She was looking forward to it.
The master-disciple system in Miracle was straightforward. As long as both parties sent a “form master-disciple bond” request through the system interface, they could become legitimate master and disciple in the game.
“Fade! Look at me!” In the game’s main city, Chen Yi made her character dance right in front of Fade.
Xu Yan typed back: Looks good.
She even added a clapping emote, playing along perfectly.
Chen Yi stressed: “Look at my head!”
Only then did Xu Yan notice that above the ID of Chen Yi’s character—where it had been empty before—sparkling pink letters now floated.
It read: Fade’s Disciple.
Xu Yan smiled.
Did all kids love showing off this much? Besides, she wasn’t some big shot. What was the point of plastering that on her head?
She thought it even as she typed it.
Fade: Looks good too.
Fade: But what’s it for?
Chen Yi: Big time useful!
She grumbled inwardly that she hadn’t expected Fade to be such a practical sort.
“It’s super useful,” Chen Yi said over voice chat. “Once it’s up there, everyone knows I’m off the market. Er, I mean, that I’ve joined a sect! And this pink? I bought special dye for it! Hehe, like it?”
“Anyway, with this on my ID, one glance and they know I’m yours!”
Fade: Hm?
Chen Yi cleared her throat. “Your disciple!”
“Am I not your favorite little disciple?” Chen Yi asked, feigning pitifulness.
Fade: You just started. I don’t know yet.
Staring at those words, Chen Yi thought Fade was an iron fortress, impervious to blades or seduction. Her flirting plan hadn’t even kicked off, and she was already bracing for a tough road ahead.
But no worries.
Ever heard of Leo? Spanning the tail end of July and the opening of August, Leo was the king of kings among the twelve zodiac signs. LEO—the fiercest star in the dazzling cosmos.
Once they set a goal, they never backed down.
Grinning ear to ear, Chen Yi said, “Then Master, just play with me more, hang out together, and you’ll see!”
Xu Yan didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked:
Fade: How do you put this on?
Chen Yi: Which one?
Fade’s character made a hand-raising gesture, pointing right at Chen Yi’s character’s head.
Chen Yi’s smile grew even brighter. “Master wants one too?”
Fade: Can’t I?
Of course she could. Chen Yi immediately walked her through it step by step and sent over some extra pink dye. Xu Yan accepted it and dyed her own badge. In an instant, the two female characters stood side by side, their IDs echoing each other with matching titles.
Chen Yi even detected a hint of flirtation in that pink glow.
Well, her one-sided flirtation.
She was thrilled beyond words, circling Fade’s character and snapping screenshots for ages.
“Now you’re mine too!” Chen Yi felt like she might float right off her computer chair.
Xu Yan corrected her: Um, you’re my disciple.
Pretending not to get it, Chen Yi fired off a (^^) emote.
Xu Yan glanced at the time from the car and asked the driver how much longer. He looked miserable and said the road was jammed up ahead—seemed like an accident. Probably another forty minutes.
“Sorry about this, Miss Xu.”
Xu Yan shook her head. “It’s fine.”
“I’ll make it in time.”
She figured she still had enough time for a gaming session, so she teamed up with Chen Yi again.
Now that they had the master-disciple bond, just doing activities together would quickly boost their intimacy.
Between dungeon runs, Xu Yan found a chance for casual chat.
Chen Yi had opened the door herself.
She’d asked after Xu Yan’s health—how was the cold? Should she take time off? Was work making it hard to see a doctor?
Xu Yan just said she was a bit busy, without admitting the cold was a white lie.
One lie to dodge voice chat for now. Another to keep Chen Yi from realizing Fade was Xu Yan.
As for why, Xu Yan wasn’t sure.
Maybe because it was fun.
Maybe because… she was scared?
She didn’t dwell on it and followed up on the topic instead.
Fade: What about you? How’s work?
Chen Yi had zero guards up. Whatever Fade asked, she answered straight.
“Don’t even ask,” Chen Yi said as she grabbed her weapon and headshot a monster. “My boss, Master—have I told you about her? The one I felt off around lunchtime.”
Xu Yan arched a brow and typed: You have.
Then: What’s she doing?
Chen Yi pouted. “She’s really weird.”
“I was about to become her assistant. She was fine with it one minute—maybe twenty or thirty minutes tops, and she even brought it up. Then I go downstairs for meds, and suddenly she doesn’t want me. Says I’m not suitable.”
Chen Yi swapped her gun for a dagger and charged in, slashing wildly at the enemy with a flurry of strikes.
Red game effects flashed with every hit.
Xu Yan wondered if Chen Yi was that mad about it.
She hadn’t expected this.
Speaking through Fade, she voiced her genuine confusion: Isn’t not doing it better?
Fade: I remember you saying at lunch you didn’t want to be her assistant.
Chen Yi pouted. “Master! That’s different!”
“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind—this assistant gig is mine!” Chen Yi declared firmly.
Fade: ???
“Hahaha, that emote is adorable,” Chen Yi said, instantly tickled by Fade’s little reaction. Her mood lifted, her voice softening as she explained to Fade. “My plan is to become her assistant, make her totally dependent on me, then pat my butt and walk away!”
“Hmph!”
“The old me, you ignored. The new me, you can’t touch!”
Xu Yan laughed.
So that’s the attitude Chen Yi had when signing up for the assistant selection?
Still such a kid.
After laying out her grand scheme, Chen Yi noticed Fade going quiet and wondered if she’d said something wrong. She replayed her words in her head, word for word, then asked tentatively: “Master, do you think I’m childish?”
Chen Yi knew her plan wasn’t exactly mature.
But what good was maturity?
Could it pay the bills?
Better to go big or go home than stew in angst.
She’d be the poster child for young people fixing the workplace!
The idea was noble, but in front of Fade, she couldn’t help caring what she thought—worried she’d come off badly, or not good enough. She wanted to be the best version of herself for her. Was this what it felt like to like someone?
While Chen Yi stewed in her own tension, Fade stayed silent.
After a long pause, she typed.
Fade: Just got out of the car. About to grab dinner.
Fade: It’s a little childish.
Five short words plunged Chen Yi straight to rock bottom.
Her head drooped. She poked at the tumbling doll sitting on her computer desk. It was the kind that always bobbed back up. She nudged it down.
Fade: But it’s cute.
The tumbling doll swayed back upright, then tipped the other way.
Up and down, just like Chen Yi’s mood.
Fade typed with utter sincerity: Good luck.
Those words filled Chen Yi with drive. She’d had some doubts about her scheme before, a bit of hesitation lingering. But now, with Fade’s encouragement, her confidence surged.
Afraid voice chat would betray too much emotion or her secret little thoughts, she hammered out the keys instead: I WILL!!!!
Sister Don’t Hit Me: Master, go eat!!
Fade: Okay.
Fade: Good night.
Sister Don’t Hit Me: Good night, Master!
Fade’s character vanished right in front of her.
Chen Yi lingered, staring at the empty spot, replaying Fade’s words. She glanced at the system notification too.
[Your Master Fade has logged off. Looking forward to next time!]
Chen Yi’s lips curved up.
How had she never noticed before? This game’s system had a way with words!
Meanwhile, Xu Yan stepped out of the car and bid the driver goodbye.
Curious, he asked, “Miss Xu, good news at work or something?”
You’re smiling so wide.
He rarely saw Miss Xu smile like that.
Xu Yan schooled her expression, but the amusement lingered in her eyes and voice as she replied.
“Something like that.”
Just how was Chen Yi planning to make her “hopelessly weird” boss so dependent she couldn’t let go?
The kid was the same as ever.
Full of tricks, endlessly entertaining.
She was looking forward to it.
