Frankly! The Fastest Leveling Up Of All Time

"Here's the food you ordered," a female waitress said as she placed four different plates of food on the table.

Hao Yuan immediately began breathing heavily, captivated by the sweet aroma wafting from the dishes. The moment the waitress bowed and left, he wasted no time. Picking up his chopsticks, he grabbed a piece of sweet potato, dipped it into the sauce, and took a large bite.

"Ah, that's the stuff," he groaned, leaning back into his chair, savoring the sweetness. Within moments, he sat upright again, ready for more.

Kong Ran was also devouring his meal without restraint.

Meanwhile, Frank Lee watched his two friends—one skinny and the other fat—as they wolfed down their food as though they hadn't eaten in years. Unlike them, Frank hadn't ordered anything, opting instead for a simple bottle of water, which he didn't even feel like drinking. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of his recent breakup with Lee Shan'er. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake it from his thoughts.

"Damn, this is good," Hao Yuan muttered. He glanced at Frank. "You sure you don't want to try some?"

"No, no. I'm good. Enjoy yourselves," Frank replied, leaning back in his chair and staring at the eccentrically designed ceiling of the restaurant.

Kong Ran and Hao Yuan noticed his gloomy mood. Feeling a bit sorry for him, Kong Ran stopped eating and nudged Hao Yuan to do the same.

After a groan of reluctance, Hao Yuan put down his chopsticks. They both looked at Frank.

After an awkward silence, Hao Yuan spoke up. "Life is like bread. Just because some parts are burnt doesn't mean the whole loaf is bad."

"Huh? What was that?" Frank raised an eyebrow.

"I think what he's trying to say," Kong Ran interrupted, "is that sometimes in life, you're the main character, and other times, you're just a side character. Nothing stays the same forever, you know?"

"That sounds like one of those terrible fortune cookie sayings," Hao Yuan muttered. "Though, to be fair, some fortune cookies are quite tasty."

Kong Ran nodded. "It's like romance and tragedy rolled into one. Your relationship before? That was romance. The breakup? That's the tragedy."

Frank Lee sighed internally. Were they trying to console him? If so, they were doing an awful job.

"I'm just confused," Frank finally said. "Why would she break up with me so suddenly?"

"Maybe it's her parents?" Kong Ran suggested.

Frank thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Nah. If it was her parents, she would've at least told me."

"Have you considered it might be because of another guy?" Hao Yuan asked, resuming his meal.

"Another guy?" Frank's confusion deepened.

Kong Ran nodded. "It's possible. After all, she's one of the top beauties in our school."

Frank clenched his fists. "If that's true, who would want to take her away from me?"

Kong Ran shrugged. "It wouldn't be any regular guy like us. It's more likely one of the hunters in the school."

Frank frowned. There were only six hunters in the entire college, including himself. Most of them already had girlfriends or weren't interested in relationships.

"What about Ming Jian?" Hao Yuan suggested.

"Ming Jian?" Both Frank and Kong Ran echoed.

Ming Jian was a third-year hunter known for his quirky attitude and penchant for causing trouble. He already had a girlfriend—the second most beautiful girl in college. Frank couldn't see why Ming Jian would pursue Lee Shan'er.

"But did you know Ming Jian broke up with his girlfriend, Xu Ran?" Kong Ran added.

Frank blinked in surprise. "What? When did this happen?"

"About two weeks ago," Kong Ran said. "And I've seen him talking to Lee Shan'er recently. Twice. They seemed to be enjoying the conversation."

Frank's chest tightened. A few weeks ago, he'd noticed Lee Shan'er acting differently. Could it be connected to Ming Jian?

Ming Jian wasn't just a mid-tier C-grade hunter; he also had powerful backing, including a cousin who was an A-rank hunter. If things escalated, Frank knew he wouldn't stand a chance.

He decided not to act rashly until he knew the full details. It wasn't worth putting himself in danger over a girl.

As he mulled over his next steps, Frank thought about his dwindling finances. "I really need to take on another mission," he muttered to himself. "If I don't, I'll run out of money this month."

Glancing at his carefree friends, who were back to gobbling up their food, Frank shook his head. Being a hunter wasn't as glamorous as he'd once thought. Missions were scarce, and most teams or guilds only hired hunters to fill quotas. While he'd occasionally found good opportunities, they were often dangerous—he'd nearly lost his life on several occasions.

Having not landed a mission this month, he resolved to visit Old Man Jung's place that evening.

With that thought, Frank got up, paid for the meal, and left the restaurant, leaving his two gluttonous friends behind. He hailed a taxi and directed the driver, "4th Street."

As the taxi moved, Frank leaned back in his seat, lost in thought. His mind wandered to the exact moment he became a hunter, and a faint smile crossed his lips.