Love at First Game

Episode 19 Enlightenment

At first, Vivian didn’t pay much attention. Although Daniel Thorne had never been late before, it was normal to be a few minutes late occasionally. But as time went on, it was already 7:45, and Vivian started to worry. Knowing that Nathan was not online, she couldn’t help but send a message:

"Are you there?"

Naturally, there was no reply.

After two minutes, she sent another one. But eventually, Vivian stopped sending messages and just kept refreshing Nathan’s name, while the system repeatedly reminded her:

"This player is not online; you cannot update their information."

She checked George Max’s name as well. Dimmed.

Not online.

7:50.

Vivian appeared alone in front of the entry NPC, with the team logo above her head, but there was only her in the party.

Around the NPC, a crowd had gathered, planning to buy tickets to watch the elimination and final matches. They were curious to see Willow Vivian standing alone and started discussing it in front of her.

[Current] [Bug Eating Lettuce]: Why is there only Willow Vivian here? Where is Nathan?

[Current] [String Fish Junior]: He won’t be late, right?

[Current] [963]: How could he be late for such an important match?

[Current] [Feels Cool with No Pants]: There are still ten minutes left. No need to rush. Top players always come out last.

7:55.

Vivian ignored all discussions and quietly left a message for Nathan:

"I’ll be waiting for you in front of the NPC entrance. Just come over."

The onlookers’ discussions continued.

[Current] [Dingding’s Treasure]: It’s almost time. Why isn’t he here yet?

[Current] [Rocket Turtle 1.0]: He wouldn’t just not show up, right?

[Current] [i***t Doll]: Oh my god, is this going to happen again? Are they getting divorced?

[Current] [Daydreamer]: Doesn’t seem like it. Why would Willow Vivian still be standing here if they’re getting divorced?

[Current] [Burst of Thunder]: I’m telling you, Willow Vivian must have been abandoned again!

8:00.

The inquiries from friends kept coming in, but Vivian opened and closed them one by one. Finally, with a gentle click of the mouse, she closed Nathan’s window.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

[Current]: "That’s it. It’s over. I feel frustrated."

[Current]: "I thought I could watch an exciting PK today. Luckily, I didn’t buy a ticket."

[Current]: "Hogging the spot but not participating. If they didn’t compete, they should’ve quit earlier. Giving the championship to another server for nothing is disgraceful."

[Current]: "That’s not how it works, though. Just because Willow Vivian and Nathan didn’t compete, doesn’t mean our server would automatically enter the finals."

[Current]: "Wait and see. There are still three minutes for preparation. They can still join the competition within three minutes."

[Current]: "I don’t think they’ll come. Sigh, I feel sorry for Willow."

[Current]: "Yeah, she’s pretty pitiful."

8:02.

Vivian clicked on the entrance NPC, wanting to enter the arena alone. The NPC prompted:

"You must enter the arena with your husband."

8:03.

The system issued an announcement:

[System]: Due to Nathan and Willow Vivian forfeiting, another couple from a different server has won the championship of the couples’ PK competition.

Vivian quit the game.

"I think Vivian hasn’t been acting right these past few days," Elle said thoughtfully as she watched Vivian lying on her bed with headphones on, glued to her computer screen.

"That’s normal; exams are coming up. She always turns into a monster before every semester’s exams," Mia replied without looking up, focused on her writing.

"She hasn’t been playing any games," Elle remarked.

"That’s normal too. Playing games won’t get her a scholarship anymore, and without a scholarship next semester, she won’t have money to play games," Mia continued writing, not missing a beat. "I mean, why do you even care about Vivian? Weren’t you all weepy-eyed for David the other day? How’s he doing?"

"He’s fine. He deserved it anyway. He tagged along to his senior’s graduation dinner even though he wasn’t invited. Now he’s in trouble," Elle said, getting angry as she mentioned it, setting Vivian aside and shifting the attention to her own boyfriend.

Unaware of the discussion her roommates had just had about her, Vivian was engrossed in her own world. She had no idea she had become the topic of conversation. Right now, she was watching videos of a female thief crashing a wedding.

These past few days, instead of playing games, she had been studying and watching videos over and over again. Sometimes, she didn’t even intend to click on them, but as she was reviewing her vocabulary, she couldn’t resist the urge to open them.

There was always a lingering feeling of sadness in her heart that she couldn’t shake off, and it seemed that only by watching these videos could she find a little bit of peace.

Or, one could say, only when seeing that figure.

Nathan.

Nathan.

Vivian silently repeated this name in her heart, staring at the screen in a trance.

On the screen, the pianist in white stood desolately on Sunset Peak. In the plain yet oppressive soundtrack, his figure appeared lonely and melancholic. As Vivian continued to watch, she inexplicably associated it with herself standing alone in front of the NPC that day, along with the emotions she felt at that time.

The emotions she felt then should be anxiety.

It wasn’t anger from being stood up or regret from not being able to compete. Instead, it was bewildered and anxious unease. In the last few minutes, she could only think over and over again—Why hasn’t Nathan arrived yet? Will he ever come again in the future?

In the world of online games, there are too many instances of disappearing without a word. Could Nathan also vanish in such a way?

And in these past few days, as she uncontrollably watched the videos repeatedly, she even wondered—Could this video be the only evidence of her and Nathan’s encounter in the long days to come...

Sigh~

Vivian weakly collapsed onto her bed, feeling helpless.

How did she end up having these illogical associations without any rhyme or reason? Perhaps Nathan simply couldn’t make it for some reason. Why did she have to think so seriously about it? And whether Nathan had disappeared or not, all she had to do was log into the game to find out.

Why was she hesitating?

The chaotic emotions surged, and the story of the female thief came to its end. In the mournful melody, the white-clad pianist and the red-clad female knight froze palely.

Vivian wiped away her tears.

It’s amazing how powerful she is. She actually got teary-eyed watching videos again.

Honestly, the first time she watched this video, it was very touching. But after watching it multiple times, she became numb to it. And now, of all things...

She stared blankly at the elegant white-clad pianist on the screen. Slowly, silently, a clear realization slid through Vivian’s heart...

Then, with a snap, Vivian closed her computer, threw away her headphones, and buried her head under the pillow.

Oh no, she’s become sentimental.

This is bad...

It seems like she has developed feelings for someone.