Love at First Game

Episode 26 Love Beyond the Screen

It was a restless night for Vivian. Tossing and turning on her wooden bed, she found herself unable to sleep, her mind churning with the events of the day. The image of Daniel Thorne lingered in her thoughts—his calm demeanor, the way he spoke, the rare moments when he smiled. The overwhelming emotions coursing through her seemed only to be expressed through the occasional sigh.

Sitting up, she hugged her thin blanket and rested her chin on her knees, sighing again. Exhaling seemed to relieve some of the tension in her heart, but the moment she let it out, the emotions returned, filling her once more.

The early morning calm was shattered when Mia, her roommate, shook her awake. “Vivian, I’ve had diarrhea three times already. I can’t stand it anymore.”

Startled, Vivian sprang out of bed, searching for medicine, but Mia’s condition didn’t improve. Within half an hour, she was pale and weak. Vivian, Elle, and Stella quickly dressed and took Mia to a nearby hospital. The doctor diagnosed her with acute gastroenteritis and prescribed intravenous fluids.

After Mia received the IV, her condition improved slightly, allowing Vivian and Stella to finally rest. However, Vivian couldn’t sleep deeply and woke up intermittently. By 7 a.m., she sat up, feeling the weight of the day ahead.

“Vivian, the snacks from last night were bought by Daniel Thorne, weren’t they?” Mia asked weakly, breaking the silence.

Vivian nodded.

Mia sighed theatrically. “Oh, God, I can’t digest divine food with my mortal stomach.”

Despite her condition, Mia still had the energy to crack jokes, and Vivian couldn’t help but laugh. As she tucked Mia’s blanket in place, her thoughts drifted to Daniel Thorne. She debated whether to call him to cancel their study plans but found herself oddly relieved by the idea of not meeting him that day.

Her musings were interrupted when the door opened, and the room darkened slightly. She looked up to find Daniel Thorne standing there, his gaze fixed on her.

The group returned to campus in Daniel Thorne’s low-profile car. Vivian sat in the passenger seat, listening to the whispered conversations of her roommates in the back.

“How did Daniel Thorne come?” Mia asked Elle.

“I called David,” Elle replied. “David blabbed to Daniel Thorne, and then he said he’d drive over.”

Mia sounded worried. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Stella chimed in, “Don’t worry, Daniel Thorne is one of us.”

Vivian, hearing their whispered nonsense, felt a mix of amusement and embarrassment. She quickly interjected, “Yes, yes, one of us!”

The car fell silent for a moment before Daniel Thorne broke the tension. “You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Let’s eat before heading back.”

His considerate tone disarmed Vivian, but Elle politely declined. “No need. We’ve troubled you enough, brother-in-law.”

Daniel Thorne smiled. “We’re family. No need to be polite.”

Vivian rolled her eyes internally. His kindness felt like a trap. Despite the polite refusals, they ended up eating breakfast together. Afterward, Daniel Thorne walked them to their dormitory, where Vivian collapsed onto her bed, overwhelmed by exhaustion and the day’s events.

When Vivian woke later, the smell of food filled the room. Elle had ordered lunch, and Mia, now looking much better, was enthusiastically browsing the internet.

“Vivian, there are so many posts about you and Daniel Thorne on the school forum!” Mia exclaimed. “There’s even a photo of you two holding hands on the basketball court.”

Vivian froze, leaning over to look at the screen. The blurry photo clearly showed her and Daniel Thorne. Gossip about their supposed relationship flooded the forum, and Vivian groaned. “People at this school are so nosy.”

“It’s exam season,” Mia said. “The more stress, the more gossip.”

Vivian sighed and returned to her food, trying to brush off the unwanted attention. As they finished eating, the dorm phone rang. Elle answered, then called out, “Vivian, it’s for you.”

Vivian picked up the phone, startled to hear Daniel Thorne’s voice. It was the first time she’d spoken to him on the phone, and it sent an unexpected thrill through her.

“Are we studying this afternoon?” he asked.

Vivian hesitated. “I’d like to, but we probably won’t find a seat.”

Daniel Thorne’s calm voice responded, “There’s a quiet place I know. I’ll take you.”

Vivian stepped out of her dorm to find Daniel Thorne waiting beside his bicycle. His presence seemed out of place, drawing curious glances from passersby. Ignoring his attention, she approached him.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I’ll take you,” he said, hanging his backpack on the bike.

Riding behind him, Vivian felt more at ease this time. They left the campus and entered a nearby tech park. Minutes later, Daniel Thorne led her into a building and up to the sixth floor.

The door to his office bore a nameplate that read Daniel Thorne. Vivian hesitated before stepping inside, overwhelmed by the realization that this was his company.

“Is this your company?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied. “It’s quiet here. You can study.”

Vivian sat on the couch with her book, but the quiet was almost unsettling. Her thoughts kept wandering, and she struggled to concentrate.

Noticing her distraction, Daniel Thorne beckoned her over. “Vivian, take a look at this.”

She peered at his computer screen, which displayed intricate character designs in ancient attire.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“Character designs for Dreams of Wandering the World 2,” he replied nonchalantly.

Vivian stared at him, stunned. “There’s going to be Dreams of Wandering the World 2? Did you make the first game?”

Daniel Thorne shook his head. “No. The first was produced by Fengteng. But we’re collaborating on the second.”

As he explained the collaboration, Vivian slowly pieced things together. The proposal game play feature inspired by her video made sense now, but she was still in awe of how deeply their lives had intertwined.

For a moment, Vivian stared at him, overwhelmed by his calm brilliance. She realized that this wasn’t just Nathan or Daniel Thorne. This was a man she was growing to admire and care for deeply, in every facet of her world.