Xiao Feng chatted and gamed with Qin Bingbing, always keeping his goal of helping her close to heart. Thanks to his consistent initiative, their relationship had warmed up noticeably.

A month of summer vacation slipped by. Every day, Xiao Feng proactively invited Qin Bingbing to play. There was something quietly rewarding about helping a girl gently step out of social anxiety.

To him, this was probably why doing good deeds felt so fulfilling.

With the new semester drawing near, Situ Changxi also frequently asked Xiao Feng out. She often mentioned, with subtle sadness, that they wouldn’t be attending the same university. Xiao Feng naturally steered clear of the topic. He’d never pried into her background—but the fact that she could so casually secure him a spot at a top-tier university spoke volumes.

Three days before school started, Situ Changxi called him and talked for over two hours. Her voice brimmed with reluctant farewell, as if terrified he’d forget her the moment he left for college elsewhere. Xiao Feng knew she cherished their friendship deeply. Yet he truly felt they belonged to two different worlds. He could foresee how entanglements might end poorly—but as ordinary friends? He’d never forget someone as lovely as Situ Changxi. After all, how could any guy dislike a cute girl?

In the final two days before school resumed, Liu Qing also clung to Xiao Feng constantly, as if summer’s end meant vanishing forever. In truth, they were enrolled at the same university—but she’d only told him she attended “H Province Arts School,” deliberately omitting “Information.” Xiao Feng, searching online and finding the school listed, genuinely believed they were apart. Seizing the excuse, Liu Qing declared, “Once vacation ends, I’ll never taste your home-cooked meals again! I must eat every single one these last two days!” Though Xiao Feng always feigned reluctance, he still cooked for her. Summer was ending. College awaited. Who knew when he’d see Sister Qing again? He figured extra meals were fair repayment for her care. Outwardly bold and breezy, Liu Qing was, beneath it all, quietly thoughtful.

The night before school began!

After packing, Xiao Feng opened his computer to say goodbye to Qin Bingbing. He knew this would likely be their last gaming session for a while.

“Qin Bingbing,” he said casually through the QQ voice call, “tomorrow’s my first day of college. I probably won’t be able to game with you often anymore. But—can you now talk with people in real life a little more normally?”

They weren’t close friends after one summer, but friends nonetheless.

Qin Bingbing gave a soft “Mm,” nodding slightly. With Xiao Feng’s gentle guidance, she could manage very basic interactions now—but only the simplest. Anything more still stirred a deep, lingering fear.

“That’s great,” Xiao Feng encouraged warmly. “Keep practicing. Once you’re no longer afraid of ordinary chats, you’ll see—this world is actually quite beautiful.”

She murmured another “Mm,” eyes fixed on the game screen, knees hugged tightly to her chest, posture radiating quiet melancholy.

After nearly a minute of silence, as if gathering every ounce of courage, she asked:

“X-Xiao Feng… w-where… where are you going to college?”

“**H Province Information and Arts College!**”

Xiao Feng answered readily—any initiative to connect was progress.

“C-Can we… have a… a video call?” Her voice trembled visibly.

Xiao Feng blinked in surprise, then smiled. “Of course.”

He felt genuine joy. This was huge—her willingness to face someone directly.

Qin Bingbing stared at her phone, took a slow, deep breath, and extended a slender finger to tap the video button.

*Beep… beep… beep…*

Xiao Feng accepted instantly.

A second later, a girl appeared: white sundress, knees hugged, seated softly in her chair.

Qin Bingbing. Exactly as in her earlier video—pure, lovely, shy. An aura so delicate it stirred an instinct to protect.

Just as Xiao Feng’s smile began to form, he saw her wide eyes lock onto his face—frozen in shock.

“L-Little Fengfeng?!”

Before he could process the bewildering nickname, her eyes welled up. She abruptly ended the call.

Xiao Feng stared at the disconnected screen—first utterly baffled, then realization struck. His heart sank.

*Am I really that ugly… that I made Qin Bingbing cry just by showing my face?*