Chapter 27: Online Love Is Still Love

Chapter 27: An Online Romance Is Still a Romance

Wu Yang looked at Fan Xiaoxiu with wounded eyes, his voice trembling slightly. "Xiaoxiu, is there really no possibility for us?"

Fan Xiaoxiu steeled herself, her tone cold and distant. "Wu Yang, you deserve a better girl, someone who will cherish you and love you."

The meal was an awkward affair, both of them struggling to find comfort in each other's company. After Xiaoxiu once again refused him, Wu Yang was left so embarrassed he barely knew how to act.

Finally, when it came time to pay, Wu Yang pushed Xiaoxiu’s money back toward her. "You’ve already rejected me—are you going to reject my paying the bill as well?"

Xiaoxiu withdrew her hand. "Thank you, Wu Yang."

On the way back from Bunny’s Bistro, Fan Xiaoxiu couldn’t help but reflect on all her near-misses with Wu Yang. To be honest, if he had confessed his feelings earlier, perhaps she would have felt differently.

Her phone rang, the familiar tune playing: “Cloudy evening, outside the car window…” Seeing the caller ID—China Mobile Customer Service Center—she couldn’t help but smile.

Over the phone, Wang Guocheng’s excited voice came through, "Xiaoxiu, I’ve bought my plane ticket! We can meet this Friday."

Xiaoxiu had heard him mention coming to Kangcheng in thirty-three days, but she’d thought he was only joking. "What? You’re coming this Friday? Did… did your parents agree?"

Wang Guocheng didn’t answer directly, instead pressing on, "Xiaoxiu, you’ll be at Tongcheng Airport to pick me up, right?"

Her mind was in a whirl, and her palm grew slick with sweat as she held the phone. "Alright, guests are always welcome. I’m not that stingy!"

When Xiaoxiu returned to the office looking troubled, Feng Youru approached her with concern. "What’s wrong? You had lunch with Wu Yang and came back looking like you’d eaten something sour."

Xiaoxiu clung to Youru’s arm. "Youru, I’m doomed, I’m doomed!"

Youru rolled her eyes. "What nonsense is this about dying?"

Xiaoxiu bit her lip, looking at her friend with distress. "He’s coming!"

Youru shook her, exasperated. "Girl, are you alright? It’s the middle of the day and you’re scaring me. Who is he?"

Xiaoxiu pulled a long face. "I’ve played with fire… Wang Guocheng’s coming to Kangcheng on Friday. He says he’s already bought his ticket!"

Youru raised an eyebrow at her. "What’s with that expression? Are you worried you’ll have one of those ‘meet and it’s over’ moments?"

Xiaoxiu’s face twisted with anxiety. "That’s exactly it."

Youru burst out laughing. "Fan Xiaoxiu, I never thought I’d see the day you’d be scared of something. Aren’t you supposed to be the cool one? You talk big about online romance, but now that he’s really coming, you’re turning into an ostrich!"

Annoyed, Xiaoxiu glared at her. "Is it really that funny?"

Youru wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "Of course it is! Just relax and meet him. I’m actually curious to see what this real-life Wang Guocheng looks like."

Time passed quickly, and soon it was Friday. Early in the morning, Wang Guocheng called Xiaoxiu before his flight. "Xiaoxiu, did you get the flowers I sent this morning? Just six more hours, and we’ll meet at Tongcheng Airport!"

Xiaoxiu replied nervously, "Are you sure you really want to come? Aren’t you afraid I might not be what you expect?"

Wang Guocheng laughed. "Isn’t there an old saying where you are? ‘China is full of dinosaurs, and Kangcheng is their nest’? So if you turn out to be a dinosaur, I wouldn’t be surprised at all."

Speechless, Xiaoxiu answered, "Fine, prepare yourself then."

Just as Uncle Feng was leaving for Rong City, Xiaoxiu hurried over. "Uncle Feng, are you heading to Tongcheng?"

As he was about to start the car, Xiaoxiu jumped in, casting him a hopeful look. "Uncle Feng, can I hitch a ride? I…"

She faltered, unable to finish, cheeks turning pink.

Uncle Feng glanced at her kindly. "What are you up to, girl? Just say what you want."

Blushing, Xiaoxiu murmured, "Uncle Feng, I need to go to the airport to pick someone up—he’s arriving today."

Surprise flickered across his face. He’d heard a few days ago that Xiaoxiu was having an online romance, but he’d assumed she wasn’t serious. "Xiaoxiu, does your uncle know you’re going alone to the airport?"

She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Uncle Feng, please don’t tell my uncle, I—"

Seeing her nervousness, Uncle Feng guessed the truth. "You’re going to pick up that young man from Border Town, aren’t you?"

Xiaoxiu lowered her head, realizing there were no secrets to be kept. "Yes."

Uncle Feng fastened her seatbelt, started the car, and said, "Sit tight. If you get bored on the way, just have a nap."

The road offered nothing but the stretch ahead and farmland or bustling city on either side. Bored, Xiaoxiu soon fell asleep.

When Uncle Feng finally woke her, they had already arrived at the parking lot in front of Rong Fenghua’s house. He apologized, "Xiaoxiu, your uncle asked me to bring you here first. In a bit, he’ll take you himself to meet your guest."

Xiaoxiu got out of the car, grumbling under her breath, "Uncle Feng, you broke your promise."

Rong Fenghua was already sitting in his car, and when he saw her get out, he called her over. "Xiaoxiu, get in!"

Pouting and reluctant, Xiaoxiu climbed into the back seat, noticing Aunt Wu Jing in the front. She greeted softly, "Hello, Auntie."

Rong Fenghua glanced at her sulky expression through the rearview mirror, a touch of irony in his voice. "Giving me attitude now? You’ve got some nerve, daring to have an online romance!"

Wu Jing, seeing her husband scolding Xiaoxiu right away, stepped in to defend her. "Fenghua, give it a rest. Young people make friends in all sorts of ways now. What’s wrong with an online romance? It’s still a romance. If you’re so old-fashioned and out of touch, don’t blame the kids for moving with the times. I think it’s fine—when you choose for yourself, it’s always the best choice."

Rong Fenghua, seeing Wu Jing side with Xiaoxiu, snorted, "You women are all the same. She hasn’t even met him yet, and you’re already taking his side. Only someone as naive as you would believe in online romances. Just watch the news—how many of them actually work out?"

Seeing her aunt and uncle quarrel over her online romance, Xiaoxiu hurried to placate them from the back seat.