Chapter 951

“Sure!” Ron agreed without hesitation. Lena silently gave herself a thumbs-up. She had always said Ron was a good guy, and now she could tell he was genuinely pleasant. She sent him the address of a café, which was not far from where Ron worked. Before she had even prepared what she was going to say, Ron had already arrived. He immediately apologized, “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

This man’s charm and good nature instantly shone through. Lena felt more and more certain that asking him for help was the right decision. Lena wasn’t unfamiliar with him, but she still couldn’t help but focus on Ron’s face. He wore frameless glasses, a casual suit jacket, and neat trousers. He wasn’t the type to blind people with his good looks, but he was still very attractive. What stood out most was his warm smile that made anyone around him feel happy. They said a smiling woman was lucky, and a smiling man brought good fortune as well.

“Did you ask me here just to admire a handsome man? Aren’t you going to buy me a drink?” Ron teased as he sat down, catching Lena lost in thought. The awkwardness that had lingered in the air was lifted by his words, and Lena chuckled, no longer feeling embarrassed. “Yeah, with looks like these, having you as a boyfriend wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Ron had already heard everything from her. It wasn’t a big surprise, but he still played along and made an exaggerated shocked expression. “Dr. Lane, are you trying to chase me?”

Lena didn’t beat around the bush. “Yeah, Mr. Shane, will you accept?”

Ron looked at her thoughtfully. “I’ll have to think about it.”

“Alright, I’ll get you a coffee, and you can think it over while drinking,” Lena said, which was pretty much her way of asking for an immediate answer. Thankfully, Ron was mentally prepared for this, or else he might have been caught off guard.

She ordered a coffee for him, and Ron, sipping it, asked, “So, do you want me to be your boyfriend because you really like me, or is it just a passing fancy, something you’re planning to play around with?”

“Neither,” Lena replied. “I want you to be my temporary boyfriend, like an actor in a role, to pretend with me. I’ll pay you for it.”

Ron raised an eyebrow. “Oh, a fake boyfriend?”

“Yes, will you agree?” Lena said, pushing him for an answer even though she had told him to think about it.

“Alright, so how far does this act go? Holding hands, hugging, kissing… or…” Ron trailed off, but Lena quickly interrupted him.

“Only the first two. No further,” she said, her cheeks tinged with an unnatural flush. She couldn’t help but feel a bit pathetic. How had she ended up in a position where she needed to rent a boyfriend?

“Oh, I see. Then I can agree. But if it goes further than that, I’ll have to decline,” Ron stirred his coffee. “I’m someone who values keeping myself pure.”

Lena nearly choked on her drink. The way he said it made it sound like she was the one lacking self-respect. “Yes, that’s why I like you, Mr. Shane, and don’t worry, I don’t have any other intentions toward you. We’re just acting.”

“Alright, I’ve always liked acting. When I was younger, I dreamed of being an actor, but those directors couldn’t see my talent. You, Dr. Lane, are the one with an eye for it,” Ron agreed easily.

Lena relaxed. “So, Mr. Shane, do you have any special requirements regarding payment?”

“We’re among friends, so just pay what you think is fair,” Ron replied, always easy to get along with.

Lena felt even more confident in her decision. Choosing Ron was definitely the right move. All the problems were solved. But now there was one issue she found hard to bring up. However, she knew she had to say it.

After sipping three more gulps of coffee, she finally spoke up. “Mr. Shane, since we’re now a couple, I’ll need to stay at your place later.”