Chapter 304 - 281: Accidentally Became a Textbook?
Chapter 304: Chapter 281: Accidentally Became a Textbook?
Ye Ling’s third day in Jiangyou happened to be the Lantern Festival. Since the Lantern Festival falls on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, some places also call it the "Little New Year," signifying that the New Year celebrations are drawing to a close.
Because things with Ning Tianliang and Tang Jing were going surprisingly smoothly, Ye Ling had been quite leisurely these past few days. His daily routine probably consisted of just eating, drinking, and teasing Ning Ruoxi.
It had to be said, Brother Ling’s life had been pretty good lately.
In the evening, everyone sat around the table for dinner. Besides an assortment of delicacies, the standard Lantern Festival fare—sweet rice balls—was naturally present!
"Xiaoling, you’ve been in Jiangyou for a few days now. You probably haven’t been out to have fun anywhere, have you?" Tang Jing asked with a cheerful smile.
"That’s true, I haven’t."
Ye Ling took a bite of a sweet rice ball and nodded.
After spending these few days together, he had more or less completely blended into the family. It was no longer tense like it was at the beginning; it was as if they were truly one family!
"There should be a lantern show tonight. Why don’t you take Xiaoxi out for a bit?" Tang Jing suggested.
"A lantern show?"
Ye Ling raised his eyebrows. To be honest, he was actually quite interested.
The main reason was that he had indeed been feeling a bit cooped up in Jiangyou. After all, he didn’t know the area and had nowhere to go, so he just dutifully stayed cooped up at home every day.
"Are Uncle and Auntie going?"
Ye Ling, already forming a plan, asked again.
"We’re not going. What’s the point of a couple of old fogies like us going to a lantern show?" Tang Jing said, waving her hand in dismissal.
Ning Tianliang, who was standing to the side, was speechless. ’Can’t you even give me a chance?’
To be honest, he had wanted to go, but after what Tang Jing said, what could he possibly say? He could only accept it in silence!
"Old Ning, don’t you agree?"
Tang Jing turned to Ning Tianliang, ’soliciting’ his opinion.
"Right, right, right. I’m not interested, so I won’t go," Ning Tianliang said with a sigh, rolling his eyes helplessly.
Off to the side, Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi exchanged a glance, both seeing the amusement in each other’s eyes.
Fine! In this family, Ning Tianliang’s status was the lowest.
"Hurry up and eat. Once you’re done, you can go out for a walk. But you need to come back early; don’t stay out all night," Ning Tianliang added, a little worried.
"We know."
Ning Ruoxi said, sticking her tongue out playfully.
After dinner, Ye Ling started the Maybach and drove Ning Ruoxi to the lantern show.
"It’s still early. Want to grab some milk tea first?" Ye Ling asked Ning Ruoxi.
"Okay."
Ning Ruoxi nodded obediently, then placed her hands on the windowsill and gazed out the window.
Although Jiangyou couldn’t compare to a bustling metropolis like Modu, the Xia Country of today was a far cry from its past. Its cities were all developing rapidly, and the pace of modernization was extremely fast.
Even in a province like Jiangyou, which didn’t rank very high in terms of GDP, the main urban area was still brilliantly lit at night, giving off a very prosperous feeling.
"Ruoruo, has this home failed to give you warmth?" Seeing Ning Ruoxi’s posture as she leaned on the car window to admire the scenery, Ye Ling couldn’t help but recall an internet meme and teased her.
"Huh?"
Ning Ruoxi pulled her gaze back, looked at Ye Ling, and blinked her eyes in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
A slight curve formed on Ye Ling’s lips.
’Just kidding. How could I possibly admit it?’
Seeing Ye Ling’s mischievous smile, Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but mutter to herself. She took out her phone and searched online. A moment later, she had her answer.
The meme came from a video in which a cute little puppy was leaning on a window, looking out at the city, and its owner saw it and said the exact words Ye Ling had just used...
’So, Ye Ling was treating her like a little puppy?’
"You big jerk!"
Ning Ruoxi glared at Ye Ling, flames of indignation flaring in her eyes.
A little puppy can be cute, but it will bite when it gets fierce.
The "fiercely cute" kind!
Ye Ling had seen Ning Ruoxi searching online, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Don’t you think the posture really was similar?"
Hearing this, Ning Ruoxi was speechless.
’Bro, I’m trying to be angry right now, okay?!’
’Meow meow meow?’
’Do all boyfriends have such a weak survival instinct?’
Ning Ruoxi puffed out her cheeks, turned her head away, and crossed her arms. She neither spoke nor looked at Ye Ling, her face clearly written with the words, ’I’m unhappy. Console me now.’
Ye Ling naturally saw this, but he pretended not to, even starting to hum a tune leisurely.
’This damn man...’
Ning Ruoxi clenched and unclenched her small fists.
She had to remind herself, over and over, that this was her boyfriend—and one who had just met the parents, at that!
’I have to endure it!’
After a drive of about ten minutes, Ye Ling arrived at their destination.
The lantern show was held along a river. From a distance, building after building seemed magnificent and dazzling, illuminated by lights of every color.
"It’s certainly lively."
Ye Ling parked the car and couldn’t help but sigh in admiration at the bustling crowd. He then turned to Ning Ruoxi beside him. "We’re here. Ready to get out?"
"Hmph!"
Ning Ruoxi ignored Ye Ling, opened the car door herself, and got out.
Seeing the little lady was still angry, Ye Ling’s lips curved into a slight smile. He wasn’t the least bit worried.
’Soothing her ruffled feathers... Brother Ling is an expert at that!’
Ye Ling leisurely parked the car properly, got out, took Ning Ruoxi’s small hand, and asked teasingly, "What, still angry?"
"Hmph, hmph!" Ning Ruoxi huffed, turning her head to the side and deliberately ignoring Ye Ling.
"Ah, that’s a problem... I was going to buy you milk tea, but seeing you like this, you’re probably not in the mood for it, are you?"
Ye Ling suppressed his laughter and asked with a feigned sigh.
"I am!" Ning Ruoxi finally couldn’t hold back any longer and said in a small voice.
"What?" Ye Ling pretended he didn’t hear, turning to look at the little lady.
"You awful man! I want milk tea!"
Ning Ruoxi said loudly, gritting her teeth.
After saying this, Ning Ruoxi shot another indignant glare at Ye Ling.
"Alright, alright, alright. We’ll get some. A large one," Ye Ling burst out laughing and wrapped an arm around Ning Ruoxi’s shoulders.
Ning Ruoxi gave Ye Ling a reproachful look. ’I suspect you’re trying to act like my dad, and I have evidence!’
Ye Ling took Ning Ruoxi to a milk tea shop and ordered two hot milk teas. The main reason was that the weather was indeed a bit cold!
Although February was nearing its end, the temperature in Jiangyou was still very low, with the daily average barely reaching ten degrees Celsius. Especially at night, and by the riverside...
Gusts of cold wind blew past, announcing to everyone that winter had not yet departed.
Ning Ruoxi held the milk tea in her hands, warming them while taking small sips.
"Cold?"
Ye Ling glanced at Ning Ruoxi, who had shrunk into herself, and couldn’t help but start nagging, "I told you to wear more before we left, but you wouldn’t listen..."
Ning Ruoxi gave her boyfriend a speechless look. ’Did I find a boyfriend, or did I find a second mother?’
"Alright, Mrs. Ye, can you stop nagging?"
Ning Ruoxi rolled her eyes, finally unable to take it anymore.
Hearing this, Ye Ling’s mouth twitched. ’Mrs. Ye? Seriously?’
"Scoot closer into my arms."
Ye Ling huffed and pulled Ning Ruoxi into his embrace.
He was wearing a long, khaki-colored trench coat today, mainly because he had anticipated it would be cold tonight.
Tucked into Ye Ling’s embrace, holding her milk tea with both hands and shielded from the wind by his trench coat, Ning Ruoxi felt much of the chill dissipate.
"Hehe, love you!"
Ning Ruoxi lifted her head and said with a beaming smile.
"Hmph!"
Ye Ling huffed softly. He was still holding a grudge. ’That little lady just called him Mrs. Ye!?’
Just like that, Ye Ling held Ning Ruoxi, and they slowly strolled along the riverbank, sipping their milk tea and admiring the splendid lantern show.
Naturally, there were many couples along the way—or rather, most people there were couples.
After all, at a time like this, who else but couples would be out wandering around?
Anyone else would just be chasing after a face full of PDA!
Many girls were like Ning Ruoxi; they didn’t want to wear too many layers when they went out, only to feel the cold after arriving and get scolded by their boyfriends.
"It’s so cold, and I told you to wear more, but you just wouldn’t listen!" one guy huffed, sounding a bit displeased.
"Well, I didn’t know the lantern show was by the river... Can you blame me for that? Look at that guy’s boyfriend!" the girl pouted, pointing toward Ye Ling.
With his khaki trench coat, height, and good looks, it was hard for Ye Ling not to become a focal point in the crowd. Ning Ruoxi, for her part, was sweet and charming.
A combination like that, they looked like a match made in heaven!
"Alright, alright, my little ancestor, I was wrong." Seeing this, the boy gave a helpless but doting smile and quickly copied Ye Ling, pulling the girl into his arms.
"Hmph! Now that’s more like it," the girl huffed, then gave a satisfied hum, snuggling her head against the boy’s chest.
So, who says girls are hard to please?
The key is to master the right method!
...
Seeing this, Ye Ling couldn’t help but chuckle. "So I’ve become a textbook example?"
Along the way, quite a few boys saw what Ye Ling was doing and started copying him.
"So shameless."
Ning Ruoxi huffed, but inwardly, her heart was filled with sweetness.
’That’s right!’
’This is her boy!’