Moreover, to be honest, when it comes to striking up a conversation, if the person doing it is a gentle and harmless-looking girl, the success rate is definitely higher than if it were a man.
It's now mid-September, and in the province of Thessaloniki, located in the south, the weather is still hot. Xanthia, with her short hair, is wearing a T-shirt and denim shorts. Although her outfit is quite ordinary for a student, her overly slender and fragile figure doesn’t attract much attention. However, she has an advantage in her snow-white skin and delicate temperament, leaving a favorable first impression. Her looks, rated at 64, aren't particularly high, strictly speaking, she’s just “average looking.” But if someone asked her, "Do you think you are a beautiful girl?" She would confidently and decisively answer, "I think I am!"
This inexplicable confidence, coupled with the reward for completing the challenge task, prompted her to take action. Compared to approaching girls, she felt more confident about approaching boys, especially those who looked reliable, honest, and not good at rejecting girls. The success rate should be the highest with them.
At this moment, Xanthia happened to pass by the shared game console area in the mall and saw a young man with an ordinary appearance and a slightly chubby build, engrossed in playing a console game. The guy was wearing thick black-framed glasses and dressed casually and sloppily, appearing to be either a university student or a recent graduate.
Xanthia's eyes flickered as she glanced at the screen. The console game seemed to be a highly skill-demanding "Souls" type game, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly which one it was.
Through the original body's memory, she had already determined this was a parallel world with different country names and place names, let alone cultural products. However, some entertainment products were the same as in her previous world, giving her a sense of familiarity. If the guy was playing "Elven Ring" or similar AAA games, it would be perfect; they would immediately have a common topic.
The bespectacled young man was in the middle of a boss fight, his fingers flying over the controller. He seemed to have some skill, but judging by the game character on the screen, it was clearly the classic chaotic, panicked dodging, and frequent healing. In "Souls" games, beating a boss becomes easier only after numerous deaths and memorizing the patterns. You can’t afford to be reckless.
Xanthia quietly stood by the sofa where he was sitting, intentionally showing a keen interest in the game, ensuring she was within his peripheral vision. The slightly chubby guy in black-framed glasses was named Xenophon.
Initially, he didn’t mind someone watching him play. Usually, onlookers, out of curiosity, would watch for a while and then leave. However, he was slightly surprised that the onlooker was a girl. Are there really girls interested in "Souls" games that "torture players"?
Xenophon was a student at an university in this provincial capital's university town, now in his fourth year, with plenty of free time. His four years of college were pretty much just getting by; as long as he didn’t fail any courses and got his degree, he considered it a success.
Unfortunately, he had never been in a relationship. It wasn't that he didn't want to date; he just didn't want to actively pursue girls. Who wants to be a simp these days? Even web novel protagonists don't chase girls anymore; being pursued is the new trend!
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Besides, girls aren’t like games with clear progress bars; if there were one, he would have taken action long ago, just like in games. And for someone like him, with an ordinary appearance, slovenly clothes, and a love for gaming, no girl would ever take the initiative.
What's with this girl? She hasn't had enough of watching yet? It's getting rude to keep watching him get beaten by the boss... Xenophon thought to himself, feeling increasingly uneasy. He wanted to show off his skills in front of this seemingly interested girl but lacked the ability.
He was one of those "Souls" game enthusiasts who were both bad at it and loved playing it.
The longer Xanthia watched, the more uncomfortable Xenophon became, but he was inherently timid and didn’t dare to talk to her or ask her to leave. After all, she wasn't breaking any laws by standing there watching a game.
As Xenophon’s character died again, Xanthia finally spoke up, “Hey there, I think this game is really interesting. What’s it called?”
Due to her natural "sickly" trait, her voice sounded weak but incredibly soft and sweet, captivating.
Xenophon felt as if his heart was tickled upon hearing the girl’s delicate voice. He couldn't help but glance at her, then quickly looked away, feeling slightly disappointed. Her looks weren’t bad, at least a six, and her bare face was a plus. However, her plain short hair and "frail" figure were drawbacks. Overall, she gave off a delicate and pleasant impression but wasn’t stunning at first glance.
"The game is called 'Elden Ring,' it was just released not long ago and is pretty popular right now," Xenophon responded cautiously.
He thought that once the girl got her answer, she would leave satisfied, but to his surprise, she didn't follow the usual script at all. The more reserved the boy was, the bolder Xanthia became.
With a cheerful smile, she said, "Hey, can I sit next to you and watch you play? This game seems so interesting!"
Xenophon was stunned. Was he... being hit on? God bless him, he had never experienced anything like this in his life. While secretly thrilled, he also grew cautious. Could this be some new kind of scam?
Xenophon was very aware of his own situation. With his ordinary looks and lack of standout qualities, could a girl really be interested in striking up a conversation with him?
Despite his caution, his body acted on its own, making room for her, and he responded with a gentle smile and a courteous tone, "Sure, please have a seat." Who could bear to reject such a sweet-voiced, youthful girl?
But truth be told, this girl, who seemed gentle and introverted on the surface, was unexpectedly bold in her actions. When she sat down without any hesitation, Xenophon felt even more dazed. Strangely, a surge of determination arose within him. He decided he had to play well and prove himself!
It was similar to how guys on a basketball court would put in extra effort if a pretty girl was watching. Then... filled with determination, Xenophon died again in the game. That's just the everyday experience of playing "Souls" games. The repeated failures only make the eventual victory over a boss feel immensely rewarding.
"Can I try playing?" Xanthia asked softly, her lively eyes meeting his, clearly eager to have a go. Xenophon handed over the controller without hesitation, then scratched his nose with an awkward smile, saying, "This save file's level is too low, the health bar is too short, and the margin error is low. Otherwise, this boss would be easy to handle. Also, I'm more used to the PS controller. This Xbox one doesn't feel as responsive..."
After expertly deflecting blame, he kindly warned her that the game's difficulty was indeed high and that she shouldn't be discouraged if she got beaten by the bosses. With the stereotype that female gamers were typically not good at action games, combined with the girl's naturally delicate demeanor, like a fragile porcelain doll, he felt a strong urge to protect her.
However, Xanthia's next actions left him utterly speechless!