Why are you always thinking about dating me?

"Huh? What?"

"What's your class monitor like?"

"It's fine, it's quite normal."

"Do you mean 'childish' when you say 'normal'?"

"Pretty much, you can understand it that way too. Study hard, watch some dramas in your spare time, eat and go to the bathroom with a few friends, and chat about the latest idol dramas? You're quite lively, and many people like you. Why are you asking this?"

"Go after her." Lin An took a bite of rice and answered casually.

Qin Xueming was stunned.

"hehe."

"What's wrong? Can you stop with that mocking smile? As long as it doesn't affect your studies, there's nothing wrong with puppy love, right?"

"That person is really fickle. Just a few months ago, he could openly tell me that he liked me and wanted to pursue me, but now he's changed his mind in such a short time?"

"Alright, alright, stop being sarcastic. Your strategy is too difficult and the distance is too far. I know that much. But it's a good thing to know you."

Lin An continued eating his meal in small bites, while Qin Xueming's legs dangled gently under the table. "Should I get your contact information for you or something?"

"Oh? No need, I've already added them, and we've been chatting quite well these past two days."

Lin An was just eating and didn't notice her cold gaze at all. "You didn't tell me about this."

"Huh? This kind of thing shouldn't matter, so I didn't think of saying it. But now I'm telling you, aren't I?" The moment Lin An looked up, the coldness in Qin Xueming's eyes also subsided, and she seemed indifferent again.

"So how long do you plan to take to complete this?" Qin Xueming asked casually.

"You can't say that... Love is a matter of mutual consent. Let's try getting to know each other first. If she thinks I'm okay, maybe we can give it a try. After all, you'll only know the answer by getting to know each other, and you won't lose anything."

Are you really that lonely?

"No, it's just something I've never tried before, and I want to give it a try. I don't think it's a disgusting or twisted idea. Everyone needs some psychological support that family and friends can't provide."

Qin Xueming put down her chopsticks.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"I don't have a very good appetite today."

"Oh... okay." Lin An watched her stand up, turn around and leave, and smiled helplessly.

The next day at noon, as Qin Xueming carried her tray and habitually searched for that lonely figure in the crowd, just like her, she saw a girl sitting opposite Lin An.

The girl's smile looked sunny and bright, but to her, it seemed naive and foolish.

Then she found a small corner, ate a few bites of food, but inexplicably lost her appetite. After a few more bites, she dumped her plate and went back to the classroom.

After lunch, Qin Xueming stood on the railing at the edge of the classroom corridor, watching Lin An and that girl walk up together. Then the girl went back to the classroom, and Lin An stood beside her.

"Why didn't I see you at noon? Didn't you have any appetite again?"

"Since you were chatting happily with that girl, I didn't want to be a third wheel." Qin Xueming didn't turn to look at him.

"Just chatting, nothing much." Lin An smiled helplessly, watching the people below the playground with her. He suddenly asked softly, "Sister Xue, what are you always looking at?"

"Just killing time, I'm bored."

“I feel like you’ve detached yourself a bit too much,” he said.

"What?" Qin Xueming turned her head.

Lin An's voice was sincere and pure, "I know you're smart, but it seems like you're standing a little too high up. You can see what others are thinking and know they're doing meaningless, foolish things, but when everyone is like that, won't you feel lonely all by yourself?"

"Loneliness is something you feel when you feel it; if you don't feel it, then it won't happen," Qin Xueming murmured softly.

"Of course I know, but why be so serious? It's better to be on the ground than to be floating in mid-air."

"So what? You're happy just being on the ground, that's fine too."

"People can't change their environment, so they have to learn to adapt. Sometimes it's good to be simple and just like everyone else. Everyone needs a few like-minded friends."

"The class monitor you were chatting with is the kind of person you described, but..."

"What? You're not going to call her stupid again, are you? Please, please, Sister Xue, no matter how noble and aloof you are, you have to realize this: when everyone else is a fool, if you think you're clear-headed, then you're the biggest fool."

Qin Xueming's eyes trembled slightly.

"School's over, how about we grab something to eat first, then play some games? You'll be hungry if you didn't eat lunch," Lin An changed the subject.

"She's going home on your way, so I'm suggesting you give her a ride home."

"Then the motive would be too obvious. Besides, if we were really in a relationship and spent all our time together, I might go crazy. I think it's better to give each other more space. And... I probably won't be able to pursue her for much longer. I've realized that we are indeed different, and ultimately we can't agree on some things."

"Love isn't just about blindly tolerating others, but you know, maybe it's worth a try. That's the fun part—the process guides the outcome, and the process can change at any time depending on one's thoughts. Hmm, would you like some bread or something?"

"You're going to buy it for me?" Qin Xueming glanced at him sideways.

"Why do I feel like I'm doing manual labor... Wait for me here." Lin An smiled helplessly. He went downstairs to buy bread and yogurt for Qin Xueming and handed them to her. The school bell rang, and the two returned to their respective classrooms.

After school, Lin An and Qin Xueming continued to play games at the internet cafe across from the school.

This is what the two of them have been doing for the past two months. Qin Xueming can only play two games a day because she needs to be home before six o'clock, so she cherishes these two game times. Lin An's family is very lenient with him because his grades are very good, and his adoptive parents are old and very gentle.

Knowing that Qin Xueming played the AD carry role, Lin An had been playing support. However, today Lin An went to play jungle and deliberately explained to Qin Xueming, "Your class monitor also plays a little bit. Anyway, in the patients' games, I'm practicing jungle, while she mainly plays mid lane."

"Oh, go ahead and play." Qin Xueming felt a sudden pang in her heart.

In the past two months, the two of them have indeed not had any inappropriate contact. They just chat occasionally, share interesting TV series, novels, and anime, play games together, chat when they can't sleep, have lunch together, and play a couple of games after school.

In the first game, a random support player played Veigar, and in the second game, another random support player played Brand. Qin Xueming was very tired from playing. After the game ended, she picked up her schoolbag and stood up.

Actually, she wanted to play a few more games today. Her family was away on business trips, so it didn't matter if she went home a little later tonight. But she didn't enjoy the game at all. The two of them were playing so well together in the bot lane, and they were having so much fun together... Why was that?

In the past two months, he didn't seem lonely or isolated when he was with you. They ate together, chatted, and played games together... Why did you have to go find someone else?

Because she can be in a relationship with you, but what kind of relationship do you envision? Isn't it foolish, childish... something that you'll laugh about when you look back on it later?

Lin An habitually reached out to take the schoolbag from her hand. Her schoolbag was a little heavy, but Miss Qin habitually handed it to him. However, this time, Qin Xueming hung the schoolbag around her neck, looked straight ahead, and walked quietly and calmly.

"You don't seem very happy," Lin An said softly beside her.

"No." Qin Xueming shook her head.

"Okay, okay, then, see you tomorrow?"

Lin An had already escorted her to her doorstep and watched her leave step by step. However, he was not in a hurry to leave. Only after her figure disappeared from sight did Lin An slowly turn around.

Is this guy really jealous and concerned? Xu Qinghuan... is she going to trick me again?

Lin An rested his hands behind his back, muttering to himself with a mixture of helplessness and resentment.

There's really no need to do this... Being friends seems fine too. Xu Qinghuan, Xu Qinghuan... what exactly do you want?

Chapter 84 Her name is Xu Qinghuan

The following day, Saturday.

Because her family wasn't home, Qin Xueming had a lot of free time. She turned on her computer in the morning and saw Lin An online as soon as she started playing the game.

"go?"

For some reason, Qin Xueming finally typed out those two words. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, repeatedly opening and closing the friend deletion screen for him, and eventually tearing up a teddy bear before finally falling asleep in a state of agitation.

But she still typed out those two words.

“go”.

Lin An joined her room, and the two started duo queuing. Qin Xueming was very skilled; if she didn't play so little each day, she would probably be a Grandmaster by now. She was currently Diamond, as was Lin An. The two continued to duo queuing.

"What? Didn't you go play games with that girl?" Her voice unconsciously carried a hint of sarcasm.

She could tell from his voice, but she couldn't figure out why... He was supposed to be a friend, and now he had a girlfriend. Shouldn't she congratulate him and celebrate? Or maybe feel a little jealous in a joking way?

But these emotions never surfaced in her heart when Lin An asked her what she thought of the class monitor. Her first reaction was astonishment, followed by inexplicable anger. That anger shouldn't have been expressed; it should have been suppressed. So... what she finally realized was disappointment.

It was a sense of loss, as if she had suddenly lost something, that made her somewhat uneasy. Of course, she could guess a certain answer, but she wouldn't believe it, she wouldn't... She didn't need those things. Even without him, she was still Qin Xueming, just like before. She hadn't changed anything because of his appearance.

"Huh? I didn't make an appointment. Let's play together first. But it doesn't seem as interesting anymore. Maybe I should reflect on myself and see what my purpose is. I think I was wrong, Qin Xueming."

Lin An's voice sounded slightly frustrated, but that was all. The two of them played duo queue all morning, and Qin Xueming had a great time, winning all the way. When the two of them played duo queue, they rarely lost.

She loves playing games; it's one of the few times she can clear her mind.

"Come back after lunch." She typed this on the keyboard, but Lin An seemed a little hesitant. "She invited me to a cat cafe to pet cats at one o'clock."

"Is playing video games more important than your mother?" Qin Xueming asked.

"Okay, I'll talk to her and see if we can postpone it."

So the two of them went to have lunch, and after lunch they came back and continued playing duo queue. They played for almost two or three hours. Around three or four in the afternoon, Qin Xueming reached Diamond 1 promotion match. Just as she started queuing, Lin An clicked cancel, "I have to go out, Xue-jie, or I'll be late."

"Is it that important?"

"After all, it was a promise... Although I've been thinking lately whether I'm being too goal-oriented, no matter what, you can't break a promise. Maybe I should just let things take their course, acknowledge my own feelings, and that would be better for her too."

Then Lin An left the voice chat and the queue. Qin Xueming stared at the empty game interface and suddenly froze. A strange sense of irritation welled up inside her. After suppressing the irritation, she glanced out the window and saw that the sky was empty.

My heart feels empty.

Which cat cafe did you go to?

Qin Xueming bit her lip and finally made the decision. She stood in front of the mirror, changed her clothes, and waited for his response.

The girl was tall and slender, with a youthful and slightly immature appearance. She wore a white shirt and a pleated skirt, and her hair was loose. She looked youthful and clean. Her eyes were as clear as pool water, but they were not empty.

As she expected, Lin An replied to her message. It was a cat cafe not far from her home. When she arrived there, Lin An was all alone.

"Where is he?" Qin Xueming sat down opposite him, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes held undisguised mockery.

"It's gone."

"Did you disappear... or did you never make an appointment at all?" Qin Xueming's voice suddenly became somewhat aggressive. Lin An was startled, as if she had discovered something and was panicked.

Qin Xueming took in the panicked expression on her face.

In that instant, Qin Xueming seemed to understand the whole truth. She sneered, looking at Lin An's expression, "You've got a good plan, Lin An."

"First, you tried to be my friend... Yes, you are indeed a great candidate for friend, but then you realized that the relationship couldn't go any further, so you thought of creating a sense of crisis for me?"

"No," Lin An tried to explain, but his explanation sounded particularly weak.

"No? Hmm? You deliberately ate with her? Wasn't it just so I could see? You deliberately chatted with her without telling me beforehand, wasn't it just so that when I found out you were pursuing her, I would see that you already had a chance of success, and then make me feel threatened?"

"Huh?! Speak up, Lin An! No, no, you would deliberately practice jungling while we're playing games? Heh, you've got a really good plan... Whether your trick works or not, if you succeed, I'll fall in love with you; if you fail, you still have a way out. Yeah, that class monitor is pretty good-looking too. A scumbag like you... trying to fool her would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?!"