My Unconventional Online Dating - Chapter 29

“If you’re here to cause trouble, don’t blame me for calling security,” Xiao Nianyuan threatened, making a move to summon the guards.

The freshman fled in panic, but before leaving, he said, “I won’t admit I’m wrong—it’s definitely you. I was just trying to warn you, but if you won’t listen, fine. Don’t blame me later if someone else beats you up.”

With that, he scurried away, leaving Xiao Nianyuan utterly bewildered.

From start to finish, Xiao Nianyuan had no idea what he was talking about—just that he was spouting nonsense.

Even after the freshman left, she couldn’t shake off the unease gnawing at her. Though she didn’t believe his words, something about the situation felt off.

Xiao Nianyuan endured until her part-time shift ended. Many people came to the library during that time, and nearly all of them gave her extra glances. Even those in a hurry to study would pause to look at her, as if there was something strange on her face. Some even openly compared her to something on their phones right in front of her.

Finally fed up, Xiao Nianyuan confronted one of them, “What are you looking at?”

Only then did the person put their phone away, pretending nothing had happened. Several others did the same, and Xiao Nianyuan went from anger to speechlessness, not even knowing how to react anymore.

Too exasperated to care, she simply ignored the stares. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been looked at like this before—she just wasn’t used to it and didn’t like it.

As soon as she left the library, Xiao Nianyuan hurried back to her dorm.

Passing by a bubble tea shop, someone called out to her, “Hey, do you play games too?”

Xiao Nianyuan turned, confused, to see a girl holding a cup of tea.

Misinterpreting her silence, the girl repeated, “Hi, I was asking if you like playing games—or if you’ve been playing any recently?”

Xiao Nianyuan was playing a game, but she had no intention of letting anyone in real life know.

With a blank expression, she replied, “No.”

The girl blinked, scratching her head in confusion. “Oh, sorry. I must’ve mistaken you for someone else.”

She didn’t stop Xiao Nianyuan, who walked away—only to turn back moments later. The girl was still sitting outside the shop, sipping her tea, and looked surprised when Xiao Nianyuan returned.

“You said you mistook me for someone,” Xiao Nianyuan asked. “Where did you see someone who looks like me?”

“I did, but it was in a game,” the girl said with a smile. “Since you don’t play, it doesn’t concern you.”

Xiao Nianyuan hesitated. She did play, but having already denied it, she couldn’t backtrack now. From the girl’s words, had someone in-game resembled her?

Puzzled, Xiao Nianyuan returned to her dorm, planning to log in and investigate. She tidied up briefly and was about to climb into bed when her three roommates returned.

Ji Rongxue spotted her and asked, “Going up?”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded.

Ji Rongxue hesitated before adding, “If anyone says anything weird to you lately, don’t take it to heart.”

“Weird things?” Xiao Nianyuan paused—someone had said strange things to her. From Ji Rongxue’s tone, it seemed she knew something.

Xiao Nianyuan pressed, “Did something happen?”

Ji Rongxue shook her head helplessly. “I can’t tell you yet.”

Xiao Nianyuan glanced at her three roommates—they clearly knew something, yet each claimed they couldn’t explain right now.

Was it that they couldn’t tell her, or that they didn’t want her to know?

After a brief silence, Xiao Nianyuan replied, “Fine, I won’t dwell on it.”

They were her roommates, after all. She’d trust them.

Noticing her momentary hesitation, Ji Rongxue frowned and asked cautiously, “Has someone already said something to you?”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded. “Yes.”

Ji Rongxue immediately looked at the other two roommates, who shook their heads in response.

Taking a deep breath, Ji Rongxue reassured her, “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out what’s going on as soon as possible and explain everything then.”

Their protective demeanor made it clear—they weren’t keeping secrets out of distance but concern. Xiao Nianyuan had worried they avoided sharing because they weren’t close, but now she realized she’d overthought it.

“Alright, I’ll wait for your explanation.”

Seeing her roommates actively shielding her from harm, Xiao Nianyuan accepted their goodwill. She believed in them.

With Ji Rongxue in the dorm, Xiao Nianyuan avoided logging into the game.

The other two roommates would play, so she’d enter afterward to prevent them from waking and noticing her using the same device. Ji Rongxue, however, was the one most likely to discover her gaming habit.

After advising Xiao Nianyuan to ignore rumors, Ji Rongxue suddenly became unusually busy.

Xiao Nianyuan logged into the game as usual. That day, just as she prepared to log off, Lian Qiushui unexpectedly called out, “I can access the social forum now!”

Lian Qiushui excitedly explained that a never-before-seen option labeled “Forum” had appeared in her game interface—likely the player-exclusive forum previously inaccessible to NPCs.

Watching Lian Qiushui’s excitement, Xiao Nianyuan paused instead of logging off immediately.

After announcing this, Lian Qiushui hurriedly checked the forum, standing motionless afterward.

Xiao Nianyuan waved a hand in front of her face, but Lian Qiushui remained unresponsive—proof that NPCs couldn’t perceive their surroundings while in the forum.

Sitting nearby, Xiao Nianyuan waited. Knowing Lian Qiushui, she’d have plenty to share upon returning.

Bored, Tan Xialan suddenly messaged, asking what she was doing.

Xiao Nianyuan replied she was free, prompting Tan Xialan to rush over—this time alone, without Du Xiaotong.

Noticing her anger, Xiao Nianyuan asked, “What’s wrong? Did someone bully you?”

Tan Xialan shook her head. “Not me—my friend.”

“Someone bullied your friend?” Xiao Nianyuan instinctively thought of Du Xiaotong, who usually logged in with Tan Xialan but was absent now.

“Not her. She’s helping me with something.” Tan Xialan scowled, cheeks puffing. “It’s my roommate—someone used her photos for an online romance scam.”