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"I want to hear you play the piano."

As they were waiting for their takeout, Ning Ruoxi suddenly looked at Ye Ling and said.

"Alright, I’ll play for you."

Ye Ling gently pinched her cheek, then stood up and sat down at the piano.

Ever since he’d gotten the piano, Ning Ruoxi had been captivated after hearing him play just once.

After that, she started asking Ye Ling to play for her pretty much every day.

Eventually, it became a regular habit...

The young man now sat before the piano, his expression calm. He began to play with an effortless grace, exuding the air of a refined gentleman.

Listening to the beautiful, flowing melody, Ning Ruoxi found herself staring, completely captivated.

At that moment, in her eyes, Ye Ling’s figure seemed to radiate a faint glow. He was like a celestial being who had descended to the mortal realm, ready to ascend to the heavens again at any moment.

By the time the song ended, Ning Ruoxi still hadn’t completely come back to her senses.

"What’s the name of this piece?"

Ning Ruoxi asked.

"All My Thoughts Are a River of Stars."

Ye Ling paused for a moment before adding, "It’s a song that’s been pretty popular online lately."

"Mhm, it’s very beautiful."

Ning Ruoxi nodded.

"Do you know what the next line is?"

The corners of Ye Ling’s lips curved into a smile as he looked at Ning Ruoxi. "All my thoughts are a river of stars, and you are that river of stars."

"Since when did you get so good at flirting?"

Ye Ling’s words made Ning Ruoxi’s heart skip a beat, and a faint blush crept onto her pretty face. She slowly got up and sat down beside him.

"I want to learn, too. Will you teach me?"

"Of course."

Ye Ling smiled.

The two of them sat side-by-side at the piano. Ye Ling took Ning Ruoxi’s hands and guided them as they began to play.

In Ye Ling’s arms, Ning Ruoxi wasn’t sure how much she was actually learning. All she could feel was the world around her being enveloped by his scent.

And so, she let him guide her hands, playing the melody over and over again...

All my thoughts are a river of stars, and you are that river of stars.

"From now on, you’re only allowed to play this song for me."

After a long while, Ning Ruoxi lifted her head to look at Ye Ling, her eyes glittering.

"Mhm, I’ll only play it for you."

Ye Ling turned his head to meet her gaze and nodded.

Ning Ruoxi reached out, wrapped her arm around Ye Ling’s neck, and with a gentle pull, pressed her lips against his.

After a long moment, the kiss ended.

Ning Ruoxi looked at Ye Ling, her pretty face still flushed.

Ye Ling ruffled her hair. "I’ll play for you a bit longer. The takeout should be here soon."

"Mhm." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Ning Ruoxi nodded and obediently sat to the side, quietly watching him.

...

「Around eleven o’clock.」

The doorbell rang. The takeout had probably arrived.

Ye Ling answered the door, took the food, and handed it directly to Ning Ruoxi.

’So, was *he* the one who wanted takeout?’

Meeting Ye Ling’s teasing gaze, Ning Ruoxi’s face flushed a little. Still, she couldn’t resist the temptation of fried chicken and lowered her head as she accepted it.

"I’ll taste it for you."

Ning Ruoxi justified herself as she started eating the fried chicken.

"Eat slowly, don’t choke."

Ye Ling just smiled, not calling her out.

True to her word, though, Ning Ruoxi really only had a taste.

Since she had already eaten dinner, Ning Ruoxi only managed two or three pieces before she was full. She let out a small burp and then looked at Ye Ling with an expectant gaze.

"Alright, give it to me."

Ye Ling shook his head with a resigned sigh, taking the rest of the fried chicken from her and starting to eat it himself.

"Hehe."

Ning Ruoxi beamed and gave Ye Ling a quick peck on the cheek. "Love you!"

After they finished the fried chicken, Ye Ling lay in bed playing on his phone, while Ning Ruoxi curled up in his arms like a contented cat.

Ye Ling didn’t try to hide his screen from her, letting her watch openly.

Our Brother Ling was a good man, after all!

Scumbag players, get lost!

Ye Ling opened the ’3222 Demon Lord of Chaos Dorm’ chat group and casually sent a message.

Ye Ling: @everyone, How’s it going, guys?

He Jian: Sigh, Brother Ling, don’t even ask. It’s a tragic tale.

Yang Yu: Total bust. Complete failure.

Yang Yefeng: @Ye Ling: I didn’t ask for her WeChat that day, but the guys who did are in the same boat as me.

Yang Yu: @Yang Yefeng: You asking for a beating?

He Jian: @Yang Yefeng: Careful, or we’ll all be climbing into your bed tonight.

Yang Yefeng: Don’t! Bros! Brother Ling, save me!

Ye Ling: Ahem. So, what happened with you two? Didn’t you get a bunch of numbers?

He Jian: ...As for that, you should ask Yang Yu.

Yang Yu: Sigh, yeah, I got a bunch of numbers. But who the hell knew they’d all know each other? Turns out they’re all good friends, and then...

"Pfft."

Lying in Ye Ling’s arms, Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

Ye Ling started laughing, too. ’So that’s what happened...’

’These guys were trying to cast a wide net, hoping to catch a fish. They got a bunch of numbers thinking that even with the worst luck, a blind squirrel would eventually find a nut, right?’

’But who would’ve guessed that the girls whose numbers they got were all best friends?’

’And just like that, the two hopeless players got knocked out of the game together.’

Yang Yu: Brother Ling, you gotta teach me your secrets for picking up girls! This damn mixer couldn’t even save me. The struggle is real!

He Jian: @Ye Ling, Same here! Bro, I have no way to repay you. I can only offer you my body!

Ning Ruoxi glanced at the screen, then shot a look at Ye Ling, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Ye Ling, of course, noticed her look. But he remained perfectly calm, typing his reply without so much as a blush or a single skipped heartbeat.

Ye Ling: I’m a good man. What would I know about secrets for picking up girls?

He Jian: Brother Ling, stop pretending! You managed to score a top-tier beauty like our sister-in-law. You must have some secret techniques!

Yang Yefeng: Yeah! I agree! Brother Ling, even though I didn’t get a number this time, I want to stop being single too!

Ye Ling: You guys might want to watch what you’re saying. Ning Ruoxi is lying in my arms right now.

Yang Yu: !!!

Yang Yefeng: ???

He Jian: For real? Brother Ling, don’t mess with me.

Ye Ling didn’t bother with more words. He just snapped a selfie with Ning Ruoxi and sent it to the group.

In the photo, Ning Ruoxi was curled up in Ye Ling’s arms like a little kitten.

Instantly, the chat group fell silent.

Then, a series of messages in the chat were retracted one after another.

Ye Ling: Stop retracting. She already saw everything. What damn good is retracting them now?

Yang Yefeng: Brother Ling, that’s a low blow! How can you just let our sister-in-law see your phone...

Yang Yu: Yeah, yeah! I’m so screwed! I was hoping our sister-in-law could introduce me to one of her friends...

Ye Ling: I’m a good man. I don’t have any secrets, so she can look whenever she wants.

He Jian: Sigh, is this the tragic fate of a man in a relationship?

Yang Yu: I’m suddenly not sure I want a girlfriend anymore.

Yang Yefeng: +1

Ye Ling looked at the chat screen and couldn’t help but snort lightly.

’These single dogs,’ he thought, ’how could they possibly understand the joy of being a good man?’