Xin stared at Meilyn's hand, contemplating the weight of her words and the new dynamics of their relationship.
After a few moments of hesitation, he finally accepted her hand, feeling a firm grip that contrasted with his own lack of strength.
The next thing he knew, Meilyn was saying goodbye, went outside in a hurry, and entered the Bugatti.
It must be her boyfriend. Xin thought.
The car went on its way, but Xin kept looking out the window.
It started to rain, but Xin's gaze remained fixed on the window, oblivious to the raindrops cascading down the glass. The world outside seemed to blur as he immersed himself in his thoughts, unable to tear his attention away from the recent turn of events.
As if breaking through his reverie, Xiaxia's voice pierced the silence, drawing his focus back to the present. She placed a plate of snacks on the table before taking a seat across from him, her eyes filled with concern.
"His name is Alexander Craig," Xiaxia began, her tone carrying a mixture of resignation and bitterness. "Son of Gregory Craig, a wealthy figure in the real estate business.
"Alexander himself is the captain of Dragons' Fury, one of the top one hundred guilds in the world. He's earning millions through his involvement in the game."
"You should just give up and move on," Xiaxia remarked, her tone filled with frustration.
Xin's expression remained stoic, his emotions concealed beneath a mask of calm. It didn't escape him that Xiaxia knew about Meilyn's boyfriend. They went to the same school, so she must have known. Was that why she was against him meeting her?
Despite Xiaxia's words echoing in his mind, suggesting he should give up and move on, his heart felt heavy with the weight of disappointment and longing.
Four years have passed but to him, it just felt like yesterday.
What was he supposed to do with all his feelings now?
A hollowness had settled within him as if something vital had been carved out. The love that once filled him now felt empty and distant.
He didn't want to move on . . .
He wanted something . . . something that would sate his anger and the void in his heart . . . something like . . . revenge.
"Xin."
Xin blinked and shifted his gaze toward his sister, Xiaxia.
"Are you okay?" Xiaxia asked, her brows furrowed with concern.
Xin's eyes returned to the table, his mind preoccupied with thoughts and emotions. "Yeah," he replied in a subdued tone.
Noticing his distant demeanor, Xiaxia silently pushed a plate of his favorite cake, carrot almond cake with chocolate milk cream deluxe, towards him.
Xin couldn't help but notice the gesture, but he couldn't muster much of a response. Instead, he focused on a different matter.
"You're going to pay for this, right?" Xin remarked, his tone casual.
Xiaxia's eye twitched, taken aback by Xin's nonchalant comment. "Out of all the things you should say, that's what you're concerned about?!" Xiaxia exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
She sighed when she realized Xin's lack of reaction. Taking a sip of her tea to compose herself, Xiaxia replied, "And yes, it's my treat."
Xin sliced a piece of cake and brought it to his mouth, savoring the familiar flavors. He then casually posed a question to his sister.
"How long have you been following me?" he asked, his tone casual yet probing.
Xiaxia choked on her tea, causing her to forcefully slam the cup onto the table. "F-following?! Me?! Following you?! Of course not!" she retorted, attempting to mask her surprise.
Xiaxia looked away and attempted to deceive Xin. "I was here in the first place. You just didn't notice me because you're too hung up on that cow," she lied, her voice tinged with bitterness.
Under her breath, Xiaxia muttered, her eyes darting around to avoid meeting Xin's gaze. "It's not like I noticed you from school and followed you like a stalker and eavesdropped on your conversation, alright?"
". . . Haa . . ." Xin looked to the side. So that's what happened.
Seeing the turmoil hidden behind her brother's cold façade, Xiaxia understood that he was struggling with a whirlwind of emotions. Emotions he was desperately concealing.
"You should just forget about her," Xiaxia spoke, her voice laced with frustration, as she toyed with her blueberry cheesecake. "She has no redeeming qualities except for her oversized breasts."
As the thought of Meilyn's figure entered Xiaxia's mind, she compared it to her own smaller bust. In her frustration, she repeatedly smashed her fork against the cake on her plate.
"What's so good about her? She's clumsy, easily scared, always crying over little things. Heck! She's not even that smart. She pretends to be a lotus to attract boys, but she's a man-eating carnivorous plant deep inside!"
Xiaxia's passionate tirade only fueled Xin's grief over his failed relationship. His depression and anger began to spiral out of control.
"Let's not talk about her anymore," Xin interjected and changed the topic. "Perfect timing. Now that you're here, I have a lot of things to ask you."
Xiaxia blinked, composed herself, and took a sip of her tea. "Is it about Guildbane?"
Xin nodded.
Xiaxia's face lit up with a mischievous grin, relishing the opportunity to showcase her knowledge and expertise. It was rare for Xin to ask for help –– especially her help.
"Ehehehe. What is it, then? I have been playing for four years. I know a lot of things in the game," she revealed, unable to hide her delight.
Xin ignored Xiaxia's smug face and was about to open his mouth when she spoke again.
"By the way, before we dive into that, what's your race and class in the game?" Xiaxia inquired.
"My race is beastfolk, and I don't have a class yet."
"Beastfolk?" Xiaxia's eyes widened. "That's unexpected! I thought you would go for something more conventional like an Elf or Sprite," she exclaimed.
"How so?"
Xiaxia smirked, enjoying the opportunity to tease her brother. "Ara . . . , I guess I forgot that you're not exactly well-versed in these types of games," she taunted.
A vein popped on Xin's head. "Just tell me."