My Unconventional Online Dating - Chapter 25

Xiao Nianyuan’s hand, which was about to agree, paused as she looked at the girl in disbelief. “What did you say your name was?”

“Tan Xialan,” the girl repeated, then glanced at her friend with a questioning look—Was the name that strange? Why did she seem so surprised?

How could Xiao Nianyuan not be surprised? She knew Tan Xialan wanted to play this game, but she hadn’t expected her to log in so soon—and even run into her.

Her entire body stiffened with tension. If Tan Xialan was here in the game, that meant she was also in their dorm, lying in bed playing.

Xiao Nianyuan took a deep breath, forcing her expression to remain calm, careful not to let her emotions betray her.

“Let’s just add each other as in-game friends. No need for anything else,” she said, trying to keep her voice natural.

Tan Xialan found it a little odd but didn’t press further. After adding Xiao Nianyuan as a friend, she pulled Du Xiaotong away to play.

Xiao Nianyuan stood frozen for a long moment before finally turning to Lian Qiushui, who had been silently watching her. “I’m logging off.”

“Are you upset?” Lian Qiushui asked.

“No, I just remembered there’s something I need to take care of,” Xiao Nianyuan lied before quickly logging out.

Once offline, she carefully sat up and put away her gaming gear.

The dorm was so quiet she could hear her own breathing. Tiptoeing out of bed, she spotted slippers placed beside Tan Xialan and Du Xiaotong’s beds.

They really were back—and still in bed.

Her chest tightened. The two people she had just met in the game were actually her roommates.

No wonder they had seemed familiar, like she had seen them somewhere before. She had thought she was overthinking it, but it really was them.

The world was so vast, yet here she was, running into her roommates the moment she logged into the game.

Xiao Nianyuan closed her eyes, feeling like the world was spinning.

Too nervous to stay, she quickly gathered her things and decided to leave. If she stayed in the dorm, she might panic when facing Tan Xialan and accidentally reveal that she had already met her in the game.

The only place Xiao Nianyuan could go was the library. After packing up, she gently closed the door behind her.

Neither Tan Xialan nor Du Xiaotong had woken up, and Xiao Nianyuan let out a quiet sigh of relief.

As she walked, head down as usual, she passed a corridor and caught sight of a familiar figure, pausing mid-step.

The corridor led to a small garden, a place few visited, especially in summer. Where there were plants, there were also mosquitoes, and most people avoided it unless necessary.

Xiao Nianyuan hadn’t planned to go in—she disliked crowded places, but she also didn’t want to get bitten.

Yet there, sitting in the garden with her head down, motionless as if in pain, was someone Xiao Nianyuan recognized instantly—Ji Rongxue.

She wouldn’t say they were particularly close, but seeing a roommate in distress, she couldn’t just walk away. Approaching cautiously, she asked, “Are you okay?”

Hearing her voice, Ji Rongxue stiffened before looking up, blinking in confusion. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m heading to the library,” Xiao Nianyuan replied. “You don’t look well.”

Ji Rongxue smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Weakly, she said, “I’ll be fine after some rest.”

She didn’t look like someone who’d recover with just rest. Xiao Nianyuan, unconvinced, insisted, “Let me take you to the infirmary.”

Ji Rongxue tried to decline, but Xiao Nianyuan countered, “I’ve heard before that you’re not in the best health.”

The dorm fridge was mostly stocked with Ji Rongxue’s medication. Xiao Nianyuan rarely used it and only knew this much, unaware of the specifics.

Seeing Ji Rongxue like this now, it suddenly struck her that her roommate wasn’t as healthy as she appeared. Ji Rongxue usually carried herself with such ease that people overlooked her fragile condition.

“I’m really fine, just need to rest,” Ji Rongxue insisted, refusing to go to the infirmary.

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t press further but simply sat down beside her.

Ji Rongxue was surprised. She’d expected Xiao Nianyuan to leave after her refusal, but instead, her roommate seemed determined to stay until she was truly better.

While touched by Xiao Nianyuan’s concern, Ji Rongxue also felt guilty. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she forced a smile despite her lingering weakness. “See? Don’t I look better already?”

Xiao Nianyuan studied her face. While not terribly pale, Ji Rongxue’s lips were still noticeably colorless.

The more Ji Rongxue tried to tough it out, the less Xiao Nianyuan could bring herself to leave.

“I’ve got nothing else to do anyway,” Xiao Nianyuan said. “Wouldn’t know what to do at the library either. Don’t mind me—I just feel like sitting here.”

Ji Rongxue fell silent, willing her body to recover quickly so Xiao Nianyuan wouldn’t worry. But the more she stressed, the darker her vision became. Propping her head up, she stared blankly ahead, not daring to move.

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t notice at first, but when Ji Rongxue remained motionless for too long, she realized something was wrong. Waving a hand before Ji Rongxue’s unresponsive eyes, she frowned. “We’re going to the infirmary now, or I’m calling for help.”

Uncertain what Xiao Nianyuan might do and worried about causing a scene if dragged there, Ji Rongxue compromised, “Just call a doctor. I’m fine—I’ll pull through.”

Xiao Nianyuan wasn’t having it. At this point, she wouldn’t trust a word Ji Rongxue said. The promised rest had only made her paler, her already faint color now ghostly.

Xiao Nianyuan wanted to go to the infirmary but feared leaving Ji Rongxue alone in case something happened. Spotting someone nearby, she called out, “Hey, could you come here for a second?”

The girl paused, looking around before pointing to herself in confirmation. Approaching, she asked, “What’s up?”

“My roommate isn’t feeling well,” Xiao Nianyuan explained. “I need to stay with her—could you fetch a doctor from the infirmary?”

The girl glanced at Ji Rongxue’s ashen face and immediately agreed, “Got it. Stay put—I’ll hurry.”

After the girl left, Xiao Nianyuan turned to look at Ji Rongxue again, noticing the latter’s tightly knitted brows and the involuntary frown between them.

“Where does it hurt?” Xiao Nianyuan asked.

Ji Rongxue shook her head slightly, unwilling to say.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Nianyuan asked, “Is it that you can’t tell me, or you don’t want to tell me?”

Asking this surprised not only Ji Rongxue but also Xiao Nianyuan herself. She would never have asked such a question before, thinking it was meddling. But now, without much thought, the words slipped out.

“Just a headache, a minor issue,” Ji Rongxue forced a smile. “It’ll be fine once the doctor checks me. Don’t worry.”

Xiao Nianyuan acknowledged but couldn’t help worrying.

Soon, the girl returned with two medical staff members carrying a stretcher, apparently concerned Ji Rongxue might faint and need to be carried.

After a quick examination, the doctor gave Ji Rongxue some glucose water. Her complexion gradually improved, but the doctor still advised, “Go to the clinic for a simple check-up. If necessary, head to the hospital.”

The clinic’s capabilities were limited compared to a hospital’s, only able to provide temporary solutions.

“I’ll go to the hospital later,” Ji Rongxue said, having a familiar doctor there who understood her condition well.

At the clinic, Xiao Nianyuan watched over Ji Rongxue, who grew slightly embarrassed under her gaze. “Weren’t you going to the library? You can go. The doctor’s here; I’ll be fine.”

“I know,” Xiao Nianyuan replied but didn’t move. “It’s the same here as at the library.”

After a pause, she added, “And it’s quieter here, with fewer people.”

Their school’s library was well-stocked and spacious, usually quiet, attracting many students for studying and research. It was never empty, unlike the clinic, which only had a few visitors unless during major outbreaks like flu seasons.

Currently, only two or three people were in the clinic.

Understanding Xiao Nianyuan’s implication, Ji Rongxue stopped urging her to leave.

Xiao Nianyuan pulled out a book from her bag—an inconsequential one. After a moment’s hesitation, she silently put it back. In her haste, she had grabbed random books, planning to find her preferred reads at the library, never expecting to end up at the clinic.

As she tucked the book away, she heard Ji Rongxue chuckle softly.

Caught off guard, Ji Rongxue quickly changed the subject. “Tan Xialan and the others are probably playing games now. Don’t you want to try?”

Xiao Nianyuan hesitated, unsure how to respond. She was already playing, and earlier than Tan Xialan’s group. Not wanting to lie, she tactfully said, “I prefer playing alone.”

Ji Rongxue felt a bit disappointed but didn’t press further. After half an hour of observation with no serious issues, the doctor allowed her to leave.

“I’ll head to the hospital now,” Ji Rongxue said.

“Should I come with you?” Xiao Nianyuan asked.

Ji Rongxue wanted to say yes but declined after some thought. “No need. I can go by myself.”

Some things weren’t appropriate for Xiao Nianyuan to know.

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t think much of it, assuming Ji Rongxue simply preferred to be alone at the moment. Besides, the doctor had already confirmed she was fine, and Xiao Nianyuan trusted the doctor’s assessment.

She told Ji Rongxue to call if she needed any help, though she worried she might have come across as overly eager. To soften it, she added that Tan Xialan and the others were probably still playing games.

Only after Ji Rongxue left did Xiao Nianyuan head to the library. When she arrived, she found nearly every seat taken and suddenly remembered—it was the weekend, which explained the crowd.

With no classes on weekends, the library was always busier than usual.

Just as she was about to leave, someone called out, “Hey, wait a second!”

Xiao Nianyuan turned and saw a senior student who worked part-time at the library. The senior asked, “Are you free right now?”