The Online Dating Partner I Sold Came Knocking

Song Zhibai had a bit of a problem lately.

His favorite gaming partner in the game "Realm of Backlight" had disappeared.

After playing on several accounts and ditching a few partners, he'd finally found the perfect one.

A great voice, clean and refreshing, and most importantly, top-tier gaming skills.

This was his fated partner!

Song Zhibai had made the first move: "Big bro, want to pair up?"

"How about a 2v2 match to see how good we are?"

His partner was great in every way: not slick or conceited, but steady, patient, and well-mannered.

Then, on the final day of the season, the other guy suddenly vanished. Song Zhibai waited at the arena entrance for a whole day and night, but the partner who'd promised to help him climb the rankings never showed.

Song Zhibai narrowly missed the top ten on the national rankings. His heart turned to ice. Goodbye, men. None of them can be trusted.

-

Chi Yu never expected to return from a business trip, called away by an urgent matter at his company, to find that everything had changed.

His adorable partner, who used to act cute and clingy, had become a completely different person. His speech and behavior had changed entirely.

By chance, he came across himself listed as a free bonus item on a secondhand marketplace for unused accounts

The title read: [Account for sale, comes with gaming partner. Top-tier skills, no flaws except for disappearing without warning. Price firm.]

Chi Yu followed the seller's information and clicked through.

Page after page, every listing was stamped "Sold."

[Account for sale, comes with gaming partner. Skill level 8/10, breathy voice, open to offers.]

[Account for sale, comes with gaming partner. Skill level 7/10, greasy old lady voice, buy at your own risk.]

[Account for sale, comes with gaming partner. Low-ranking server, skill level 9/10, but tells awful jokes. Recommend ending the partnership.]

So he wasn't the first. And his price was even five hundred lower than one of the others.

Chi Yu: ...

At the thought that the voice messages he'd sent to him had also been sent to other people, and that others had seen the photos he'd sent...

Something fell to the ground with a snap and shattered.

Expressionless, Chi Yu registered a new account that very night and returned to the top in a week.

Two days later, he was waiting at the arena entrance when a familiar private message appeared.

"Big bro, want to pair up?"

"How about a 2v2 match to see how good we are?"

-

* A game story written with complete creative freedom;

* A pretty, wins-at-all-costs college student x a purehearted (later turns dark) domineering CEO;

* Neither lead is perfect, but the bottom isn't a bad person, really, really, really. He doesn't enjoy selling gaming partners. If you can't accept this, please stop reading in time. I'm begging you, sob sob sob;

* The game takes inspiration from various MMORPGs on the market, possibly mixing elements together, with some original additions;

* I'll add more if I think of anything (2023.9.26).

Theme: In life, strive for what you want