Chapter 52: Insufficiently Full Proportions

Wang Xiaoqian was deep in thought when suddenly a strong right arm reached from behind and wrapped around her waist. The arm was muscular and powerful, nearly toppling her over.

A chill ran through her body—she was terrified. She hadn't noticed when Li Xin had woken up. It was early morning, and with herself dressed so scantily and provocatively, she had no idea what he might think. Did that arm mean he intended to take advantage of her?

"Li..." she hurriedly whispered, trying to alert him, but was interrupted.

"Guoguo, Guoguo..." Li Xin's voice was thick with sleep, heavy with nasal tones, clearly talking in his dreams.

Wang Xiaoqian instantly let out a long sigh of relief; it seemed he wasn't conscious of his actions. She was about to push away the arm, thick as her own calf, when something struck her, her almond eyes widening in shock.

Guoguo!

That must be his ex-girlfriend.

Putting this together with her earlier suspicions, the girlfriend of the nine-time champion Gun King, Dawn, was none other than Lin Guo, captain of the Dongjia women's team.

No one had ever known Dawn's real name. He was always low-key and careful, but after a decade-long career, it was impossible that there was no information about him. Based on the developments over the past few days, Wang Xiaoqian had already guessed Li Xin was Dawn. This sleep-talk confirmed it beyond a doubt.

At this realization, she broke into a bright, playful smile.

Was this fate? She had unwittingly stumbled upon such a remarkable man. Dawn’s fame as the Gun King surpassed that of many top-tier celebrities. If he weren't so low-profile, his commercial value would surely reach enviable heights.

"Um... why... why are you..." Li Xin's voice interrupted Wang Xiaoqian's thoughts, and she suddenly remembered she was still in his embrace.

"I... I just came in to get my computer..." she stammered, scrambling for an excuse.

Li Xin awkwardly withdrew his arm and moved away, puzzled. "Get your computer? Why do you need it so early in the morning? Besides, even if you were in a hurry, you didn't have to come in without any clothes..."

"Uh... I..." Wang Xiaoqian’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

"This is my own home, I can do whatever I want. Who are you to care?" she retorted, grasping for justification, and fled the room.

"Your computer."

"No need."

"Come on, if you need it, I’ll bring it to you," Li Xin called after her.

"No need," she insisted.

"This black set of yours is pretty sexy, but the straps at the chest seem a bit loose. Clearly, it's too small for you..." Li Xin’s voice drifted out again.

Thud!

Just as Wang Xiaoqian was about to close the door, her foot slipped and she fell hard to the floor, landing in a heap, crying out in pain.

Since she was outside, Li Xin assumed she had fallen on her injury again and rushed out. Upon seeing her state, he immediately turned away, pretending not to notice.

"Hey, help me up!" Wang Xiaoqian cried miserably.

"You... you’re not wearing any clothes..."

"What's there to be afraid of?!" she shouted, her voice hoarse.

After a moment’s struggle and hesitation, Li Xin bent down, one arm under her neck, the other beneath her knees, and lifted Wang Xiaoqian up.

As he picked her up, her ample chest brushed against his, and he clearly felt her tremble in his arms.

"I... I didn't see anything..."

"Oh, you silly guy! If you saw, you saw—what’s with the pretense? Acting all virtuous like some ascetic!" Wang Xiaoqian suddenly broke into laughter, easing the awkward tension.

After settling her down and preparing to leave, she spoke up unexpectedly.

"Hey, Li Xin, did you stay up all night playing Landlord?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" Li Xin frowned, then realized—when he reached fifty wins, he had been so exhausted he’d collapsed into bed without even shutting down his computer.

Wang Xiaoqian giggled. "You’re impressive! You battled Yang Yu by day, then managed fifty straight wins at Landlord by night. That’s some skill."

"It was just luck. The opponent was a rookie at Landlord," he explained.

"Rookie, huh?" Wang Xiaoqian hinted, "Are you acquainted with Dawn?"

"No, not at all... Anyway, you should rest. I’m going to change," Li Xin replied, flustered, fleeing in haste, all his composure from gaming vanished.

Since he had already withdrawn from that world, already decided to live incognito, it was best to play dumb. Li Xin had no intention of walking that road again.

"Hmph, let’s see how long you can keep this up," Wang Xiaoqian snorted, an amused look on her face.

She had planned to probe and investigate this guy, but now her plans had changed. Knowing his identity made things even more interesting.

By the time she went downstairs, it was past eight. On the dining table sat steaming porridge and egg pancakes. Wang Xiaoqian, thinking Aunt Zhang had made them, was about to speak when she saw Li Xin coming out of the kitchen with a plate of side dishes.

"You made this?"

"Yeah."

"You can cook?"

"A little. I’m just usually too lazy," Li Xin replied.

Wang Xiaoqian nodded, picking up her phone to call Aunt Zhang. The woman had been her housekeeper for three and a half years and had never once been late. Today, she hadn’t even called—something urgent must have happened. Wang Xiaoqian had a great relationship with her and would naturally help if she was in trouble.

It took a long time for the call to connect, which made Wang Xiaoqian’s mood sink further. Something must have happened.

"Hello, Aunt Zhang, is something wrong at home?"

"I... I’m fine... I just overslept, Xiaoqian. I’ll be there soon," Aunt Zhang replied, flustered and unconvincing.

Wang Xiaoqian’s face darkened. "Enough, Aunt Zhang. Wait for me at home—I’m coming over."

"No, you don’t have to—"

Before she could finish, Wang Xiaoqian had already hung up, decisively. She skipped breakfast, and the two of them drove straight to Aunt Zhang’s home.

They arrived at an old housing complex, at a cramped forty-square-meter apartment—the place Aunt Zhang’s family rented. When they entered, Aunt Zhang and her husband were standing grim-faced, looking at their younger son, who was kneeling on the floor, crying, his expression exhausted.

Li Xin frowned. Wang Xiaoqian paid well—Aunt Zhang earned seven thousand a month, and with room and board, spent little. Her husband also had a job, reportedly bringing in three thousand a month. Together, their income was over ten thousand yuan—a solid middle-class living in Gaoyou.

Why subject themselves to such hardship, the entire family packed into this tiny space? Li Xin soon learned the answer.

Pressed by Wang Xiaoqian, Aunt Zhang finally broke down in tears and confessed.

"Xiaoqian, my husband and I scrimped and saved fifteen thousand, planning to use it as a down payment on a small apartment. But this unfilial son, Wang Huan, is going to be the death of us. He... he secretly spent sixty thousand yuan on games, trying to compete with others."

"If it weren’t for my husband going to the bank today, we’d never have found out," she choked.

Her husband, Old Wang, was livid, his face dark as thunder, but powerless to vent his rage. He crouched in a corner, chain-smoking, his weathered, dark face etched with lines, eyes dull and brimming with unshed tears.

As for Wang Huan, he clung desperately to Aunt Zhang’s leg, begging her forgiveness.

Sixty thousand yuan spent on a game. Wang Xiaoqian and Li Xin exchanged a sorrowful glance, hearts heavy. With such a huge loss, the family’s hopes and dreams had been shattered in an instant.