Joining the samsara server!

Before he could tap it, another notification popped up—a message from Li Mei-Ling. 

"Hey Xiao, I heard it's your birthday. Happy birthday! How are you?"

Xiao felt a rush of warmth as he read her message. His heart, heavy with loneliness moments ago, lightened at the thought of Mei-Ling. She had an uncanny ability to make him feel seen, a rare and precious gift in his isolated world.

A smile tugged at his lips as he typed a reply. "Thanks, Mei-Ling. I'm okay, just spending the evening at home. For a moment, I thought you might have forgotten this year."

"Of course, I remember! I've wished you a happy birthday for the past few years now," Mei-Ling replied with a playful smile. "I wanted to surprise you today, that's why I didn't say anything this morning."

Xiao's heart skipped a beat at her words. The fact that she remembered his birthday every year touched him deeply. "Wow, thanks for remembering. It means a lot."

"Of course! Of course I remember, I remember because... well, because I care. Would you like some company? I'm free, and I could bring over some cake. My mom baked one today, and we have plenty."

Xiao hesitated, his heart racing at the thought of spending time with Mei-Ling.

The idea of her presence filled him with a mix of excitement and nervousness, a welcome distraction from his melancholy. "That would be nice, actually. Thank you. But won't your mom mind you coming over so late?"

"Not at all. She knows you and your family, and she trusts me. Plus, it's just next door. I'll be over in a bit."

He quickly tidied up his room, trying to push aside the lingering sadness. 

Xiao's apartment and Mei-Ling's families were in the same building, so it was not long before Mei-Ling arrived, carrying a small, beautifully decorated cake. Her smile was as bright as the candles atop it. She had a natural warmth that made the room feel instantly cozier.

"Happy birthday!" Mei-Ling exclaimed as she stepped inside, her eyes sparkling with excitement. 

Xiao couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Mei-Ling. This means a lot."

They sat in the living room, chatting and laughing as they enjoyed the cake together. The rich, sweet flavor was a stark contrast to his earlier plain porridge, and the sound of their laughter filled the empty spaces of the apartment, making it feel less lonely.

"So, how's the star debater doing?" Xiao teased, feeling more at ease with her around.

Mei-Ling giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear—a gesture Xiao found irresistibly cute. "Oh, you know, keeping everyone on their toes. But enough about me. How have you been, Xiao?"

Xiao felt a lump form in his throat. He had missed this kind of connection, the feeling of someone caring about his well-being. "I've been... managing," he replied, not wanting to delve too deeply into his troubles. "But it's nice to have someone to talk to."

Mei-Ling smiled, reaching out to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. Her touch was gentle, yet it sent a reassuring warmth through him, melting away some of the sadness that had settled in his heart. "Anytime, Xiao. You don't have to go through things alone."

As the evening went on, the conversation grew livelier and goofier. Mei-Ling recounted funny stories from school, and Xiao found himself laughing more than he had in weeks. 

"Remember that time Teacher Chen slipped on the wet floor in the hallway?" Mei-Ling said between giggles.

Xiao laughed, nodding. "Yeah, and he tried to play it off like he was breakdancing!"

They both burst into laughter, the tension between them easing into a comfortable, joyful rhythm. Mei-Ling's presence was like a soothing balm, easing his loneliness and filling him with a sense of hope and connection he hadn't felt in a long time.

By the time Mei-Ling left, Xiao's heart felt lighter, his spirits lifted by her genuine kindness and the simple joy of their shared company.

After cleaning up the remnants of the cake and tidying up the living room, Xiao decided to do something productive.

He opened his laptop and began working on a school project that was due soon. Immersing himself in research and writing helped distract him from his earlier melancholy.

He felt a sense of accomplishment as he made significant progress on the project, the rhythmic clicking of the keyboard creating a soothing background noise.

Time flew by, and Xiao found himself engrossed in his work. Just as he was wrapping up a particularly challenging section, his mobile phone buzzed on the desk beside him.

The sound pulled him out of his focused state. He glanced at the screen and saw a notification from Discord. 

Ah, the Samsara server, he remembered.

A mix of curiosity and hesitation surged within him. He picked up his phone, the notification still glowing on the screen. His finger hovered over the app icon, his earlier doubts resurfacing.

Could a virtual community really offer him the new experiences he craved? Was this server just another fleeting distraction in his search for meaning?

The stories from the war vet he had spoken to came to mind, filled with real-world adventures and tangible experiences. Could a Discord server truly compete with that? And what about the warmth of Mei-Ling's presence, the tangible connection he felt when she was around?

His thoughts swirled as he contemplated the message from Epiphany. This could be a distraction, or perhaps something more—a way to escape, even if just for a little while, from the isolation he felt.

But would it be enough? Would it provide him with the profound experiences he sought?

Xiao's heart raced as he wrestled with these questions. Taking a deep breath, he decided to at least see what this was all about. Maybe it wouldn't be a life-changing journey, but it could offer him something different, something new.

With a mix of excitement and apprehension, he tapped the voice chat button and waited for it to connect.

A chorus of calm, meditative sounds greeted him. The voice of Epiphany was soothing, a stark contrast to the earlier mysterious messages. "Welcome, Xiao," the voice said warmly. "You are among friends here. Let us begin our journey toward enlightenment together."

Xiao closed his eyes, letting the sounds wash over him. He felt a sense of peace starting to settle, a small glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something new.