The moment Shen Mengjie withdrew, Han Xiaojing bit her lip and stole a glance at Long Aotian.
She had been so afraid just now that Long Aotian would agree with Shen Mengjie’s words.
But seeing him merely smile, unmoved, she inexplicably felt a little happy.
"He’s different from other guys," Shen Mengjie whispered into Han Xiaojing’s ear.
Hearing this, Han Xiaojing maintained her composure on the surface, but the tips of her ears turned faintly red.
He really was different. It wasn’t just about giving her the watermelon—even during military training, his everyday behavior had made her pay a little extra attention to him.
Though he was the same age, his demeanor stood out from everyone else in the class.
He was mature, considerate, and knew how to make others feel at ease without awkwardness.
He might seem less competitive, less fiery, but whatever he did, he did well, always giving off an air of quiet reliability.
Around him, Han Xiaojing often felt like she could just be a delicate girl who needed protecting.
And this feeling—she never got it from any other guy.
If there was a difference between Long Aotian and other boys, this was it.
Like now, she could tell that Li Longlong and the others were just trying to show off.
But Long Aotian simply stood by, watching. If needed, he’d step in without hesitation—playing the supporting role, the wingman.
Yet when he wasn’t needed, he’d sit quietly, observing with a smile, as if genuinely enjoying the moment.
And it wasn’t forced—he truly seemed to relish it.
A new bottle of wine and an aged one—both were wine, but they were nothing alike.
Han Xiaojing quietly took out her phone, gathering her courage before finally looking at Long Aotian. "Long Aotian, can we—"
Before she could finish, a badminton landed beside them in a perfect arc.
"Just when I was getting warmed up, you guys are already done?" Xu Shuai and the other two walked back, spinning his racket in hand.
Truly, a guy was at his most attractive when he was confident in his element.
Xu Shuai wasn’t exactly ugly, but he wasn’t handsome either—at least, he was the most ordinary-looking in the dorm.
But right now, he was the coolest.
The courage Han Xiaojing had mustered vanished in an instant, interrupted.
Shen Mengjie watched everything with amusement, her gaze lingering playfully on Long Aotian.
"How about we all grab lunch together?" Huang Fei asked Shen Mengjie with a smile.
"Yeah, let’s eat together," Xu Shuai added, wiping sweat from his forehead as he grinned at Wang Lijuan.
The group lunch was a success, and everyone was in high spirits.
Romance? No big deal.
Pursuing girls? Just another day.
Youth was all about self-expression—anything was possible.
After lunch, the "147 Love Trio" felt like they’d made leaps of progress in front of their crushes. Once they escorted the girls back to their dorm, the boys erupted into a brief celebration.
"So, how’d I do today, Old Ao?" Xu Shuai asked excitedly.
"Not bad. I saw Wang Lijuan glance at you more than once."
"What about me? How about me?" Li Longlong pressed.
They all turned to Long Aotian because, in their dorm, he was the only one with actual dating experience.
The aloof campus belle from the music school, the two stunning beauties who’d come looking for him before—Long Aotian wasn’t the type to compete with them over girls, so his opinion was the most reliable.
"Didn’t really notice," Long Aotian admitted. "I wasn’t exactly staring at the girls while you were playing."
Huang Fei nodded. Old Ao wasn’t that kind of guy, so he didn’t press further.
Still, Huang Fei felt like he’d made solid progress today—Shen Mengjie had smiled at him several times and even subtly showed off her figure around him.
What did that mean? It meant she was practically his already!
As they say, where there’s a goal, there’s motivation. Right now, they were all brimming with confidence.
Just then, Long Aotian’s phone rang.
An unknown local number.
Seeing his "sons" still hyped up, Long Aotian stepped onto the balcony to answer.
"Hello, is this Mr. Long Aotian?" a polite voice asked.
"Who is this?"
"I’m from Haidian District’s second-hand property agency. We spoke in the group chat earlier. I have a vacant courtyard house available—would you like to come take a look?"
Hearing this, Long Aotian immediately set up a time with Cui Yong.
"I’m heading out," he said, grabbing his things.
"Old Ao, where are you going? Not joining us tonight?" Xu Shuai called after him.
They’d agreed to be his wingmen today, but these two had immediately hogged the spotlight in front of the girls.
He was the one who’d set this up—wasn’t today supposed to be his moment?
Only Long Aotian had stuck to his role as the reliable wingman.
"Won’t make it tonight. Wang Lijuan’s a good girl—go for it, ‘Dad’ believes in you."
Xu Shuai scratched his head, grinning. Sometimes, his instincts were spot-on.
With Long Aotian’s blessing, he felt even more determined.
Under the shade of the trees, the peak heat had passed. Capital City’s breezy weather made it just right.
"Brother!"
Long Aotian looked up to see Lin Wanning waving at him.
When he stopped, she hurried over, her white dress fluttering with each step, her long hair swaying in the wind. Her delicate face was alight with a charming liveliness.
"Slow down, Wanning," her three roommates teased from behind, unable to resist laughing.
Lin Wanning reached Long Aotian’s side and noticed him checking subway directions on his phone. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her fair profile so flawless it was hard to look away, she asked, "Brother, where are you going?"
Before he could answer, her roommates caught up.
"Brother? You mean the hero who saved the beauty, right?"
"Must be. Otherwise, our aloof campus belle wouldn’t ditch us the second she sees him. Look how happy she is now—where’s that icy demeanor gone?"
"Hi, we’re Lin Wanning’s roommates—and best friends."
"Nice to meet you. I’m Long Aotian."
The first girl patted her stomach in mock dismay. "Ugh, I’m too full now."
Then she grinned. "But Hero Brother, you owe us a meal. Otherwise, we might just bully your little sister in the dorm."
Long Aotian chuckled at the nickname. "Sure thing. Just take good care of Wanning for me."
Hearing this, Lin Wanning’s lashes fluttered slightly. She peeked up at Long Aotian, her eyes shimmering faintly.
Her fair cheek, partially revealed as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, flushed with a delicate rosy hue...
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
