After checking his scores, Long Aotian celebrated by taking Hu Yuying out for three days of fun.
Amidst the joy and excitement, life gradually returned to its usual calm.
In the following days,
Hu Yuying was able to manage the stall on her own, keeping everything in order.
Meanwhile, Long Aotian took the opportunity to sign up for a driver's license test.
Having driven before his transmigration, getting a license in this world wasn’t particularly difficult for him, though it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park either.
Time always slips away unnoticed.
One day, Hu Yuying sat on a small stool, resting her chin on one hand as she gazed at the overcast sky. "I wonder how Long Aotian's test went today."
From the first to the third test, Long Aotian had passed each one effortlessly. Today, he was taking the fourth test. Although she knew he wouldn’t have any issues, she still couldn’t help but think about him and worry.
The mere thought of Long Aotian made Hu Yuying blush. She covered her face with both hands, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Boom!
The dark clouds in the sky flashed with lightning, followed by the rumble of thunder.
As a single raindrop hit the ground, countless others followed, forming a natural curtain of water.
Hu Yuying quickly picked up her stool and took shelter under the awning, also gathering most of the clothes on display.
The bustling marketplace, once crowded and noisy, soon quieted down as people hurried away.
The sky remained gloomy, with occasional thunder rolling in the distance.
The old awning, battered by the sudden downpour, soon began to leak, droplets of water falling here and there.
Feeling the cold drops on her skin, Hu Yuying shivered and sped up her packing.
"Damn, this rain is heavy..."
Long Aotian arrived on his bike, already drenched from head to toe.
"How did it go, Long Aotian?"
"When has your Long Aotian ever failed?"
Long Aotian shook off the water from his body, crouched down, and helped Hu Yuying pack up the goods.
Once everything was packed, the two found a dry spot under the awning and watched the endless rain.
The gloomy sky, the sound of raindrops hitting the awning and the ground—it was all strangely soothing, bringing a sense of calm to both body and mind.
"Long Aotian, do you want to change your clothes?" Hu Yuying asked, looking at his soaked figure. Without waiting for an answer, she had already found a set of clothes that fit his size.
Long Aotian had been wanting to change for a while but had hesitated because Hu Yuying was there.
Now that she had brought it up, and with the rain showing no signs of stopping, he didn’t refuse. After all, the feeling of wet clothes clinging to his skin was unbearable.
"Don’t peek, okay?" Long Aotian joked.
"Who, who would peek? I wouldn’t!" Hu Yuying exclaimed, covering her eyes with both hands.
Seeing this, Long Aotian walked to the back and began to change.
A faint blush crept onto Hu Yuying’s cheeks.
Through the gaps between her fingers, her bright, watery eyes blinked slightly.
She swallowed hard, not daring to let her gaze linger on any part of him for more than a second.
When Long Aotian finished changing and returned to her side, he was startled. "Are you okay?"
Her fair, delicate face was now flushed red, her damp eyes darting around as if she had a fever.
"I-I’m fine," Hu Yuying stammered, embarrassed.
Long Aotian touched her forehead—no fever.
He narrowed his eyes. "Did you peek while I was changing? Look how red you are."
This comment made Hu Yuying shake her head vigorously, like a cat caught in the act. "N-no, I didn’t peek."
"Really?"
At this, Hu Yuying’s already red face turned even redder.
Seeing her like this, Long Aotian couldn’t resist teasing her. "Tsk tsk, you little pervert."
Hu Yuying lowered her head, pressing her hands against her cheeks, trying to cool them down. "I-I’m not a pervert!"
"Greedy for money and lustful—what am I going to do with you?" Long Aotian chuckled, poking her forehead with his finger.
Hu Yuying stole a glance at Long Aotian, and their eyes met. Seeing her soft, shy expression, Long Aotian couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing him laugh, Hu Yuying also smiled.
The rain began to ease, and the vendors in the market had either left or were packing up.
Long Aotian and Hu Yuying decided to call it a day early.
After loading everything onto the cart, Hu Yuying sat down obediently. "Long Aotian, I’m ready."
"Let’s go, then."
He started the tricycle and headed toward the market exit.
But as luck would have it, the rain, which had started to lighten, suddenly grew heavier again.
"Long Aotian, it’s pouring again," Hu Yuying said, standing up and holding onto the cart with one hand while shielding Long Aotian’s head with the other.
"Hold on tight," Long Aotian said, speeding up.
They could find shelter from the rain, but the goods on the cart had nowhere to hide.
The heavy rain soon soaked their clothes.
Years later, this rainstorm would remain vivid in their memories.
Years later, whenever Hu Yuying thought of this day, she couldn’t help but smile, a hint of pride in her expression.
When they got home, Hu Yuying jumped off the cart and quickly opened the door for Long Aotian to drive inside.
After he entered, she shivered and locked the door behind them.
"Go change your clothes," Long Aotian said, pushing her toward the living room as she trembled from the cold.
He then headed to the kitchen.
Filling a pot with water, he lit the stove and began slicing ginger. Even as a grown man, he couldn’t help but shiver.
Once the water boiled, he added a bit of brown sugar to the ginger water.
As he walked into the living room, Hu Yuying emerged from the bedroom, now in dry clothes.
But even though she had changed, she was still shivering slightly from the cold.
"Drink some ginger tea first, then go lie down in your room. For lunch today, you’ll get to taste Long Aotian’s cooking."
Watching Long Aotian busy himself and care for her, Hu Yuying couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to be cared for.
"What are you spacing out for? Drink up," Long Aotian said, leaning down to see what she was so lost in thought about.
As Long Aotian suddenly leaned in close, Hu Yuying’s breath quickened. He was so close, too close.
Her mind went blank, and she forgot what she was about to say. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
In that moment, her body seemed to move on its own. She took a step forward, as if to close the distance between them.
Long Aotian, still leaning down, was caught off guard as Hu Yuying’s forehead bumped into his.
"Silly girl, does it hurt?" Long Aotian chuckled, amused by her dazed expression.
Just as he was about to straighten up and hand her the ginger tea,
her arms wrapped around his neck...
[That’s enough for today, hehehe...]
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"