Chapter 28
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— Nine Years Ago —
On the hottest summer afternoon, in a cramped male dormitory, the sound of a computer keyboard clicking resounded. In front of the desk, a youth wearing a black sweater had his brows tightly furrowed as he professionally manipulated the keys, playing an online game called “Dominate the World.”
His was a hero named Xiao Han, with extremely strong attacking abilities.
In that virtual world, he was known for his fierce and aloof sword aura. At this moment, he was battling a sweeping monk named “Crow.”
Crow was also skilled in wielding a sword. Although his inner strength was not as great as Xiao Han’s, he was extremely fond of playing dirty tricks and had a crafty and harsh sword technique.
Both of their speeds were as fast as lightning. The sharp, clashing sound of swords colliding rose and fell. After fighting for more than ten minutes, Xiao Han’s health bar had the advantage.
Just as the youth thought he was about to defeat his opponent, Crow suddenly slightly raised his fingertips and shot out a poison needle.
Xiao Han’s system immediately issued a yellow warning, and his health rapidly plummeted.
Crow didn’t give him time to catch his breath. In an instant, he gathered his inner strength to unleash his ultimate move, stabbing at vital points with his sword in a desperate attack. Under a series of overwhelmingly powerful attacks, the youth’s hero was forced to retreat again and again, a trace of blood inadvertently spilling from the corner of his lips.
Soon, accompanied by a crisp and loud “KO” from the referee system, Xiao Han fell to the ground and couldn’t get up.
“Smack!”
The youth irritably tossed aside the mouse and coldly glanced at his opponent’s information. When he discovered that the other party had competed with him using a mobile game, his brows furrowed even tighter.
When a computer setup loses to a mobile game control, the gap between the two people is clear.
The youth’s dark eyes stared straight at the screen, his handsome face shadowed.
He had played this game for many years and was already a god-level figure worshipped within the community. But now, he had been defeated by an unknown sweeping monk. How could he let it go?
The youth bit his lip and narrowed his long eyes. He then clicked the mouse and started investigating all the historical game data of this player called Crow.
There was a sudden sound at the dormitory door as someone entered. The youth glanced over and saw that it was a tall, thin male student with a refined temperament, his entire body exuding a sense of cleanliness.
After a long silence, the youth in front of the computer slightly raised his eyebrows. “You’re the transfer student?”
“Hello, my name is Ye Mu.”
The male student opposite him had a magnetic voice with a hint of accent, which was very pleasant to hear.
The youth was indifferent, letting out an “mm” sound without paying much attention, and continued to focus on the game screen.
Ye Mu dragged his suitcase in and sat down on his bed, looking at the youth in front of the computer without speaking.
The dormitory was very quiet, with only the sound of the youth clicking the mouse. After a long time, Ye Mu spoke first. “Your name is Yan Chen?”
“You know?”
Ye Mu smiled faintly. “We’ve met before.”
Yan Chen’s fingers rapidly hit the keyboard as he coldly said, “Is that so? I don’t remember.”
As he spoke, he lightly clicked the mouse to send a friend request to that “Crow,” indicating that he wasn’t very willing to make small talk with this new roommate.
Ye Mu lightly pursed his thin lips. “I used to be a resident singer at a bar. There was a drunk customer causing trouble, and you helped me.”
Yan Chen lowered his eyes. “I’ve been to too many bars recently. I don’t know which one you’re talking about.”
“The one on Xiaojiao An Street.”
Yan Chen glanced at him. “I have some impression. What, is your family very poor? You went to work at that kind of place as soon as you came of age.”
Ye Mu laughed. “It’s just a personal hobby. I really like singing. If you have a song you like, I can sing it for you.”
“No need.” He refused without any hesitation.
Ye Mu glanced at his computer screen. “You play this game too?”
Yan Chen was a bit impatient and let out an “mm” sound without answering further.
Ye Mu turned his head to look at him. “If possible, can we add each other as friends?”
Yan Chen had a deadpan face, his tone icy: “I refuse.”
For some reason, when this person approached him, his entire body felt strange, especially irritated and uncomfortable.
“The reason?” Ye Mu asked.
Yan Chen’s words were decisive: “I don’t like the look of you.”
Ye Mu was stunned and subconsciously shook his head. He didn’t say anything more and turned around to silently start unpacking his luggage.
Yan Chen didn’t pay attention to him. After sending Crow a friend request, he kept staring at the computer screen. After a full half hour without receiving a reply from the other party, he sent a second friend request.
He wasn’t convinced by the previous few matches. As long as the conditions allowed, he had to go to the “Trial Platform” with this player called Crow to determine who was truly superior.
“Ding~” There was a new message.
Yan Chen glanced at the screen and couldn’t help frowning. System friendly reminder: Dear player, sorry, your friend request has been declined by the other party. Reason for refusal: In a bad mood.
Yan Chen swept his eyes over it, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. With an expressionless face, he closed the game interface. He got up, kicked the chair away, shoved his phone into his pocket, grabbed his keys, and left the dormitory.
“Click.”
The moment the door closed, through an unintentional glance, he glimpsed the thin back of the person in the dormitory through the crack.
Faintly, silently, with a hint of loneliness, typing a few words on the game interface with his phone…
Yan Chen stood at the door, his eyes involuntarily fixed on that tiny crack until it disappeared after he woke up from his daze.
In the middle of the night, his eyes slowly opened, staring at the empty ceiling without moving. He himself didn’t know why he had dreamed about the scene of his first encounter with that person, nor did he know why there was an empty feeling in a certain part of his chest.
Instinct told him that he had missed something in a daze, but he couldn’t remember what it was, no matter how hard he tried.
Furrowing his brows, he turned over and sat up from the bed.
Gu Huai was a light sleeper and quickly woke up as well. “What’s wrong?”
Yan Chen lowered his head, his voice a bit deep. “Nothing, just remembered something from the past.”
Gu Huai’s face was cold. “Ye Mu again?”
Yan Chen raised his hand to pick up the water glass and took a sip, saying indifferently, “You too.”
“Me?”
Yan Chen’s long lashes drooped, his eyes deep as the sea. “I remembered the first time I added you and got rejected.”
Gu Huai was indifferent. “You mean that account called Crow?”
Yan Chen didn’t say anything, neither confirming nor denying.
Gu Huai lowered his head and fell silent for a while, then inexplicably laughed. “Is that so?”
Yan Chen slightly curled his thin lips, his side profile deep and handsome. “I guess you never thought you’d have an online romance back then, right?”
Gu Huai slowly turned over, lying face down on his arms, and closed his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about the past anymore.”
Yan Chen almost imperceptibly frowned, his voice low. “Actually, I never understood why you broke up with me back then.”
Gu Huai’s face was gloomy. “I have my reasons.”
Yan Chen looked at him, his eyes deep. “Say it. Maybe we can face it together.”
Gu Huai bit his lip, a hint of stubbornness in his expression. “I don’t want to say it. Don’t force me.”
Yan Chen lowered his head and was silent for a moment before coldly saying, “Suit yourself.”
After he finished speaking, he turned his back to Gu Huai, his face indifferent.
Gu Huai slightly pursed his lips, not saying anything more, and closed his eyes with furrowed brows.
The night passed just like that, but he never fell asleep.
Actually, why was he afraid?
Even if Yan Chen knew that account wasn’t his, so what?
How could he possibly lose to that scum Ye Mu?
It was truly ridiculous.
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