Did the Top-Ranked Girl Get Exposed Today? [HoloVerse] - Chapter 15

“Mhm.”

Di Xiang responded softly, the ice in her eyes melting, carrying a hint of spring warmth.

Feng Xiaoxiao didn’t quite catch it. She touched her ear and leaned closer to Di Xiang, somewhat uncertain. “What did you say?”

With a soft sigh, Di Xiang lowered her head, her hair brushing against Feng Xiaoxiao’s cheek. Feng Xiaoxiao heard her ask:

“Xiaoxiao, your current avatar…”

Di Xiang, who was usually decisive in both actions and words, now seemed uncharacteristically hesitant.

Her voice had never been so light before, like pristine snow drifting down a mountainside.

“Is it your real-life appearance?”

“Huh?”

Feng Xiaoxiao hadn’t expected that after holding back for so long, Di Xiang would ask her this.

Hearing this, she instinctively summoned her portable water mirror and took a good look at the reflection.

Jet-black long hair, a crimson hair tie at the ends, almond-shaped eyes sharp and clear, a delicate oval face with perfectly balanced features.

Not overwhelmingly stunning, but like a gentle breeze under the moonlight, radiating an effortless charm and comfort.

Except her eyes often glanced sideways with a hint of arrogance, easily shattering the initial impression of innocence others might have of her face.

This was Feng Xiaoxiao’s real face, or more accurately, it was her in-game appearance, adjusted down by 25%.

Feng Xiaoxiao was puzzled. She put away the mirror in confusion and touched her cheek, countering Di Xiang’s question with one of her own: “Is this question important?”

“It’s important to me.”

The woman’s tone was resolute, her gaze fixed intently on the person before her, awaiting the answer.

Feng Xiaoxiao found it baffling.

Had Di Xiang fallen in love at first sight with her current face? Or did she resemble some long-lost white moonlight from Di Xiang’s past?

A shiver ran down her spine. Whichever it was, she couldn’t accept it.

So without a second thought, Feng Xiaoxiao ruthlessly cut off Di Xiang’s inexplicable hopes.

“I don’t look like this in real life. This is just a randomly generated face from the system.”

Di Xiang fell silent, only asking after a long pause: “Are you telling the truth?”

“Of course, it’s the truth!”

Feng Xiaoxiao didn’t blush or fluster, answering as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

She glanced sideways at Di Xiang: “Do you really think I’d lie to you?”

“Even if the face seems familiar, there are plenty of people in the world who look alike, what are the chances you’d actually run into the person you’re looking for?”

Her words carried an implicit jab at Di Xiang, but to her surprise, Di Xiang nodded as if agreeing.

“You’re right. How could I be so lucky as to find…”

Feng Xiaoxiao didn’t catch the latter part of the sentence. Before she could ponder it further, Di Xiang had already reverted to her usual aloof and detached demeanor.

She strode ahead, her tone indifferent, devoid of the earlier concern.

“Let’s go.”

Her silhouette, illuminated by a few solitary lanterns, seemed particularly lonely and cold.

Feng Xiaoxiao frowned briefly but quickly relaxed, her expression smoothing as she followed Di Xiang, promptly casting aside the tangled thoughts from moments before.

She mused indifferently: What did it matter to her what the other was like?

There were countless people in this world who couldn’t have their wishes fulfilled, Di Xiang was hardly the only one.

…

Just as Feng Xiaoxiao had thought, the world was full of those who couldn’t get what they wanted.

Formerly the top-ranked player of String Songs, Bu Ranchen, now the “newbie” Yumi Chang, had originally planned to seek revenge after being hurt by love, making her ex-lover experience the same pain of being deceived by appearances.

But unexpectedly, she had barely taken the first step when her in-game partner effortlessly and brilliantly exposed her true identity.

Si Nian’s tone was casual and very relaxed.

“If you log off now, I’ll take it as you admitting guilt by default.”

Yumi Chang remained expressionless, withdrawing her hand from the game’s exit button behind her back.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Even now, she couldn’t help but struggle in desperation.

“I don’t know anything about an intimate account, and I don’t understand what you mean by Xiao Yu or Xiao Xiao. Yumi Chang is just my ID, my real name doesn’t have ‘Yu’ in it.”

“Is that so?”

Si Nian leisurely opened the game panel and pulled out a photo, the only picture taken when the two had met in person.

Thanks to the game’s high-tech, high-fidelity graphics, the woman on the left in the photo had the exact same face as Yumi Chang now, though she looked pale and somewhat disheartened.

Beside her stood a woman a full head taller, with short, stylish hair and a single emerald green earring dangling, capturing a glimmer of light in the brief image.

One was crying, the other smiling, a scene strikingly similar to the current situation in the game.

The main differences were that both were now in game attire, Si Nian’s short hair styled into an ancient-inspired updo adorned with a few pearl tassels.

Yumi Chang felt like crying but had no tears. Si Nian calmly zoomed in on her face in the photo. “What about this person? Don’t you recognize her either?”

“Or do you have an identical twin sister out there somewhere?”

Yumi Chang looked miserable, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she gazed at Si Nian. “If I told you I’m this person’s twin sister, would you believe me?”

“My younger sister is a minor and restricted from logging into the game, so I’m playing on her account. I never expected to run into one of her old acquaintances, ha…”

Her voice grew softer and softer under Si Nian’s expression that seemed to say, “Keep going, I’ll just smile and not say a word,” until her words were almost inaudible.

Finally, she decided to throw caution to the wind. Slamming the table, she jumped up, breaking free from Si Nian’s embrace. “Yes, yes, I’m Xu Yujie! Are you satisfied now?”

“Congratulations, Gu Bingqing, you’ve caught me again!”

Yumi Chang was fuming, glaring at Si Nian’s face, the one that had captivated countless players, while angrily reminding herself.

Xu Yujie, you’re not the same person who used to be utterly infatuated with her, losing all sense of direction. You’ve transformed, you’ve had a great awakening, you’re not who you used to be!

Si Nian’s smile gradually faded. Just as Yumi Chang grew anxious about what she might do next, the woman simply glanced at her quietly, lowered her eyes, and silently headed toward the staircase.

They were currently in a serene inn within Shengjing City, situated on the third-floor viewing area.

Aside from the chirping of birds greeting the clear sky, only dappled sunlight filtered through the green leaves, casting scattered shadows.

In this moment, far from the bustling city, Si Nian walked step by step, head bowed, descending the stairs.

One step, two steps…

“Wait!”

Yumi Chang urgently called out to her, a hint of panic on her face, her tone no longer filled with the earlier resentment.

“Where are you going?”

Si Nian stopped but didn’t turn back.

Her voice, calm and faint, reached Yumi Chang’s ears: “You’re angry with me. I won’t stay here to annoy you.”

Her words were both sorrowful and considerate, instantly softening Yumi Chang’s recently hardened heart.

She opened her mouth several times, wanting to speak, but didn’t know what to say.

On one hand, she feared Si Nian would truly leave; on the other, she was secretly annoyed at her own lack of resolve, the woman had done nothing, yet she couldn’t bear to see her upset.

After a long pause, Yumi Chang spoke awkwardly, “I didn’t mean for you to leave.”

“You’ve never spoken to me like that before.”

Si Nian’s tone was plaintive, as if she had suffered immense grievance.

She bit her lip, glanced back at Yumi Chang with a mix of reproach and resentment, said nothing more, and resolutely turned to leave.

Now it was Yumi Chang’s turn to panic. That glance made her heart tremble, and she could no longer afford to dwell on her anger or hesitation.

Instinctively, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around the woman from behind, shouting, “Bingqing, don’t go!”

Almost imperceptibly, the corners of Si Nian’s lips curved upward.

Taking advantage of the fact that Yumi Chang couldn’t see her expression, Si Nian maintained a calm and composed demeanor, yet her words remained pitiful and sorrowful.

Each sentence she uttered made Yumi Chang feel as though she wanted to swear an oath on the spot, declaring that selling her account was just a momentary fit of anger and not meant to hurt her.

“Really?”

Si Nian seemed to brighten a little. She turned around, crouched down, and gently wrapped her arms around Yumi Chang’s neck, her eyes fixed intently on her.

“You’re really not angry with me?”

Faced with such a face, fair as jade, skin like ice, even an ordinary Yumi Chang wouldn’t have the heart to be harsh, let alone when it was someone she had spent years with day and night, sharing countless in-game experiences and emotions.

Yumi Chang sighed, resignedly resting her head against Si Nian’s neck and nuzzling into it.

“Bingqing, what can I possibly do to you?”

Her words were filled with infinite melancholy, devoid of the earlier avoidance as if Si Nian were a venomous snake or scorpion. Her mind went blank, thoughts swirling until she let out one final sigh.

What could she do?

Faced with such a person, what could she possibly do?

Love, such a word, truly makes one savor it like honey, yet it also feels like swallowing arsenic, its poison seeping deep into the bones.

The corners of Si Nian’s lips lifted, her gaze tender as she looked at the top of the other’s head, but deep in her eyes lay a startling possessiveness.

This is just as well.

You are no longer the celebrated top player on the String Songs leaderboard. From now on, you belong only to me.

“You belong only to me.”

Her voice was light, carrying a barely restrained excitement and joy.

“From now on, you belong only to me.”

“Hey, you two guests!”

The inn attendant came upstairs and, seeing the two blocking the staircase, raised a hand. “You can’t stay here, ”

Before she could finish, a money pouch suddenly appeared in her hand. Opening it, she found it filled to the brim with gold nuggets.

Beaming with delight, the attendant turned and headed back downstairs, stopping other guests who tried to come up.

“Scram, scram! The inn is reserved for today! You, you, and all of you,” she pointed at several players who were just loitering without even ordering a cup of tea, “go find somewhere else to be!”

The attendant had long been fed up with these freeloaders. Now that a generous guest had finally arrived, she had to put on her best performance to create the perfect private environment for them!

[System Notification] You have gifted 100 gold to the Qingfeng Inn attendant! Current backpack balance: 99,999,999…

…

Feng Xiaoxiao rested her chin on her hand and gazed at the sky. Another night had passed with the stars shifting across the heavens. She felt she would never complete the “Heaven-Sent Marriage” serendipity quest in this lifetime.

Not far from her, the Flower Sea Demon King quietly gathered the flower stems severed by sword energy from the ground.

Only when her arms were full of a slowly growing bouquet did she spare a moment to glance up at Di Xiang, who was relentlessly grinding monsters in the center of the flower sea.

She hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back, then paused again just to glance at Feng Xiaoxiao.

Feng Xiaoxiao: “…”

“Speak.”

The Flower Sea Demon King shook her head. “I don’t dare.”

What if that one mistakes her for a minor mob and wipes her out?

Dying once meant losing a level, and the Demon King cherished her life dearly. Her current level was hard-earned, better to avoid death if possible.

Feng Xiaoxiao let out a long sigh. The Emperor’s Realm was like a relentless grinding machine; she hadn’t slept all night, just listening to the system’s constant chimes, “Experience +100, Experience +100,” “Drop ×1, Drop ×1.”

The Demon King couldn’t help but sigh deeply too, watching her little followers die and respawn, respawn and die again with a face full of worry.

Finally unable to bear it any longer, she made a decision.