Ex-Girlfriend – Chapter 114
by Little PandaEXTRA
I’ll wait for her here.
After saying this, Xin Lan didn’t speak again.
Because she knew Wan Yan would definitely come.
It was an inexplicable certainty; even Xin Lan didn’t know where that confidence came from.
Ling Jiu was still chattering away, talking about things after getting out.
Xin Lan knew she was doing this so she wouldn’t feel it was too quiet around her.
【Host, are we going to continue with the next mission after getting out?】
No, let’s take a vacation.
Since Xin Lan entered the Quick Transmigration Bureau, she had always been diligent and dedicated and had never taken a vacation. It was time to rest for a bit.
【Okay, perfect timing to rest up.】
Ling Jiu almost said ‘go on a honeymoon’.
She was waiting for the Commander’s confession and proposal, just thinking about it made her happy.
Xin Lan silently counted the time in her heart, waiting for that person’s arrival.
【Host, are you sure you don’t need to log out first? We can wait for the Commander outside just the same.】
The situation is unclear right now, we still don’t know what’s going on. Ling Jiu felt staying here wasn’t safe.
She will come find me.
Xin Lan didn’t explain much. She could imagine the sense of loss Wan Yan would feel if she sorted things out and came looking for her, only to find she had already left.
She didn’t want to make her unhappy.
This thought appeared in her mind, making Xin Lan herself pause for a moment.
She wasn’t really the type of person who was good at considering others’ feelings, but now… this feeling was strange, yet it didn’t seem bad either.
The black curtain was suddenly torn open, creating a slit. Xin Lan saw light leak out from it, shining before her.
The crack grew larger and larger, until finally, it shattered completely1.
Wan Yan walked over, her hair loose, her body emitting a faint blue light.
The light emanated from her body, surrounding Xin Lan.
Xin Lan was surprised to find the surrounding barrier had disappeared; her hand passed through the light.
Wan Yan reached out, wanting to gently touch Xin Lan’s face, but paused mid-air, intending to withdraw her hand.
Before she could pull it back, she suddenly felt warmth on her fingertips.
She looked at Xin Lan, somewhat surprised. Xin Lan raised an eyebrow at her, as if doing the most ordinary thing.
The smile on Wan Yan’s face grew wider and wider. She said “Let’s go” to Xin Lan.
【Host, initiating forced logout.】
The World Source has disappeared, forced logout is necessary.
Okay.
Xin Lan’s figure vanished before her eyes, the warmth on her fingertips seeming to linger.
Wan Yan gritted her teeth and chose to log out.
In a place Xin Lan couldn’t see, Wan Yan’s back was almost transparent, faint blue code frantically leaking out, scattering into the air.
The first thing Xin Lan did after coming out was have Ling Jiu contact Wan Yan.
She sat on the sofa, legs crossed, drinking Ling Jiu’s cola.
“Host, the Commander isn’t picking up.”
Ling Jiu pushed up the glasses on her face, her eyes full of confusion as she looked at Xin Lan.
How could the Commander possibly not answer?
Xin Lan put the cola down, frowning slightly.
“I’ll try again, maybe she just hasn’t come out yet.”
Ling Jiu kept calling, but still, no system answered.
“Host, wait a moment, I’ll go ask around.”
Ling Jiu scratched her head, her finger sliding across the contact list.
Xin Lan was a bit worried Wan Yan might have run into trouble. She wanted to go out but didn’t know where she should look.
She took a few steps around the room, sat down again, but then stood up restlessly, looking at Ling Jiu.
On the other side, Cheng Zi was putting the unconscious Wan Yan into an emergency repair pod, her fingers sliding across the control panel.
“Has this BUG been analyzed yet?”
“Still analyzing.”
Cheng Zi cursed, looking at her friend lying in the repair pod, her brow tightly furrowed.
This BUG was too powerful; even someone of Wan Yan’s level ended up seriously injured going in. Luckily, it was resolved.
Fortunately, she’s okay. Heard she even brought a Host in with her this time, probably the person she likes.
Wonder how things progressed? Did that damn repressed flirt2 manage to snag her person?
Meanwhile, Ling Jiu was using all her system connections to ask about Wan Yan. Although she was a total homebody3 who never went out, she had tons of online friends4.
After considerable effort, through a convoluted5 chain of contacts—a friend’s friend’s friend, basically—she managed to get news.
“Seems like she’s in the repair pod, nothing major.”
Xin Lan’s shoulders relaxed, and the tension on her face eased slightly.
Hot water showered down. Xin Lan’s gaze was somewhat vacant. She closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her heart.
The first thing Wan Yan did after climbing out of the repair pod was run outside.
“Where are you going?”
Cheng Zi shouted from behind her.
“To find my wifey!”
Wan Yan shouted back without turning her head, her face showing some excitement.
Xin Lan held her hand at the end!
Which means! She might have succeeded!
“Look how pleased she is.”
Cheng Zi clicked her tongue twice, already sitting down and starting to think about what kind of decorations the wedding should have.
When Wan Yan came knocking, Ling Jiu, very perceptively, hugged her chips and cola and quietly left.
Xin Lan had just finished showering and came out, still slightly damp.
“Is your body okay?”
“Fine, fine!”
Wan Yan shook her head, a little nervous, looking at Xin Lan as if tongue-tied.
“I like you. I know you knew all along in the last world that I liked you, but I said it too hastily that time.”
Wan Yan looked at Xin Lan. She had thought she would stammer saying it, but unexpectedly, it came out smoothly.
“Ah Lan, ever since the first world of the ex-girlfriend series mission, I’ve liked you. The ‘me’ in every world had no memories, but they all liked you.”
“I hope that in your future, I’m there every day.”
Wan Yan had actually secretly looked up many things to say and methods to use for a confession beforehand, but at this moment, she forgot all the techniques.
She just looked at the person opposite her, stating her thoughts word by word.
So utterly unromantic.
Wan Yan waited somewhat anxiously for an answer, anticipation on her face.
But as Xin Lan remained silent, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
Is it no good?
She thought… she thought it would be okay.
“I don’t know how long my feelings will last.”
Xin Lan said bluntly.
“So you mean you do have feelings for me?”
The light in Wan Yan’s eyes flared up again6, burning even brighter than before in an instant.
“I’ve done too many missions, undergone too many emotional desensitization processes. Actually, I don’t know…”
Xin Lan didn’t know what the feeling of ‘heart-fluttering’ was.
Wan Yan was undoubtedly wonderful, Xin Lan knew that.
She was just worried that if one day she truly felt nothing at all7, wouldn’t that be a very cruel thing for Wan Yan?
There are so many ways to part; even betrayal isn’t as melancholy, unwilling, and helpless as suddenly not liking someone anymore, because there’s nowhere for the emotions to rest.
“It doesn’t matter. At least for this moment, you said you like me.”
Wan Yan was already happy enough.
“I’ll work hard so that kind of thing doesn’t happen.”
Xin Lan curled her lips and said, “Okay.”
Wan Yan stepped forward and gently, tentatively, hooked Xin Lan’s pinky finger.
After Xin Lan hooked back, she held on tighter.
“Then it’s settled.”
“Okay.”
Half a minute later, Wan Yan reluctantly let go of her hand and took the towel from Xin Lan.
“Your hair is still dripping, you don’t even know how to take care of yourself.”
The newly appointed girlfriend had already started nagging.
Xin Lan led Wan Yan back to the room, letting her dry her hair, listening to whatever Wan Yan was saying.
Sunlight shone in from outside, falling on Xin Lan’s profile.
Wan Yan was like a very careful hunter who had raised her own tiger.
The tiger retracted its sharp claws and teeth, lazily letting her pet its fur.
Even if the tiger said it might not stay here forever, the hunter wouldn’t mind.
She would be by her side.
The hunter knew the tiger was proud8, knew the meaning behind her every expression.
No one in the world understood her little tiger better than she did, nor would anyone else share such tacit understanding with her.
Because she wouldn’t give anyone else the chance to understand Xin Lan.
Ling Jiu had secretly asked the Commander for the ‘Complete Guide to Wife-Chasing’, wondering how exactly she managed to win over such a difficult Host. Wan Yan just smiled faintly and revealed her secret.
Make yourself a part of her life.
Ling Jiu seemed to half-understand9. Wan Yan let her figure it out herself.
Xin Lan woke from her sleep. She fumbled around on the bed with her eyes closed, only opening them when she didn’t find the familiar person.
She sat up, having almost forgotten that Wan Yan had gone out on an emergency mission and would be away for a while.
Xin Lan stretched lazily, washed up, then picked up a cup to drink water. Breakfast was still laid out on the table, as if that person were still there.
She took a couple of bites, called Wan Yan’s name, but got no response. Then she remembered Wan Yan had gone on a mission.
After finishing breakfast, Xin Lan sat cross-legged in the room watching a movie. When she reached an exciting part, she subconsciously spoke out to discuss it, only to find no responding voice.
Her mood instantly plummeted.
Xin Lan scratched her hair. Damn it10.
Since when had she become so dependent on someone?
In fact, Xin Lan felt she hadn’t changed at all, but reality told her she was undergoing some kind of change.
Xin Lan contacted Ling Jiu, preparing to go out on a mission.
“Host, isn’t the Commander back yet?”
“Why does she have to be back? Do I need her to complete a mission?”
Xin Lan didn’t sound angry, just asked very strangely.
Ling Jiu thought about it and agreed. Anyway, the Commander was on a mission, so she accepted a mission and took Xin Lan in.
In the mission world, Xin Lan still dominated everything11, not much different from before. But she always felt irritable, felt like something was missing.
Even after completing the mission, that strange emotion still weighed on her heart.
“Ling Jiu, do you think I’ve changed?”
Ling Jiu froze upon hearing this, then shook her head.
“No way, Host is still so beautiful and so cool.”
Your style of pinning scumbags to the ground and beating them viciously truly hasn’t changed from back then.
“Then why… forget it, it’s nothing.”
Actually, there wasn’t much change.
When Xin Lan was alone, she could take good care of herself, no different from usual. But there was always an empty place in her heart, as if something was always missing.
After returning from the mission, Wan Yan headed straight home. When she saw Xin Lan, she hugged her waist from behind.
“I’m back.”
“I missed you so much.”
Wan Yan nuzzled against Xin Lan’s back.
In that instant, the empty place in her heart suddenly filled up.
Xin Lan had an epiphany. When Wan Yan hooked her pinky finger, she subconsciously hooked back.
If she had to describe love, Xin Lan thought, it was probably the frequency of her heart palpitations when Wan Yan hugged her from behind, even though she knew it was coming.
Six months and sixteen days after Wan Yan and Xin Lan got together, Wan Yan proposed to Xin Lan.
Wan Yan had waited for this day for a long time. When she looked at Xin Lan, her eyes held an unchanging deep affection.
“Xin Lan.”
It was the first time she had called Xin Lan’s name so formally.
“Mn.”
“I love you.”
Cursing the inadequacy of words and language, unable to express even one ten-thousandth of the depth of her feelings for you.
Cheng Zi had asked Wan Yan what she thought love was.
Love is Xin Lan, Wan Yan had replied thus.
Perhaps it was once the hand she wanted to reach out to Xin Lan but withdrew, perhaps it was her gaze secretly watching Xin Lan, perhaps it was the careful deliberation before her confession, perhaps it was this proposal at this moment.
But no matter what form it took, her love was Xin Lan.
“Marry me, are you willing?”
“Why isn’t it you marrying me?”
Xin Lan raised an eyebrow and accepted the ring.
Xin Lan wasn’t a formalist12; before this proposal business, she hadn’t thought about marriage at all.
Because she felt that whether they got married or not, she would still be together with Wan Yan.
On the wedding day, the wedding decorations Cheng Zi had painstakingly planned for six months finally appeared before everyone’s eyes.
Ling Jiu watched her Host, who had always hated trouble, patiently going through the wedding procedures, lamenting how f%cking mysterious this thing called love was.
It could make even a proud tiger lower its head.
LP: Translation is now complete!
Now I understand the comments in NU. The ending is rushed, so abrupt!
I had hoped the author would flesh our their relationship.
Anyway, thank you all for reading!
PS: If anyone recommends a novel for me to translate, I would be grateful! Although it will be MTL, I hope you won’t mind :)
Re-translated on April 15, 2025
Footnotes
- 四分五裂 | sì fēn wǔ liè | Lit. “split into four and break into five”; To fall apart, shatter.
- 死悶騷 | sǐ mēnsāo | Lit. “deadly hidden passion/horniness”; Slang for someone outwardly reserved but inwardly passionate or flirtatious, often used playfully among friends.
- 死宅 | sǐzhái | Lit. “dead house”; Slang derived from Japanese ‘otaku’, referring to a homebody or someone deeply into niche hobbies, often online.
- 姬友基友 | jīyǒu jīyǒu | Internet slang. 姬友 (jīyǒu, homophone for ‘gay friend’ female) refers to close female friends (sometimes implying romantic interest). 基友 (jīyǒu, homophone for ‘gay friend’ male) refers to close male friends (bromance). Here likely means ‘online friends’ regardless of gender/orientation.
- 九轉十八彎 | jiǔ zhuǎn shíbā wān | Lit. “nine turns and eighteen bends”; Describes something very winding, indirect, or convoluted.
- 死灰複燃 | sǐ huī fù rán | Lit. “dead ashes glow again”; To revive, come back to life.
- 毫無波瀾 | háo wú bōlán | Lit. “without the slightest ripple”; Completely unmoved, emotionless.
- 心高氣傲 | xīn gāo qì ào | Lit. “heart high, spirit proud”; Proud and arrogant.
- 似懂非懂 | sì dǒng fēi dǒng | Lit. “seemingly understand, yet not understand”.
- 見鬼 | jiàn guǐ | Lit. “see a ghost”; Damn it! What the hell? (Expression of annoyance/disbelief).
- 大殺四方 | dà shā sì fāng | Lit. “greatly kill in four directions”; To conquer everywhere, dominate completely.
- 形式主義 | xíngshì zhǔyì | Formalism; Concern with outward form over substance.
Awwwe, so sweet! The end did feel a little rushed, but it wasn’t too bad. I feel like all that was needed to be said was said. Although, it would’ve been nice to hear a bit more about the relationship! Thank you for translating this novel! (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡
Awwwe, so sweet! The end did feel a little rushed, but it wasn’t too bad. I feel like all that was needed to be said was said. Although, it would’ve been nice to hear a bit more about the relationship! Thank you for translating this novel! (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡
Yeah feel like it could be longer yknow, maybe author has run out idea for missions. Thank you sm, i enjoyed it a lot and i look forward for more, the translation dont feel like mtl ♥️
Yeah feel like it could be longer yknow, maybe author has run out idea for missions. Thank you sm, i enjoyed it a lot and i look forward for more, the translation dont feel like mtl ♥️
the end is a bit rushed indeed but overall it was a nice novel to read, thank you translator ! >:0
the end is a bit rushed indeed but overall it was a nice novel to read, thank you translator ! >:0