Ink Orange Ice was actually quite a fun girl.

At twenty-two, she probably knew less than seventeen-year-old Xu Mo. She surfed the internet at home daily, often spouting weird terms. Yet when she said them, her face stayed completely expressionless, as if they had nothing to do with her.

She never hid her emotions. What she wanted, she wanted. Anger was anger. Desire was desire. In a way, she was purely simple.

Her room was still designed by Lin Ran—pink and girlish, with cute wallpaper. Now, game posters covered parts of it. Stuffed toys crowded her bed, and at night, she slept surrounded by them.

"Play Ahnri," Ink Orange Ice said, sitting beside Lin Ran as he opened the game.

"Ahnri’s weak this patch."

"Play Ahnri." She repeated it.

Fine. Lin Ran picked Ahnri for her promotion match. The current patch narrowed skill gaps, relying more on team coordination. But Ahnri’s stats were... pitifully low.

"Why did you die again? Are you purposely stopping me from reaching Diamond?" Ink Orange Ice stared straight at his face.

Lin Ran’s lips twitched. "Because you’re too annoying sitting next to me."

"Oh. Then I’ll leave." Ink Orange Ice stood up and walked out, closing the door before Lin Ran could call her back. He kept playing. When she returned, her clothes were completely changed.

She wore an Ahnri Spirit Blossom cosplay outfit. Her snow-white chest was largely exposed. White stockings covered her legs. Behind her stood an upright... tail.

"? How does that tail stay up?"

"Wire inside. Bend it, and it stands."

"Wait, that tail looks familiar."

"Bought it last time. When you first inserted it, it hurt a little."

"Stop saying weird things." Lin Ran’s lips twitched again. Ink Orange Ice sat beside him, hugging a teacup.

"Why change clothes suddenly?"

"Will you get better now?"

"...Not at all."

Lin Ran glanced sideways. All he saw was the soft, snowy swell of her chest. She sipped tea slowly from the cup. Catching his gaze, her expression remained blank. "Why are you staring?"

"You died."

Ink Orange Ice pointed at Lin Ran’s gray screen. Ahnri’s death voice echoed in his headphones. She mimicked it softly: "Awooo."

Lin Ran shivered all over.

"What was that for?"

"Just trying it. What’s wrong?" Ink Orange Ice looked slightly confused.

"...Nothing."

So many chats with Ink Orange Ice left Lin Ran completely numb.

Only keyboard clicks filled the room. Ink Orange Ice spoke a bit more during games.

"E! Why didn’t you E? You could’ve E’d just now."

"Your R still has one segment unused."

"Ugh, why no Flash?"

Her constant chatter made focusing impossible. Lin Ran almost told her to shut up. But when he turned, he saw her bright eyes, her snow-white chest... He closed his mouth.

They lost the match.

As Ink Orange Ice started murmuring again, Lin Ran stood up, lifted her, and placed her on the gaming chair. Her hands gripped the armrests instinctively. He lifted her skirt.

"You’re too loud."

"I—I don’t want it on the chair."

"Shut up."

"Oh. You’re bullying me. I’m mad."

"So what?"

"I won’t hum for you anymore."

............................................

By 7 PM, Lin Ran’s camera-buying plan was ruined.

He ended up dressing Ink Orange Ice piece by piece. She was just lazy. Lin Ran felt she grew lazier. When they first met, she worked at a convenience store—cold but hardworking.

She knew almost nothing. Raised in the mountains, she was disconnected from modern society. Her emotional flaws made life strange. Back then, she didn’t know how to join The Alliance. Starving, she took the store job for half a month.

Now, Ink Orange Ice wanted to see the moon.

Their villa was in the suburbs. Nearby spots offered good views. She led Lin Ran downstairs. Two heavy motorcycles waited—one black, one white.

Ink Orange Ice got on the white one. As Lin Ran headed for his bike, she called, "Ride with me."

"Okay."

Lin Ran sat behind her, arms around her waist. Her waist was slender and smooth. Her short shirt barely covered it. Ink Orange Ice said nothing. She started the engine and sped out of the villa, heading north. Ahead lay two mountains and a winding road. She drove fast, loving the thrill.

Lin Ran had taught her to ride. She had no license. Wind roared past. Her body felt slightly cold, energy swirling around her. After twenty minutes, Lin Ran’s face was numb from the wind. They reached a pavilion at the road’s end—a perfect moon-viewing spot.

Almost 8 PM. Wind blew through the pavilion. They sat on its edge. Ink Orange Ice stretched her legs, yawned, and flopped into Lin Ran’s lap.

"So comfortable."

Her words meant she was happy.

Lin Ran looked at the moon. He didn’t get the appeal, but it was one of her hobbies.

"Why do you like the moon?" he asked softly.

"Not that much."

"Then why drag me along?"

"Because... alone, it’s not fun." Ink Orange Ice spoke flatly. Her white-stockinged legs swung gently. She gazed at the moon.

"You can’t stay indoors forever."

"What should I do then?"

"After you break through to SS Rank, go anywhere you want. I won’t watch you anymore. Need money? Ask Silver Lady."

"Why go anywhere?" Ink Orange Ice turned to his eyes.

"When you feel stronger emotions, you’ll find things you truly want. You’ll see the world has fun things. And... much of what I do, you don’t actually like."

"I don’t care."

"Who knows later?" Lin Ran glanced at her.

"You disdain me. Want to discard me." Ink Orange Ice stared seriously.

"No. Why disdain you?"

"You’re tired of sleeping with me. Want to dump me. Scumbag."

"I told you to stop weird talk. Do you like me?"

"What is ‘like’?"

"Wishing to stay with someone forever."

"Don’t know. With or without you, it’s the same." Ink Orange Ice thought. "But you want to discard me."

"We’ll see later." Lin Ran’s tone held no hesitation.

"I won’t allow it."

"What?"

"You. Won’t. Discard. Me." Ink Orange Ice spoke word by word.

"I haven’t discarded you yet. Why were you out that day?"

"What day?"

"When Xu Zhi and I were at the park. That ability user showed up. You killed him with your sword. Why were you there?" Lin Ran had forgotten to ask.

"Saw it on my phone."

"Saw what?"

"Saw you there."

"So you came?"

"Mm."

Lin Ran thought carefully. No words came.

A strange dependence lingered. No love, greed, jealousy—just her calm, word-by-word plea: don’t discard me.

"I won’t discard you." Lin Ran decided to explain patiently.

"Then what?"

"You can’t stay in your room forever. I can’t care for you forever."

"I never asked you to care."

"I know... Fine. It’s my one-sided wish. But remember your task when you left the mountains? What did your family say?"

"Join The Alliance. But you said The Alliance has bad people."

"I’m bad too. The worst."

"You never did bad things to me."

Lin Ran sighed. Before he could continue, Ink Orange Ice turned. "Wrong. You did bad things to me."

"Huh?"

"This afternoon. You bullied me on the chair."

"You still remember that?"

"Of course. I wrote it in my little notebook." Her tone was serious. Her swinging legs stilled, pressed together. Her hands rested on her skirt.

"If you leave, who will I do it with later?"

Lin Ran froze. "Once you reach SS Rank, such desires won’t trouble you."

"But I’ll still want to. Who should I do it with then?"

"With someone you like."

"I don’t know what ‘like’ is."

"It’s fine. You’ll understand later." Lin Ran gently ruffled her hair.

Sometimes, she seemed like a kid. Kind of cute.

Ink Orange Ice met his eyes. "Don’t touch my head."

"Why?"

"Grandpa said it stunts growth."

"Okay... Do you miss your grandpa? Want to visit him?"

"Grandpa passed away." Ink Orange Ice whispered. Her voice held no sadness—like a machine running.

"You never told me about yourself."

"You never asked."

"Your family? Don’t you miss them after so long?"

Ink Orange Ice looked puzzled. "Why would I?"

"Were they unkind?"

She lowered her head quietly. After thinking carefully, she whispered to Lin Ran.

"They thought... I was a monster."