"That was so cool," thought Xu Long to himself as he walked past all the onlookers. He was so happy with himself today. He wouldn't have had the courage to say those words before if not for his new body. If a below-average nobody were to say it, they would receive laughs, but if it was said by a handsome individual such as himself, it would be perceived as cool by all those watching him.
"Wait," a pretty voice stopped him. It was the same girl who told him to play again. "What does she want?" he thought. Wait. He had good looks, so did that mean that this girl wanted to ask for his number? If so, he would happily give it to her because back then, girls wouldn't ask for his number, and the only ones who did were his hardcore fans who didn't care about how he looked.
But sadly, the pretty lady didn't want his number. "Let's have a duel in Valor," Li Ling said.
Xu Long stared blankly. Only now did he realize that his prior victory was too professional. This beautiful girl was curious about his strength, but Xu Long bitterly laughed, shaking his head. "I can't beat you."
"Why?" Li Ling was startled.
"Because I don't have an account that can beat yours," Xu Long said.
"Account… what level is it? What equipment?" Li Ling asked.
"No levels, no equipment," Xu Long said.
"How?" Li Ling couldn't believe it. This guy had fast hand speed and amazing experience. If this type of person didn't have a leveled account, then how did he practice to this level of skill?
"Actually, I don't have an account at all."
No way. That couldn't have been possible. If this guy had no experience at all, then he would be considered a prodigy—no, a prodigy among prodigies.
"You must be lying. There's no way that's true. After all, you only played the way you did because you have experience, not to mention you know how to use skills as well. If that isn't experience, then tell me what it is."
"Oh no, that's because I play on my friend's account from time to time."
Li Ling blinked, trying to process what he just said. "Your friend's account? How often do you play on it?"
"Uh, not that often. Maybe once every few months," Xu Long replied, scratching his head.
Li Ling stared at him in disbelief. "So you're telling me you have fast hand speed in Valor and you don't even have your own account?"
Xu Long nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, pretty much."
Li Ling couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You really are something else."
Xu Long joined in the laughter, feeling a bit embarrassed but also relieved that she wasn't mad. "Well, I guess I'm just a natural."
"A natural slacker, maybe," Li Ling teased. "You know, if you actually had your own account and practiced regularly, you'd be unstoppable."
"Maybe," Xu Long said, still smiling. "But where's the fun in that?"
Li Ling shook her head, still amused. "You're unbelievable. But seriously, you should think about getting your own account. With your skills, you'd be a top player in no time."
"Maybe one day," Xu Long said. "But for now, I'm just happy playing for fun."
"Alright, Mr. Fast Hands. I won't press you on it. But if you ever change your mind, let me know. I'd love to see what you can really do with some proper training," Li Ling said, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Xu Long grinned. "Will do. Thanks for the match, by the way. It was fun."
"Anytime," Li Ling said, waving as she walked away.
Xu Long watched her go, still chuckling to himself. He had never met anyone quite like her before. And as much as he enjoyed the game, he had to admit, meeting new people was half the fun.
As he walked away, Xu Long couldn't help but feel a little more confident in his new body. Maybe this reincarnation thing wasn't so bad after all. He had a lot to learn and a lot to figure out, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was on the right path. And besides, he was going to go back to the top anyway. But for now, he was content just being Xu Long, the guy with fast hands in Valor.
He walked back home feeling rather happy. When he got back to his house, he found out that his mother's name was Lily. It seemed that his father was Chinese while his mother was American. That could be the reason why he was getting all those stares because he was an Asian American. He wondered where his father was, but it would appear weird if he were to ask about his father, so he refrained from asking.
"You've been gone for quite some time," his mother asked.
"Oh no, I just got lost while taking in the scenery."
"I'm so happy you were taking your Chinese classes diligently because you've been speaking so fluently since we moved here."
"Oh yeah, you're right," said Xu Long, almost choking on his food.
Lily chuckled, patting his back. "Take it easy, champ. No need to rush."
Xu Long laughed, a little embarrassed. "Sorry, I guess I'm just really hungry."
"So, did you make any friends while you were out?" Lily asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Yeah, actually," Xu Long said, his mind flashing back to Li Ling. "I met a girl who plays Valor. She's really good."
"Is she cute?" Lily teased, winking at him.
Xu Long felt his face heat up. "Mom, it's not like that!"
Lily laughed. "I'm just teasing you. It's good to hear you're making friends."
Xu Long nodded, still feeling a bit flustered. "Yeah, she's nice. We played a match together. It was fun."
"That's great," Lily said, smiling warmly. "I'm glad you're settling in. How about you tell me more about this girl?"
Xu Long sighed, knowing his mom wouldn't let it go. "Her name is Li Ling. She's really good at Valor and pretty funny too."
"Sounds like a good friend to have," Lily said, nodding approvingly. "Maybe you should invite her over for dinner sometime."
"Mom, we just met," Xu Long protested, though he couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"Well, whenever you're ready," Lily said, giving him a reassuring pat on the back. "Now, finish your food before it gets cold."
Xu Long dug into his meal, feeling a warm sense of contentment. It had been a good day, and he was looking forward to seeing what the future held. Maybe this new life wouldn't be so bad after all.
As he finished his dinner, Xu Long's mind wandered back to his match with Li Ling. He couldn't help but smile, thinking about how surprised she had been by his skills. Maybe he should take her advice and get his own account. With proper practice, he could become a top player again. But for now, he was happy just enjoying the game and making new friends. Life had taken an unexpected turn, but Xu Long was determined to make the most of it. He had a new body, new opportunities, and a whole new world to explore.
And who knew? Maybe he'd find out more about his father and his heritage along the way. There was so much to discover, and Xu Long was ready for the adventure. As he got up to wash his dishes, Xu Long glanced at his mother. She was humming a tune, her face serene and content. Even though he had just met her, he could already feel an amazing bond, and it wouldn't be so bad to be her son.
But all he knew was that one day he would return to his throne. It was an unwavering certainty that fueled him, a burning desire that ignited his spirit and propelled him forward. He would reclaim his rightful place, not just as a top player in Valor, but as a legend in the gaming world.