Chapter 2 – Treat me like iron and strike me

Ten years ago, to the day, Ren Lan called me.

She said she saw Guo Jie kissing another guy on the street and then getting into his car.

Guo Jie was the girlfriend I met in college, and I loved her deeply, so I refused to believe Ren Lan's words.

Not only that, I even scolded Ren Lan for it.

We had a huge fight over it.

After that call, Ren Lan, who used to be so close to me, never sought me out again, and our friendship was broken.

Ren Lan had planned to stay at the university for her postgraduate entrance examination, but because of this incident, she gave up and transferred to a school in another city.

Since then, I never saw Ren Lan again, and, blinded by Guo Jie, all I wanted was to marry the woman I loved.

Little did I know, Guo Jie was not as simple as I thought.

To describe her with internet slang, she was an Angelic Bitch, and a high-level one at that.

She was even on par with that '65-page PPT girl'.

As a naive first-timer in love, I was easily played by her.

She deceived me for ten years, and in the end, she was even involved with my 'buddy' Xu Zikai.

For a whole decade, I was fooled by her appearance and acting skills.

Looking back now, I can't help but feel I was truly foolish.

"Hey, I don't have time for jokes. Brace yourself, I just saw Guo Jie kissing a guy on the street and she got into his sports car!" Ren Lan said earnestly.

"Oh, got it."

"Oh? Just an 'oh'? Come on, I'm not messing with you, it's true!"

Ren Lan was frantic, thinking I didn't believe her.

"I believe you," I said with a light chuckle. "But right now, I'd rather take you out for a meal. Are you free?"

"Buddy? Let's stay calm, don't do anything rash, okay? You've got me all confused."

Ren Lan was completely baffled, not understanding why I was so composed.

Of course, she knew how much I, the naive one, liked Guo Jie.

But now, with such shocking news, how could I remain indifferent?

"I'm not upset. Seriously, come down to my dorm building, I'll treat you to a meal, right now, immediately."

"Uh... okay, I'll feel better if I keep an eye on you. I'm on my way."

The call ended.

I immediately went downstairs.

***

I didn't have to wait long at the dorm building before a graceful figure appeared in my line of sight.

Ren Lan was tall, nearly 1.8 meters, just half a head shorter than me.

Her long, slender legs, like those of a walking model, were particularly eye-catching.

Dressed in sportswear, with a sports headband tied around her forehead.

Ren Lan's looks were natural and unpretentious, with a distinct Eastern charm.

Her features were delicate, and perhaps due to frequent sun exposure, her skin was a healthy light wheat color.

Her bare face needed no makeup or foundation to enhance it, and the vigor in her eyes and brows gave her a spirited air.

As she approached, passing male students all turned to look, exclaiming "goddess."

"I've done a good deed today, you've got to treat me to a feast. I want Teppanyaki!" Ren Lan said boldly as she approached me.

"No problem, eat your fill," I agreed without hesitation.

"Heh, that's my buddy, let's go!"

We headed straight to the nearby food street and sat down at Ren Lan's favorite Teppanyaki restaurant, facing each other.

"Little Lin, I really didn't lie to you. It all happened so fast, I just pulled out my phone to take a picture for evidence, but they left immediately. Otherwise, I would have proof."

As soon as Ren Lan sat down, she repeated the story to me.

I was busy looking at the menu, replying nonchalantly, "I said I believe you, so you don't need to give me evidence."

"So you're not going to react? You don't care?"

"Of course, I don't care anymore."

"Damn, you're not into some weird fetish, are you? Like getting a kick out of being cuckolded?" Ren Lan teased.

I scowled and said, "You're the one who likes being cuckolded. I mean, I don't care about Guo Jie anymore, that's all!"

Ren Lan was even more surprised, asking skeptically, "Did you already know?"

I shook my head with a wry smile, "Let's just put an end to this matter. My relationship with her is over too, so don't worry about me. I'm doing great."

"Wow, did you two break up?" Ren Lan's eyes widened.

"Yeah, for now, it's a unilateral decision on my part."

"Awesome, this is the first time I've seen you take such a stand. I thought you'd hang yourself on that crooked tree."

Ren Lan marveled, making me laugh and cry at the same time.

The food we ordered arrived quickly.

Looking at the long-missed food, I couldn't remember the last time I had grains.

As a practitioner in the Enlightenment Realm, I had long reached the state of Inedia.

Now, as an ordinary person, the smell of food made my stomach growl with hunger.

We began to tackle the food on the table.

Ren Lan chatted sporadically as she ate.

"I told you long ago, Guo Jie isn't a good girl. I have a sister who's her roommate, and she told me firsthand that Guo Jie has to say goodnight on the phone to seven or eight guys every night, and you're just one of them.

This woman is opportunistic, vain, and loves money. If it weren't for your looks as the Campus Idol, giving her face when she's out with you, she wouldn't even spare you a glance. And more..."

The more Ren Lan spoke, the more it hurt, so I quickly interjected:"Alright, big sis, I've turned over a new leaf and started anew. Can we not talk about the past embarrassments? Isn't there enough food here to shut you up?"

"Heh, where's that gonna get me? At most, I'll be six-tenths full. You know I work out every day, how else am I going to have the strength to pump iron?"

Ren Lan replied with a grin.

I immediately understood her hint and ordered several more dishes.

"By the way, Little Lin, have you heard of 'Tale of Immortal'?"

Ren Lan suddenly brought up the game, which wasn't surprising given that 'Tale of Immortal' ads were everywhere.

"Of course, I'm planning to enter the game as a professional player." I answered frankly.

I had to go back and reclaim everything that was mine!

"No way, for real?" Ren Lan was shocked.

"You, who ranked top ten in League of Legends Korean server and top hundred globally in CSGO, the king of holographic battle royale."

"You weren't willing to go pro back then, and now you're telling me you want to be a professional player in a new game?"

Ren Lan couldn't believe I wanted to be a professional gamer.

My gaming talent was exceptional, and I excelled at any game I played, including a certain company's holographic battle royale, cough cough.

Ren Lan also loved gaming.

That was why she enjoyed playing with me; we always won, and no matter how much she messed up, I could always turn the tide.

Riding on coattails wasn't shameful.

I appeared very calm.

"This game has a lot of potential. I suggest you also invest your energy into it. Forget the old games, they're just a waste of time."

As someone who had been reborn, I knew what 'Tale of Immortal' represented.

But I couldn't just come out and say it, because no one would believe it. All I could do was offer some advice.

"Ha, okay! But you have to lead me, my gaming talent is nowhere near yours." Ren Lan didn't doubt me, she simply wanted to play too.

Now she had an excuse to indulge in gaming, so she was more than willing.

"No problem, I'm planning to move out of the dorm in the next few days and rent a place to fully immerse myself in it."

"So you're not going to school anymore?"

"No, degrees and diplomas are useless to me now."

I spoke of dropping out so casually.

If I said this now, I'd surely be criticized for squandering my potential.

But once 'Tale of Immortal' was released, they'd see how wise I was.

"WOW, I've known you for so long, and today is the day I think you're the most badass!" Ren Lan chewed on her steak and gave me a thumbs up.

I handed her a glass of juice with a smile, fearing she might choke.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***