Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The Central Air Conditioner and the Little Green Tea

When he got home, Ye Ling found that only Luo Yue was there. She was currently squatting on the floor, teasing Zhao Cai, and seemed to be in a good mood.

’Hmm, looks like she’s not that mad...’

Ye Ling asked curiously, "Where’s Ruoxi?"

"Ruoruo just went out."

Luo Yue shot Ye Ling a glance, replied, then scooped up Zhao Cai and went to play with it off to the side.

Ye Ling rolled his eyes. ’Looks like she’s still holding a grudge. But then again, I was only telling the truth.’

Besides, it wasn’t an insult. What’s that saying? Something about how you can’t conquer the world without a flat chest?

Ye Ling shrugged. Seeing that she was ignoring him, he didn’t press her on what Ning Ruoxi was doing and went straight to his room. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"System, explain to me why I fainted this morning."

Ye Ling sat on his bed and, as a thought suddenly struck him, asked inwardly.

He’d actually wanted to ask this question earlier, but he’d forgotten after being interrupted by Luo Yue.

He felt the system was a bit unreliable. Why didn’t it tell him sooner that a physique enhancement could make him pass out?

"Host, your fainting was primarily because the system overestimated your constitution, which was unable to withstand the baptism of energy at such a level. This is also the reason for Ning Ruoxi’s collapse. Although she only endured a small amount of overflow energy, she also fell unconscious due to her weaker constitution."

The system’s cold, mechanical voice sounded.

Hearing this, Ye Ling’s expression instantly darkened.

’Are you fucking telling me I’m weak?’

"However, you can rest assured. After this physique enhancement, the Host’s constitution has reached the human threshold. You will not faint again when receiving similar enhancements in the future."

The system’s voice sounded again.

"Fine."

Ye Ling had wanted to say something, but he gritted his teeth and held it in.

In any case, since the system had given its assurance, this kind of situation shouldn’t happen again.

To be honest, he was still a little scared thinking back on it...

It was a good thing it was Ning Ruoxi this time. If it had been someone with malicious intent, and they had wanted to make a move on him while he was passed out, he probably wouldn’t have had any way to defend himself.

For example, if that Li Yuan had acted sooner and snuck into his room, it truly would have happened without anyone being the wiser!

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP!

Just then, a set of rapid footsteps suddenly sounded from the stairs.

Luo Yue burst into Ye Ling’s room, her face fraught with anxiety. "Ye Ling, this is bad! Something’s happened to Ruoruo!"

Hearing this, Ye Ling’s eyes narrowed. "What happened? Don’t panic, tell me slowly."

"You idiot, what do you mean, ’tell me slowly’?! Your woman is about to be stolen! Stop wasting time and come with me!"

Without another word, Luo Yue grabbed Ye Ling’s hand and started running downstairs.

Seeing this, Ye Ling quickly followed, not asking any more questions.

Since Luo Yue was this anxious, something must have really happened.

In that moment, Ye Ling’s gaze grew somewhat cold.

Although his relationship with Ning Ruoxi wasn’t clearly defined yet, she was still a girl he had strong feelings for. ’Someone dares to touch her?’

"Over there!"

Luo Yue pulled Ye Ling downstairs and pointed a short distance away.

A man was standing in front of Ning Ruoxi, and of all people, Ye Ling fucking knew him. It was Li Xin, the guy Ye Ling had seen at the neighborhood gate earlier.

’How does this guy know Ning Ruoxi...?’ Ye Ling’s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn’t have a very good impression of a manipulative flirt like Li Xin.

At that moment, Ning Ruoxi was frowning deeply, clearly in a bad mood.

"Li Xin, according to the contract, I finished all of last month’s illustrations. There was no filler content, so on what grounds are they all being rejected as scrap?" Ning Ruoxi’s voice was tinged with anger.

"Ruoxi, this was the company’s decision. It’s not something I can influence... You have to be considerate of my position. How about this? Come out to dinner with me this afternoon. I’ll put in a good word for you with my dad, and then won’t everything be settled?"

Li Xin said with ’sincerity’.

"Impossible! Don’t even think about it! I already have a boyfriend!"

Ning Ruoxi’s pretty face flushed red with anger.

This Li Xin was basically cut from the same cloth as that Yu Chenghao, except this guy was more calculating and more insidious.

The company behind the studio she was contracted with was called Shengding.

Shengding Group was actually a gaming company that also operated businesses related to comics, novel illustrations, and the like. In terms of ranking, it was even a notch above the Yu Group.

And this Li Xin’s father was a minor director on Shengding’s board. But even a minor director could make things difficult for a single artist with the greatest of ease.

Without exception, all the illustrations and artwork she had produced over the years had been widely acclaimed within the industry. Recently, however, her work was being rejected one after another, and they were even using the contract to threaten her with paying breach-of-contract damages to the company.

Anyone with eyes could see what was going on. Someone was deliberately trying to make things difficult for her!

And as for who wanted to make things difficult for her, one only had to look at who stood to benefit.

She had just received the company’s breach of contract warning letter, and now Li Xin came scurrying over to ask her to dinner?

He was obviously trying to coerce her into sleeping with him!

"You have a boyfriend?"

The moment Li Xin heard this, his expression changed. Then, he chuckled and shook his head. "Ruoxi, don’t lie to me. I know you better than that. You barely know any guys."

"I do, and it’s none of your business," Ning Ruoxi said with a frown.

"Fine, play the prude now. We’ll see if you’re still so relaxed after you see the breach-of-contract penalty the company sets!" Li Xin’s eyes darted sideways as he spoke nonchalantly.

And when he looked at Ning Ruoxi, there was a clear, lecherous glint in his eyes.

At this point, his true colors were revealed.

If anyone who knew him were present, they would surely be shocked. Where was the warm, considerate image Li Xin usually projected?

In reality, it was all an act. Of course, many people already knew that.

You only had to ask around a little to find out all about his private life.

But most of the time, it was a consensual arrangement. What’s the harm in adding one more fish to the pond, right?

Li Xin turned to leave, looking as if he had Ning Ruoxi right where he wanted her.

And Ning Ruoxi’s expression turned incredibly grim.

"Hey, kid. Who said you could leave?"

Just then, a cold voice rang out.