Chapter 16

“Are you okay?” Pei Jiyin asked.

After a moment, some noise came through the receiver: “I’m fine… I’m fine. I wouldn’t get angry over a scumbag.”

Though the girl said this, she still took several deep breaths: “I just broke up with him. Thank you for pulling me aside and caring about me.”

“That’s good. There are plenty of fish in the sea—no need to hang yourself on one tree,” Song Zhen chimed in.

The girl fell silent for two seconds: “Do you two always talk like this?”

“Because we’re competing to see who stops being sarcastic first—whoever does loses,” Pei Jiyin explained.

“Yep,” Song Zhen confirmed.

The girl paused, then laughed: “Then I’ll talk like that too, so I don’t stand out.”

“Don’t worry, you’re naturally sweet,” Pei Jiyin said.

The three entered the game, and silence fell again, the atmosphere slightly awkward.

“If your boyfriend apologized, would you forgive him?” Pei Jiyin asked curiously. “Just a random question—no need to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Tian Tian corrected. “I don’t go back to exes. I’ve already deleted and blocked all his contacts. He chased me for three months back then—who would’ve thought…”

“He said all the right things when he was pursuing me,” Tian Tian sneered. “Hah, men’s words are all lies.”

“Don’t be mad. I’ll carry you—play Yao,” Pei Jiyin said, picking Mirror and showing off her win rate.

“Wow, sis, you’re that good?” Tian Tian exclaimed, locking in Yao. “See? Dumping trash brings good luck.”

Song Zhen narrowed her eyes and couldn’t help but click her tongue.

“What’s wrong, little cutie?” Pei Jiyin asked.

“Nothing,” Song Zhen replied.

[She’s totally jealous lol.]  

[Dead. She hinted at you carrying her earlier, and you refused. Now you’re all eager for another girl.]  

[Go comfort her!]  

Pei Jiyin skimmed the chat but ignored them. She had no idea what nonsense they’d been discussing mid-game—things were getting off track.

Song Zhen barely spoke the entire match—or rather, couldn’t get a word in. Listening to the newly added Tian Tian shower Pei Jiyin with praise, she could tell the girl’s mood had improved drastically.

“Want the Blue Buff, little cutie?”

“Did the sun rise from the west today? Since when are you this nice?” Song Zhen hurried over, using her skill to secure the buff before Pei Jiyin could change her mind.

“I’ve given it to you before. You just refused,” Pei Jiyin countered.

“Really?” Song Zhen pretended to think for a few seconds. “Did you?”

“Yep. I’m too nice to deny you the Blue Buff,” Pei Jiyin said earnestly.

“Pfft.”

They destroyed the Nexus, and Song Zhen stared at her rank stars, sighing.

Honestly, they’d won most matches today. If Pei Jiyin used her best heroes, she’d probably hit Kings of Glory in no time.

She used to think getting carried was lame—but damn, freeloading felt amazing. Talk about a change of heart.

Pei Jiyin played three rounds with Tian Tian, each ending in about seven minutes. When Song Zhen heard Tian Tian was leaving, she felt slightly disappointed. She knew very well that Pei Jiyin only played Mirror to humor her. And given Pei Jiyin’s mischievous nature, she’d probably stir up trouble the moment Tian Tian left.

Just as she expected.

“Little cutie, should I keep playing Mirror?” Pei Jiyin asked, her tone casual, but Song Zhen could detect a hint of teasing in it.

Song Zhen: …

“I feel like you take pleasure in tormenting me,” Song Zhen said.

“Not at all. If you say play, then I’ll play,” Pei Jiyin replied. “I’m just asking for your opinion, aren’t I?”

“Then go ahead.” Song Zhen coughed lightly. “I did tell you to play earlier, but didn’t we run into that Tian Tian?”

“Ah, right. I remember now.”

“Tch. See, you don’t even remember what I said.”

“Probably because you typed it out, so it didn’t stick,” Pei Jiyin said. “Cold text just doesn’t leave an impression like your voice does.”

“Hahahaha.”

Pei Jiyin laughed. “How many stars do you need to get back to Diamond Tier? I’m almost at Kings of Glory.”

“Four matches,” Song Zhen answered.

“Alright, I’m about the same.” Pei Jiyin counted the stars. “We’ll stop once we get you to Diamond Tier?”

“Sure… thanks.”

“Well, what can I say? I did call you ‘little sister,’ after all,” Pei Jiyin said.

“Tch.”

Song Zhen had been playing Kings of Glory for years, and honestly, she’d never climbed ranks so smoothly before. She even played a couple of rounds as Yao. Ever since teaming up with Pei Jiyin, her win rate with Yao had plummeted and needed some pulling up.

When she finally made it back to Diamond Tier, Song Zhen nearly cried.

“Don’t get too emotional, little cutie,” Pei Jiyin said. “It’s just Diamond Tier.”

“You don’t understand,” Song Zhen replied. “If I didn’t make it back to Diamond Tier soon, I was ready to uninstall the game.”

“Don’t do that! What would I do without you?”

“You don’t seem like someone short on gaming friends,” Song Zhen said.

“But few are as interesting as you,” Pei Jiyin countered. “And your voice is so lovely, little cutie. I’d hate for you to quit.”

“Ugh.”

Pei Jiyin laughed.

“Alright, no more games today. Bye.”

“Okay, see you.”

After logging off, Pei Jiyin thanked her audience for the gifts, chatted with them for a bit, then ended her livestream. She reached out to Zhi Zhi.

[Yin Song: Next week?]

[Zhi Zhi: Obviously. This week’s already over.]

[Yin Song: Alright, I’ll contact you then.]

[Zhi Zhi: OK]

On Monday, Pei Jiyin mentioned this to Cheng Yu, who thought for a few seconds.

“How well do you know her?”

“Pretty well.”

“Is she trustworthy? Don’t end up getting exposed in some photo.”

“It’s not like that,” Pei Jiyin said. “She’s a good person. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to meet.”

Perhaps because she’d agreed to meet Zhi Zhi, several others contacted her wanting to meet up too. Pei Jiyin turned them all down and even mentioned it to Zhi Zhi, who assured her she wouldn’t bring anyone else along. That put Pei Jiyin at ease.

The two had arranged to meet at 8 a.m. on Sunday since Zhi Zhi’s flight was at 8 p.m., allowing them more time together by meeting early.

Pei Jiyin woke up at 6 a.m. to get ready and do her makeup, as the meeting spot was at a famous commercial street in City A, a forty-minute subway ride from her place.

[Yin Song: I’ll arrive in about ten minutes. Meet at Exit 3 of Ningping Street?]

[Zhi Zhi: Sure, I’m already here. I’m wearing a mask and hat, carrying a plush backpack.]

[Yin Song: OK.]

Following the crowd out of the subway, Pei Jiyin spotted Zhi Zhi immediately. She stood under the shade of a tree, scrolling through her phone.

“Zhi Zhi.”

Zhi Zhi looked up after a brief pause. “Yinyin.”

“Tsk, since when did you start calling me that? It’s so cringey.”

“Just going with the flow.” Zhi Zhi walked over to Pei Jiyin. “Will I get to see your true face today?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would I wake up early to do my makeup?” Pei Jiyin chuckled. “Let’s walk around first. We can book a private room when we eat.”

“Sure.” From Pei Jiyin’s outfit and demeanor, Zhi Zhi could already tell she was definitely beautiful. “By the way, since you’re all covered up now, can we take a photo for Weibo? No faces, just something to post after we part ways.”

“Fine by me.” Pei Jiyin had no objections. She wore a hat and mask, revealing only her eyes, and judging by Zhi Zhi’s photography skills, even their eyes would likely be obscured. “You’re pretty good at this.”

“Of course.” Zhi Zhi grinned.

After browsing the mall twice and each buying a few clothes, Pei Jiyin called to reserve a dining spot—luckily, one private room was left.

“As expected, I end up eating hot pot no matter where I go,” Zhi Zhi mused.

“Hot pot is the best.” Pei Jiyin glanced at her, about to say more, when she noticed someone in the distance. Her lips twitched, and she quickly pulled Zhi Zhi in the opposite direction.

“What’s wrong?”

“Classmate,” Pei Jiyin whispered. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

She hadn’t expected her senior to be out shopping today.

Once inside the hot pot restaurant, Pei Jiyin removed her hat and mask. Zhi Zhi stared at her for a moment before sighing, “I knew you’d be gorgeous.”

“Not really.” Pei Jiyin leaned closer, phone in hand. “What should we order?”

They ended up with a table full of dishes—mostly meat.

“I thought fairies like you didn’t eat meat,” Zhi Zhi teased, resting her chin on her hand.

“Impossible. I can’t live without meat.” Pei Jiyin took a sip of cola.

“By the way, am I the first person online to know what you look like?” Zhi Zhi asked.

“Pretty much,” Pei Jiyin replied. “Aside from my company.”

“Nice. I can brag about this when I get back.” Zhi Zhi swung her legs. “Those troublemakers begged me for ages, but I never agreed.”

“Thanks.” Pei Jiyin started eating as soon as the food in the pot was ready.

Once the meal began, conversation dwindled—nothing could interrupt the sacred act of devouring food.

Despite the mountain of dishes, they finished everything. Pei Jiyin paid the bill as a gesture of hospitality.

As she was leaving, Pei Jiyin spotted Song Zhen from afar. The other girl was sitting right along the path she needed to take to exit.  

Perhaps this was fate, though she really didn’t want to run into Song Zhen under these circumstances.  

“Let’s go.” Pei Jiyin adjusted her hat and mask, while Zhi Zhi followed closely behind, similarly disguised.  

“What’s wrong?”  

“It’s that classmate again.” Pei Jiyin kept her voice low. Just as they were about to pass by, Song Zhen called out to her.  

“Junior?”  

Pei Jiyin: “…”