Waiting For You To Come Online – Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Replay a Billion Times

The autumn chill grew stronger.

A gentle breeze brushed by, bringing a hint of coolness.

Warm sunlight filtered through the golden leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow on the passing students.

Gingko leaves covered the ground densely, exuding a typical autumn scent.

Xie Yang held his books, looking up at the gracefully falling leaves.

Unconsciously humming along to the song playing in his headphones.

The sudden heartbreak left Xie Yang in a state of confusion for a long time.

For the past two and a half years, Qi Xu had been a special presence in his heart.

He was the guiding light during moments of confusion and the steadfast choice in times of wavering.

The unfortunate circumstances of his family, his grandmother’s passing, and the loneliness of growing up…

All the suppressed negative emotions seemed to fade away when confronted with Xie Yang’s feelings.

He went all in.

His unrequited love was the only thing he dared to summon courage for.

It was his sole source of sweetness.

Qi Xu had always been his goal to strive towards.

Because the person he liked was so outstanding, Xie Yang had been silently striving to measure up to him.

His unrequited love was not simply a matter of feelings.

He had possibly invested all of his emotions in Qi Xu.

But in Xie Yang’s original plan, this unrequited love was destined to end without resolution.

He deeply understood the gap between himself and Qi Xu.

It was not something that could be bridged overnight, nor could time catch up to its pace.

He was too ordinary.

Whether it was his family background or his personality and appearance, he was like a backdrop in life.

As a humble as dust.

So from the beginning, he had no extravagant hopes for this feeling.

He simply felt that liking Qi Xu gave him the courage to face life alone.

And now, knowing that this feeling would only bring displeasure to the other party, Xie Yang didn’t want to continue.

Even if it remained buried deep in his heart.

He couldn’t help but want to follow in Qi Xu’s footsteps, always revealing his weaknesses before him.

Su Huai said that to truly let go of one feeling, you had to start another.

By transferring your feelings from the previous person to someone new, it was the quickest and most effective way.

During this time, Xie Yang seemed to have a vague understanding of this answer.

He began gradually letting go of everything related to Qi Xu, trying to accept many new things.

He opened a WeChat mini account, didn’t add any friends, but shared his daily life on Moments.

Sometimes it was simple scenic pictures, sometimes it might be his baking creations.

No likes, no comments.

It was like a secret diary he had created for himself.

But life didn’t really need so many spectators, and sharing life wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

Especially on a stage without an audience.

During this time when he was learning to let go of Qi Xu, his life became very fulfilling. Su Huai would take him to the nearby pedestrian street after school every day.

They would sample various snacks and desserts they liked.

Although Su Huai would also complain that Xie Yang had gained several pounds because of this.

He finally changed his thick glasses frame to a delicate gold wire one.

He also changed his hairstyle to a messy style more suitable for him, even his dressing style changed to something more fitting.

He seemed like a completely different person.

Maybe it was because of his changed style, but Xie Yang felt that the classmates around him had become much friendlier towards him.

His life seemed to be gradually improving.

In addition to this, he now had something new that he enjoyed.

Every night at eight o’clock, he logged into the League of Legends mobile game, waiting for a player named CX330 to come online.

Gaming was no longer about having a chance to play with Qi Xu or establishing a solid footing in the Ranked rooms.

It seemed he had found the meaning and joy of playing games.

Xie Yang logged into the game, looked at the grayed-out avatars in his friends list, and habitually opened a room while waiting for CX330 to come online.

He opened his laptop, watched tutorial videos for the game, and took many notes.

The first thing he needed to learn was how to be a competent support player.

He had to learn about vision control, warding, and roaming, as well as positioning during team fights.

Xie Yang hadn’t realized there was so much to gaming.

This included distinctions between hard supports and soft supports.

Despite excelling in academics in real life, he found himself struggling with the basics in gaming, even finding the simplest tutorial videos confusing.

Maybe he should ask his “brother” for help later?

But he didn’t know if this cold and aloof man would bother to answer him.

Xie Yang fretted.

“Xiao Xie.”

“Wanna play Ranked together?”

Su Huai waved his phone at him, indicating there was one spot left in the room.

Xie Yang shook his head. “No, I’m waiting for someone.”

Su Huai’s gaze suddenly turned curious. “Waiting? Weren’t you playing on a smurf account?”

Xie Yang nodded somewhat bashfully. “Yeah, on my smurf.”

Su Huai asked, “Then who are you waiting for?”

Xie Yang replied with a hint of embarrassment, “Waiting for a gaming friend. We’ve been duo queueing recently.”

“Gaming friend?” Su Huai teased gently. “He must be really good.”

Xie Yang nodded meekly. “He’s quite skilled.”

Su Huai pouted playfully. “Looks like I’m too much of a noob for you now. You don’t even want to play with me.”

Xie Yang hurriedly explained, “It’s not like that… It’s just that, um… I have plans with him.”

Su Huai chuckled, “Alright, it’s nice to meet good friends in games. Take your time waiting. I’m off to duo queue sweetly with Xia Heng.”

Xie Yang sighed with relief. Actually, he didn’t dislike playing with Su Huai.

It’s just that Su Huai and Xia Heng were in a relationship, and gaming was part of their dates.

He always felt like a third wheel.

Glancing at the time, Xie Yang noted that his “brother” usually came online around this time. It had been over half an hour today, and he wasn’t sure if his “brother” would still log in.

But he would continue to wait.

Room 701.

The aunt who cooked for Qi Xu had some matters to attend to back in her hometown, so Qi Xu had been staying in the dormitory recently, eating in the school cafeteria with his roommates.

At half past eight, Qi Xu, drenched in sweat from playing basketball, had just finished showering.

Sheng Fei: “Old Qi, we’re short one for a four-man team. We’re almost at the Grandmaster promotion.”

Qi Xu: “Not coming.”

Sheng Fei: “If you don’t log into your account soon, you’re going to drop so many stars. At least come online for a maintenance game. You’re about to fall off the top of my friends list ranking.”

Qi Xu casually replied, “If I drop, then so be it. What’s the big deal?”

Sheng Fei gave him a frustrated look. “What have you been busy with lately? You don’t even show up for games anymore. You’ve changed.”

Qi Xu succinctly replied, “Taking a girl.”

Sheng Fei nearly choked on his saliva. “What?!”

Qi Xu glanced at him and huffed, “Didn’t you already know?”

Sheng Fei hurriedly said, “No way? You haven’t deleted that girl from your smurf account? It’s been almost half a month, and you’re still duo queueing with her?”

Qi Xu: “Any problem with that?”

Sheng Fei exclaimed, “D*mn! So, I’ve dug my own grave?”

He initially thought Qi Xu was just trying something new and would delete the girl after a couple of days. After all, Qi Xu never played games with girls.

But unexpectedly, half a month had passed, and he hadn’t deleted her yet, and they were even duo queueing together.

Ding Dong—

The system notification sound caught Xie Yang’s attention.

CX330: “Invite me.”

A smile involuntarily spread across Xie Yang’s face as he quickly sent an invitation to join the game room.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Brother, you’re online! Happy twirl.jpg

[Team] CX330: Hmm.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Big brother, are we going bot lane together today?

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Poor little soybean.jpg

Qi Xu looked at the emojis he sent, and even his usually cool and aloof face couldn’t help but crack a smile.

[Team] CX330: Hmm.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Brother, I learned a new champion recently.

[Team] CX330: Which one?

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Her name is Rakan. Brother, do you have the champion Xayah?

[Team] CX330: Yes.

Although this was a smurf account, Qi Xu had purchased all the champions.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: That’s great!

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Let’s play her together?

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Excited.jpg

They entered the match.

[Welcome to Summoner’s Rift.]

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Big brother, look.

Xie Yang selected the character, and Rakan’s animations included one where he offers flowers.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: A rose for you, big brother.

Qi Xu watched Rakan repeatedly perform the flower-giving animation and felt a subtle shift in his mood.

Everyone around him knew he didn’t like receiving flowers.

Actually, he couldn’t say he disliked it.

He just didn’t like the hassle.

Yet this one was somewhat unexpected.

He was actually feeling happy about a set of game statistics.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Sending you little flowers, hoping you’ll carry this game.

Qi Xu: “……”

The little support’s thoughts seemed to differ from his own.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Are you happy? Little Soybean.jpg

[Team] CX330: Yes.

Qi Xu typed these two words expressionlessly.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Sticker.jpg

Qi Xu chuckled.

[Team] CX330: Sticker.jpg

Xie Yang watched his brother send this emoji, as if discovering a whole new world.

His brother never sent him emojis.

Moreover, he always acted cool and would never send such cute emojis.

He was completely taken aback.

Hiding behind the minions, feeling a bit lost.

[Team] CX330: What are you standing there for? Didn’t you say you learned?

[Team] Caramel Pudding: On my way!

Qi Xu watched him clumsily advance, using his second skill to knock up a minion, then his first skill, slightly off, and finally using his third skill to return to his side.

A seamless combo, all whiffed.

[Team] Caramel Pudding: … Let’s try again.

[Team] CX330: Hmm.

…

Xie Yang tried again diligently, but each time he couldn’t quite get the distance right for the knock-up.

It seemed like the opponents effortlessly anticipated his moves and dodged in advance.

Embarrassed by his clumsiness, Xie Yang hesitated to suggest continuing.

[Team] CX330: Try again a billion times.

Xie Yang: “……”

[Team] Caramel Pudding: Big brother, are you mocking me QAQ

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