NOVEL WEB Ch. 3
"Mm... it really isn't sweet. Next time I'll order you a lemon-flavored one." Miss Ye Li crossed her arms, her finger touching her chin as she spoke to herself.
Xie Ci was somewhat bewildered.
What was with this instant role reversal?
It was as if everything that had just happened was merely an insignificant little interlude, commonplace and unimportant.
So it really wasn't because of him?
Xie Ci's mind went blank, his heart pounding like a drum.
The shop was unusually quiet, with only the rustling sound of wind chimes outside the door.
"Alright, alright, I was just joking earlier. Ye Li just wanted to eat some cake... you'll forgive Ye Li, won't you?"
"Miss Ye Li, don't joke about that kind of thing. Talking about dying and such isn't funny at all."
"Ehehe~"
Miss Ye Li suddenly leaned close to Xie Ci's face again, bringing waves of sweet fragrance, completely unconcerned about revealing the deep, snow-white cleavage at her chest.
"By the way, that was actually my first kiss."
Her amber eyes finally rippled with emotion. Miss Ye Li leaned forward on the table, supporting her chin with both hands, looking at Xie Ci with anticipation.
Although he really didn't want to dampen Miss Ye Li's spirits, Xie Ci's eyes shifted, and he still chose to tell the truth.
"It wasn't mine..."
Miss Ye Li suddenly reached out and pressed her finger against Xie Ci's lips, sighing.
"Ah, you silly child. I'm really foolish too."
"Whether it is or isn't, what does it matter?"
As she spoke, she smiled gently.
"It doesn't matter.
"At least I know your name, I've heard your voice, and I've chatted with you." Her voice grew softer and softer, the last few words almost becoming an inaudible sigh. Her gaze passed over Xie Ci, looking toward the gradually descending darkness outside the window, as if that was where she belonged.
There was one thing she still didn't say.
Regret was life's color palette.
The corners of her mouth trembled slightly, as if struggling to maintain that tolerant curve. In the depths of her amber eyes, some light that had been barely holding on seemed to extinguish.
Xie Ci stared blankly at her transformation, feeling so clearly that this woman before him was withdrawing from all the world's gentleness, about to walk toward that bone-chilling darkness.
The sadness and coldness emanating from her seemed about to drown him in an instant.
He grabbed that pale hand—it was icy, so cold.
"Alright, alright, school starts in a few days." She blinked, the motion appearing stiff, as if trying to dispel the moisture in her eyes. She pulled her hand away and picked up her bag.
"I have things to do, so I'll leave first. I'll transfer the money to you later. Take a taxi home."
After a moment of silence, her gaze avoided Xie Ci's, her voice somewhat low as she continued, "Tomorrow morning I want to eat... mm, I'll talk about it tomorrow morning."
The utopia built from past joy and gentleness collapsed instantly, and a terrible thought flooded his mind.
She was leaving. Not this table, not this café, but leaving this world of light and warmth.
The last bit of hope in his heart vanished without a trace.
The countdown wasn’t a lie.
He closed his eyes forcefully, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his gaze locked tightly onto those amber eyes.
"Miss Ye Li, don't talk like it's the end of a play."
If you really want to die...
It won't be that easy!
Seeing Xie Ci suddenly become serious, Miss Ye Li crossed her arms and curved her lips into a smile.
"Oh? Young Master hasn't had enough fun yet?"
"Mm... there are some things I need to confirm. I wonder if Miss Ye Li could give me this face, put aside whatever you have to do, and continue keeping me company?"
Xie Ci deliberately put on an expectant expression and continued:
"I know Miss Ye Li is a busy person. With school starting soon, you as a professor have many things to do."
If it really was because of me that the countdown suddenly decreased,
Then there must be some way to increase the countdown or make it disappear.
Should I gamble? Whether my weight in Miss Ye Li's heart could exceed this so-called "I have things to do."
Xie Ci pondered, furrowing his brow, then spoke:
"So, I can return all the money Miss Ye Li gave me before."
There were no other chips to play, after all. Compared to Miss Ye Li, he didn't have anything he could offer...
"Or, I can promise you one thing. Anything!"
Miss Ye Li looked with interest at Xie Ci, who had suddenly acted completely out of character. Usually, he always wanted to leave as soon as possible, but today he actively suggested continuing and said such solemn words.
"Sigh, silly boy."
Miss Ye Li supported her forehead and sighed. After leaving this enigmatic remark, she gave him an unfathomable look, said nothing more, and walked toward the shop's exit.
Xie Ci froze in place.
That's right. For someone like this, a shrewd person who had already cleared Earth Online at such a young age,
What right did a poor boy like him, who had nothing, have to fantasize about occupying a place in a rich woman's heart?
Xie Ci watched that graceful figure, lost in thought.
The hand he had extended into the air also dropped down.
How disappointing. Next time, he shouldn't be so presumptuous.
Xie Ci smiled bitterly and shook his head, standing up.
The countdown was still running. Less than an hour left.
"Ten times the family fortune?"
Speaking of which, Xie Ci was suddenly somewhat surprised that he hadn't immediately put Option 1 as his top consideration.
He hadn't even thought about it much.
Getting money for doing nothing. The system hadn't struck him with lightning.
It wasn't like there were morality points or anything that would be deducted for not saving someone.
Someone as impoverished as himself should unhesitatingly choose Option 1, right...
Xie Ci suddenly didn't want to think about these things anymore. He felt somewhat stifled.
Standing up, he pounded his somewhat stiff legs.
It was time to return to that little nest.
Find a job that could put food on the table, cook, eat, scroll through videos, spend each day in boredom repeating it countless times, wait for school to start, and after school starts, welcome each new day, then repeat it countless more times.
Rather boring, but he seemed to have lived this way before.
Except for the past month or so.
Every day, Miss Ye Li would call him out for various reasons, accompanying her in various identities.
It was quite enjoyable, but such days would end along with summer vacation.
Just then, a silvery, pleasant voice rang out.
"Please... please wait!"
Translator’s Corner
Cleared Earth Online: Won the game of life, or more simply, won at life.
Struck by lightning: Face divine retribution.