Online Love, Based on the Real Object - Chapter 37

On the day of the meeting, Qi Ning surprisingly didn’t suffer from insomnia. After trading “goodnights” with Yun Yu, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

When she woke up to wash, she scrutinized her face in the mirror. Because she had enjoyed her vacation and slept well, her complexion was much better than before the holiday. She felt satisfied; she was far more confident for today’s encounter.

She and Yun Yu had agreed to meet at a coffee shop at 4:00 PM. It was a clever time: it gave her plenty of time to prepare, and a chat over coffee would naturally lead into dinner time. As for what might happen after dinner… that depended entirely on their impressions of each other.

By early afternoon, Qi Ning was already getting ready. She applied a beautiful layer of makeup, felt it wasn’t quite right, and redid it. Then she put on her favorite dress and stood before the full-length mirror to admire herself. Her head was filled with that Teletubbies meme: My god, I’m gorgeous.gif.

Tony truly was a master stylist. Qi Ning had been worried about getting generic, messy curls, but with her outfit on, the effect was surprisingly elegant. Her hair color had been toned down slightly—less of a bright gold and more of a sophisticated sandy blonde—which, paired with the large waves at the ends, looked mature yet youthful.

Qi Ning tossed her hair. Her makeup was flawless: warm tones paired with a reddish-orange gradient lip. It was clear she had put her heart into this. Truth be told, she had never been this formal even when dating Zou Ruiming; back then, washing her hair and wearing “natural” makeup was the height of respect she showed him.

A woman’s extreme attention to her appearance before leaving the house is rarely for a man’s benefit—after all, to most straight men, watermelon red, tomato red, and peach pink are all just “red.”

70: I’m all packed and ready to head out soon! [Waiting for kisses.jpg]

Yun Yu teased: So eager?

It was only 3:00 PM. Qi Ning felt a bit shy after Yun Yu pointed it out. She did seem quite impatient…

70: … 70: Watch it, or you’ll get a beating [Smile]

Yun Yu: Hahahaha. Yun Yu: What are your identifying features? So I can find you later.

Qi Ning looked in the mirror and replied: I’m the coolest kid in the crowd.

She was quite shameless. Yun Yu, used to this by now, sent a meme back.

Yun Yu: Yes, yes, my girlfriend is the prettiest. Let me have a taste~ [Big kiss.jpg]

Sigh. This person’s “rainbow fart” skills were improving by the day. Qi Ning’s heart felt light and happy; only then did she reply seriously.

70: I have long hair, curled at the ends. Sandy blonde color, but a bit darker now.

Yun Yu: Sandy blonde is nice. It highlights fair skin, but it’s hard for most people to pull off.

Qi Ning felt a swell of pride. When she first dyed it, several colleagues had asked for her stylist’s WeChat! It was incredibly flattering to her skin tone without looking like a golden retriever’s mane.

Soon, Yun Yu shared her own features. She had long black hair and was wearing a knee-length dress. However, she also mentioned she would arrive first and send the table number, so Qi Ning wouldn’t have to wander around looking for her.

Qi Ning had been to the designated coffee shop before. It didn’t just serve drinks; they had afternoon tea snacks, main courses, and fruit platters. The taste was good, though the prices were a bit steep. It wasn’t far from her apartment—about twenty minutes by car, or fifteen if she drove fast.

One cannot be late for a first date, so Qi Ning set off at 3:30 PM, leaving a ten-minute buffer for traffic. To her surprise, not long after she left, Yun Yu messaged her saying she had already arrived.

She was fast; it seemed Qi Ning wasn’t the only one who was anxious.

The location Yun Yu sent was Table A9.

“…” Qi Ning looked at the message and suddenly felt a cramp in her stomach. Many people get stomachaches when they are extremely nervous, and Qi Ning was no exception. Her palms even began to sweat. The cold air from the car’s AC blew against the steering wheel, and before long, her hands were icy.

Finally arriving at the coffee shop, she parked in the open lot. From her vantage point, she could see the main entrance. Business seemed good today; in the time it took her to park, she saw several people entering and leaving.

Qi Ning sat quietly in the driver’s seat. In the silent cabin, only the sound of her breathing could be heard. After her chest heaved a few times, she finally calmed down. Releasing her grip on the steering wheel, she let out a soft breath.

Crossing the threshold of her anxiety, she became strangely calm. It’s just a meeting! If the chemistry is bad, I’ll just say goodbye!

But then she thought of the person sitting inside. They often called each other “girlfriend,” which meant they were already far beyond the realm of “ordinary friends.” Everything that followed was unknown; whether today would bring a pleasant surprise or crushing disappointment was anyone’s guess.

She could finally understand the “nervous yet excited” feelings of those people who posted about meeting online dates. The person you’ve thought of day and night is right in front of you; you can hug her, touch her, and perceive her emotions clearly, rather than through cold text.

Taking two deep breaths, Qi Ning messaged Yun Yu.

70: I’m at the door.

Yun Yu: Okay, I’m at Table A9, toward the back.

Perhaps because the meeting was imminent, their exchange was formal and polite, lacking the usual flirtatious banter. Qi Ning was about to get out of the car when her phone vibrated again.

Yun Yu: Are you nervous?

70: A little…

Yun Yu: Do you want me to come out and meet you?

70: No way! I’m not that weak, okay!

Qi Ning was a bit annoyed. The offer was sweet, but didn’t it make her look like a coward? She was the person who had made a “flag” to kiss that mole! She wasn’t backing down!

Yun Yu: Okay, waiting for you.

Qi Ning stepped out of the car with renewed determination. She locked the door and walked toward the entrance with an aura of imposing confidence. Her aggressive stride looked less like a romantic encounter and more like she was heading to an offline brawl.

Her heels clack-clack-clacked against the concrete, drawing gazes from passersby. She stopped at the door, tossed her hair, and took one last deep breath. When she opened her eyes, they were perfectly calm.

The moment had finally arrived. She saw her reflection in the glass door; she felt that today, she was at least a 9.5 out of 10. Against the “8 out of 10” Yun Yu, she should definitely have the “upper hand,” right?

The door was opened for her. A waiter wiped his hands and said, “Welcome, how many?”

“I’m looking for someone.”

Qi Ning walked toward the innermost section. The closer to the front, the more crowded it was; the back was quieter since there was no view of the outside. Without even searching for the table number, Qi Ning’s eyes locked onto a figure’s back: mid-length black hair.

She sat with her back straight. Even from behind, she looked different from the others—she had a certain aura of aloofness, a “keep away” distance.

Qi Ning walked toward her step by step. Initially, she moved normally, but the closer she got, the more it felt as if her feet were made of lead. Her heart began to thud, feeling as though it might leap out of her throat.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to be looking at her phone and didn’t notice someone approaching. Qi Ning steadied herself, her hand at her side clenching and unclenching. She took the final steps without further hesitation.

“Hi, Yun Yu.” Qi Ning stood behind her, resting a hand on the back of the chair. After thinking about it for so long, she had settled on this slightly stiff greeting.

But the moment she spoke, the proximity allowed her to smell Yun Yu’s perfume. Furthermore, the dress the woman was wearing looked incredibly familiar. Her expression froze instantly.

“…” “…”

The moment their eyes met, Qi Ning turned to stone.

It wasn’t just Qi Ning; Yun Yu herself never imagined her online date would be Qi Ning! An unprecedented awkwardness spread between them.

Chu Yunjing turned her head and froze in her seat before she could even stand up. The shock on Qi Ning’s face was unmistakable; it was as if her blood had turned to ice in an instant.

Qi Ning had imagined Yun Yu might be beautiful, or perhaps average; she had even considered the worst-case scenario where they just didn’t get along and would part ways. But she had never imagined her online girlfriend would be the best friend she had grown up with since childhood.

The only consolation was that Yun Yu’s looks were even higher than the “8” she had claimed—but it was her damn best friend’s face! All her romantic expectations vanished, replaced by a much stronger shock.

They had known each other for over twenty years. How did she not know Chu Yunjing liked women and was looking for partners online? When did she start liking women? She certainly couldn’t have just started like Qi Ning had. Yun Yu had mentioned meeting a “web friend” before, which meant she had been using Zuire, this same-sex dating app, at least since her last “ex.” And yet, Qi Ning knew absolutely nothing about it!

A complex mix of feeling deceived and hidden from rushed into her heart. How could she have known the person in front of her was Yun Yu?

And Yun Yu was Chu Yunjing!

Chu Yunjing reacted faster than Qi Ning, despite the shock and bewilderment in her own heart. She didn’t understand how Qi Ning who had just broken up with her boyfriend—could end up on a same-sex dating app, chat with a stranger, and confirm a romantic relationship.

The Qi Ning in front of her was the same as always, yet different. As a woman, she could see that Qi Ning was meticulously dressed; her hair, which had been straight just two days ago, was now styled differently. It was clear how much she cared about this meeting.

Before today, Chu Yunjing, who had met an online friend before, hadn’t been as nervous as Qi Ning. But now she realized that seeing her “girlfriend” was when the true nervousness began.

In her memory, Qi Ning had always talked about “boyfriends” and “handsome guys.” Why did she suddenly turn “gay” out of the blue? These questions caught her off guard.

Yet, thinking back, Qi Ning had been acting strangely lately, constantly testing the waters about sexual orientation. Chu Yunjing had thought Qi Ning was just curious or acting on a whim. She never expected…

She suddenly didn’t know how to speak. They both seemed to have turned mute, mouths open, relative silence between them.

Coming to her senses, Qi Ning turned to run out, but Chu Yunjing instinctively stood up and grabbed her wrist.

“Qi Ning!”

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