Is It Too Late to Leave the Chat Group?

Book 5: Chapter 45:2: Holy Grail War Mission, Part 2

“Elder Brother Heng, what are you thinking about?”

“Hmm…I was just wondering whether I should find a girlfriend.” Chen Heng answered Luo Li honestly, without giving it much thought.

“Huh?!”

“Huh?!”

“Huh?!”

“Huh?!”

“Little Heng, do you have someone in mind for a girlfriend?” asked Raven after a moment of stunned silence.

“Not really, but I think Nightingale seems quite nice.”

“Nightingale? Who’s that? Someone from the association?” Upon hearing this unfamiliar name, both Mo Qingtong and Luo Li turned to Sirin.

Mo Qingtong and Luo Li prided themselves on their knowledge of Chen Heng’s social interactions. They weren’t aware of anyone named Nightingale, so she must be a member of the so-called Dimension Administrators Association.

“Well, it’s not exactly…,” Sirin answered dutifully.

“I know, I know! Nightingale, the female character from the game Arknights, right? She’s really beautiful. It’s hard to believe that someone as strait-laced as you, Chen Heng, could snag Nightingale,” Luo Li’s System 2333 interjected before Chen Heng could answer.

“Beautiful? More beautiful than me?” Luo Li suddenly asked.

“Compared to you? Nightingale has fair skin, a pretty face, long legs, and a larger chest. Plus, her gentle character can easily elicit a man’s protective instincts. You, on the other hand, might provide a sense of security to a man in certain situations, but you can’t really elicit protective instincts,” System 2333 said tactlessly.

Luo Li: “…”

System 2333: “…”

System 2333 suddenly wondered if it had said something wrong. Is it too late to apologize now?

If Chen Heng knew what System 2333 was thinking, he would say: Sorry, it’s too late.

Why? Because Chen Heng saw a flash of anger in Luo Li’s eyes when System 2333 compared Nightingale to her—to her detriment.

“Sorry, everyone, I need to go back to my room for a bit. You guys carry on.” Luo Li suddenly stood up, nodded at everyone, and walked upstairs.

Before she ascended the stairs, she exchanged glances with Mo Qingtong, and they both nodded.

Despite their frequent bickering, Luo Li and Mo Qingtong always stood united against outsiders.

Sensing its impending doom, System 2333 began to plead for mercy from Luo Li. “Luo-Luo Li, I was wrong. Please don’t—”

“It’s too late. I’ll let you experience what a flat-chested girl who can bring a sense of security to others is like.”

Luo Li completely ignored System 2333’s pleas and crushed System 2333’s display, which showed its pleading avatar.

The group watched Luo Li’s unemotional departure upstairs in silence.

“Ah Heng, how long have you and this Nightingale known each other?” Mo Qingtong asked after Luo Li had left the room. When Luo Li and Mo Qingtong exchanged nods earlier, Luo Li sent her a private message on the Re:Life Chat Group.

Find out everything about this Nightingale and her connection with Chen Heng. Figure out how yourself.

No problem.

“Probably around a week,” Chen Heng replied after some thought, uncertainty coloring his voice, as he realized he couldn’t remember exactly how long he had known Nightingale.

“A week! You’ve known her for only a week, and you’re thinking of making her your girlfriend?” Mo Qingtong couldn’t hold back, smacking the table in surprise.

A week? It’s only been a week, and you fell in love with that Nightingale? We have known each other for ten years, yet you already have feelings for her after a week?!

Mo Qingtong wanted to shout that, but she refrained from voicing her thoughts, maintaining her image.

“Qingtong, why are you getting so worked up? I didn’t say I wanted Nightingale to be my girlfriend. I just think her personality suits a girlfriend. Besides, dating doesn’t necessarily mean marriage.”

“Are you planning to be a scumbag, Little Heng? Dating without the intention of marriage is scummy.”

“Elder Sister Raven, please, I was just pondering. Can I not even think about it? Besides, Nightingale isn’t here, and she’s a 2D character. What’s wrong with liking a 2D character?” As Chen Heng continued speaking, he gained more confidence.

“A 2D character?”

“System 2333 already mentioned it. Nightingale is a character from the game Arknights. I’ve been playing it lately. Nightingale’s character design is really beautiful. Furthermore, even if I like her, it doesn’t mean she likes me back.”

“Do you like her?” Raven asked, feeling there was more to this situation than met the eye.

After some thought, Chen Heng replied, “I wouldn’t say I like her. I just have a favorable impression of her at best.”

“In that case, Little Heng, do you have a favorable impression of my young miss, Luo Li, or Sirin?”

“Of course I do.”

Relieved, Raven felt the threat Nightingale posed to her young miss was insignificant compared to Luo Li, and maybe even Sirin. Sirin seemed to look at Chen Heng differently, reminding Raven of how her young miss looked at Chen Heng. Raven saw Sirin as a major rival since Chen Heng dropped his guard around Sirin.

However, she might just be mistaken.

“By the way, Little Heng, who among Luo Li, Miss Mo, Sirin, and myself do you think would make a good girlfriend?”

“Huh?” Although Chen Heng had never dated, he astutely noticed this was a trick question.

“Well…all of you are great. Luo Li is quiet and obedient, Sirin is cute and well-behaved, Elder Sister Raven is gentle and capable, and Qingtong…Qingtong is lively and cheeky. We’re all quite familiar with each other. But I believe it’s best not to get involved with those around me.”

But I want to get involved! Mo Qingtong thought, but she was too shy to voice her feelings.

“Ah Heng, could I go with you on that task you mentioned? I’d like to see other worlds too. What was that world called again?” After seeing the hand gesture from Elder Sister Raven indicating the crisis was averted, Mo Qingtong immediately messaged Luo Li.

Crisis averted.

Then Mo Qingtong thought about how she could create some private space with Chen Heng.