Assist

The atmosphere in the living room was just right.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

Gu Ran tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, bringing everyone's attention back.

"There are four bedrooms in this suite. One for each of us, fair and square."

"No way!"

Before Gu Ran could even finish his sentence, Pei Susu immediately raised her hand in objection.

She wrapped her arms around Ye Zhenzhen's arm, hanging onto her like a koala, and rubbed her cheek against Zhenzhen's shoulder.

"I want to snuggle with Zhenzhen! We haven't seen each other in so long. Tonight is girls' night, and we're going to chat all night under the covers!"

Ye Zhenzhen laughed as she was shaken, her eyes curving into crescents, clearly giving her tacit consent.

Hearing this, Ye Jinliang, who had been paralyzed on the sofa, sat up in shock as if waking from a deathbed.

Like a drama queen, he clutched his chest and looked at Gu Ran with a face full of grief and indignation, his eyes screaming despair.

"Then we're doomed, Brother Gu. Are we stuck having a bro-mance tonight? Sigh, to think that Yours truly, Ye, with my lifelong stellar reputation and prime youth, will end up sharing a bed with an old man. What a massive loss!"

Gu Ran didn't indulge him. He lifted his leg and delivered a precise kick to his butt.

"Get lost! Who are you calling an old man? This is called being mature!"

"Ouch!"

Ye Jinliang exaggeratedly clutched his rear and bounced away, looking exactly like a monkey whose tail had been stepped on.

Watching the two bicker like elementary schoolers, Pei Susu couldn't help but let out a honking laugh, trembling with mirth.

"Alright, alright, stop messing around."

Ye Zhenzhen stepped in with a smile to smooth things over, her eyes soft and gentle.

"Since Susu wants to share a room with me, we'll take the master bedroom. The bed is big enough anyway, we can roll around however we want."

Gu Ran glanced at her and sighed inwardly: What a pity.

"Sure, it's up to you. Ladies first."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Pei Susu grabbed the still-dazed girl and ran toward the room, as if afraid someone would change their mind.

With a click of the door locking, the living room instantly fell silent.

Ye Jinliang's previously excited face visibly slumped.

He stared longingly at the tightly shut door, his eyes as resentful as a neglected wife.

Finding it amusing, Gu Ran walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Snap out of it! They're already inside, why are you still looking? Trying to burn a hole through the door?"

"You don't know anything."

Ye Jinliang let out a long sigh and collapsed back onto the sofa.

"I was hoping to use the room assignments as an excuse to chat a bit more with Susu, but she just got dragged away. This plot is going in the wrong direction."

"Alright, stop acting like a lovesick puppy here."

Gu Ran hooked an arm around his neck and dragged him toward another bedroom like a dead dog.

"Come on, let's go inside. I'll give you some private tutoring."

...

As soon as they entered the room and the door closed, Ye Jinliang's usually thick skin surprisingly turned red.

His eyes darted around as he stammered, "Gu Ran, you... don't talk nonsense! Susu and I just have... a pure revolutionary friendship! Socialist brotherhood!"

"Come on, stop pretending."

Gu Ran sneered, calling his bluff right away.

"Your little crush is written all over your face. Anyone with a bit of sense can see it. If you like her, pursue her boldly. With a personality like Pei Susu's, if you aren't proactive, someone else will swoop in and steal her away sooner or later."

Hearing the words steal her away, Ye Jinliang's heart skipped a beat.

He knew Gu Ran was right.

He really liked Pei Susu, but every time the words reached his lips, they turned into goofy, lame jokes.

"But... I don't know how!"

Ye Jinliang scratched his head, messing his hair up into a bird's nest, looking utterly distressed.

"In all my life, I've never even chased a bus, let alone a girl. This is way out of my syllabus!"

Gu Ran looked at his hopeless demeanor and sighed.

This bro's emotional intelligence was practically non-existent.

"Listen up, Professor Gu is now in session, and I'm only teaching this once."

Gu Ran pulled over a chair and sat down, adopting the posture of a godfather of love, speaking with earnest gravity.

"There are three core points to chasing a girl. Take notes."

"First, sincerity. Cut out all those flashy gimmicks; sincerity is the ultimate weapon."

"Second, details. Does she like sweet or spicy food? Does she prefer walking on the left or the right? When is her time of the month? You have to engrave these things into your brain. The devil is in the details, understand?"

"Third, presence. Create opportunities to interact more. It's like boiling a frog in warm water; let her get used to your presence until she can't leave you."

Ye Jinliang listened in dumbfounded awe, his eyes growing wider and wider as if a door to a whole new world had been opened.

"Holy crap... Brother Gu, that's impressive! You've got all these theories lined up. Did you secretly take a crash course behind my back?"

"What can I say, it's just talent. A gift from God!"

Gu Ran spread his hands.

Ye Jinliang clenched his fists, his eyes instantly turning resolute, as if he were about to charge an enemy bunker.

"Alright! Brother Gu, my lifelong happiness is in your hands this time! If it works out, you'll be my godfather! By blood!"

"Please don't, I wouldn't want a good son like you. I'm afraid it would shorten my lifespan."

Gu Ran disgustedly pushed away the large face leaning toward him.

The two of them chatted idly for a while longer before Ye Jinliang suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Right, what's the itinerary for today? Since we're here, we can't just play dead in the hotel all day, right?"

Gu Ran raised his hand and checked his watch.

"Don't worry, it's all been perfectly planned out. We'll take epic photos at the Forbidden City in the morning, hit the streets and eat our way through Nanluoguxiang in the afternoon, and listen to music while enjoying the breeze at a Houhai bar in the evening. How about that, is this setup top-tier or what?"

"Forbidden City? Nanluo? Houhai?"

Ye Jinliang's eyes instantly lit up like two hundred-watt light bulbs.

"Those are all the holy grails of sightseeing in the Imperial Capital! A commando-style tour? You really did your homework, absolutely brilliant!"

"Of course. Since I'm the tour guide, the service has to be on point."

Right then, the door to the master bedroom next door opened a crack.

Pei Susu's crisp voice drifted out.

"Zhenzhen, do you think I should wear this light yellow dress or that T-shirt?"

As soon as Ye Jinliang heard that voice, the psychological defenses he had just built instantly collapsed. All the theories and tactics were completely thrown out the window.

He bounced off the bed as if he had springs attached to him and rushed to the door, shouting:

"Susu! You look good in anything! Even if you wore a burlap sack, you'd still look like a fairy descending to earth!"

Gu Ran: "..."

This simp nature was beyond saving. Just bury him already.

Gu Ran walked over helplessly, grabbed Ye Jinliang by the back of his collar, and forcefully dragged him back.

"Calm down! Looking like you've never seen the world will easily cheapen your value, you know? Wipe up your drool!"

"What do you mean cheapen my value! Compliments must be timely! This is the sincerity you taught me!"

Ye Jinliang was still arguing self-righteously, craning his neck long as his eyes couldn't help but drift toward the crack in the door.

Gu Ran pressed him back onto the sofa and poured him a cup of coffee to calm his nerves.

"Learn from this, it's called letting the bullets fly for a while. Girls getting dressed and doing their makeup before going out is a systematic engineering project. You have to learn to enjoy the aesthetic of this waiting."

"Enjoy my ass!"

Ye Jinliang curled his lips, looking utterly worthless.

"I only enjoy the stunning moment when they walk out."

Gu Ran shook his head and took a sip of coffee.

This kid still had a long way to go. The road ahead was long and full of obstacles.

At this moment, the sunlight outside the window was just right, and the bustling prosperity of the Imperial Capital was in full view.

Gu Ran schemed inwardly. During today's trip, he absolutely had to manufacture a few more accidental opportunities for that guy Ye Jinliang.

Theory alone wouldn't cut it; he needed some practical wingman action.

As long as the assist was on point, it was only a matter of time before the thin veil hiding their feelings was finally torn away.

And of course, while he was at it, he could also... heh heh.

At this thought, the smile on Gu Ran's lips deepened, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes.

......