Chapter 232
Coming out of the Forbidden City, Gu Ran didn't waste any words.
He hailed a cab and took the three of them straight to Nanluoguxiang.
As soon as they got out of the car, the heat wave mixed with the clamor of voices gave them a direct sonic baptism.
The old alleys with their blue bricks and gray tiles were already jam-packed.
The air was a mix of the charred aroma of roasted meat, the sweet richness of cheese, and the explosive scents of various spices.
It all boiled down to one word.
Crowded!
Holy crap! Look at this sea of people. Is this the prestige of the imperial capital?
Pei Susu complained about getting squeezed into a meat patty, but her body was very honest.
Her eyes had long been drawn away by the dazzling array of cultural and creative shops along the street.
She excitedly grabbed Ye Zhenzhen's arm.
Zhenzhen, look! That shop's decor is so retro, it's absolutely stunning!
Ye Zhenzhen's eyes curved into a smile as she pointed at a shop with red lanterns hanging not far away.
Her voice carried a touch of excitement.
Susu, look! There's another one over there!
Looking at the excited girls.
Gu Ran's lips curled up slightly. With one hand in his pocket, he strolled leisurely like an old master.
The four merged into the flow of people.
The two girls instantly turned into special forces, their combat power going off the charts.
One moment they were diving into an accessory shop to try on hairpins, and the next, they were posing with peace signs in front of an internet-famous wall.
Wenyu Cheese! It's on the must-eat list from the guides!
Pei Susu pointed at a signboard not far away, looking like Columbus discovering the New World.
A few minutes later, the four of them sat in the shop, each holding a bowl of original-flavor cheese.
The milk skin was rich and melted in the mouth.
The intense milky aroma instantly exploded in their mouths.
The icy-cool texture was like a clear spring, instantly extinguishing the heat from their journey.
Amazing!
Pei Susu scooped a large spoonful into her mouth, her cheeks bulging.
She mumbled indistinctly while giving a thumbs-up.
They didn't lie to me, this flavor is so authentic, it's the absolute best!
Ye Jinliang watched her eat bite after bite beside him, feeling a bit puzzled.
He tasted his and thought it was just okay.
Could it be... the one in Susu's bowl was sweeter than his?
After filling their dessert stomachs, their combat power for the main meal continued.
Zhajiangmian, rolling donkey glutinous rice rolls, quick-boiled tripe... The four of them swept through everything along the way, leaving nothing behind wherever they passed.
When passing by a tanghulu stall, Ye Zhenzhen's footsteps noticeably slowed down a beat.
The bright red hawthorns wrapped in crystal-clear sugar coating shone with an enticing luster under the setting sun.
She stared at it for two seconds, her throat moving slightly.
Want some?
Gu Ran's voice sounded timely in her ear, carrying a hint of a smile.
Ye Zhenzhen snapped back to reality. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she pinched the corner of her shirt and whispered.
A little...
Gu Ran didn't speak. He just raised an eyebrow at the Little Fatty who was still spacing out next to them, signaling with his eyes.
Pay up!
Ye Jinliang blinked, not understanding.
Gu Ran helplessly massaged his forehead, winking frantically to hint at him.
Go for it!
You don't even get this?
You deserve to be single!
Ye Jinliang finally realized, slapping his forehead in annoyance, and quickly rushed up to scan the code and pay.
Out of the four tanghulu skewers, two were stuffed into Gu Ran's hands.
Ye Jinliang held the remaining two skewers, his palms suddenly starting to sweat.
He took a deep breath and walked stiffly to Pei Susu.
Su... Sister Susu, for you.
Pei Susu, who was still calculating what to eat next, turned around.
Looking at the gleaming tanghulu in front of her, her eyes lit up and she broke into a bright smile.
This is a timely rain! I was just wanting to eat something sour to cut the grease.
Looking at the radiant smile in front of him, Ye Jinliang froze.
He heard his own heartbeat, thump-thump, like a beating drum!
His face turned beet red, unsure if it was from the heat or excitement.
On the other side.
Ye Zhenzhen took a bite. The crispy sugar coating shattered between her teeth, and the intertwined sweet and sour taste instantly healed her taste buds.
She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
After eating half of it, she handed the remaining half skewer to Gu Ran's mouth.
These hawthorns are quite fresh, you should try some.
Gu Ran knew she couldn't eat anymore, but he didn't expose her.
He lowered his head and bit one off directly from her hand, smoothly taking over the remaining bamboo skewer, his fingertips lightly brushing across the back of her hand.
Mhm, it's indeed sweet.
Next to them, Pei Susu and Ye Jinliang, who were gnawing on their tanghulu.
The two noticed the commotion over here and froze in unison.
Pei Susu felt that the tanghulu in her hand was instantly no longer appetizing, so sour it set her teeth on edge.
With an expression of I can't bear to look, she winked and made faces at Ye Zhenzhen.
Oh my, you two, slaughtering single dogs in public is prohibited! I'm about to throw up the quick-boiled tripe I just ate! I can't stomach this dog food!
Ye Zhenzhen's cheeks instantly flushed completely red, looking exactly like the red hawthorns in her hand, and she stammered.
N-no we aren't, it was just convenient...
Did you see that?
Gu Ran chewed on the tanghulu while walking over to Ye Jinliang's side.
He patted his shoulder, teaching him with earnestness.
Learn from this, or you'll be squatting under a lemon tree for the rest of your life.
Ye Jinliang rolled his eyes, feeling so envious inside that his cells were undergoing plasmolysis.
I want to learn too!
But do I have the guts?
Do I have that kind of luck?
As time passed, the flow of people in Nanluoguxiang didn't decrease but actually increased.
When they reached the narrowest alley entrance, it was almost people pressing against people, making it difficult to even turn around.
Pei Susu wasn't very tall and was squeezed until she was stumbling all over.
Careful!
A warm, large hand suddenly reached over and firmly gripped her shoulder.
Ye Jinliang almost as an instinctive reaction took a step behind her.
Spreading his arms wide, he forcefully carved out a safe zone for her within the crowded tide of people.
Follow me.
Ye Jinliang's voice came from above her head, though carrying a slight pant.
But it sounded exceptionally deep and solid, inexplicably making one feel at ease.
Pei Susu's entire body was enveloped in his shadow.
At the tip of her nose was the faint scent of laundry detergent from his clothes, mixed with the unique heat of a young man, which wasn't unpleasant.
She subconsciously looked up, just in time to see Ye Jinliang's tense jawline and the fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
Due to the exertion of force, the veins on his arms bulged slightly, making him look exceptionally powerful.
Pei Susu's heartbeat skipped a beat.
This blockhead...
Why does it suddenly feel like his boyfriend power is off the charts?
T-thanks.
Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito's hum, and the roots of her ears felt a little hot.
It's nothing, I should.
Ye Jinliang's body was as stiff as a wooden board. He didn't dare to look down at the person in his arms at all, terrified she would hear his thunderous heartbeat.
The two walking behind watching the show took in this entire scene.
Gu Ran raised his eyebrows, his eyes playful.
That's more like it. This kid finally figured it out.
Ye Zhenzhen, who knew exactly what kind of character her best friend had, almost instantly understood when she saw Pei Susu's girlish demeanor.
She was blushing!
These two... there's something going on!
In order to create more opportunities for these two to be close, Gu Ran deliberately slowed his pace.
He pulled the girl along, wandering leisurely in the back, acting like a completely hands-off boss.
In front, Ye Jinliang protected Pei Susu, although his posture was slightly stiff.
But that earnestness of his was indeed quite intoxicating.
It wasn't until they squeezed out of the crowd that the four let out a long breath, feeling as if they had fought a tough battle.
By this time, it was getting late, and the evening lights were just beginning to light up.
The night in the imperial capital was just beginning.
Gu Ran checked the time, snapped his fingers, and a meaningful arc hooked the corner of his mouth.
"Let's go. Next stop, Houhai Bar Street. We can walk off our meal."
"A bar?!"
The eyes of the other three instantly lit up like two-hundred-watt light bulbs, and they chimed in unison.
"We are totally down for that!"
But the moment the words left her mouth, Ye Zhenzhen regretted it.
Yikes...
Her alcohol tolerance was... well, pretty weak.
She glanced at the boy beside her, who looked completely unfazed.
For some reason, her mind was put at ease again.
They were out to have fun, and the most important thing was to be happy!
Besides, someone would be there to watch her back anyway.
What was there to be afraid of!
However, Gu Ran didn't quite see it that way.
Of course, he knew Ye Zhenzhen couldn't hold her liquor.
But if she didn't get drunk... how would he have an excuse to snatch her away from Pei Susu?
If he wanted to carry the little rabbit back to his den, the rabbit had to get a little dizzy first.
......
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
