A Slight Smile is Very Charming

Part 19: Realization

Wei Wei isn't worried since the Great Master has never come late, but it's also normal for him to be a few minutes behind.  The clock continues ticking; 7:45pm comes before she knows it.  Wei Wei is starting to worry.  Although she knows that NaiHe is not online, she can't help but to send him a message——

"Are you there?"

Naturally, she doesn't get a response.

Two minutes later, she sends another one.  Wei Wei stops sending them after a while and refreshes NaiHe's name continuously instead; the system reminds her repeatedly that the player is not online, so she cannot refresh his profile.

YuGong, MonkeyWine, and the others are also in grey.

Not online.

7:50pm.

Wei Wei shows up in front of the NPC at the entrance by herself.  The team setup symbol sits on top of her avatar, but she is the only one present in the team.

Many players have already started to gather around the NPC; the top couples elimination rounds and the finals are open for an audience to watch.  These people standing outside are all waiting to buy tickets to go inside.  But they're getting curious as to why ReedWeiWei (HumbleReed) is standing there alone, so they start discussing in front of her.

[Local][BugGnawingLettuce]: "How come there's only ReedWeiWei?  Where's ASmileNaiHe (WhyNotJustSmile)?"

[Local][FishingWire]: "He's not going to be late, is he?"

[Local][963]: "It's such an important competition and he's late?"

[Local][NotWearingUndiesIsVeryRefreshing]: "There's still ten minutes, so no need to be anxious.  Top expert players always come late."

7:55pm.

Wei Wei ignores all the discussions and calmly leaves NaiHe a message——"I'm waiting for you in front of the NPC at the entrance.  Just come over directly."

The bystanders continue their discussions.

[Local][DingDingCleanse]: "There's not much time left.  How come he's still not here?"

[Local][RocketTurtle1.0]: "Could it be that he's not coming?"

[Local][IdiotBaby]: "Holy, could history repeat, and these two are also getting a divorce?"

[Local][daydreamer]: "Doesn't seem like so.  If they're divorcing, why would ReedWeiWei still be standing here?"

[Local][ThunderboltCallsWow]: "I'd say, maybe ReedWeiWei got dumped again!"

8pm.

More and more friends are messaging Wei Wei at this point.  Wei Wei opens and closes them one by one.  In the end, she clicks on her mouse and closes her chat window with NaiHe.

The crowd slowly dissipates.

[Local][①SingleForLife]: "Let's leave, let's leave.  Old man here is bored."

[Local][☆CheNing☆]: "Yet I thought we were gonna see an awesome PK competition today.  Good thing I didn't buy a ticket."

[Local][DogTailGrass]: "It's like hogging the toilet and refusing to take a dump.  If you're not going in to compete, why aren't you leaving?  The other server is getting crowned the champion without a fight.  Disgusted."

[Local][jager]: "You can't really say that.  If it weren't for ReedWeiWei and ASmileNaiHe, our server might not have made it to the finals."

[Local][RoManTic]: "Let's wait and see.  There's still 3 minutes of preparation time.  They can still enter the competition during the 3 minutes."