My Unconventional Online Romance - Chapter 5

Xiao Nianyuan replied, “I’m working a part-time job here.”

Ji Rongxue blinked, her expression one of admiration. “That’s great. I was worried you might be bored.”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded. After a moment’s thought, she felt that as roommates, she should at least show some concern, so she asked, “Weren’t you going out with them? Why are you here?”

Ji Rongxue smiled sheepishly. “I wasn’t feeling well today, so I came back early.”

Xiao Nianyuan let out an “Oh,” unsure of what else to say. Sensing her awkwardness, Ji Rongxue stepped aside. “You were trying to get through just now, right? Go ahead.”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded and walked past, continuing to organize the books. Ji Rongxue hesitated for a moment before asking, “Xiao Nian Yuan, I’m looking for a book. You’re probably more familiar with this place than I am—could you help me find it?”

Xiao Nianyuan asked, “What book are you looking for?”

Ji Rongxue pulled out her phone and showed her a picture. “This one. Do you have it?”

Xiao Nianyuan thought for a second and nodded. “Yes, we do. Follow me.”

She remembered this book—it had been recommended by a popular book blogger online, and many people had come to borrow it recently.

After finding the book for Ji Rongxue, Xiao Nianyuan handed it over. Ji Rongxue took it gratefully. “Thank you! I’ve been searching for this for a while. I didn’t expect it to be here.”

Holding the book, she tentatively asked, “Do you want to grab lunch together?”

She was already prepared for Xiao Nianyuan to refuse. After all, every time their dormmates had invited her to eat together before, she had declined. This time would likely be no exception. Still, Ji Rongxue hoped Xiao Nianyuan could warm up to them a little. They were roommates, and seeing Xiao Nianyuan always alone made even her, as a dormmate, feel somewhat uneasy.

Ji Rongxue’s thoughts were simple—she just wanted all her roommates to get along. She couldn’t stand seeing others struggle, especially someone she lived with like Xiao Nian Yuan.

She wanted to say more but worried that pushing too hard might make Xiao Nianyuan wary. Right now, Xiao Nianyuan kept everyone at arm’s length. If she had other friends, Ji Rongxue wouldn’t be so concerned.

But she knew very well that Xiao Nianyuan truly was alone. In the dorm, she had never seen Xiao Nianyuan talk to anyone on the phone, let alone outside. She had some understanding of Xiao Nian Yuan’s personality.

Xiao Nianyuan was surprised by the lunch invitation. She hesitated for only a second before politely and distantly refusing, as usual. “No, thank you. I prefer eating alone.”

After finishing organizing the nearby shelves, Xiao Nianyuan noticed Ji Rongxue was still there and asked uncertainly, “Do you need another book?”

“No,” Ji Rongxue smiled. “I was just wondering where would be a quiet place to read.”

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t question her and pointed in a direction. “Over here. There are fewer people.”

Then, remembering that she was the one who preferred solitude—Ji Rongxue, who was so sociable, might actually like busier spots—she added, “If you’d rather be somewhere livelier, try that area.”

She gestured toward another section, where most seats were already taken. The lighting was better there, and there were charging ports—exactly the kind of place most people would flock to.

The quiet spot Xiao Nianyuan had mentioned earlier didn’t have charging stations. The lighting wasn’t exactly dim, but compared to the warm glow of the front area, it was noticeably inferior.

“Alright, thanks.”

Ji Rongxue randomly chose a seat. At first, she kept observing what Xiao Nianyuan was doing, but gradually became absorbed in her book’s content.

It wasn’t until she heard footsteps nearby that she looked up and noticed many people leaving. Checking the time, she realized it was already lunch hour—those leaving were going to eat, leaving behind only a few who might be waiting for deliveries or planning to eat later when it was less crowded.

Scanning the area, Ji Rongxue couldn’t spot Xiao Nianyuan. She sighed. Beyond wanting to look out for Xiao Nianyuan more, she harbored a secret in her heart—one that absolutely couldn’t be known by anyone.

Xiao Nianyuan’s part-time job didn’t last all day. Many students competed for the university’s part-time positions. That Xiao Nianyuan had been selected was largely thanks to her excellent memory—otherwise, the recruiters would have prioritized more outgoing students.

Several others worked the same job, but Xiao Nianyuan wasn’t familiar with them, nor did she see any need to be. Her shift today was only for the morning; others would take over in the afternoon and evening. After ordering takeout, she returned to her dorm.

Not long after returning, her phone rang. She glanced at it, hung up, and continued eating expressionlessly—though her movements slowed noticeably, her chewing absentminded, clearly affected by the call.

Soon after hanging up, the phone rang again. With a sigh, she answered, remaining silent and waiting for the caller to speak first.

“Yuanyuan, have you eaten?” came a middle-aged woman’s voice, tinged with caution.

“I’m eating now,” Xiao Nianyuan replied flatly.

“Then eat first, I’ll wait—”

“No need,” Xiao Nianyuan interrupted. “Just say what you want.”

“Yuanyuan… do you still blame me?”

“I don’t. I don’t blame you.” Xiao Nianyuan lowered her gaze to the nearly finished takeout. Her appetite wasn’t small—she could easily finish this portion—but now she had no desire to eat any more.

As she tidied up, she added, “That’s your business. It has nothing to do with me.”

A long silence followed before the voice replied, “We didn’t tell you about the divorce because we didn’t want to affect your college entrance exams.”

“I know.” Xiao Nianyuan’s light, dismissive tone left her mother speechless.

Pu Pengdan would have preferred if Xiao Nianyuan had demanded why they kept it from her. Her daughter’s calmness left her at a loss.

“I’ll hang up if there’s nothing else.”

“Wait.”

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t hang up, waiting to hear what else her mother might say. After a long pause, all her mother asked was, “Do you have enough living expenses?”

Xiao Nianyuan let out a short, mocking laugh. “Yes, of course I have enough. If I didn’t, I’d ask you.”

This was true. If she ever ran short, she would ask her mother—not to spite her, but simply because their family wasn’t lacking for money. She felt no guilt taking living expenses; it wasn’t as if she was using it for anything improper.

Hearing Xiao Nianyuan say this, Pu Pengdan finally felt relieved: “Alright then, eat well and don’t skimp on anything. If you need anything, just tell Mom. By the way, you must go out often with university friends, right? I’ll transfer some money to your card first.”

Without waiting for Xiao Nianyuan’s refusal, she hung up the phone.

Soon after, Xiao Nianyuan received a text message. Opening it, she saw a bank transfer notification, but the amount left her silent for a long moment before she put her phone away.

Her family was relatively well-off. Compared to her roommates, her allowance was much higher, though no one knew this.

She rarely interacted with others and didn’t have extravagant spending habits. She wore clothes until they wore out. Though she enjoyed window shopping, she seldom bought clothes in physical stores to avoid social interactions, opting instead for occasional online purchases.

But clothes bought online often didn’t match expectations. No matter how expensive, you never knew what might be off until you tried them on.

When Xiao Nianyuan found a set of clothes she liked, she would wear them for a long time. If not for occasionally changing outfits, people might have mistaken her for someone from a struggling family.

Because of Pu Pengdan’s call, Xiao Nianyuan suddenly felt unmotivated. As she spaced out, she remembered there was someone she could chat with. Climbing onto her bed, she took out her VR gear but hesitated, recalling Ji Rongxue might return. She texted Ji Rongxue to ask when she’d be back.

Ji Rongxue replied quickly: “I won’t be back at noon. I might only return in the evening. Don’t leave the door unlocked for me.” She added a cute sticker afterward.

Xiao Nianyuan replied “Okay,” then got off the bed to lock the door. If her roommate wasn’t returning, there was no need to leave it unlocked. When wearing the gear, she wouldn’t be aware of her surroundings, so locking the door was safest. Though campus security was good, extra caution never hurt.

Like last time, as soon as Xiao Nianyuan entered the game, she saw Lian Qiushui sitting in front of her, staring curiously with barely contained excitement. She was genuinely thrilled to see Xiao Nianyuan.

Xiao Nianyuan was at a loss for words for a while, but Lian Qiushui didn’t mind her silence, continuing to gaze at her as if she couldn’t get enough.

Uncomfortable under such scrutiny, Xiao Nianyuan asked, “What are you looking at?”

Lian Qiushui replied, “You. It’s been so long.”

Xiao Nianyuan asked, “How long did you wait?”

Lian Qiushui counted on her fingers: “Ten hours.”

Xiao Nianyuan: “…”

Ten hours—that matched real-world time. Lian Qiushui hadn’t waited long at all. For a moment, Xiao Nianyuan had wondered if time flowed differently in the game, but it seemed Lian Qiushui simply felt it had been much longer.

“Didn’t you say yesterday you’d take me to see Sky City?” Xiao Nianyuan remembered Lian Qiushui’s promise, though their conversation had drifted elsewhere.

Lian Qiushui blinked. “You know it was just child’s play, but you still want to go?”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded. “There probably aren’t many people now.”

Knowing it was make-believe was one thing; wanting to see it was another.

“There aren’t many people around now.” Lian Qiushui magically produced a flowering branch from behind her back.

Xiao Nianyuan looked at the branch and asked tentatively, “Where did you pull that from?”

The branch in Lian Qiushui’s hand was a peach blossom sprig, but it was currently summer. Xiao Nianyuan wasn’t sure if the game’s setting matched the season, but at the very least, the area they were in seemed to be in summer.

“Don’t worry about where I got it. Just tell me—do you like it?” Lian Qiushui said with a smile.