Chapter 40 Chen Qiao Treats

Ye Long could tell from her expression what she was thinking and smiled. "Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your nose. The sweat is expelling the cold toxins from your body. The smell will be less intense tomorrow, and by the day after tomorrow, your sweat will smell pleasant again."

Zhou Ruobing was a bit unconvinced. "My sweat has always smelled nice. Who knows what tricks you're playing."

Even though she said that, she was starting to trust him more.

"Miss Zhou, go take a shower first. And don't use cold water for the next few days." Ye Long turned and walked out.

Once Ye Long left, Zhou Ruobing finally checked her phone. The missed call was from Captain Liu Gang, and those text messages were also from him. According to Captain Liu Gang, Ye Long was indeed a security guard at the Longma Five - Star Hotel, and nothing suspicious had been found.

Could I have been overthinking it?

Feeling almost overwhelmed by the stench of her own sweat, Zhou Ruobing put down her phone and headed to the bathroom.

Just as Ye Long returned to his room, he suddenly received a call from his mother, Su Rou.

"Son, you must bring Bingbing's family to our place on the 2nd!"

Su Rou said excitedly, "Your third and fourth aunts came this afternoon. They spent the whole afternoon bragging about how close they are to their in - laws. So you have to make sure Bingbing's family comes..."

"Mom, I understand. Bingbing has just promised me that she'll ask her mother. But we can't be sure if they'll actually come yet."

"Oh, is Bingbing home now? Should I talk to her?" Su Rou tried to contain her excitement.

Ye Long frowned. "Mom, you don't know each other well yet. It would be awkward to talk. I'll bring her home later, and then you can talk to her as much as you like."

"Okay, then I won't disturb you and Bingbing. It's getting late. You two should go to bed early."

"Got it, Mom. You should go to bed early too."

After hanging up, Ye Long thought of Zhou Ruobing's cold, distant expression and couldn't help but imagine how she would get along with his mother.

His mother was probably going to be disappointed.

Ye Long shook his head, lay down, and fell asleep.

...

At 8 o'clock the next morning, Zhou Ruobing left the house early again. What puzzled Ye Long was that she hadn't taken out the clothes she'd changed in the past few days, and the quilt from last night was also still in her room. Her door was locked from the inside.

Ye Long didn't bother with her. After hanging up his own laundry, he was about to go out for breakfast when his phone vibrated.

It was a call from Chen Qiao. Remembering that he'd arranged for her to stay in the hotel dormitory last night, he answered, "Xiao Qiao, what's up?"

"Young Master Ye, are you... free today? Could you accompany me to the civil affairs department..." Chen Qiao asked nervously on the other end of the line.

Thinking of how Jiang Dahai had threatened her with a knife, Ye Long was worried about her. "Sure. Where are you now?"

"I'm still at the hotel. Are you coming right away?"

"Yes, I'm on my way. I'll see you soon." Ye Long headed out the door.

"Then I'm counting on you." Chen Qiao sounded much more cheerful.

"You're welcome."

Ye Long left the residential area and hailed a taxi.

About ten minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of the Longma Five - Star Hotel. Ye Long called Chen Qiao. "Xiao Qiao, I'm at the hotel. Where are you?"

"Young Master Ye, wait for me by my car. I'll be right there."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Ye Long noticed a hotel security guard staring straight at him.

"What, don't you recognize me?" The security guard walked up with a smile.

From his voice, Ye Long recognized him as Cao Weijian, the same security guard who had mocked him when he and Zhou Jiajia came to dine here before. But now, because Cao Weijian's face was swollen and bruised, Ye Long hadn't recognized him at first.

Cao Weijian sneered, "Ye Long, did that rich beauty dump you?"

"I told you, guys like us can't handle women like that. You should know your place."

Ye Long didn't bother to respond and walked straight to Chen Qiao's car.

Cao Weijian wasn't about to miss the chance to taunt him and followed, laughing, "You spent over 200,000 yuan treating her to a meal. I tried to warn you, but you wouldn't listen. Now your money's gone to waste."

"Don't be too discouraged, though. Anything's possible in dreams, haha!"

"What a fool, trying to act rich. If it were that easy to date rich girls, everyone would do it. What makes you think you're special?"

Just then, Cao Weijian's gaze was suddenly drawn to a beautiful woman walking briskly towards them. His eyes widened. "Damn, a goddess!"

To his astonishment, the "goddess" was walking straight towards him. She was moving so quickly, as if she couldn't wait to throw herself into his arms.

"Idiot, watch and learn how a real man woos a woman!" As the woman approached, Cao Weijian stood up straight and stepped forward. "Hello, beautiful. I'm Cao Weijian..." He reached out his hand, ready to shake hers.

But the woman stopped and looked at him in confusion.

Cao Weijian felt awkward. The woman had been walking towards him so confidently, but why was she suddenly acting shy?

"Young Master Ye, who is this?" Chen Qiao looked at Ye Long, puzzled.

"A colleague, but I don't know him well." Ye Long stepped forward and held out his hand.

Chen Qiao was surprised but still reached out to shake his hand. Ye Long felt a jolt, like an electric shock, and quickly pulled his hand back. "I meant the car keys."

Chen Qiao couldn't help but laugh, blushing. For a moment, she'd thought he was going to hold her hand, and she'd instinctively reached out.

After tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Chen Qiao asked, "Young Master Ye, have you had breakfast yet?"

Ye Long shook his head. "Not yet. What about you?"

"Me neither. How about I treat you to breakfast here?" Chen Qiao was hungry. She hadn't eaten dinner last night, had only a light lunch yesterday, and still hadn't had breakfast.

Ye Long was glad to see that she seemed much happier than last night.

Thinking Ye Long might be reluctant to let her spend money, Chen Qiao stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and pulled him along. "Young Master Ye, don't refuse!"

"All right then." Ye Long went with her.

Cao Weijian stood there, stunned, watching the beautiful woman affectionately holding Ye Long's arm as they walked towards the hotel entrance. He was speechless for a long time.

Shaking his head in despair, Cao Weijian muttered, "How could this be? What's so special about that fool? Is this woman blind? Why is she treating him to breakfast at this five - star hotel? Why..."

In a private room on the second floor of the hotel.

Chen Qiao took the last bite of her cream bun and looked at Ye Long contentedly. "Young Master Ye, are you full? Should I order more for you?"

Ye Long sipped his milk and shook his head. "I'm full."

"Wait for me. I'll be right back after using the restroom." With light steps, Chen Qiao, with her tall figure, quickly left the private room.

In fact, she was afraid Ye Long would try to pay the bill, so she'd made an excuse to leave.

Chen Qiao walked up to a nearby waitress.

The waitress hurried over when she saw Chen Qiao approaching. "How can I help you, ma'am?"

Chen Qiao asked, "Miss, how much is the bill for private room 218?"

The waitress smiled. "The total is 16,899 yuan, ma'am."

Chen Qiao was shocked. "That much..."

She'd expected breakfast at a five - star hotel to cost at most a couple of thousand yuan, not over 16,000.

The waitress reassured her, "Don't worry, ma'am. The gentleman who was with you has already paid the bill in advance."

Chen Qiao looked confused. "Are you sure you've got the right person?"

Ye Long had been with her the whole time. How could she not have noticed if he'd paid?

"Yes, ma'am. It was him." The waitress smiled and gently pointed...