Universe Infinite Canteen

While waiting, Love-Struck even hummed a song, "Love Cycle." She swayed her little feet to the melody while sitting in the chair, though her movements were still somewhat awkward.

Moreover, Ma Lu heard some strange creaking noises.

About 5 minutes later, another figure finally appeared outside the restaurant.

The newcomer was less than 1.2 meters tall, seemingly a primary school student, holding a heart-shaped pink balloon and wearing a backpack with Han Xin's portrait on it.

He reached the entrance but didn't come in, peering sneakily inside through a gap in the curtains.

However, he hadn't looked for long before the door opened, and Ma Lu stepped out, raising his eyebrows, "Lonely handsome man?"

Unexpectedly, the schoolboy paused upon hearing the name, then said, "Uncle, calling yourself that is so cheesy."

"......"

"If you're not the Lonely handsome man, then what are you doing wandering around my shop's entrance?"

"Because a very handsome brother gave me 5 yuan to deliver the balloon in my hand to the young lady inside," the schoolboy said.

"Oh, you can give it to me. I'll take it inside for you," Ma Lu took the balloon and then asked, "Why didn't he come himself?"

"He came across an old lady who fell down at the junction and is busy helping her. He'll probably be late, and he asked me to apologize to the young lady inside for him."

"Ah, no worries." Love-Struck's voice came from behind Ma Lu, "He's helping someone, that's a good deed! Wow, he really is so reliable, so positive."

"An old lady falls down, just as he happens to be on his way here, what a coincidence?" Ma Lu couldn't help but look skeptical.

However, by now, he had realized that Love-Struck was taken in by such stories; clearly, the Lonely handsome man had her completely figured out.

Even the balloon, which cost less than 10 yuan, Love-Struck held dearly, clutching it tightly in her arms.

"This, this is something I've always wanted! Hahaha, the Lonely handsome man and I really do think alike, we're a match made in heaven."

However, Ma Lu felt that this plot was becoming all too familiar.

It was too similar, too much like those internet romance scams.

Those scammers would seek out victims on social media forums or online dating sites, find every way to get close to the victims, warm them with personalized attention, and mold themselves into their soulmate.

Once the victims let down their guard and filled with trust, the scammers would reveal their true motives and start using investment in stocks and other pretexts to swindle money from them, milking the victims of their last cent before disappearing.

Like Love-Struck, a young girl with a wealthy family, simple-minded and entirely obsessed with romance, was their ideal target.

To avoid legal repercussions, many handlers of these scams operate from abroad, therefore, they often come up with various excuses to refuse or delay face-to-face meetings.

In Ma Lu's view, the Lonely handsome man's tale about taking care of the injured old lady would next develop into either him heroically rushing her to the hospital or getting entangled by the old lady's family, making him unable to leave.

In short, there was a legitimate excuse to skip tonight's date, which gave Ma Lu a bad premonition that tonight's dinner might just fall through.

Wondering how much to charge Love-Struck then?

Ma Lu was about to go to the kitchen to tell Old Wang to hold off on preparing the remaining ingredients when, just then, another figure appeared outside the restaurant.

Ma Lu instinctively looked at the Traveler's Bracelet on his hand, noticing the time was exactly the last minute of Love-Struck and her mysterious online lover's scheduled meeting.

Seeing that figure, Love-Struck excitedly straightened up, stopped humming "Love Cycle," sat up straight as if in school, placing her hands neatly on her knees.

He clenched the balloon tightly.

Ma Lu opened the door again, expecting once again someone coming with news to finish the story of the handsome, lonely man missing the date.

However, when he saw the person, he was stunned.

Love-Struck had told him many times that her boyfriend was very handsome, resembling a combination of a young Takuya Kimura and Takeshi Kaneshiro.

Standing at 185 cm with an eight-pack, wearing black-framed glasses, he liked to wear a white sweater with a khaki trench coat over it, his gaze deep, exuding an intellectual air mixed with primal wildness.

Except for the eight-pack, which Ma Lu could not see, the rest matched the description perfectly.

He was also very polite, pushing up his glasses, "Excuse me, is this the Universe Infinite Canteen? My girlfriend has reserved a spot here."

"Oh, oh, oh," Ma Lu regained his composure, "are you the Lonely Handsome Man?"

"Yes."

"This way, please. Your girlfriend has already arrived."

The man took out his car keys and locked the black Taycan parked by the roadside.

Ma Lu could somewhat understand why Love-Struck was so crazy about the Lonely Handsome Man; the hexagonal man invented in the game had really been materialized and was now standing right in front of him.

What kind of luck had Love-Struck struck to find such a perfect boyfriend while playing a game?

But now was not the time to worry about that.

Ma Lu led the Lonely Handsome Man into the restaurant and guided him to where Love-Struck was seated.

"I'm sorry, I ran into some issues on the way," the Lonely Handsome Man said to Love-Struck, who was dressed a bit oddly and covered up.

He pulled out the chair opposite her, sat down, and then asked Ma Lu for a wet wipe to clean the dust in front of him.

"I know, I know!"

Love-Struck tried to calm herself, but anyone could hear her voice was about to burst with happiness.

"You were a hero again, saving an old lady on your way here!"

The Lonely Handsome Man smiled, "I'm not a hero, just helping those in need within my abilities."

"To me, such people are heroes!!!"

Finally meeting the person she liked, Love-Struck felt so overjoyed she thought she might faint; her legs crossed, rubbing against each other, making that peculiar creaking noise.

Before the Lonely Handsome Man arrived, Love-Struck had many things she wanted to say to him, but when she saw him, she got so flustered that her mind went blank, and for the next half a minute, she couldn't think of anything to say.

Darn it, I need to think of a topic fast, or it'll get awkward!

Love-Struck's mind raced, talking about the weather? Too cliché, discussing recent movies, what if he hasn't seen them? Propose directly? Too soon without any lead-up.

Before she could say anything, she saw the Lonely Handsome Man take out his phone.

"It might take a while before the dishes are served, how about we play a round of 'King of Glory' first?"