Chapter 75

At four in the afternoon, a black Hummer sped down the road.

Lip was driving three girls to the Aman Hotel by Lake Michigan, a location Jessica had booked.

But the atmosphere in the car was awkward and stifling.

Since leaving the school over ten minutes ago, apart from a brief introduction, the three girls had maintained an uncomfortable silence.

They say three women make a lively scene—so why is it so quiet here? Lip thought to himself.

Determined to break the ice, Lip decided to rely on his skills as an "experienced" driver and storyteller.

He cleared his throat dramatically. "Ahem."

Jessica in the passenger seat, and Karen and Mandy in the backseat, all turned their eyes to him.

"Since you're all pretending to be cold and aloof, I'll take the liberty of telling a story to liven things up," Lip said, glancing at Jessica before shifting his gaze to the rearview mirror.

"It's about a young couple who moved into an apartment near Lincoln Park in Chicago. Madly in love, the husband got a promotion and decided to buy his wife a car."

"But the wife, being naturally timid, kept failing her driving tests, which made her anxious. Not wanting to give up, she practiced driving obsessively, even at home."

"Two nights before her exam, she went to bed with her husband after a long evening… only to start practicing driving in her dreams!"

"One night, her husband woke up suddenly to find himself lying on the floor. Confused, he turned to see his wife muttering in her sleep while baring her teeth. He was almost scared to death!"

Lip grinned. "Guess what happened?"

The three girls exchanged confused looks and shook their heads.

"So, the husband woke his wife and asked what she was dreaming about. She admitted to practicing driving. He then asked her to demonstrate. She did, saying: 'Start, turn the wheel, shift gears, accelerate, and brake.'"

"The husband quickly realized—she had been using him as the brake in her dream!"

"His reaction? 'You're lying on the bed! How can you brake like this?!'"

Lip burst into laughter, proud of his story.

But the girls' faces remained blank.

"Lip, that wasn't funny at all," they said in unison.

"It should be funny!" Lip muttered. "You didn't get the deeper meaning?"

Jessica deadpanned, "It's just a story about a wife who kicked her husband in her sleep because of nerves. Not amusing."

Karen nodded. "Exactly."

Mandy, blushing, said quietly, "I… think I understand what Lip meant."

"Mandy, explain it to us!" Jessica and Karen pressed.

Mandy hesitated, but eventually shared her interpretation, adding some suggestive gestures.

The realization hit Jessica and Karen, and their faces turned bright red.

"Lip! That's so inappropriate!" Jessica scolded, flustered.

"You're awful," Karen added with an embarrassed smile.

Lip smirked. "As they say, bad boys are irresistible to good girls."

He turned to Mandy and Karen. "By the way, do either of you have a driver's license?"

They shook their heads shyly.

"Well, I could teach you," Lip offered mischievously.

"Absolutely not!" they protested, laughing.

The icy atmosphere in the car melted away, replaced by laughter and playful banter.

Even Jessica joined in, scolding Lip alongside Mandy and Karen.

By the time they reached the hotel, the mood was lively.

After checking into the restaurant, Jessica turned to the group and said, "So, Mandy, Karen, I wanted to meet here today to discuss how we should divide and share Lip."

Lip, who had been busy cutting his steak, nearly choked.

They're treating me like a public utility! he thought.

The girls laughed at his reaction.

After the meal, the three of them went shopping, leaving Lip behind to prepare the room.

When he entered the suite with the key Jessica had given him, he found a note labeled "For Lip."

"Honey," it read, "I booked this couple's suite to make our first gathering with Mandy and Karen perfect. You'll handle the final details. Love you! Mua!"

Seeing the lipstick mark on the note, Lip couldn't help but smile.

"Jessica really knows how to plan," he muttered as he began setting up flowers, candles, and fragrances.

Meanwhile, the girls were at a lingerie shop, whispering and giggling as they shopped.

Half an hour later, as Lip finished the arrangements, the doorbell rang. The girls returned, carrying shopping bags.

"What did you buy?" Lip asked curiously.

"It's a secret," Jessica teased.

Inside the suite, the girls gasped at the romantic setup.

White rose petals paved a path, lined with light blue candles.

"The blue roses are called Ice Beauty, symbolizing miracles, and the white ones are Snow Maidens, representing purity," Lip explained proudly.

In the bedroom, a large bed was surrounded by pink roses.

"These are Juliet roses. Their meaning? 'You're my favorite girl.'"

The girls were clearly impressed.

"Wow, Lip! You're so romantic!" Karen and Mandy exclaimed.

"Thanks to Jessica's guidance," Lip said, grinning.

After some more banter, the girls sent Lip to the living room, saying they had something to do.

Half an hour later, Jessica called him back to the bedroom.

The moment he stepped inside, Lip knew the night ahead would be unforgettable.