Chapter 95: Meeting the Parents
The Mi family’s steward was waiting for them at the academy gates. The carriage carried them out of the North City District and into the South City District.
The Mi family was one of the three dominant forces in the South City District, renowned as Silver Moon City’s real estate tycoons.
When the Mystic Academy was first established, the then-head of the Mi family, a man of remarkable foresight, had invested heavily, purchasing undeveloped land in the North City District and constructing new housing.
Initially, it had been a loss-making venture. However, as the academy’s enrollment grew and students sought private accommodations, their investment began to pay off.
Later, the Mi family partnered with the academy, constructing new school buildings and dormitories, gradually shedding their “nouveau riche” image and rising to become one of the five most influential families in Silver Moon City.
Eager to secure a marriage alliance with a powerful faction, they had arranged for Mi Xue’er to meet with Xiao Mie, Yu Yue, and Lan Ke. However, unwilling to be a pawn in their schemes, she had sabotaged each meeting, leading to their failure.
It was worth mentioning that Lan Ke, enraged by her rejection, had attempted to use his connections with the City Lord’s Mansion to pressure the Mi family into submission. It was Instructor Yu Xuan who had intervened, putting an end to the conflict.
In her previous life, Mi Xue’er’s goal had been to enter the Sacred Land Academy and become a strong, independent woman like Instructor Yu Xuan, someone others could rely on.
Reborn into this life, she was even less inclined to obey her family’s wishes. Instead, she intended to use this opportunity to win over the man she loved.
Inside the carriage, she rapidly briefed Yan Zhen on their “backstory,” or rather, her fantasies from her previous life.
“Listen carefully, Little Brother Yan Zhen. I fell in love with you at first sight, and that’s why I let you move into my house. As we spent more time together, we grew closer, and you started to develop feelings for me. Then, you became a star student at the academy, and my love for you deepened. Finally, when you won first place in the monthly assessment, I confessed my feelings, and we became a couple… Got it?”
He nodded. Apart from the “living together” part, it was mostly consistent with the “relationship setup” described in the script.
“And about our intimacy level… to convince them to give up, we’ll just say we’ve already… you know…”
— What?! Weren’t we supposed to be “not quite there yet”?
He eyed her skeptically. “Senior Sister Xue’er, anyone with experience can tell if a woman is still… a virgin.”
She swatted his arm playfully. “I know, silly! My mother is sharp! I’m just saying this to show her how serious I am!”
Indeed, her mother was sharp. She had seen through their charade immediately. To prove her sincerity, Mi Xue’er had boldly kissed him on the cheek, only to be met with her mother’s scorn.
“That’s it? A kiss on the cheek makes you a couple?”
Mi Xue’er had retorted, “We’re having a pure and innocent romance! It’s all about the heart, not the physical stuff! That’s what’s popular these days! Not like you old fogies, jumping into bed before you even know each other! You have no idea what romance is!”
This had sparked a heated argument between mother and daughter, leaving her father and Yan Zhen awkwardly sipping their tea, too embarrassed to speak.
Remembering the impending family drama, Yan Zhen’s toes curled in his shoes.
“Oh, and Little Brother Yan Zhen, if we’re forced to engage in any… intimate acts, you have to act natural.”
“OK.”
A kiss on the cheek was fine. He was used to Yan Meng’er’s daily kisses.
“What does ‘OK’ mean?”
“It means ‘fine.’”
“Then let’s practice.”
“Alright.”
“First, linking arms.”
She looped her arm through his, her chest pressing against his side. He could feel the distinct shape of her breasts through her uniform.
Her subtle fragrance filled his senses, his heart skipping a beat. He was no longer the innocent child he had once been. Having tasted the forbidden fruit, he was more sensitive to such… suggestive contact.
She leaned her head against his shoulder, playing the role of the delicate, dependent girlfriend.
“Don’t be nervous, Little Brother Yan Zhen. Just treat me like Meng’er. She always links arms with you, right?”
He forced himself to relax. “Well, she’s my cousin. We’ve been close since we were kids.”
“But I’m your Senior Sister Xue’er! We’ve been living together for over three months, eating together, going to school together… We’re practically family, right?”
“That’s true, but men and women are different. Don’t you feel… uncomfortable?”
“Of course I do! That’s why we need to practice! So we don’t get caught later and ruin everything! How about we try hugging next, Little Brother Yan Zhen?” She gazed at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness, anticipation, shyness, and a carefully concealed excitement.
He blinked. Wasn’t linking arms enough? They just needed to appear affectionate, not act out a romantic drama. Why practice hugging?
“Hugging isn’t necessary, is it?”
“Of course it is! Couples hug all the time! It’s a sign of affection!”
“Well… alright.”
Delighted by his agreement, she slowly opened her arms, gently pulling him into an embrace. She pressed her chest against his, as if trying to bring their hearts closer.
Her heart pounded in her chest, her cheeks flushing, despite her attempts to appear calm. Her body betrayed her true feelings.
“Hug me back, Little Brother Yan Zhen! Otherwise, my parents will think you don’t like me!”
“Okay.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist.
She closed her eyes, sighing contentedly as she inhaled his intoxicating scent.
“Senior Sister Xue’er, are we done yet?”
“Ah? I think so… How about we try a kiss on the cheek next? I’m… I’m worried my mother will see through us and make us do something more intimate to prove our relationship.” Her cheeks burned, her embarrassment tinged with a hint of guilt.
— Am I being too demanding? Will he get suspicious? He had agreed to help her because he didn’t have feelings for her. If he discovered her true intentions, he would definitely back out.
Yan Zhen, meanwhile, was struggling to contain his amusement. Your mother will see through us, but a kiss on the cheek will only earn us her scorn. You’re so naive, Senior Sister Xue’er.
Although this “practice session” wasn’t in the script, he wasn’t opposed to it. He knew the cheek-kissing scene was inevitable.
“As long as you’re okay with it, Senior Sister Xue’er. It’s not like I’m losing anything.”
“Of course I’m okay with it!” She wanted to shout with joy. She bit her lip, her voice shy. “Here I go… Close your eyes, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
He obediently closed his eyes.
Gazing at his face, so close to hers, she swallowed hard, her hands cupping his cheeks. Her gaze was drawn to his lips, their rosy hue beckoning her.
— I wish I could kiss him properly.
The thought sparked a surge of desire within her.
— No, no! He’ll be angry if I do that!
With immense willpower, she suppressed her urges. Tilting her head, she gently pressed her lips against his cheek.
Chu~
He felt the soft pressure of her lips, the faint dampness of her breath. It would definitely leave a mark.
Just as he was about to open his eyes, he felt her tongue brush against his cheek. Then, her lips returned, lingering, sucking gently as they trailed towards his jaw.
He abruptly opened his eyes, his hands cupping her face, stopping her.
“Senior Sister Xue’er, what… what are you doing?”
Her lips were still moist, her face flushed crimson. “K-kissing your cheek! That’s what it says in the books!”
— That’s what you call a cheek kiss? That was practically foreplay! What kind of books are you reading?!
He was speechless. “Senior Sister Xue’er, a quick peck on the cheek is enough to show affection. Anything more is… well, it’s something couples do in private.”
“R-really? I didn’t know… I thought kissing someone on the cheek meant kissing their entire face…” She blinked innocently, feigning ignorance, though inwardly, she was relieved.
She had been too hasty, too eager to… do things with him, losing control and nearly making a huge mistake.
If he thought she was a loose woman and distanced himself from her, it would be over.
— Calm down, Mi Xue’er! You endured over a decade of loneliness in your previous life! Why can’t you control yourself now?
She quickly released him. “I’m sorry, Little Brother Yan Zhen! Please don’t be angry! I apologize!”
“It’s fine. It was just a misunderstanding.”
He wasn’t bothered. Despite her usual boldness, she was actually quite conservative. It was understandable that she was unfamiliar with the nuances of romantic relationships.
“So… can we continue practicing?”
More practice? He frowned. Linking arms, hugging, kissing on the cheek… wasn’t that enough? They were just having dinner and spending the night. Why practice so many intimate acts? They weren’t a real couple. This was just an act.
Seeing her eagerness, he realized she was probably experiencing the novelty of a romantic relationship, wanting to explore all the different ways couples expressed affection.
Fine. I agreed to be her fake boyfriend, so I might as well indulge her a little. As long as he maintained his persona and didn’t waver, everything would be fine.
“What else do you want to practice, Senior Sister Xue’er?”
She blushed. “Can I… sit on your lap?”
— See? She’s just using “practice” as an excuse to explore her curiosity.
He suddenly found her endearing. Despite calling herself “Senior Sister,” she was acting more like a “Junior Sister,” even more clingy than Yan Meng’er.
“Of course. Go ahead.”
She bounced onto his lap, her hands gripping his wrists, urging him to wrap his arms around her.
His heart skipped a beat. Compared to Yan Ruyu’s full, round buttocks, which overflowed his grasp, Mi Xue’er’s were smaller, firmer, more… springy, like high-quality jelly.
His hands rested on her stomach, the soft, yielding flesh beneath his palms mirroring the sensation of her buttocks.
It seemed her entire body was like this.
He realized something: Senior Sister Xue’er’s body, like her personality, was full of energy and vitality, inviting touch and exploration.
After trying sitting on his lap, she wanted to try his lap pillow, but the carriage had already arrived at the Mi family estate.
“Don’t be nervous, Little Brother Yan Zhen! Just follow my lead!”
“Don’t worry, Senior Sister.”
When it came to acting, he was a professional! She should be following his lead!
Stepping out of the carriage, he straightened his back, puffed out his chest, and confidently offered her his arm.
She blinked, then happily looped her arm through his, clinging to him even more tightly than a real couple.
The old steward, leading the way, narrowed his eyes. Something about the young miss and her new “boyfriend” seemed… off. But he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
…
They entered the main house, following the steward to the dining room. A lavish feast had been prepared. Mi Xue’er’s parents and uncles were already seated, leaving two empty seats for them. It felt like an interrogation.
She released his arm and greeted them respectfully. “Father, Mother, Uncles, it’s good to see you.”
The elders nodded in acknowledgment. Her father, Mi Shan, however, got straight to the point. “So, this is your boyfriend from the academy? He looks younger than you.”
“So what?” she retorted. “I’m three years older than him. As the saying goes, ‘A woman three years older brings wealth and prosperity.’”
“It’s not our family that’s getting the wealth and prosperity.”
“If you’re just going to pick on him, Father, then we’re leaving.” She glared at him, her expression cold.
Mi Shan quickly waved them towards the empty seats.
“Your name is Yan Zhen, is that right? As far as I know, only the City Lord of Martial Tang City bears the surname Yan.”
Yan Zhen nodded. “That’s correct, Patriarch. I’m from Martial Tang City. The City Lord is my grandfather.”
“I’ve heard of General Yan Lie’s reputation. To think you’re his grandson! What a coincidence!” Mi Shan chuckled. “However, being the Young City Lord isn’t enough to become my son-in-law. Which class are you in at the Mystic Academy?”
“Advanced Class 1.”
“Oh?” He finally sensed Yan Zhen’s aura, his expression turning surprised. “Seventeen years old and already a Seventh Star Mystic One. Impressive. But still a bit lacking compared to him.”
“Who?”
“To be frank, the Prince’s son personally proposed to Xue’er, offering her the position of his official wife.” Mi Shan stroked his beard. “That young man is also a student at the Mystic Academy. Nineteen years old and already a One Star Mystic Scholar. He’s met the graduation requirements and will be leaving for the Sacred Land Academy as soon as their ship arrives.”
He was referring to one of the three Advanced Class students on the verge of graduating: Prince Ming Kong. Rumor had it that he had been scouted by an envoy from the Sacred Land Academy last year. Upon arrival, he would be accepted as a disciple without needing to undergo any assessments.
Talented, well-connected, handsome, and with a decent personality, he was practically the perfect son-in-law. And he had personally proposed, clearly smitten with Mi Xue’er.
The Mi family elders were all delighted. However, Mi Xue’er had brought Yan Zhen home. They needed to make him realize he was out of his league and back down!
That was the plan, anyway. However, Mi Xue’er simply chuckled, her tone dismissive.
Mi Shan frowned. “What’s so funny, Xue’er? What’s wrong with Prince Ming Kong?”
“You don’t understand, Father. Prince Ming Kong is in the same year as Xiao Mie. He’s always been overshadowed by Xiao Mie, stuck in second place until he finally reached the Mystic Scholar realm.”
“So what?” he retorted. “That Xiao family monster is a freak of nature! He suppressed his cultivation for nearly a year and still managed to reach the One Star Mystic Scholar realm last month! Being overshadowed by him doesn’t mean Prince Ming Kong is lacking.”