Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Being a Kept Man Is Actually Pretty Good

Ning Ruoxi realized how her words could be misinterpreted, and her face instantly flushed. "What are you thinking!?"

"You probably know that my family is pretty wealthy, right? My father is quite influential in Xia Country. So, if I live here, the Yu Group should be more restrained and won’t dare to come after you so easily."

Ning Ruoxi explained.

"I see..."

Hearing this, Ye Ling nodded, a warmth spreading through his chest.

’A girl fresh out of high school driving a Porsche Cayenne... Her family had to be incredibly rich and influential.’

Of course.

If Ye Ling had known that Ning Ruoxi had actually bought the car with money she earned from selling her own paintings, he would have been even more shocked...

...

"This whole thing started because of me, so it’s my responsibility to ensure you’re safe."

Ning Ruoxi said.

Her mind couldn’t help but drift back to the scene from that day—Ye Ling standing in front of her, sending Yu Chenghao flying with a single kick.

’It felt...’

’...really safe and secure...’

Just then, Ye Ling suddenly sighed.

"What are you sighing for?"

Ning Ruoxi shot him a curious look.

"It’s a bit of a letdown."

Ye Ling said, gazing out the window with a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

Seeming to notice the melancholy in his eyes, Ning Ruoxi couldn’t help but grow anxious. "Did something else happen? You can tell me..."

"It’s nothing. It’s just... I was under the impression that I had unleashed my domineering aura, and a beautiful woman was about to demand we live together..."

Ye Ling shook his head, feigning disappointment, and let out another long sigh.

However, as he was sighing, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled into a smirk.

"What?"

Ning Ruoxi froze, and it took her a long moment to snap out of it. When she saw the mischievous smile playing on his lips, she was so angry she could only grit her teeth.

’This guy is the absolute worst!’

’I only came here because I was worried about him, and this is how he repays me? By teasing me!’

’And how is he so good at ruining the mood!’

The more Ning Ruoxi stared at his relentlessly widening grin, the angrier she became.

"Grrr~"

The next moment, Ning Ruoxi grabbed one of Ye Ling’s arms and sank her teeth into it.

"Holy shit, what are you, a dog?"

A jolt shot through Ye Ling, and he quickly shook her off.

Staring at the perfectly clear row of teeth marks on his arm, Ye Ling was so frustrated he wanted to cry but couldn’t find any tears.

"Hmph! That’s what you get for teasing me!"

Ning Ruoxi, however, just shot Ye Ling a haughty glare.

"Nice bite."

Ye Ling muttered, "But are you sure you want to move in with me? A single guy and a single girl... what if I start sleepwalking at night or something..."

"Who said I was coming alone?"

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes narrowed like a sly fox’s as she said with a giggle.

"Someone else is coming?"

"It’s my best friend... She’s a student at Modu University, too, and she’s been looking for a place to live recently, so I thought..."

Ning Ruoxi said, sticking her tongue out sheepishly.

The truth was, her decision to move in had been spontaneous, born from the idea of using her family’s status to protect Ye Ling. However, her best friend was also a big part of the reason.

She’d been agonizing over it for a while now. Her own place was a single-room apartment, which definitely couldn’t house two people...

’But Ye Ling’s place is huge.’

’It has two whole floors!’

"I don’t recall you asking for my opinion. What does your friend’s living situation have to do with me?"

Ye Ling said with a helpless tone.

"So, are you going to agree or not...? I admit I had my own little reasons, but my main motivation really was to protect you!"

Ning Ruoxi pouted, blinking her big eyes at Ye Ling. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’This girl...’

’Is she trying to charm her way out of this?’

’Faced with such an unparalleled beauty—one who was normally so cool and aloof—now trying to act all cute...’

’Ye Ling felt his resolve crumbling.’

"Fine, you win. But after you move in, it’s my house, my rules."

Ye Ling said with a helpless shrug.

’It’s not like I’m just giving in because she’s pretty. She genuinely means well. Right, can’t let such kindness go to waste.’

Thinking this way made Ye Ling feel much better about his decision.

"No problem!"

Ning Ruoxi said with a wide smile.

’This way, she could live with her best friend!’

"So, I’ll go get my best friend now?"

Ning Ruoxi asked.

"This was all premeditated, wasn’t it..."

Ye Ling said, giving her a dark look.

"Of course not~ And don’t worry, we’ll both pay rent!"

Ning Ruoxi’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled.

’People with squinty eyes are always monsters!’

’Ye Ling felt like he’d walked right into her trap.’

"Come on, let’s go. My friend is waiting for us..."

Ning Ruoxi said, already walking to the door to put on her shoes.

Ye Ling looked over in surprise. "Us? I have to go too?"

"You two should meet first~"

Ning Ruoxi shrugged and dangled her keys. "My car’s parked downstairs. Let’s go."

"Alright."

Ye Ling didn’t object.

’Even though he owned a Pagani now, it was a two-seater sports car. It wouldn’t fit three people.’

Of course.

’Although, if they squeezed together, it might still be possible...’

A mischievous smile crept onto Ye Ling’s lips.

’He just wondered, was Ning Ruoxi’s best friend pretty?’

...

Before long, the Porsche pulled up in front of a rather luxurious-looking karaoke lounge.

"I thought we were picking up your friend? Why are we here?"

Ye Ling asked, confused.

"The little rascal is in there."

Ning Ruoxi huffed, wrinkling her nose. "She’s always sneaking out to have fun. It’s too much. And to think I was working so hard to find her a place to live."

’Hard work?’

Ye Ling gave her a strange look.

’How was that hard work? All you did was pout a little and trick me into saying yes.’

As Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi got out of the car, they immediately drew the attention of numerous passersby.

A good-looking couple always turns heads, and this pair was exceptionally attractive.

"Mommy, why did that uncle get out of the passenger seat? Is he one of those pretty boys who lives off a woman?!" a woman carrying a child walked past. The child whispered into his mother’s ear, cupping his hand over his mouth as if to be secretive.

He acted as though he was afraid Ye Ling might overhear.

Unfortunately for him, they were too close, and both Ye Ling and Ning Ruoxi heard him loud and clear.

"Damn it."

The corner of Ye Ling’s mouth twitched.

To be fair, he did think being a kept man was a viable career path, and he certainly had the assets for it.

But did he, as he was now, need to be one?

"I’m so sorry. Kids say the darndest things, they have no filter. Please don’t be angry, you two." The mother immediately apologized, then gave the little one in her arms a stern lecture.

Ye Ling just shrugged. He wasn’t particularly angry to begin with.

Besides, he appreciated the way the mother handled the situation. At least she wasn’t one of those parents who, after their kid does something wrong, yells, "He’s just a kid, why are you making a big deal out of it?"

If she had been that type of person, he would have made a scene just to spite them, even if he wasn’t angry.

"Kid, this uncle has to tell you a universal truth," Ye Ling said pointedly. "In this world, if you can get by on your good looks... that’s not a bad thing either."