CHAPTER 1 (1/2)

Love Left or Right 1

Mottled walls, rusty fences and originally clear windows covered in stains. The faint sunshine of the early morning shining into the old apartment was like rain falling on a dirty robe, making it more dirty and smelly.

Despite leaving this place for a long time, Xie Su still felt the fear that deeply penetrated her bone marrow when she saw this old apartment again. She was afraid of this dark poverty.

She lowered her head, tightened the collar of her coat and the spotless soles of her shoes stepped on the fallen leaves. The walls of the corridor were covered with various advertisements while the concrete staircase was full of potholes and even vomit. Xie Su covered her nose and mouth. Her pale face arrived in front of door 201. She hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

She lived here for seven years and never thought she would come back but…

The door opened and in the faint light, Xie Su looked at this teenager who was half a head taller than her.

He was very beautiful. The ink-coloured hair was like dark night, completing suiting the face that was as white as the snow of winter. He had amazing facial features: narrow eyebrows, a high nose and beautiful lips. However, the lips were tip and the corners of the mouth curved downwards, making him look indifferent and alienated.

Xie Su reluctantly smiled. “Xiao Xi…”

Xie Xi’s eyes were cold and his voice was like a stone hitting clear water. “Is there something?”

Xie Su’s smile became stiffer. “Can I come in?”

Xie Xi silently shifted his body.

Xie Su walked into the house and felt that it was completely different from the shabby exterior. The place was small. There was a cramped single room and the decorations were old. The floor was cement and the composite wood tables and chairs had long faded. The clock on the wall made an old ticking sound.

However, it was very clean and neatly organized. It was even cleaner than the three-storey building where she lived.

Xie Su retracted her gaze and looked at the teenager. “How come you haven’t answered your phone?”

Xie Xi frowned and looked down.

Xie Su spoke in a soft voice, “You are living here alone. Mother is very worried.”

Xie Xie Xi remained silent. Xie Su added, “You shouldn’t do this. I talked to Uncle Liu for you and you can go to his company…”

“No.” Xie Xi refused calmly. “You don’t have to worry about my business.”

Xie Su exclaimed, “You are only 19 years old and dropped out of university? How can you find a job?”

Xie Xi had no expression on his face.

Xie Su continued, “Be a good boy and be obedient. Mom won’t let you live like this. Go to work.Staying in the house all day…” She looked at the computer screen. “…It isn’t okay to just play games.”

Xie Xi glanced at her and asked, “Is there anything else?”

Xie Su froze.

Xie Xi told her, “If there is nothing else then please go back. Everyone should be waking up in a while.” He spoke in a calm voice but Xie Su’s expression changed.

It was five in the morning and the corridors were empty. All the neighbours were sleeping. In half an half, the people in the apartments would start waking up and Xie Su didn’t want to see them, let alone have any involvement with them. She came here so early to deliberately avoid them and Xie Xi noticed her intentions.

Xie Su finally got to the point. “I am pregnant.”

Xie Xi’s dark eyes narrowed and the corners of his mouth lowered. “Oh, congratulations.”

Xie Su grabbed his wrist and anxiously urged him, “Xiao Xi, come back. Mother has married him and I’m pregnant with his child. This time I definitely will be able to protect you.”

Xie Xi removed her fingers and said, “Take care of yourself. Don’t worry about me.’

Xie Su wanted to speak more but Xie Xi pushed her out the door, closing the old but incredibly sturdy iron door.

Xie Su stared at the iron door and reluctantly told him, “Mother isn’t the same as before. Think about it and I will wait to hear from you.”

Xie Xi didn’t speak. He waited until he heard footsteps leaving before sitting down in front of the computer and staring at the screen.

What was different?

Xie Xi picked up the mouse and manipulated the characters in the game.

He wasn’t a puppet or someone to be taken advantage of.

Xie Xi’s father disappeared when he was two years old. HIs mother, Xie Su, became the mistress of Mr. Liu when Xie Xi was nine years old. She slowly ‘boiled’ Mr. Liu for a full 11 years before finally marrying into the Liu family and becoming pregnant.

Xie Xi really blessed her. After all, she finally got what she wanted.

He sighed and put the equipment he gained onto the auction house. He hadn’t used Xie Su’s money and was living on his own savings. He previously had to scrape together money for tuition fees so now it was much easier.

It wasn’t easy to make money from games but Xie Xi’s luck in this area was better than others. He could always gain good things that other people dreamt of. He didn’t use them and sold them, switching the profit to cash.

Today was like normal. He finished and was preparing to go to sleep when a flower appeared in front of him.

[The conditions are met… verification is successful… the game is loading…]

Xie Xi was stunned. What was going on? A hangover from the all-nighter? No, it wasn’t.

He blinked and the first half of the line gradually faded, while the next few words became clearer.

They floated in the air like a projection. Xie Xi quickly turned his head and the line of words followed him, falling on the wall he was looking at.

An illusion?