Chapter 87: Becoming Your Own Belief

Xiao Xiao ended up losing, though the game should have wrapped up eight minutes earlier.

With her head drooped low, Xiao Xiao mumbled, "Ning Ning, you're amazing. I had no chance at all. Can you be my mentor?"

"You're already quite skilled," Gu Yining replied nonchalantly.

Xiao Xiao wasn't just any ordinary player. Her game sense, control, and item builds reflected her own insights—there weren't many with such innate talent.

"But I still lost to you," Xiao Xiao pouted. "I used to have an idol. When I was sixteen, a mysterious top player appeared in the esports world. She went by the name *Sunny* and never revealed her true identity. She seemed to emerge from nowhere, taking the top spot on every leaderboard and clinching the highest ranks in multiple regions. She was the first female professional player in the esports scene, leading her team to win countless championships. Many worshipped her as a goddess. But two years ago, she vanished. All her accounts were deleted, and no one knows what happened to her. I didn't even get a chance to admire her achievements. A living legend fell from the esports pedestal, leaving nothing behind. People in the esports community say, 'Since Sunny disappeared, there's been no more sunshine, only eternal darkness.'"

Xiao Xiao went on and on about her idol, but Gu Yining remained composed as she listened. "Instead of placing your faith in someone else, why not become your own belief? Xiao Xiao, you're incredibly talented. Why not give it a shot and join the professional scene?"

"I can't do that. My mom would kill me, and besides, I'm not good enough yet," Xiao Xiao sighed, resting her chin in her hands, clearly conflicted.

At that moment, her tiny poodle came trotting over and licked her feet.

She scooped up the poodle and held it out to Gu Yining. "Ning Ning, this is the little *horny* poodle I told you about. Her name is *Meimei*."

"Isn't it a boy? Why is it called *Meimei*?" Gu Yining chuckled at the absurdity.

"It's because he loves *meimeis*—every time he sees a girl dog, he gets super excited. So, I decided to call him *Meimei*." Xiao Xiao burst out laughing.

"Good name," Gu Yining said, accepting the odd explanation with a grin. Surprisingly, she found the name rather endearing.

"By the way, what was going on this afternoon?" Xiao Xiao put the dog down and turned the conversation to more serious matters.

"Don't get me started. I'm definitely getting to the bottom of this." Gu Yining rolled up her sleeve, revealing red, swollen scratches that startled Xiao Xiao.

"What happened? Did you treat it?" Xiao Xiao asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I've already applied some ointment. It's nothing," Gu Yining reassured her as she settled on the couch and recounted everything that had transpired earlier that day.

After listening to the full story, Xiao Xiao was furious, clutching her chest in frustration. "Ahhh! Why did I think it was your boyfriend carrying you away? I'm so dumb! I should've called the police immediately."

"I don't have a boyfriend. I have a husband, and that's Fu Hannen."

"Holy crap!" Xiao Xiao jumped up from the couch, too shocked to contain herself.

"You have to keep this a secret for now. I don't want more people to know because, honestly, I'm not sure how much longer things will last between us."

"Ahhhh! Uncle Fu may be a bit of an iceberg, but he's so handsome, and he's loaded! His status and background are top-tier, but… isn't he rumored to like men? How did you two end up married?"

"That's a long story as well…"

That night, Gu Yining and Xiao Xiao spent hours talking on the couch. While they had always gotten along well online, becoming friends in real life seemed to open the floodgates to endless conversation.

As Gu Yining began sharing her experiences with her family, Xiao Xiao stormed off to the kitchen, returning with a kitchen knife.

"Ning Ning, I'm going to help you deal with your scumbag father and your horrible sister!"