Page 78 of Fake Game

“Sure did. Jackson’s not that forward, ya know, likes to keep his cards close.”

My mom nods her head in agreement. “I have always wondered why he’s never had a girlfriend before. He mustn’t have known how to make the first move.”

My left eye twitches. Why does it feel like her narrative is painting me as a loser?

“Nope. Men can be a little emotionally closed off; they’re just not as attuned as we are.”

“You do seem like you have quite the feminine touch.”

“Thank you!” Deer runs her free hand through her hair.

“The pink iskei gwaai,”gung gungfrowns.

Auntie An smirks at my grandfather’s comment, and it causes Deer to stiffen almost imperceptibly. She might not know whatkei gwaaimeans, but she has the social cues to deduce that it wasn’t exactly a compliment.

“I don’t think it’s strange. I think she looks like a doll, and it counteracts your grandson’s bleakness.” Auntie Lei smiles at us from across the table. “You two make a cute pair.” She didn’t bat an eye at meeting Deer and has spent the entire meal dropping reassurances, while everyone else keeps their guard up.

Auntie Lei is my dad’s younger sister, and she has always been supportive of me. She was the only family member who didn’t get pissed off when they all found out I’d dropped out of college and became a streamer—probably because she sees me as a second son since her own son has been studying at an international university in Shanghai the last few years.

“Thank you.”

“I’m confused. If you have been seeing each other, why have you been going on the blind dates we’ve all been setting up?” My uncle frowns, piling more baozi onto his plate.

Auntie An hums in agreement at her husband’s annoying observation.

“Like I said, we only just started dating. Shield, I mean Jackson and I wanted to keep our relationship private since we are both in the spotlight. Our careers are super on the up right now, and it’s really easy for things to leak, so we thought it was simpler to just to play along. Plus, it helps keep your family’s privacy intact as well.”

Damn, she is good at this.

“It seems like everything to do with this video game stuff is steeped in secrets and lies.” Auntie An narrows her eyes at us. “You said Deer was a nickname, correct?”

Deer’s hand tenses on my arm, the tips of her nails pressing into my skin ever so slightly, though her face stays a practiced, placid mask.

“Technically. It’s also my gamertag.”

“What does that mean?”Po powhispers to me, but her voice carries across the table.

“It’s a video game thing,” I whisper back.

“You play games as well?” She leans across to make eye contact with Deer.

“I do,” she smiles. “I’m not as famous as Jackson, though. He is part of an epic legacy, and everyone really respects him.”

She is laying it on thick, but I don’t really mind it. It’s nice to have someone in my corner who actually understands me, who believes in me.

That being said, she is selling herself short. I don’t think Deer realizes how many people adore her content, how she has quickly become a star in the community.

“It’s still just playing games,” Auntie An chimes in.

Deer tilts her head. “I know a lot of people have trouble understanding the video game industry, let alone streaming, but it is one of the most lucrative spaces to be in. The video game market is worth over two hundred fifty billion dollars and has an expected growth rate of over eight percent over the next few years. The esports industry alone has doubled in the last six years with a viewership of over five hundred million worldwide, and its most popular game,Gods League,has a recorded two hundred million hours’ worth of streaming watched. The people who own these companies and develop the software are making bank. Sure, there are smaller indie companies and start-ups, but even they have the power to disrupt the norm with the right console or game. And if we look into video game streaming,” she lets out a laugh, “wow. People spend more time watching people play video games than playing themselves. You would be shocked to learn the revenue you earn on a video that has over three million views. Sure, not everyone can be in that top percent, but those of us who are make more in a month than your attorney son does in a year.”

The table falls to a hum at Deer’s speech; there’s just the sound of Angela sucking through the straw of her fruit tea.

“That’s very impressive to hear.” There’s an amused glint in Auntie Lei’s eyes. “It’s lovely to hear about Jackson’s success from someone who cares about him so much.”

“Hai meh? You’re just going to believe what she says?Stevenis successful.Stevenis dating a lovely girl.” Auntie An flicks her wrist at Deer. “We don’t even know this girl’s real name or what her parents do. How can you trust an outsider?”

This time there is no denying the way Deer’s nails dig into my forearm.

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