I Eloped, Then Started an Online Romance with My Fiance

Min Cangle eloped.

His grandfather's dying wish was for Min Cangle to get married before turning twenty-three.

Min Cangle: "What? I already have someone I'm dating."

He insisted again and again, but nobody believed him.

His family had picked out an arranged-marriage partner for him, describing them as steady, mature, and rational. They also told him he could never find someone that good on his own.

Min Cangle: "..."

But he didn't dare make any bold claims, because he had never met his partner. They were dating online.

-

Four months earlier, Min Cangle had gotten hooked on a new game. It was made by a small company, so it was bound to shut down soon. If he didn't get too invested, he could even take his frustrations out on the developers. Perfect.

While playing, he came across a cool, aloof expert whose ID was the single character "Zhuo."

He had top-tier gear, but never played. Every day, he logged in just to sit in some corner.

After a few days, Min Cangle started using him as a message board.

"Someone in my circle got married again. Another family-arranged match. I'm still young. Is it wrong that I don't want to get married?"

"Zhuo": "No."

Min Cangle: "????"

He had assumed the expert wouldn't talk, but after that unexpected exchange, the two had more chances to interact. Before long, they became a couple.

Min Cangle was slow to get into the relationship, while his online boyfriend called him "baby" and "darling" at every turn. Maybe the guy was already a master player when it came to romance.

But he was gentle and reserved, and pretty good at the game, too. Min Cangle found himself sinking another three points deeper.

-

"Would you be free to meet up?" Min Cangle told him. "My family is pressuring me to get married again."

"What a coincidence. Same here."

"Huh?"

"Same what?" Min Cangle asked.

"I'm downstairs at your place."

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