Online Game: I'm Not Worthy

Chapter 24 - FlowerHouse's Spring Awakening

Xu Xian never expected that when that person said he wanted to bring him to his dormitory, they would actually need to take public transport. The few schools in the college town were all close together, so which school was he exactly from?
Once that person sat down he was quiet. Xu Xian wanted to speak a few times, but he kept his words back. Luckily, that person seemed to have decided that Xu Xian was unable to escape on the bus, and so released his wrist. Xu Xian then realised that the person was really very strong. His wrist had been left with a few obvious red marks.
Xu Xian had nothing to do, he could only looked down and study those fingerprints.
　　
"Sorry," That person said suddenly.
"What?"
"I seem to have scratched you."
"Oh, you mean this? It's fine... But I really couldn't tell, you're actually so strong?"
The person gave an irrelevant answer. "Ling Yang and I grew up together, and we've already known each other for 16 years."
Xu Xian never thought that the other would start talking about this himself, and that they actually knew each other for so long. He was very surprised. He thought Ye Lang and him knowing each other from elementary school was already considered very long.
"But Ling Yang is at most 20 years of age, and you seem to be around his age as well... You still can remember the things from so long ago?"
He shook his head. "We grew up in the same compound, and we were in the same nursery, the same kindergarten, the same elementary school... We heard all these from our parents and elders while they were chatting. Having heard them often, they actually really became part of our memories."
　　
"I grew up in a military family, and my upbringing was very strict. When other children were playing, I had to learn many things instead. I didn't have a single friend, so I was very antisocial from young."
Xu Xian stared at this person who was lost in his memories. How come there was no sign of this person ever being antisocial?
"You can't tell, right?" That person seemed to have guessed what Xu Xian was thinking about. He turned around and smiled at him. "This is all because of Ling Yang. My earliest memory of him was of him coming to my house as a kid, creating trouble each time I was practising writing and memorising books. Every time, he would make me very angry. Our relationship was always very bad, all the way until elementary school when we were 7 years old."
Xu Xian remembered what Ling Yang said when he left. "Yangyang said that when you were 7, he pushed you into the river."
"That's right." He nodded. "That's true. When I came home from school, I would walk by the river. Ling Yang suddenly rushed at me from the back, pushing me into the river. Luckily the water wasn't deep, and the weather wasn't cold, but I was completely drenched and looked pathetic."
Xu Xian could imagine the image then. He wanted to laugh but did not dare to, and he could only hold back his laughter.
　　
"By the time I climbed out of the river, he had already ran away. As such, I could only beat up Ling Yang's good friend who was still standing there. Of course, the other guy also retaliated. Our houses happened to be next to each other, and when we got back, both of us were very pitiful-looking, wet and with injuries. We were then punished to stand outside in our own backyards.
"Later on, Ling Yang came by. I don't know where he got some bricks from, but stepping on them, he climbed up the wall of the courtyard in my house. While lying there, he mocked me." He looked down, smiling helplessly. His face was gentle, and his eyes curved into crescents. "You don't know, the sight he presented then, it was completely asking for a beating."
Xu Xian was a little spellbound by the other person's image. Although he did not see it himself, he could definitely guess what kind of expression Ling Yang had then.
　　
"After that incident, we became good friends. Ling Yang was the first friend I ever made, and he's also the closest one. His wall climbing habit has never changed even until now. Every time, when I see him, all I want to do is to beat him up."
"However, it's also thanks to him that my personality became more cheerful, becoming like what you see now." He again smiled at Xu Xian. Xu Xian discovered that when the other guy smiled, he was really very good looking. It would be such a waste if he remained antisocial.
　　
Xu Xian coughed. He suddenly realised that he seemed to have forgotten himself, and he covered his mouth with a fist. "If your relationship is actually so good, why is Yangyang still hiding from you? Did he do something to you that he is sorry about?"
The smile on the other guy's face disappeared, and he replied only after a pause, "He didn't do anything that he has to be sorry about, I was the one who did something to him that I have to be sorry about."
Xu Xian's jaw dropped. He always thought Ling Yang had offended someone and that was why he always had to escape and run away. Who would have thought that it was the complete opposite of his imagination?
　　
"What relationship do you share with Ling Yang?" He asked.
"We... We're online friends." Xu Xian still remembered what Ling Yang asked of him, and he did not mention that they were roommates.
"Online friends from the BBS you mentioned just now?"
"That's right."
"Oh, it's like this." That person's face displayed some disappointment.
"Uhh," Xu Xian could not hold himself back. "The question you asked Luoming #7 just now, about Yangyang's hand..."
"You know about it?" His tone became very agitated, giving Xu Xian a fright.
"I heard Yangyang mention it once. He said he fell down while iceskating, and accidentally broke his fingers."
"That's what he told you?"
XuXian nodded. "Yes."
That person fell into silence again.
　　
"Why, is there something wrong?" From that person's expression, Xu Xian could tell that he did not seem to fully believe it.
The other guy thought about it, then said, "You know it as well, anything Ling Yang says, 70% of it is true, 30% of it is fake. I cannot tell exactly what's real and what's false... Have you seen Ling Yang ice skate before?" He asked suddenly.
Xu Xian shook his head.
"Ling Yang's sports ability cannot be described as very good, but it cannot be said to be very bad as well. He's someone who only does what he's interested in, and when he's not interested in that sport he will not be good at it. But when he's interested in something, he will devote himself to it, putting much more effort into it than anyone else."
"Since young, he has only been interested in 2 sports. 1 is swimming, and the other is iceskating. He said that swimming can train his lungs, while iceskating can train his balance, and both of these sports were very advantageous to him."
He recalled. "Ling Yang skates very well. Although you cannot compare him to a professional, to outsiders, he could still be considered an amateur athlete."
"Even professional athletes can be injured when falling. Also, when one's skills are higher, the injuries tend to be more serious," Xu Xian reminded him softly.
"You're right, I'm not discounting this possibility." He patted Xu Xian. "Let's get off the bus, we're here."
　　
When Xu Xian disembarked, he was shocked by his surroundings.
"This is your school?"
"That's right."
"You're a student here?"
"Why?"
Xu Xian considered him, "I couldn't tell by looking at you..."
"How should I look like then?"
Xu Xian also could not describe it. He gestured, "Shouldn't you be more..."
The other guy was amused. "You're prejudiced."
　　
Xu Xian felt a little emotional standing in front of the Qiantang Military School sign. "I can go in?"
"You can if I'm the one bringing you in."
"That's great, I've been wanting to go in to take a look."
"I'll bring you around when you're done teaching me."
"Really? Why are you walking so slowly?"
"..."
　　
It was the first time Xu Xian entered the military school. He was curious about everything. Looking everywhere, his head twisted about like an African mongoose.
There were many students in the school, and most of them were wearing training gear or camouflage. People wearing athletic wear like the person next to him were very few.
From the entrance to the dormitory, Xu Xian realised that this person either had a huge social circle or a high status. Most students would take the initiative to greet him, and he would only just nod back.
Xu Xian also met someone who seemed to be the dormitory manager. When he saw the both of them, he did not even ask any routine questions.
Entering the building, many students seeing an outsider there were also very surprised, but no one asked anything. This made Xu Xian very puzzled.
　　
Upon reaching the other guy's room, there was only one person inside. He was about to go out, but seeing Xu Xian's arrival, he was a little shocked. Still, he left after a greeting, and only the two of them were left in the room.
Xu Xian saw that there was also a computer in the military school's dormitory and felt that it was strange. Although there was only one, it looked similar to the other objects in its surroundings.
"Why does the military school's dormitories come with computers too?"
"They are all provided by the school. It's now the digital war, so why would we not be allowed to use the computer? We also have a computer room, and most people would go there to get online."
"Wouldn't that be similar to the LAN shops that students go to?"
"That's different. You guys need to pay cash when you go to those shops, but we're using military expenditure here."
Xu Xian was speechless. "Isn't this too corrupt? Doesn't that mean you guys are luckier than other ordinary schools?"
He thought about it. "But we're not allowed to use our phones when in school, only when we're outside of the school."
"Ah, so it's difficult to get in contact with people?"
"We have landlines." He pointed at the phone installed on the wall. "Give me your phone, I'll save my number in it."
　　
Getting Xu Xian as a teacher was the correct decision. He was a very patient person, and after downloading the software, he explained all the steps one by one.
"The school's intranet BBS registry is all under a real-name system. The ID has to be in English, but you can change your nickname anytime you like."
"What's your ID? Right, after so long, I still haven't asked your name."
"My ID is Hana. Oh, Yangyang calls me Flower, if you want you can too..."
"Flower," He repeated it. "You're called Hana, then I'll call myself Haku. Isn't this ID very compatible with yours?"
"What?"
"Bai Long, my name is Bai Long."
　　
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Tonight, Passionate Sword's raiding party took very long to set up, and it still was not full. Everyone was a little frustrated.
MT's healer Clinging Scent having requested for leave was one of the reason, but what made people surprised was FlowerHouse, who had a nearly 100% attendance record, still did not appear after half an hour on the agreed upon meeting time.
The one in charge of forming the party, Mourning Mo, could not bear it anymore and sent a private message to FlowerHouse's closest friend Night Wolf.