Meanwhile, the oblivious mystery man, was checking his screen, his light blue eyes observed the displayed blueprint and detailed flowchart of a silver weapon.
This person was named Ron. He was an ordinary player who played the game for a living. His career started after leaving the house at a young age and chose to be independent, supporting himself until now. He didn't start playing the game immediately. Before discovering GLORY, he was once a street performer renting musical instruments to play in public places. He also works part-time in fast food and even goes into modelling. Just to earn money for food, shelter, and education, he tried many jobs and did many things.
Ron had good housing before, but his home no longer feels like he's home. So, he chooses to leave. His conflict with his sister wasn't the sole reason; emotional neglection was also a factor.
People view him not as Ron but some genius who cannot surpass his sibling and forever remain as her shadow. At a young age, people choose his path and set their expectations towards him as "perfect". Their standards when it comes to Ron were only "perfect". They implanted the idea that he cannot fail in the slightest, no matter what and only produce a "perfect result".
This sets him to work hard in everything learning many things without proper guidance from their parents; he did it on his own and was called a genius. Because Ron believes that it was the reason for his existence, he tried everything, but their opinion will stand as "Your sister did it better... but you are a genius so I'm hoping you can surpass her accomplishments. You will do it right?"
Despite their opinion towards him, Ron didn't hold a grudge against his sister because she always looks after him. When he said, things like chasing after her accomplishments. She encourages him more, that's why he keeps going. But that changed when he learned her views about her accomplishments. Everything was easy and not even worth mentioning, for her, Tang Ron accomplishments which he works hard to earn was nothing sort of impressive was that even calling achievements? It was the time Tang Ron felt an existential crisis. He realized that everything was meaningless and felt he had lost his reason to keep going.
Everything inside the house turned black, the wide space suddenly shrank which was suffocating. Ron was still standing in a daze, staring at the door where he overheard her sister's talk. As if he received enlightenment, Tang Ron chooses to leave not having any reason to stay in the house and decides to cut ties with everyone and everything. Using the money, he saved up from winning the competition. He flew out of the country and started over at some unknown place as an ordinary person named Ron. As for whether they would care or not? He is basically relegated to what's they worry about?
Starting new was difficult but his efforts paid off, he managed to graduate from school and have a decent life. And now Ron was doing things that could give him a feeling of satisfaction.
Back at the Happy Internet Cafe...
He logged in and went to the equipment editor. "The materials I have gathered in the new server should be enough to upgrade my equipment..."
Being familiar with its functions, Ron worked his way through the materials. The procedure was complicated; it took a lot of time to keep the margin of error at a minimum.
After meticulously finishing his work, Ron disassembled his crafted weapon and replaced the old materials with his new ones before assembling it.
"This should produce the Frostbite effect..."
Ron checked the stats and frowned. His eyes didn't linger too long, and he closed the equipment editor; he also deleted the blueprint and flow chart.
"...It failed." Ron leaned back and sighed deeply.
"Where did I go wrong...?"
Unknowingly, the person sitting next to him overheard his mumbling and misunderstood.
"Excuse me, are you talking to me?"
Ron was startled; it wasn't his intention to talk out loud. But he paused, seeing a familiar figure.
"Sorry, I was just talking to myself... Oh? You are..."
The stubborn girl!
That was his impression, because her persistence reminded him of the old days. But voicing it out felt a bit rude, so he held it back.
"Sorry, I thought you were talking to me." Tang Rou also recognized him as the person who defeated Ye Xiu. She offered a polite smile but seemed to be measuring him in some way. How good was he?
"If you have time can i compare notes with you?"
"Uhm... I guess?"
"Okay."
"I'll be going then... See you later!" Seeing there was no point talking further, Ron didn't stay too long and headed to the vending machine to get some instant noodles.
Tang Rou watches his back feeling nostalgia; she plans to get back on browsing, but her eyes caught something on the chair.
"Did he drop something?" When he stood up, something fell out of his pocket, which happened to be noticed by Tang Rou. It wasn't her intention to look at it, but her eyes caught something familiar that's too hard to dismiss. She took his ID and had a clear look.
"Tang... Ron!?" Her slender hands paused, and her eyes visibly shook.
Tang Ron!
This name means a lot. Ron wasn't a Chinese name; it's not common either. But that wasn't what made her shocked; Tang Rou had a special attachment to this name.
"It can't be..."
Just to make sure, Tang Rou looked at the details again, letter by letter, word by word. It was truly the name Tang Ron; there was no mistake. When she looked at the picture, she found a boy with identical features; there was no denial.
This type of ID cannot be fake. Seeing the name, birthday, and the picture, she was certain it was him. Too much to be a coincidence!
Tang Rou had mixed feelings and so many questions. The days they were happily together, the days where she was alone in the dark, and the days where she endlessly searched for him. Only to have an encounter here... It just didn't feel right. But she completely suppressed her emotions.
Their meeting was unexpected, but it wasn't time yet. This shouldn't be rushed; otherwise, her years of effort and meticulous planning would be all for nothing. Tang Rou was still on her game; things had changed, but her personality remained, and so did her feelings towards him.
Tang Rou decided to quietly wait, but inside, her determination was as strong as ever.
I will make sure you will never leave my grasp again.