The kings Avater

Ye Qiu sat in the dimly lit cell, leaning against the cold, hard wall. It wasn't the kind of cell meant for hardened criminals, but it was confining all the same. The noise from the station outside—a mix of shuffling feet, voices barking orders, and phones ringing—faded into the background. He barely noticed it. He sat there, lost in thought, staring blankly at the cracks in the concrete floor as a flood of memories rushed through his mind.

It had been hours—no, since last night—that he had been in this position, unmoving and silent. His mind wandered back in time, to nine years ago.

15 years old Ye Qiu was a quiet high schooler, often the target of bullies and cruel jokes. The constant teasing had made him retreat into himself, finding solace in the one thing that seemed to make sense: gaming.

Gaming became his escape, his passion, and ultimately, his entire world. While others socialized and thrived in the chaos of adolescence, he preferred the stillness of his room, lit only by the glow of a computer screen.

It was during this time that he met Mei Hua. She was another gamer, someone who understood the thrill of the digital worlds he immersed himself in. They met through an online game and quickly became close, bonding over late-night sessions and shared victories. To Ye Qiu, she was more than just a friend. She was the first person who didn't make him feel like an outsider.

When Mei Hua transferred to his school a few months later, Ye Qiu thought his luck had finally changed. Meeting her in person felt surreal at first. She wasn't just another username on a screen; she was real, tangible, and vibrant. Their relationship blossomed quickly, and for almost a year, she became his everything.

But cracks started to form. Mei Hua wasn't as passionate about gaming as he was. While she had initially enjoyed it, her interest waned over time. She began pulling away from that world while Ye Qiu only sank deeper into it.

Arguments became a regular occurrence. Mei Hua would yell at him, her frustrations spilling out like water bursting from a dam.

"I wish I'd just stuck to the online thing!" she screamed one afternoon, in front of the school, her voice trembling with anger. "Because knowing you in person is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone! You suck! You obsessed freak!"

Ye Qiu stood there, silent as always, unable to defend himself. He wasn't good with words in moments like this. No matter how much he wanted to explain himself, his mind would go blank, leaving him speechless.

Her words cut deep, but nothing prepared him for what came next.

One day, after school, Ye Qiu returned home to find his room stripped bare. His gaming setup—everything he had worked so hard to build—was gone. The desk was empty, the shelves bare, and the monitors he spent hours staring at had disappeared.

In their place was a note taped to the wall.

"It's over. I can't do this anymore. Ghosting me on my birthday was the last straw. You don't care about me, and honestly, I don't care about you anymore. Goodbye. P.S. You'll thank me for this someday."

She had broken all of his gaming equipment. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless. His hands shook as he stared at the shattered remnants of his relationship and his passion.

Mei Hua had left town without saying a word, and he was left alone, his heart broken twice over—once for the girl he thought he loved, and again for the only escape he had ever known.

For weeks, Ye Qiu drifted aimlessly. With no money to replace his gear, the only way he could play was at a local cyber café. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.

The memory shifted to a different moment, one that still felt surreal even now. It was later that year when everything changed. He had been sitting in the dim glow of the cyber café, scrolling through emails, when a message caught his eye.

"Congratulations! You have been accepted into the Avatar Epic Quest Beta Program."

He remembered the rush of excitement as he read the words over and over, his heart racing. This was the break he needed, the chance to dive back into the world he loved. Little did he know that day would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one that would lead him to Stacy.

Stacy used to frequent the cyber café to complete her assignments and handle other tasks. That was where she first met Ye Qiu. Their friendship began casually, but it was Stacy who developed feelings for him first. However, Ye Qiu kept pushing her away, haunted by the memory of Mei Hua and how their relationship fell apart due to his gaming obsession. He feared Stacy would eventually grow to hate him if she got too close and discovered the side of him he was trying to hide.

But Stacy didn't care. She was persistent and broke through his defenses. Over time, they started dating. Ye Qiu, however, was determined to keep his gaming life a secret from her.

Stacy knew he was a gamer but had no idea of the extent of his obsession. Thanks to her modeling work, which often required her to travel, Ye Qiu managed to keep his true gamer self hidden, maintaining the dual identity of Everstay to the world and Ye Qiu to her.

One day, their relationship hit a rough patch when an argument broke out.

"Why are you mad, Stacy? What have I done this time?" Ye Qiu asked, his voice filled with confusion as he tried to make sense of her cold demeanor.

"Nothing," she replied curtly, turning away to leave.

"Stacy, come on. I have to know what I did, at least," he pleaded, his voice tinged with frustration.

Stacy spun around abruptly, her expression a mix of hurt and anger. "I asked you to lend me money for my gig! You said you didn't have enough, and yet here you are, buying a gaming set worth more than what I needed!"

Ye Qiu sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair. "Stacy, you know I've been saving up for this for over a year now. I told you that..."

"For this?" she interrupted, her voice rising. "I told you I needed that money for work, Ye Qiu! A job! Why couldn't you let me have this one? You knew how much I needed it, and you couldn't even help me properly!"

"I split the money with you. I gave you half," he argued.

"What am I supposed to do with half? If it's not enough to cover what I need, it's useless! You prioritized a game—over my earnest need!"

" Stacy" he exhaled deeply "If you could just be a little patient with me, I'll find a way to get you the remaining money soon," he said, trying to calm her down.

"And how exactly do you plan to do that, Ye Qiu? Save up for another six months while I put my career on hold? Suck it up, boy!" She threw the money he had given her back at him. "Have fun gaming," she sneered before storming off.

After that day, Ye Qiu was consumed with guilt. He debated selling the gaming set and giving Stacy the money she needed, but deep down, he didn't want to let go of it. This set was more than just equipment—it represented years of saving, dedication, and a piece of his identity.

At the peak of his indecision, he received his first payment from Avatar Epic Quest. The game had a unique system where players were rewarded financially based on their level and achievements. Ye Qiu, being the expert gamer he was, had soared through levels in record time. What took most players over a year to accomplish, he had managed in just eight months.

Sitting in the cell, Ye Qiu didn't move. He sat quietly on the cold ground, staring blankly at the wall as memories of the past played in his mind like a broken record. His heart ached as he thought about Stacy.

Tears silently rolled down his cheeks. For the first time, he felt the weight of everything—his love for Stacy, his choices, and the consequences of living a life where he had to constantly hide who he truly was.