◎ Somehow, it felt like he was getting played instead. ◎

From that day on, Xu Tiancheng gradually developed a habit of chatting with her now and then. Most of the time, she initiated the conversations, and they only talked through private messages on the platform. He never asked for her WeChat or phone number. No matter how much they talked, their relationship remained strictly that of online acquaintances.

Truthfully, he hadn’t yet decided if he wanted to take it seriously. He had a basic sense of morality when it came to relationships. He wasn’t at the age where winning a woman’s favor felt like some kind of achievement, nor had he ever played with anyone’s feelings for fun.

He never intended to keep her hanging. Yet, from the very beginning, she had been keeping him hanging—dangling him just enough that he was caught in between, unable to move forward or retreat. Even his long-dormant desire for conquest had begun to stir.

It had been too long since he last engaged in this kind of game. He was out of practice, so he could only start with the simplest tactics.

Step one: he subtly replaced every “you” in their conversations with “Teacher Seagull.” The name itself didn’t matter. What mattered was creating a nickname that only the two of them used. The more he called her that, the more it would build a sense of exclusivity between them.

She quickly played along, returning the favor by calling him “Teacher X.” Every time she addressed him that way, it was with an exaggerated enthusiasm.

One time, she complained that fitness meals tasted awful. Seizing the opportunity, Xu Tiancheng casually mentioned a seasoning and tried to ask for her mailing address. His real goal was to occasionally send her small gifts to keep himself on her mind.

Given their current relationship, her refusal to give her address wasn’t surprising.

What was surprising was how quickly she distanced herself afterward. She repeatedly hinted—both subtly and outright—that she had never taken this seriously from the start. Her decisiveness was almost ruthless.

As he read her indirect yet clear rejection, it was hard to believe that just fifteen minutes earlier, she had climbed into his private messages after seeing his latest post, spamming him with over-the-top reactions like:

“Ahhhhhh! Teacher X, you’re amazing! You’re so handsome! Oh my god, how did I get so lucky to see this photo? I’m so happy I could cry!”

When it came to compliments, she was an expert. She never just threw out a generic “You have a great physique.” Xu Tiancheng had heard such remarks countless times over the years, to the point where they no longer affected him.

But she was different. She praised in such a detailed and specific way that it was hard to ignore:

“In that last photo, when you bent down to grab the towel, the lines of your arms looked so smooth! The muscle separation was just right!”

“Your legs look so powerful. Do you play sports too? I bet you’d look amazing doing a jump shot in basketball—super cool and full of energy!”

“Your shoulder-to-waist ratio is unreal. It’s like you’re in a completely different league from ordinary people. Teacher X, I really admire you! You must have put in so much effort and hard work.”

Her words were logical, backed by details, enthusiastic but never vulgar. Sometimes, she came off a little too slick, but the emotional value in her praise was undeniable.

Xu Tiancheng ran a business. He knew full well that flattery was just a trick—something people said effortlessly.

Yet, despite knowing that, he still found it difficult to resist the satisfaction it brought. Seriously, who could withstand constant compliments from a beautiful woman?

She was something else. One moment, she was showering him with admiration as if she was completely smitten; the next, she was hesitating, acting uncertain.

To keep her engaged, Xu Tiancheng even resorted to using cheesy lines to create a sense of fate between them—saying things like, “Our interactions always seem to happen at just the right moments.” Even as he sent the message, he cringed at himself.

The worst part? As exaggerated as it sounded, most of it actually reflected his genuine feelings.

Screw it, he thought. Might as well give it a shot. Maybe she liked this kind of thing.

Sure enough, after reading his message, she pulled away even faster. She was so determined to cut ties that she even said, “I’ve been busy admiring other handsome guys’ profiles.”

That made Xu Tiancheng wonder—had she ever actually considered him as a romantic prospect at all? Did she not realize that no man would tolerate hearing something like that?

It might not just be a theory—who knows, she might have been practicing multi-line synchronization all along…

So, what exactly does she take him for?

With the last bit of courtesy, he replied with a good night and tossed his phone aside.

How had he never realized before that his worst tendencies surfaced so easily? Nothing had even happened yet, and he was already inserting himself into an important role, his possessiveness starting to stir.

He dove into the pool and swam back and forth in one breath, feeling somewhat disgusted with himself for the fire he couldn’t quite suppress inside.

When he got out of the pool and grabbed his phone, he saw a new message from her:

“Teacher X, are you still awake?”

Unlike her usual bold and playful tone, there was a hint of cautious hesitation.

Who knew if she was really being cautious? It might just be another one of her tactics. This woman had too many tricks up her sleeve—he couldn’t afford to trust her completely.

Xu Tiancheng held his phone and stared at it for a while, watching as the screen dimmed.

Who turned the AC so low? The water droplets clinging to his skin sent waves of cold through him.

Irritated, he realized he wanted to reply—desperately wanted to. She decided they wouldn’t talk anymore, but now she was beckoning him back with just a flick of her fingers.

For a moment, Xu Tiancheng considered just letting it go.

Who needed her half-hearted teasing anyway? Fine, that was it—no more talking, ever. He should just end it here.

At the same time, another possibility whispered in his ear—

What if he didn’t reply this time and she never messaged him again? She didn’t seem like the type to cling or hesitate.

Alright, fine, he gave in. He couldn’t hold out any longer. Without bringing up their earlier unpleasant exchange, he typed with a blank expression:

“I just checked, you already said good night earlier.”

Now that the conversation had hit an impasse, let’s see what kind of excuse she would come up with.

As expected, she didn’t disappoint. She playfully turned it into a late-night radio confession, apologizing and explaining that her real-life job was too demanding, so she relied on online banter to relieve stress. She even flattered him, making him laugh despite himself.

After reading her “late-night radio call-in,” Xu Tiancheng suddenly felt a sense of clarity, as if a fog had lifted. Her image in his mind became more tangible, more real.

For example, why would someone as beautiful as her seek entertainment by teasing strangers online?

Why were her meal photos always taken next to a desk or a laptop?

Why did she rarely talk about her personal life, making it seem like she was either working overtime or on her way to work?

There was a saying—sincerity is always a killer move.

Xu Tiancheng used to dismiss that idea, but now he saw some truth in it. Wasn’t this the perfect example? She had simply been a little sincere, and suddenly, in his mind, she had become an ambitious, hardworking professional woman. The impression was so positive that he couldn’t help but admire her. And with that, he could almost understand why she saw him as nothing more than a fun distraction.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, he was nearly waving the white flag. At that moment, she struck again, giving him an easy way out:

“Teacher X, can I chat with you again tomorrow night?”

It sounded tentative, but he knew she wasn’t actually afraid. If he said no, would she really stop?

Actually… she might.

So he couldn’t say no.

But the frustration in his chest hadn’t completely faded yet, and he didn’t want to agree too easily, so he responded coolly:

“Do you even have time?”

What would she say?

“If it’s to chat with Teacher X, I have time every day.”

A moment later, another message popped up:

“Even if I don’t, I’ll make time.”

Xu Tiancheng read it and could only scoff. There had been plenty of times when he sent a message and waited ages for a reply.

Yet, deep inside, another voice surfaced—one that truly terrified him. He actually heard himself questioning his own frustration:

She already reached out to make peace—what more do you want? She just enjoys looking at muscles, so what? Otherwise, why does she only look at yours and not others’? And even if she does look at others, so what? Everyone has their own hobbies.

Xu Tiancheng almost forgot that he and Teacher Seagull had never even met in person. Yet his emotions were already rising and falling because of this sweet-talking, cold-hearted woman. Initially, he just wanted something fun to kill time. But now, he was dangerously close to falling into his own game.