Chapter 96 A Hidden Trick in the Brotherhood's Game: Busy with Two Appointments

The hot pot restaurant was steaming, with the red oil base bubbling away, the swirling heat blurring everyone's faces, and the air filled with the rich aroma of beef tallow and fresh ingredients.

Zhang Peng put down his chopsticks and wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth. He had specifically invited his girlfriend to this dinner, along with his three roommates: Lin Chen, Wu Gang, and Li Lei.

The five of them sat around the hot pot table, chatting while cooking the meat, the atmosphere lively and bustling.

The beef rolls and tripe on the table were cooked to perfection. The group clinked glasses and chatted happily, mostly about picking up girls, playing ball, and trivial academic matters, every word revealing the straightforward and casual nature of guys.

About an hour later, Zhang Peng was the first to put down his chopsticks. He reached out to put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder, a suggestive smile on his face, and waved at the others: "Alright, alright, I'm full. I'm taking my girlfriend out for a walk to digest. I've already paid the bill, so you guys take your time and don't stand on ceremony."

As he spoke, he kept winking at Lin Chen and the others, his meaning all too clear: I'm off to advance my date, so I won't be wasting time with you brothers anymore.

Wu Gang waved his hand with a smile and said in a teasing tone: "Fine, fine, go ahead and get busy, don't let anything get in the way of your good time!"

As he said this, he winked at Zhang Peng again, lowered his voice, and gave a suggestive reminder: "Remember what I told you, don't mess it up."

Zhang Peng understood perfectly and nodded vigorously. A flash of excitement crossed his eyes as he put his arm around his girlfriend's waist and hurried out of the hot pot restaurant. Before leaving, he didn't forget to turn back and give an "OK" sign.

Once Zhang Peng and his girlfriend had completely disappeared out the door, Lin Chen put down his drink, looked up at Wu Gang, and asked curiously: "What did you say to Zhang Peng just now? You were being all mysterious and specifically hinting at him."

Upon hearing this, Wu Gang grinned, a lecherous yet smug expression on his face. He leaned in, lowered his voice, and spoke with the boastful tone of an "experienced veteran": "Heh heh, what could I tell him? I was just giving him some advice!"

"I told him to take his girlfriend shopping first. Don't be stingy; spend money when you need to. Buy clothes, buy bags, buy the little accessories she likes—get her in a good mood first."

He paused, his smile becoming even more devious, and lowered his voice further, almost whispering into Lin Chen and Li Lei's ears: "After shopping, take her straight to a private cinema to watch a movie! You don't know about it, do you? That place is super secluded. Inside, it's not a sofa, but a bed, and you can even search for Japanese films—the privacy is maxed out. Just think about it: a man and a woman alone, locked in a small room, watching a movie... once the atmosphere hits, won't you naturally succeed?"

As he spoke, Wu Gang raised his eyebrows, looking smug as if to say, "Am I smart or what?" That lecherous, evil grin made Li Lei roll his eyes on the spot and curse: "Damn, Wu Gang, you're way too sleazy! How could you come up with such a trick? I can't believe you thought of that!"

Lin Chen sat to the side, watching Li Lei's righteous indignation, and muttered to himself. He hadn't expected that Li Lei, who looked quite decent, would be so against such tactics.

But no sooner had that thought occurred to him than Li Lei's next sentence completely changed his opinion.

Li Lei leaned forward, the look of disgust on his face instantly replaced by eagerness and regret. His tone was full of unwillingness: "But then again, why didn't you tell me sooner that such a place existed! If you had told me earlier, I would have already sealed the deal with that girl I went on a date with last time. I wouldn't still be spinning my wheels in the 'talking' stage!"

Lin Chen looked at the huge contrast in his reaction and couldn't help but shake his head in silence, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He mocked them inwardly: "With your limited ambitions, always thinking about just 'sealing the deal' with one girl—you really haven't seen the world. I'm already preparing to schedule my time to handle the young married women, young girls, and twins I'm already dating; these little tricks of yours aren't even worth mentioning."

After his internal rant, Lin Chen stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said to the two of them: "Alright, stop chatting, let's go too. I have things to do."

Li Lei quickly looked up and asked curiously: "Where are you going? Leaving right after eating? Not going to sit for a while longer?"

Lin Chen spoke in a flat tone, saying casually: "I've arranged to play badminton with the sisters Xia Wanrou and Xia Wanqing. I've booked the court from 7:30 to 8:30, so if I don't leave now, I'll be late."

As he said this, his tone was breezy, as if arranging to play ball with two girls was the most ordinary thing in the world, yet a hint of imperceptible pride was hidden in his eyes. After all, being able to date the sisters at the same time wasn't something just anyone could do.

When Li Lei heard this, his eyes lit up instantly. He quickly stood up and looked at Lin Chen in a fawning manner: "Then I'm coming too! I'll play badminton with you guys!"

Lin Chen glanced at him and said in a teasing tone: "What are you going for? I asked the sisters. If you go, won't you be a third wheel? Don't mess up my good time."

Li Lei quickly waved his hands, a flattering smile on his face. He leaned in close to Lin Chen, lowered his voice, and begged: "Don't be like that, Lin Chen, I won't get in your way! I'll call my senior girlfriend too, and we can play doubles. I'll pair up with my girlfriend, and you can pair up with the sisters however you like—that way, it won't be awkward, right?"

He paused, then revealed a somewhat lecherous smile and rubbed his hands together: "Heh heh, buddy, you know how it is. I haven't completely closed the deal with my senior yet, right? I'm just looking for your help to warm up the atmosphere. After the game, I'll ask her out alone to walk around off-campus. The night will be just right—a perfect chance to get closer. Maybe I'll succeed!"

Lin Chen looked at his fawning and eager expression, smiled helplessly, and finally nodded: "Fine, fine, I give up. Hurry up and call her over. We'll play doubles, just don't be late."

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Wu Gang on the side and asked casually: "What about you? Wu Gang, what are you doing next? Want to come play ball with us?"

A gentle smile appeared on Wu Gang's face as he shook his head, his tone full of doting affection: "Heh heh, I won't go play ball. My girlfriend has her period today. She just messaged me saying her stomach hurts, so I have to go to the supermarket to buy some brown sugar, bring it to her, and make her some brown sugar water to drink. I need to take good care of her."

Li Lei heard this, a look of confusion on his face, and couldn't help but ask: "Drinking brown sugar water during a period? What's the benefit?"

When Wu Gang heard this, he immediately showed a look of disgust, glanced at Li Lei, and said with the disdain of someone thinking, "How can you be so ignorant?": "You don't even know that? You really are ill-informed!"