Episode 8: Who Will Be the Lifelong Partner? Part 4
“Juncheng, have you finished packing your luggage?”
“Oh, mostly. It’s not like I have much to pack. Are you ready on your end too?”
“Hmph hmph! I’ve been ready for a long time!”
Li Nai, her backpack already on, gave me a peace sign. It was then that I noticed she was wearing hiking gear – a combination of shorts and leggings underneath… So, we were going hiking?
Although I was also dressed in sportswear and sneakers for ease of movement, hiking…
“Alright! Let’s go, let’s go!”
Seeing Li Nai’s energetic demeanor, I felt utterly helpless.
Because today is December 31st.
And it’s currently ten o’clock at night.
And we are about to go hiking.
What the heck…
I still stand by the principle of doing what I promise.
However, I’ve been living quite a stable life recently.
Moreover, everyone else has become significantly more well-behaved. Take Keling for example; lately, she only occasionally bothers me, but she never stays overnight.
She doesn’t have much physical contact with me, which is a stark contrast to how she was before, acting as if she wanted to devour me whole.
While it’s good that my younger sister has become more obedient, I confess I’m a bit uneasy not knowing the fundamental reason for her change.
But since nothing significant has happened by the end of the year, and it seems I’ll be able to usher in the new year peacefully, I guess I was overthinking things.
So, during this period, I’ve basically been going back and forth between Yu Hui and Yi, occasionally visiting Zhao Zili to gather more information about Xue Qing and her group.
There has been some progress, at least. We’ve confirmed that they might not be in this city.
This means the three lolis might have ended up in another region, and we might need to embark on a world tour to find them.
I’m used to long time spans, and a year or two feels like nothing in my perception, so I’m not anxious at all.
After all, I’ll be repeating the ‘process of searching countless times’ later…
I hope there will be some progress next year.
Let’s consider finding Xue Qing and the others as our New Year’s wish and target for the coming year.
While thinking about these things, I followed Li Nai out of the house.
It was rather strange that no one else came out to see us off. Could it be because I’ve been sleeping on Li Nai’s upper bunk recently, causing them to get upset?
And no one expressed a desire to join us either, which is peculiar.
Light Novel
I had thought this trip would eventually turn into a large group trip with ten people.
So, this means Li Nai convinced everyone else, making this trip a date for just the two of us.
I genuinely don’t know what kind of magic she used to get everyone else to comply without any complaints. She’s amazing.
No, the more I think about it, the more I feel that Li Nai’s control over others is on an unfathomable level. Although I feel a bit resentful, seeing Li Nai so at ease and unhurried, I feel as if I’m witnessing something divine.
“Hm? What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I suddenly have a bit of respect for you…”
“Hahaha! Have you finally realized how amazing I, Li Nai, am? Hmph hmph hmph. Do you want to take me as your master? I’ll teach you how to effectively pick up girls!”
I rolled my eyes and didn’t respond to Li Nai’s comment, instead changing the subject.
“Speaking of which, Li Nai, you’ve chosen a rather dangerous hairstyle today…”
Another difference from Li Nai’s usual self was the way her ponytail was done today.
Normally, it’s a high, energetic ponytail, but the one she tied before leaving today was a low ponytail, and it was even a side ponytail.
In other words, the so-called: wife hairstyle.
“This? A side ponytail looks more mature, doesn’t it? Since I need to be ladylike later, changing my image would be better.”
“You? Li Nai? Ladylike?”
How can Li Nai and ladylike be equated?
In which universe is that formula valid? The absurd universe?
“What are you saying! That mocking expression! I’m telling you, when I’m being ladylike, you won’t even recognize me!”
“Riiight.”
“So perfunctory! That makes me so angry!”
Li Nai puffed out her cheeks and leaned in, only to be pushed back by my palm.
“It just doesn’t suit you.”
“Tch! I’ll make you see me in a new light later!”
After exiting the building, I noticed there were surprisingly quite a few pedestrians on the street, seemingly heading to the central plaza for the New Year’s Eve countdown.
The building we live in is in the most central part of the entire city. With just over an hour left until the new year, people are only now coming out for the celebrations.
“Since everyone celebrates the Lunar New Year, there’s not much of a New Year’s atmosphere on New Year’s Day itself.”
“Hmph hmph~ That’s why it’s convenient to travel around~”
“It’s convenient to travel around indeed.” SF Light Novel
Thinking about this exhausts me. Who goes hiking at eleven o’clock at night…
“What are you doing, Juncheng? Hurry up and get in the car.”
In the blink of an eye, Li Nai had already hailed a taxi and was beckoning me from inside.
Huh? When did she call it? Did she use a mobile app to call a taxi while we were still at home?
I walked over and got into the back of the taxi, scratching my head as I spoke to Li Nai.
“I mean, don’t we have cars at home? I could just drive us wherever we’re going…”
“No, I’m sure Huahua has put a tracker on the car at home, so a taxi is safer.”
“Ah?”
What did she mean by that? I was certain our car would be tracked by Lan, but why avoid her?
“Okay! Then, to the airport! Please take us there, driver.”
My confused question overlapped with the driver’s response, and the driver asked with a hint of confusion.
“Um, passengers, where exactly are you headed?”
“To the airport, the airport. He’s just a bit confused, hehe.”
“…Alright, please close the door.”
“…”
So, we were going to the airport. A night flight, then.
That makes sense. A night hike, even for Li Nai, who lacks common sense, wouldn’t be proposed like this.
So, it was actually to catch a flight…
“Hey Li Nai, where are we going?”
“…Where?”
“Hey, I’m asking you, stop playing dumb.”
Li Nai looked at me, bit her lip, and said with innocent charm.
“I’m not playing dumb, because I genuinely haven’t decided where we’re going yet.”
“Don’t yell in the car, it’s very impolite, Juncheng.”
Do you think I *want* to yell like this!
“Then why are you wearing hiking gear!”
“Because it’s the most convenient clothing for movement?”
–The same reason as me.
This time, I was truly shocked.
SF Light Novel
Does this girl really have no preparation whatsoever?
I mean, it’s been so long since you invited me on a New Year’s trip, and you *still* haven’t prepared anything?
Is this truly a spontaneous trip?
Is she an idiot?
No, this girl *is* an idiot.
But I never imagined she would be this brainless.
I felt utterly drained and couldn’t even bring myself to talk anymore.
“…Whatever you want…”
I couldn’t even be bothered to ask about the destination anymore. I’ll just let her have her way.
Around 10:30 PM, we arrived at the airport together.
There were very few people at the airport. After all, who would take a flight on New Year’s Eve…
Upon reaching the service counter in the airport lobby, Li Nai inquired about the nearest flights and purchased two tickets for a flight scheduled to depart at 11:55 PM.
The strange thing was that Li Nai didn’t choose the flight based on the destination but rather on the departure time.
Is this why she has no plans?
Since we needed to board early, we immediately headed to the check-in counter to get our boarding passes.
“Seriously, do we need to rush this much? It’s not too late now. Shouldn’t we plan our destination first before booking the tickets…?”
“No, we must board the plane ‘today’.”
“Then why didn’t you buy the tickets earlier…?”
“The plane tickets must be bought ‘on the spot’.”
“So why? Never mind, I won’t ask. I’ll need an explanation later.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you everything about it on the plane, Juncheng. Don’t rush. You know what they say, haste makes waste, right?”
She even cupped her chest. Such a lack of scruples. However, I do like that gesture.
Once on the plane, there were indeed very few people… No, there were only the two of us. Isn’t this a charter flight?
The flight attendant greeted us warmly. Since there were only two customers, the service was naturally very personalized.
This flight attendant was quite talkative. While pouring us coffee, she asked.
“May I ask what your relationship is?”
“We are…”
“I am his wife.”
“Huh?”
I let out another idiotic sound.
What did Li Nai just say?
Wife?
No, although Li Nai is indeed… Wait a moment.
I couldn’t quite process it.
What in the world is going on?
“We’re on our honeymoon. We were classmates, but my husband is still not accustomed to the change in his status. Please excuse us, hehe.”
“Hehe, your husband is indeed quite innocent.”
*She’s* the innocent one!
No, what is this demure lady-like demeanor?
Even though Li Nai is sporting the wife hairstyle now, she’s actually exuding the charm of a married woman?
“Then I won’t disturb you any further. I wish you a pleasant journey. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you need anything.”
The flight attendant didn’t intrude on our private moment and left after serving us coffee.
Meanwhile, I was still reeling.
The plane took off.
Li Nai checked her phone. It was just past midnight.
The new year had arrived.
“Hmm, then it’s about time I told you about what happened before, Juncheng.”
“I’m about to get an explanation….”
“That ‘truce’ we had before was less of a ‘truce’ and more of ‘preparations for war’.”
…Huh?
“Weren’t everyone quite frustrated that no one won the battle during the Paradox World incident?”
Why are we bringing that up? A painful memory… Could there be a connection?
“Although it’s impossible to have you all to myself now, ‘getting there first’ still exists. Setting aside the right to have children, you haven’t married anyone yet, right?”
…Hey, could it be that–
“That’s right. The truce was until ‘last year’. Starting from now, New Year’s Day at midnight, the war has begun.”
Li Nai said, raising her index finger with a smile.
“The title of the primary wife… this trip is to decide your lifelong partner.”
