九游世界

李明低下头， fingers trembling slightly as he pulled out his phone. His eyes darted around the classroom, hoping no one would notice his secret. The new school was everything he hadn't expected—disciplined, quiet, and full of students who seemed to have their lives together.

His fingers hovered over the game icon on his phone screen. He had only a few minutes until the next class started, and he needed to level up his character in "Dragon Quest" before the in-game event reset. But the last thing he wanted was for someone to see him playing during class.

As he quickly tapped the screen, the familiar blue and white interface of the Nine游app appeared. A notification flashed: "New update available for Dragon Quest." He ignored it, knowing that skipping the update could mean missing out on new features. But time was ticking, and he needed to get back to the game.

Just as he was about to dive back into the world of dragons and quests, a gentle tap on his desk made him jump. He looked up to see a girl with long black hair and a warm smile.

"Are you playing a game?" she asked softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Liang's face turned red. "No, I—" he stammered, quickly closing the app and shoving his phone into his backpack.

The girl laughed, a melodic sound that made him feel less embarrassed. "It's okay," she said. "I play games too. I'm Mei."

She pulled out her own phone and opened the Nine游app. "Want to play together sometime? I'm always looking for people to组队."

Liang hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Sure. I'm Liang."

From that day on, their gaming sessions became a highlight of Liang's week. Mei was a skilled player, always willing to teach him new strategies. But more than that, she was kind and patient, helping him with his homework and studying after school.

One evening, as they were playing together online, Mei suddenly paused. "Liang, do you know why I wanted to play with you?"

Liang shook his head, confused.

"Because I saw you hiding your game during class," Mei admitted. "I know what it's like to feel like you don't fit in. But you're a good student, and you care about your grades. I just wanted to make sure you know you're not alone."

Liang was touched. "Thank you, Mei," he said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."

From that moment on, Liang felt a renewed sense of determination. With Mei's support and encouragement, he started to focus more on his studies, knowing that she would be there to help him whenever he needed. And every time he played "Dragon Quest," he reminded himself that it was just a game—a fun way to take a break and make new friends.

As the semester progressed, Liang found himself looking forward to both his gaming sessions and his schoolwork. He realized that balance was possible, and that sometimes, the friends you make in unexpected places can help you find your way.