73. Precision German Engineering
“Oh ho ho ho ho ho~”
Inside a certain restaurant, two beautiful girls occasionally let out strange laughs. There was a sense of… decay in these laughs that made nearby men shiver with unease.
“Who do you think is the top and who’s the bottom?” Xu Qing asked Ling Ning with an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression. After Ling Ning had explained Chu Feng’s background, Xu Qing had grown unexplainably excited, and Ling Ning couldn’t help but feel a similar thrill.
“I’d say Zhao Dezhu is the top. Chu Feng gives off a submissive vibe,” Ling Ning speculated, trying to analyze objectively. Then it hit her—why was she even interested in guessing about two guys’ relationship dynamics? Am I turning into a fujoshi? she thought with horror, feeling both embarrassed and intrigued.
“Tut tut~” Xu Qing shook her head. “Didn’t you say Chu Feng’s family runs a martial arts dojo? He probably knows some martial arts. That makes him the top, don’t you think? A delicate-looking top is the best kind!” Xu Qing said dreamily, dabbing at her mouth as if she were drooling.
“Hmm, you… actually might have a point—no! Stop!”
Ling Ning quickly stopped herself, trying to shake off the image forming in her mind. She couldn’t help but picture Chu Feng in his girl’s clothing, pinning Zhao Dezhu down on a bed and…
Realizing she was falling deeper into “fujoshi mode,” Ling Ning quickly tried to change the topic.
“Are we still going shopping after lunch?”
“Shopping, huh?” Xu Qing thought for a moment, then nodded. “I’ve got a little room left in my budget, so let’s check out a few more stores. Aren’t you getting anything for yourself?”
Ling Ning shook her head. Why buy clothes when you already have enough? Buying clothes costs money! Why spend money when you already have what you need?
As soon as they left the restaurant, however, Ling Ning saw someone she really didn’t want to see.
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Zhao Tiancheng had planned to enjoy a quiet Sunday at home. But out of nowhere, he’d received a call from his little brother, saying that he’d run into Ling Ning while out with Chu Feng.
Upon hearing that, Zhao Tiancheng had immediately rushed to the street his brother mentioned, using a photo of Ling Ning for reference. With her beauty, she tended to leave a lasting impression, so he quickly found the restaurant.
Just as he reached the entrance, Ling Ning and an unfamiliar girl stepped out. He forced a smile, hoping to catch her attention, but she walked right by him as if she hadn’t seen him.
Stunned, Zhao Tiancheng glanced down at himself. He hadn’t shaved, his hair was messy, and he’d thrown on mismatched clothes—a formal suit shirt on top, beach shorts on the bottom, and two different socks, one long black and one short white. Ling Ning and her friend had been deep in conversation, so maybe she hadn’t noticed him. Yeah, that must be it, he thought, consoling himself.
Determined not to miss his chance, Zhao Tiancheng quickly followed them, spotting her just ahead.
“Well, if it isn’t Ling Ning~ I had a feeling the person who walked by looked familiar! Isn’t it fate that we keep running into each other?” Zhao Tiancheng greeted her, trying to put on his best, most genuine smile. But with his messy hair and unshaven face, his attempt at charm looked… unfortunate.
“Ugh.” Ling Ning clicked her tongue softly. Does he have no shame? She’d clearly ignored him, and here he was, still pretending it was some “chance encounter.” Did he not realize how outdated that approach was?
“Hello,” she replied with a forced smile, masking her irritation. It was honestly exhausting.
“Who’s this?” Xu Qing asked, eyeing Zhao Tiancheng warily. She didn’t recognize him, but the way he was looking at Ling Ning made her feel uneasy, even a bit protective.
“Oh, this is Mr. Zhao Tiancheng. He’s a regular at the café,” Ling Ning explained, keeping her tone polite yet distant.
“Ah, Zhao Tiancheng here.” He caught the distance in her voice, but sometimes persistence was a man’s best weapon, right?
“Xu Qing.” Out of politeness, Xu Qing gave him a quick handshake, but as soon as she did, she immediately wiped her hand on her dress, as if touching him might make her pregnant or something.
Her disgust was evident, and Zhao Tiancheng noticed, but he pretended not to. Instead, he kept up his cheery expression, smiling at the two girls.
“Ugh.” Ling Ning’s brow furrowed slightly. This guy’s skin is thicker than I thought. She glanced around and spotted a store nearby. Without saying a word, she grabbed Xu Qing’s arm and pulled her inside.
Zhao Tiancheng’s smile vanished the moment he saw the store they entered—a lingerie shop. Even he didn’t have the courage to follow them in there, especially since he was dressed so sloppily. He’d just have to wait for them outside. No way could two girls spend the whole day in a lingerie store, right?
So there he stood, a scruffy, oddly-dressed man hovering alone by the lingerie store entrance, glancing in from time to time. Anyone watching him would definitely think he was up to no good.
But Zhao Tiancheng was too focused on Ling Ning to notice the stares he was attracting.
“Hello, police? Yes, I’m at the Reinhardt Lingerie Store on XX Street. There’s a suspicious guy loitering out front. Yes, right away? Great, thank you!” A concerned citizen’s loud voice drew the attention of passersby.
Zhao Tiancheng overheard the call and shook his head in disappointment. Standards have dropped these days. Even perverts are bold enough to be obvious about it.
Suddenly, he realized something was off. Reinhardt Lingerie was the very store he was standing in front of, and as he glanced around, he noticed people looking at him as if he were the pervert. It took him a moment to realize how bad this looked.
Not wasting a second, he bolted from the scene.
“Hey, the creep’s running! Someone, stop him!”
“Get him out of here!”
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Inside the store, Ling Ning watched the chaos outside with an amused expression. Serves him right for being such a slob and creeping around.
The saleswoman approached her and Xu Qing, smiling. “Our lingerie is crafted with precise German engineering for perfect comfort. And everything’s fifty percent off right now, so don’t miss out!”
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Author’s Note:
The lazy fish has been beaten into submission by Reinhardt’s hammer!