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"Let’s go, I booked a private room."

He Jian added generously, "Since Brother Ling drove us here, this meal is on me!"

"Classy, President He. In that case, we won’t stand on ceremony."

Ye Ling said with a small smile.

The hot pot base for their table arrived remarkably fast. They had barely been seated for a moment when two waiters entered one after the other.

"Wow, the service at this hot pot place is crazy fast," Yang Yu remarked with a grin.

When they came in, he’d seen how many people were waiting outside and figured they’d have to wait at least twenty minutes. But in the blink of an eye, the broth was already on the table.

Hearing this, the corners of Ye Ling’s mouth curved into a faint smile.

’My friend, if you knew the real reason, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be smiling anymore...’

"No drinking today, by the way."

Ye Ling gave them a heads-up before they started eating.

After all, they had military training tomorrow. If they got plastered tonight, Duan Lingfei would probably blow a gasket.

"Got it."

He Jian and the other two nodded.

He Jian suddenly asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively at Ye Ling, "So, Brother Ling, does your girl keep you on a pretty tight leash?"

Ye Ling replied after a moment’s thought, "Not really. She basically lets me do my own thing."

"Man, I’m so jealous. Compared to you, it feels like we’ve completely wasted our lives," He Jian couldn’t help but sigh.

He’d only known Ye Ling for a day, but the blow to his confidence was significant.

When it came to Ye Ling, he had the money, he had the looks, and most importantly, he had a girlfriend as beautiful as a flower!

"Don’t be jealous. It won’t get you anywhere."

Ye Ling said coolly.

"Damn it, Brother Ling, that’s just cruel!"

He Jian immediately cried out, displeased.

"Hehehe, only Brother Ling can shut a goofball like you up."

Yang Yu, on the other hand, was enjoying the show from the sidelines, a look of pure schadenfreude on his face.

’Serves you right for laughing earlier. Now it’s your turn, isn’t it?!’

"Actually, I have my own share of troubles."

Ye Ling sighed, a sudden trace of sorrow appearing in his eyes.

"What troubles?"

As soon as Ye Ling spoke, He Jian and the other two put down their chopsticks, their ears perked.

"It’s because I’m too handsome... Damn it, I can’t catch a break wherever I go."

Ye Ling said, shaking his head.

’Damn it, is that something a human being would even say!?’

But before He Jian and the other two could say a word, a knock suddenly came from the door.

A girl wearing a long white dress walked in.

"Um... sorry to bother you, but... can I add you on WeChat?"

The girl asked shyly, looking at Ye Ling.

Ye Ling gave He Jian and the other two a look that seemed to say, ’See? What did I tell you? Trouble’s here.’

"Sorry, I have a girlfriend."

Ye Ling politely rejected her with a smile.

"Oh... my apologies, then."

At his words, the girl’s face flushed red again as she clutched her phone and ran out.

’I may have been rejected, but he’s so handsome when he smiles!’

"Brother Ling, that was a seriously smooth move. That girl was really pretty, too!" He Jian couldn’t help but chime in from the side.

"An abundance of romance can become a romantic disaster. Sigh, you guys just don’t get it. All in all, it’s a real struggle."

Ye Ling sighed again, then tilted his head back at a forty-five-degree angle to stare at the chandelier, looking for all the world like he was contemplating the meaning of life.

"I can’t take it anymore!"

Instantly, the sound of chopsticks being slammed down echoed through the private room.

...

The next morning, Ye Ling woke up early and performed his daily check-in.

"Goddammit, System. I really have you to thank for this."

Ye Ling’s expression soured as he stared at the pack of sanitary pads that had materialized in his hand.

Damn it.

This was going too far!

The amoxicillin was one thing, but to give him *this* stuff directly...

"Brother Ling, what’s that in your hand?"

Just then, Yang Yu walked over and, quick as a flash, snatched the package right out of Ye Ling’s hand.

"You little..."

Ye Ling’s eyes flew wide, but he was a step too slow.

"Brother Ling... your status at home is a little low, isn’t it?"

Yang Yu said with a suggestive smirk, looking at the package in his hand.

Sure, he’d never had a girlfriend, but even if you’ve never eaten pork, you’ve still seen a pig run, right? This was obviously something for girls...

In his mind, Ye Ling must have bought them for Ning Ruoxi!

"What the hell do you know? These are for shoe insoles," Ye Ling said, not batting an eye.

"That’s a thing!?"

Yang Yu’s eyes widened in amazement.

"So uncultured. Try it and you’ll see. They work great."

Ye Ling said with a smirk.

’He’d never actually done this before, but he’d seen it online. Now was a good time to put that knowledge to flexible use...’

"I’ll try it!"

Seeing this, Yang Yu excitedly tore open the package, pulled out two pads, and placed them in his shoes. He immediately felt an unprecedented softness!

Watching the look of pure bliss on Yang Yu’s face, Ye Ling felt a wave of revulsion and immediately tossed the entire package to him.

"If you like them so much, you can have them all."

"Thanks, Brother Ling!"

Yang Yu, completely oblivious, took the package without a second thought.

"What are you guys doing?"

At that moment, He Jian and Yang Yefeng, having finished washing up and getting ready for breakfast, walked over and asked curiously.

"Brother Ling just recommended something amazing to me."

At that, Yang Yu took out the package Ye Ling had just given him.

"Holy shit, Yang Yu, are you some kind of pervert?"

Seeing the package, He Jian immediately took a step back, the look he gave Yang Yu was something else!

"What the hell do you know? This stuff is great."

Yang Yu just rolled his eyes. Without further explanation, he carefully put the package away.

At that, everyone present couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of revulsion.

’After all, for a grown-ass man to be using something like that, and even hiding it away so carefully!?’

"Brother Ling, what’s going on here?"

Yang Yefeng asked, finding the whole thing strange.

"Don’t ask. Ask too many questions and you’ll become a ’gentleman’ yourself."

Ye Ling replied with a mysterious expression.

"Let’s go get breakfast."

He Jian shivered and unconsciously edged a little farther away from Yang Yu.

"You son of a bitch!"

Yang Yu, fuming, snorted, "You just don’t understand the joy!"

"Yeah, you’re right, I really don’t."

He Jian was left speechless.

Seeing this, Ye Ling felt he really couldn’t hold it in any longer and finally explained everything, laughing as he did.

"Oh, so that’s what it was..."

After hearing the explanation, the look He Jian gave Yang Yu finally softened a bit.