Chapter 129: Echoes of Melody and Mystery

Lin Zheng Ran and Lily took a car back to the studio, then walked home together.

On the way home, Lily kept checking the New Star List, which didn’t usually get much attention.

Even with fans of Lun Jie and Shi Di showing interest, the competition in the small town wouldn’t have drawn much heat, but Jiang Cheng’s drama changed that.

Somehow, it sparked curiosity among many netizens about what this music contest was all about.

People started listening, and by a twist of fate, the rankings’ play counts soared to unprecedented levels.

In just an hour, there were already several thousand music plays.

Lily’s song climbed to fifteenth place.

“Fifteenth!” Lily exclaimed, jumping at every rank update, her twin ponytails bouncing with her excitement.

Lin Zheng Ran reminded her, “It’s good to care about the results, but you don’t have to keep staring at your phone. Are you that nervous?”

“Nervous?”

Lily quickly put her phone away, acting as casual as Lin Zheng Ran. “I’m not nervous at all! I told you I’d win for sure. I’m just checking.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked ahead, thinking that both Heqing and Lily’s competitions were wrapping up. Though the music contest results wouldn’t come for another two weeks, these two young women could finally relax for a bit.

On their way home, a couple brushed past Lin Zheng Ran and Lily on the street.

The couple held hands, chatting and laughing sweetly.

Lin Zheng Ran caught snippets of their conversation—it seemed they were talking about a movie.

“I heard that new movie, Love Farce, is really popular. Let’s go see it tomorrow?”

“Sure! We’ll head to the city for the movie, and book a hotel nearby for the night so we don’t have to come back.”

As Lily and Lin Zheng Ran walked on, they overheard the couple’s chat.

Her face turned bright red.

She felt a twinge of envy—not about staying overnight, but about going on a date.

But then she realized something: She was already Lin Zheng Ran’s girlfriend, so why envy that?

Wait—if she’s his girlfriend, why does she have to wait until the competition ends to go on a date or watch a movie with him?

Why not just go now?

Lin Zheng Ran noticed Lily’s daydreaming expression and guessed what was on her mind. “What’s got you thinking?”

“Huh?” Lily clasped her hands behind her back, blushing. “Nothing, really. I wasn’t thinking about anything. Well, maybe just…” She mustered her courage and said,

“The results won’t be out for another two weeks, but tomorrow’s a holiday, National Day. Doesn’t that mean you should spend it with me? Are we still practicing songs?”

She hesitated, struggling with her tsundere side: “It’s rare for the competition to end, so maybe we could do something else tomorrow…”

She waited eagerly for Lin Zheng Ran’s response.

But he teased her on purpose: “Not much else to do, right? Don’t you like practicing songs? I think it’s fun.”

Lily thought he was such a big idiot!

Why couldn’t she just call him that? He totally was! Totally!

She frowned: “That’s not what I meant. Practicing is fun, but…”

“But?” Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Lily paused: “But… the competition’s over for now, so maybe we could…” She looked down, her face flushing red. “Maybe go on a date… We can’t just practice every day. I want to go on a date.”

“I didn’t catch that. Could you say it louder?”

Lily shouted, her face crimson: “Oh, come on! I said I want to go on a date! I want to date you, you idiot! We’ve finally become boyfriend and girlfriend, so things shouldn’t stay the same as before!”

Lin Zheng Ran watched her shy reaction after spilling it all.

The young woman lowered her head again: “But it’s up to you, I guess. Even if I want to, it only works if you’re free.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied straightforwardly:

“Let me think. I promised you two things before, so how about we split them? After the results in two weeks, I’ll take you to the zoo. For now, to celebrate your spot on the New Star List, I’ll go to the movies with you tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Huh?” Lily’s face lit up with surprise, and she looked up, her eyes sparkling. “Really? For real? You’ll go to the movies with me tomorrow?!”

“Yeah, tomorrow we’ll catch that movie the couple mentioned—the one about love.”

“Great! I’ll buy the tickets! My treat!” She asked excitedly, “So, what time do we meet tomorrow?”

“Eight in the morning. You’ve been tired these past couple of days, so sleep in a bit.”

“Okay! I’ll call you at eight!”

Lily grinned happily, her steps lighter and more bouncy as they walked.

They reached the crossroads near their homes and waved goodbye.

Lily bounced all the way back home.

She kept muttering to herself, “Movies, movies… Watching movies with Zheng Ran.”

She was just a bundle of joy, like an excited kid.

[Over these days, you’ve accompanied Miss Jiang in a grand martial arts sect competition. Under your guidance, she dominated the event, shocking everyone and securing a top spot. But during the competition, you discovered a dark force trying to sabotage it.]

[By chance, you learned that the Human Emperor herself was pulling strings behind the scenes. Since you have some history with her, you discussed it briefly and decisively eliminated the dark forces, letting the competition proceed smoothly.]

[During the event, you sneaked out at night to meet your arranged fiancée from your family. You thought she was the eldest princess, Jiang Qian, but to your surprise, it was the Empress of the Imperial City herself.]

[Turns out, she is the one your family arranged as your wife.]

[As a great ruler, the Empress admires your talents. In your conversation, an accident led her to fall into your arms, and you marveled at how soft and sweet she felt.]

Lin Zheng Ran: “????”

[She invited you to stop wandering and stay by her side forever, promising rich rewards.]

[You knew it was a choice, but the opportunities and treasures in the martial world far outweigh those in any kingdom, and you hate being tied down. So, you firmly rejected the Human Emperor’s invitation, leaving her a bit disappointed.]

[Yet, her curiosity about you kept her from getting angry. Instead, she promised to be your friend and never oppose you. She even said that if not for her duties, she’d consider wandering with you. But some things just aren’t meant to be yet.]

[You parted ways with the Empress of the Imperial City and continued your adventures with Miss Jiang, awaiting the competition’s final results.]

[From this encounter, you didn’t gain much on the surface—just Miss Jiang’s strength improved, giving you double the feedback. But befriending the Empress isn’t something anyone can do. Unbeknownst to you, she subtly wove a thread of affection into you.]

[Rulers rarely love, but by giving you that last thread of affection, it shows your fates are intertwined. If she had a choice, you’d be her only one. What the future holds for you two is still unknown.]

[Through this competition, you gained two levels in spiritual energy, five in stamina, five in strength, and five in energy.]

[Your spiritual energy level is now fifty-five—Refining Qi stage.]

[Your current attributes are:]

[Strength: Eighty-five—Unlocked the ability for strength that doesn’t fade and immunity to diseases.]

[Energy: Seventy-three—Unlocked the ability for robust offspring and seven times a night.]

[Stamina: Seventy-four—At seventy or above, you gain double stamina and triple endurance. Unlocked.]

[All Things Affinity: Level one—Basic affinity lets you master anything quickly and surpass others.]

[New—you’ve gained double stamina and triple endurance. From now on, your body won’t tire from anything short of intense battles.]

[Your core is strengthened, spiritual energy level increases by two more, and when you focus on work, your concentration and endurance triple.]

[Due to this endurance breakthrough, your lifespan extends and can grow further with stamina.]

[Endurance can react dreamily with your seven-times-a-night ability. If you care for your wives regularly, their aging slows, and their lifespans increase with your… activities. But the limit is still based on you.]

[Your spiritual energy level is now fifty-seven.]

After listening to the system spill it all like pouring beans, Lin Zheng Ran felt his body’s strength surge dramatically.

Now at level fifty-seven, just three more to sixty, and he’ll unlock a new talent skill.

He’s only in high school, and it’s progressing faster than he imagined.

By university, his level might be way higher than expected.

His phone buzzed with a message from Han Wenwen.

Lin Zheng Ran knew this fox was getting impatient; she’d sent him three or four messages since the afternoon competition ended.

He’d been too busy the past couple of days to reply.

Without delay, he headed straight to Han Wenwen’s place to see what she’d been up to.

He walked into the familiar residential area and reached the door of the fox’s rental house.

He knocked.

“Brother Zheng Ran?!” Han Wenwen’s voice inside sounded delighted, but quickly shifted to a jealous tone: “Just come in, no need to knock.”

Lin Zheng Ran used his key to open the door.

As soon as he stepped in, a strong, alluring scent hit him.

It was Han Wenwen’s fragrance—impossibly captivating.

Being around her often made it less overwhelming, but after a few days apart, it was intensely seductive.

On top of that, the room smelled of fried chicken.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced up, his brow furrowing slightly.

There stood Han Wenwen in an outfit like ancient robes—hanfu with red and white patterns, her straight legs peeking out from the hem.

She was at the small frying pan, learning to make fried chicken cutlets.

Her hair was styled in a retro way, like a fox spirit transformed, but it suited her perfectly. Her long black hair cascaded like a silky waterfall over her shoulders and back.

Lin Zheng Ran’s first thought was that she looked like the Demonic Cult Enchantress.

“Did you time-travel? When did you get back?” Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Han Wenwen glanced at him with her fox-like eyes and smiled seductively: “Just now, young master Lin. Remember to close the door.”

Lin Zheng Ran wasn’t sure what she was up to, but Han Wenwen was always like this—never normal for long.

He walked over.

Han Wenwen turned off the heat and used a spatula to cut a thin piece of chicken cutlet.

She speared it with a toothpick and held it up to Lin Zheng Ran’s mouth: “Ah~ Young master Lin, try our demon clan’s mountain chicken. It’s delicious.”

Lin Zheng Ran looked at her outfit, especially with that expression—it was more enchanting than usual. But he wasn’t an ordinary guy.

He opened his mouth and tasted it.

Han Wenwen asked, “How is it?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “It’s okay, but a bit burnt.”

Han Wenwen rolled her eyes at him and huffed, dropping the act: “Brother Zheng Ran, you’re kidding! I’ve been practicing all day. Let me try.”

She took a piece for herself, chewed it carefully, then looked disappointed: “It is burnt… Maybe I’m just not cut out for cooking?”

Lin Zheng Ran sat on the bed, eyeing the messy hanfu packaging: “Did you buy this online?”

Han Wenwen spun around near him: “I saw a clothing store open today while I was out shopping and spotted this. What do you think? Doesn’t it look great?”

Lin Zheng Ran said sincerely, “With a few tails added, you’d look just like a real fox spirit.”

Han Wenwen burst out laughing, bending over with her hands on her knees, staring close into his eyes: “If it didn’t, I wouldn’t have bought it. I got it to tempt you, Brother Zheng Ran—to lure you in and devour you~”