Happy Together

"Wan Ning, have you ever been to a morning market?" Hu Yuying asked.

On their way out of school, Li Qingxue had mentioned wanting to explore the morning markets in Capital City. She had never actually been to one before—the only time she'd experienced it was through a video call on Hu Yuying's phone.

Li Qingxue loved lively places. Her personality was naturally energetic, and bustling environments suited her perfectly.

Lin Wanning nodded. "Back when my family lived in the countryside, I used to go to morning markets often. But after moving to the city, I rarely went anymore."

"How about we check out Capital City's morning market later?" Hu Yuying suggested.

She was curious to see what it was like—maybe she could even pick up some part-time work there.

The idea was unanimously approved.

Li Qingxue turned to Long Aotian beside her. "Take us to the market."

"Beg me first." Long Aotian smirked. Li Qingxue had a bright, infectious smile, but since she was still annoyed with him, her pouting expression made him want to tease her even more.

"Ugh, you want me to beg? How about I pinch you instead!"

With that, she lightly pinched his waist. "Don’t you dare run—I’ll get you!"

Watching Li Qingxue and Long Aotian playfully bicker, Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning couldn’t help but laugh.

"You two have such a great relationship," Lin Wanning remarked sincerely.

At least, Long Aotian had never acted like this with her.

Hu Yuying gave a soft nod. "Yeah, Long Aotian is really nice."

She glanced at Lin Wanning. "Let’s hurry up and go."

From just these few words, Lin Wanning could tell how gentle Hu Yuying was—especially when it came to Long Aotian.

With a deep look at Long Aotian, a faint smile appeared on Lin Wanning’s delicate face as she quickened her steps to catch up.

The morning subway in Capital City was packed, but having Long Aotian around made it easier.

Soon, the four of them followed the crowd out of the station and headed toward the nearby morning market.

Capital City’s morning market was different from the ones in Haiwan City.

In Haiwan City, it was just a single street lined with vendors on both sides.

Here, it wasn’t called a "morning market" but simply "the market," with dedicated sections for vegetables, fruits, seafood, and meat.

There were breakfast stalls, clothing sellers—plenty of variety.

Compared to the cold concrete and endless traffic outside, this place was brimming with life.

Long Aotian took the three girls to grab a quick breakfast before they wandered around, giving Li Qingxue a taste of the bustling market atmosphere.

"Slow down—it’s crowded here!" Long Aotian called after them.

"It’s fine, Long Aotian, we won’t get lost," Hu Yuying reassured him.

Being here seemed to remind her of the times she and Long Aotian had set up stalls together, and her mood brightened even more.

Emotions were contagious in such a lively setting. Hand in hand, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning strolled around, fascinated by everything they saw.

Long Aotian sighed inwardly, feeling like a parent afraid his kids would get swept away in the crowd.

Especially when, just a moment ago, he’d looked up and the three of them had already disappeared.

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning spotted so many interesting things—even Lin Wanning, who was usually more reserved, felt tempted to buy something.

But after Hu Yuying whispered a few words of caution, they both reluctantly held back.

Still, they asked around and learned that the market was open daily, with even bigger gatherings on Mondays and Sundays.

They made plans to come back then for some proper shopping.

After a full loop, Li Qingxue’s curiosity was satisfied.

It wasn’t just the market that made it fun—it was the company.

Capital City was an ancient yet vibrant place.

Haidian District, in particular, was the cultural and educational heart of the city, home to countless museums, libraries, and the famous Summer Palace.

After leaving the market, the four took the subway there.

Seeing it in person was far better than hearing about it.

Built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill, the Summer Palace was a grand landscape garden designed with techniques borrowed from southern Chinese gardens.

The intricate architecture, the vast lake, and the rich history—none of this could be found in Haiwan City.

The quiet corridors seemed to whisper tales of the past, each brick and tile a testament to time’s passage. Walking through them felt like stepping into another era.

The Summer Palace was enormous. Hu Yuying, who had twisted her ankle the night before, was starting to feel the strain from all the walking. She sat down on a bench in the corridor to rest.

The scenery here was breathtaking—every angle was a carefully crafted masterpiece.

"Tired?" Long Aotian asked softly as he noticed her sitting. "Is your foot hurting again?"

Hu Yuying shook her head. "No, just resting for a bit."

The moment she finished speaking, she felt a light tap on her head. "Long Aotian~" She pouted, looking up at him with watery eyes.

Seeing her pitiful expression, Long Aotian chuckled. "You know you’re terrible at lying, right?"

"Am I?"

"Yeah. Your ears turn red whenever you do." He couldn’t resist calling her out.

Hu Yuying smiled but didn’t respond.

It wasn’t because she was lying that her ears turned red.

It was because Long Aotian was standing so close, caring about her, that made her blush.

"Long Aotian, let’s go on a boat ride!" Li Qingxue’s eyes sparkled as she watched the boats gliding across the lake.

Then she noticed Hu Yuying sitting down and immediately grew concerned. "Yuying, does your foot hurt?"

She turned to Long Aotian. "You probably didn’t even know—she twisted her ankle last night."

This was Hu Yuying’s first time in Capital City, her first real trip. She didn’t want to ruin the fun because of herself. She looked at Long Aotian pleadingly. "It’s nothing, I’m just a little tired."

Understanding her silent request, Long Aotian didn’t press further. He knew Hu Yuying well—she hated being a burden.

"You guys go ahead. I’ll stay and rest."

But leaving her alone was out of the question. Even though Hu Yuying was eighteen, an adult by all means, Long Aotian couldn’t bring himself to let her out of his sight.

Back in Haiwan City, he wouldn’t even let her walk home alone at night—he always made sure to escort her to her doorstep. Letting her stay behind in an unfamiliar city was unthinkable.

Seeing their hesitation, Lin Wanning spoke up gently. "I’ve been walking for a while too. I’ll stay with Hu Yuying."