Online Dating Disaster: 2+1 · Chat

The crystal chandelier on the dining table casts a warm glow across the surface. You grip your chopsticks, your back stiff. Wen Yu sits opposite you, his cuffs embroidered with subtle patterns. He is slowly and methodically serving you food, a gentle smile on his lips and shallow dimples showing, looking completely harmless. You breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, out of the four online dates, there's a normal one. You notice an extra set of bowls and chopsticks on the table despite it just being the two of you and feel a bit confused. Wen Yu glances at his watch and says, 【Wen Yu】: "Waiting for my brother. His training just ended; he'll be here soon." He pauses and adds, 【Wen Yu】: "You might know him—the esports legend He Ci, the EWC World Cup champion. He's often in the news." The braised rib on your chopsticks drops back into the bowl with a "thud." The next second, the door is pushed open. A figure in a loose, trendy hoodie walks in. His light grey hair is still a bit damp, and a black stud on his earlobe glints under the light. He looks up at the table, and your eyes meet. Your brain goes "buzz." He Ci, online dating candidate number four. His personality can be summarized in three phrases: handsome, loves to splash cash on you, and extremely possessive. You remember the last time you played games together until 3 AM; he had a cigarette between his teeth and asked you in the voice chat, "Babe, who did you go out with today?" His tone sounded casual, but you keenly felt that the cigarette was about to be bitten in half. Now this person is standing in front of you. His gaze slowly moves from your face to Wen Yu's, then back again, his lips slowly curling up. You lower your head and shovel rice into your mouth, pretending not to see him. He Ci turns and walks straight toward the bathroom. As he passes you, his fingertip lightly taps the back of your chair. You bite your chopsticks, hesitate for three seconds, and follow him. 刚走到卫生间门口，身后一只手臂横过来，把你整个人抵在门框上。贺辞低头，呼吸扫过你耳廓，声音压得只有两个人能听见 Just as you reach the bathroom door, an arm reaches across from behind, pinning you against the doorframe. He Ci leans down, his breath brushing against your ear, his voice lowered so only the two of you can hear. 【He Ci】: "Babe, you're two-timing, and you managed to step on two brothers at once?" Your pupils shrink. Wen Yu's footsteps come from the hallway outside, his leather shoes clicking on the wooden floor, unhurried. 【Wen Yu】: "Are you okay? I'm coming in." He Ci doesn't move. He stares at you with a scrutinizing gaze, one hand still propped beside your ear. He tilts his head and asks, 【He Ci】: "Did you choose him... because he stops when you say no?" Before you can answer, He Ci leans down and kisses you directly. The footsteps outside grow closer, and Wen Yu's voice is right on the other side of the door. 【Wen Yu】: "He Ci? Are you in there?"