before anyone could respond, Lou Mi had already disappeared through the door.

“I’m a little worried about Sister Mi.” Fu Tu and the others had heard Lou Mi’s brief replies on the phone. Although she hadn’t mentioned who it was about, given her distress, who else could it be but her temperamental little sister?

Xie Buyu, propping her chin on her hand, was unusually lost in thought.

“Alright, stop overthinking it.” Zhuo Jinglan looked at her tablet, reviewing the profiles of the new trainees sent by the club. “Lou Mi is an adult, she has to deal with her own problems, no matter how difficult. Once she pushes through this, she’ll be truly mature. By the way, come back to the club with me.”

“Huh?”

Zhuo Jinglan’s words made everyone present raise an eyebrow: “It’s so late. Didn’t you say today was a rest day? Why are we going back to the club?”

“Old Lin said there’s a prodigy among the new trainees today. A 17-year-old girl, zero years of esports experience, but she dominated a bunch of experienced trainees in the simulation match.”

Zhuo Jinglan showed them the new trainee’s profile.

“Jun Jun? Never heard of her.”

“17 years old, but she looks so mature and composed?”

“She’s kind of cute.”

“Let’s go, let’s go back and have a look…”

Chapter 78p1

After separating from her classmates, the original Chi Lin quickly hailed a taxi. After glancing around, she hopped in.

Just as the automatic door was about to close, Chi Lin rushed forward and blocked it.

Seeing “Jun Jun,” seeing the body she had inhabited for several months suddenly appear before her in another form, the original Chi Lin was as if she’d seen a ghost. She gripped the door, trying with all her might to close it.

But the door seemed stuck. No matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge.

A few classmates from Class 6 were walking towards them. Panicked, the original Chi Lin hissed:

“I’m the real Chi Lin!”

Chi Lin got into the taxi and closed the door. The original Chi Lin shrank back to the other side:

“What do you want?!”

“I can give up being Chi Lin, but I have only one request.” Chi Lin looked into her eyes. “Don’t hurt your family.”

Unexpectedly, the other girl’s lips twitched. She chuckled:

“Don’t worry. Why would I hurt them? Could I even hurt them? It’s more likely they’ll hurt me. You’re the scary one. What are you? Why did you steal my body?”

“Who I am isn’t important, but I did occupy your body for a while to accomplish something very important to me, to my time. Please forgive me.”

“Forgive you? You occupied my body, used my name for so long, and a ‘forgive me’ is all it takes?” The original Chi Lin continued to probe, trying to find this person’s bottom line.

She had already opened the car door behind her a crack. If the other person showed any sign of anger, she would bolt out of the taxi immediately.

Chi Lin still showed no anger, not even looking at the original Chi Lin. She just stared out the front window at the South Lake Third High students passing by.

“If you ever need my help in the future, I’ll do everything in my power to assist you.” Chi Lin gave her a small salute. “But please promise me what I just asked of you.”

The original Chi Lin scrutinized her: “Did you time-travel from another era?”

Chi Lin: “I can’t disclose the details yet.”

“Can you go back to your own time? Don’t you know you’ve completely messed up my life? I never want to see you again. Don’t appear in front of me again, or I’ll call the police and tell them about your identity, and they’ll take you away for experiments. I mean it!”

Saying this, the original Chi Lin hurriedly got out of the car and ran a few steps. Looking back, she saw Chi Lin still sitting in the taxi, those frightening eyes still fixed on her, making her legs weak as she ran…

Seeing the original Chi Lin run off, Chi Lin didn’t chase after her.

The purpose of this conversation was to get a feel for what kind of person this girl was.

Just as she expected, a child.

When Chi Lin arrived in this era and temporarily borrowed her body, she had speculated about where the original soul had gone.

When she woke up in Jun Jun’s body, she had her answer.

The Soul-Chasing Secret Art had allowed her to occupy the original Chi Lin’s body, while the original Chi Lin went to another body.

The clues connecting them seemed to be the moles under their eyes and the birthmarks on the backs of their necks.

Chi Lin had anticipated the original Chi Lin’s eventual return, but not at this moment.

The dizziness and blurred vision from yesterday, now that she thought about it, felt like the process of her soul separating from the body.

Her physical condition had been stable before, with no similar symptoms. Why had she suddenly separated from the body?

Was it related to the bug that bit her yesterday?

She had just connected Her Majesty with Lou Mi and was about to delve into her past life memories when she encountered a bigger problem.

The Imperial Preceptor wasn’t by her side and might even be deceased. Chi Lin, who knew nothing about the Soul-Chasing Secret Art, couldn’t return to her previous body and didn’t feel right about trying.

After all, it originally belonged to someone else. Now that the original owner was back, she had no right to force the issue.

Which body she used wasn’t important.

As long as her soul remained, Chi Lin of Dayuan, Chi Lin of Her Majesty, still existed.

Even as Jun Jun, she was confident she could thrive here.

However, she had another pressing concern.

She worried about Lou Mi.

Last night, she had reached the subway station and, with the AI’s help, found out her current location.

Jun Jun’s home was in the suburbs, over 40 kilometers away from Longrun Gardens. A taxi fare would definitely exceed the cash she had.

With no other choice, Chi Lin ran towards the city center.

After running a little over a kilometer, this body was already out of breath, forcing her to switch to walking.

Chi Lin was truly astonished.

Her previous body had already been quite out of shape, but this one was even worse, weak and unable to run.

Chi Lin walked briskly, using the AI kiosks at the subway stations to check the map and ensure she wasn’t going in the wrong direction.

After walking all night, she finally reached the outskirts of the city. Cold and hungry, she found a breakfast place to fill her stomach.

While eating, she noticed a small shop across the street that bought and sold used phones. After finishing her meal, Chi Lin went over and asked if they had any cheap phones for sale.

She bought an old smartphone for 50 yuan. It was very slow, but it didn’t matter, as long as it could make calls.

She needed to call Lou Mi, but she couldn’t reveal the whole truth directly.

Even if she did, imagine Lou Mi suddenly receiving a call from a stranger rambling nonsense. How could she possibly believe it? She might even block the number, wasting Chi Lin’s effort.

Chi Lin had already thought of a way to subtly give her some hints, but Lou Mi didn’t even answer the call.

Chi Lin sent her a text message instead, clutching her phone as she rode the earliest bus, waiting for Lou Mi’s reply.

The worst-case scenario: Lou Mi didn’t reply.

Chi Lin suspected that Lou Mi hadn’t even read the message, or had already blocked the number that “harassed” her…

Meeting Lou Mi wouldn’t be easy. Given her fame, it wasn’t as if just anyone could see her.

Therefore, Chi Lin decided to find the original Chi Lin first and assess the situation.

Before, Chi Lin wouldn’t have worried. The original Chi Lin would have been no match for Lou Mi.

But now things were different…

After months of living together, Chi Lin understood that Lou Mi was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, especially protective and accommodating towards those she cared about.

The original Chi Lin, however, harbored an innate hostility towards the Lou family. She hated Peng Ziyuan, blaming her for the divorce that destroyed their once harmonious family.

The fact that the original Chi Lin claimed her father was dead, rather than abroad, showed how much she resented her parents’ divorce.

After Peng Ziyuan started dating Lou Lixing, the original Chi Lin extended her hatred to both him and Lou Mi.

Chi Lin knew how antagonistic the original Chi Lin had been towards Lou Mi from the things she’d heard since arriving.

The original Chi Lin had even written on her private Weibo: “Lou Mi could never like me from the start, that’s why I hate her even more.”

She had a certain aggression towards Lou Mi.

It was hard to imagine how the current Lou Mi, so doting and tolerant of her “little sister Chi Lin,” would be treated by the original Chi Lin who loathed her.

Thinking of the possible scenarios, of Lou Mi’s heartbroken expression, Chi Lin’s heart ached.

No.

No matter what, she had to find a way to see Lou Mi.

It was a rest day, but Lou Mi wasn’t relaxing.

After Chi Lin left, she spent the entire afternoon curled up on the sofa, scrolling through her phone, searching:

“What to do when your girlfriend is angry.”

The answers online were varied, but Lou Mi summarized them as basically apologizing, giving gifts, and acting cute.

Feeling that wasn’t enough, she went to the Nine Heavens team’s WeChat group to seek advice from those with more experience.

“Huh? You made your little sister angry?” Xie Buyu was the first to respond, with a look of amusement.

Fu Tu was serious: “Sister Mi, the key to apologizing is sincerity. You have to first understand what you did wrong. Tell us what you did, and we’ll analyze it.”

After thinking for a long time, Lou Mi mentioned the possibly cold WeChat message from yesterday.

“Uh…” Fu Tu pondered for a while. “That’s enough to get her angry? I don’t get it.”

Xie Buyu said: “Sister Mi, think again. Is there anything else? You know you, you have a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and when you’re being stubborn, it’s really hard to deal with. Did you say something to your little sister?”

Lou Mi: “I didn’t!”

Lou Mi felt truly wronged.

How could she say anything to her? She wouldn’t even dare to breathe too hard on her.

“Think harder! Go over every detail from yesterday and today!”

Lou Mi racked her brain: “Well, this morning, she asked me to comb her hair, and I might have pulled a little too hard, hurting her?”

Fu Tu: “…She even asked you to comb her hair? How spoiled.”

Xie Buyu: “What do you know? This is romance, romance!”

Speaking of romance, Lou Mi remembered something else:

“Later, I tried to kiss her, and she resisted. Does that count?”

“Huh? Resisted? You haven’t kissed before?” Xie Buyu didn’t believe it.

“We have…”

“Then there you have it!” Xie Buyu, sitting on her sofa at home, almost smashed the coffee table in front of her. “You’ve already kissed, what’s there to resist?!”

Huhu, who had been silent, spoke: “Sister Mi, how did your little sister resist? Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand? Maybe she was playing hard to get?”

Huhu’s words offered a new perspective: “It’s possible, maybe that’s the romance, and our Sister Mi didn’t realize it, thinking it was a real rejection.”

Lou Mi touched her now-scabbed lip, which still hurt:

“It wasn’t playing hard to get.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“When I tried to kiss her, she headbutted my mouth.”

Everyone: “??”

Xie Buyu: “That bloody?!”

Fu Tu: “It’s over, it seems like a full-blown rejection.”

Huhu didn’t dare to speak again. Who would have thought his words would bring the conversation to a dead end?

 

Chapter 77

Today was the day to return to school – a reminder from her phone’s calendar.

Chi Lin hadn’t planned on going out, but she couldn’t stay in this house any longer.

Why did she have to switch back?

Why?

Wouldn’t it have been better to just let her die?

Chi Lin grabbed her bag and left, head down. Given her personality, she wouldn’t have even considered going to school today.

But she was back, back in her own body for some reason, and she didn’t know for how long.

Her mind felt foggy. She wanted to analyze the current situation but couldn’t figure out where to start, so she just walked towards school out of habit.

South Lake Third High, she was back.

Chi Lin had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t washed her face, brushed her teeth, or combed her hair. She was still wearing her pajamas under her school uniform, looking disheveled.

She didn’t care. Dragging her feet, she walked inside and saw a familiar figure up ahead.

Liu Huixin.

Damn, what bad luck.

Chi Lin felt a surge of nausea.

The first classmate she encountered after returning was her. What an inexplicable fate.

Back then, if she hadn’t been so friendless, she wouldn’t have hung out with Liu Huixin.

She knew that Liu Huixin treated her like a sidekick. She also knew that Liu Huixin didn’t consider her a true friend, but who wasn’t using whom?

Chi Lin just wanted someone to kill time with, so she wouldn’t be too awkward when paired up for activities.

“Hey—” Chi Lin called out Liu Huixin’s name in a listless drawl.

Liu Huixin, who had been walking perfectly fine, abruptly stopped at the sound, almost falling.

“What?” Chi Lin walked up to her, grinning. “Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

Liu Huixin looked at her as if she had seen a ghost, backing away repeatedly, terrified:

“Stay away from me!”

Chi Lin: “Huh?”

“You’ve already ruined my life. What more do you want from me?!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Thanks to you, I lost my scholarship! I can’t even hope for a top university anymore. Now I just want to get into a regular university peacefully. Can you please stop bothering me?”

With that, Liu Huixin ran off. Chi Lin called after her several times, but she didn’t respond.

What was going on…?

Chi Lin was confused. Had she fallen out with Liu Huixin?

Even though she hadn’t liked Liu Huixin to begin with, now that Liu Huixin had run off, wouldn’t she be alone again?

Damn… Chi Lin cursed the person who had transmigrated into her body.

She had seen her “own” glorious deeds online and had even secretly returned to observe the current “Chi Lin.”

The Chi Lin borrowing her body had dolled herself up, looking utterly nauseating.

She didn’t miss her old life at all. If it meant getting rid of her disgusting mother and the Lou family, she would be overjoyed!

Although her new family wasn’t wealthy, at least they were an original couple, a complete family.

Most importantly, her parents didn’t interfere with her life at all. She could do whatever she wanted.

What could be better than this in life?

A few months ago, in an internet cafe booth, she had swallowed a popular suicide pill.

The pill was said to be colorless and tasteless, allowing one to die painlessly in their sleep.

Similar to euthanasia.

Chi Lin had long felt that life was meaningless and hadn’t hesitated at all when she decided to commit suicide. She just swallowed the pill.

Unexpectedly, she didn’t die, but instead transmigrated into the body of a girl named Jun Jun.

This Jun Jun, a first-year high school student, had been slapped by two senior girls and pushed down a flight of stairs in a stairwell, falling to her death.

When Chi Lin transmigrated, she stood up, covered in blood, scaring the wits out of the senior girls who were panicking over her apparent death.

Later, she discovered that she had miraculously transmigrated. Following the clues from various items in the school bag, she returned to the unfamiliar home to investigate.

Fortunately, this home was complete, with both parents present.

The more she stayed in this home, the more comfortable she felt.

Her parents were both factory workers, working from dawn till dusk. They returned home close to midnight and had no time to supervise her.

They gave her 100 yuan every day, and she could eat whatever she wanted. She could eat instant noodles for a whole month, and no one would say a word because no one would even notice.

Her biological father had spoiled her like this too. After her parents divorced, her mother had made her life too suffocating, too unbearable.

When she heard about Chi Lin from South Lake Third High becoming famous online, she knew that after her soul left, someone else had taken over her body.

Secretly observing the current Chi Lin’s life, she was amused.

What a sucker, to be so unlucky as to transmigrate into a blended family with a pro-gamer goddess for a stepsister.

How much pressure would she face in the future?

She would probably always live in Lou Mi’s shadow.

Peng Ziyuan would look down on her, Lou Mi would look down on her, the whole world would look down on her.

Chi Lin was delighted – I’m finally free!

During her time as Jun Jun, Chi Lin had gained 15 jin, and her parents hadn’t even noticed.

She skipped classes, fought, smoked, and was close to trying drugs. Teachers visited her home five hundred times, but her parents remained indifferent.

Perfect.

The 17-year-old Chi Lin loved these parents.

After that, Chi Lin stopped paying attention to her former self, barely even using her phone or computer.

She got a boyfriend and spent her days hanging out with his friends, living a life of drunken revelry.

She never expected to transmigrate back…

Walking towards the teaching building, Chi Lin’s mind was filled with thoughts of how to reunite with her boyfriend.

Would anyone believe her if she said she had transmigrated?

Or should she swallow another suicide pill and see if she could switch back?

Lost in thought, Chi Lin saw Xu Yifang, Liu Huixin’s friend.

“Hey.” Chi Lin hurried over to her, hoping to find out from Xu Yifang what had happened between her and Liu Huixin.

To her surprise, Xu Yifang also reacted as if she had seen a ghost, running away in terror without giving her a chance to speak.

Chi Lin: “…”

What had the person in her body done?

Everyone was so afraid of her. Wasn’t she even worse off than before?

Chi Lin continued to curse the person in her body. She saw Teng Jiang, the school heartthrob from Class 1, and a group of boys from the basketball team walking towards her, chatting and laughing. Chi Lin didn’t dare to look directly at them, intending to walk around them and steal a few glances.

“Hey—Chi Lin!” Unexpectedly, Teng Jiang greeted her, and the group surrounded her.

Chi Lin trembled in surprise: “Wh-what do you want?”

Teng Jiang’s “national first love” face smiled, as handsome as Chi Lin remembered:

“I wouldn’t dare to do anything. I just haven’t seen you for a whole winter break, and I missed you.”

Chi Lin: “??”

Say that again, who did you miss?!

“What’s with the look today? Quite unique.” Teng Jiang examined Chi Lin’s messy hair and laughed. “But you look good no matter what. I have a match at the gym this afternoon. Come watch if you have time. I know you probably won’t, but the first row VIP seat is always yours.”

After Teng Jiang finished speaking, his teammates booed him loudly.

He seemed sincere, pushing away a few of them who were teasing him, and looked back at Chi Lin with a smile as he walked away.

Chi Lin was so stunned she couldn’t react for a while.

What was going on?! The school heartthrob was being affectionate with her?

Entering her senior year, the classroom hadn’t changed, just the sign on the door.

As Chi Lin stepped out of the elevator, Wei Zhuoning and Lin Xiaozhi happened to be on their way to the restroom, meeting her face to face.

Wei Zhuoning was about to greet her when she noticed that Chi Lin didn’t glance at them at all, as if she hadn’t seen them.

They passed each other, and Wei Zhuoning was utterly confused.

“What’s wrong with her?” Wei Zhuoning said. “Why didn’t Lin acknowledge me?”

Lin Xiaozhi watched Chi Lin’s retreating figure, pondered her attire and appearance, and then suddenly smiled:

“This is interesting.”

Wei Zhuoning: “Huh?”

Chi Lin, habitually walking with her head down, bumped into someone.

Damn it, who walks without looking!

Chi Lin cursed inwardly, then looked up and saw Gao Xiang.

Gao Xiang was 1.85 meters tall and was said to know many people in the underworld, often getting into knife fights.

Chi Lin’s boyfriend was similar, although slightly less intimidating. So far, she hadn’t witnessed the spectacle of a group fight, so she was still afraid of Gao Xiang.

Just as she was about to shrink past him, he grabbed her.

Chi Lin’s heart sank. Was she going to get beaten up as soon as she returned? …How unlucky.

“Did you bring them?” Gao Xiang’s face came close.

“Bring… bring what?”

“Your sister’s private photos!” Gao Xiang’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Sister?”

“Sister Lou!” Gao Xiang hissed, looking at her sideways. “Stingy, what’s wrong with one photo? It’s not like Sister Lou will lose a piece of flesh.”

“Come on, Gao Xiang, stop playing dumb. Don’t you know Little Lin and Sister Lou are dating? How could she possibly give them to you?” Sha Xinyu, passing by, chided Gao Xiang.

Chi Lin was dumbfounded – Dating? Lou Mi?!

Gao Xiang snorted: “I don’t care. Even if they’re dating, it’s with Lou Mi, but HighTowerMiyuki still belongs to all of us fans. Chi Lin, you’re really not being cool. It’s just one photo… Tell me, what do you want in exchange? As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do it, no questions asked!”

Gao Xiang didn’t cause her any trouble, but instead lingered around her.

Chi Lin finally managed to break free from him and found her seat with her name on it.

As soon as she sat down, Dong Xiangwen, from the seat diagonally behind her, tossed her a bag of snacks.

Chi Lin turned around in surprise.

“Try it, the newest spicy flavor. Yes, the one that’s sold out everywhere in the supermarkets.”

Chi Lin: “…”

Ms. Qi arrived, and the class meeting officially began.

When Lin Xiaozhi sat next to Chi Lin, Chi Lin felt very uncomfortable.

As Lin Xiaozhi opened her tablet, she asked Chi Lin:

“How did you feel after you got home yesterday?”

Chi Lin mumbled “uh” and brushed it off.

“It’s all Zhuoning’s fault for giving you her cold. Are you feeling better today?”

Chi Lin’s lips twitched. She was never comfortable around beautiful people; it made her feel inferior and awkward.

“What’s with your hair? It’s so messy.” Lin Xiaozhi continued to ask. “I’m definitely going to scold Zhuoning later for what she did.”

“I’m fine…” Chi Lin finally spoke, forced by the situation. “It’s not like she meant to infect me.”

After hearing her words, Lin Xiaozhi studied her face for a moment, then nodded knowingly and stopped talking.

Ms. Qi summarized Class 6’s overall performance last semester, analyzed the average scores for each subject and their ranking within the grade, and most importantly, sounded the alarm.

“You are now officially senior year students. I think you understand better than I do what senior year means, so I won’t dwell on it. From now on, you need to focus all your energy on striving for the most important year of your lives…”

After saying she wouldn’t dwell on it, Ms. Qi continued to talk for over 40 minutes without pausing for breath.

After the summary and outlook, Ms. Qi suddenly called out Chi Lin’s name:

“Everyone should learn from Chi Lin. Look at her, she went from being last in the class to catching up and reaching the middle range! I believe if she works a little harder, she can soon reach the first-tier university admission scores! As you all know, during the final exams last semester, Chi Lin was delayed in reviewing other subjects because of a bet. I still have to criticize you for this. You can’t neglect any subject, and don’t make bets with others on a whim. Your academic performance is your own, not something to be used for petty squabbles. Of course, putting that aside, because of this incident, our class’s average English score ranked first among all the regular classes, something that has never happened before. I know you all like Chi Lin, so make appointments to study together more often. This is the power of idols and role models! I hope that in the final year of your middle school, you can all apply the same effort you put into English to all subjects, striving for first place in both sections! Do you have confidence?!”

Dong Xiangwen was the first to answer: “No—!”

The whole class burst into laughter and banged on their desks. Ms. Qi pointed at him: “You’re the only one with a mouth! Do you want to be sent out to stand in the hallway on the first day back?”

Chi Lin found this Class 6 unfamiliar.

When she was still here, Class 6 was lifeless, at the bottom of the rankings in all subjects, the class everyone considered a dumpster fire.

As a member of the trash heap, Chi Lin had been quite comfortable.

But what was with this harmonious atmosphere now?

First in average English score?

From what Ms. Qi said, it seemed this was because of a bet she made?

Chi Lin couldn’t imagine what had happened…

Ms. Qi laughed three times after every sentence. This wasn’t the homeroom teacher she knew.

But…

Sha Xinyu secretly sent her a WeChat message. Chi Lin opened it:

“Your hair is so messy, I’ll help you comb it later!”

Followed by a cute bunny emoji.

Chi Lin’s heart skipped a beat.

Ms. Qi paused the class meeting halfway through for a break. Sha Xinyu really came over and combed her hair, even gently adjusting her uniform collar.

“That’s better.” Sha Xinyu smiled at her warmly.

Chi Lin had always thought Sha Xinyu was cute, but she had never imagined talking to her.

Chi Lin went downstairs to the convenience store to buy a Coke, hoping to calm her nerves. Someone quietly came up and put their arm around her, whispering in her ear:

“I didn’t expect to run into my cute little Shifu just by casually strolling around my alma mater. This is fate, this is destiny.”

Chi Lin turned around with difficulty. The person behind her was so close that she almost kissed them.

Tan Luo?

That popular senior?

Chi Lin froze. Noticing her reaction, Tan Luo, whose scar on her nose bridge throbbed faintly, immediately stepped back with a smile, retreating to a safe distance:

“Still so fierce after all these days, how scary.”

A hundred trucks seemed to rumble through Chi Lin’s mind, shaking her to the core.

No way… Did she have a thing with Senior Tan Luo too?

Senior Tan Luo was her first love, someone she only dared to admire from afar.

Tan Luo’s embrace had left Chi Lin speechless and flustered, her stunned silence likely misinterpreted as seriousness.

“It really was a coincidence, you have to believe me.”

After starting university, Tan Luo had shed her high school uniform. In her casual clothes, she looked even more alluring. Her smile almost made Chi Lin faint.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore, or this pretty face of mine will get bruised again.” Tan Luo pointed to the scar on her nose with a pink fingertip. “I’m back at school for some business today. Shifu, are you here for the return to school day?”

Shifu? What kind of strange roleplay was this?

Were they playing games now?

Chi Lin pondered how to prolong her time with the goddess, who then said:

“I’ll come find you after school tomorrow to get the antidote, okay?”

“Mm…” Chi Lin unconsciously began to maintain a certain assumed persona.

“Take me off your blacklist, okay?” Tan Luo said, smiling, and left.

Chi Lin stood alone outside the convenience store for a long time, trying to process everything.

Everyone seemed to like her.

Everyone seemed to be infatuated with her.

This feeling was really…

Chi Lin took a deep breath.

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing!

Chi Lin chugged a large bottle of Coke, trying to suppress her excitement. Humming, she walked towards the teaching building.

Lin Xiaozhi, standing in a corner on the second floor, had witnessed the entire interaction between Chi Lin and Tan Luo.

“What’s wrong?” Wei Zhuoning had run two blocks to buy Lin Xiaozhi her favorite chestnut cake from a particular bakery. When she returned, excited, she found Lin Xiaozhi sitting on the stairs leading to the rooftop, looking troubled.

Seeing Wei Zhuoning’s worried and sincere face, Lin Xiaozhi smiled and said:

“I get unhappy when I can’t see you, even for a moment.”

Wei Zhuoning hopped over to her like a little bunny and sat down, holding up the cake:

“I went to buy you a treat, see?”

“It’s hard to get this, the lines are always so long. How did you manage to buy it?”

“I got a number when I came to school this afternoon. It was my turn just now. Aren’t I clever?”

“Yes, yes, our Zhuoning is the cleverest.”

Sensing that Lin Xiaozhi still had something on her mind, Wei Zhuoning didn’t ask directly, choosing to stay by her side quietly.

While eating the chestnut cake, Wei Zhuoning tried to guess what could be bothering Lin Xiaozhi…

Lin Xiaozhi looked at her dazed profile, thinking, this silly girl would never guess that I’m complaining about her being slow.

After the class meeting, Chi Lin, Sha Xinyu, Gao Xiang, and the others walked out of school together, chatting happily along the way.

A familiar figure suddenly appeared in her peripheral vision. Chi Lin looked towards the bushes near the school gate.

Jun Jun…

Chi Lin gasped. Sha Xinyu asked her:

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing…”

Chi Lin forced a smile and quickened her pace, leaving quickly.

 

Chapter 76

“Jun Jun, dinner’s ready!”

Chi Lin was lost in thought in front of the mirror when a middle-aged woman’s voice came from outside.

Jun Jun?

Chi Lin pushed open the wooden bedroom door and looked out. A middle-aged couple sat at the dining table, shoveling food into their mouths. The clock on the wall showed 12:05.

It was dark outside, so it definitely wasn’t noon.

Eating a full meal of hearty dishes in the middle of the night, the two figures with their backs to her made loud eating noises in the dimly lit room. The eerie feeling intensified.

Chi Lin hesitated. Should she leave the room immediately and go to Longrun Gardens to find Lou Mi, or should she stay put and calmly investigate the situation?

The woman who had called out, after a bout of enthusiastic eating and sniffling, realized the person she called hadn’t come. She looked back and saw half of Chi Lin’s head peeking out from the crack in the door.

“Jun Jun, come on.” The woman tapped her chopsticks on a serving dish. “The food’s getting cold!”

The woman spoke with a thick local accent. Her face was bare, devoid of any makeup. Her dry, frizzy hair was tied carelessly behind her head, and her hairline was receding.

Chi Lin stepped out of the room and sat on the empty chair between the couple.

A bowl of rice had already been served for her. The stainless-steel bowl was comparable in size to a large soup bowl at Lou Mi’s house.

Chi Lin glanced at the three dishes on the table: spicy shredded cabbage, spicy shredded potatoes, and spicy twice-cooked pork.

She picked up her chopsticks and ate quietly, blending into her current role while discreetly observing the two people eating with her.

The couple were focused on the food in their bowls, occasionally sniffling from the spiciness.

These two were presumably Jun Jun’s parents, around fifty years old, overweight, with an unnaturally pale complexion.

Based on Chi Lin’s observations of this era, she deduced they were likely ordinary factory workers.

Due to working indoors year-round without sunlight or much exercise, and having late shifts followed by binge eating after returning home, they had become what they were now.

After quickly finishing a large bowl of rice, the woman leaned back in her chair, burped loudly, and picked up a toothpick.

While picking her teeth, she turned to Chi Lin and suddenly yanked her hair:

“Look what you’ve done to your hair.”

The tug actually hurt.

Chi Lin hadn’t expected such rudeness, and she couldn’t just pry the woman’s hand away.

She didn’t know how this Jun Jun usually interacted with this couple, and not wanting to expose herself yet, she simply leaned back slightly in protest.

The woman didn’t seem to notice and urged her to eat quickly.

Chi Lin had no appetite. She picked at her food a bit and said she was finished.

“That’s all you’re eating?” The man put down his chopsticks and glared at Chi Lin questioningly.

Chi Lin didn’t say anything and quickly ate half a bowl of rice. The couple were finally satisfied and began clearing the table.

After taking the dishes to the kitchen, the woman started washing them, and the man went to the balcony to smoke.

Hearing the man yawn loudly, Chi Lin knew this was her chance to escape.

She told the woman: “I’m going to bed.”

The woman didn’t turn around and simply replied, “Oh.” Chi Lin returned to her room, locked the door, and started looking for a phone.

She knew that to navigate this era, a smartphone was an essential key.

Whether it was calling a taxi or making payments, she couldn’t do without a phone.

But after searching the room twice, from the desk to the bed, checking every possible place, she found no trace of a phone.

Chi Lin felt suffocated: Could this girl not have a phone?

Impossible. In this era, you couldn’t even leave the house without a phone.

Finally, she found two hundred yuan in a jacket in the closet. Chi Lin had to make do with that for now.

Having understood from a young age that “taking without asking is stealing,” Chi Lin apologized to Jun Jun while putting the money in her pocket, promising to return it double later.

Chi Lin quietly opened the window. The cold wind immediately rushed in, giving her goosebumps.

This place was completely different from the temperature-controlled Longrun Gardens. It was cold and dark, surrounded by bare tree branches and overflowing garbage bins.

High-rise buildings stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a massive complex.

Scattered lights made it look like a modern civilization built from matchboxes, cramped and narrow. The cold air was filled with a strange odor, and occasionally, the roar of motorcycles racing down the road could be heard.

Chi Lin glanced down. It was high up, at least eight stories.

She had practiced martial arts since childhood and had excellent Qinggong skills, but jumping directly from this height would definitely break her legs.

However, for some reason, the windows of the apartments two floors below were all enclosed in metal cages.

Using the cages, Chi Lin successfully climbed down to the ground.

Wearing a thin, uninsulating jacket, she walked outside, knowing she needed to figure out where she was.

There was no phone, no computer, and no System in the bedroom. Chi Lin decided to try her luck outside.

She had prepared herself for a conversation with the community security guard, thinking up a bunch of excuses for being out so late. When she reached the community gate, she realized there was no security guard…

Although she didn’t know why, she was no longer “Chi Lin,” but Jun Jun.

Seeing the original Chi Lin’s favorite Nori the Demon Child doll in Jun Jun’s bedroom, along with her moles and birthmark, Chi Lin had a theory.

A few months ago, when she entered the original Chi Lin’s body, the original soul had transmigrated into this Jun Jun’s body.

And now, Chi Lin had become Jun Jun. So where was the original Chi Lin?

Unsure of the original Chi Lin’s condition, she had to go back and find out.

Chi Lin hurried along the main road for over half an hour in the middle of the night, kicking aside a few unsavory thugs, before finally spotting a subway sign in the distance.

The subway station was closed, but she went to the entrance to look for the station name and a map, and also discovered a functioning AI kiosk.

As Chi Lin approached, the AI automatically spoke, asking if she needed any assistance, in a very familiar voice.

Excellent, it was Mr. System! Chi Lin almost burst into tears of relief.

Early in the morning, Peng Ziyuan got up and went to knock on Chi Lin’s bedroom door with a cup of hot water.

She knocked softly a few times, but there was no response. Chi Lin was probably still asleep.

Peng Ziyuan was a little worried. She glanced at the key in the lock, wondering if she should just go in.

Previously, Chi Lin never left the key in the lock. After entering her room, she would lock the door and refuse to talk to anyone in the family.

Recently, her personality had become much more cheerful. She didn’t even hide her key anymore, and sometimes even left the door open. Peng Ziyuan could chat with her daughter whenever she came over.

Perhaps the recent improvement in their mother-daughter relationship had made Peng Ziyuan bolder.

In the past, she would never have considered opening the door directly, unless she wanted to trigger another family war.

“Auntie.” Lou Mi came from the kitchen, also holding a thermos. “Chi Lin is probably still asleep.”

It was ten minutes to six, and Lou Mi was already awake.

“Mi Mi, you’re also worried about Little Lin, getting up so early.”

Lou Mi sighed silently: “I didn’t sleep last night.”

“Ah… we’re all worried about Little Lin. I wonder how she is now.” Peng Ziyuan was anxious and had a headache. “What happened exactly?”

Lou Mi recounted how Chi Lin had suddenly developed a fever while watching the match yesterday. Peng Ziyuan became even more worried:

“She had a fever all night?”

“After we got back, I gave her some medicine. Her fever subsided in the latter half of the night, and she slept soundly. I thought she’d probably sleep until noon.”

Hearing this, Peng Ziyuan felt slightly relieved.

She hadn’t expected Lou Mi, who usually seemed carefree and indifferent, to take such good care of Little Lin. Peng Ziyuan couldn’t help but fantasize about their loving married life…

“Isn’t today the day to return to school?” Lou Mi asked Peng Ziyuan.

“Yes, but it’s not that important, it’s just to listen to the teachers drone on.” Peng Ziyuan, having been through it herself, understood the school’s routines. “It still depends on Little Lin’s condition. If she’s still not feeling well later, she shouldn’t go back to school this afternoon. I’ll call her homeroom teacher.”

“I think so too,” Lou Mi said. “I don’t know why she suddenly got a fever. It’s better for her to stay home and rest until it’s completely gone before going back to school.”

While they were talking, Lou Mi’s phone kept vibrating.

Peng Ziyuan: “Mi Mi, aren’t you going to answer?”

“I don’t know where these harassing calls are coming from. They’ve been calling since last night. I’ve already blocked several numbers, and they still manage to call from different ones.”

Lou Mi took her phone out of her pajama pocket and glanced at it. It was another unknown number.

Her phone number had been leaked several times. Every time she accidentally answered, she was either sexually harassed or verbally abused. Since then, she never answered calls from unknown numbers.

She didn’t even read text messages. People who knew her would contact her through WeChat. Text messages had become a breeding ground for harassment and spam.

It seemed this number would have to be retired as well.

Lou Mi was annoyed. The people who sold her phone number were so irritating. Didn’t they know how troublesome it was to change phone numbers?

After several consecutive days of matches, today was a rest day, and she didn’t have to go to the club.

Lou Mi told Peng Ziyuan to go to work without worry. She would stay home and watch over Chi Lin, and would let her know immediately if anything happened.

Peng Ziyuan thanked Lou Mi, who clicked her tongue in disapproval:

“What’s there to thank me for? We’re family.”

After Lou Lixing got up, he also inquired about Chi Lin’s condition. Chi Lin was still asleep. He and Peng Ziyuan then left for work.

By noon, Chi Lin still hadn’t come out of her room. Lou Mi felt something was wrong. She had been sleeping for too long.

“Chi Lin?” Lou Mi knocked on her door. “Are you awake? How are you feeling?”

There was no answer, but she heard movement inside the room.

Lou Mi: “Honey, you must be hungry after sleeping for so long. Come out and eat something.”

Footsteps slowly approached the door. It seemed Chi Lin was indeed awake.

Click. The door opened a crack, and Lou Mi saw one of Chi Lin’s eyes peeking out, scrutinizing her.

“What are you doing?” Lou Mi was amused by her wary look. “I didn’t sneak in while you were asleep or anything. You told me to leave last night, and I did. I really didn’t come back in.”

Chi Lin continued to stare at her silently, and after a while, finally asked:

“Where’s my mom?”

“Your mom…” Having always addressed Peng Ziyuan as “Mother,” the sudden change in address caught Lou Mi off guard. It sounded almost like an insult. “At this hour, your Mother is naturally at work.”

Chi Lin’s eyes looked downwards, as if pondering something.

“What do you want to eat for lunch?” Lou Mi didn’t push the door, patiently continuing to ask. “I’m not going to the club today, I’ll stay home with you. Come out and let me take your temperature. You have no idea how worried I was when you suddenly fell ill yesterday. You…”

As Lou Mi was speaking, Chi Lin slammed the door shut.

Lou Mi: “?”

Was Chi Lin throwing a tantrum?

Lou Mi stood at the door, puzzled.

No way, Lou Mi immediately reflected. She had only seen Chi Lin briefly after the match yesterday. They hadn’t interacted before that, so there was no opportunity to offend her.

Moreover, was Chi Lin the type to get angry easily?

Based on Lou Mi’s understanding of her, she was the one who tended to be impulsive and force kisses on Chi Lin. Chi Lin’s emotions were usually very stable.

But every emotionally stable person was suppressing their feelings deep down. Lou Mi understood this feeling.

Chi Lin was probably even more so.

Lou Mi understood her reserved nature, so occasional emotional fluctuations were understandable.

Lou Mi went to the kitchen and ordered four dishes and a soup. After Mr. System finished preparing the food, she carried it to the dining table and went to call Chi Lin again.

“I’ve prepared lunch, come out and eat something, okay?”

She had expected Chi Lin to stall for a while longer, but the door opened, and Chi Lin walked out.

It was evident that she had been ill last night; otherwise, her usually meticulous “iron ball” bun wouldn’t be so messy, looking like a ball of yarn that had been attacked by a cat.

Chi Lin was wearing a plaid pajama set that she seemed to have dug out from somewhere, the buttons mismatched, seemingly oblivious.

Probably from sleeping for so long, Chi Lin’s eyes were unfocused and dazed. She looked around the room and at Lou Mi blankly.

Although her gaze was a bit dull, in Lou Mi’s eyes, she was still adorable.

“Look at you, you’re starving.” Lou Mi took her hand and led her towards the dining table. “Come and eat something quickly.”

After being led a few steps, Chi Lin suddenly seemed to realize something and flung her hand away.

Lou Mi: “What’s wrong?”

Chi Lin stared at her: “Don’t touch me.”

Lou Mi: “…”

It seemed she was genuinely angry.

Lou Mi froze, panicking slightly.

Ancestor, what did I do wrong, and when did I do it?

She immediately searched every corner of her memory, but couldn’t recall any instance where she might have offended Chi Lin.

When Chi Lin brought her classmates to the box to watch the match, hadn’t their WeChat exchange been perfectly fine?

In the messages, Chi Lin seemed enthusiastic, with no hint of anger.

When they met again later, Chi Lin had already developed a fever.

Hadn’t they even touched foreheads?

When they arrived home, Chi Lin was too weak to move in the car, and Lou Mi had struggled to carry her inside and all the way to bed.

She had waited on her hand and foot all night, giving her medicine and water, with absolutely no opportunity to make a mistake.

Wait a minute…

She seemed to remember.

When Chi Lin arrived at the box with her classmates, she had sent a WeChat message, and Lou Mi had only replied with one word.

Could it be that Chi Lin thought she was being too cold and perfunctory?

Lou Mi brought this up with Chi Lin. Chi Lin sat at the dining table, looked at the sumptuous dishes, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating rapidly, without responding to Lou Mi.

It seemed that was it.

Lou Mi sat opposite her and explained softly:

“Actually, I wasn’t being cold. You know whether I’m cold or not. I was really happy when I knew you were coming to watch my match. But, I have this bad habit of playing it cool. I don’t know why, but when I’m really happy, I don’t like to express it outwardly. I feel like it’s childish to be overly enthusiastic. If it’s really because of this, I apologize.”

Chi Lin stared at her silently for a moment, then said with a crooked smile:

“You know that, huh…”

Seeing that she was finally willing to talk, Lou Mi smiled at her cheerfully:

“So, are we not angry anymore?”

Chi Lin ignored her and continued eating, specifically picking out the beef. In the blink of an eye, she had finished the only meat dish on the table, without touching any of the vegetables.

“Another plate,” Chi Lin said impatiently to Lou Mi before swallowing the food in her mouth. “No, two plates! Extra spicy!”

Lou Mi: “…Okay, just a moment. Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

Lou Mi had never seen Chi Lin eat so much, so ravenously.

She usually ate very lightly, a plate of vegetables was enough. Even when she ate meat, it was mostly chicken or fish.

She ate beef, of course, but never like this, gobbling it down.

Could it be that she hadn’t eaten since yesterday?

Calculating it, it was very likely!

She remembered Chi Lin saying yesterday that she was studying and had rushed over to watch the match, so she might not have had time to eat.

Then she got sick, went straight to bed when they got home, and slept until noon.

If she hadn’t eaten lunch yesterday, that meant she hadn’t eaten in 24 hours. No wonder she was so hungry.

Lou Mi’s heart ached. Seeing her eat so enthusiastically, she knew the fever must have subsided.

Having an appetite was a good sign. Lou Mi found her focused eating just as adorable as her usual precocious demeanor.

She really wanted to touch her fluffy hair; it must feel very soft.

Chi Lin finished eating, rubbed her belly, leaned back in her chair, and let out a loud, long burp.

Lou Mi: “…”

Great, after their intimate moments, Chi Lin was gradually treating her like one of her own.

After all, who doesn’t burp or fart?

Lou Mi had felt that Chi Lin was too aloof and reserved before.

It seemed Chi Lin intended to be herself around her from now on. This way, their relationship would only grow closer.

The more Lou Mi thought about it, the happier she became. Her eyes, fixed on Chi Lin, were filled with love.

Chi Lin felt a little creeped out by her stare and said tentatively:

“Take the dishes to be washed.”

“Okay!”

Lou Mi happily obeyed, taking the dishes and chopsticks to the dishwasher.

Chi Lin watched Lou Mi’s back as she worked, raised an eyebrow, and muttered to herself:

“She actually does it?”

After setting the dishwasher, Lou Mi returned and saw Chi Lin packing her school bag.

“Are you going out?”

Chi Lin didn’t respond.

“Your hair is so messy from sleeping, shouldn’t you comb it before going out?”

Chi Lin turned around and said, “You comb it for me.”

Lou Mi patted the chair in front of her: “Come, sit here.”

Chi Lin sat down on the massage chair nearby, casually draped her left leg over the armrest, and lifted her chin:

“Come here.”

Lou Mi obediently walked behind the massage chair and picked up a comb to gently smooth Chi Lin’s hair.

Halfway through, Chi Lin suddenly swatted her hand away and glared at her:

“You’re hurting me.”

Lou Mi: “Huh? Really? I haven’t even started combing yet.”

“I said, you’re hurting me. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Oh… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Lou Mi reached out and touched her head. “Let me blow on it for you, there, there, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Chi Lin struggled. Lou Mi was all too familiar with this reluctant act.

So cute.

Lou Mi’s hand, stroking Chi Lin’s head, unconsciously moved down to her chin.

Chi Lin: “?”

Lou Mi caressed Chi Lin’s delicate chin and couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her.

Chi Lin’s eyes widened. Realizing what was about to happen, she panicked and jumped up, bumping her head against Lou Mi’s mouth.

Lou Mi, completely unprepared, had her delicate lips smashed against her own teeth by Chi Lin’s hard head. Her lip immediately started bleeding.

Lou Mi touched it, and her fingertip came away bright red.

Chi Lin glared at her furiously. She inwardly cursed, “This is bad,” and apologized pitifully:

“Sorry, Little Lin, I…”

“Get out!”

Chi Lin kicked over the chair beside her. The back of the chair hit Lou Mi’s unsuspecting toes, the pain almost making her lose her balance.

Chi Lin grabbed her bag and rushed out the door, leaving Lou Mi alone in the living room, bewildered, sitting on the floor rubbing her foot.

Chapter 75 p2

The security guard was watching nearby, and Chi Lin was a little embarrassed to let him hear that she was going to copy homework. Her discreet question made it sound like they were about to conduct some shady deal.

“I brought it. Let’s go, the Winter Limited Cram School has its final lesson.” Lin Xiaozhi walked with a spring in her step, as if a gust of wind could carry her away.

Chi Lin looked at Lin Xiaozhi, then at Wei Zhuoning, who was grinning from ear to ear. She hesitated slightly as she walked home.

She wondered if spending time with these two today would make her cringe to death.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaozhi meant it when she said she wouldn’t let them directly copy the homework. Like a disciplinary director, she urged them to start writing.

When they encountered problems they couldn’t solve, Lin Xiaozhi patiently explained them. By dusk, they had finished half of the winter break homework.

“What should we do? At this rate, we’ll have to pull an all-nighter…” Wei Zhuoning scratched her head. “We’ve only finished 600MB of questions.”

Lin Xiaozhi: “Even if we have to stay up all night, we have to finish. We don’t have to go back to school until tomorrow afternoon, and the opening ceremony is the day after tomorrow. You still have time for last-minute work.”

Chi Lin looked at the time and closed her tablet: “You guys keep writing. I have to go out for a bit, I’ll be back in about two hours.”

“Ah? You’re leaving? Where are you going?”

“My sister has a match today, and I promised to watch it live.”

As soon as Lou Mi was mentioned, Wei Zhuoning immediately perked up: “Nine Heavens is playing against Wild Hurricane today! Ahhh, I want to go watch it live too! Take me with you!”

Lin Xiaozhi tugged at her collar: “Hey! You haven’t finished your homework yet. Chi Lin can skip it, she’s smart, she can finish it later by herself. What about you? Do you want to be at the bottom of the class again?”

Wei Zhuoning swore: “I can watch the match and do my homework at the same time, really! I used to write while memorizing textbooks!”

“…No wonder you were last in the exams.”

“Lin, Lin, can you take us with you? To be honest, I’ve always wanted to cheer for Sister Lou in person!”

Lin Xiaozhi frowned: “Hey, don’t pressure her, okay?”

Chi Lin hesitated: “Taking you to the venue shouldn’t be a problem, but…”

She looked at Lin Xiaozhi, who was frowning.

Wei Zhuoning tugged at Lin Xiaozhi’s sleeve, pleading: “Please?”

Lin Xiaozhi: “…”

Alright, alright, she had already given her heart away, so what else could she say no to?

Nine Heavens’ third match in the Winter World Cup was about to begin.

With the previous god-like 1314 play, everyone was guessing how long it would take HighTowerMiyuki to crush their opponents this time.

Lou Mi herself, however, was guessing how much longer it would take Chi Lin to arrive.

She paced back and forth in the waiting room, going to the window for the fourth time.

From this window, she could directly see the VIP audience area.

To prevent being secretly photographed and harassed again, this time Lou Mi had reserved a separate box for Chi Lin, separated from the surrounding seats, with a sofa, and various drinks, snacks, and popcorn.

But the box was still empty. Where was Chi Lin?

Xie Buyu saw Lou Mi pacing and knew that her precious little sister hadn’t shown up yet, and that she was getting anxious.

HighTowerMiyuki, known for her mystique, was so easy to read when it came to love…

Xie Buyu winked at Huhu.

Huhu: “?”

“Go give Sister Mi a glass of hot water and tell her to come back and sit down. The match is about to start, she needs to calm down.”

Huhu: “…I’m still young, I haven’t fallen in love or gotten married, I don’t want to die yet.”

“Tsk, how would giving Sister Mi some water get you killed?”

“It’s pretty deadly. Otherwise, why don’t you go, Sister Buyu?”

“How can I go?” Xie Buyu retorted. “I’m the main player today. What if I get benched? You’re a substitute today, even if you lose an arm or a leg, you still have time to recover, right?”

Huhu: “Am I a gecko or Piccolo…”

As Huhu and Xie Buyu were trying to goad each other into “certain death,” Fu Tu came out of the bathroom. Passing by Lou Mi, she followed her gaze and looked out, curious:

“Sister Mi, Little Chi Lin hasn’t arrived yet? Isn’t she coming today?”

Lou Mi: “…”

Fu Tu, completely unaware of her misstep, sat down on the sofa. Xie Buyu bowed to her:

“I was blind before. You are truly the bravest.”

Fu Tu: “What are you talking about?”

The match was about to begin, and Chi Lin’s hurried WeChat message arrived.

“Sorry, Sister, I was catching up on homework at home and I’m late. I’m in the box now, and I brought two classmates with me.”

Lou Mi’s mood instantly brightened. Looking through the glass window, Chi Lin had indeed arrived!

Lou Mi stood on tiptoe, biting her lower lip, and quickly sent a voice message.

In stark contrast to her excitement, her voice message was very short, just one word:

“Okay.”

The match began, and the audience focused on the big screen.

The four members of Nine Heavens were riding horses through a sandstorm.

Today’s map was the Corrosive Desert.

Audience A: “Corrosive Desert, another map HighTowerMiyuki excels at.”

Audience B: “Is there any map Sister Lou doesn’t excel at?”

Chi Lin excitedly awaited Lou Mi’s brilliant performance. Suddenly, the scene before her eyes forked, as if someone had forcefully torn space apart.

Panic surged in Chi Lin’s heart. Her vision blurred, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

After three seconds, everything returned to normal.

“Are you alright?” Lin Xiaozhi noticed Chi Lin’s strangeness.

Chi Lin, pale-faced, forced a smile: “I’m fine.”

Pagoda initiated a team fight, Lou Mi secured the first kill, and the screams of the audience filled the venue.

Her head hurt.

Chi Lin had intended to stand at the glass railing in front of the box to watch Lou Mi’s match properly, but the dizziness and headache forced her to sit back down.

She desperately wanted to focus, but couldn’t.

A chill ran through her body, as if all her energy was being devoured by some invisible force…

Based on her vast experience, Chi Lin judged that she might have been poisoned.

But where did the poison come from? She hadn’t eaten anything strange, nor had she smelled anything unusual.

What on earth…

“Huh? What’s this?”

Wei Zhuoning removed a black object from the back of Chi Lin’s neck.

The thing was only half the size of a fingernail. At first, Wei Zhuoning thought it was inanimate, but when she touched it, it suddenly spread its wings and flew away with a buzz, startling her.

“Such a big bug! Lin, it was on your neck for so long, and you didn’t feel it?”

Chi Lin covered her neck: “No, not at all.”

Lin Xiaozhi asked her to move her hand and looked closely. There seemed to be a tiny, almost invisible hole.

Lin Xiaozhi: “A mosquito?”

“No way!” Wei Zhuoning denied. “I’m not blind. It was some kind of beetle, definitely not a mosquito.”

“It’s not even spring yet, how can there be bugs so early?” Lin Xiaozhi asked Chi Lin, “How are you feeling? Are you okay?”

Chi Lin had felt unwell earlier, but after the bug was gone, the discomfort had lessened.

The match intensified. Lou Mi’s performance was spectacular, and both Lin Xiaozhi and Wei Zhuoning were captivated. Chi Lin also shifted her attention back to the game.

It was another resounding victory today.

After the match, Lou Mi happily ran to the box to find Chi Lin.

Wei Zhuoning seized the opportunity to take a photo with Lou Mi, who patiently cooperated with all her requests.

The headache returned, and Chi Lin’s vision began to blur.

“What’s wrong?” Lou Mi, keenly aware that something was amiss, came over and took her hand.

Chi Lin: “I think I have a fever…”

Lou Mi touched her forehead with her own: “You’re a bit warm. The weather has been changing a lot lately, and so many people are getting sick. These kinds of places are full of germs. I shouldn’t have let you come. Come on, let’s go home. I have fever reducers at home.”

Chi Lin really didn’t want Lou Mi to worry about her, but her current condition was indeed not good. She felt lightheaded and dizzy, similar to how she felt when she had fallen into the pond and developed a fever before.

Lou Mi skipped the celebratory dinner and drove Chi Lin straight home.

As they left, Wei Zhuoning was still worried about Chi Lin, but Lin Xiaozhi said:

“She has her big sister to take care of her, so don’t worry too much. Have you finished your homework?”

“…”

“Weren’t you able to watch the match and do your homework at the same time?”

“That…”

“Come on, let’s go to my place. Don’t even think about sleeping tonight until you’ve finished your homework.”

“Waaah…”

The small black bug hovered above the crowd and quickly landed on the back of a pale, sickly woman’s hand in the last row of the stands.

“Good boy, you did well.” The woman stroked the bug’s back, then squeezed it, crushing it into dust.

A Bao, wearing a baseball cap, woke up groggily just in time to see Xiao V pour the bug’s remains and the blood it had collected into a lake-blue container.

“Ugh,” A Bao said with disgust. “You’re so crude.”

After returning home, Chi Lin went straight to bed. The dizziness intensified.

When Lou Mi brought her medicine and hot water, she couldn’t even sit up. An invisible force seemed to be lifting her into the air.

She didn’t know what was happening. She struggled to open her eyes and looked down, seeing herself still lying on the bed, and Lou Mi sitting beside her.

Chi Lin wanted to call Lou Mi’s name, but her throat felt like it was open, with wind rushing in. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make a sound.

After that, she lost consciousness.

She didn’t know how long she slept. Chi Lin felt like she was deep in a mire, struggling to climb upwards until she finally saw a glimmer of light.

Reaching towards the light with great effort, she felt a wrinkled, restrictive sensation on her skin.

It was like wearing an ill-fitting garment that she couldn’t take off.

As she struggled, the “garment” seemed to come alive, clinging tightly to her body.

Suddenly, Chi Lin opened her eyes. She was fully awake.

It was a small bedroom, the ceiling gray and stained with water marks, one corner already moldy.

She was lying on a narrow single bed, the blanket dirty. The bed was littered with opened snack bags, unfamiliar school uniforms, and socks that looked like they hadn’t been washed in ages.

Everything was unfamiliar to her until she saw a doll among a pile of messy medicine bottles.

Nori the Demon Child.

Chi Lin grabbed the Nori the Demon Child doll in disbelief and got out of bed, walking towards the full-length mirror.

She had already prepared herself mentally, but when she saw a completely unfamiliar face in the mirror, she was still too shocked to speak.

Messy short hair, dull eyes, and an exaggerated, unkempt afro.

Had she switched bodies?

Apparently so. She had left her original body and entered someone else’s.

This was also a teenage girl, and even this body had two moles under its eyes.

Chi Lin instinctively turned her head, searching for the birthmark on the back of her neck in the mirror.

She found it. The same location, an extremely similar birthmark.

Chi Lin’s face paled.

She didn’t know how this had happened, but since it had, she had to force herself to calm down and think.

What would happen to her original body after losing its soul?

Would it die?

Chi Lin looked at the doll in her hand.

No.

Could it be…

A terrifying possibility dawned on her, and panic surged within her.

Chapter 75 p1

Winter break was coming to an end. Wei Zhuoning, who had been frantically writing throughout the vacation, completely forgot about her homework. Just before school started, she realized that she hadn’t touched the gigabyte of assignments, so she quickly called Chi Lin in the middle of the night.

“Help me, Lin! Have you finished your winter break homework? Let me copy it!”

Chi Lin: “I haven’t finished it either…”

“Huh?! I really misjudged you. I didn’t think you were like me. I thought you’d have finished it within a week of the holidays starting.”

“I had planned to, but I’ve been unexpectedly busy.”

Chi Lin prayed that Wei Zhuoning wouldn’t ask what she was busy with, because she really couldn’t explain.

Fortunately, Wei Zhuoning didn’t ask: “Alright, say no more. I can only shamelessly call in reinforcements. I’ll message Lin Xiaozhi to bring her homework; she must have finished it. Can we copy at your place? Your house is spacious.”

“Okay.”

Early spring of 2044, after two negligible snow flurries, the weather began to warm up.

Wei Zhuoning had been immersed in the joy of making money throughout the winter break, unable to extricate herself.

During the final exams, she had exhausted her brain and worn out her fingers to maintain her daily 15,000-word writing goal, finally securing a coveted recommendation spot on the writing platform.

After getting the recommendation, her earnings skyrocketed.

Every day, seeing the numbers in her account, she felt like she was dreaming.

She didn’t dare to look too much, afraid that if she did, she would find it was a beautiful dream about to end.

With the brain-computer interface keyboard Lin Xiaozhi had given her, she focused and wrote 10,000 words daily throughout the winter break. As the holiday neared its end, she checked her earnings: 80,000 yuan.

She had never seen so much money.

Wei Zhuoning nearly jumped through the roof.

After two more all-nighters, she finally finished her story. After it hit the completed works chart, her earnings surged again, reaching 100,000 yuan, which she could withdraw next month.

Next month was just two days away.

Even before the money was in her hands, she had already planned how to spend every penny of the 100,000 yuan.

She would buy her mother a closet full of new clothes; this was a long-held wish that she finally wanted to fulfill.

Their second-hand washing machine, which sounded like a ticking time bomb every time it started, could finally be retired. The tattered sofa would also be thrown away. She wished she could replace everything in their home with new things.

Of course, there was one person she would never forget.

She wanted to buy Lin Xiaozhi the most expensive, the best, the most fitting gift.

She searched online for a long time, thinking that Lin Xiaozhi looked good in everything, but also feeling that nothing was good enough for her.

Undecided, she posted a few gift options in her author group chat, asking everyone to help her choose.

The other authors were shocked: “Lingxi, you’re rich! All these are luxury items over 10,000 yuan. You’re giving them as gifts?”

“Yes, as a gift, to someone very important to me.”

With everyone’s collective wisdom, Wei Zhuoning finally chose a necklace from J’s.

She remembered that Lin Xiaozhi seemed to have worn a ring from that brand.

J’s designs were always refined and elegant, yet with a hint of wildness in the details, perfectly matching Lin Xiaozhi’s personality.

Throughout the winter break, she and Lin Xiaozhi had rarely met.

Lin Xiaozhi was afraid of disturbing her writing, so she hadn’t actively sought her out.

Besides, where would they go?

Invite Lin Xiaozhi to her home? Her home was so small and cold; the young lady probably wouldn’t even be able to bring herself to step inside. It made Wei Zhuoning feel a little self-conscious.

Go to Lin Xiaozhi’s home? Wei Zhuoning was afraid that on her home turf, the situation would get out of control, which would be terrifying.

Now that her writing was finished and she was free, they could finally meet.

Chi Lin’s home was the best option.

She messaged Lin Xiaozhi, and quickly received a reply.

“Letting you just copy is out of the question. As class president, I will personally supervise you finishing your homework. You can ask me if you don’t understand something, but you have to write it yourselves.”

“…Is it too late to cancel the plan?”

“Too late. If you don’t come, I’ll come to your house and drag you here.”

Wei Zhuoning: “…”

Carrying her tablet and the gift, Wei Zhuoning took the bus to Chi Lin’s house.

She was willing to buy clothes for her mother and replace their appliances, and she was willing to buy Lin Xiaozhi a necklace worth over 10,000 yuan, but she hadn’t planned anything for herself.

She still took the bus.

Fortunately, the bus wasn’t crowded today, and she managed to snag a seat in the corner of the last row.

Settling down comfortably, the sunlight warmed her body.

School would start again soon, it would be their senior year, and the weather was getting warmer. Everything felt bright, peaceful, and warm. Wei Zhuoning was full of energy.

She wondered how students in the past coped with the summer heat during the entrance exams.

Entering the hellish senior year in the sweltering September heat must have been unbearable. How could anyone concentrate on studying?

Today, going to Chi Lin’s house, she was a little embarrassed to give Lin Xiaozhi her gift in front of Chi Lin. She had also prepared a small gift for Chi Lin, a new electronic gadget.

Both the necklace and the gadget were in her backpack. Imagining Lin Xiaozhi’s happy expression upon receiving the gift, she couldn’t help but smile foolishly.

The bus suddenly swerved, and everyone screamed and lurched to one side. The person next to Wei Zhuoning fell heavily against her, nearly crushing her.

What the heck?

Never mind, she just needed to protect her backpack – in this day and age of self-driving cars, those who still squeezed onto buses were all fellow sufferers. Better to be tolerant.

Wei Zhuoning lowered her head to play with her phone.

The bus took another small turn, and the person next to her “threw herself into her arms” again. Wei Zhuoning almost jumped up:

“You…”

“Hmm?” The person in her arms blinked her large eyes, looking utterly innocent. Not only did she not move away, but she snuggled closer:

“Just a few days apart, and you’re already acting like strangers? Rejecting me even when I’m throwing myself at you?”

“It’s you…” Wei Zhuoning stopped moving and settled back down. “Why are you here? Didn’t we agree to meet at Chi Lin’s place?”

Lin Xiaozhi said: “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to see me earlier?”

“No, that’s not it.” Wei Zhuoning quickly denied.

“I came all the way here, going through all this trouble just to see you half an hour earlier, and the first thing you do is yell at me. I’m so pitiful.”

Lin Xiaozhi was wearing a pair of round, thin-rimmed glasses, her long hair loose. At some point, she had dyed her hair a coppery brown. Dressed in a woolen coat, she looked every bit the sophisticated college student, yet she was acting like a child, whining and acting spoiled.

Wei Zhuoning knew she was joking and wasn’t truly upset, but her desire to coax her into a good mood was overwhelming:

“That’s not true, I didn’t yell at you.”

“You didn’t yell at me? Then why were you so loud just now?”

“I was happy to see you…”

“Really happy? Not lying to me?”

Wei Zhuoning nodded seriously: “Really, really.”

Over the winter, Wei Zhuoning’s hair had grown a bit longer, falling softly on her shoulders, making her look even cuter than before.

Lin Xiaozhi leaned on her shoulder and looked up at her, whispering, “Prove it to me.”

“How do I prove it…”

Lin Xiaozhi pointed to her lips.

Wei Zhuoning’s heart pounded. She glanced around. Even though their seats were quite secluded, the bus was still crowded…

“Don’t be silly.”

“You don’t love me.”

“…”

Just as Wei Zhuoning was about to combust, Lin Xiaozhi simply closed her eyes.

Her eyelashes were thick and long, her lips glistening. She looked more delicious than the tastiest soft candy Wei Zhuoning had ever eaten.

Wei Zhuoning’s heart was thundering. She stealthily checked their surroundings again, and after confirming that no one was watching them, she mustered her courage and quickly pecked Lin Xiaozhi’s lips.

Lin Xiaozhi opened her eyes, smiling: “Was that a little bird pecking at rice?”

Wei Zhuoning’s blush had spread from her cheeks to her ears. She lowered her head like a child caught doing something wrong:

“Can we… do it again when there’s no one around?”

“Sure, but by then, with interest, it won’t be so easy to get away with just a peck.”

“What do you want to do…”

“Everything.”

“…”

Wei Zhuoning lacked many things, but not imagination.

With just one sentence from Lin Xiaozhi, she had already constructed hundreds of scenarios in her mind, each one leaving her flushed and breathless.

“What are you thinking about?” Lin Xiaozhi tapped her chin.

Wei Zhuoning quickly shook her head, trying to dispel those scandalous thoughts.

PDA was indecent.

Wei Zhuoning decided to give Lin Xiaozhi her gift early, using the warmth of the moment to temper the dry atmosphere that was threatening to set her ablaze.

“This… is for you.”

Wei Zhuoning pulled the wrapped necklace out of her backpack and handed it to Lin Xiaozhi.

Lin Xiaozhi was slightly stunned, completely surprised by the gift.

She took it carefully. Seeing the childish cartoon pattern on the wrapping paper, and the crookedly applied tape with its exposed edges, she knew that Wei Zhuoning had wrapped it herself.

Lin Xiaozhi’s smile reached her eyes:

“For me? What’s inside?”

“Yes, for you. It’s… why don’t you open it and see?”

“It’s wrapped so nicely, I don’t want to open it.”

“It’s not nicely wrapped at all; I’m terrible at wrapping. Just open it, you can even rip it open if you want.”

Lin Xiaozhi glared at her: “No way. This is the first official gift you’ve given me. I’m going to keep everything about it, inside and out, exactly as it is.”

Wei Zhuoning: “…”

Lin Xiaozhi carefully tore the wrapping, actually managing to open it without damaging the outer layer.

Glancing inside, she saw only a small section without any logo, and her expression immediately changed:

“You bought something from J’s?!”

Wei Zhuoning: “Ah? You can tell?”

Lin Xiaozhi loved J’s and knew everything about the brand.

A box this size could only contain a necklace.

Their cheapest necklace cost over 20,000 yuan…

Lin Xiaozhi forcefully swallowed the words “Are you crazy? Why did you buy something so expensive!” that were about to burst out.

She naturally knew how hard this girl worked. How many words did she have to painstakingly write to buy this necklace?

She couldn’t say anything to dampen the mood. It was a gift given with a sincere heart. Even if it were a blade of grass, Lin Xiaozhi would happily twirl it around her finger for three days and three nights, let alone an exquisite necklace.

Lin Xiaozhi: “Can I open it?”

Wei Zhuoning: “Of course, it’s yours now.”

Lin Xiaozhi pulled out the box and opened it. The beautiful choker necklace made her heart flutter.

“Do you… like it?” Wei Zhuoning didn’t dare to speak too loudly, afraid that a loud voice would disturb the beautiful scene before her.

The necklace suited Lin Xiaozhi perfectly, as if it were made for her.

Lin Xiaozhi placed the box on her lap, picked up the necklace with her slender fingers, and said to Wei Zhuoning:

“Can you help me put it on? I want to wear it now.”

“Sure.”

Wei Zhuoning would always remember this day.

On a bumpy bus, she used the money she earned for the first time in her life to make the person she liked happy, putting a carefully chosen gift on the girl she loved.

“Does it look good?”

To better display the choker, Lin Xiaozhi deliberately undid two buttons of her shirt, widening the collar. Even her gaze became alluring.

“It looks beautiful… You look beautiful with or without the necklace.”

Wei Zhuoning, who rarely spoke sweet nothings, made Lin Xiaozhi’s heart flutter even more.

Lin Xiaozhi wrapped her arms around Wei Zhuoning’s neck, pressing close, and whispered in her ear:

“By giving me this necklace, do you want to keep me by your side forever?”

So close…

Wei Zhuoning was about to combust.

“Can you stay by my side forever?” Wei Zhuoning’s heart was pounding. She wasn’t sure if she was worthy of someone as exceptional as Lin Xiaozhi.

Lin Xiaozhi took her hand, interlacing their fingers tightly.

“Zhuoning, I like you. You’re all I think about. I like you so much it hurts here.”

She pointed to her chest.

Wei Zhuoning’s eyes welled up, her voice hoarse: “Me too…”

“I know the future is long, and many, many things we can’t imagine will happen, but my feelings for you will never lose to time.” Lin Xiaozhi lifted her head and kissed Wei Zhuoning’s tears.

“Zhuoning, you’re the best person in the world. To be liked by you, I must have saved the world in my past life.”

Lin Xiaozhi’s sweet words left Wei Zhuoning weak in the knees. When they got off the bus, she almost stumbled and fell.

Fortunately, Lin Xiaozhi caught her.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xiaozhi teased her. “Just a kiss, and you can’t handle it?”

Wei Zhuoning pushed her: “Nonsense, I just tripped.”

As they walked hand-in-hand to the entrance of Chi Lin’s community, Chi Lin was already there waiting for them.

These two usually bickered and teased each other, rarely seen holding hands so sweetly. Seeing them joined at the hip from afar, Chi Lin knew they must be sickeningly sweet today.

“Lin!” Wei Zhuoning greeted her.

Chi Lin asked quietly, “Did you bring it?”

She was referring to Lin Xiaozhi’s winter break homework.

Chapter 74

The next morning, at 9 a.m. sharp, Chi Lin woke Lou Mi.

Lou Mi opened her eyes, her mind clear, her body energized, feeling like she could ascend to heaven. No headache! No fatigue!

Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan, having returned at some point during the night, were already at the breakfast table with Chi Lin, waiting for Lou Mi.

“Good luck, Mi Mi, but don’t feel pressured,” Lou Lixing said, as she left for the match. “No matter what, you’re our hero.”

Lou Mi patted his arm and stepped into the elevator with Chi Lin.

Chi Lin seemed to have something to say.

Lou Mi: “Are you coming with me?”

Chi Lin’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”

“Of course. I can’t take you to the broadcasting room, but you can sit in the front row VIP seats.”

They left together, Lou Lixing and Peng Ziyuan waving goodbye.

As the elevator doors closed, Lou Lixing teared up. “I want to see Mi Mi’s match, too! I want to sit in the front row and cheer for her!”

Peng Ziyuan: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“I didn’t want to pressure her, distract her… I’ve never been to a live match…”

“Well, you’ve lost your chance now. The front row VIP seats are reserved for her future wife.”

Lou Lixing: “…”

At the broadcasting building, two hours before Nine Heavens’ second match, the live stream viewership had already surpassed a hundred million.

The team arrived. Xie Buyu looked around, noticing Lou Mi’s absence. “Lan-jie, where’s Mi-jie? After last time’s close call, she’s not skipping out on us, is she?”

Zhuo Jinglan: “I called her. She said she’s driving herself, she probably overslept.”

“Overslept…” Xie Buyu mused. “I hope it’s the kind of ‘oversleeping’ I’m thinking of.”

As the team settled into the lounge, Lou Mi entered.

“Hey, everyone’s here?” She spoke before anyone could greet her.

“Where else would we be?” Zhuo Jinglan found her words strange. “Floating in the sky?”

“I’m greeting you.” Instead of arguing, Lou Mi smiled brightly and playfully punched Zhuo Jinglan’s back. “What’s with the attitude?”

Zhuo Jinglan, bracing herself for a chokehold or a body slam: “???” Who is this? So cheerful and touchy-feely? This isn’t the ferocious Lou Mi I know. She recoiled like a startled owl. “Who are you? Are you a spy sent by the enemy team to mess with us?”

Lou Mi: “…”

Zhuo Jinglan reached out to touch Lou Mi’s face. “Let me see if this mask comes off.”

Lou Mi kicked out, and Zhuo Jinglan dodged just in time. “Stay still, and I’ll kick you to the next dimension.”

“Okay,” Zhuo Jinglan said, relieved after being insulted. “It’s definitely Lou Mi.”

Lou Mi: “???”

Fu Tu, passing by with a drink, witnessed the scene and rushed to Xie Buyu’s room, practically ripping her clothes off in her excitement. “Emergency! Mi-jie’s wearing a new lipstick shade! And a new jacket! And she’s flirting with Lan-jie!”

Xie Buyu almost choked on her drink. “What?! Even Lan-jie? I have to see this!”

They rushed out and peeked into the lounge.

Lou Mi stood by the sofa, wearing an unfamiliar ginger-yellow jacket and a light gray scarf, her lips a vibrant shade, a stark contrast to her usual nude tones. As she was about to take off her jacket, her phone buzzed.

She checked it, a wide smile spreading across her face. Forgetting about her jacket, she immediately replied to the message.

“Look, look,” Xie Buyu said, shaking her head. “Even HighTowerMiyuki isn’t immune to the love bug.”

Fu Tu: “I just hope Mi-jie can play normally today, and that I won’t be buried alive again.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. Today’s Mi-jie is still going to be unpredictable. People in love see everyone through rose-tinted glasses. The enemy team might look like cute little pets to her today. We have to hold the fort, Fu Tu. The fate of Nine Heavens rests on our shoulders.”

Today, Slay was replacing Hu Hu.

Xie Buyu and Fu Tu braced themselves for a tough match, but Lou Mi didn’t give them a chance to suffer. She secured first blood almost immediately, taking out the enemy DPS.

The city erupted in cheers, the live stream comments exploding.

Before the opponents could recover, Lou Mi chased down their healer, securing another kill. Their tank, coming to the rescue, barely escaped with a sliver of health, only to be finished off by Slay.

The enemy team was down to a single support player.

Support: “…”

Fu Tu and Xie Buyu, who hadn’t even moved: “…”

Everyone had expected a close match, potentially lasting the full three hours. No one had anticipated HighTowerMiyuki’s aggressive start, so different from the previous match.

The lone support player, fighting for their dignity, held on until the end. Nine Heavens won in 13 minutes and 14 seconds.

The internet was abuzz:

“Lou Jiejie is a goddess!”

“Lou Jiejie will always be our Lou Jiejie.”

“HighTowerMiyuki was incredible today! Back to her peak form, powerful and fearless!”

After hundreds of praises, someone posted a set of photos:

“Now we know why Lou Jiejie was so dominant today. Her little sister was in the audience!”

“Her sister?! Chi Lin?!”

“It’s really her!”

The photos were taken from a distance, but modern phone cameras could zoom in clearly on faces hundreds of meters away.

Chi Lin, wearing a baseball cap and a down jacket, sat quietly in a corner of the front row VIP seats, her presence understated.

“OMG, when is the fairy sister debuting?! She’s gorgeous!”

“Aww, our little Chi Lin came to support her sister! Xue Cai CP forever!”

“Chi Lin looks so focused! Her expression is adorable!”

“Xue Cai CP is the best! So Lou Jiejie played so well because her sister was there. Does that mean last time’s distraction was because her sister wasn’t there? Lou Jiejie is so easy to read lol.”

“I think that’s the truth. Lou Jiejie was probably energized by her sister’s presence.”

“OMG, they’re even wearing matching rings! See photo 9!”

“This is true love! Don’t wake me up from this dream!”

…

The moment the live stream ended, Lou Mi vanished.

Zhuo Jinglan: “Where’s Lou Mi again?!”

Hu Hu pointed at the door. “Mi-jie just left. She said she had something to do and that she’d treat us to dinner later…”

Zhuo Jinglan: “Where did she go?!”

Hu Hu shrugged. “I don’t know, she didn’t say.”

Xie Buyu: “Obviously on a date. Didn’t you see her little sister waiting for her?”

Zhuo Jinglan: “…”

“Lan-jie, you’ve been single for too long. You need a partner, it’s bad for your health.”

“What?! You’re single too, what right do you have to say that?”

Xie Buyu put her arm around Fu Tu. “Who said I’m single? Isn’t my wife right here?”

Zhuo Jinglan: “???”

Fu Tu struggled in her embrace. “Who’s your wife? Let go of me.”

“We slept together, so you’re my wife.”

“That was because of a bet!”

“So I didn’t satisfy you?”

“…”

“Another bet tonight?”

“You pervert.”

Zhuo Jinglan, dumbfounded: “…” Wait a minute, do you guys even remember we’re in the middle of the World Cup?

Chi Lin waited for Lou Mi in the VIP area, wearing a staff pass Lou Mi had given her, granting her access to all areas. While waiting, she browsed the National Library’s digital archives, finding the culture section, filled with books on cultural exchange.

One series alone had 32 volumes, each over a thousand pages. There were dozens of similar series, and countless individual articles.

Chi Lin felt a wave of nausea at the sheer volume of text.

Information on past life regression was also a priority, but most of it was esoteric, likely fabricated. She had to sift through it all to find something useful. She had already read millions of words, a daunting task even for a book lover.

Chi Lin started with the tables of contents, hoping to save time.

As she was reading, she felt a warmth approaching from behind.

“Jiejie,” she said, without turning around. “Have you forgotten our little incident in the pond? Aren’t you afraid of a repeat performance?”

Lou Mi, who had been trying to sneak up on Chi Lin, stopped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Chi Lin put her phone away. “That was a reflex, not intentional.”

“What are you reading?”

“Just catching up on some studying.”

“Oh, I thought you were rewatching my match. How did I do?” Lou Mi asked, hands behind her back, fishing for compliments.

Chi Lin smiled. This Lou Mi, so different from the fierce warrior in the game, was just a child. “You were amazing.”

“And since I was so amazing, do I get a reward?” Before Chi Lin could answer, Lou Mi leaned in, batting her eyelashes.

Noticing the numerous staff members passing by, Chi Lin lightly touched her shoulder. “This is a public place, behave yourself.”

“Oh, then let’s go home and misbehave.”

Chi Lin: “…”

Lou Mi enjoyed flustering her. Ruffling Chi Lin’s hair, she said, “I’m starving. Let’s get something to eat before we go home.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Hot pot! And dessert!”

As they walked through the empty VIP parking lot, Lou Mi saw a notification about a new Return to Jianghu update, with new maps and events. She was eager to try it.

“You go ahead and play,” Chi Lin said, knowing how much the game meant to Lou Mi.

“Come play with me. Didn’t you create an account?”

Chi Lin hesitated. The photos of her with Tan Luo were still circulating online. She had also felt like someone was taking pictures of her at the match today. She wasn’t sure what kind of storm was brewing online. Would it be too risky for her and Lou Mi to appear in the game together?

Lou Mi scoffed. “Don’t pay attention to those online rumors, they’ll rot your brain. If you live your life worrying about what others think, you’ll never be happy.”

They both logged into Return to Jianghu.

The moment Lou Mi appeared, her friends bombarded her with messages.

“Lou Jiejie’s online?”

“Online right after the match? What’s going on?”

“She’s not alone, I’m in the same map.”

“OMG, she’s with that noob again!”

“What noob? That’s our little sister! Who knew the fearsome HighTowerMiyuki was such a doting sister… Taking her little sister to play right after the match?”

“So that’s why she finished the match so quickly. She was thinking about her date.”

“Looking at the match time again: 13 minutes 14 seconds. Holy crap, it’s a confession! 1314 (forever)!”

“OMG?! 1314? Lou Jiejie is so smooth!”

…

Chi Lin logged into her existing account. Wearing tattered armor and wielding a beginner’s sword, she looked like a beggar compared to Lou Mi, decked out in top-tier gear.

Lou Mi, slightly embarrassed by Chi Lin’s appearance, shook her head. “Come on, let’s get you a new outfit.”

The in-game store offered a variety of cosmetic items, but they weren’t cheap. Even common outfits started at 299 RMB, with rare ones costing thousands, not to mention limited edition items.

Lou Mi browsed the store, having Chi Lin try on various outfits. With a click and a swipe, Chi Lin would instantly change clothes, too quickly for her to even register the transformation.

Knight, Daoist, military uniform…

Nothing seemed to suit Chi Lin’s unique aura.

“Come on, I’ll take you somewhere.” Forgetting about the new maps, Lou Mi remembered the boss on the third floor of the Snowy Peak Dungeon dropped the Nether Star Snow Robe and the Lunar Crown Staff. She had to get Chi Lin a decent outfit. Though difficult to obtain, they were stunning, far more beautiful than any store-bought item.

Due to the dungeon’s difficulty and the low drop rate, only a handful of players owned both items, and most of them were auctioned off on Caps, the in-game trading website.

They left the city and hired a carriage.

As they rode towards the Snowy Peak, fireworks lit up the sky.

Chi Lin enjoyed the world of Return to Jianghu. While she didn’t understand its mechanics, its landscapes and characters resonated with her, reminding her of Dayuan.

Gazing out the carriage window at the fireworks, she felt a surge of excitement. “What festival is this? Why is it so lively?”

Lou Mi: “Probably Xue Cai Festival.”

Chi Lin: “?”

Just then, a burst of golden fireworks erupted in the distance, forming words in the sky: “Wishing Lou Jiejie and Fairy Chi a happy marriage!”

A few seconds later, another burst formed a heart around the words “Xue Cai CP,” illuminating the night sky.

Chi Lin: “…” Even in the game, there’s no escaping the marriage pressure, she thought, feeling overwhelmed by this era’s fast pace and impatience, not just for their own lives, but for everyone else’s.

“So slow…” Lou Mi, restless after five minutes, was a prime example of modern impatience. She tossed the driver ten taels of silver (in-game currency). The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage sped up.

Initially, it was just a light flurry, but as they continued, the snow intensified, the sun rising to reveal a vast, white landscape.

“We’ve arrived at the Snowy Peak!” the driver announced, jumping down and opening the door for them.

Before them stood a majestic city, nestled against a towering snow-capped mountain. Chi Lin stared, awestruck. Last time, they had been transported directly to the mountain, seeing only a vast expanse of white. This view, from a distance, was far more impressive.

“I can only take you this far,” the driver said. “The Snowy Peak is dangerous. Be careful.”

Chi Lin bowed to the driver. “Thank you for your warning…”

The other players passing by chuckled at her formal gesture. Lou Mi quickly pulled her away. “Please, don’t talk to the NPCs!”

Chi Lin: “?”

The reason the two items Lou Mi wanted were so difficult to obtain was because the quality of dropped items depended on the clear time. Only by defeating the boss within one minute was there a chance of getting the Nether Star Snow Robe and the Lunar Crown Staff. Items dropped after one minute were considered trash.

The dungeon was so challenging that even a full ten-person team of top-ranked players rarely cleared it within a minute.

The record clear time belonged to Lou Mi and A Bao. They had made history here, setting a record of 58.34 seconds, which had also marked the beginning of their bitter rivalry.

Lou Mi had never imagined returning to this place, but now, with Chi Lin, she felt no resentment, only happiness. Chi Lin’s presence had painted over the unpleasant memories with a vibrant, sweet color.

On their way to the Snowy Peak, Lou Mi had discovered Chi Lin’s talent. The treacherous paths, a nightmare for even experienced players, posed no challenge to Chi Lin. Lou Mi had planned to carry her up the western cliff, the slightly easier route.

But Chi Lin had refused. “I can do it myself.”

“It’s really difficult. I died several times my first time here.”

“Let me try.”

And she had succeeded on her first attempt.

Lou Mi: “…” Watching Chi Lin, now a small dot on the peak, Lou Mi’s first thought was: She’s a natural. Her second thought was: Why is it so hard to take advantage of her?

The first two levels of the Snowy Peak Dungeon were easy; Lou Mi could solo them blindfolded. Wielding her flamethrower, she lured the second level boss out of the cave. They stood before a massive, dark entrance.

[System Notification:

Destination: Snowy Peak Dungeon, Level 3.

Recommended Level: 100]

Chi Lin: “I’m only level 66. Can I do this?” She had started as a new player, but leveling up was fast in high-level areas with Lou Mi carrying her.

Lou Mi: “This game is very flexible. As long as you can fight, you can go anywhere, regardless of your level. Equip the gear I gave you.”

Chi Lin opened her inventory, a window appearing before her. Selecting the Golden Scale Armor, the Kirin Boots, the Ruyi Cap, and the Qiankun Twin Blades, she transformed, now glowing brightly, but… her midriff and thighs were exposed.

Chi Lin: “…”

Lou Mi: “Ahem, don’t mind the details. This set is ugly, but it’s the best I could forge for a low-level player. It’s perfect for your current level, it’ll prevent you from being one-shotted by the boss. As long as you can hold the boss’s attention and survive two attacks, I can kill it within a minute. The dungeon is full right now, we have to queue. I’ll explain the strategy while we wait. Listen carefully.”

Lou Mi detailed the strategy, down to the specific timing and positioning of each move. Even she found it complex, but when she asked Chi Lin to repeat it, Chi Lin recited it perfectly, without missing a single detail.

Seeing Lou Mi’s stunned expression, Chi Lin asked, worried, “Did I say something wrong?”

Lou Mi sighed. “You’re a genius.”

It was their turn. They entered the dungeon.

The other players queuing behind them, all in ten-person teams, were baffled. Are they crazy? Challenging the Nine-Tailed Cat with only two people?

“Idiots. They’ve never faced the Nine-Tailed Cat before, have they?”

Their team leader smacked them on the head. “You idiot, do you know who that is?”

“Ow… who?”

“HighTowerMiyuki!”

“What?! My idol?! Then who’s the other person?”

“Looks like a level 66 noob.”

“They’ll be shredded! Even HighTowerMiyuki can’t carry a noob through this dungeon.”

They started betting on how long HighTowerMiyuki and the noob named “Lin” would last.

“Five minutes, tops. If it weren’t for HighTowerMiyuki, they’d be dead the moment the Nine-Tailed Cat appears.”

“Not necessarily. That noob reached the Snowy Peak on her first try. She might be a hidden expert.”

“What? First try? You’re kidding, right? Unless HighTowerMiyuki was controlling her character, it’s impossible. I’ve been playing for three years, and I still fell twice today…”

“I’m not kidding, I saw it with my own eyes.”

As they argued, a blue light flashed at the dungeon entrance. Someone emerged.

Silence.

They checked the timer: 48.34.

48 seconds?

A new record?

Lou Mi and Chi Lin walked out, Chi Lin slightly disappointed that despite clearing the dungeon within a minute, they hadn’t gotten the desired items.

Lou Mi, however, was stunned. “What just happened… 48 seconds?” She looked back at the timer, making sure she hadn’t misread it.

She and Chi Lin, on her first run, had just defeated the Nine-Tailed Cat in 48 seconds, setting a new record?

“But the items you wanted didn’t drop.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll queue again after the cooldown. I have a feeling we’ll get them today.”

Chi Lin looked up at the leaderboard displayed above the entrance. HighTowerMiyuki and Lin’s names were at the top, followed by their time and the words “New Record” in flashing red letters.

Below them, HighTowerMiyuki’s name appeared again.

[2: HighTowerMiyuki, A Bao 58.34]

Chi Lin: “So you and A Bao came here before.”

Lou Mi: “Ahem, ahem, it’s that incident I told you about.”

Chi Lin nodded slowly. Lou Mi’s heart raced, relieved she had confessed earlier.

“Jiejie, can I use the shield that dropped?”

“Huh? Sure.”

Chi Lin immediately equipped it, her eyes gleaming with determination. She was ready to conquer the dungeon.

They played until midnight, finally obtaining the Lunar Crown Staff. The other item could wait. More importantly, they improved their record to 46.11 seconds, a seemingly unbeatable time.

Over late-night snacks, Lou Mi asked, “Have you ever considered going pro? You’re the most talented player I’ve ever seen.”

Chi Lin: “It was just luck.”

Lou Lixing, sitting beside them, said, “Xiao Lin is still young. Let her finish her college entrance exams before she thinks about her career.”

Lou Mi knew it wasn’t her place to influence Chi Lin’s career choices, especially considering the high risk of occupational hazards in esports. She didn’t want Chi Lin to damage her precious brain.

…

The news of the new Snowy Peak Dungeon record swept through the Return to Jianghu forums and other gaming communities. Everyone knew HighTowerMiyuki and her little sister had shattered the previous record, “Lin” replacing “A Bao” on the leaderboard.

In her coastal villa, A Bao’s phone buzzed incessantly. She ignored it; it was probably all about Lou Mi.

But… little sister? Chi Lin?

A Bao tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair, her face hidden in the dim light of a single nightlight.

After a long silence, she pressed enter, connecting a video call with Xiao V.

“That Chi Lin… there’s something strange about her.”

Xiao V, holding a pet snake, looked intrigued. “Strange how?”

A Bao paused. “You’ve always wanted to try that method, haven’t you? Now’s your chance.”

Chapter 73

Just as Lou Mi was lost in the kiss, Chi Lin pulled away.

Lou Mi: “?”

“Uncle and Mother will be back soon,” Chi Lin said, her breathing slightly uneven.

“So what if they are? They’d be thrilled to see us kissing. Besides, my dad told me they’ll be back late.”

Chi Lin extricated herself from Lou Mi’s embrace. “Shouldn’t we prepare some late-night snacks for them?”

“Prepare what? They can just use the smart home system, over 300 options at their fingertips.”

Lou Mi’s desire, simmering all day, was ignited by the kisses, only to be abruptly extinguished. She was frustrated.

Seeing Lou Mi’s flushed face and breathlessness, Chi Lin knew her sudden withdrawal was unkind. But she still hadn’t found a way to restore Lou Mi’s memories. Triggering those memories, finding a way to restore her kingdom, was her priority.

She knew Her Majesty, she knew herself. If they succumbed to their desires, their focus would be compromised. And Lou Mi’s control over her was identical to Her Majesty’s.

Since childhood, Her Majesty had teased her about her ineptitude in matters of love. The heavens were fair; even the most brilliant scholar could be remarkably obtuse when it came to romance. Chi Lin admitted her lack of romantic skills, unlike other women who knew how to please their lovers.

But Her Majesty had been a patient teacher, slowly discovering Chi Lin’s preferences, her sensitivities, learning what made her happy, what made her heart flutter. Just like Lou Mi’s unexpected kiss that night, it had breached the dam of her suppressed emotions.

She disliked hesitation, but she had to be cautious, especially when it came to Her Majesty, to the fate of her kingdom.

Lou Mi’s kisses were possessive, but not forceful. It was the style she and Her Majesty had developed over years of intimacy, the style that intoxicated her the most.

Chi Lin knew that if she let Lou Mi continue, they might end up like that year they spent secluded in the Southern Palace, unwilling to be apart, neglecting their duties. The restoration of her kingdom would be delayed.

So… Chi Lin looked at the disappointed Lou Mi, her heart aching. She had to prioritize her mission. Once her kingdom was restored, and Lou Mi’s memories returned, she would devote herself to her, showering her with affection.

Lou Mi composed herself and patted the sofa. “Come here, try the cake I bought you.”

She opened the beautifully packaged box, removing the padding and ice pack. The cake was perfect, the strawberries fresh and inviting.

“And these flowers are for you, too.” Lou Mi picked up the bouquet and handed it to Chi Lin.

Chi Lin, having never seen black roses before, stared, mesmerized. “Thank you.”

“Don’t be so formal. Come here, open your mouth.” Lou Mi picked up a strawberry and offered it to Chi Lin.

Chi Lin reached for it, but Lou Mi insisted on feeding her. “I don’t know what you’re worried about, and I won’t pry into your secrets. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. But you can’t deprive me of all affection, can you? It’s just a strawberry, you won’t get pregnant.”

Chi Lin: “…” She sat down and opened her mouth.

Lou Mi placed half a strawberry on her tongue, then said, “I want some, too.”

Chi Lin: “But…”

Lou Mi leaned in, her arm around Chi Lin, trapping her against the sofa. As she kissed her, the bouquet fell to the floor, scattering black petals.

Lou Mi savored the sweetness of the strawberry, shared between their lips. Chi Lin leaned back further, her throat bobbing as she swallowed.

“You won’t get pregnant from kissing either,” Lou Mi said, licking her lips. “So sweet.”

Chi Lin averted her gaze, her legs curled up on the sofa. “It’s the strawberry you bought that’s sweet,” she mumbled.

Seeing her curled up, looking so vulnerable, Lou Mi wanted to unravel her completely. “You’re much sweeter than any strawberry.”

Chi Lin’s heart raced, a familiar wave of desire washing over her. She forced herself to pull away, grabbed a spoon, and started eating the cake.

After they finished the cake and cleaned up the scattered petals, Lou Mi refrained from any further advances and said goodnight.

“Does your head hurt?” Chi Lin asked.

Lou Mi: “Oh, you think I stopped kissing you because of my headache? You’ve rejected me so many times, wouldn’t it be rude to continue?”

“That’s not what I meant…” Chi Lin started to explain, her flustered attempts to find the right words endearing. Lou Mi, unable to resist teasing her further, smiled. “I have another match tomorrow, I have to be up at 9. If I don’t sleep now, are you going to carry me to the broadcasting building?”

“I’ll wake you up at 9,” Chi Lin offered.

“My human alarm clock can sleep with me tonight, to avoid the trouble of walking over.”

Chi Lin blushed, imagining something else entirely. “That’s… inappropriate. I might disturb your sleep.”

Lou Mi, who had only intended a playful remark, was amused by Chi Lin’s overthinking. Hands on her hips, she asked, “Are you reading too much into this, Chi Lin?”

Chi Lin had simply made a reasonable deduction, based on Lou Mi’s behavior, which mirrored Her Majesty’s. “Trust me, Jiejie, I know you better than you know yourself.”

Lou Mi leaned against her bedroom door, exasperated. “What are you implying, little rascal? Are you trying to frame me for crimes I haven’t even committed yet?”

Chi Lin smiled. “Go wash up and get ready for bed. I’ll give you a massage and some calming tea. You’ll sleep soundly through the night.”

Lured by the promise of a massage, Lou Mi happily complied.

Chi Lin prepared the tea, brought it to the bedroom, and began massaging Lou Mi’s head. Lou Mi, facing away from the edge of the bed, leaned her weight against Chi Lin.

“Doesn’t this feel heavy?” she asked.

Chi Lin: “Not at all.”

“What did you do today?”

“Homework. The holidays are almost over, and I still have some unfinished assignments.”

“I saw you went out this afternoon.”

Chi Lin frowned. “How did you know?”

“The smart home system is connected to my phone. It records everyone’s comings and goings.”

Chi Lin: “…” Why didn’t her own phone notify her of this?

“So, where did you go?” Suddenly, a thought struck Lou Mi. Opening her eyes, she asked, “Did you go see Tan Luo?”

“I did.”

Lou Mi looked up at Chi Lin. “Is she still alive?”

Chi Lin smiled. “I promised I wouldn’t break the law. Of course she’s alive.”

“How did you make her keep your secret?”

“With a pill.”

Lou Mi’s mind raced through every movie and TV show she’d ever seen, settling on the most likely scenario. “A pill? Poison?”

Chi Lin nodded.

Lou Mi: “You poisoned someone, and you say it’s not illegal? Do you have a different definition of ‘illegal’?”

“She might think it’s poison, but to me, it’s just an expired chocolate bean.”

“So you tricked her… Clever. Making her believe she’s been poisoned, needing the antidote to survive, forcing her to keep quiet. Is that it?”

“Jiejie is very perceptive.”

“Not as perceptive as you, little rascal. Makes me wonder what else you’ve tricked me into without my knowledge.”

The lighthearted atmosphere turned serious.

Chi Lin didn’t reply.

Lou Mi closed her eyes again, sipping her tea.

“Chi Lin,” she said, “I won’t ask about your affairs, but I have one condition.”

After a moment of silence, Chi Lin whispered, “What is it?”

Lou Mi held Chi Lin’s hand. “No matter what happens, don’t leave me.”

Her words almost broke Chi Lin’s composure. Leaving? She had never considered it. Together in life and in death. That vow had driven her across centuries, through this unfamiliar time, searching desperately.

Chi Lin took Lou Mi’s hand and knelt on one knee.

“Chi Lin?”

She imagined Her Majesty’s journey through the afterlife, drinking Meng Po’s soup alone, forgetting her beloved wife, forgetting their past… The thought of Her Majesty enduring such despair, alone, filled Chi Lin with anguish.

But now she was here. She had found her.

She wouldn’t let Her Majesty be alone, or suffer any further harm.

“I won’t leave you,” Chi Lin said. “I’ll always be by your side, taking care of you…” …for all eternity was the traditional vow. But eternity didn’t seem long enough.

Chi Lin changed the ending: “…until my soul dissipates.”

Lou Mi knew Chi Lin was hiding something. Her solemnity suggested her thoughts were far more profound than Lou Mi’s. Her vow, however, resonated deeply, leaving Lou Mi with a strange sense of… recognition.

Suddenly, a jolt of panic shot through Lou Mi. She felt like she had forgotten something crucial, an important promise unfulfilled. She tried to grasp it, but it eluded her. This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar; the holographic gaming syndrome often caused memory lapses, but this was different. This felt… ancient, and somehow connected to Chi Lin.

“Jiejie?” Seeing Lou Mi’s dazed expression, Chi Lin squeezed her hand.

Lou Mi snapped out of it and smiled. Her symptoms were getting stranger, the dreams of unfamiliar cities… She needed to talk to Dr. Bai, before she started hallucinating and scaring Chi Lin and her family.

“You scared me with that vow,” Lou Mi said. “You taking care of me? I’m seven years older, I should be the one taking care of you. And what’s this about your soul dissipating? Where are you going? You’re not going anywhere, you’re staying right here with me.”

Chi Lin smiled.

“Suddenly kneeling like that, I thought you were going to propose.”

Chi Lin, unfamiliar with modern proposal customs, realized the gesture of respect from Dayuan had been misinterpreted. “Get up. If anyone’s proposing, it should be me.”

Pulling Chi Lin up, Lou Mi thought, Thank goodness Xie Buyu and the others didn’t see that, they’d never let me live it down.

Chi Lin resumed the massage. As her fingers kneaded Lou Mi’s muscles, her mind drifted back to Dayuan. When Her Majesty had first confessed her love, it had been a tumultuous time, during her fight for the throne. Dayuan faced internal and external threats, Her Majesty surrounded by danger. Bound by their roles as monarch and subject, fearing their personal feelings might jeopardize the kingdom, Chi Lin had hesitated to reciprocate.

But Her Majesty had persisted, patiently courting her…

Back in the present, Chi Lin, lacking definitive proof and fearing intimacy might distract her from her mission, had distanced herself from Lou Mi. But Lou Mi hadn’t given up, continuing to shower her with gentle affection.

Their dynamic in both lifetimes was strikingly similar. It was as if history was repeating itself.

Chapter 72

“Jiejie, why bother arguing with a child? You’ve had a long day. You should rest.” Chi Lin genuinely didn’t want trivial matters to affect Lou Mi’s performance.

Lou Mi, however, glared at her. “Did you not hear what she said? She wants to be your wife! Such lofty ambitions for a little kid. And you expect me to just rest? Should I rest while you marry her?”

“…Of course not.”

“Will you make her leave?”

“I’ve tried, nicely and not so nicely. She just cries, and her crying gives me a headache.”

“Exactly. I know these little brats. You can’t fight them head-on. The more you push, the more they resist. Ordinary methods won’t work. You have to crush their confidence at the source.” Lou Mi pointed at the floor. “Show them who’s boss.”

“You sound very experienced,” Chi Lin remarked.

“I am. Years of battling a certain little rascal has taught me a thing or two.” Lou Mi cracked her knuckles. “You go play somewhere. I’ll handle this.”

Despite constantly lecturing Chi Lin about staying calm and not resorting to violence, Lou Mi now resembled a jealous monster ready to devour the child. Usually a reliable leader, when it came to Chi Lin, she turned into an unreasonable, possessive fiend.

The terms of their competition were set by Yan Mingming: if she lost, she would go home.

“And if you lose?” Yan Mingming challenged Lou Mi.

Such arrogance from a little brat…

“Same thing,” Lou Mi said, pointing at the door. “I’ll leave.”

“Deal! No backing out!” Yan Mingming pointed at Lou Mi.

“Fine,” Lou Mi said, folding her arms.

Yan Mingming borrowed Chi Lin’s phone and opened a game. “Let’s have a gaming competition!”

Lou Mi: “…”

Chi Lin, sitting on the sofa, ready to watch, offered Yan Mingming a friendly reminder. “Do you know who this big sister is?”

Yan Mingming shook her head defiantly. “I don’t know, and I don’t care. Just one question: does she dare to compete with me in Zombie Slayer?”

Lou Mi: “I could beat you with my feet.”

“Don’t underestimate me just because you’re older! I’m the city champion of Zombie Slayer!”

“Oh, city champion? Impressive. I guess I shouldn’t take this lightly. I’ll use my hands then.”

Thinking Lou Mi was scared, Yan Mingming smirked. Then she saw Lou Mi raise a single finger. “I’ll use one finger.”

Yan Mingming: “…”

Zombie Slayer was a 4D projection game, also playable on traditional consoles. Yan Mingming chose the 4D projection, assuming the older Lou Mi would be more familiar with traditional controls, giving her an advantage.

Having just won the city championship, Yan Mingming had dreams of becoming a professional esports player. She wasn’t afraid of adults! She would be like her idol, HighTowerMiyuki, conquering all!

Little Yan Mingming didn’t realize her career was about to suffer a major setback before it even began.

The game started.

Yan Mingming scored a perfect score in the first level.

The woman, casually munching on chips while tapping the virtual keyboard with one finger, also got a perfect score.

Yan Mingming: “…” Hmph, the first level is too easy, anyone can do it. It doesn’t prove anything.

But from the second level onwards, burrowing zombies appeared, easily catching unsuspecting players off guard. That idiot is only using one finger, she won’t be able to react in time!

They entered the second level. Yan Mingming, a veteran player, knew the characteristics and movements of every zombie. She wasn’t quite at the level of playing blindfolded, but her skills were honed.

Lou Mi, still eating chips, cleared the level with one finger, another perfect score.

Yan Mingming: “…” Calm down, Yan Mingming. You’ve faced tough opponents before. Even if she could handle the burrowing zombies, the third level’s horde would surely teach her a lesson! Dozens of zombies would swarm the house. Without lightning-fast reflexes, it was impossible to repel them. And reflexes were earned through years of practice, not luck.

Having sacrificed countless hours of watching My Hero Academia and Detective Conan to practice, how could she lose to a random stranger?

Yan Mingming took a deep breath, waiting for the third level.

Lou Mi cleared the third level with one finger, even finding time to open a new bag of chips.

The sound of the crinkling bag distracted Yan Mingming for a split second, letting a zombie through, which took a bite out of her character. Her composure began to crumble.

If Yan Mingming had been born 30 years earlier, she might have heard the stories of the seemingly ordinary monks who turned out to be martial arts masters. And Lou Mi was far from ordinary.

How could Yan Mingming have known she was facing a gaming legend? If her mother had let her watch Lou Mi’s streams, she might have recognized HighTowerMiyuki and wouldn’t have challenged her so readily.

By the sixth level, Yan Mingming’s confidence had completely shattered. Throwing down the virtual keyboard, she burst into tears.

Chi Lin’s eardrums protested, her hair standing on end. She rushed to comfort Yan Mingming, hoping to quiet her down.

Lou Mi, now stuffed with chips, was even more annoyed by Chi Lin’s comforting gesture. She glared at the crying child. “Crying after losing? Pathetic.”

Yan Mingming: “…” The tears stopped instantly.

Chi Lin: “…” When it comes to taunting, Lou Mi is still the champion.

“Alright,” Lou Mi said, standing up and picking up Yan Mingming’s jacket. “A deal’s a deal. Time to go home.”

Yan Mingming, however, shook her head and hid behind Chi Lin, clinging to her pants. “I’m not leaving!”

“Trying to weasel your way out? You said you’d go home if you lost. Did you lose or not?”

“You cheated!” Yan Mingming pointed at Lou Mi.

“How did I cheat?”

“You only used one finger! You can’t beat me with two hands!”

Yan Mingming’s unreasonable stubbornness reminded Lou Mi of Chi Lin. It was infuriating.

“I don’t know if I can beat you with two hands in a game, but I can beat your butt. Come here.” Lou Mi lunged at her.

Yan Mingming used Chi Lin as a shield, dodging frantically. The three of them ended up playing a bizarre game of tag, Yan Mingming almost pulling Chi Lin’s pants down.

Already sleep-deprived and suffering from a headache, Chi Lin, dizzy from all the commotion, grabbed Yan Mingming, peeled her off, and said sternly, “Do you see this big house? Do you know what’s hidden inside?”

Unlike Lou Mi, Chi Lin wasn’t good at scaring children, but she had her methods.

Yan Mingming was drawn to Chi Lin’s gentle demeanor. Seeing her suddenly turn cold, she shivered. “W-What’s hidden inside…?”

Chi Lin slowly looked towards the yard. Yan Mingming followed her gaze.

“Is it…?”

Chi Lin smiled. “What do you think?”

Gulp. Yan Mingming’s hand turned icy.

“I don’t believe you,” she said. “Teacher said there are no ghosts.”

“There might not be ghosts anywhere else, but there are here.”

“Where?!” Yan Mingming yelled, trying to sound brave.

“Come, I’ll show you.”

Chi Lin led her to the yard. Opening the glass door, Yan Mingming saw nothing but trees in the dim light.

After a quick scan, she declared, “You lied! There’s nothing here…”

Chi Lin flicked her wrist, a seemingly casual gesture, but a blast of energy shot out, snapping a tree branch.

Yan Mingming screamed and ran back inside. Even Lou Mi flinched.

…

“If she doesn’t leave, I’m seriously going to hang upside down from a tree and pretend to be a ghost.”

After driving Yan Mingming home and returning, the apartment was finally quiet. Lou Mi’s good mood had been dampened by the little brat, and her exhaustion returned.

Chi Lin corrected her, “I was practicing, not pretending to be a ghost.”

“Tch, it was a figure of speech. Do you have no sense of humor?” Lou Mi wasn’t criticizing Chi Lin, she actually enjoyed her serious demeanor.

But her casual remark made Chi Lin reflect. “Jiejie, how should I improve?” She stepped closer, looking at Lou Mi earnestly.

Lou Mi noticed the moles under Chi Lin’s eyes seemed slightly redder than before, like two embers glowing in the light. That’s how Chi Lin felt to her: a youthful exterior concealing an old soul, a fiery spirit constrained by some unknown force.

Lou Mi stared, mesmerized. A slight frown creased Chi Lin’s brow.

Why isn’t she saying anything?

Chi Lin didn’t know what Lou Mi was thinking, but she knew the moment Lou Mi’s lips touched hers.

Lou Mi cupped her face, kissing her deeply, tasting her.

Feeling Chi Lin tremble, Lou Mi pulled back, studying her.

The kiss ended too quickly for Chi Lin. She had expected it to last longer. Slowly opening her eyes, she blinked, still slightly dazed.

“So you do like me that much,” Lou Mi said, her voice a low murmur, caressing Chi Lin’s face. “That excited by my kisses?”

Chi Lin: “…Jiejie, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? I’ll make you something.”

“I’ve already had half my meal. Now I’ll finish it. Be a good girl and let me eat my fill.”

The “meal” Lou Mi referred to was Chi Lin.

As Lou Mi leaned in again, Chi Lin’s eyes held a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

Lou Mi couldn’t resist.

As she approached, Chi Lin closed her eyes.

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.