People who easily develop feelings through a screen are often very lonely, aren't they...

The greatest distance in the world is when you clearly can't stop these feelings of longing, when you clearly care so much it hurts, yet you still use your own inferiority to dig an uncrossable chasm between us.

Even when we're right in front of each other, you still don't dare take that final step.

Ling Xi walked across the hard floor tiles of the internet cafe in her high heels, click-clack, click-clack. One step after another, louder than she'd expected. She could feel the gaze of the staff member behind the counter sweep over her, carrying a hint of curiosity about this rare customer. Her outfit of white blouse paired with a pencil skirt, topped off with high heels, was quite unusual even in this upscale internet cafe.

As if she'd intruded from another world.

"Miss, here is your... membership card."

As the female staff member behind the counter handed over the membership card, her grip loosened slightly. She'd worked at this high-end internet cafe for nearly two years, had seen all kinds of people, and thought she'd become immune to "beauty," but the figure before her still made her pause.

The staff member opened her mouth but no sound came out. Most of the beauty she'd encountered carried the air of everyday life, either saccharine sweet or coldly distant, but this person before her was like an unsheathed blade, both cold and stunning, impossible to look away from.

But why did her eyes look so... lonely?

Could someone this beautiful really feel lonely?

"Thank you."

The air conditioning in the internet cafe was running at full blast. Ling Xi instinctively tightened her grip on her phone, trembling slightly as she stood at the entrance, somewhat at a loss.

She clutched the membership card tightly until it pressed painfully into her palm.

She'd had someone check Xie Ci's class schedule to guess where he might go, then specially gotten this card. Even though she knew full well he wouldn't come to an internet cafe to play games, she still wanted to do this.

Just like when she first got his photo and found out he was at Spring City University.

That scene she'd witnessed at the school gate that afternoon played over and over in her mind: Xie Ci waving with his backpack on, Ye Li leaning out the car window with a smile that was stunningly beautiful, carrying an indescribable warmth and harmony, like a perfect painting, making you feel they were simply meant to be that way.

No room for outsiders.

Ling Xi's fingertips pressed against her bag strap. She knew she was beautiful, especially after getting a bit dressed up today, but thinking of Ye Li's smiling eyes, a heavy guilt welled up in her heart.

They were pure, like sunshine, while she was a speck of dirt, a shadow. Even coming to see him felt sneaky, afraid of dirtying his world.

It seemed like she wasn't really qualified.

She merely had a place in the virtual world, but in the real world, she remained humble to her very bones.

She'd practiced her greeting countless times, rehearsed every word and sentence in her heart countless times, but when she actually saw him, saw the person she'd been thinking about day and night, the unease and inferiority in her heart became even more deeply rooted.

She was afraid that the moment she spoke, Xie Ci's eyes would flash with the surprise of "so it's you," followed by the distant question of "how did you find me," and moreover, Ye Li was already by his side.

But he said they were just friends.

She suddenly didn't want to think about it anymore. Her heart felt inexplicably sadder.

"Miss, miss? Are you alright?"

The staff member saw Ling Xi standing there in a daze for quite a while and couldn't help asking.

"Ah, I... it's nothing, nothing."

Ling Xi realized her lapse, came back to her senses, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

Sitting in a corner seat, she stared at the computer screen, somewhat at a loss.

She suddenly pulled out her phone, opened her chat with Xie Ci, and scrolled through their conversation history word by word. Her anxious and restless heart calmed down a bit.

After thinking for a moment, she raised her hand and sent over several photos of her snow-white legs.

Ling Xi: Today's, it's a pencil skirt.

Ling Xi: (￣へ￣)

After a few minutes, no reply came.

Ling Xi bit her lower lip, feeling inexplicably wronged.

She suddenly didn't want to turn on the computer, not until Xie Ci replied.

A few more minutes passed.

Xie Ci: Sorry, my friend and I were just outside, had to find a somewhat private place. That's why I replied late.

Xie Ci: [Cat apologizing emoji]

Ling Xi: I forgive you then, so what do you think?

Xie Ci: [Drooling emoji]

Xie Ci: Pencil skirt with black stockings, so cold and stunning, especially the way it sets off those plum blossoms and arrow, there's a certain... edge to it? The visual effect is maxed out. Though next time when taking photos, you could move the camera angle down a bit. Your ankle line is actually quite amazing too, it's a shame it's blocked by the hem.

Hiding in the public restroom, Xie Ci had racked his brains to come up with and type out these words.

There were many ways to compliment someone, but to do it differently every day while showing unique insights, proving you'd looked carefully, while also maintaining a safe distance and focusing the praise on visual effects and aesthetic levels… That truly took effort.

Xie Ci had considered that Ling Xi probably wouldn't mind if he said superficial things, but he still wanted to do it this way.

He was too stubborn.

Ling Xi: [Satisfied cat]

Ling Xi: What do you want to see tomorrow?

Xie Ci broke out in a cold sweat. Here we go again...

Xie Ci: Anything's fine, you look good in whatever you wear...

Ling Xi: [Angry cat]

Xie Ci: Then...

Ling Xi's slender legs were pressed together as she rubbed the tattoo on her inner thigh, but her hand only felt the smooth texture of the stockings.

Ling Xi: Do you want to see feet?

Xie Ci: ?

Ling Xi: Next time I'll include my feet in the shot too.

Ling Xi: That's it, I still need to go play that game. I'll let you know in a few days when we can record the video.

Xie Ci: Okay... I guess.

Ling Xi turned on the computer, then looked deeply at her phone for several more moments, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze had become resolute, her expression taking on an unshakeable appearance.

She picked up the headphones from the desk. Her hand trembled, and watching her manicured nails glinting in the dim lighting of the internet cafe, for some reason, regret surfaced in her heart.

In the end, she still chose not to put on the headphones.

She clicked to start the game. The screen became dark, and her controlled character advanced through the darkness holding only a small lighter, able to see only the tiny bit illuminated ahead.

For some reason she suddenly felt her hearing was particularly acute. This internet cafe used liquid cooling, which made very little sound, but she could hear the extremely subtle, minute sound of flowing water.

Why though? She shouldn't be able to hear it.

On the computer screen, her controlled character was about to turn a corner.

She suddenly felt the headphones draped around her neck were somewhat cold, making her feel completely uncomfortable.

I should take them off and put them on the desk.

Even though she used extremely light force, when the sound came out, it seemed clearly audible throughout the entire hall.

She suddenly covered her face, like a dejected little cat.

"I should have thought of this..."

"Mmm..." She made a sticky sound, carrying a nasal quality.

Looking around, aside from the cold computer stations and the staff member at the front desk boredly scrolling through her phone.

Not a soul.

Some thoughts suddenly popped into Ling Xi's mind. What if a monster suddenly appears around this corner and goes for a facehugger kill?

What if the staff member is actually an infected NPC, and when you get close she'll suddenly mutate, rush at you frantically with a grotesque expression, open her bloody maw, and then...

No, she couldn't think about it anymore.

"Mmm..." At this point, Ling Xi covered her face, having to admit her... embarrassment.

Actually, she was really afraid of these horror games. She was even a bit afraid of the dark, the kind who got scared walking alone at night.

This time when she came out to find an internet cafe to play in, she'd originally thought that with lots of people and activity in the cafe, with all kinds of clattering keyboard sounds and shouting, it would help her be less afraid. When she was alone in her room, she couldn't even last ten minutes.

But she'd overlooked one thing. This was a high-end internet cafe that few people visited, and she'd instinctively chosen the most expensive section.

There wasn't a single person here!

What should she do?

Should she switch to a different one...

Ling Xi's chest rose and fell as sweat appeared on her pretty face.

Damn... damn it!

She suddenly felt somewhat indignant.

Fine if I'm timid in reality.

But how can I back down in the virtual world!

She picked up the keyboard and mouse again and started playing.

Then she got scared and trembled like a little cat.

"Mmm..." Ling Xi's face fell in dismay.

If only someone would come here...

If worst comes to worst, I'll just have to switch to a busier internet cafe...

"Look here, without the coupon it's 200 yuan per hour, but with the coupon it's only 20 per hour."

"Nice! Where'd you get that coupon?"

Someone came! Someone's here!

Ling Xi's eyes lit up, her whole person becoming energized.

But after seeing who arrived clearly, she was stunned.

Xie... Xie Ci, why is he here?!

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