No longer a pushover (Noelle and Cedric) novel Chapter 14

Noelle was instantly intrigued after hearing Cedric's plan. They quietly followed behind, watching Lucas lead his team to fight the game's boss.

The boss was notoriously difficult to defeat, requiring coordinated teamwork. When it was close to defeat, the team was usually left with low health. Usually, no one dared steal the last kill from such a famous team, but there were always exceptions.

Noelle had done a strategy guide for this boss before, so she knew exactly when to strike. She and Cedric worked together seamlessly, landing the final blow just as the boss was about to be defeated.

They successfully took the last hit.

The world chat immediately posted—"Congratulations to HeartbreakCrunch for killing the Everbloom Haven boss."

When Lucas saw this, he was furious and began cursing over his headset. "What are you all doing? How could you let someone steal the last kill?"

Xenia added, "Those two must be newbies. Do they not know who we are? How dare they steal our kill!"

Lucas shouted, "Get them!"

But quickly, his screen turned black and white, and the rest of his team fell to the ground.

Lucas stared at the character named "HeartbreakCrunch" and felt something familiar about that person's gameplay. It reminded him of Noelle. He wondered if she had intentionally made a new account to steal his boss kill. However, she shouldn't be that good yet.

Meanwhile, Noelle and Cedric celebrated their victory, claiming the loot dropped by the boss. But it wasn't as satisfying as defeating Lucas and Xenia.

After they played for a while, the food arrived. Cedric paused the game. "Let's eat first."

Noelle noticed a small cake that looked like the one Xenia had received earlier. She glanced at him. "Why did you buy a cake?"

"Don't women like this sort of thing? It's a reward for your good grades since you didn't embarrass me."

She was unexpectedly touched. He looked awkward and added coldly, "Anyway, it came with the takeaway order."

She picked up the small cake, sensing that it was ordered just for her. She took a bite, her mood lifting slightly.

He watched her lower her head, staying silent for a long moment, before asking, "Does the cake taste bad?"

Inwardly, he thought that the cake shouldn't taste bad as it was the most popular one.

Noelle shook her head. "No, it's delicious. It's been a long time since anyone bought me a cake."

Since her parents died, she hadn't had a birthday. Her brothers never remembered her love for this cake, and she was always left out.

Cedric looked at her. "You don't celebrate your birthday?"

Noelle paused, then answered, "My parents died in a car accident on my birthday, so I haven't celebrated it since."

That day was the anniversary of their death, and the atmosphere at home was always somber. She felt that she had no right to celebrate.

Cedric felt as if something had fiercely stung his heart, leaving him momentarily breathless.

He turned his head away, his thin lips pressed together, and his face mixed with stern anger and deep guilt. His hand instinctively tightened, veins bulging across the back of it.

She sensed the shift in atmosphere and tried to brush it off. "I don't mind it at all. I'm not in the mood for celebrations anyway."

After all, that day marked the anniversary of her parents' death. What right did she have to celebrate her birthday?

Cedric suppressed his emotions as he looked at her pale, quiet face. She appeared so docile, like a small animal.

She stayed quietly in place, silent and almost invisible. Her well-behaved demeanor only stirred a mix of anger and helplessness in him.

He spoke hoarsely. "It's getting late. Go back. Don't linger outside."

"Okay. Can I still look for you here in the future?" She looked at him uncertainly.