Chapter 25

【Ding! Ling's affection increased by 20%, current affection: 30%】

Ye Qingfeng, seeing Ling’s condition, thought she might have a fever; he was just about to lean closer and feel her forehead when she suddenly collapsed backward.

What the hell is going on here?!

“Ling... Miss Ling?”

Ye Qingfeng instinctively grabbed her wrist, while his other hand slid behind her back to support her body.

“This... this? She fainted?”

Ye Qingfeng stared at Ling, her eyes tightly shut in his arms, and recalled the recent affection boost notification—completely baffled and lost for words.

Before he could think more...

Ye Qingfeng realized his current posture was awkward: Ling, unconscious, was pressed fully against him, making them look from the outside like a couple embracing.

But... he’d only just met Ling!

If Zhe saw this...

Would he tell me not to move and go get me some money from the kitchen?

Honestly, girls’ bodies are so soft! And a faint, sweet fragrance drifted into his nostrils, stirring his thoughts.

How could a man nearing twenty with no girlfriend possibly hold himself together?!

“Hey, Sexy Wind! What are you thinking?!” Nico gave him a scornful glance as he stared dreamily at Ling. “Get Faethon back to her place! What’s wrong with you?!”

“Ah! Right, right!”

Ye Qingfeng snapped to attention, lifted Ling in a bridal carry, and slowly walked toward the video store.

Luckily, Ling hadn't wandered far from the store, and since Ye Qingfeng had drunk the physical enhancement potion, he might have struggled otherwise...

Luckily, Ling wasn’t heavy—if it had been Nico, he’d have cursed aloud.

As they neared the door, Nico stepped ahead and pushed it open for him; inside, row upon row of shelves were stacked with video tapes.

Bangbu, the clerk at the front desk, spotted Ling unconscious in Ye Qingfeng’s arms, darted to his legs, and began kicking and punching him while letting out fierce Bangbu cries.

“Enna! Ennanna!”

Ye Qingfeng, seeing this, had no idea what to do.

“Where’s Zhe?” Nico glanced around but saw no sign of him; she tapped Ye Qingfeng’s shoulder and pointed to the open room beside the counter. “Take Faethon to the sofa in there.”

She added calmly, “Don’t even think about doing anything inappropriate.”

“Hey! What do you take me for?!” Ye Qingfeng was stunned by her remark. “Do I look like that kind of guy?!”

“Hard to say...” Nico crossed her arms, paused, then slowly replied: “I just realized you’ve got amazing luck with women—me and Anbi from the Rabbit Den.”

And I remember ever since you came out of the Public Security Bureau, you’ve been staring at your phone with a lewd grin, texting nonstop—was it that officer who took you there?”

“Plus, last time you stared at that Sharkie girl for ages, and now you’re holding a girl in your arms...”

“What’s left to defend?!”

Ye Qingfeng stared at Nico in disbelief—wait... she was actually right...

But...

“When have I ever looked lewd while holding my phone?!”

Nico gave him a sidelong glance as he protested, then waved her hand dismissively. “Enough talking. I’ll go find Zhe.”

With that, Nico walked upstairs alone. Ye Qingfeng sighed helplessly, carried Ling into the room, and gently laid her on the sofa. Bangbu, watching nearby, stopped punching and rushed to the sofa’s edge, glaring at him warily.

Ye Qingfeng didn’t notice this—he stepped out, sat down on the front desk chair, and thought carefully: Nico was right. Aside from Zhe, he had no male friends at all. That was... odd.

You ask about Billy? He barely counts as male...

And besides the blue-haired girl he met at the Public Security Bureau and the Sharkie girl he saw while shopping, he’d all had prolonged contact with several women.

It wasn’t problematic on the surface—but dig deeper, and it became terrifying...

Because all of them were designated targets of the system!

‘System! Explain this! What’s going on?’

After all, it was just his guess—but he felt deeply uneasy, as if the system were pulling his strings.

【Ding! Access denied! All actions are for your own benefit...】

For some reason, Ye Qingfeng felt this system was overly anthropomorphic—could it actually be a conscious entity?

【Don’t overthink... All I can tell you is I come from the future...】

Future? What did that mean? And this was the first time the system used “I”...

Things were getting more complicated. So annoying...

Before Ye Qingfeng could think further, a crisp set of footsteps reached his ears. He looked up—Zhe was rushing down the stairs.

He’d been in the room watching a video, completely absorbed in the documentary; if Nico hadn’t burst in, he wouldn’t have known his sister was in trouble.

But Nico had used the opportunity to negotiate a discount on the reward—only after he agreed did she tell him what happened.

“Let’s go, Qingfeng!”

Nico, in high spirits, smiled brightly as she called out to Ye Qingfeng to leave.

“Coming...”

Ye Qingfeng, filled with confusion, followed Nico out with a gloomy expression.

“Wait! Let’s exchange contact info!”

As they opened the door, Zhe’s voice came from behind—he held up his phone and waved it at Ye Qingfeng.

Ye Qingfeng didn’t hesitate—he agreed to Zhe’s request, then climbed into the car beside Nico, his mind still in chaos.

Zhe watched Ye Qingfeng’s retreating figure with regret—he couldn’t explain why, but he wanted to talk to him longer.

On the sofa, Ling slowly opened her eyes, sat up, and looked around dazedly, as if searching for something. After glancing around, she saw only Bangbu standing beside the sofa.

For some reason, she felt disappointed. Why had she fainted just now? And where was Qingfeng?

Zhe closed the door, suppressing a smile, then stepped into the room and, seeing Ling awake, asked anxiously: “Ling, you’re awake? Any other discomfort?”

“Why are you here, brother...?” Ling turned toward the footsteps, hopeful, but when she saw Zhe, she sighed. “I’m perfectly fine. Where’s Qingfeng?”

“He went back with Nico.”

Zhe, relieved Ling was fine, just wanted to return to his room and finish the documentary—or message Ye Qingfeng about it. His sister always complained his documentaries were boring, that no one would understand him—but Qingfeng would get it!

“By the way, I just added Qingfeng’s contact.”

Zhe stood at the door, about to leave, when suddenly—out of nowhere—he wanted to show off to his sister.

“What?!!!”

Ling shot up from the sofa and lunged at Zhe. “How did you get it?! Give me Qingfeng’s contact right now!!”