Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 11

Lin Xi stood at the entrance of the internet café. Through the glass window, she could see the familiar scene inside: the dim lighting, the neatly arranged computers, and the people deeply immersed in the world of games. She took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and walked in. Even though it had been a long time since she last came here, everything in the café seemed unchanged—only the people were different.

The air inside carried a familiar scent, a mix of the warmth from the computers and the dust in the air. Lin Xi looked around, searching for a familiar figure. She remembered the times she had spent here with Jia Le, the days filled with laughter and joy. But now, everything felt strange and distant.

Her gaze finally landed on a table in the corner. Jia Le was sitting there with He Xiaoyong, both focused on their game. Jia Le had a smile on her face, while He Xiaoyong kept trying to please her, laughing exaggeratedly from time to time. Lin Xi’s heart sank. A deep sense of loss and anger welled up inside her.

He Xiaoyong noticed Lin Xi walking in, his eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up with a big smile. “Lin Xi! Long time no see! What brings you here today?”

Lin Xi ignored him, giving him only a cold glance before walking straight toward Jia Le. Jia Le looked up and was surprised to see her. “Lin Xi! What are you doing here?”

Lin Xi forced a smile. “I had something to do and happened to pass by.”

He Xiaoyong quickly leaned in and said eagerly, “Lin Xi, do you want me to set up a computer for you? I have the latest games here. You’ll love them!”

Lin Xi frowned and replied coldly, “No need, I’ll do it myself.”

He Xiaoyong’s smile stiffened, but he didn’t give up. “Lin Xi, how have you been lately? I heard you’ve been really busy—studying, working part-time, and even programming. That must be tough. If you ever need help, just let me know.”

Annoyance surged in Lin Xi’s heart. She knew he was just trying to impress her. She responded icily, “Thanks, but I can handle it myself.”

Jia Le noticed the awkward exchange between them and looked uncomfortable. She didn’t know what to say, so she lowered her head and continued playing her game. Lin Xi sat at computer station No. 03 next to her, turned on the computer, and started practicing her programming. During a brief moment of thought, her gaze drifted to Jia Le’s screen, watching the game characters move.

Just then, He Xiaoyong reached out to adjust Jia Le’s headphones, his fingers brushing against her earlobe. A faint blush appeared on Jia Le’s face—light and subtle, like the soft glow of a summer sunset. Her eyes flickered slightly as if trying to hide her emotions, and a shy smile appeared on her lips.

Suddenly, an error message popped up on Lin Xi’s programming interface. Red warning codes spread across the screen like veins. She tried to focus on fixing them, but He Xiaoyong’s actions and Jia Le’s reaction irritated her. Her fingers tapped the keyboard faster and faster, and the flashing codes reflected on her face, making her look pale.

From the nearby booth, He Xiaoyong’s exaggerated voice rang out. “Jia Le, that was an amazing move!”

“Jia Le, check out this new game! I just downloaded it—it’s super fun!” He Xiaoyong said excitedly, trying to grab Jia Le’s attention.

Jia Le gave a small nod, but her gaze remained distant. She could sense Lin Xi’s unhappiness but had no idea how to comfort her.

Seeing that Lin Xi was ignoring him, He Xiaoyong became upset. He felt that she was being too rude, so he raised his voice on purpose. “Lin Xi, why are you always so cold? Don’t be like this! We’re all friends. Why do you keep pushing people away?”

Hearing this, Lin Xi’s anger finally exploded. She snapped her head up and glared at He Xiaoyong, her voice filled with irritation. “He Xiaoyong, can you stop being so annoying? I came here to study, not to watch your little performance!”

He Xiaoyong’s face darkened. He forced an awkward smile. “Lin Xi, what’s wrong with you? I was just being nice.”

Lin Xi scoffed and ignored him, turning back to focus on her programming. Jia Le watched the situation unfold and felt uneasy. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what. In the end, she just sat there silently, keeping Lin Xi company.

Time passed in silence. Finally, Lin Xi completed her programming task. She shut down the computer, stood up, and said to Jia Le, “I’m leaving now. Enjoy your game.”

Jia Le looked up, her expression full of guilt. “Lin Xi, I’m sorry, I…”

Lin Xi waved her hand, cutting her off. “It’s fine. I’m just tired. Don’t worry about it.”

She turned around and walked out of the internet café, leaving Jia Le and He Xiaoyong behind. Jia Le watched Lin Xi’s retreating figure, feeling helpless and guilty. She knew she should say something, but she didn’t know where to begin. He Xiaoyong, on the other hand, stood there with an awkward smile, unsure of what to say.

Time passed in silence. Lin Xi finally finished her programming task and shut down her computer.

Back in her dorm room, she sat at her desk, staring at the screen. Her heart felt heavy as she opened her chat history with Jia Le. Her fingernail pressed into the Enter key, leaving a small crescent-shaped dent. The last message Jia Le had sent a week ago was still there on her phone:

[You’re coming to the sports meet tomorrow, right?]
[The 1500 meters sounds so scary QAQ]
[The Paladin you gave me is really useful]

Attached was a picture of a golden medal on a podium.

Staring at the chat, Lin Xi’s heart was filled with conflict and hesitation. She didn’t know what to do next. She could only sit in silence, struggling with the emotions swirling inside her.