Secret Messages

Chapter 1: The Secret Messages application

"You don't have to give us your answer right now." Lizhen told them. "Take some time to think about it at home. We'll be informed as soon as you sign up for the application. If, however, we don't hear from any of you within a week, we will contact you to find out what your decision is."

They all nodded, and then they parted without a word, lost in thought.

***

Shancai was watching the invitation to connect to the Secret Messages application for almost 15 minutes. She was lying on the bed, staring at her phone screen, and only her parents' snoring was coming from behind the wall. Her finger was hanging in front of the download button.

Should she do it or not?

She wasn't very comfortable conversing with a stranger, anonymous on top of that. Although she was quite good with words and got excellent marks in several of her essays during her middle and high school years, Shancai wasn't used to talking about herself, let alone what was going on in her head.

To tell the truth, she sometimes even had difficulty analyzing her feelings and states of mind. She rarely confided what was in her heart, even to Xiaoyou, her best friend. So how could she open up to someone she didn't even know?

Without quite understanding why, her thoughts were deviating to Daoming Si. She could not help wondering whether the young heir would agree to participate in the experiment. If he did, wouldn't she risk having him as her pen pal? Immediately she felt her heart racing and her eyes widened in horror. There was no way she would confide in the pineapple head!

Then, after some thought, she concluded that it was unlikely that the young man would accept. He must have felt far too superior to be interested in ordinary people! Shancai laughed scornfully, and then, reassured, she decided to download the application.

She began by giving her student number, her name, surname, and her course of study. Then a window opened, telling her that none of these data would be visible to her correspondent. The next step was a questionnaire about the data she would use to communicate with her mysterious interlocutor.

She had to start by choosing an alias. She hesitated to use the one she was applying for her online game, Ms. Chen, but she thought it wasn't original enough. To engage in an epistolary exchange, wouldn't it be better to make literary references?

Her eyes fell on her favorite book, obviously on the shelf. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. She chewed her lips, hesitated, then made up her mind. After all, she might have a little fun and give herself a name she'd like.

So, she typed "Lizzie Bennet" in front of "pseudonym". Then, she said that she was interested in men when faced with "sexual orientation" with a sigh. "How silly of them to make us specify that!" she grumbled quietly.

She then wrote down her hobbies and activities (reading and cooking as far as she was concerned), and courageously pressed "validate". A message then appeared on her phone: "Thank you for filling out this questionnaire and signing up for Secret Messages. We are looking for a correspondent and will send you a notification as soon as it is done. »

Sighing, Shancai whispered, "There, it's done.", then she turned off her cell phone and went to bed.

***

The next morning, when Dong Shancai turned on her phone, still very sleepy, a notification message immediately appeared on the screen. "Congratulations, Lizzie Bennet! We've found you a pen pal: James Lebron. Click here to send him your first message."

"James Lebron?" Shancai whispered, dumbfounded. "Must be a basketball fan." She closed her eyes, and leaned her head on her pillow for a few seconds. Her pen pal might be a sportsman, no doubt about it! She wasn't a sports fan, so what would she find to say to him? She was going to put her phone down and get up, but she couldn't help but look at the "send your first message" button.

She bit her lips, hesitation. She was tempted, though. "Oh well, what am I risking?" She ended up wondering out loud.

"Hello James Lebron,

The application seems to have chosen us as an epistolary duo. In this case, let's write?

I'm sorry if I seem awkward enough, I admit I've never done this before. I'm not talking about writing a message; I'm talking about writing to a stranger. I don't know anything about you, not even your name. It's pretty incongruous, isn't it?

All I can guess is you like basketball and seem to admire James Lebron. If you'll excuse me, my sporting knowledge stops there. I had a high school friend who was a fan of his; he even played basketball even though his specialty was swimming.

I guess I need to talk about me, don't I? Or maybe I should ask you questions like what's your favorite color or the music you like? I'm sorry, I don't know what to do or how to do this. You must be sorry you have such a mediocre pen pal.

The time' is running out; I'm going to have to get to class soon. Maybe I'll have more inspiration for my next message? Your answer will surely help me... if you feel like answering me, of course. All I can promise you is that I'll try to do better next time.

Friendly

Lizzie Bennet. "

Shancai bit her lips once again, then hesitated for long to press the button "send". Her mother helped her decide when she suddenly knocked at her door, telling her to avoid being late for her courses. The young woman startled and hastily pressed "send".

It was done.

Her heart racing, the young nutrition student, decided not to think about it anymore and to focus on her breakfast. Anyway, it was unlikely that "James Lebron" answered her, wasn't it?

She was surprised when, on arrival at the college, she discovered a new notification on her cell phone. "James Lebron wrote back! Click here to see his message!"

The young woman felt her heart racing again and almost blushed with shame. Nevertheless, getting caught up in the game, she hastily went to read his answer.

"Dear Lizzie Bennet,

I've always been told that's the way to start a letter. Because it can be considered a letter, can't it?

I can't believe you consider your message mediocre. I've never read anyone so good at expressing themselves. I must say I don't read much, at least not literature. I'm more interested in books related to my field of study.

I'm not very interested in writing, words either. I'm more comfortable with actions. People sometimes say that I act without thinking that I'm too bad-tempered. But then again, if we don't do anything, how can we move forward?

You guessed right, I'm a big basketball fan, and James Lebron is my idol. I take it you're more into English Lit and Jane Austen? I'm sorry, but that's where my knowledge ends, too. I just have a sister who's only talked to me about this book for years; it's her favorite novel.

Maybe I should read it after all? I must admit that its thickness makes me a little repulsed.

Otherwise, what can I say? I'm no better at it than you are either. But please, let's not get into random matters. Anyway, I don't have a favorite color, just tones I like to marry. As for music, I listen to a bit of everything, even if I tend to listen to rap more often (in secret from my mother and sister because they hate it).

The time' is also running out; my friends are waiting for me for a project. I hope I've been able to inspire you.

Friendly (do we have to write this to a stranger?).

James Lebron"

A smile appeared on Shancai's lips. Finally, the experience promised to be interesting, and she was eager to know a little more about her mysterious pen pal!