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

As soon as Xiao Ting spotted her house door, she bolted, running toward it like she was being chased by zombies in a horror movie.

Her fingers fumbled with the handles, yanking at them in desperation.

She froze, her breath catching as Chase's presence loomed behind her.

With an infuriating calmness, he stretched past her and tapped his key card on the door. The lock clicked open effortlessly.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she stood there, feeling utterly useless.

She didn't thank him. She didn't even look at him. She was about to storm inside when his hand came down gently on her shoulder, halting her in place.

"What now?" she hissed, trying to hide the panic bubbling inside her.

Instead of answering, Chase crouched down behind her.

Her breath hitched as he reached for her feet, clad in loose jeans and worn slippers.

"What are you—" Her words faltered as he carefully removed the first slipper, then the second.

Her heart raced. Was he about to pick her up? The thought sent a jolt of panic through her, and she nearly bolted.

Instead, Chase reached just inside the house, retrieving a fresh pair of indoor slippers. He placed them neatly before her.

"There," he said simply, standing to his full height.

Xiao Ting swallowed hard, hurriedly slipping her feet into the new slippers. She refused to meet his gaze as she stomped into the house.

"Do you need my help making the noodles?" he asked casually, his tone annoyingly unbothered.

Her anger flared. Without looking back, she snapped, "No!"

And with that, she disappeared into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.

Chapter 12: Slippers