After speaking, I didn’t check the time that night. I only knew I’d barely slept, laying bare every detail of Luoxue’s story to Jiang Muqing.
Luoxue had passed away from congenital heart disease. Doctors said she wouldn’t live past seven—but she defied odds until thirteen.
Being with her that long was already a miracle. What more could I possibly wish for?
I could never love Luoxue again. She was buried in the graveyard beside the black church on that postcard. No one could ever reach her now.
Jiang Muqing’s worry was unnecessary.
The overseas Chinese couple, shattered by grief, had moved out of the white mansion and left the country. The building stood abandoned ever since, deemed unlucky by locals.
As I recounted this, Muqing stayed silent beside me. She nestled her head against my chest, offering no comment on my story.
Mom must have told her before—but hearing it from me felt different.
*Asleep?*
I looked down at her small head pressed to me.
*Good. She’s resting.*
I finally breathed easier.
Just as I thought she’d drifted off, her voice cut through the quiet.
"I understand," she murmured softly.
...
The next day was a rest day.
While making breakfast, I pondered the next gentle step in Muqing’s treatment.
The first attempt—light novels—had failed completely. Using them to distract her was a mistake. Their complex worlds confused her pure heart, breeding misunderstandings.
I analyzed the failure, then brainstormed new approaches. Mid-thought, my phone rang.
Guo Tong. It had to be about gaming.
I answered while stir-frying steamed bun chunks.
"Fan-ge, what’re you up to on break?" Guo Tong’s lazy voice crackled through.
"Cram school all week," I replied.
"Boring! Why not just die studying?!" He couldn’t fathom it.
"And you?" I chuckled.
"I’ve camped at the internet café all week. Haven’t gone home."
He’d broken his all-night record.
"Uh."
*Wasn’t that even duller?*
"Played *The Republic* yet?" After small talk, he got to the point.
"Yeah. Reached Level 2."
"Level 2?! How long’d you play?!" Disbelief dripped from his voice.
"Not much. Why?"
"I grinded a whole semester to hit Level 3! You’re Level 2 after barely playing?!"
"I killed a Level 2 mage. Leveled up instantly with that orange epic weapon." I said it casually.
"*Yelena’s Whisper*? A priest solo-killing a mage? You’re joking." He didn’t buy it.
"It was tough. But true." I smiled.
Smart people excel at everything—even games. When I play, I make waves.
"Log on now! Meet me at the newbie village tavern. I need to see your gear." Urgency sharpened his tone.
"Not now. I’m busy."
I was cooking for a hungover mom and a sleepy girl who refused mornings.
The bun chunks turned golden. I sprinkled salt, plated them, and ladled congee into bowls. *Easy on the stomach after drinking.*
"Wait an hour. After breakfast," I told Guo Tong.
"Tavern it is."
I served the food, then dragged the sleepy women from bed.
"Mom! Muqing! Breakfast!"
"Too tired... You eat alone, Xiao Fan." Mom’s muffled voice came from my room. Muqing, in Dad’s study, didn’t stir.
"Get up! This is your son’s hard work—don’t dismiss it with some lazy excuse!" I yanked Mom’s blanket off.
Skipping breakfast harmed health.
"On rest days, Xiao Fan’s a morning demon!" Mom yawned, shuffling to the bathroom.
After she left, I stormed into Dad’s study.
"Up, little lady!" I pulled Muqing’s quilt away.
"Lu Fan... so annoying..." She flailed cutely, protesting without her soft blanket.
"Up! Now!" I shook her shoulders.
"No... five more minutes..." Eyes shut, she grabbed my pillow and a spare blanket.
"If you don’t rise, I’m going out alone today. No company for you." I threatened sternly.
"Absolutely not!" Her sleepy eyes snapped wide open.
They shuffled to the bathroom, then mechanically ate at the table before retreating to bed again.
True to Guo Tong’s demand, I logged into the game after breakfast.
The newbie village buzzed with new players. Where the marketplace once stood empty except for NPCs, crowds now flowed like a real bazaar.
First, I sold loot from the mage at the general store—rare priest gear for gold. My current robe, bought in-town, had weak stats (just minor mana and healing boosts), but at least it looked like proper priest attire. Before, I’d resembled a street beggar in that tattered cloak.
*Today’s meeting calls for dignity.*
As I walked on, players blocked my path, recruiting for guilds.
"No thanks. I play casually—no guilds." I refused. I wouldn’t grind daily for team quotas.
*Still... a Level 2 priest is rare.* Pride flickered. Few survived with this squishy class.
Next, the apothecary. I restocked health and mana potions—cheaper and more plentiful here than at the general store.
*Guo Tong’s probably fuming.*
*Good. Let him learn patience.*
An hour later, I strolled into the tavern. Flush with coin, I ordered a mug of in-game rum.
*Rum.*
Sharing drinks boosted player bonds. Too much, and men might "gay marry," women form "lesbian relationships," or opposite genders trigger virtual weddings—unlocking gear bonuses, buffs, and team perks.
*Clarification: I wasn’t seeking a bromance with Guo Tong. Just friendly drinks.*
Inside, I blinked. Guo Tong—the guy who always arrived early—was late?
"Where are you? I’m at the tavern."
"Got held up. Grinding with a girl. Be right there." His chat reply popped up.
"Still chasing skirts in-game? Might be a guy." I scoffed.
"She’s real. Lives in my neighborhood. Went to my middle school."
*Real girls play this?* I’d thought they only liked cute avatar dress-up games.
"See you soon."
"Later."
I waited, bored.
The tavern door swung open. A familiar female mage strode in, followed by Guo Tong’s warrior in gleaming steel armor.
"‘Billions of Girls’ Dream’, Lv.3 Warrior."
His character name.
"‘Honey Pomelo Tea’, Lv.2 Mage."
*That name...*
My blood froze.
*The mage I "mercilessly killed" was teaming with Guo Tong?!*
I ducked my head—but my character’s name tag stayed visible.
They scanned the room for their "friend"—me.
The mage’s gaze locked onto me.
Her gentle face sharpened instantly, cycling through angry emotes under her player’s commands. Yet even fury looked flustered on her model.
*Adorable.*
"You bastard!" she shrieked, shame and rage coloring her voice. Ignoring other patrons, she raised her staff—a fireball spell charging.
If cast, the tavern would burn to ash.
"Whoa, Xiao Yu! Stop! City guards arrest troublemakers!" Guo Tong grabbed her casting hand.
"But, Gege! He took my first kill!" She jabbed a finger at me.
"*First kill?*" I choked.
*Be specific, sister! That’s wildly misleading!*
Guo Tong’s jaw dropped.
Silence stretched...
...
"Come on," he growled, drawing his one-handed sword. His face darkened. "Let’s beat this beast to death together."
...
Today, I truly understood:
*Brothers are like limbs. Lovers are like clothes.*
*Limbs belong to others. Clothes belong to you.*
