First Date

No matter how you looked at it, after spending the day shopping with two girls, Wang Dachui and Li Haoyang had blown through a quarter of their monthly living expenses. By the end of the month, they'd probably be living off instant noodles. Thinking about this, they both looked drained as soon as they returned to their dorm.

Li Haoyang flopped onto his bed and immediately pulled out his phone to chat with Liu Bingxin. He wasn't about to let the money he'd spent go to waste—time to strike while the iron was hot and build some rapport. Wang Dachui also added Tang Enqi on social media and sent her a message.

But…

She didn't reply.

Wang Dachui found this odd.

Maybe she's busy? he thought.

Across the room, Shen Qiao shook his head silently as he watched them.

Simping never ends well.

Then his gaze shifted to Luo Ye. He had a feeling Luo Ye and Su Baizhou might actually have a shot. Just a gut feeling. Su Baizhou was the cool, aloof campus beauty, yet she'd somehow ended up singing on stage with Luo Ye. Usually, stuff like that felt like destiny's handiwork.

("Hehehe," Wang Dachui chuckled somewhere in the background.)

And today, Shen Qiao had seen with his own eyes that Luo Ye had added Su Baizhou on social media—and she accepted. That definitely meant something. Thinking about it, Shen Qiao couldn't help but laugh out loud from his bed.

I'm a genius, he thought. Master of emotional intelligence, undefeated in my deductions. Truly the Sherlock Holmes of love.

His sudden burst of laughter made his roommates look at him like he'd lost his mind.

Wang Dachui: "Idiot."

Li Haoyang: "Did he go crazy?"

Luo Ye: "What's wrong with him?"

Just then, Luo Ye's phone buzzed.

It was a message from Fairy Senior—Su Baizhou.

Luo Ye quickly opened it. She said she was done with her work and asked when he'd be free to play games with her.

Right now, of course!

She sent her game ID: I'm Xiong Da, Do What You Want.

Huh?

Luo Ye stared at the name, puzzled.

So, the cool and elegant Fairy Senior picks a name like this in games?

Maybe she was the type who was reserved in real life but more outgoing online.

In the girls' dorm, Su Baizhou blushed as she looked at the name on her screen. She muttered to Qin Yuwen, "Shameless."

Qin Yuwen blinked in confusion, puffing out her chest a bit. "Why are you insulting me? I've always used that name. You never complained before."

She glanced at Su Baizhou's team lobby—just two players.

Probably her bestie from med school, she figured.

Plus, Su Baizhou had her headphones on and was giving instructions through voice chat, something she rarely did unless it was someone she was close with. Even though she had her mic on, she didn't talk much, keeping her cool and distant style.

But for Luo Ye, just hearing her voice was enough. It filled him with a warm, happy feeling.

This must be what it feels like to have a crush, he thought. So easily satisfied.

Luo Ye played support, even though he was better at jungle. But hey, Fairy Senior wanted him to support, so support it was. Interestingly, her playstyle was a lot like Qin Yuwen's. Guess that's the roommate effect.

They played five matches that night and only lost one.

"Senior, you're actually really good at this," Luo Ye said through his mic. "Not like Qin Senior said."

Su Baizhou responded softly, "Of course not. I'm way better than Qin Yuwen."

Across the room, Qin Yuwen suddenly sat up, having heard her name. "Baizhou, I feel like you're dissing me!"

Her voice was loud enough to carry through Su Baizhou's headphones, reaching Luo Ye on the other end. He chuckled. "Qin Senior's personality is really different from online. Do all girls have two faces?"

"You could say that," Su Baizhou replied coolly.

Though her tone was indifferent, every reply was thoughtful. To Luo Ye, this meant one thing: We're friends now. Otherwise, someone with her reputation wouldn't even bother replying.

At this point, Luo Ye started wondering if he should ask her out for a meal.

But how do I phrase it?

He switched to his chat with "Qin Yuwen" (who was, of course, Su Baizhou herself) and typed:

Qin Senior, do you think Su Senior would agree if I asked her out to dinner?

Su Baizhou stared at the message, deep in thought. Then she replied:

We've known each other for so long, and you're asking her first?

Luo Ye blinked.

Oh, right. I've been gaming with Qin Senior for a while now, even though we've never met in person. Since we're at the same university, I should meet her first.

Luo Ye: But… wouldn't it be weird for a guy and girl to meet up alone?

Su Baizhou: It won't be just us. You wanted to meet Baizhou, right? I'll bring her along. But you can't bring friends—she's socially anxious.

Luo Ye: Got it!!!

Three exclamation marks to show just how excited he was.

Luo Ye: Are you free tomorrow night? I know a great restaurant. (Yep, the same one Wang Dachui and Li Haoyang took the girls to.)

Fairy Senior: Not tomorrow. Baizhou is busy. But we're free this weekend.

Luo Ye: No problem! Got it!

Fairy Senior: Since you're new in Jiangcheng and don't know your way around, I'll treat you. Consider it payment for boosting our game ranks.

Luo Ye: Are you sure?

Fairy Senior: It's settled.

After the chat, Luo Ye felt like he was floating.

So this is what it's like—playing games, chatting, spending time with someone you like. It's amazing.

People online always said love makes you stupid.

I don't feel stupid at all, Luo Ye thought. I feel brilliant.

He fell asleep with a big grin on his face, surrounded by Li Haoyang's snores and Wang Dachui's sleep-talking.

When the weekend finally arrived, Luo Ye snuck out alone, heading straight to a hair salon across from campus. He wasn't great at styling his own hair, and besides, he didn't want his roommates to know about the date—at least not until he had some results.

After all, he was meeting the cool, aloof campus beauty. No room for mistakes.

More importantly, after observing his dorm mates, he'd realized something critical:

Apart from Shen Qiao, the other two are total clowns when it comes to dating advice. I'd be better off handling this myself.

At the salon, Luo Ye asked the stylist to give him a 3:7 parted fringe, which made his already handsome face look even more fresh and sunny—like the classic boy-next-door.

The stylist even convinced him to buy a membership card. Luo Ye left the shop with perfect hair and a lighter wallet.

It was the first weekend after military training had officially ended, and anyone who'd been through it knew: This was prime time for new romances. The gates of Jiangcheng University were bustling with couples and small friend groups laughing and chatting.

Seeing all that, Luo Ye suddenly felt a little nervous.

Sure, he'd hung out with girls before, but being the only guy? That was new—unless you counted shopping trips with his aunt.