After the recent letdowns at work, Lin Yue found herself retreating into the world of online games to vent her frustrations. Every evening after work, she’d lock herself in her room, headset on, and immerse herself in the virtual battlegrounds of “Survival Arena.”
One night, while duo-queuing in the game, Lin Yue was matched with a mysterious teammate. Before they jumped out of the plane, he spoke in a cool, low voice, “When we land at Harbor G, just hide first.”
Lin Yue, who was usually a stubborn and reckless rookie, found herself oddly obedient. The moment she hit the ground, she tucked herself away in a safe spot, just like he’d told her.
She listened as gunfire crackled through her headphones, the sound like firecrackers on New Year’s Eve. Then, that calm, magnetic voice came again: “All clear. Come out and loot.”
She peeked out—her teammate had single-handedly taken down at least a dozen enemies. Lin Yue’s mood, gloomy for days, instantly lifted. She dashed out, looting supplies with pure joy, her troubles momentarily forgotten.
The rookie had stumbled upon a gaming god, and to her surprise, he didn’t mind carrying her. Lin Yue shamelessly showered him with compliments, her praise over-the-top and playful, but he only replied with a simple, “Heh.”
Undeterred, Lin Yue clung to the “big brother’s” virtual leg, chattering away and setting up a time for their next game. He only replied, “Okay,” before logging off, leaving Lin Yue wondering if he’d actually show up the next day.
But the next evening, Lin Yue logged in early, clinging to a sliver of hope. When the clock struck their agreed time and the mysterious teammate appeared online, she grinned at her phone like a kid with a new toy.
Every match, the pattern was the same: whenever they encountered danger, he’d tell her to hide, then calmly direct her to loot once the coast was clear. His words were few, but his voice—deep, smooth, and strangely familiar—lingered in her mind. It was as if she’d heard it a thousand times before, yet something about it was different, lighter.
Still, every time he spoke, Lin Yue felt her heart flutter. Even at work, she’d catch herself daydreaming about her enigmatic teammate, wondering if he had a girlfriend.
For three nights in a row, he was there, right on time. On the fourth night, she waited, growing more anxious as the minutes ticked by. Half an hour past their usual start, and still no sign of him.
Frustrated, Lin Yue joined a random match alone and quickly found herself surrounded by enemies. Forgetting she’d left her mic on, she muttered, “Crap, I’m kinda scared…”
“Don’t worry, I’m here.” The voice that cut through her headphones was richer, more real—like a glass of aged wine, soothing and warm.
Lin Yue’s hand trembled, and her phone slipped, smacking her in the face.
That voice—so familiar, so comforting—wasn’t just from the game. She’d heard it countless times in real life. It was the same voice that had always promised to protect her, the voice that belonged to Zhao Ming.
Was she hallucinating? Or had she just realized, in this moment, that the person who always made her feel safe was right beside her all along?
After the match, her mysterious teammate didn’t explain his lateness, and Lin Yue, though curious, kept her questions to herself. That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind spinning between Zhao Ming and the gaming god she’d never met.
Just as she was about to drift off, her phone buzzed—a message from Zhao Ming. He’d sent her a photo of a steaming, spicy Sichuan hotpot, the kind they used to share late at night.
Sending food pics in the middle of the night? Was he trying to make her jealous? Lin Yue fired back with a string of angry bird emojis.
They exchanged playful messages, trading food photos and jokes, until the tension between them melted away. Just like that, her earlier frustrations faded, replaced by a warm, familiar comfort.
A few days later, Zhao Ming invited Lin Yue to his hotpot restaurant, promising her a private room so she could eat to her heart’s content without worrying about appearances.
“When have I ever cared about appearances? If there’s good food, only a fool would hold back,” Lin Yue quipped, her signature sass making Zhao Ming laugh.
Zhao Ming had never thought Lin Yue’s wildness was a flaw. If anything, he admired her honesty and zest for life. She was always the first to help stray animals on the street, or give her scarf to a shivering street cleaner on a snowy day. She lived with her heart wide open, laughing and crying without restraint.
That weekend, Lin Yue decided to drop by the restaurant unannounced. As she walked in, she spotted Zhao Ming sitting by the window on the second floor, laughing and chatting with a girl she didn’t recognize.
Time seemed to freeze. Lin Yue stood rooted to the spot, a sharp pain pricking her chest. Suddenly, she had no appetite. She turned to leave, but was stopped by Zhao Ming’s business partner, Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan’s knowing smile made Lin Yue feel even more exposed. Was she really that easy to read?
Determined not to show her feelings, Lin Yue plastered on a bright smile. “Since you’re stopping me, I guess Zhao Ming isn’t treating today. Put the bill on your tab instead.”
Ye Xuan chuckled, gesturing for her to sit. “Aren’t you curious who that girl is?”
“Not at all. I only care about the food.”
They sat downstairs, waiting for their meal. Ye Xuan pulled out a sleek cigarette case, lighting up with practiced ease. Lin Yue, curious, reached for one. “Let me try. What’s so great about this that you guys risk your health for it?”
She stuck the cigarette between her lips, about to light it, when a hand snatched it away.
“Lin Yue, are you always this curious?” Zhao Ming’s voice was half exasperated, half amused.
She glared at him, brushing his hand aside. “What’s it to you?”
Zhao Ming frowned, his eyes serious for once. “You know I hate seeing you hurt yourself.”
Lin Yue rolled her eyes, but her heart skipped a beat. She’d always thought of Zhao Ming as her shield, her partner in crime, but lately, every little thing he did seemed to mean more.
Ye Xuan watched them, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You two bicker like an old married couple.”
Lin Yue shot him a look. “Eat your food, Ye Xuan. Don’t you have better things to do?”
But even as she joked, Lin Yue couldn’t help glancing upstairs, wondering who the girl with Zhao Ming was, and why it bothered her so much.
Chapter 03
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