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墨書 Inktalez
The two of them sat in silence, the atmosphere sinking into a subtle awkwardness. Outside, the sound of rain mingled with the soothing background music of the café.
To break the tension, I took the initiative to speak. "Gu Classmate, it seems like you often run into me when I'm caught in the rain?"
He paused his action of wiping his glasses, looked up, and let his gaze linger on my face for a few seconds before slowly replying, "Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Another coincidence. I pouted, unconvinced.
"By the way," he suddenly seemed to remember something, "how's that game guide you mentioned last time coming along?"
I was taken aback again. "How do you know I'm writing a guide?!" I had only mentioned it to Zero!
His gaze drifted for a moment as he picked up the water cup on the table and took a sip. "Last time... I happened to see your computer screen."
"Is that so..." I was half convinced. This guy was becoming increasingly suspicious.
The rain gradually lightened. I stood up. "The rain's letting up; I'm leaving now. Thanks for the umbrella."
"Mm." He nodded, not looking at me again.
I opened the umbrella he had given me and stepped out of the café. Glancing back, I saw him still sitting by the window, quietly gazing outside. His profile under the warm yellow light appeared somewhat... lonely?
I shook my head, dismissing that strange thought. Someone like Gu Yan couldn't possibly be lonely; he just liked to act deep.
Later that evening, when I logged on, Zero immediately sent me a message.
"You didn't turn into a drowned rat today, did you?"
"...How did you know again?!" I was exasperated.
"Telepathy." He followed up with a mischievous smile emoji.
"I don't believe you!" I retorted. "But I did get lucky today; I ran into that ice-cold face again, and he lent me an umbrella."
Zero: "Oh? Another 'coincidence'?"
"Exactly!" The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. "He even knows I'm writing a game guide! Zero, do you think he's really watching me?"
Zero: "Are you having paranoid delusions again? Maybe he's just good at remembering things or has keen observation skills."
"Is that really it...?"
"Stop overthinking." Zero interrupted my thoughts. "A new event has started—there's a duo maze treasure hunt with supposedly great rewards. Are you in?"
"I'm in!" As soon as I heard about the game, my attention was instantly diverted.
Once again, it was a duo activity... but this time, I didn't think too much about it. I was used to teaming up with Zero for dungeon runs.
The maze was challenging, twisting and turning with various traps. As someone who was directionally challenged and not very skilled, I mostly followed behind Zero, shouting "666" the whole way.
"Zero! Over here! There's a treasure chest!"
"Ah! I've stepped on a trap! Help!"
"Wow! A golden legend! Zero, have you been possessed by luck?"
For once, Zero turned on his microphone, his voice carrying a deep, amused tone that sent shivers down my spine through the headphones. "Stay close, you little fool."
"...Who are you calling a little fool!" I retorted quietly, my cheeks betraying me as they flushed red.
This guy had such a nice voice...
Six, The Mysterious "Coincidences"
Ever since the umbrella incident at the café, the "coincidences" between Gu Yan and me had been increasing.
I would run into him at the library, where he would "just happen" to sit across from me; in the cafeteria line, he would "just happen" to be right behind me; even in elective classes, we both "just happened" to choose the same one, with seats not far apart.
Once or twice could be considered coincidence, but the frequency was getting ridiculous. I started to feel suspicious, wondering if Gu Yan really had some ulterior motive towards me. But looking at his perpetually icy expression made me think I was overreacting. Maybe... he just had a stronger presence?
In contrast, my relationship with Zero online was progressing rapidly. We tackled dungeons together, completed quests, and ranked up in competitive matches, our synergy growing stronger. Our conversations expanded from gaming to life and studies, even touching on some minor troubles that were inconvenient to share with those around us.
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