"Huh?"
Tang Di and Liu Yushi both exclaimed in surprise.
No one had expected such a dramatic turn of events.
Chen Ke and Liu Yushi exchanged bewildered glances.
Their toes were already performing an intricate dance of embarrassment.
The sheer coincidence of them both using photos and names of their respective siblings and best friends for their online relationships was astounding.
They felt their experience was worthy of being written into a novel.
"Uh... hello."
Chen Ke's toes were now tightly curled as he awkwardly greeted Liu Yushi.
"Hello."
Liu Yushi looked at Chen Ke and shyly lowered her head.
The two, who had been so unrestrained online, calling each other "husband" and "wife," were rendered speechless upon meeting in person.
"Don't just stand there!"
Wang Yue chimed in, encouraging them. "You two finally met, shouldn't you do some of the things you talked about online?"
Oh, this.
Chen Ke and Liu Yushi looked up at each other.
Chen Ke gave a wry smile. "Brother Yue, you're all still here, how could we possibly?"
Liu Yushi nodded in agreement. "Exactly."
"Then shall we go?"
Su Qi said to Tang Di.
"Okay, we'll give you two some alone time."
Tang Di also nodded and smiled.
Then, Wang Yue and Tang Di left the private room.
Suddenly, only the two of them remained in the room.
"What a coincidence, I never expected you'd also use fake photos for online dating."
Chen Ke, despite his toes trying to burrow into the floor, pushed ahead and said.
"Hehe, yes, what a coincidence."
Liu Yushi mumbled, her head still down.
"Um, the weather is nice today, isn't it?"
Chen Ke ventured again.
Liu Yushi nodded. "Mm, it is quite pleasant."
"Didn't you always say on QQ that you wanted to try our local delicacies? What do you think of them now?"
Chen Ke continued.
"They're very tasty."
Liu Yushi nodded again.
Silence descended upon the room.
Meanwhile, outside the Happy Station, Wang Yue and Tang Di leaned against the railing, conversing casually.
"I never dreamed something like this could happen. I feel like our story could be turned into a novel," Tang Di said with a smile.
Wang Yue also smiled. "Yes, the moment you revealed the truth, I felt such a release. Otherwise, it would have been too agonizing."
"Me too," Tang Di smiled. "But we both had a pretty rough time, didn't we? With such deceitful best friends and siblings."
"You didn't lose out either. At least, you were my online sweetheart in name," Wang Yue teased.
"Hmph, and you didn't lose out either. I have a whole company of admirers," Tang Di retorted with feigned arrogance.
"Do you think they're really acting like they did on QQ?" Wang Yue suddenly asked.
The thought of the scene made him chuckle.
"I don't think so," Tang Di shook her head. "My best friend always saw you as her dream lover. If you suddenly changed to someone else, she definitely wouldn't be able to accept it."
Wang Yue nodded. "I think so too. So, the atmosphere in there must be quite awkward right now."
"Shall we sneak a peek?" Tang Di's eyes lit up with the suggestion.
"Sure."
Wang Yue readily agreed.
The two returned to the Happy Station and, standing outside the private room, listened intently to the conversation within.
There was a five-minute silence in the private room at one point.
After a few hesitant questions, Chen Ke didn't know what else to say.
He thought for a moment and then made up his mind to say something.
"I think..."
"I think..."
They both spoke at the same time.
"You first..."
"You first..."
They spoke in unison again.
This bizarre synchronicity made the room fall silent once more.
"This cursed synchronicity," Chen Ke thought to himself.
"I'll go first," Liu Yushi said at this moment.
"Okay, you go first," Chen Ke nodded.
Liu Yushi spoke frankly. "Chen Ke, to be honest, the moment I saw you, I realized I only liked the virtual you online. The real you... I really can't fall for you."
"Besides, we were both liars. I already felt guilty. Now we're even, right? I won't mention it to you, and you don't mention it to me. We'll just let it go. What do you say?"
Facing Liu Yushi's honesty, Chen Ke also breathed a sigh of relief.
He had truly feared that Liu Yushi would fall for him regardless, and he wouldn't have known what to do then.
So, Chen Ke also said, "I agree with your point of view. That's what I meant too. Let's end it here."
"Sigh."
Liu Yushi suddenly sighed again and asked, "You don't seem to have any lingering feelings. It's like you've been set free?"
Chen Ke was noncommittal. "Weren't you the same?"
They understood each other tacitly. Frankly speaking, it was lust at first sight. After seeing each other's true appearance, the illusory love had completely dissipated.
This was what was called "dead upon seeing the light."
In plain terms, neither of them was attracted to the other.
"Actually, I still find it a bit ridiculous," Liu Yushi sighed. "We were so deeply in love online on QQ, talking on the phone every day, but when we met, neither of us noticed that our voices had changed."
Chen Ke nodded and also lamented, "Yes, do you remember when I asked you if you would still like me if I looked different from my photo? Would you still like me?"
Liu Yushi nodded. "I remember. I said no matter what you looked like, I would like you. And do you remember when I asked you what you would do if I was a catfish? Did you remember?"
Chen Ke also said, "I remember. I remember saying that whether you were a catfish or not, I would be devoted to you. I like your soul, not your appearance."
After speaking, they both felt relieved and smiled at each other.
"So, we were both too hypocritical," Liu Yushi said with a bitter smile.
"Yes, too hypocritical," Chen Ke also nodded.
In the end, they considered the matter settled with a smile.
"After we go back this time, I'll probably delete your QQ. We shouldn't contact each other again," Liu Yushi said.
"Actually, I've already deleted you," Chen Ke said with a smug smile, pulling out his phone.
"You're such a scoundrel!" Liu Yushi glared at him.
...
They came quickly and left quickly.
Tang Di and Liu Yushi, after being there for less than half a day, boarded the return bus.
For Liu Yushi and Chen Ke, their dreams had been shattered.
But for Wang Yue and Tang Di, it had been a wondrous encounter.
Tang Di and Wang Yue added each other as friends, not because anything would happen, but simply because they felt a sense of fate.
Chen Ke watched their figures disappear at the station and sighed wistfully. "Brother Yue, my love is dead."
"Did your love ever begin?" Wang Yue retorted. "It was all just a fabricated love lie that you spun online."
"Go and love properly, young man," Wang Yue patted Chen Ke's shoulder. "Love is not deception. True love is when both parties are genuinely sincere."