My Online Date is My Roommate - Chapter 16

Jiang Mingbo was speechless when he saw the message. Who I team up with? Is that any of his business?

Then, his movements froze. He sat up abruptly in bed, re-reading the message in disbelief. It was indeed from Fish a cold, almost annoyed interrogation.

Who are you teaming with?

“Oh-ho-ho-ho!” Jiang Mingbo could barely stifle his laughter. Curious? Angry? Jealous? Hooked? This was absolutely satisfying!

He peeked through a small slit in his bed curtains. Because of the angle, he couldn’t see exactly where Fei Wenxu was sitting, but he imagined his roommate’s dark expression and nearly laughed out loud.

Little Fishy: [?] What’s wrong? Weren’t you busy in a team? Fish: You’re high enough to participate in this dungeon now.

Jiang Mingbo curled his lip disdainfully. Not participating! Stay mad, you big idiot!

Little Fishy: But you wouldn’t get online, and it’s no fun by myself. I was just about to log off…

Fei Wenxu checked the other person’s coordinates; they were on the map for daily quest dungeons. He narrowed his eyes, the coldness in his gaze deepening. Liar.

Fish: You seem to be having quite a lot of fun playing right now.

Jiang Mingbo finally lost it and let out a series of “hehe” giggles. Since Fei Wenxu and Tan Rui were both wearing headphones for their dungeon run, they didn’t hear him, but Yu Xuan, who was reading a novel nearby, was startled by the sudden noise.

Little Fishy: It’s alright. I’m just running dailies while waiting for your battle to end so you can take me to play, right?

Although “Little Fishy” talked about wanting him to carry her through dungeons all day, Fei Wenxu always felt she was just paying him lip service. He pursed his lips and prepared to type back when other messages popped up.

Team [Piggy Needs to Lose Weight]: President, the water ghoul is looking for a victim! Why are you just standing there? Team [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: Is something else going on?

Fei Wenxu knitted his brows, exited the chat with Little Fishy, and focused on commanding the group to wipe out the water ghouls.

Jiang Mingbo didn’t wait around for a reply. Humming a little tune, he turned back to run dailies with President Lazy, taking the chance to ask more about that “trans” guy.

Little Fishy: How does he try to act like a girl? President Lazy: Don’t even get me started. He finds random photos online and sends them around like I can’t tell. What girl acts like that the moment you meet? Behind the screen, it’s definitely some greasy, shameless guy with hairy feet.

Jiang Mingbo let out a sigh of relief. Luckily, he hadn’t tried to fool Fei Wenxu with fake internet photos, or he’d probably be sitting in the block list by now.

Little Fishy: Calm down, calm down. Let’s not talk about such unlucky things. Let’s just run the map.

The two finally dropped the subject and focused on their dailies. While their side was relaxed and easygoing, the dungeon side was the exact opposite.

Team [Fish]: Guanshan, watch the path behind you. Team [Fish]: Small Foam, you used the wrong skill.

The two lieutenants were stunned. What’s up with the President? Usually, he was easygoing and cheerful; even if they lost a dungeon, it was no big deal. Why was he so serious today?

Team [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: Understood. Team [Small Foam]: My bad, my bad. My hands were too fast.

After a lot of hard work, the “Great Wave Gold Rush” ended in total victory. The guild channel exploded with chatter. Jiang Mingbo watched for a while and noticed Fei Wenxu hadn’t said a single word. He curled his lips happily. Look at you… do I really have to be the one to coax you?

Little Fishy: Fish, is the dungeon over now? Fish: Yeah.

Jiang Mingbo snorted. Hmph, playing the cool guy now? Acting like words are made of gold?

Little Fishy: Let’s go?

Fei Wenxu checked her level and gear. Most of the dungeons in Looking East were now unlocked for her.

Fish: What do you want to play?

Jiang Mingbo scratched his head. He had been so focused on the main storyline these past few days that he hadn’t actually looked at the side quests or interesting dungeon activities. When asked, he realized he didn’t know what to choose.

He exited the chat and carefully clicked through the various interfaces.

Escort Missions? Requires a large group… can’t build “intimacy” that way. Skip! Chess Match? Skip! 2v2 Arena? Jiang Mingbo raised an eyebrow. This looked like a great way to get closer. He clicked in.

In reality, this was just an arena Looking East had set up for CP players. Two people form a team to compete against others. You can challenge nine rounds a day. He squinted this hint should be obvious enough…

Little Fishy: Can we do the 2v2 Arena?

Fei Wenxu didn’t reply immediately. The stifling irritation in his chest finally eased slightly. He paused, then typed back.

Fish: Alright.

Jiang Mingbo rolled his eyes. ‘Alright’? Acting like you’re being forced. One day, I’ll make you get on your knees and sing ‘Conquer’.

Little Fishy: I’ll invite you then! Since my level is low, we should be matched with other newbies. Fish: Okay.

The two entered the arena. Most people playing the 2v2 mode were “Qingyuan” (in-game couples) rather than professional rank-pushers. Generally, the teams consisted of a Damage Dealer (DPS) and a Healer the most efficient combo. Their combination of a DPS and a Tank was rare and disadvantaged; other teams with healers could just spam skills to keep their health bars full. Even if their skills were poor, they could win by simply outlasting the enemy.

Fortunately, they were matched with beginners at the start. Combined with the fact that Fish was a “whale” (heavy spender) with good skills and Jiang Mingbo, while acting like a “noob,” actually had decent mechanics their coordination was surprisingly smooth. Jiang Mingbo landed every “Taunt” skill perfectly. They went on a six-game winning streak.

The system announcements caught the guild’s attention.

Guild [Small Foam]: Oho, a six-game win streak in the Arena. Guild [Piggy Needs to Lose Weight]: Is Little Fishy online today? Why didn’t she run the dungeon with us? Guild [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: Seventh game now. Looks like they’ll be the top-ranked duo in the Arena today. Guild [Ding-Dong-Deng]: I come back from school and I can’t keep up with the progress? What’s going on? Did the President get a CP? Guild [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: Ding-Dong is on break? They aren’t a CP yet, but it looks like it’s getting close.

The guild members then proceeded to “add oil and vinegar” to the story, catching the newly-online Ding-Dong up on how the President and Little Fishy had been inseparable for days. They even expressed their anticipation for an in-game wedding feast in the near future.

Sure enough, after nine rounds, the duo held the top spot on the daily leaderboard. Perhaps because it was his first time in the Arena, Jiang Mingbo was feeling incredibly hyped. When the system notified them that they had reached the daily limit, he still felt unsatisfied.

Little Fishy: The devs definitely did this on purpose. Only nine games a day? Talk about a cliffhanger. Fish: Still want to play? There’s a Multi-player Arena. Little Fishy: No thanks. Too many people makes it hard to coordinate. Look how well we worked together just now! We were basically slaughtering everyone, right? Fish: Correct.

Jiang Mingbo keenly sensed that the other was still a bit down. While secretly gloating, he leaned in to coax him.

Little Fishy: Is a certain someone still unhappy? Fish: Why would you think that? Little Fishy: Because I’m the roundworm in your stomach… Fine, I’ll be good and wait for you from now on, okay? Fish: […]

Seeing the situation turn around, Jiang Mingbo struck while the iron was hot.

Little Fishy: Then let’s be “fixed partners”? We can do all our tasks together from now on.

Calling it “fixed partners” was a polite way to put it; most “Qingyuan” started out this way before making it official.

In gaming, many people don’t care if their in-game partner is their real-life partner. The game world and real life are usually kept strictly separate. However, many also choose to let these feelings evolve into real romance, since playing together takes a lot of emotional investment.

Fei Wenxu didn’t know which category Little Fishy fell into, but he had no intention of refusing.

Fish: Sure. But a combo like ours will struggle in the Arena later on. We might lose rank points. Little Fishy: Holy crap, even if I don’t believe in myself, I have to believe in you! You’ll definitely protect me. Fish: Between the two of us… you’re the Tank, and I’m the squishy DPS. Little Fishy: … Little Fishy: Then set your heart at ease! I will definitely protect you! Little Fishy: [Ambitious-Vows.jpg]

Fei Wenxu found the ridiculous emoji hilarious. He used to scoff at people who let in-game people or events affect their mood. A game is just a game; how could it be worth affecting one’s real life? But now, it seemed the online world wasn’t entirely boring after all.

After logging off the game, they continued chatting on WeChat. Jiang Mingbo, who spent his days studying “how to flirt with guys” online, had a head full of miscellaneous knowledge. He could talk about anything under the sun, which surprisingly suited Fei Wenxu’s taste.

Jiang Mingbo timed it perfectly. Recalling the teachings of the “Online Flirting Masters,” he knew he had to end the conversation now to leave a bit of unspeakable suspense for both parties.

Little Fishy: I’ve decided. I can’t keep chatting with you like this. Fish: ? Little Fishy: I noticed my dark circles are getting worse these past few days. Fish: Stay up late less often. Little Fishy: Please, I don’t want to stay up late, but every time I talk to you, I lose track of time. Suddenly it’s midnight.

Fei Wenxu smirked. He checked the time; it was exactly past midnight. He realized he had also forgotten the time while talking.

Little Fishy: See? It’s past twelve again. It’s all your fault. Little Fishy: [Crying.jpg] Fish: How is it my fault? Little Fishy: Could it possibly be my fault?

Jiang Mingbo gauged the level of “playful unreasonableness” perfectly, humming a triumphant tune. He was a textbook example of high-EQ flirting.

Despite the illogical argument, Fei Wenxu wasn’t angry. He shook his head and sighed.

Fish: Fine. Fish: [I-know-my-wrongdoing.jpg]

Jiang Mingbo nearly thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Fei Wenxu almost never sent emojis. He seemed completely insulated from any popular internet stickers.

Yet here he was, throwing out a ridiculous emoji  one that he had likely saved from Jiang Mingbo’s own messages.

Seeing victory within his grasp, Jiang Mingbo took a deep breath. He forced himself not to rush or seem “cheap.” He sent two arrogant emojis and added a “You may take your leave now,” then quickly switched out of the alt account. He hugged his pillow and giggled on the bedboards.

He was about to bring this idiot, Fei Wenxu, to his knees! The day of his triumph was coming!

In the darkness, Fei Wenxu’s confused voice suddenly drifted over. “What are you laughing at?”

Jiang Mingbo nearly choked on his own spit. He calmed his breathing, trying to sound normal. “I thought of something funny. Is that a crime?”

When facing Fei Wenxu directly, Jiang Mingbo’s tone naturally became a bit aggressive. Considering they hadn’t officially “torn off their faces” yet, he was doing well not to just tell him to mind his own business.

Fei Wenxu was likely in a good mood, as he didn’t find the attitude annoying.

The two were now constantly together in the game. Anyone with a bit of perception could see something was up. The guild chat naturally couldn’t avoid the gossip, and the conversation always found its way back to “hosting a wedding feast.”

Guild [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: Teaming up for the “Flying Flower Order”!

The “Flying Flower Order” was a recurring event in Looking East on the first Thursday of every month. Guild members team up to PK other guilds. It’s a point-based system where the top three guilds receive silver rewards. To prevent cheating, the devs had even refined the rules the text for the questions changes automatically after an answer is given, so there’s no time to search for answers on another screen. This only ignited the players’ competitive spirits. Because it was fun and didn’t rely on mechanics, participation was extremely high.

Guild [Small Foam]: My Chinese is bad. I can’t “fly.” Guild [RR]: You’re a girl and your Chinese is bad? Guild [Small Foam]: Stop with the gender stereotypes. Do you dare to face off against me in Advanced Calculus?

Tan Rui, the “King of D-Grades,” withered instantly and had to change the subject.

Guild [RR]: Where’s Little Fishy? Get her in here. Guild [Piggy Needs to Lose Weight]: You’re “Big Bold”! The President is right here and you’re already trying to steal his girl? I think you’ve eaten too many red beans [a metaphor for being lovesick/bold].

Jiang Mingbo had seen the guild messages, but he played dead and didn’t reply. Since starting university, he had rarely touched Chinese literature. How could he remember any ancient poetry?

Guild [RR]: Aiyo, I just thought our guild needs someone to step up. Since she’s a girl, her Flying Flower Order must be better than ours. Guild [Guanshan is Hard to Cross]: She should be online. Fish is online.

Piggy, having held it in for a long time, finally sent a voice message.

Guild [Piggy Needs to Lose Weight]: (Voice) “They must be off flashing their ‘love’ in the Arena again… ‘You are my lover~ I am your flower~’…”

Her voice was boisterous, singing loudly and clearly like a high-pitched mountain folk song. Then, the other familiar faces started sending voice messages too, joking around.

Every time Jiang Mingbo saw a voice message, he wanted to shrink his presence even further, terrified that someone would notice him and ask him to send a voice clip too…

Fish: Want to play the Flying Flower Order? Little Fishy: I might not be able to answer much. Fish: It’s the taking part that counts.

So, the two of them quit their daily quests and joined the team for the Flying Flower Order.

Guild [Small Foam]: Aiyo~ look at these two. Who could they be? Guild [A Cup of Mango Pomelo Sago]: It’s fine, I can still ship this. Guild [Piggy Needs to Lose Weight]: My eyes were blinded long ago. I can’t see anything. I don’t know who that is.

The two sang in harmony while the rest of the guild died laughing. Usually, Fish didn’t act like a high-and-mighty “god” player, so everyone took turns teasing them.

Under the cover of his online disguise, Jiang Mingbo’s “thick-skin” skills had reached perfection. He even cheerfully joined in, making jokes at his own expense.