Chapter 30: Play me, right?
The members of this anime discussion group all spoke kindly and were talented, but fundamentally, they were quite reliable.
Take right now, for example.
Even though Qingfeng Dàiméngmei was teasing again about @ing Yezi to stir up some CP* with the group leader, no one @ed Ye Zhibai.
[*” CP(Character pairing)” – Short for “couple pairing.” It refers to shipping two characters (or in this case, real people) as a romantic couple.]
Everyone figured that since Yezi hadn’t appeared since yesterday, maybe she was busy with real life.
There was no need to @ people just for some online fun, especially when they might be busy. After all, no one liked being disturbed when they were occupied.
This is something only those who have experienced the hardships of preparing for the Gaokao, the postgraduate entrance exams, or those who have become corporate slaves, could understand.
Speak of it too much, and it only brings pain.
No one in the group @ed Ye Zhibai.
But Ye Zhibai still received a private message about the upcoming anime convention. Because, after all, she was friends with the group leader, Xiao Qiu!
It was hard to understand why, but although Xiao Qiu was rather cold and distant with other group members, she was always very active and chatty when messaging Ye Zhibai.
Ye Zhibai hadn’t even tried to be a moderator; Xiao Qiu had promoted her to the role herself.
Xiao Qiu sent her the convention flyer privately. She also sent a string of excited, lively text.
[Xiao Qiu: Yezi, you can check out the specific details in this ad—it’s about the anime convention. I always thought conventions were just noisy places to wander around with no real appeal. But look, this one in my city has everything! There’s a doujinshi* section, game signings, a VR experience center, and even a retro arcade! My review? It’s awesome! But sadly, I can’t be bothered to go alone, no one to go with, boohoo.][*” Doujinshi (同人志)” – Self-published works, typically manga or fanfiction, often sold at conventions.]
Wow… it’s just a block of text, Yet Ye Zhibai could sense Xiao Qiu’s emotional shifts. When she mentioned how fun the convention seemed, her mood was joyful.
But when talking about not being able to go, there was a trace of small regret.
In her past life, poor Ye Zhibai never really understood what made conventions seem fun to Xiao Qiu.
Games and such had never been a part of her life back then—she had to fight just to survive. The most she could do was watch some anime to relieve stress when the weight of the world became too much.
However… the one thing in Xiao Qiu’s words that resonated with Ye Zhibai was the last sentence—Not being able to go because there’s no one to go with.
Even if the convention itself wasn’t all that exciting… having a like-minded friend to chat with about the latest anime, to discuss endless topics—would be true happiness.
Some people are missing the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth in their destiny.
Ye Zhibai, on the other hand, lacked friends, and no near-death experiences from car accidents.
Ye Zhibai had already typed half a reply in Xiao Qiu’s chat box.
[Ye Zhibai: Xiao Qiu, are you from Qihai City? We’re from the same place, I’m right in…]But that was it. Ye Zhibai stopped midway, feeling she shouldn’t continue editing the message.
Meeting online friends in real life— This had always been a risky matter.
Xiao Qiu had always spoken softly and shyly online, even a bit tsundere*, giving the impression of a gentle girl.
But who knows?
[*” Tsundere (ツンデレ)” – A character archetype, usually referring to someone who is initially cold or hostile but eventually becomes warm and loving.]
You can’t judge someone’s true nature through the internet.
Ye Zhibai didn’t know what kind of person Xiao Qiu was in real life.
It’s always good to be cautious.
Ye Zhibai, although she didn’t like to admit it, knew deep down that right now, she was just a girl.
Ugh, I’m a girl. I have no choice!
Given that, it’s best to stay cautious and not take unnecessary risks.
Zhijun had only just made some concessions today—pushing my luck right now would be inappropriate.
Chatting online is enough! There’s no need to risk meeting offline!
Ye Zhibai’s fingers moved away from the keyboard and hovered over the delete key, ready to erase the message. But before her fingers could press down to delete it, Guang Yu’s soft voice suddenly rang out!
She leaped onto the bed, circled behind Ye Zhibai, resting her chin on Zhibai’s shoulder, flashing her cute little tiger teeth as she asked, “Mmhm, I think it’s fine. Why are you deleting it? Just send it.”
Ye Zhibai pointed a question, “Where did you come from… Have you finished watering the cactus?”
Guang Yu replied, “I poured some boiling water on it, and it withered. Strange. Come check on it with me later to see if we can save it. Ah… but that’s not important. I was watching you from behind, weren’t you interested in going to this, um, convention? Why delete the message?”
Ye Zhibai said, “Cactus!!! Save it? What are you even talking about, save it?!
Rest in peace, cactus.”
Guang Yu got furious and replied, “Don’t worry, one day, I’ll avenge you.”
Ye Zhibai shrugged, causing Guang Yu’s head, resting on her shoulder, to bob up and down. But the fluffy fox remained firmly in place.
Ye Zhibai explained, “It’s not that I want to go… Going to a convention without friends is pointless. And I don’t know much about this person’s background, it’s not safe.”
Guang Yu continued, “You are cautious! Ugh… such a headache.”
Ye Zhibai added, “I’m not going, why are you worried?”
Guang Yu responded, “Sigh, didn’t I tell you before? My condition for returning to the Heavenly Realm depends on your soul growing stronger! If you want to go to this convention but hold yourself back, what if you get depressed!”
Ye Zhibai said, “I’m not a cactus… I won’t get depressed that easily, what are you even talking about.”
Guang Yu added, “So, what you’re worried about right now is this person’s character, right?”
“Listen to me, hey!”
But Guang Yu wasn’t wrong. Ye Zhibai nodded, causing Guang Yu to bob her head up and down along with hers.
Guang Yu was overjoyed!
She knew her moment to shine had arrived again!
Sliding off Ye Zhibai’s shoulder, Guang Yu reached out her small hand.
“Come, give me the phone! I’ll check this person’s background for you!”
Ye Zhibai continued, “Uh… you mean, you want to look at their info section? “It’s useless, people don’t put their real information there nowadays.”
“People will write they’re living in Great Britain even though they’re in Qihai.”
“They’ll claim to be 120 years old when they’re only 20.”
“That’s how today’s youth live, savvy and aware.“
Guang Yu stomped her foot in frustration. She circled back behind Ye Zhibai again and stared at the avatar of Eromanga-sensei in the chat box!
“I’m a divine being! I’ll use divine powers to check it out for you. Just wait!”
“…”
“Are you serious right now?”
“You think you can tell what kind of person they are just by looking at an avatar?”
“If you’re that powerful, does that mean when you argue with someone in a game, you can track them down through the internet and beat them up?”
But Ye Zhibai never expected that Guang Yu actually could do it.
Last night, after Zhijun and Ye Zhibai got a little too close, Guang Yu managed to recover about one-billionth of her divine power!
And that tiny fraction of divine power was immediately used up.
The little fox completed her investigation.
Wiping the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, she whistled, though no sound came out, and casually reported her findings.
“Alright, no worries. Go meet the online friend. She’s a girl. I saw her soul—it’s very pure! She won’t harm you at all~”
“You didn’t just make that up to save face, did you…” Ye Zhibai remained skeptical.
Guang Yu asked furiously, “How dare you disrespect divine power! I’m about to get mad!!”
Ye Zhibai answered, “Don’t get mad. If you stomp your foot, you might collapse my bed.”
Guang Yu, having used up all her divine power, couldn’t take the insult!
She had to say more to prove the accuracy of her divine investigation!
She explained, “Her name… I didn’t get that much. My divine power’s gone, but I saw she’s in her second year of high school, living in the Xihu Garden District on Qingshui Street. That part’s solid!”
“…”
The moment Guang Yu said “Second year of high school,” Ye Zhibai knew she wasn’t lying.
During a previous chat, Xiao Qiu had inadvertently mentioned she’d be taking the Gaokao* next year, so this year would indeed be her second year of high school.
[*” Gaokao (高考)” – The national college entrance examination in China, which is highly competitive and stressful for students.]
At this point… Ye Zhibai wasn’t amazed by Guang Yu’s divine abilities.
She just wanted to run this cheeky fox to death!!
During the Gaokao, Guang Yu also had divine power, even the ability to teleport instantly!
Ye Zhibai complained, “With such abilities, you didn’t even bother to check whether Alpha was a fish or Pi was a chair?!”
“You were playing me, weren’t you!!”
Guang Yu replied, “Divine power needs to be used sparingly; budgeting is key.
Thanks for understanding.”
“It’s not that I was being lazy, okay?”
