Be Careful with Online Romance

But this was no time to think about that. Gu Ze called the two of them out of the restroom and found somewhere they could sit.

He looked at Gu Yu. "All right, tell me what's going on."

"I'm not saying you shouldn't date anyone, but I don't think online relationships are reliable."

Fresh graduates had their own ideas about things. Or perhaps they simply hadn't been burned by the world yet, so they always believed everyone was a good person.

Gu Yu still looked unconvinced as Gu Ze spoke. "Cousin, I'm the one dating her. Of course I know what kind of person she is."

Gu Ze was furious. "You know? You've never even met her, and you say you know?"

Well, wasn't that the truth? He was so innocent, no wonder she'd picked him to scam.

"Do you know where she lives?"

"In the same city as me." Otherwise, Gu Yu might have had doubts himself. But since they lived in the same city, he figured it should be fine.

"And you've never asked to meet her, even though she's in the same city?" Ye Qing asked.

"I have, but something always comes up for her."

"And you believe her every time?"

Gu Yu nodded. Gu Ze grew even angrier. He had no sense at all.

"Let me ask you something. How much have you spent on her since this started?"

"I don't know, but it must be over a million by now."

Ye Qing took a deep breath. Rich people really are something else.

"So you've spent all that money on her, but she won't meet you or give you anything in return. It's all just promises. Every single time, just promises," Ye Qing summed up.

Gu Yu nodded hesitantly. "That's right."

Ye Qing laughed. "Then what are you getting out of this relationship? You don't know what she looks like. You can't even go on a date. What exactly are you after?"

"The way she checks on you every day? The sweet things she says?"

Ye Qing said sincerely, "Bro, if that's what you want, give me the money. I guarantee I can do a better job than her."

"You'd just have to overlook the gender difference."

Though who knows what gender the person you're talking to actually is?

Gu Yu was dazed by all this, but he still pulled out his phone and showed Ye Qing. "I do know what she looks like. See?"

Ye Qing took one look at the phone and laughed. Wasn't this just editing magic?

He'd seen plenty of photos like this in the entertainment industry. To confirm what he thought, Ye Qing called Gu Ze over to take a look too.

After hearing Ye Qing talk to Gu Yu, Gu Ze had stepped back. He felt Gu Yu might listen to Ye Qing more readily. Perhaps Gu Ze just wasn't getting through to him.

Now that Ye Qing had asked him to look at the photo, Gu Ze immediately understood what was so funny.

The picture really had been edited beyond recognition. Only Gu Yu couldn't tell.

After looking at it, Ye Qing turned to Gu Yu and said earnestly, "Young man, you need to be careful with online romance. I'm one hundred percent sure you've been scammed."

"Her own mother might not recognize her from this photo."

Just look at those long legs. Could a person's legs even be that long?

Gu Yu still didn't believe them.

Why does everyone insist on learning the hard way?

"I have a way to find out whether she's lying to you."

Gu Yu looked at Ye Qing eagerly. "What way?" He desperately needed to know the truth.

Gu Ze looked up at him too.

Being watched by both of them made Ye Qing a little uncomfortable.

But his plan was simple. Didn't she live in the same city? Gu Yu could order something and have someone deliver it to her. Of course, that someone couldn't be Gu Yu himself.

It didn't seem right to ask a delivery driver to take a photo for them, and Gu Ze certainly couldn't go. So Ye Qing volunteered for the job.

Gu Yu was tempted. It really was a good idea. "But what reason do I have to send her a gift?"

"That's easy," Ye Qing said. "Ask her to come out. If she refuses, she'll have to make an excuse."

Gu Yu did as Ye Qing suggested, and sure enough, she wouldn't come out.

"What excuse did she give you?" Ye Qing asked.

"She said she was sick."

"Then let's go buy some medicine to bring her."

Across town, in a cramped rental apartment, the room was a mess. Clothes lay everywhere, and unfinished instant noodles sat on the table.

A man in a tank top was typing away. If you only heard his voice, you might think he was a beautiful woman.

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Hello, I have a package for you. Please sign for it."

Away from his phone, a rough voice came from behind the door. "I don't remember ordering anything."

Then he thought perhaps someone had sent him something.

When the door opened, Ye Qing froze. The man inside was short. His hair looked as though it hadn't been cut in ages and nearly covered his eyes. Parts of his face were covered in pimples, and his loose tank top hung off him.

Uh, I knew the person on the other end was a man, but I didn't know he looked like this.

The man stared at Ye Qing, who hadn't moved, and raised his voice. "Where's the package?"

"Right here. Please sign for it." Ye Qing kept up the act. "And please give me a five-star review. Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah." The man took the package and shut the door.

Ye Qing glanced at the camera on his chest. Hopefully Gu Yu wouldn't be too devastated when he saw the footage.

While Ye Qing was upstairs, Gu Yu paced back and forth, trying to hide how nervous he was.

Gu Ze watched without speaking. Some lessons had to be learned the hard way.

The moment Ye Qing came back down, Gu Yu rushed toward him. "Well? What happened?"

Ye Qing said nothing. He just handed over the camera.

Brace yourself, young man.

Gu Ze found Ye Qing's thoughts far too funny.

"Waaah!" The cry made Ye Qing's ears ring. Then Gu Yu threw his arms around him. "Bro, I trusted her so much!"

Gu Yu's crying drew looks from everyone nearby. It was mortifying in public. Ye Qing couldn't take it anymore. He quietly shifted aside and pointed at Gu Ze. "Your brother's over there. Go to him."

Gu Ze quietly moved away from them both.

Gu Yu sobbed. "What am I supposed to do? I got scammed."

"Ah, the tragic love life of a young man."

Through his tears, Gu Yu said, "You called it a sweet romance earlier."

"I was going with the mood."

Besides, I was trying to get you talking, you silly kid.

"All right, stop crying. You're a grown man."

Gu Yu muttered, "You don't understand. She was my first love."

Ye Qing nodded. "Right. Your first love, whom you've never even met."

"Waaah!" Gu Yu cried even harder. "I'm breaking up with her."

"Besides breaking up, what else do you need to do?" Gu Ze asked.

Gu Yu looked up, bewildered. "Is there something else?"

Gu Ze sighed. Ye Qing made a call.

"I want to report a scam."

Ye Qing glanced at Gu Ze. "A confused young man has had his heart broken."

Gu Yu: miserable and heartbroken.

Ye Qing was putting the advice to call the police when something went wrong into practice. Besides, who knew how many people this man had scammed? Getting the police involved could keep more people from falling for it.

The police arrived soon afterward. Although Gu Yu already knew what the man looked like, he still wanted to see him with his own eyes.

The shock was enormous. Worst of all, when the police went up, the man was still talking to someone through a voice changer. Hearing that voice while looking at his face dealt Gu Yu another blow.

Once they went inside, they discovered the apartment was shared. Every person living there was doing the same thing. It had all happened so suddenly that the police caught them all.

As one of the people involved, Gu Yu went to give a statement.

"Thank you for your cooperation. You're free to go."

"Um, can I ask what will happen to them?"

"If it were just one person, it might only mean a warning and a lecture. But from what we've seen, this may be an organized operation. That changes things. They won't get off lightly."

The officer couldn't help looking at Gu Yu with pity.

The poor young man had only just graduated. How had he gotten caught up in something like this? The officer wondered whether it would leave him with emotional scars.

As Gu Yu was leaving, the officer couldn't resist saying, "You kids are told to be careful about online romance, but you insist on trying it anyway."

"You found out this time, so you can get your money back. But what if you hadn't?"

Ye Qing chimed in from the side. "Exactly, exactly."

"And according to their statements, it wasn't even the same person chatting with you each time."

What does that mean? It means—

Hahahaha! How is Gu Yu this unlucky?

Gu Ze felt sorry for his cousin too, but wasn't Ye Qing laughing a bit too loudly?

Gu Yu could no longer bear to hear the words "online romance."

After they left the police station, Ye Qing couldn't hold back any longer. "Congratulations to little Gu Yu! You've only just become an adult, and you've already had so many dear 'girlfriends.'"

Gu Ze burst out laughing despite himself.

That mouth of Ye Qing's.

Gu Yu was on the verge of tears again. "Bro, I'm begging you. Stop talking."

"I know I was wrong. I won't do it again."

He finally understood why people said to be careful with online romance. No, he was never dating online again.

That day, Ye Qing also added Gu Ze on WeChat—his personal account, no less.

Gu Ze even said he hoped they could be friends.

Ye Qing: I'm a little happy.

When Ye Qing got home, Ye Mother asked what he'd done that day. To protect Gu Yu, Ye Qing only said he'd wandered around.

In his head, though, he'd already told the whole story. The Ye Family got the gossip after all; they just regretted not being there to see it happen.

After a few quiet days, Ye Qing's agent finally contacted him.

Sister Li: There's a script that suits you. Want to take a look?

Ye Qing: Sure! Thanks, Sister Li!

Sister Li: Then I'll come over to your place.

Ye Qing: Okay.

His agent knew about Ye Qing's family. Countless times, she'd wondered why he never used his connections to get better roles. With a family like his, he had every advantage. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be a barely known actor.

When Sister Li arrived, she found Ye Qing lying on the sofa eating potato chips. The sight alone gave her a headache. Ye Qing was obedient enough, but he could never control what he ate.

"Young master, you're still eating?"

Ye Qing quickly sat up and gave her a sheepish smile. "I've had a few days off, haven't I?"

Then his expression turned serious. "Sister Li, do you have a younger brother?"