Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 7

Lin Xi’s Life in Middle School

After stepping into middle school, Lin Xi’s life seemed to have been put on fast forward. Every morning, she woke up with the first rays of sunlight, starting her day of studying. In class, her eyes were fixed on the blackboard, afraid of missing even a single piece of knowledge. She knew that without the protection of her parents, she could only rely on her own efforts to strive for a better future. So, every complex formula in math class, every beautiful poem in Chinese class, and every unfamiliar word in English class—she carefully recorded them in her notebook and reviewed them repeatedly after class until she fully mastered them.

Aside from her studies, Lin Xi also worked part-time to help reduce the burden on the orphanage. After school and on weekends, she worked at a nearby convenience store, helping with cashier duties and restocking shelves to earn some living expenses. Although life was tough, she never complained because she knew this was her way of taking responsibility for her own life.

Lin Xi also had a friend named Wen Jia Le. Although they were not in the same class, Wen Jia Le knew that Lin Xi always had excellent grades. So, whenever she encountered difficulties in her studies, she would habitually run to find Lin Xi. She would bring her frustrating math problems and complex English grammar questions to Lin Xi’s classroom. Lin Xi was always patient, explaining everything carefully while writing detailed steps on paper and pointing at the key parts with her fingers, saying, “Look, you have to understand it like this…”

As Wen Jia Le listened, her eyes gradually lit up with realization. She then beamed at Lin Xi and said, “Thank you so much, Lin Xi! You’re a lifesaver!”

Hearing this, Lin Xi felt warmth in her heart. No matter how busy life got or how far apart they were, their friendship would never change. They would always be the most important friends in each other’s lives, always willing to lend a helping hand when needed.

Despite her busy and exhausting life, Lin Xi never felt lonely. Jia Le, on the other hand, attended school during the day and often helped her father at the internet café in her free time. She liked the freedom of that life, but she also knew she couldn’t rely on her parents forever, so she still took her studies seriously. When they started middle school, Lin Xi and Jia Le didn’t have as much time together. They were busy with their own things and only occasionally met in the library or cafeteria. When Jia Le encountered a difficult problem in her studies, Lin Xi would always help, even if she couldn’t always find the answer. But at the very least, she would accompany Jia Le as she worked through it. Sometimes, Lin Xi would bring snacks for Jia Le when she visited the internet café. Jia Le would always feel a bit embarrassed but still accepted the kindness.

The first time Lin Xi arrived at the internet café, she hesitated at the entrance, staring at the sign on the glass door that read, **”Minors are prohibited from entering.”**

“What are you daydreaming about?” A familiar voice came from behind. She turned around and saw Jia Le standing there, hugging a box of instant noodles. The girl wore a blue-and-white school uniform and had a bright, carefree smile.

“I… I think I won’t go in after all…” Lin Xi instinctively took a step back. She was wearing a faded T-shirt that day, and her jeans had patches on the knees. She felt completely out of place compared to the stylish customers inside the café.

But Jia Le didn’t give her a chance to refuse. She freed one hand and grabbed Lin Xi’s backpack strap, pulling her inside. “What are you afraid of? This is my dad’s internet café. I say you can come in, so you can.”

As they stepped inside, a mix of different scents hit Lin Xi. The café wasn’t particularly fancy, but it was spacious and brightly lit. Rows of ceiling fans whirred overhead, pushing the hot summer air around. Game posters covered the walls, the most eye-catching one featuring **Yasuo** from *League of Legends*, gripping his long sword.

The main hall had four rows of computers, each screen flashing with different images. Along the walls were semi-private booths, separated by frosted glass, offering a quieter space. The air was filled with the aroma of instant noodles, mingling with the sound of clacking keyboards and excited shouts.

“This way,” Jia Le tugged at Lin Xi’s backpack strap, leading her through the hall. Lin Xi noticed that many people greeted Jia Le.

“Hey, Jia Le! Who’s the newbie?” A boy with dyed blond hair grinned teasingly.

Jia Le grabbed a pack of tissues from the counter and threw it at him. “Shut up! She’s my classmate.”

Lin Xi’s face turned red. She quickly lowered her head and followed Jia Le. They walked to the farthest booth, away from the noisy hall, where only two computers glowed softly in the dim space.

“This is the spot my dad saved just for me,” Jia Le said proudly.

Lin Xi carefully placed her old, worn-out backpack on the chair and pulled out her textbooks and workbooks.

“Don’t start your homework just yet,” Jia Le suddenly leaned in. She smelled faintly of sweat, but it wasn’t unpleasant. “Let me teach you how to play a game.”

Lin Xi instinctively shrank back. “I don’t know how…”

“I’ll teach you!” Jia Le had already opened the game. “Come on, give it a try!”

Lin Xi hesitated but finally nodded. Jia Le pushed the keyboard toward her. “W is Wind Wall, E is Sweeping Blade, and Q is Steel Tempest…”

Lin Xi hesitated, her fingers hovering over the keys. The character on the screen wobbled uncertainly as she tried to move it. Jia Le guided her patiently, sometimes reaching out to press a key for her. Her long, slender fingers moved quickly, producing crisp, rhythmic clicks on the keyboard.

“Yes! Just like that!” Jia Le cheered excitedly. “Look at this combo—it’s so cool!”

Lin Xi watched the sword dance on the screen, and for the first time, the game didn’t seem so difficult. She glanced at Jia Le, who was animatedly explaining, her eyelashes casting delicate shadows. Lin Xi suddenly felt her heart beating a little faster. She quickly looked down, pretending to concentrate, but couldn’t stop her cheeks from growing warm.

From the bar, Jia Le’s father called out, “Jia Le, come help clean up!”

“Coming!” Jia Le replied, then turned to Lin Xi. “Keep playing. I’ll be right back.”

Lin Xi nodded and continued clumsily maneuvering her character. From the main hall, she heard the lively shouts:

“Mid lane is missing!”
“Jungle, help!”
“ADC, stop feeding!”

She listened to the mixed sounds of keyboard clacks and mouse clicks, the aroma of instant noodles filling the air.

For the first time, she thought that maybe this place, which once made her hesitate at the door, wasn’t so scary after all.