Listening in, Bonita couldn’t help but chuckle herself awake. Once fully awake, she grabbed her phone to scroll through the comments and was surprised to see numerous praises for Neal, not just for his gaming prowess but also for his looks. Some fans, who had watched his offline college league games, hailed him as a gaming icon and a heartthrob.

Could he have removed it? Upon inspecting the screenshot again, she noted the timestamp marked “one minute ago,” indicating Neal had just posted and then quickly deleted the status.

An idea suddenly occurred to Bonita. She played along, replying, “Yes, I saw your status. But why delete it so fast? I didn’t even get to like it.”

Neal quickly responded, “It seemed too over the top just for a cold, so I took it down.” He quickly added, “You wanted to like my post even though I’m sick? You don’t like seeing me healthy?”

Realizing the misunderstanding, Bonita rushed to explain, “No, no, I always wish for your well-being more than anything!”

From his side of the screen, Neal chuckled at the eager tone of her replies. He imagined her hastily typing to correct the misunderstanding. He was only joking—he was well aware that she cared deeply for him. Given all the virtual gifts she’d sent and the financial help during tough times, how could he doubt her affection?

With this in mind, Neal allowed a warm smile to spread across his face.

He responded, “I’m just kidding. Don’t worry, I understand you.” Bonita sent back a playful cat emoji.

“I’m off to bed now. I have a live stream early tomorrow. You should also get some rest,” Neal suggested.

Bonita bid him goodnight, advising him to stay warm, establish an emergency contact, and keep both a thermos and some medicine handy by his bed.

After giving all these instructions, she paused, wondering if she was coming off too much like a doting mother. Would Neal find her concern annoying?

Bonita’s frustration was evident; she slapped her forehead, feeling foolish.

Thankfully, her cover wasn’t blown today. Neal was none the wiser, and she made a mental note to tread more cautiously.

The following morning, Bonita was jolted awake by her alarm. Sleepily, she launched the live streaming app, where Neal’s session was prominently displayed on the homepage. Without hesitation, she entered the stream and began sending virtual gifts.

Fatigue overwhelmed her as she yawned tearfully, her eyes struggling to focus on the flood of comments on her screen.

Neal had already launched into a new game, his banter as sharp and amusing as ever. Bonita set her phone by her pillow, and the sound of his voice alone coaxed a smile onto her lips.

Though still under the weather, his voice carried a slightly raspy quality that only heightened its charm.

During the stream, Neal showcased his impeccable gaming abilities, yet he occasionally threw in a clumsy move for laughs, which, coupled with his sharp banter, had his viewers in fits of laughter.

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