01

They said there were 3.5 billion men on Earth.

Yet here I was, had been single for over twenty years, without even a single guy's contact information.

Today, my last roommate in our shared apartment found one of those 3.5 billion men and moved out.

I returned to the now empty home, feeling a deep sense of loneliness.

I opened up a game I hadn't played in ages. Not only did I get crushed by the opposing team, but I was also humiliated by my own teammates.

I couldn't hold back my anger and felt very aggrieved. Couldn't I really find a man?

Acting on a whim, I opened the lobby. Just then, I noticed a guy whose avatar was of the protagonist from one of my favorite anime. He had posted a team-up request.

Not only was this guy a VIP player, but his stats were also impressive.

Alright, he would do!

If I couldn't get a boyfriend in real life, why not have a virtual one?

I clicked on his profile and sent a friend request. [Looking for a CP.]

But there was no response.

I checked his intimacy status—no women.

Looked like I need to bring out the big guns. Time to use the flirting techniques I had studied online. I sent another friend request. [Hey handsome, want to see a pretty girl's photo?]

Sure enough, he accepted.

Hmph, men.

[Hey handsome, add me on social media.]

[?]

After sending a question mark, he pulled me into a team. He turned on his headset but muted his microphone.

Seems like he was a shy guy.

I continued speaking in the cute voice I'd perfected from online tutorials. I never thought this technique would actually come in handy one day.

"Are you good, brother?"

Still no response; he just started the game.

For the first time, I experienced what it meant to be truly carried in a game.

A five-player game instantly became a one-man show.

His skills were breathtaking—I started to suspect he might be a streamer.

After the game ended, he sent a message. [How was that?]

I nodded furiously, "Amazing! You're incredible, big brother!"

This wasn't flattery; it was genuine admiration.

[So, where's the photo you promised?]

Looks like that's his real motivation.

I sent him my WhatsApp ID.

[Add me, big brother.]

I quickly received a friend request.

His username was Moon.

However, if this guy thought one game was enough to get his reward, he was sorely mistaken.

[Carry me one more game, and I'll send it.]

He didn't reply, but he started another game. This time, he played even better than before.

After a day of work-related stress, this thrill in the virtual world was a true stress reliever.

Especially with someone like him around, it felt like my life was on a winning streak.

After another high-scoring game.

[Don't deny it.] He sent such a message.

I quickly searched for a pretty girl's photo online and sent it to him.

[Not someone else's.] He replied almost immediately.

He caught on!

Just as I was hesitating, I suddenly received a money transfer of 1,314 dollars.

I was completely stunned!

[Hurry up.]

Things were getting out of hand.

But today, I was already in a certain mood, feeling a bit impulsive.

I accepted the transfer, put on my nicest clothes, and took a selfie in front of the bedroom mirror, then sent it over.

[Do you need a CP, big brother?]

[Sure.]

He is really a man who is economical with words.

And so, on a random night, I unexpectedly found myself with a virtual boyfriend.

02

For guys on the internet, a CP was a CP, a girlfriend was a girlfriend, and a wife was a wife.

When my girlfriends heard about my story from last night, they all told me not to get too attached.

I understood what they were saying, but whether or not I got attached wasn't up to me—it depended on how good-looking he was.

Take this man in front of me, Felix, for example. I could be obsessed with his looks forever.

"Is this the best you could come up with after two weeks of brainstorming!?"

Felix, the young boss, only had his looks going for him; his character left much to be desired.

His biggest flaw was his mouth, sharp and cold.

"I've practically spoon-fed you, but you still manage to come up with something like this?" Felix was losing his temper.

Kellen, the project manager, and his assistant stood in front of Felix's desk with their heads down. Felix held a few proposals in his hand.

I knew all about this manager—he was great at managing up but lacking in real ability.

So, with time, his flaws became more apparent.

Kellen began to look at me for help.

They always expected me to save them from their messes—it was truly exhausting.

In the three years I had been at this company, whenever they were about to get scolded, I took the heat. Whenever they couldn't handle the pressure, I bore it for them.

If it weren't for the fact that Felix pays better than other companies, I wouldn't want to continue this.

"Felix, you have a more important meeting later. I've already sent the PPT to your email."

Considering that Kellen had always been nice to me, I decided to lend a hand—or rather, to redirect Felix's anger.

Normally, Felix would start mocking me at this point, but today he didn't.

He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read and then said, "Alright, I'll take a look first. You two, hurry up and revise these proposals and send them to me today."

Kellen looked at me with admiration and quickly ran out with his assistant.

Not only were they surprised, but I was also taken aback.

I had even prepared his usual lines in my head, like, "Are you teaching me how to do my job now?" or "Secretary Mo, who gave you permission to speak?"

But today, he said nothing of the sort and actually listened.

Unbelievable.

I was caught off guard.

03

I studied him carefully. Today, Felix had an extra phone.

The phone he usually used was on his desk, but he held a new phone I had never seen before.

I was a bit curious, but since it was the CEO's private life, I didn't ask.

I carried on as usual, brewing coffee, delivering the documents he needed in the morning, and then I left his office.

That was when I received a message from [Moon].

[Show me your legs.]

A million question marks filled my mind, but I couldn't react too obviously in public.

[No, I'm at work.]

Immediately, I was bombarded with a series of red envelope payments.

This kind of financial assault was truly hard to resist!

I never thought that after living so righteously all these years, fate would choose such a way to corrupt me!

[I don't care, just now.]

The power of money was really effective.

I discreetly stretched out my legs and carefully took a photo to send over.

[Negative review!]

I wanted to curse him in my mind, but I couldn't lose my temper.

[Your skin looks nice, but your skirt is too long.]

I rolled my eyes so hard they almost got stuck, but there wasn't much I could do.

[Take another one.]

I gently pinched the hem of my skirt, looked around, then awkwardly lifted it a bit. I took out my phone, picked a good angle to make my legs look longer, and sent it over.

[You have a great figure.]

[I want to see if you're handsome, too, big brother.]

This guy had been asking for photos from me non-stop; I wanted to see what he looked like as well.

Then, he disappeared without a trace.

After working late into the night, I dragged my exhausted body back home, and [Moon] finally appeared.

[Get online.]

I felt a sudden surge of energy, like I'd just had a shot of adrenaline, and quickly logged into the game.

Once online, he immediately invited me to join his team.

He was just as fierce as yesterday, and all the fatigue I felt from the day disappeared instantly.

[You're amazing! If only there was a pro like you to carry me in real life too.]

[It's not impossible.]

His reply left me a bit puzzled.

[Are you a pro in real life too, big brother?]

[Let's just say I can afford to take care of you.]

Though he seemed like he might just be all talk, having someone say that to me still made my heart flutter.

04.

Lately, I had been chatting a lot with [Moon], and I had started sending him photos of myself in various pretty outfits.

While he still wouldn't show me his face, he half-heartedly showed me his amazing physique.

When I saw his perfect body, I felt like my soul had been cleansed.

God was indeed kind to me!

Now that I had [Moon], even working for someone as devilish as Felix had become more bearable.

Today, when I delivered some documents to Felix, I noticed he was smiling stupidly at that mysterious phone.

He was so engrossed he didn't notice me coming in.

I coughed lightly, and he jumped, hastily putting the phone away.

"Uh... you came in without knocking?" Felix said awkwardly.

"I did knock, but Felix was too engrossed to notice."

"No, it's not what you think," Felix quickly explained.

"Okay, okay," I nodded with a knowing look.

Explanations were just cover-ups.

Well, it looked like all the girls in the office would have their hearts broken now.

Judging by this, our forever aloof Felix was in love.

I wonder which woman was so out of her mind that she'd want to climb his lion-and-tiger mountain.

"By the way, Secretary Emma, a friend is coming back from abroad tonight. Can you help arrange a welcome party?" Felix called after me.

"Same place as usual?"

I knew the group of heirs had a club where they always held their parties.

"Yes."

"Is it a gentleman or a lady?"

Hearing this, Felix looked up at me. "Uh... a lady. It's Leticia, a childhood friend. But we're just friends, nothing more."

When I heard the name Leticia, my gossip-loving heart skipped a beat.

I heard she was the chosen daughter-in-law of the Galvan family, but she was abroad for her MBA when I joined the company, so I hadn't met her.

Seeing Felix so nervous, she might just be the person on that mysterious phone.

Exclusive phone, don't miss anything about you.

How romantic!

To give Felix a helping hand in his love life, I decided to use everything I'd ever learned to prepare the best welcome party tonight!

05.

[I might not be able to play with you online tonight, but I'll try to make it back for a goodnight game.]

I received a message from [Moon].

That worked out well—it meant I could focus entirely on Felix's love life tonight.

[No worries, big brother! My boss has given me a task too. Mwah.]

At first, calling him big brother was a bit awkward, but now I'd mastered it.

[I bought your favorite coffee. Share it with your colleagues.]

Soon after, a delivery guy arrived with ten cups of coffee, enough for the entire executive office.

I had mentioned where I worked and my colleagues casually during our chats, and he remembered everything.

My colleagues looked at me with gossip-filled eyes, teasing, "So you're really in a relationship, huh? Congrats, Emma!"

The word really was used with perfect precision.

I smiled and nodded, realizing there was one extra cup.

Could it be for my boss?

It shouldn't be—he said to share it with my colleagues.

I took the extra cup to Kellen since he had always been kind to me.

Those project managers were tough to deal with; they thought I was just a secretary using borrowed authority and were always slyly defiant. Only Kellen was straightforward and polite.

After a while, Felix came out of his office and stood in front of my desk.

"Felix, is there something you need?" I immediately stood up and asked.

"Everyone's enjoying their drinks, huh?" Felix's expression didn't look too pleased.

"Yes, Emma's boyfriend bought these for all of us. So generous!" my colleagues teased.

Watching Felix's expression, I wondered—could he be upset because he didn't get one? I thought he didn’t drink sweet things.

"Why didn't your boyfriend buy one for your boss?" Felix looked at me.

I froze. I never expected Felix, a CEO, to ask such a childish question.

In my experience, a typical boss might be slightly annoyed but wouldn't say anything. Felix, however, was anything but typical.

"It's all my fault. I thought you didn't drink sweet things. I'll go buy one right away. What flavor would you like?" I replied.

"I don't drink sweet things!" Felix threw out this line and stormed off angrily.

No worries, I would make sure the welcome party was perfect to make up for it!