My Virtual Girlfriend

At noon, Yan Family Barbecue at the east gate of Qin Island University.

Chen Yan, Yu Qiao Qiao, and Zhao Ying were together again.

At the invitation of Chen Yan's apologetic text messages and phone calls, Yu Qiao Qiao had no choice but to come out and have a meal with Chen Yan again.

Of course, the meal was a minor matter. The main reason she came was to understand the whole story and to return the gifts she had received from Chen Yan.

This time, Chen Yan didn't order barbecue but chose several stir-fried dishes instead.

The cold dishes were served first, and while Chen Yan was inviting Yu Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying to eat, he sincerely said, "Qiao Qiao, I'm really sorry."

Yu Qiao Qiao looked at Chen Yan with her big eyes twinkling, blinked twice, and asked, "What exactly happened? Can you explain it more clearly?"

Chen Yan sighed and said, "Actually... I've always wanted to be an actor. I've thought about it for many years and tried many times, but I've always failed."

Zhao Ying picked up a peanut, and without even looking up, said, "No talent, that's normal."

Chen Yan:...

Yu Qiao Qiao:....

Ignoring her, Chen Yan continued, coughed, and added, "Yesterday, I went to audition for a drama crew, but... I still didn't get the role I wanted."

"I was even told by the casting director that I can't act at all, and I couldn't even 'liberate my true nature.'"

"I was feeling down, so I called you wanting to talk."

"But who knew that when you asked me what I was really doing, my mind just snapped, and I said I wanted to pursue you."

"Actually... those were lines from the script for the role I auditioned for yesterday."

Yu Qiao Qiao's face had a "Are you sure you're not joking with me?" expression.

Chen Yan, "Don't doubt it. Think about it. The confession I made over the phone, wasn't it very awkward? Weren't the words twisted, and didn't I even forget some of them? That's because those were the lines written in the script, and I hadn't memorized them well."

Saying this, Chen Yan sighed deeply, "Later, after you rejected me, I felt like I was doubly hit in both my career and love life. Then I remembered what the director said about liberating one's true nature, which is about letting go in front of everyone and not caring about other people's opinions."

"So impulsively this morning, I brought gifts to your dormitory door, ready to confess in public."

"Actually, after I got there, I regretted it. I felt I was being ridiculous. I was upset at the director, yet I came to 'retaliate' against you. That's why I hastily gave you the gifts and ran off."

"After going back, I realized I was wrong. So after a lot of thought, I still decided to clear things up with you to avoid causing you any trouble."

Yu Qiao Qiao, recalling Chen Yan's behavior over the past few days, strangely felt... like there was some plausible explanation?

Some details indeed matched up...?

Was she crazy?

To believe such talk?

Yu Qiao Qiao blinked.

She felt like her brain was significantly slower when dealing with Chen Yan.

She shook her head, then started pressing further, "Then why did you call me after the audition failed?"

Without hesitation, Chen Yan responded, "I met you the day before yesterday, felt we had a connection. Being with you felt very relaxing."

Yu Qiao Qiao, "Then why did you keep asking me out for meals this morning and at noon?"

Chen Yan said, "That was real boredom. Just wanted a meal companion."

Yu Qiao Qiao frowned, "Then why did you buy six tickets when confessing?"

Chen Yan, "Doing the groundwork for a good impression with close friends helps romance develop."

Yu Qiao Qiao glanced at Zhao Ying, who was still looking down and picking peanuts...

Chen Yan coughed again and said, "Are my answers reasonable?"

Before Yu Qiao Qiao could speak, Zhao Ying, still picking peanuts, said without looking up, "Reasonable."

Annoyed, Yu Qiao Qiao shot a glance at Zhao Ying, deciding to never hang out with Zhao Ying again.

Since Zhao Ying had said so, Yu Qiao Qiao couldn't say much else. She just accepted Chen Yan's nonsense.

Not long after, the dishes arrived, and the three began to eat.

During the meal, Yu Qiao Qiao quietly said, "Then later, take the flowers and the tickets back."

Chen Yan waved his hand, "No need. Just consider them gifts."

Yu Qiao Qiao shook her head, "That's not ok. I can't just take your things for nothing."

Chen Yan, "It's not for nothing. It's compensation for the trouble I caused you."

"It's what you deserve."

"And..." he paused, "I'm also planning to invite you and your dorm mates for a meal this weekend, to apologize for this morning."

Hearing Chen Yan say this, Yu Qiao Qiao looked at him, surprised, "Huh? Another meal?"

Chen Yan nodded, an expression of rightness on his face, "Yes. Haven't I caused you trouble?"

Yu Qiao Qiao thought of the strange looks from her classmates today and nodded.

Chen Yan continued, "Then haven't I also caused your dorm mates trouble?"

Yu Qiao Qiao thought of her roommate's excited state, chatting all morning and skipping lessons, and nodded again.

Chen Yan said, "Isn't that right? So, I definitely should treat you all to a meal, to apologize!"

After saying this, Chen Yan looked at Zhao Ying and asked, "Sounds reasonable, right?"

Still picking peanuts, Zhao Ying, once again without looking up, replied, "Reasonable!"

Yu Qiao Qiao opened and closed her mouth several times, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

Reasonable?

Not reasonable?

Why did it always feel so odd...

Was something off?

After they finished eating and were parting ways, Yu Qiao Qiao, still not giving up, took out the movie tickets and buffet coupons, wanting to give them back to Chen Yan.

But when Chen Yan saw those tickets, he reacted as though they were hot yams, stubbornly refusing to take them.

He even used a bunch of illogical excuses like,

"You giving them to me doesn't make me able to split myself to watch."

"You gave them already, there's no reason to take them back."

"They expire today, don't waste them. If you don't want them, give them to your roommates. Or just throw them away."

to forcibly stop Yu Qiao Qiao's attempts to return them.

Even at the end, when things got heated, Chen Yan bluntly said, "I don't care anymore. It's up to you to handle these tickets. I'll treat you to a meal next time." Then, he sprinted away.

Leaving Yu Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying by the roadside again...

Watching Chen Yan's scattering figure, Zhao Ying curiously asked, "Qiao Qiao, do you think he could have poisoned these tickets?"

Yu Qiao Qiao, looking at the tickets in her hands that she couldn't return, was also bewildered, "I don't know..."

On the way back to the university, Yu Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying remained somewhat silent.

Zhao Ying was pondering Chen Yan as a person, feeling that he seemed very interesting, like he was hiding some secret.

Yu Qiao Qiao, meanwhile, was thinking about the meals Chen Yan had treated them to.

Without Chen Yan's smooth talk beside her, Yu Qiao Qiao's intelligence seemed to take the high ground again.

The more she thought about it, the more something seemed off.

She had come out to return things to Chen Yan, yet she hadn't managed to do so and had ended up eating a meal at his expense?

Not only had she eaten one meal, but she was also supposed to bring the entire dorm to eat another...?

That was just too strange!

She had accepted flowers, taken dozens of tickets, and was to eat his thank-you meal...

It all seemed so odd!

Could she have been fooled?

Should she talk to Chen Yan again to see what was going on?

.......

Back at the dormitory, before Yu Qiao Qiao could speak, Zhao Ying had already shared with everyone about Chen Yan treating the entire dorm to dinner and a movie that evening and another meal over the weekend.

So, the dormitory suddenly turned into a sea of joy.

Seeing her roommates' happy expressions, along with their "Thank you, Qiao Qiao," "Qiao Qiao, your friend is really nice," and "Qiao Qiao, kiss~" Yu Qiao Qiao was initially a bit embarrassed, but gradually, she too was affected and a smile slowly formed on her face.

Watching her happy roommates, Yu Qiao Qiao sighed.

Well, since everyone was so happy, this one time was okay...

But, in the future, she really couldn't accept any more gifts from Chen Yan...

Otherwise, it would really be hard to explain and return...

....

Meanwhile, Chen Yan was also on his way home.

While walking, he opened a game to check.

His wealth value had increased by 230. That was the money from the lunch he treated Yu Qiao Qiao and Zhao Ying.

That represented another 2000 yuan in his pocket.

Chen Yan's lips couldn't help but turn up in a small smile.

"Qiao Qiao is indeed easy to please, really suitable for making money off of."

"But... the dishes at Yan Family's restaurant are really too cheap. It's too hard to make a big fortune."

Thinking this, Chen Yan mulled it over, "In a few days, I must choose a pricier place when I treat Qiao Qiao and her roommates to a meal. Speed up the money-making. Strive to hit a million returns soon."

"Yep. That's the plan!"