My Unconventional Online Dating - Chapter 64

“First, tell me what we should do if our stories don’t match up later?” Xiao Nianyuan was a bit uneasy.

Yin Peilan, however, refused to say anything: “If you trust me, I’ll help you. If you don’t, then forget it.”

This sounded all too familiar—wasn’t it exactly what she had said before?

Yin Peilan glanced at Lian Qiushui and suddenly remarked, “Sincerity should be mutual. It’s not fair if only I’m the one giving my true heart.”

She had thought it over. Lian Qiushui’s words made some sense, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to offer her sincerity right from the start.

Still, she could be upfront about it—she was willing to give her true heart, but she also hoped the other party would treat her with equal seriousness.

Xiao Nianyuan studied Yin Peilan for a long moment before nodding. “Fine, I believe you.”

At this point, she had no other options. Since Yin Peilan claimed she could help, she might as well give it a try—desperate times called for desperate measures.

A smile spread across Yin Peilan’s face. “That’s more like it. So, when are you going to add me back as a contact?”

Lian Qiushui immediately grew wary. “You want to exchange contact info?”

“How else am I supposed to communicate with her later? Through the game? She won’t be able to log in when she’s at the gaming company,” Yin Peilan explained.

She knew Lian Qiushui was worried she might “steal” Xiao Nianyuan away and couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “You don’t have to keep such a tight leash on her. Your bond is so strong—even if I wanted to take her, I couldn’t.”

Lian Qiushui frowned at Yin Peilan. “Even if you couldn’t, you still shouldn’t try.”

Who knew if it was really impossible? Lian Qiushui wasn’t about to take that gamble.

Yin Peilan was momentarily stunned before sighing in exasperation. “Honestly, you’re really… Anyone listening would think I’m trying to steal your wife.”

“So if she were my wife, you wouldn’t try?” Lian Qiushui grew more serious the more she spoke.

Seeing her like this, Yin Peilan burst out laughing. “If you want her to be your wife, do you even hear how ridiculous that sounds?”

“Wait, what are you two talking about?” Xiao Nianyuan looked at them in confusion as they suddenly started bickering, even bringing up the word “wife.”

Lian Qiushui and Yin Peilan answered in unison: “Nothing.”

Yin Peilan instinctively backed Lian Qiushui up, though she muttered under her breath, “Yeah, right. I’d sooner believe I’m Qin Shi Huang than believe it’s ‘nothing.'”

Lian Qiushui decided to ignore Yin Peilan to prevent her from saying anything reckless that might make Xiao Nianyuan dislike her.

Though she wasn’t sure how Yin Peilan planned to help, since she had offered, Xiao Nianyuan had no choice but to place some trust in her. Even if nothing came of it in the end, at least she would have tried.

Because Yin Peilan had volunteered to assist, Xiao Nianyuan found herself viewing her in a new light—perhaps she was just willful, but deep down, she wasn’t a bad person.

When Yin Peilan mentioned wanting to visit the lantern festival, Xiao Nianyuan and Lian Qiushui accompanied her.

The festival was crowded, and Xiao Nianyuan, worried about getting separated, stayed close to Lian Qiushui.

Yin Peilan wasn’t too concerned about being left behind. She had tested it before—whenever she strayed too far from Xiao Nianyuan and Lian Qiushui, they would either call her back or catch up to her.

This was a treatment she had never experienced before. In the past, whenever she went out with others, there was always a chance she’d be abandoned midway.

Occasionally, Yin Peilan glanced back at Xiao Nianyuan and Lian Qiushui, feeling a quiet sense of contentment.

They weren’t friends yet, but their relationship was already quite good. Once they truly became friends, they’d probably treat her even better.

Yin Peilan thought to herself, feeling a faint glimmer of anticipation—though not too much. She was accustomed to giving only after receiving; the idea of giving first was simply too difficult for her.

After logging off, Xiao Nianyuan and Yin Peilan exchanged contact information. They agreed that the next day, when Xiao Nianyuan went to the company, she would wear headphones so Yin Peilan could listen in and guide her on what to do.

Xiao Nianyuan didn’t have a decent pair of headphones, so she went out to buy some last-minute.

The next morning, as she was about to leave, Ji Rongxue called out to her, “Are you going out today?”

Xiao Nianyuan replied, “I have some business to take care of. I’ll be back soon.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Ji Rongxue stood up, ready to follow.

“No need. It’s more convenient if I go alone. Bringing you would complicate things.”

Hearing this, Ji Rongxue had no choice but to sit back down.

Once outside, Xiao Nianyuan took the bus straight to the gaming company.

She had been there the day before, so the security guard recognized her. This time, however, she came alone—no colleague came down to escort her.

The guard asked proactively, “Who called you here? Have them call down to let you in.”

“No, I came on my own today.” Xiao Nianyuan handed over the invitation letter. “This is my visitor pass.”

The guard glanced at it and remembered that management had mentioned someone would be touring the company, so he let her in.

Once inside, Xiao Nianyuan headed straight for the target floor, speaking into her headphones as she walked. “I came yesterday, but I only asked about Sky City. They were very cautious—didn’t reveal a single clue.”

Yin Peilan responded matter-of-factly, “Of course they wouldn’t tell you. Beating around the bush won’t help. Just follow my lead later.”

Even now, Yin Peilan still hadn’t explained what exactly she was planning.

Determined to keep her secrets, Yin Peilan left Xiao Nianyuan anxious but unable to press further.

When she reached the upper floor, Xiao Nianyuan hoped to discreetly observe what the employees were working on. But as soon as she arrived, she ran into Pu Pengdan’s colleague.

The colleague was startled to see her and immediately asked, “Here to see your mom?”

Xiao Nianyuan paused before answering, “No, I’m here to tour the company today.”

“Tour the company?” The colleague thought for a moment before remembering. “Oh, you started playing the game?”

Xiao Nianyuan nodded. “Yes, I did.”

The colleague frowned. “But weren’t the visitor slots assigned days ago? You only said yesterday that you’d go home and try it. How’d you get a pass?”

“Someone gave it to me,” Xiao Nianyuan replied vaguely.

The colleague looked puzzled. “You made friends that fast?”

Xiao Nianyuan said calmly, “I never said I only started playing yesterday.”

The colleague froze. If Xiao Nianyuan hadn’t just started yesterday, then her own lies from the day before must have been obvious to her.

Her face flushed slightly—whether in embarrassment or gratitude that Xiao Nianyuan hadn’t called her out, it was hard to say.

Just then, Yin Peilan’s voice came through the headphones: “Tell her that many players are questioning whether Sky City is a scam.”

Xiao Nianyuan relayed the message, and the colleague immediately tensed. “How could it be a scam? We haven’t deceived anyone!”

Xiao Nianyuan replied coolly, “During the beta test, weren’t beta players supposed to see Sky City? But now it’s gone.”

“It didn’t disappear, there’s just a bug. It’s been taken offline for reworking.”