I Know I Was Wrong

Adaptation and Habituation.

At first, the tingling sensation was like an electric current surging uncontrollably through her body. It wasn’t that her mind went completely blank, but for a brief moment, she forgot who she was and what she was doing.

Having experienced it once before, the second time wasn’t quite as overwhelming. At the very least, the tingling had lessened, and her mind was much clearer now.

But seeing Long Aotian’s large hand suddenly grasp her tiny foot still made her feel somewhat shy, no matter how many times it happened.

Suddenly, Hu Yuying stiffened all over, a melting sensation washing through her entire body. Her breathing quickened involuntarily.

"Aotian... L-Long Ge..." Hu Yuying called out awkwardly.

"What’s wrong?"

Hu Yuying didn’t know how to respond. She simply glanced at Long Aotian’s hand, her face flushing red before she lowered her head.

Noticing this, Long Aotian snapped back to reality. "Ah! Haha, my mistake. See, this is what happens when I care too much—I get careless."

He withdrew his hand from Hu Yuying’s smooth, delicate thigh, though his other hand remained firmly wrapped around her tiny foot.

"My leg is fine," Hu Yuying murmured softly.

"Mhm, I was just checking. And it does seem fine now."

Hearing Long Ge’s words, Hu Yuying lifted her gaze slightly to look at his mouth, thinking that the phrase "a tough mouth but a soft heart" fit him perfectly.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, "Long Ge... do you really like my feet?"

"How could you think of me like that? I’m a proper gentleman!"

Long Aotian was a little indignant. What kind of person did she take him for? Was he that kind of man? Everyone knew Long Aotian was the most upright, respectable man around!

Here he was, personally examining his little follower’s injuries—could any other boss be as attentive as him?

Seeing Long Ge’s overly serious expression, Hu Yuying couldn’t help but find it amusing. She smiled sweetly at him. "I know, I know. Long Ge is the best, the greatest, the most proper boss there is."

At first glance, her words sounded perfectly reasonable. But the more he thought about it, the more it felt like the kind of thing he’d say to placate little girls.

"Hu Yuying, you’ve got the nerve to tease me now? Seems like it’s been too long since I’ve disciplined you."

"No, Long Ge, I wasn’t teasing you! Don’t bully me!"

"I was wrong, Long Ge~~~~"

After parting ways with Long Aotian, Hu Yuying’s steps suddenly became much lighter as she headed back to her dorm.

The moment she stepped inside, her roommates immediately swarmed around her.

She had rushed back in such a hurry earlier—they’d thought something was wrong. But all she did was quickly wash her feet before darting out again. Now that she was back, though, it was different. The smile on her face had them buzzing with excitement.

Something was definitely up!

"Yuying, washing your feet before going out is such a weird move."

"Yeah, coming back just to wash your feet? The more I think about it, the stranger it seems."

"Mhm, they’re right. Yuying, you’re hiding something."

Hu Yuying avoided their gazes, trying her best not to smile. But today had been so wonderful—once emotions took over, it was hard to control them with reason.

At least, for now, Hu Yuying had no control over it.

"No, I just washed my feet because it was too hot..."

"Still denying it? Look at yourself—you’re practically glowing!"

Hu Yuying instinctively touched her cheeks. "No way, you’re exaggerating."

Another roommate immediately held up a mirror in front of her. "See for yourself—look at your eyes right now."

In the mirror, her eyes were slightly upturned, shimmering like melting spring water, an undeniable allure in her gaze.

Her face was brimming with joy, the happiness in her eyes threatening to spill over.

Hu Yuying quickly covered her face. Back when the other girls used to bully her, they’d always called her a "fox spirit." She never understood what that meant.

But seeing herself in the mirror today... she thought she might have an idea now.

"I—I’m tired. I don’t want to talk anymore." Hu Yuying set the mirror down, took off her shoes, and climbed into bed.

Faced with her roommates’ teasing, she buried her head under the blanket, refusing to listen.

But their words still seeped through.

Finally, she poked her head out to retort, "It’s not like that! Long Ge is the most proper person!"

"Oho~ Not even married yet and already defending him?"

Outnumbered three to one, Hu Yuying could only pull the summer blanket back over her head.

......

"Qingxue? Qingxue? Qingxue!"

A hand suddenly waved in front of her face. Li Qingxue snapped out of her daze and looked at her roommate in confusion. "Huh? What’s wrong?"

Her roommates grinned at her. "What’s wrong? You’ve been staring at that bottle cap and smiling like an idiot since you got back. We’ve been calling you forever—we wanted to go wash up together."

"Ah? Really?" Li Qingxue genuinely hadn’t heard them.

"Of course! What’s so special about that cap? You’re completely entranced by it."

Li Qingxue hurriedly tucked the bottle cap into her arms. To others, it was just a useless piece of plastic. But to her, it was proof—evidence of an indirect kiss with that rascal Long Aotian.

"No way, Qingxue, are you... lovestruck?"

Seeing Li Qingxue start smiling again, her roommates couldn’t take it anymore. The sweetness was overwhelming.

"I’m not lovestruck! I’m just really happy today." Li Qingxue said earnestly. Today had been the happiest day since she arrived in this unfamiliar city—bar none.

Boating with Long Aotian, leaning against him, wiping his sweat, hearing him say she was beautiful... that infuriating man.

"Always teasing me, making me call him 'gege'..."

"Call who 'gege'?"

Hearing her roommate’s question, Li Qingxue immediately pressed her lips together. Oh no—had she said that out loud?

She quickly scrambled for an excuse. "Come on, weren’t we going to wash up? Let’s hurry, or there won’t be any hot water left!"

With that, she grabbed her toiletries and rushed out first.

......

Lying in bed, Lin Wanning stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

"Wanning, you seem a little down today?"

Lin Wanning shook her head. "I’m not unhappy. Actually, I feel quite happy inside."

It was the truth. Spending the day with Long Aotian and two new friends had brought her joy.

But there was still a faint, indescribable feeling lingering within her.

Hu Yuying was wonderful—gentle, obedient, and sweet...

Li Qingxue was great too—lively, spirited, and full of energy...

She shook her head, forcing herself not to dwell on it.

She wasn’t lacking either. It was just that she’d met her "gege" a little later than the others...