"Li Qing, want to go see a movie this weekend? I found a really good horror film called The Battle of Zhenzi and the Gourd Kids. I heard it's getting rave reviews! I really want to watch it, but I'm scared. Will you accompany ? Pretty please!"
"Sorry, I have to play Luke this weekend, so I can't go."
Li Qing looked at the heart-marked female contact on his phone with a lancholic face as she sent him a 'smile' emoji.
He couldn't figure out what he said wrong that warranted such a fatal 'smile' emoji from her. He was clearly handling serious business, moving bricks to earn cash and save for a down paynt.
He actually always had a liking for this woman, even though she was three years older... But as the saying goes, a woman three years older is like hugging a gold brick, right?
"Sigh!"
He let out a deep sigh, then silently opened his phone's browser. After skillfully entering a certain website, he picked up a tissue nearby...
and wiped the oil stains from the corner of his mouth.
He looked at the fiery edited videos on the small station of his phone and sighed with a long breath again.
Today is his thirtieth birthday. People always say that at thirty, one stands firm, but to him today, thirty is just thirty.
In his sowhat ssy rented house, a table beside him was cluttered with leftover takeout, old posters on the walls, casually placed clothes, and a computer monitor with a dimly lit screen, streaming so live platform.
This is a typical single man's apartnt, ssy yet orderly, with things Li Qing knew by heart.
Looking back at the content on the computer, Li Qing touched his face.
"I don't even look bad. How co I still can't find a girlfriend till now? This is..."
The truth is, it's been a hard journey; from childhood till now, Li Qing's entire being only conveyed two words.
diocrity!
Despite having delicate and fair looks, which could be considered an advantage, and having friends who introduced him to quite a few matches, the initial attraction would always dissipate during conversations.
Not even a trace was left.
Li Qing was quite troubled by this. He consulted many female friends, inquiring and even simulating scenarios.
The unanimous conclusion was that Li Qing's way of talking was wrong. Simply put, he was tougher than steel, comparable to the latest super-hard alloys.
His words silently killed, reaching max damage on won.
To the extent that those enthusiastic female friends, after simulating conversations with Li Qing, wouldn't talk to him for three days straight.
When thinking about this, Li Qing was troubled. He really wanted to do sothing practical, but it always ended up in shambles, except for a lot of weird issues.
Thinking of this, as he was about to grab so more takeout, his phone suddenly vibrated.
Li Qing froze in his actions and looked at the unusual caller ID displaying, sowhat confused. Who would call at this late hour? Could soone actually rember his birthday?
No, certainly not. His parents disappeared when he was fourteen, leaving no trace. Since then, he's been living on his own. To make his life in this gacity more comfortable, he even rented out his house and moved into a single room.
Besides that, no one would know today is his thirtieth birthday.
Maybe it's work-related.
He couldn't help but answer with a touch of resignation.
"Hello?"
"Zzzzzz..."
As the electric noise ca through the phone, Li Qing frowned slightly. Just as he was about to hang up, a male voice suddenly ca from the other end.
"Hello, hello, is this Mr. Li Qing?"
Hearing the sowhat quirky and amused voice, Li Qing had a hunch.
Probably a prank.
Li Qing replied flatly, "It's . Who are you?"
"Ah, well, congratulations! Do you know you're the luckiest person in the world... Oh, oh, I'd first like to wish you a happy thirtieth birthday, also marking your thirtieth anniversary of being single, hahaha..."
Saying this, the male voice couldn't help but laugh, seeming to find it funny.
This made Li Qing very unhappy, "Is my thirty years of singlehood so worth your mockery?"
"No, no, no, I was just thinking of sothing funny."
"What is it?"
"My wife is having a baby..."
Li Qing couldn't bear it, "You think I haven't watched movies? Please don't bring such lousy jokes into your scam. Don't overdo it; I advise you to hold your rat tail!"
Just as he was about to hang up, the voice quickly said, "Wait... I'm not done yet. This is a call that will change your life. Are you unwilling to spend ti listening?"
Li Qing hesitated for a mont, eventually suppressing his anger and said, "Go ahead."
The other party cleared their throat twice and introduced, "My na is Zhuang Xu, an admission tutor at Gray Magic Academy. Congratulations on qualifying and being successfully accepted by our school... um, I believe the acceptance letter will soon be mailed to your address..."
"...What the heck, Magic Academy?"
Li Qing was sowhat puzzled, thinking the guy should at least say sothing believable. Talking like this is being NT possessed.
Hearing this, Li Qing got more interested; it was his first ti receiving such a scam call.
"Go ahead and explain how exactly I qualified to enter this Magic School?"
Zhuang Xu's voice suddenly beca deep, "Have you heard of this legend? If a man remains a virgin till thirty, he can beco a mage and use magic."
Li Qing was stunned, "Wha... what the heck?"
"It's true, if a man remains a single dog until thirty, he can switch professions to beco a mage and learn magic. Trust , this is your life's turning point. Make sure..."
Snap!
Li Qing expressionlessly hung up the phone, calling the person crazy. Who knows how they got his number to prank call him today.
Knock knock knock!
Li Qing was slightly startled, turning his head towards the window, and was shocked to see a dark figure perched on the window sill, with a pair of glowing green eyes staring at him.
Its head bobbed with each 'knock knock' sound.
An eerie and terrifying atmosphere suddenly gripped him, making his scalp tingle, his legs weak, almost unable to stand.
Gulp!
Li Qing swallowed, standing frozen for about thirty seconds, seeing that thing made no move. Only then did he muster the courage to slowly move over.
Upon closer inspection, Li Qing exhaled a big breath and then cursed, "Scared to death!"
It was an owl, but its feathers were pitch black, without a bit of mixed color. Its eyes were extraordinarily human-like, like two black gemstones embedded, staring disdainfully at him.
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