The two-week military training had finally ended, and a day off was granted.
"Finally, it's over! So, Long Aotian, what are your plans for tomorrow?"
"How about we all hang out together?"
Faced with their questions, Long Aotian answered without hesitation for the first time: "Can't tomorrow. I already made plans with someone."
He had promised Hu Yuying long ago that once training was over, he would take her around the capital. After all, he was the world’s best big brother—he couldn’t go back on his word.
Hearing this, his three roommates immediately perked up.
They’d seen others invite Long Aotian out plenty of times, but it was practically unheard of for him to be the one initiating plans!
"Oho, look at that smug face!"
"Hahaha, what’s got him grinning like that?"
"Wait, this is different. Have you ever seen Long Aotian make this kind of expression before? The anticipation in his eyes is practically overflowing!"
Long Aotian just chuckled and didn’t bother explaining. Truth be told, he really had missed that little girl, Hu Yuying.
He wondered how she was doing at school—had she made friends? Had she grown more outgoing? Was she happy every day?
He opened his phone and navigated to the chat screen.
Before he could tap on Hu Yuying’s conversation, a message from Lin Wanning popped up:
"Bro, you free tomorrow?"
After a moment’s thought, he replied: "No plans. Just meeting up with some friends."
Lin Wanning stared at the message, unsure how to respond.
She had wanted to ask him out herself. But if he already had something going on, she didn’t know how to bring it up.
Then, her eyes brightened as she read his follow-up message: "Wait… is he taking me to meet his friends?"
"Guess my brother isn’t completely clueless after all."
She quickly typed back: "Is that really okay?"
"Of course. Who knows, you might even hit it off with them."
After sending that, Long Aotian exited the chat and switched to Hu Yuying’s conversation. He sent two quick message vibrations to get her attention.
When she didn’t reply immediately, he figured she must be busy. After all, she wasn’t like before—she wasn’t alone anymore.
He set his phone aside and lay down on his bed, waiting.
After a while, he got up and headed out.
——
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Hu Yuying frowned slightly as she stared at the small cake that had fallen to the ground.
Xue Shaohua scratched his head sheepishly, picking up the basketball at his feet. He mimed a jump shot in front of her before calling out to his friends in the distance, "You guys go ahead!"
Only then did he turn back to Hu Yuying. "Sorry about that. How about I buy you another cake to make up for it?"
"You’re boring. And childish." Hu Yuying turned and walked away without another word.
She had bought two cakes—one for herself and one for Qingxue. Now, both were ruined.
Xue Shaohua smirked and followed after her. "You mad?"
Hu Yuying had no patience for people she disliked, so she ignored him entirely.
But Xue Shaohua found her attitude all the more intriguing. Girls who came running at the snap of his fingers were just too dull.
"Come on, can’t you at least talk to me? Being this cold will leave you with no friends."
At that, Hu Yuying paused briefly. "I have friends. And could you stop following me?"
Xue Shaohua shrugged. "Nah. I upset you, so I gotta make it right. Otherwise, it’d be awkward seeing you in class later."
Before she could protest further, he cut in, "Two cakes, and I’ll leave. Otherwise, I’ll feel too guilty."
Hu Yuying said nothing, simply quickening her pace.
Amused by her helplessness, Xue Shaohua matched her speed, keeping a slight distance but staying close.
Inside the cake shop, Hu Yuying sat by the window, tuning out Xue Shaohua’s endless chatter as she waited for her order.
Her indifference only fueled his interest. He bragged endlessly about how popular and impressive he was.
Then—the chime of the doorbell rang.
Hu Yuying instinctively glanced up.
A familiar figure stepped inside.
Her eyes instantly lit up with joy.
"Long-ge."
Hearing her voice, Long Aotian turned. His gaze cut through the crowd, locking onto hers.
In that moment, everything else seemed to fade. All the waiting, all the longing—it all melted into an irrepressible smile.
Xue Shaohua froze. He had never seen Hu Yuying smile like this—so vividly, so radiantly.
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the boy across the room, her gaze brimming with undisguised, unreserved tenderness.
Hu Yuying stood and hurried toward him, her breath hitching with every step. The distance was short, yet her heart pounded wildly, uncontrollably.
Watching her run to him, Long Aotian’s grin widened—an inexplicable, overwhelming delight surging through him.
He reached out, ruffling her hair with practiced ease. His eyes, warm and affectionate, held nothing but adoration for her alone. "I texted you."
Hu Yuying pulled out her phone in dismay. Oh no—she’d missed his message!
"Sorry, Long-ge, I—"
Before she could finish, Long Aotian laughed it off. "Was gonna bring you cake, but since you’re here, I’ll treat you instead."
"I already ordered," Hu Yuying said, her eyes never leaving him. "Back at the bay, Qingxue made us cookies. I never got the chance to return the favor, so now that training’s over, I wanted to buy her a cake."
Just then, her order was ready.
Long Aotian paid and handed her the box. "One for you, and one for you and Qingxue to share."
Hu Yuying lifted her face, her smile soft, fond, and full of devotion. "What about you, Long-ge?"
"I’ll take you somewhere even better than cake."
"Mm!" She nodded eagerly, falling into step beside him just like old times.
As the two left the shop, Xue Shaohua stood rooted in place, fists clenched, watching their retreating figures with bitter envy.
Hu Yuying wouldn’t even spare him a word—yet with that guy, she was a completely different person.
Yet in front of that boy, she couldn’t help but pour out every ounce of her tenderness.
This blatant double standard was something the proud Xue Shaohua simply couldn’t stomach.
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
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?"
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?!!!"
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
