Paul answered, “Not yet.”

“Oh… I see! You’re still pursuing her, right?”

Paul didn’t respond, so the other guys took his silence as affirmation.

“How long have you two known each other?”

Paul pondered for a moment. “Over a year.”

“Wow, it’s been that long, and you still haven’t won her over? What’s the matter, bro? What a waste of your height and good looks!”

Paul didn’t know what to say.

“Listen up, let me share a tip with you that will guarantee a 99% success rate with women…”

Paul appeared uninterested, but his ear subconsciously perked up when the other guy got into the details.

On the way back, Miranda was gushing emphatically, “Dr. Jefferson, your basketball skills are so impressive! And your pose…” She mimicked his swift movements on the court as she walked.

Paul walked beside her and chimed in occasionally, his lips constantly curled into a smile. He suddenly stopped when they passed by a pharmacy. “Wait for me a moment.”

With that, he went inside. Paul came out with a bottle of ointment in his hands. He pointed to her forehead. “I still see some redness. It might bruise tomorrow, so applying some ointment will help it heal faster.”

Miranda didn’t expect him to go into the pharmacy to buy her medicine. “It’s just a minor injury, and it’ll be fine tomorrow. You don’t need to go through all that trouble.” She waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s not nice to have a bruise on your face. Don’t you girls care about looking pretty?”

“You girls?” Miranda raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, Winter says that too.”

“Well, thank you then.” Miranda reached out to take the ointment.

However, Paul showed no intention of handing it over. Instead, he pulled out a pack of medical cotton swabs. “I'll help you since it’s inconvenient for you.”

He even washed his hands in the pharmacy and sprayed disinfectant before coming out with the supplies. Miranda’s mouth fell open, seemingly surprised as Paul dipped the cotton swab into the ointment. Then, he gently swept away the loose strands of hair on her forehead to reveal the reddened spot.

The moment his fingertips touched her skin, Miranda felt a warmth that was unlike her own body temperature. The burning sensation subsided when the cooling cotton swab was placed on the sore spot. “Hmm?” Miranda sniffed lightly, her nose twitching like a puppy. “This ointment actually smells pretty good.”

The smell wasn’t sharp at all. Instead, there was a floral scent.

Paul agreed with a nod. He had asked the salesperson for recommendations, who said this brand was the best. Many women favored this due to its scent.

“All done.” He withdrew his hand after applying the ointment. Taking a step back, he tossed the cotton swab aside.

Miranda felt the cooling sensation on her forehead. Indeed, it was much more comfortable than before. “Thank you.”

They went upstairs together and parted ways at the door.

Probably out of forgetfulness or some other reason, Paul didn’t give the remaining ointment and cotton swabs to Miranda. Instead, he took them back to his place.

Miranda didn’t think much about it. This little injury would likely be fine after a good night’s sleep. Even if Paul had given her the ointment, she might not have remembered to apply it anyway.

That night, Paul washed up and lay down on his bed. The tips shared by his teammate earlier echoed in his ear…

“As men, we need to be proactive when we like someone. Don’t be dumb and wait for the woman to express her feelings first. Next, you need to create more opportunities to interact. The more you interact, the more feelings can develop.

“I’m telling you, intimacy often arises in casual interactions. If you hardly spend time together, how can you escalate things to the next level? Then, here comes the most important part! You need to deliberately create chances for physical contact while spending time with each other.

“For example, you might kiss her by accident. Maybe you trip up somewhere and end up kissing her. Or else, find a romantic spot. When the moment is right, pull her into your arms for a passionate kiss!

“Finally, you need to win her heart with your thoughtfulness, gentleness, and caring personality. This includes, but not limited to asking about her day, sending goodnight messages, buying gifts during special occasions, dining out on dates, being there whenever she needs you, and more!”