In the silent living room, Jiangg Ning and Jiangg Yao sat side by side, both propping their chins on their hands as they stared into space.
Occasionally, they would turn to look at each other.
To an outsider, it would have looked as if a mirror stood between them... How could their expressions and movements be so perfectly identical!?
At least their clothes were different, making them distinguishable. Jiangg Ning's form-fitting white top clung to her skin, outlining her ample curves and slender waist, while Jiangg Yao wore a baggy little dinosaur pajama set, her hair a complete mess.
"What do we do now?"
"Weren't you just about to reply? Go ahead." Jiangg Ning pointed at the phone screen.
"But what am I supposed to say?"
Jiangg Yao looked discouraged. Pouting slightly, she simply flopped back on the couch, propped one delicate foot on her other leg, deliberately mussed her hair, and let her eyes glaze over as if in a stupor.
After a moment of contemplation, Jiangg Ning spoke.
"Yaoyao, I think… maybe we should just end it."
Jiangg Ning suddenly sounded very serious. She tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. Her profile was exquisite—her soft jawline and small, elegant nose were like a sculpted work of art.
It was nearly evening. The sunset's glow shimmered in from the terrace, and a similar light seemed to dance in Jiangg Ning's eyes.
She spoke again. "I'm a university teacher, after all. Dating a student… it's a matter of our respective positions. Not only would other people not accept it, I can hardly accept it myself. Besides, he's only eighteen. Mommy was already against me moving out with you. If she were to find out…"
At these words, Jiangg Yao's eyes widened in terror. "The consequences would be unimaginable!"
"Exactly. Unimaginable."
The image of an icy face flashed through both of their minds at the same time.
A strange silence descended upon the living room.
"Then I'll ask Zai-zai… um, that student, to meet."
Because they didn't know his real name, they had both used this nickname during their online relationship.
"Zai-zai" sounded so affectionate.
But now that Jiangg Ning had seen Chen Yuan in person, she suddenly felt inexplicably embarrassed to say the nickname.
She bit her lip lightly, her face flushing.
"But… I haven't even met him once. After we break up, I'll never get to see him. It's so depressing." Jiangg Yao sounded crestfallen. She couldn't accept it; she seemed to genuinely like this boyfriend she'd never met face-to-face.
The mention of breaking up made her suddenly recall their interactions over the past six months.
...
"So? My support was pretty amazing that round, huh? I even got MVP!"
"Amazing."
"Verbal praise isn't enough. I want something tangible. Like… a kiss."
"…Mwah."
"I want a voice message, a voice message!"
"Ahem—mwah."
"Zai-zai, your voice is so amazing! Eeee~"
...
"Have you ever thought about what it'll be like when we meet?"
"Nope."
"What if I'm ugly? Not pretty at all? What if I'm, like, five feet tall and weigh 170 pounds? What would you do?"
"Umm, I'd lift…"
"Lift a train and run for it?"
"No, lift the heavy burden of helping you lose weight. Being overweight isn't healthy."
...
"It's over, I've fed too much. The other team is probably going for Baron now…"
"I'll try to steal it. If I can't, we just lose."
"Ehhh~ I'm sorry! I'll pray to the gods for you. You have to steal that Baron!"
"Well, then I probably won't get it. I'm an atheist. I believe in science."
"No, no, no, the gods totally work! I prayed for a boyfriend, and then you showed up, Zai!"
"I still don't believe it. The only reason I showed up is because you were so bad in that game I wanted to flame you."
"You jerk! You have zero romantic sense."
...
All sorts of scenes flashed through Jiangg Yao's mind. She had never been in love before, but she was certain of one thing: a guy like her "boyfriend"—patient, good-tempered, and never dismissive, someone who made you feel you could rely on him—had to be rare.
'What does he actually look like?'
'I've dreamed of meeting him so many times, but I've never seen his face clearly.'
'And now, he's actually here, in real life.'
Jiangg Yao's heart started pounding. BA-DUMP, BA-DUMP. She subtly lowered her head, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Sis, you set up the meeting. I'll go and break up with him."
"Wait… you're willing to go outside?"
Jiangg Ning was completely and utterly astonished. She stared at her sister with wide eyes.
Jiangg Yao had developed severe social anxiety due to some childhood experiences. She had almost no friends during her school years, always staying quietly at her desk, never even going out during breaks.
With Jiangg Ning by her side, she managed to get through middle school without incident.
But her condition never improved.
In high school, she dropped out and switched to being privately tutored at home.
And at home, under Mommy's extremely strict thumb, she grew even more silent and withdrawn.
It wasn't until she discovered the internet that this virtual world unexpectedly gave Jiangg Yao a sense of belonging. Here, no one knew her gender, identity, or age. She not only made many friends who were just there for a good time—and they had a blast going wild together—but she also found a passion she truly loved.
Still, being too immersed in the internet wasn't a good thing. It had already been three months since the last time Jiangg Yao, the resident shut-in, had even left the house!
「Five kilometers from their apartment complex, Lanjing University.」
「Men's Dorm, Room 3208.」
Chen Yuan put down his book and picked up his phone. His expression was calm, but inwardly, he was far from being as composed as he appeared.
...
Baby:
I'm here. I know you have questions for me… How about this, let's meet tonight.
...
After reading the message, the last trace of doubt in Chen Yuan's mind vanished. Yaoyao was indeed his teacher, Jiangg. He hadn't been mistaken.
He replied, "Okay. Should I pick a place?"
After a bit more back and forth, the conversation was over.
Chen Yuan scrolled through the chat log. Before class that morning, their messages had been bold and unrestrained, completely lovey-dovey. It had the distinct vibe of a bratty girlfriend teasing a shy anime protagonist. But now that their identities were exposed, their words oozed with the awkward tension of two people who barely knew each other.
'Online romance?'
'Meeting in real life!'
Chen Yuan put down his phone and took a deep breath. He opened his closet, picked out an outfit, and made sure to grab a jacket. His hair didn't need much styling; a quick run-through with his fingers was all it took.
The only mirror in the dorm was mounted on the door. He stood in front of it and looked at himself.
When he was younger, Chen Yuan had gone through a period of insecurity about his looks. Some moron of a classmate was always fucking saying he had a "slut face."
As he grew up and his bone structure developed, his features grew more angular, so he no longer looked effeminately delicate.
"Third Bro, where you headed?" Quan Yafeng's computer screen was grayed out. He looked over, dejected, and noticed Chen Yuan getting ready.
"To meet a friend."
"Great. Bring me back a late-night snack."
"Okay."
...
"The place is set. I'll be with you the whole time, but I'll be in a secluded corner. If you get nervous, just look my way. Don't be scared."
"Mhm."
"Don't get soft-hearted. Be clear and make it a clean break. This relationship was never meant to carry over into the real world. You can just delete each other's contacts afterward."
"I know."
On Dongyang Road, a Porsche Macan drove at a steady speed. Inside, Jiangg Ning was going over the plan with her sister in meticulous detail.
Jiangg Yao nodded as she listened, but her panicked eyes were fixed on the blur of passing streetlights and pedestrians. The city lights were dazzling, the skyscrapers stood shoulder to shoulder. She was so tense she felt like shrinking into her seat, her fingers endlessly twisting the hem of her clothes.
Finally, they arrived at the designated restaurant and got out of the car.
"Table 13. You go in first. It's fine, don't be nervous," Jiangg Ning soothed, her voice gentle as she pulled her sister into a tight hug.
Jiangg Yao nodded frantically. She looked around; there were only a few people where they had parked.
Even so, her gaze still darted around, unable to focus.
The more she avoided the outside world, the harder it became to overcome her fear. Jiangg Yao had once wished she could stay in her room forever; it was the only place she felt truly safe.
The moment she stepped outside, the world seemed to spin, and she felt as if everyone's eyes were on her.
Those gazes were like needles, pricking her until her whole body went numb.
A sudden tremor ran through Jiangg Yao, and her body began to shake. It was an unconscious reaction, but one her sister perceived instantly.
Suddenly, Jiangg Ning's slender, warm hand took hers.
"Don't be scared, Yaoyao."
"O... Okay."
Jiangg Yao summoned her courage. Clutching a small brown leather purse, her eyes fixed on the restaurant entrance. She walked forward, cautious and hesitant, her pace slow. Every few steps, she would look back.
The long hair hanging down on either side of her face seemed to be a shield against the world's gaze.
She drew closer and closer to the entrance.
She was so nervous she closed her eyes.
In that instant, a cacophony of sounds assaulted her ears: people talking by the entrance… a car horn blaring, a bus pulling to a stop, children ringing the bells on their bikes as they zipped past on the sidewalk. And behind her, it felt as if footsteps were drawing nearer and nearer!
Jiangg Yao's mind went blank. Panicked, she had no idea where to look. She utterly regretted her decision to come out.
'I just want to turn around, find my sister, and run!'
'Home!'
'Only home is safe.'
Jiangg Yao whipped her head around, swallowing hard. Her sister, who should have been standing not far away, had vanished! Anxious, she desperately clutched the strap of her purse, her pace quickening.
BUMP—
"Oof…"
Jiangg Yao bumped into someone. She hurriedly raised her head to look.
"Jiangg, are you okay?"
Chen Yuan spotted Jiangg Ning at the entrance to the restaurant from a distance. He was walking over when she suddenly turned around, a panicked look on her face.
And then they collided.
Besides, Jiangg Ning was dressed differently today, and Chen Yuan thought she looked incredibly beautiful.
She was still wearing that earring. Her sweater was dark blue, her previously clipped-up long hair was draped over her shoulders, with a few wispy bangs on her forehead. The combination of pure black over-the-knee socks, a short skirt, and little leather shoes was particularly striking, creating a look that was both lively and quietly beautiful.
Compared to the woman he saw at the lectern, she seemed less gentle, but all the more vibrant and adorable.
They had already exchanged real names before meeting up.
"Chen Yuan?"
Jiangg Yao was a bit shorter. She raised her head and the first thing she saw was his chin.
Then she saw his face.
For some reason, the moment she saw his face, she knew this was the one her sister had described.
A neat, clean-cut guy with clear eyes.
Jiangg Yao froze completely, forgetting that her body was still trembling unconsciously. She just stared, dumbfounded, at Chen Yuan's face. Her eyes shone as she pressed her lips together.
'He's… exactly my type! He's sooooo handsome!!!' Her heart hammered in her chest. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
"Are you cold? It is a little windy." Chen Yuan noticed she was trembling, mistaking it for being cold. He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Let's go inside."
"O-Okay."
With the jacket draped over her, Jiangg Yao didn't feel so scared anymore. It was warm, and if she sniffed lightly, she could smell a faint lemon scent—probably from his laundry detergent… and the scent of Chen Yuan himself.
'Mhm! This must be that legendary "guy smell."'
...
A dozen meters away, the real Jiangg Ning stood behind a low holly bush, peeking out furtively.
She muttered to herself, 'Wait, why are they so close…? And he put his jacket on her? Jiangg Yao, you're here to break up with him, don't you forget it!'