Chapter 59: Come and Snatch the Bride (2) -1
Jiang Ciqiu’s gaze also fell on the person called “Liaoyi.” From the first glance, she felt strange, a feeling she couldn’t quite describe, both familiar and unfamiliar.
That person seemed to sense something and looked back, her gaze landing on Jiang Ciqiu. It only lingered for three seconds before quickly moving away. She steadied Jiang Zhiyan, who had been bumped, her movements natural. The distance between the two was close, and it seemed she didn’t reject the other person at all.
“She’s also a beta tester, but she hasn’t played much. She’s still at Golden Core.”
“Qiuqiu, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Jiang Ciqiu shook her head.
After a while, Jiang Zhiyan and that person disappeared into the Teleportation Array, their destination unknown.
“I haven’t heard her mention this person before.” Jiang Ciqiu’s gaze still lingered on the Teleportation Array. Jiang Zhiyan had indeed smiled happily just now, completely different from how she looked in the morning.
“True, but it’s normal, right? Didn’t we also meet through the game? It’s good, she’ll have someone to play with in the future, so she won’t bother us.”
“She didn’t want to play with us in the first place.” Jiang Ciqiu sighed and clicked on Jiang Zhiyan’s personal information. She had already cleared that secret realm, just ten minutes ago. No wonder she said she didn’t want to play together; she had already made plans with someone else.
“Why do you seem so strange?” Lin Qian poked Jiang Ciqiu’s arm.
“What’s strange about me? I think Jiang Zhiyan is the strange one.” Jiang Ciqiu wasn’t in high spirits. “She’s been very strange lately.”
“Qiu… don’t tell me you have Stockholm Syndrome? Why are you so concerned about her? Isn’t it good that she’s not bothering you?”
Jiang Ciqiu: ???
“No, I don’t.” Jiang Ciqiu immediately denied it. “I just feel like she’s very different from before recently.”
“Don’t tell me you think she’s changed for the better? Believing that Jiang Zhiyan will change for the better is like believing pigs can fly.” Lin Qian rolled her eyes. “Wake up. In the past, if you didn’t smile at her, she would make a fuss for half a day, asking if you disliked her.”
“But…”
“Don’t ‘but’ me. I suspect you’ve been PUA’d by her.”
“I’m perfectly clear-headed.”
Lin Qian gave her a suspicious look.
Jiang Zhiyan knew Jiang Ciqiu was behind her, but she had more important things to do now. After all, she could see Fragment One every day, but Fragment Two, she might only be able to see in the game.
Although she already knew the other party’s basic information, she couldn’t just go and find her. If she did that, the other party would probably think she was a creep, though she never denied that about herself.
The place Xie Liaoyi wanted to go was far away. They changed several Teleportation Arrays. While climbing the mountain, Jiang Zhiyan got on her sword. The other party’s sword-riding skills were indeed excellent, not shaking at all, very stable.
Sitting on the sword, she held onto Xie Liaoyi’s skirt, gently rubbing her fingers on it, feeling the texture of the fabric.
“When do you usually play games?” Jiang Zhiyan asked. “I still want to play with you.”
“It depends.”
“Then can I add your contact information? If you’re playing, let me know.” Jiang Zhiyan continued to ask.
“Mm… okay, but I’m very busy. If you need to find me, I usually don’t have time to reply during work hours,” Xie Liaoyi said.
“It’s fine, I understand.”
Xie Liaoyi sent over her contact information. Jiang Zhiyan scanned it and memorized it, then looked down at the continuous snow-capped mountains: “It’s really beautiful here.”
“Mm, that’s why I like to come here to relax.” Xie Liaoyi’s sword suddenly dropped in altitude.
Jiang Zhiyan subconsciously leaned against her: “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a medicinal herb over there, I think you might need it.” Xie Liaoyi looked down at Jiang Zhiyan, her gaze falling on the hand gripping her skirt. “Did I scare you?”
“No, I trust you, so I’m not afraid.” Jiang Zhiyan looked down. “Just in case there’s a game bug that throws us off, so… mm, holding onto you, so I don’t get lost.”
Xie Liaoyi couldn’t help but laugh. She stopped by the cliff face, picked the white flower, and handed it to Jiang Zhiyan: “Take a look.”
“Earth-grade White Ruo Grass, can be used to refine high-quality pills.” Jiang Zhiyan smelled it. “Are you sure you want to give it to me? This should sell for quite a bit. Natural high-grade herbs like this are rare.”
“It’s yours. I play games for fun, not to make money.”
“Thank you. If I can refine good pills, I’ll give you half.” Jiang Zhiyan happily put the item into her storage pouch.
Xie Liaoyi took Jiang Zhiyan to the mountaintop. Jiang Zhiyan carefully stepped onto it. It was ice-cold, the feeling no different from stepping on real snow.
“Crunch,” “crunch.”
Jiang Zhiyan walked around Xie Liaoyi.
“What are you doing?”
“It rarely snows this heavily in Haishi.” Jiang Zhiyan retracted her foot and looked into the distance. “So high.”
“Coming up?” Xie Liaoyi was already sitting on the sword, patting the spot next to her.
Jiang Zhiyan jumped on, wrapped her arms around Xie Liaoyi’s waist, half-closed her eyes, and turned her head to look at Xie Liaoyi: “I’m ready!”
Xie Liaoyi couldn’t help but laugh again. The next second, she swooped down. Jiang Zhiyan let out a short scream, then hugged Xie Liaoyi tightly, laughing excitedly.
“Host, I think you have a split personality.” Even though it had seen such scenes many times, the System still couldn’t get used to it.
“What do you know? Don’t ruin the atmosphere, go play your game.” Jiang Zhiyan directly blocked the System.
System: …
Their laughter carried far, making those who heard it wonder if a new boss had appeared.
They played five times before finally sitting down on the mountaintop.
“That was amazing, it felt like going to an amusement park… no, it’s even more exciting than an amusement park.” Jiang Zhiyan bought two drinks and handed one to Xie Liaoyi.
Drinks could restore stamina. Because it was a full-dive game, you could taste the flavor and actually feel full, no different from eating and drinking in reality.
“Yes, I like these thrilling things, but it’s too troublesome to go to different places every time.” Xie Liaoyi said, glancing at the time. “I have to log off.”
“Ah…” Jiang Zhiyan tried to control her smile, but she was still a bit disappointed. “Going to work again?”
“Mm, I’ll grab something to eat and rest for a bit before I go.”
“Bye.” Jiang Zhiyan waved at Xie Liaoyi. “I’ll log off too then.”
She didn’t want to watch Xie Liaoyi disappear in front of her, so she logged off first. As soon as she came out, she sent a friend request to Xie Liaoyi, which the other party immediately accepted.
Jiang Zhiyan sent her an emoji, and Xie Liaoyi replied with one as well. Although they didn’t say anything, it didn’t stop the corners of Jiang Zhiyan’s mouth from turning up.
Because the other party was busy, Jiang Zhiyan didn’t say anything more.
She clicked on the other party’s Moments. Xie Liaoyi rarely shared anything about her personal life, mostly reposting news from the hospital. However, this way, she knew which hospital Xie Liaoyi worked at through legitimate channels. She liked one of Xie Liaoyi’s posts.
She searched on the map. The hospital where Xie Liaoyi worked wasn’t far from her, just one bus stop away.
“So good.” Jiang Zhiyan felt like they would be able to meet soon.
“Dinner’s ready.”
There was a knock on the door. Jiang Zhiyan looked at the door. Jiang Ciqiu was still standing there, hadn’t left.
“Oh.” She responded, got up and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Zhiyan walked past her.
“Still in a bad mood?” Jiang Ciqiu asked, following behind her.
“I’m fine.” Jiang Zhiyan looked down at her phone.
Jiang Ciqiu didn’t know what to say for a moment. She and Jiang Zhiyan never had much to talk about. Most of the time, it was Jiang Zhiyan who was looking for trouble.
She was silent for a few seconds before continuing: “You were indeed dragged into that incident last time because of me. Is there any compensation you want?”
“No need, it wasn’t your fault.” Jiang Zhiyan shook her head and looked at her phone again, then placed it face down on the table.
Jiang Ciqiu glanced at the phone on Jiang Zhiyan’s table, then looked away, gripping her chopsticks tightly.
She felt a sense of concern, but she didn’t know why.
Jiang Zhiyan ate her meal peacefully. Whenever her phone notified her of a message, she would pick it up and look, clearly waiting for someone’s message.
“A friend?” Jiang Ciqiu asked.
“Mm.” Jiang Zhiyan responded, the expression on her face noticeably softening. “A sister I recently met, she works at a hospital. She’s very nice, gentle and interesting.”
Jiang Ciqiu looked at Jiang Zhiyan. She always felt like the other party was implying something, but it also seemed like she was simply introducing her newly acquainted “sister.”
This time she was certain, Jiang Zhiyan was in a very good mood.
Because of this newly acquainted sister.
“There are a lot of online scams these days, be careful,” Jiang Ciqiu reminded her.
“I will.” Jiang Zhiyan responded, but clearly didn’t take it to heart.
Jiang Ciqiu lowered her head to eat, glancing at Jiang Zhiyan several times.
Logically, she should be happy that Jiang Zhiyan wasn’t bothering her now, but why did she feel a tightness in her chest? Jiang Zhiyan was different from before; it was very likely a new tactic to cause trouble for her. She usually wouldn’t fall for it so easily, why was she somewhat hooked this time?
She took a sip of soup to suppress the irritability in her heart.
Jiang Zhiyan kept an eye on Jiang Ciqiu’s reactions and curled her lip.
The next morning, as soon as Jiang Zhiyan opened her eyes, she checked her phone.
“Is she awake?” Jiang Zhiyan asked. Since Xie Liaoyi was a doctor, she shouldn’t have Do Not Disturb on. She was afraid of waking her up.
“Not yet,” the System said.
“Okay.”
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