Twist of Fate (GL) - Chapter 4

Xinghe replied with a simple “okay.”

Xie Jing typed out a long message and sent it off.

“I’m seriously unlucky. I just took down a bunch of people but didn’t get any Battle Will. This chicken dinner was way too intense.”

There was a pause of over ten seconds before Xinghe finally replied:

“You’re amazing. You don’t need Battle Will to win.”

Xie Jing burst out laughing when she saw that line. She’d been playing this game since elementary school—she definitely had skills—but no one had ever complimented her so directly before. The praise hit her right in the feels.

She couldn’t help but bring up her stats.

“Next time I’ll take you into the arena. I’ve got an 80% win rate in 3v3.”

Xinghe responded with another calm “okay.”

From that point on, Xie Jing started regularly inviting Shen Xinghe to play. Xinghe had great instincts and smooth mechanics, never once dragging her down. Xie Jing genuinely enjoyed playing with her.

What she didn’t say was that she had a bit of a weakness for strength—she couldn’t help but admire and be drawn to people better than her. And after spending so much time together day after day, she gradually developed a shy, muddled feeling toward the person on the other side of the screen—something that could only be called “liking.”

She thought about confessing. But then again, what if Xinghe was straight? Outside of the game, they barely interacted. They hadn’t even added each other on WeChat. Occasionally, when they ran into each other after class, Xinghe would only smile politely and nod. Nothing like her warm presence in the game.

This left Xie Jing distressed. Maybe Xinghe really did see her as just another game partner. If she confessed out of the blue, wouldn’t that scare her away? She could even lose the one gaming buddy who was such a perfect match.

So, she kept the feeling quietly tucked away in her heart.

And it stayed hidden for nearly three years.

During the summer break after their high school entrance exams, they played non-stop, day and night. But after that summer, their game sessions became fewer and farther between. At first, Xinghe would log on once a week. Then once a month. Then once a year. Eventually, her avatar never lit up again.

Three years was enough time for her memory of Xinghe to blur and fade—until just now, when she heard the name again. Then it all came rushing back: that person who once fought by her side behind a glowing screen.

“Xie Jing, I can’t believe you still remember me.” Maybe because she was in an unfamiliar place, Shen Xinghe felt an unexpected warmth upon seeing Xie Jing again.

They were both born and raised in the South, now studying way up North, surrounded by strangers and unfamiliar surroundings. Meeting someone familiar so far from home naturally made them close.

“Of course I remember! You remembered me too, didn’t you?” Xie Jing was equally excited, her pale cheeks flushing pink, her eyes dark and bright with emotion—pure joy written all over her face.

Shen Xinghe smiled and shifted her gaze toward the girl standing next to Xie Jing.

“Oh right, Xinghe, let me introduce you,” Xie Jing said cheerfully, pulling the girl over. “This is my roommate, Zhou Yan. And this is my old classmate from middle school, Shen Xinghe.”

“Nice to meet you!” Zhou Yan greeted Shen Xinghe politely.

She gave Xie Jing a knowing look while suppressing a grin: Told you my tarot reading was accurate.

Since starting university, Xie Jing had never hidden her sexual orientation. There were only a few girls in their class, so it wasn’t something she could conceal even if she wanted to. On the very first day of military training, a male classmate confessed to her. To avoid further misunderstandings, Xie Jing gently rejected him and told him she liked girls.

That poor guy turned bright red. After that, no one else tried confessing to her.

Zhou Yan had originally enjoyed discussing which guys were cute, but after learning about Xie Jing’s preferences, she stopped making such comments. Even the videos she recommended became full of cute and charming girls.

Her tarot reading today wasn’t random either. The student society event had a lot of performances from new female freshmen, and many of them were incredibly pretty—like Shen Xinghe. Maybe today would really be Xie Jing’s lucky day to meet someone special?

After a short break, the next round of performances began—this time, a musical act.

Having worked up a sweat dancing, Shen Xinghe decided to return to the dorm to remove her makeup. She said goodbye and left.

Xie Jing watched her walk away, her almond-shaped eyes curving in a smile.

“Xie Jing, something’s definitely up with you.”

Zhou Yan squinted at the backs of both girls like she was solving a great mystery.

Xie Jing felt a little embarrassed and pretended not to hear.

“Whoa, Xie Jing! Look over there—who is that?!”

Zhou Yan suddenly grabbed her arm and shook her excitedly, half-standing out of her seat, eyes locked on the tall, slender figure at center stage.

“Who?” Xie Jing asked, puzzled.

“Isn’t that our dorm’s new transfer student? The one who just moved in? I think her name’s… Qin Ning?”

Xie Jing followed her gaze—and the next second, her eyes widened.

Bathed in the glow of an orange sunset, a girl in a white chiffon dress stood at the center of the slightly sunken round platform. The golden light outlined her exquisite features, making her face, dress, legs—even her hair—seem to shimmer.

Xie Jing was stunned.

How can someone look so beautiful? And she’s our roommate?!

She wasn’t the only one—everyone in the audience was spellbound.

The sweet sound of the violin soared, but all Xie Jing could hear was the pounding of her own heart.

She pressed a hand against her chest, confused. What’s going on with me?

“Your face is really red,” Zhou Yan leaned closer. “Xiao Jing, are you okay?”

“You said her name is Qin Ning?” Xie Jing asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah, Qin as in Qin Shi Huang, Ning as in Ningxia. Why?”

The more she looked at Qin Ning, the more familiar she seemed. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember where she’d seen her before. Just as she was about to look away, Qin Ning suddenly turned to her.

Xie Jing froze.

Even through the noise of the crowd, their eyes locked.

Qin Ning’s pupils were dark and deep—Xie Jing felt like she’d fallen into a cold, clear spring.

She stood there, dazed, unable to break eye contact for several seconds.

Then it hit her. Last night during evening study hall, she’d seen someone wearing a mask in the classroom. That person… was Qin Ning.

No wonder she looked familiar.

“Xie Jing, do you two know each other?” Zhou Yan asked curiously. Qin Ning had been staring at them the whole time.

Xie Jing shook her head. “No. We’ve never even spoken.”

“That’s… kind of strange,” Zhou Yan murmured.

As the music performance came to an end, Zhou Yan tugged Xie Jing’s sleeve. “Let’s go grab dinner before the cafeteria gets packed.”

Xie Jing nodded. “Sure.”

After packing up their books and water bottles, they stopped by the campus delivery station for a package before heading to the dining hall.

There weren’t many people at this hour, so they got their meals without waiting.

Xie Jing ordered braised chicken with rice, while Zhou Yan got a spicy stir-fry. As they sat down, they spotted Shen Xinghe entering.

She’d taken off her makeup and changed clothes. Her face looked gentle and soft—Xie Jing almost didn’t recognize her.

“What a coincidence! You’re here too?” Shen Xinghe walked over, smiling. “Is the braised chicken here any good?”

Xie Jing nodded vigorously. “Super tasty!”

Encouraged by her enthusiasm, Shen Xinghe got the same dish and sat down with them.

“I didn’t know Qin Ning was so gorgeous. She always wore a mask before,” Zhou Yan was still hung up on Qin Ning’s beauty, chatting even as she ate.

Qin Ning had just moved into their dorm the day before. She’d been wearing a mask at the time and had left early that morning, not even returning for lunch. This was their first time seeing what she actually looked like.

“Qin Ning? Wait, is that the same Qin Ning I know?” Shen Xinghe suddenly looked surprised.

“You know her too?” Zhou Yan gaped. “Is she that famous?”

“I had a classmate with the same name. We even used to sit together,” Shen Xinghe said, recalling a top student from back then.

—

After dinner, Zhou Yan suggested they take a walk to help digest. Xie Jing and Shen Xinghe agreed—the braised chicken was too good, and they’d both eaten a little too much.

It was around six or seven in the evening. There weren’t many people on the track—just a few runners and scattered walkers.

Halfway through their walk, Zhou Yan suddenly clutched her stomach. “I’m heading to the restroom. You guys go on without me—no need to wait.”

There were public restrooms near the track. She waved and hurried off.

The October air in the North was neither hot nor cold—just right. Xie Jing and Shen Xinghe continued their stroll in the soft breeze.

From time to time, Shen Xinghe turned her head to talk to Xie Jing.

“Can I call you Xie Jing from now on?” she asked suddenly, stopping and gazing at her warmly.

“Huh?” Xie Jing blinked, then nodded shyly. “Of course.”

Her heart had been unsettled since the afternoon. She didn’t know why. Was it because she’d run into her old crush? Was she just too emotional?

That fleeting, unfinished crush had long since passed. And yet, now Shen Xinghe was right in front of her. Should she take a chance?

She looked down, conflicted.

“Xie Jing.”

Snapped out of her thoughts, she looked up. “Yeah?”

“We’ve already walked two laps. Let’s head back.”

“Okay.”

Just as she turned, her steps froze.

Not twenty meters away, Qin Ning was staring straight at her.

The moment their eyes met, Qin Ning turned and walked away, expressionless.