Overthinking

Lin Xiao returned to his seat, his thoughts still lingering on the system notification.

As he settled back in, he couldn't help but glance at the girl from the pet shop once more. She was engrossed in her notebook, completely oblivious to the world around her.

As he waited for the teacher to arrive, Lin Xiao's mind began to wander.

He had always had a tendency to overthink and daydream, a habit that often got him into trouble.

Right now, his imagination was running wild with a vivid scenario: he and the girl from the pet shop were married, and living in a cozy home with two adorable children running around.

In his daydream, they laughed together as they played with their kids in a sunlit garden. The girl, whose name he still didn't know, smiled at him with warmth and affection, making him feel like the luckiest person in the world.

Lin Xiao imagined the two of them growing old together, sharing a lifetime of love and happiness.

The daydream was so vivid and comforting that he almost didn't notice when the classroom door opened and the teacher walked in.

The daydream scenario changed.

Lin Xiao was happily sitting on the beach in his daydream, watching his 'wife' play with their kids.

The scene was idyllic, with the sound of waves crashing gently in the background and the sun casting a warm glow over everything.

He felt a deep sense of contentment as he watched them.

Suddenly, his 'wife' turned around, and to his horror, she had the face of Zhang Wei, His new friend. Lin Xiao was so shocked that he jolted awake from his daydream.

Blinking rapidly, he realized he was back in the classroom. To his astonishment, Zhang Wei was standing right in front of him, a mischievous grin plastered across his face.

"Hey, Lin Xiao! Spacing out already?" Zhang Wei said, laughing. "It's only the first day!"

Lin Xiao's heart was still racing from the bizarre twist in his daydream. He forced a smile and shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering weirdness. "Yeah, just...thinking about stuff," he replied awkwardly.

Zhang Wei chuckled and patted Lin Xiao on the back. "Well, don't get too lost in your thoughts, bro. We've got a whole day of school ahead of us."

As Zhang Wei moved on to his own seat, Lin Xiao glanced around the room, his eyes briefly meeting those of the girl from the pet shop.

She still seemed lost in her own world, completely unaware of the chaos that had just unfolded in Lin Xiao's mind.

He took a deep breath and tried to refocus on the lesson that the teacher started teaching.

Soon the classes were completed and the school came to an end. everyone started to go home.

Lin Xiao was gathering his things when Zhang Wei, Li Na, and Wang Lei approached him. They had been friendly throughout the day, and now they were inviting him to join them after school.

"Yo, Lin Xiao," Zhang Wei called out, a casual grin on his face. "Tomorrow we're thinking of going to an internet cafe. Do you want to come with us?"

Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment. He had never been particularly good at socializing, and the idea of spending time with new people made him nervous.

But he also knew that making friends was important, and this seemed like a good opportunity.

"Sure," Lin Xiao replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. "That sounds fun."

"Great!" Wang Lei said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We'll meet at the school gate after classes. It'll teach you some chess moves that will make you play like a grandmaster. It will be fun."

Li Na smiled warmly at him. "Yeah, it's a good way to relax and get to know each other better."

Lin Xiao felt a bit more at ease seeing their friendly faces. "Alright, I'll be there."

As they walked out of the classroom together, Lin Xiao's mind began to race with thoughts and doubts.

He couldn't help but overthink, imagining all the scenarios where this new friendship might not last.

What if they didn't find him interesting? What if they got bored and left him? These thoughts swirled in his head, making him feel even more nervous.

Despite his fears, Lin Xiao knew that stepping out of his comfort zone was necessary. The anxiety gnawed at him.

This was a chance to make friends and start anew. He had to take it, no matter how daunting it seemed.

The walk to the school gate felt longer than usual. Zhang Wei, Li Na, and Wang Lei chatted about their favorite games and plans for the weekend, occasionally including Lin Xiao in the conversation.

He tried his best to keep up, nodding and responding when he could, but his mind was still preoccupied with worry.

Finally, they reached the gate. "See you tomorrow, Lin Xiao!" Zhang Wei said with a friendly wave.

"Yeah, see you!" Lin Xiao replied, forcing a smile.

Lin Xiao decided to run home to complete his daily mission, the rhythm of his footsteps helping to steady his nerves.

As he made his way home, he replayed the day's events in his head: the introductions, the classes, and the new friends—it was all so different from what he was used to.

The combination of physical exertion and mental reflection was oddly calming. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

He was determined to make this work, to push through his fears and doubts.

As Lin Xiao reached his house, he slowed to a walk, catching his breath as he approached the front door. Just then, a system notification popped up in his vision.

[Run 1 km completed - Reward: +0.5 Stamina +10 Exp]

Seeing that notification, Lin Xiao felt a surge of happiness. He was making progress. If he completed a few more daily missions, he would reach level 2.

He started wondering what kind of features he might unlock at the next level. The possibilities were exciting and kept his mind racing.