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At that moment, the soup dumplings were brought to the table.

"Hurry up and eat."

Ye Ling casually grabbed two pairs of chopsticks and handed one to Ning Ruoxi.

Having exercised on an empty stomach that morning, and with the tempting aroma wafting over, Ning Ruoxi felt quite hungry and started eating right away.

These soup dumplings were delicious. They were full of broth, and the meat was fresh and tender. Even with her small appetite, Ning Ruoxi polished off a basket and a half by herself.

"Ugh, I’m so full."

Ning Ruoxi took a sip of soy milk and felt completely stuffed. She casually placed the rest of the soy milk in front of Ye Ling. "Xiaoyezi, I bestow this upon you."

"Many thanks, Your Highness."

Ye Ling chuckled at her words, playing along.

He ate the last soup dumpling in front of him, then picked up the bag of soy milk and began to SLURP it down.

The soy milk was warm and sweet, perfect for chasing away the morning chill.

He wasn’t sure if it was because Ning Ruoxi had drunk from it first, but Ye Ling felt that this bag of soy milk tasted a little better than usual. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I’m a little stuffed. Let’s go for a walk," Ye Ling said after paying the bill, looking at Ning Ruoxi.

"Mm, okay."

Ning Ruoxi nodded. She had indeed eaten a lot this morning; she felt like she might not even have room for lunch.

The two of them held hands, strolling about aimlessly.

The weather was nice today. The little park was filled with elderly men and women doing their morning exercises, and others out for a walk, creating a particularly leisurely atmosphere.

"When we’re old, we’ll probably be just like these grandpas and grandmas, right?"

Watching the many white-haired elderly couples walking hand in hand, Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but look at them with a sense of longing.

Growing old together.

The phrase sounded so simple, but how many couples truly made it to their twilight years together?

Especially in this day and age.

A fast-paced life, a fast-food romance.

As the pace of life grew ever faster, the value people placed on love seemed to diminish.

’Will Ye Ling and I really be together forever and ever?’

’We should... We will, right?’

’We definitely will.’

Ning Ruoxi told herself silently.

"Of course we will."

Ye Ling chuckled and said, "We’ll grow old together, our hair will turn white, and our teeth will fall out together... I’ll laugh at you for turning into a little old lady, and you’ll laugh at me for becoming a grumpy old man."

"Why are you talking about all that?"

Ning Ruoxi immediately stopped in her tracks, looking at Ye Ling with a huff.

’How is this guy so good at ruining the mood?’

’It was supposed to be a heartwarming scene, one that inspired yearning for the future. Why is it that when it comes out of his mouth, it’s all about losing hair, losing teeth, grumpy old men, and little old ladies?’

"What I meant to say is, even if you become a little old lady, you’ll still be my Ruoruo, my little queen."

Ye Ling turned back, reached out, and gently pinched the young woman’s puffy cheeks as he chuckled.

"Geez... Why are you saying such cheesy things?"

Hearing this, Ning Ruoxi’s pretty face immediately flushed a faint red. The annoyance in her eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by bliss.

"It’s what’s in my heart."

But Ye Ling just chuckled, wrapping his arm around Ning Ruoxi and walking along the park’s cobblestone path, just like the elderly couple ahead of them.

They walked in front, while Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi followed behind, tracing their footsteps, one step at a time, toward the future...

...

Nestled in Ye Ling’s arm, the happiness in Ning Ruoxi’s eyes grew ever deeper.

However, she suddenly felt that something was a little off.

’How is this guy, Ye Ling, getting so smooth?’

’First he makes me angry, then he flips it around and makes me feel incredibly happy.’

’It’s the classic ’hit you with a stick, then give you a sweet date’ routine!’

"You bad man, fess up. Have you been flirting with other girls recently?" Ning Ruoxi suddenly muttered.

"Huh?"

Ye Ling was completely dumbfounded, his face a mask of astonishment.

’A woman’s train of thought is the most bizarre thing in the world.’ At least, for Ye Ling at this moment, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why this girl had suddenly blurted out such a sentence.

"I haven’t been flirting with other girls," Ye Ling said, sounding wronged.

"I was just asking."

Ning Ruoxi mumbled, then huffed lightly. "Anyway, if I find out you’ve been flirting with other girls, I’ll really cut you off."

WHOOSH!

Feeling her slightly menacing gaze, Ye Ling suddenly felt another chill run down his lower body. He had a feeling that Ning Ruoxi was genuinely capable of doing such a thing.

’As expected, women are the most terrifying creatures in the world!’

Previously, Ye Ling thought he and Ning Ruoxi would never break up because their relationship was very stable...

But now, he was even more certain they would never break up. Given this little lady’s attitude, there would be no breakup—only widowhood!

Holding Ning Ruoxi, Ye Ling couldn’t help but sigh internally. In this life, he had well and truly fallen into this girl’s hands.

But... ’why did the thought feel a little sweet?’

After finishing their stroll in the park, Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi returned home. The walk had caused them to break into a light sweat again.

This time of year was the most trying. If you didn’t move, you were cold; if you moved a little, you were hot. In short, it was uncomfortable no matter what.

Ning Ruoxi went back to her room to work on her art drafts, while Ye Ling sat bored on the sofa, playing on his phone.

’It seems like Ning Ruoxi’s birthday is getting closer and closer. It’s time to start making some preparations.’

[Ye Ling: Bros, any suggestions for a girlfriend’s birthday?]

[He Jian: Uh... that falls into a blind spot in my knowledge.]

[Yang Yu: I know a few birthday plans, but where do you get the girlfriend?]

[Yang Yefeng: Brother Ling, why don’t you take our sister-in-law to a haunted house? It’s pretty exciting.]

A haunted house?

Ye Ling’s expression turned a little strange.

’Well, it’s true that it’s a good place for a couple’s date. After all, it’s a great opportunity to show off your manliness.’

’But choosing a place like that for a birthday... it just felt weird no matter how he thought about it.’

’It’s pitch black and has a weird, musty smell...’

Ye Ling immediately rejected the idea.

[Ye Ling: As expected, I shouldn’t have placed my hopes in you single dogs.]

After sending that message, Ye Ling immediately set his chat app to Do Not Disturb, then opened his laptop and started searching for birthday ideas.

Meanwhile, in dorm 3222 at Modu University.

He Jian and the other two stared at the message from Ye Ling, and all of them felt as if their hearts had just been brutally stabbed.

This... this is too damn sad!

"I really want to beat Brother Ling up right now," Yang Yu said, grinding his teeth.

"Can you even beat Brother Ling?" He Jian immediately retorted sarcastically.

"You little prick, are you fucking itching for a beating?" Yang Yu glared at him.

"Uh... why don’t you two just fight it out?" Yang Yefeng, who was on the side, suddenly suggested.

"Holy shit, Fengzi, you’ve changed."

Hearing this, both Yang Yu and He Jian froze for a moment, their gazes locking onto Yang Yefeng.

You have to understand, Yang Yefeng had always had the persona of a "goody-two-shoes," and now he was actually saying something like "fight it out"?

It was a complete personality reversal!