Starting Check-in Reward: Tomson Riviera

In December, the weather in Modu grew colder by the day.

In the mornings and evenings, a thin layer of ice even formed on the campus river at Modu University.

At two in the afternoon, after classes ended.

"What do you want to eat for dinner later?" Ye Ling asked Ning Ruoxi.

"Hmm... I’m kind of in the mood for hot pot."

Ning Ruoxi said, tilting her head up.

Since it was so cold today, Ning Ruoxi had bundled up in a down jacket and a pink scarf.

The scarf was so thick it basically covered half her face, leaving only her two big, sparkling eyes visible.

"Alright." Ye Ling reached out dotingly and pinched Ning Ruoxi’s little cheek, hidden beneath the scarf.

It was strange. The bulky clothes on this girl didn’t detract from her overall charm at all. Instead, they made her look incredibly dainty and cute.

’Maybe this is what they call a natural-born clothes horse?’

Ye Ling searched for nearby hot pot restaurants on his phone. They’d eaten at their usual spot too many times, so he planned to switch it up.

Ultimately, Ye Ling chose a hot pot place called Xue Ding. It was one of the more popular spots in the area and wasn’t too far from Tomson Riviera, making it convenient to head home right after eating.

"First, let’s go get two milk teas to satisfy this little glutton of yours."

Ye Ling said with a light chuckle.

"I am not a little glutton," Ning Ruoxi huffed, linking her arm through Ye Ling’s. "Be careful, or I might bite you!"

"You’re going to bite me, and you still say you’re not a little glutton?"

Ye Ling couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He found a place to park the car, bought two milk teas, and then entered the hot pot restaurant called Xue Ding with Ning Ruoxi.

The restaurant’s style was quite novel. The overall color scheme was gold, and each table had a unique pendant light hanging above it, casting a soft glow.

’Probably an influencer-famous spot, huh?’

While waiting for the hot pot base to arrive, Ning Ruoxi took out her phone and started taking pictures, while Ye Ling checked the news online, mainly focusing on the Jiang Family’s next move.

Ever since Shengding Group had suddenly acquired Net Entertainment Group, the Jiang Family had made harsh threats about going after Shengding Group. But after that, it seemed like it was all just empty talk, with no substantive action.

Of course, Ye Ling didn’t believe the Jiang Family would give up so easily. Based on what he’d learned about them recently, that family was absolutely the type to get revenge over the smallest grievance!

Otherwise, they never would have created the Net Entertainment Group just to spite Ye Ling in the first place!

"Hey, you, come take a picture with me. I want to post it on my Moments."

Ning Ruoxi suddenly leaned over, her eyes filled with curiosity. "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing much, just checking for news about the Jiang Family."

Ye Ling didn’t hide it. He immediately put his arm around Ning Ruoxi and let her take a few pictures.

"Hey, relax your expression a little. Make a funny face."

Ning Ruoxi opened her photo album to look at the pictures and grumbled with some dissatisfaction.

"Alright, alright."

Ye Ling felt a bit helpless.

’In his opinion, wasn’t taking just a couple of these pictures enough?’

However, at Ning Ruoxi’s request, he made a couple of funnier faces to play along.

"Why are you still not happy?"

Ye Ling asked, watching as Ning Ruoxi opened her album and frowned again.

"It’s because you’re too handsome."

Ning Ruoxi said irritably.

"Huh?"

Ye Ling was dumbfounded for a moment, clearly not processing what the girl was saying.

"I have a lot of girlfriends on my WeChat..."

Ning Ruoxi stuck out her tongue, speaking with some embarrassment.

Ye Ling was a bit speechless. Actually, this wasn’t an unfamiliar situation for people in relationships.

When posting on Moments, you always have to weigh your options. If your partner is on the plainer side, you definitely have to pick their most flattering picture, or else it’s just too embarrassing.

But if your partner is just too good-looking... then it’s the opposite. You have to pick an unflattering one to stop other people from getting ideas!

’Is this the legendary double standard?’

But Ye Ling didn’t dare say it, nor did he dare ask.

’Weak, pitiful, and helpless?’

"Honey, it’s not like I’m going to go add other girls."

Ye Ling said helplessly.

"Hmph! This will have to do."

Ning Ruoxi pouted, but she knew he was right, so she wasn’t truly torn up about it.

At the very least, Ye Ling had openly let her look through his phone before.

In that respect, Ye Ling was very trustworthy.

DING!

Just then, Ye Ling’s phone buzzed. He opened it right in front of Ning Ruoxi. It was a message from the Dorm 3222 Demon Lord of Chaos group chat.

’He Jian: [Image]’

’He Jian: Brother Ling, the bros are getting skewers today! @Ye Ling’

’Yang Yu: Oh, Brother Ling, I’m so sorry, I forgot to invite you today. The three of us are here now~’

’Ye Ling: I think you guys deliberately didn’t invite me.’

’Ye Ling: But it doesn’t matter. I’m with my girl right now.’

Ye Ling immediately looked at Ning Ruoxi, who understood at once. She sent the photo they had just taken to Ye Ling, and he casually forwarded it to the group chat.

When they saw the picture, which was overflowing with PDA, He Jian and the other two were momentarily stunned.

’Yang Yefeng: I told you two not to fucking provoke Brother Ling. Is it fun asking to be tortured by his PDA? If you want to suffer, do it yourselves. Can you please leave me out of it?’

’Yang Yu: ...’

’He Jian: Wait, is that Xue Ding?’

’Ye Ling: Yep.’

’He Jian: Holy shit, we’re right next door to you!’

’Ye Ling: We’re planning to go shopping after we eat. Want to join?’

’He Jian: I’ll pass.’

’Yang Yu: I’m out!’

’Yang Yefeng: I just remembered I didn’t bring in the laundry when I left home. I’m gonna go back and get it.’

Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi were laughing so hard they could barely sit up straight.

’Chasing after their PDA, really?’

"Those three are such characters."

Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but say, "But I really like your dorm’s atmosphere."

Although there hadn’t been any major conflicts in her previous dorm, the relationships weren’t particularly close—not like Ye Ling and his three friends, who could just shoot the breeze without holding back.

No one had to worry about one sentence offending someone else; everyone just spoke their minds.

"Actually, dorms like ours are rare. A lot of guys’ dorms have guys acting like blood brothers on the surface, but the scheming they do behind each other’s backs is no less than what you girls do."

Ye Ling couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

He’d often seen girls complaining online about how hard it was to get along with other girls, while saying that being around guys was easy and relaxed, and that guys weren’t scheming.

Ye Ling’s take was: ’You’re seriously overthinking it. That’s just an act those guys are putting on for you.’