Chapter 15:
Qi SiJia didn’t see Meng Jiang for the rest of the day, so her questions remained unanswered.
That evening, without the pressure of writing, she had more free time.
She cleaned Big Orange’s litter box, replenished his food and water, and then started cooking.
Her phone was charging in the living room.
Qin XiaoFang called, reminding Qi SiJia to check her novel’s comments.
The Yuri reading platform had recently introduced a new “urge to update” feature.
If a top fan’s “deep-sea torpedo” gifts (a type of virtual gift) reached a certain threshold, the author had to respond, even if they had a break notice posted.
Qi SiJia disliked this feature. It encouraged readers to spend money, and she felt undeserving of the gifts when she wasn’t updating.
But the platform prioritized profit, and the rule was mandatory. Qin XiaoFang couldn’t do anything about it, and neither could Qi SiJia. She reluctantly agreed.
After Qin XiaoFang finished her instructions, perhaps hearing the sizzling oil in the background, she asked, “It’s so late. Haven’t you eaten yet?”
“It’s so late,” Qi SiJia retorted, “Shouldn’t you be at a lesbian bar picking up someone?”
“Hahaha, we’re truly soulmates. Nothing to do at night.” Qin XiaoFang chuckled, then said, “Since you’re not writing tonight and you won’t be able to sleep early, I’ll invite you to a game later.”
Qi SiJia, busy frying sea bass, adding green onions and rock sugar to the sizzling oil, didn’t quite catch that Qin XiaoFang was planning a game with their old classmates.
She casually agreed.
After the fish was golden brown, the sugar caramelized, and the seasonings added, Qi SiJia poured water into the pan, added enoki mushrooms, tofu skin, and frozen tofu, covered the pan, and lowered the heat. Only then did she check her phone.
Logging into the Yuri reading platform,
she saw a new message from Rich Flower.
Rich Flower: *[When’s the next update?] *
Qi SiJia glanced at Rich Flower’s donation amount, gifted Ji Liu double the amount in virtual gifts, and then returned Rich Flower’s gifts through a red packet.
[Next month. Here’s a red packet to appease you.]
A few seconds later, Rich Flower, unusually, replied with a single: [?].
Qi SiJia had seen wealthy readers, but Rich Flower was in a league of her own. Before the platform introduced this feature, Rich Flower’s gifts were already generous. Now, her spending had doubled.
Qi SiJia felt uncomfortable accepting so much. She typed, her online persona more expressive: [Baby, please don’t gift me anymore. I’ll just return them.]
Rich Flower: *[?] *
Rich Flower was stubborn. Qi SiJia had told her many times that her support was enough, no need for money.
But Rich Flower enjoyed gifting her.
To prevent further refusal, Qi SiJia sent a cat emoji: [I’m going to play a game. Good night.]
Meng Jiang, seeing the cheerful good night message, smiled and replied: [Good night.]
Qi SiJia exited the app, then returned, adding another message for emphasis: [Your support is enough. No need for money.]
Meng Jiang put down her yoga ball and plugged her phone in to charge.
She glanced at Qi SiJia’s message one last time,
scoffed, and pushed away her untouched takeout.
She poured herself a glass of red wine and sat on the sofa.
The TV was playing her interview from a few days ago.
“If you met her again, what would you do?”
On screen, faced with this sensitive question, Meng Jiang showed no nervousness, her practiced smile in place, sighing playfully, as if reciting a prepared answer, “I don’t know.”
In truth, she really didn’t know.
Though she was socially adept, always graceful and calculating, those skills were useless against Qi SiJia.
Over the years, Meng Jiang had learned that some things, once left unresolved, would remain forever buried.
She often wondered if her feelings for Qi SiJia could be buried.
Since recognizing Big Orange in Qi SiJia’s Weibo profile picture a few years ago, the answer was clear.
Unspoken feelings would remain forever unspoken.
Just like the casual comment in the garden: “Not every love story has a fairy tale ending.”
All “rekindled romances” were just wishful thinking, carefully constructed narratives.
Using coincidences and fate to piece together a broken circle, creating an illusion of a fresh start.
Meng Jiang realized that despite her social skills and meticulous planning, she was just a sentimental fool, her actions, from the excessive gifting to contacting her first love, driven by a desire for a second chance.
The drama club group chat was lively.
Meng Jiang had appeared in the chat a few days ago, occasionally participating in the conversation, mostly receiving compliments.
Ever the social butterfly, Qin XiaoFang hadn’t eaten dinner yet—waiting for Qi SiJia to finish and join the game. She chatted with a few classmates in the group.
[Who’s joining the game later?]
Several people asked: [What game?]
Qin XiaoFang, always eager to show off: [Sister Fang can play any game. Your pick.]
Her friends scoffed.
[If you don’t believe me, believe Qi SiJia. Legendary gamer, max level jungler. She’s also great at survival games, high rank, excellent positioning, quick reflexes, shoots on sight. So, want me to carry you?]
Qin XiaoFang typed away, boasting.
A new message notification popped up.
Meng Jiang, the drama club president, had sent a friend request.
Qin XiaoFang’s hand trembled. She turned on the lamp in disbelief.
A minute later, they were connected.
[Can I join?] Meng Jiang asked.
Qin XiaoFang pinched herself: This couldn’t be a dream. [Of course!]
Even if she was a noob, with Qi SiJia there,
carrying a newbie was easy, especially if that newbie was the goddess Meng Jiang.
Qin XiaoFang eagerly awaited Meng Jiang in the game, but half an hour later, Qi SiJia still hadn’t logged in.
[Where are you?] Qin XiaoFang asked.
Qi SiJia had just finished dinner and showered when she saw the message.
Perhaps due to the physical exertion, she felt unusually tired.
She replied: [Tired after work. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?]
Qin XiaoFang was surprised: [You found a job?]
Qi SiJia: [Yes.]
[Just two rounds,] Qin XiaoFang said. [It’s everyone from the drama club. You need to get used to them, right?]
[Think about the reunion this weekend. So many people. You can’t just keep popping heart pills like candy.]
Qin XiaoFang understood Qi SiJia’s social anxiety. She hadn’t gone to the bar tonight and had organized the game partly for Qi SiJia’s sake. Inviting Meng Jiang had been an unexpected bonus.
Qi SiJia agreed. Playing online with voice chat wasn’t as daunting.
Getting used to her classmates’ voices beforehand would be better than panicking at the reunion.
She hesitated, then agreed.
Logging in, she saw Meng Jiang in their four-person team. Her first instinct was to disconnect.
But recalling her previous actions – blocking Meng Jiang and posting that poll –
made her realize avoiding her would only seem suspicious.
It would look like she was the one still hung up on their relationship.
Qi SiJia put on her headset, glancing at the other two chatting animatedly.
Meng Jiang was quiet. Qin XiaoFang and her friend were talking non-stop.
They’d clearly been waiting. Seeing Qi SiJia online,
Qin XiaoFang said, “Meng Jiang is new. Qi SiJia, please look after her.”
Qi SiJia hummed in agreement, selected the rainforest map, and after they landed, finally asked Meng Jiang, “Have you never played this game before?”
Meng Jiang said, “I’m learning.”
Meng Jiang was reserved even in the game. Qi SiJia had intended to explain the basics,
but Meng Jiang, surprisingly composed, didn’t ask any questions.
Since Meng Jiang didn’t ask, Qi SiJia didn’t bother explaining, not wanting to create unnecessary interaction.
After jumping from the plane, Qi SiJia quickly assessed their surroundings.
“Team at 7 o’clock.”
She quickly grabbed a rifle and started shooting.
It was a one-sided slaughter. Qin XiaoFang and her friend had already run for cover.
After eliminating the threat, Qi SiJia turned to find Meng Jiang looting the dropped weapons and ammo.
“What are you looking at?” Meng Jiang’s voice, husky and sweet, came through the headset, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Qi SiJia’s ears felt warm. She pushed her hair back, glancing at Meng Jiang’s character, “Three o’clock. Dare to kill?”
Shouldn’t a normal person compliment her skills?
Meng Jiang: “…”
Meng Jiang was a quick learner. Even as a newbie, after the first half of the game,
she confidently wielded an AKM, running off to snipe people.
Qi SiJia could only follow, protecting her, her reflexes sharper than usual, making sure they weren’t ambushed. But even she couldn’t keep up with Meng Jiang’s recklessness.
Twenty minutes later, Qi SiJia, with the last of her health, took down the enemy team, dying in the process.
Qin XiaoFang wailed, “Qi SiJia, what happened? You lost!”
“That’s not your usual performance.”
“Is your new job that tiring? Fatigue affecting your gameplay?”
Qi SiJia hummed in agreement.
Qin XiaoFang felt slightly guilty. Qi SiJia’s “jobs” were usually either volunteer work or physically demanding tasks. She rarely complained about being tired.
Feeling bad, Qin XiaoFang started to say, “Maybe…”
But Huang Yaran interrupted, “Qi SiJia, are you still screenwriting?”
Qin XiaoFang: “No.”
Qi SiJia: “No.”
They answered simultaneously.
A voice cut in,
“What kind of work is so tiring?”
Qi SiJia looked over. Meng Jiang had respawned. Learning from their previous experience, they had chosen a less populated area this time.
After landing safely, Qi SiJia replied, “Service industry.”
Huang Yaran’s tone turned condescending.
After all, everyone from their drama club class had become successful. Either a three-time award-winning actress like Meng Jiang, nominated for an Oscar,
or industry elites.
No one worked in the service industry.
Huang Yaran scoffed, “I always thought… with your talent, you would have become a famous screenwriter.”
Qin XiaoFang, picking up a rifle, thought, Bitch, please.
Five years ago, Qi SiJia was a screenwriter, one you couldn’t even compare to. Even now, as a web novelist, she could easily return to screenwriting if she wanted.
The production company for “Submerged” wanted Qi SiJia to participate in the screenplay adaptation.
If not for her social anxiety, it would have already happened.
Qi SiJia ignored Huang Yaran’s taunt, but Qin XiaoFang couldn’t stand it.
“She’s not short on money.”
“Then what is she lacking?” Meng Jiang, leading the way, suddenly turned and asked.
“Brains?” Qin XiaoFang said, “She just got dumped a few days ago, heartbroken, I guess. So she abandoned her promising career, returned to the grassroots, hoping to find a new girlfriend.”
Qin XiaoFang emphasized “promising career,” realizing her words were condescending. Huang Yaran remained silent.
Meng Jiang hummed, as if asking casually, “Did she find one?”
This area was less populated, and their pace slowed down. Meng Jiang’s voice was soft and alluring,
sending shivers down Qi SiJia’s spine.
For some reason, the voice reminded her of the penthouse owner’s chuckle, their tones almost identical.
Comparing the penthouse owner’s figure and demeanor to Meng Jiang’s,
Qi SiJia realized her taste hadn’t changed. All her girlfriends were beautiful and stylish, their figures accentuated by their clothes.
They were confident, their voices husky and sweet, a hint of alluring coldness in their tone.
Thinking about the penthouse owner, Qi SiJia smiled unconsciously.
She wasn’t planning to answer Meng Jiang’s question,
when Qin XiaoFang burst out laughing.
They continued through the game, reaching a row of warehouses.
Qi SiJia hid behind a door, finding no one inside.
She waved to the others, entering the warehouse.
Qin XiaoFang said, “Find one my ass.”
Unaware of Qi SiJia’s history with Meng Jiang, and perhaps starstruck by the goddess,
“Honestly, Qi SiJia only has her looks going for her. Beauties walk right past her, and she never makes a move.”
Qin XiaoFang started listing Qi SiJia’s exes, their flaws and quirks, exaggerating wildly.
Meng Jiang chuckled occasionally.
Qi SiJia couldn’t take it anymore.
“There is one,” Qi SiJia said, eliminating an enemy hidden behind a crate, switching to a pistol, “Just yesterday, I asked for her name.”
Qin XiaoFang stopped abruptly: “Who?”
Unsure how to describe the penthouse owner,
Qi SiJia said, “My boss.”
A moment of silence in the voice chat.
Meng Jiang suddenly asked, “And then?”
Qi SiJia said, “She said no.”
Qin XiaoFang: “Hahahaha!”
“Is there more?”
After another kill, Qi SiJia saw a dropped weapon. Meng Jiang quickly grabbed it, adding it to her inventory, then turned back, asking casually, “And then?”
Talking about this with her first love felt strange.
Things hadn’t gone smoothly after that.
But recalling that the penthouse owner had asked for her employee ID and given her dinner,
Qi SiJia hummed in agreement,
omitting the owner’s identity, thinking carefully, “She asked for my name… employee ID.”
“And gave me her dinner.” The cherries.
This was Qi SiJia’s first attempt at initiating a friendship. She couldn’t decipher the penthouse owner’s intentions, but everyone kept saying the owner liked her, and now, with Meng Jiang’s questions, Qi SiJia started to believe it.
Choosing her words carefully, she asked, “If it were you, would you interpret that as her liking me?”
Qin XiaoFang: “Seriously?”
“You go, girl!”
Huang Yaran said, “Congratulations! Most likely, yes.”
Laughter filled the voice chat. Only Meng Jiang remained silent, firing her newly acquired weapon indiscriminately, attracting the attention of a hidden sniper.
The team was wiped out again.
Ignoring their score, Meng Jiang said, “Let’s stop here.”
Everyone assumed she would leave the game,
but after a brief gray-out, her character reappeared.
“Has she seen your face?”
Qi SiJia shook her head.
“Do you think she’s beautiful?”
Qi SiJia shook her head: “She has a nice figure, but I haven’t seen her face.”
Qin XiaoFang burst out laughing, amused by Qi SiJia’s criteria for attraction.
“Hahaha, I knew it. Your reasons for liking someone are always absurd. You haven’t even seen her face. How can you like her?”
Meng Jiang raised an eyebrow, her mood seemingly improving, “So how can you be sure she’s interested in you, or that she likes you without even seeing your face?”
Qi SiJia was speechless. But she did feel a connection with the penthouse owner. Even if they couldn’t date, being friends would be nice.
“Maybe next time… I’ll take off my mask?”
Qi SiJia mumbled, then suddenly asked, “Meng Jiang, what’s your type? Beautiful? Nice hands…?”
Meng Jiang glanced at her, a smile playing on her lips, “Not your type.”
Qi SiJia: “…”
Alright, end of conversation.
Meng Jiang, for some reason annoyed, logged off without a word.
Her profile picture turned gray.
After exiting the game, Qi SiJia received another notification from the Yuri reading platform. Six minutes ago, Rich Flower had gifted her another large sum.
Each gift was accompanied by a single word: “Update.”
Qi SiJia sighed, sending Rich Flower a private message,
returning double the amount, and adding an ellipsis.
Rich Flower: “Is the author in a bad mood?”
Indeed, Meng Jiang had ruined her mood.
But Meng Jiang’s words had left her speechless.
Recalling their conversation, Qi SiJia looked at her phone screen and asked, “Do you have someone you like?”
Rich Flower: “Yes. Five years.”
“Is appearance important when a girl likes a girl?”
Rich Flower replied quickly: “Not necessarily. I value inner beauty more.”
Qi SiJia smiled, relieved, “I see. I met someone special today. She doesn’t care about my looks or my job. She’s very kind to me. I didn’t even have any trouble communicating with her. Does that mean she likes my inner beauty?”
Rich Flower was unusually silent.
Qi SiJia pressed on, “Do you know how to pursue a girl? This is my first time, I’m not experienced.”
After a long pause, Rich Flower replied: “Has she expressed any interest in you?”
“No, but she asked for my name and gave me her dinner.”
“Everyone says she likes me.”
“Have you considered that maybe she just needs to lose weight?”
“According to you, she doesn’t care about looks. But maybe…”
“She’s only interested in handsome men.”
!!!
Qi SiJia: “…”
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