Love Began with the First Meeting

When Charlie came back to his dormitory, the bookworm was pacing around the room visibly distraught by something. It was easy to guess that he came upon a problem that, as of that moment, he wouldn't be able to solve. Taking a slight glance at him, Charlie said in an indifferent tone, "Don't think about it too hard. Oftentimes, if not all the time, that only leads to the opposite result you want." After pouring a cup of water for the bookworm, he continued, "If you're stressed badly by the project, why don't you have a vacation and try to relax?" Turning to the bookworm, he raised his eyebrows as if to signal that that idea was very good for him.

Upon hearing this, the bookworm scratched his hair and took off his thick glasses. With a deep breath, he exclaimed, "Ugh! No matter how hard I work, I will never catch up with a genius!"

This made Charlie sigh. When he looked at the person who was now clearly distressed, he tried his hardest to smile and in a joking tone, said, "You've already accomplished so much more than many geniuses. And it would be better if you don't compare yourself to me. I'm a perfect product created by Satan! And I'm the only one he made!"

"Ahaha!" The bookworm burst into laughter at what Charlie just said. "Well, I'm afraid there really isn't anybody in the world whose skin is thicker than yours, Charlie."

"And I respectfully disagree. As long as you're alive, I won't have that title!" Charlie said seriously. "A moment ago I said that you've already achieved so much more than many geniuses, and you agreed!"

The bookworm burst into laughter again. He really liked Charlie, because he didn't look down on anyone just because they were inferior to him in ability. Also, he would treat everybody equally, nicely, sincerely as long as he was treated the same. While living together with such a genius, the bookworm was not afraid that he would ever get lost, whether it be in academics or in real life. Every time he felt like he was about to lose it, Charlie would always give him a hand, regardless of the consequences it had for him.

"Thank you!" the bookworm said from the bottom of his heart.

Hearing that, Charlie patted him on his shoulder and gave him a faint smile. Then he walked towards his computer.

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: Charlie Long, if you still don't reply, I will...

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: I'm really angry!

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: All right! I'm not angry... but would you please reply to me?! She attached a smiling emoji. [Spouse] Sweet Dream: Why did you turn your cellphone off?

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: Charlie Long!

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: ...

These messages filled his inbox. One by one, Charlie worked through them, and as he did, he had gotten lost in his thoughts.

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: I don't know what kind of affection I have towards you. I'm utterly confused at how greatly you've changed. You were not like this when we were children! I don't want to think about it that way but I think you're just playing me now! But then my instincts tell me otherwise. Hmnn...Besides, it seems that Allen still occupies a part of my heart. I don't think that would be fair for you.

[Spouse] Sweet Dream: I don't know whether you're in front of your computer or not. Anyway, it doesn't matter. You'd see them sooner or later anyway. I'm so sorry, Charlie. I think I need to carefully rethink our relationship.

That was the last message from Elsa. Charlie quickly looked at the time the messages were sent and he discovered that they were only sent 20 minutes ago. Instinctively, he felt for his phone in his pocket. With a swift move he finally was able to fish it out, but it was dead. 'Low battery!' he thought to himself, starting to get frustrated. With a frown on his face, he looked for a charger in his room. When he finally was able to get a hold of one, he quickly ran to a socket and plugged his phone up. After a few minutes, he turned the device on and as expected, he had received plenty of missed calls and messages. After looking them through one by one, he quickly typed up a message.

"My patience have been used up during the years I have to wait for you to grow up. In all actuality, I don't want to wait for your answer, but I have to, because I don't want to give you a future you're not certain about."

A bitter smile appeared at the corners of his mouth. After sending the short message, he threw the cellphone onto his desk. Breathing deeply, he tried to regain in composure. After a few minutes, he sat down in front of the computer and checked out the Group channel. [Group] Rose In The Field: This time we will have the meet-and-greet in T City. Who will come?

[Group] Legendary Past: Definitely me! I'll come! I'm so glad that I'm going to see my eldest brother again.

[Group] LOL: I'm not going. I can't handle all the affairs in A City until then.

[Group] Rose In The Field: Well... It seems that somebody is giving up a good opportunity to win a queen's heart. How? And why?

[Group] Dangerous Beauty: Rose In The Field, you're wrong. The truth is that he is afraid that he would not be able to endure the combined resistance of two giants.

[Group] LOL: Go away! Do you really think that I could not stand such pressure? You all are delusional!

[Group] Ice Is Water Awake: Yes, I do think so. By the way, when are you going to pay back the money you borrowed?

[Group] LOL: Silent Sorrow has gone too far this time. Since he gets a girlfriend, he has become excessively mean. How could he split the bill with his buddies? Because of that, I have a longer way to go before I earn enough money to get married!

As soon as his words appeared, the members of Madness Is Good began ridiculing him relentlessly.

[Group] Valiant Life: Will Sweet Dream go to T City?

[Group] Legendary Past: I don't know. You have to ask Sorrow about that.

[Group] LOL: Now that Silent Sorrow is mentioned, where is he? He is online but hasn't said a word.

[Group] Silent Sorrow: I guess she won't go.

LOL and Silent Sorrow's messages appeared in Group channel in succession. Perhaps it was because everybody could sense the weird atmosphere that suddenly engulfed the chat room that none of the members replied in the Group channel. But Charlie received quite a few direct messages from the other members.

[Friend] Ice Is Water Awake: Ezra told me what you did to Elsa yesterday. Is it true? I can't believe what he said, but your attitude at the moment makes me feel that perhaps I have overestimated you.