Chapter 4

Zack took his drink and left his ring-light livestream spot, walking straight toward my table.

He walked with total confidence, even deliberately adjusting his shirt collar, nailing that rich, devoted young-master vibe.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you."

He stopped at the seat opposite my booth and flashed the signature smile that had once won over countless girls on Twitch.

"This diner’s AC is always blasting, and I think you need a martini that suits the place better than a boring sparkling water."

"Can I buy you a drink?"

I lifted my eyes and slowly moved my gaze from his Patek Philippe to his face.

This face had once sent me endless sweet talk through the screen in countless late nights, and now it was using the same expression to hit on a woman he thought was completely strange.

I didn’t refuse. I just tapped lightly on the table with my fingers.

"Sit."

A flash of triumph crossed Zack’s eyes, and he sat down without hesitation.

He took out his phone and deliberately left his obvious million-follower streamer profile visible.

"I’m Zack. I usually work in esports investments and streaming. What about you? Here alone waiting for someone?"

"Sort of."

I swirled the glass in my hand.

"Waiting for my online boyfriend. He said he’d give me a huge surprise today."

Zack visibly paused for a moment, then let out a charming little laugh.

"Online dating? Someone like you, a top-tier hottie, still needs to online-date?"

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes turning intensely predatory.

"That guy must have no idea how lucky he is. If it were me, I’d never let you sit here waiting for more than a minute."

"Is that so?"

I looked straight into his eyes. "But I heard you have an online girlfriend too?"

"And it looks like you’re over there humiliating her at the next table for views."

Zack’s expression flickered awkwardly for a split second.

But he quickly recovered and put on a look that was helpless and deeply affectionate.

"You saw that just now? Sorry you had to witness that."

He sighed and leaned back against the booth. "That doesn’t even count as online dating. It’s just a mess I couldn’t avoid."

"She’s been pestering me for a whole year, sending me hundreds of messages every day. I’m just too kind. I never had the heart to reject her."

"Until I found out she wasn’t just a 250-pound fat girl, she’d also been tricking me with fake photos."

Zack spread his hands, his tone full of disgust.

"The only reason I did this today was to make her give up for good. I don’t want her clinging to my life like a leech anymore."

I listened to these lies that twisted the truth upside down and only felt sick and amused at the same time.

She was sending him hundreds of messages every day?

Who was the one calling me over and over at three in the morning when his call wouldn’t go through, forcing me to crawl out of bed and play ranked matches with him?

Who was the one who swore after receiving the limited-edition keyboard I bought him that he’d never marry anyone else and would only marry me someday?

Just then, the soft sound of high heels approached.

Chloe came over carrying her phone. "Zack, the fans are asking where you ran off to."

She stood beside the booth and looked down at the silk slip dress I was wearing, then finally stopped on my face, which had no flaws at all.

"This lady looks a little unfamiliar. Is she a new streamer in our circle?"

Her smile was extremely deceptive, but her tone was barbed.

"Zack is just too warmhearted. He always wants to mentor newcomers when he sees them."

"But miss, Zack’s taste is very picky. Just having a pretty face won’t get you into our circle."

I looked at the pair of them performing in sync.

They were still lost in the superiority they had built for themselves, thinking they were the absolute rulers of this game.

"He is picky."

I picked up my phone from the table and swiped the screen on with my fingertip.

"But I’d like to see just how picky he can really be."