Ashley Shaw was quite determined to have Ariana Grant cut ties with this unemployed online friend.
But seeing the pitiful look in Ariana’s eyes, she couldn’t help but soften.
"Well... it’s just an online relationship after all, go ahead, just don’t get too emotionally involved, and definitely don’t et in person. I’m worried you’d be deceived."
Ariana Grant suddenly sat up straight.
"But, Ashley, this is the crux of the matter for now."
"What? What crux? What do you an?"
Ariana simply handed her phone over to Ashley to show her the chat record.
Ashley imdiately saw the last ssage from soone noted as "Lia."
{"Ariana, I’m not busy lately, pretty free. Why don’t we set up a ti, and I treat you to a al?"}
Ashley instantly felt alard.
"No way, you can’t go. The biggest taboo in online dating is eting in person. What if he’s a bad guy? And you guys haven’t been together long, yet he’s already suggesting eting up, that’s just sketchy behavior."
Ariana cracked a smile and said, "Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning to et up anyway! I’m so chubby, he’d probably run away the mont he saw ."
"So... was that scream earlier because you didn’t want to et in person?"
"Yes!"
Ashley almost fainted from frustration.
"If you don’t want to et, just tell him you’re not ready to et yet."
"But, but won’t he then figure out I’m not good-looking?"
Ashley frowned, "What’s not good-looking about you? Your eyes are bigger than mine, who wouldn’t be enchanted by them?"
"That’s just because my eyes are pleasant. The rest of is awful. Besides, after sumr break, I gained another four pounds, and I’m over 150 pounds now..."
Ashley replied disapprovingly, "Ariana, you need to have confidence. Even if you’re a little chubby, you’re still the prettiest chubby girl."
Ashley wasn’t wrong. Ariana might have gained so weight, but her features were delicate, and even at 150 pounds, it didn’t take away her cuteness.
She continued, "Online relationships aren’t based on love at first sight. After all, it’s across the internet, and no one has seen anyone else. People like each other for their interesting souls. I trust you’re with him not because he’s extrely handso."
Ariana nodded, "It’s true. I just think he’s got a good temperant and great gaming skills; that’s why I like him. He doesn’t know what I look like, and I don’t know what he looks like either."
"That’s exactly right. If you’re not together because of each other’s looks, why should looks matter? If he really cares about your appearance, then there’s no need for you to be together. A good online romance should be like being with a paper person."
"You’re right!" Ariana suddenly felt resolved, "If he insists on eting, then it shows he has bad intentions or doesn’t like for who I am."
Ashley ruffled Ariana’s hair.
"Thinking like this puts at ease."
"Don’t worry, I’ve grown up, and I’m more afraid of eting in person than you are. And even if I were to et up, I’d definitely tell you in advance and have you accompany ."
Ashley was completely reassured seeing Ariana’s sense of awareness.
"Well, I’m heading to work now. Ms. Grant gave half the day off, and I’ll be back for lunch."
"I’ll handle the cooking at noon then."
Thinking of Ariana’s cooking skills, Ashley shook her head decisively, "No need, I’ll stop by the market after work and co back with groceries to cook."
"OK!"
Ariana watched Ashley leave the room, then picked up her phone to reply to a ssage.
{"I went to bed early last night, missed your ssage."}
Over on the other end, Leon Zeller had just woken up and heard his phone ding with a notification.
He hurriedly grabbed the phone to check. Seeing the ssage, he quickly typed a reply: "So when are you available?"
He had just typed the line and was about to send it when another ssage ca through.
{"But I don’t want to et in person for now, so... sorry! Let’s just keep things as they are."}
Leon Zeller’s eyes dimd.
Refusing to et, could it be... she’s really a guy?
He hesitated for a mont and sent a ssage.
{"Can you show a picture of yourself?"}
{"No other reason, just wondering if I might run into you by chance."}
Ariana looked at "Lia’s" ssage and replied quite frankly.
{"Sorry! No can do!"}
{"To be honest, I’m not much to look at, pretty chubby too. You’d probably lose interest in chatting and gaming with if you saw my photo."}
Lia: {"I wouldn’t, I’m not part of the looks club. Even if you were 200 pounds, I wouldn’t mind."}
Ariana was getting a little annoyed and quickly typed a reply to send.
{"Anyway, I don’t want to send photos."}
Lia: {"Alright, if you don’t want to, that’s fine."}
Ariana let out a sigh of relief.
She was actually quite worried that "Lia" might have the malicious intentions she feared, but seeing him agree to her not sending photos made her feel a lot better.
A few seconds later, another ssage arrived from Lia.
Lia: {"Would you like to see my photo then?"}
Ariana hesitated for a mont and replied: {"No need. If I’m not sending one, you don’t need to either. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to you. Besides, I think we’re good as we are now."}
Lia: {"Okay, let’s keep it this way. Anyti you feel like seeing , I’ll send a photo."}
Ariana: {"Yeah! I’m off to work now, bye, and see you later for gaming."}
Lia: {"OK!"}
As soon as the chat ended, the teammates from the Stardust Team gathered around with interest.
"Hey, did your online gf agree to et you?"
Leon Zeller was expressionless, "It’s none of your business, get up and get ready for training. Warren said even as gars, we need to keep up with physical training, or we’ll end up with long-term health issues."
The Stardust Team had been signed to the club Warren just started, and to foster their "team spirit," Warren set them up in a big house to live and eat together.
The room they slept in was a large shared dormitory.
So as soon as Leon gave the order, the other boys bounced out of bed, put on their matching workout gear, tidied up, and went out for a morning run.
However, halfway through their exercise, their stomachs started growling.
"Hey? There’s a cake shop!"
"Wolf Leader, let’s at least grab a bite first. We’ve got to eat to have energy for exercise."
Lia glanced at the cake shop not far away and nodded, "Alright, let’s see if they have any bread."
"Woohoo! The Wolf Leader’s treating, let’s go!"
The group cheered and ran towards the cake shop.
With the sound of the doorbell ringing, they entered the store, only to spot a familiar figure.
Isn’t that... Ashley Shaw?
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