kennedydaphne900

Xiao Ting is China’s reigning queen of esports, a goddess both on the battlefield and in beauty, with millions of fans worshipping her every move. But behind her flawless avatar is a thirty-year-old heiress who hasn’t stepped outside her room in years. She doesn’t need the real world, gaming is her empire.

Her parents, however, have other plans. Desperate to see her step away from her screen and into their corporate empire, they hire a professional boyfriend to pull Xiao Ting out of her shell.

Chase Chen is the best in the business, smooth, charming, and dangerously handsome. With his Cha Eun-woo-level looks and a flawless track record, this job should be a breeze. But Xiao Ting is unlike anyone he’s ever met. Unimpressed by his charm and utterly immune to his games, she throws Chase into a world he never expected: hers.

Now, with his contract running out and Xiao Ting proving impossible to win over, Chase must do the unthinkable, beat her at her own game and, maybe, lose his heart in the process.

The Gamer and the game

The Xiao family sat at their dining table, the morning sunlight streaming through the large windows.

Breakfast was a lavish spread, steamed buns, rice, soup, and an assortment of side dishes. Yet, Xiao Ting barely noticed it.

Engrossed in her game, her fingers flew over the sleek screen of her custom gaming phone, a device with ergonomic grips and neon accents that screamed "elite gamer."

The soft clicks and swipes of her actions filled the otherwise quiet room.

Ling-er and Jun exchanged weary glances, their morning coffee growing cold as they watched their daughter immersed in her virtual world.

Rong sighed and rubbed his temple. "I swear, if she keeps staring at that screen all day, she'll grow square eyes."

Ling-er shot him a glare. "And you think that's helpful, Jun?"

Meanwhile, Xiao Ting was completely oblivious to the mounting irritation in the room.

Her focus was solely on the game, Honor of Kings, the most popular mobile game in China.

"Xiao Ting! Mid-lane gank incoming!" her teammate's voice crackled through her headset.

"Let them come," she murmured, her voice as calm as still water. Her champion darted through the battlefield on her screen, dodging attacks with flawless precision.

With one last combo, the opposing team was annihilated.

Her kill streak climbed to 18, and the livestream comments were ablaze:

The commentators were equally frantic. "She's single-handedly carrying this match!"

As the enemy base crumbled, the match ended with another victory.

Xiao Ting stretched her fingers and leaned back, a faint smile gracing her lips. The goddess of mobile esports had struck again.

She finally looked up from her phone, her satisfied smile fading as she noticed her parents' disapproving stares.

"Mom? Dad? Is something wrong?" she asked, her tone cautious.

Her parents were dressed to perfection in matching Kiton suits, ready for their workday.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ting sat there in mismatched sweats, her hair in a messy bun, and her expression completely unbothered.

Ling-er cleared her throat. "Xiao Ting," she began, her voice polite but stern, "isn't there anything you'd like to do today?"

Xiao Ting tilted her head thoughtfully, picking up a bowl of rice and taking a casual bite. "Hmm… no, but I do have a match this afternoon..."

"Except play games," Ling-er interrupted, her tone sharpening.

The spoon paused mid-air before Xiao Ting set it down. Her appetite vanished in an instant.

She rose from the table with a small, tight smile. "Thank you for the food, Mom," she said softly before turning toward her room.

"Xiao Ting!" Ling-er called after her, frustration evident in her voice. "You can't stay in your room forever! Don't you want to go outside? See the world?"

Xiao Ting stopped in the doorway and glanced back over her shoulder.

Her expression was unreadable. "I'm happy here. There's nothing outside."

The words hung in the air like a weight. A moment later, the door to her room slammed shut, shaking the walls.

Ling-er groaned, burying her face in her hands. "We're doomed. Absolutely doomed."

Jun reached for his coffee, offering her a half-hearted pat on the shoulder. "At least we'll always have great Wi-Fi."

Ling-er's glare could've shattered glass.

Chapter 2: First Attempt