While tidying up, Li Qingxue noticed the courtyard house design plans in Long Aotian's hands.
"Is this the design for the courtyard house?" she asked, eyeing the documents on the table.
"Mm," Long Aotian replied. "Can you understand it?"
"Drop the 'can you,'" Li Qingxue shot him a glare. Looking at the plans, she knew there was no talking him out of this.
Hu Yuying stepped closer to examine the designs as well. Truthfully, she trusted Long Aotian implicitly.
From guiding her in sourcing goods to earn money to sharing insights about future societal trends—everything he said carried foresight.
Long Aotian always had his reasons, so among the three of them, Hu Yuying was quick to be surprised but even quicker to accept things.
Mostly, she was just happy they’d have a rented place now. Once she got her own tools, she could cook for him every day.
It had been so long since she last made him a meal. She wondered if he still liked her cooking.
Long Aotian stood in the courtyard, holding the blueprints as he explained his vision.
"What do you all think?"
Faced with his question, the trio studied the designs, brainstorming ideas based on the courtyard’s layout.
As the saying goes, three heads are better than one.
The plans were refined further. Long Aotian hadn’t just come today to tell Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue they now had a secret base in the capital.
He also wanted to finalize the design based on their input.
After all, this would be his future home—the more detailed, the better.
And the sooner it was settled, the sooner construction could begin.
Noticing Long Aotian had finished his fruit tea, Hu Yuying softly asked, "Long Aotian, where’s the nearest store? I need to buy something."
Long Aotian paused. He hadn’t really paid attention.
"I know. I’ll take you," Lin Wanning offered with a smile.
Meeting her gaze, Hu Yuying nodded lightly. "Okay."
Watching the two walk away, Li Qingxue’s eyes flickered. She turned to Long Aotian.
"You rented this place and even asked for our decorating opinions. Are you plotting something?"
"Yep, you saw right through me," Long Aotian chuckled, texting a contractor.
A blush crept onto Li Qingxue’s cheeks. This guy’s so blunt—not even pretending anymore!
Plotting against me is one thing, but Yuying and Wanning too?
"That’s not a good mindset!" she muttered, biting her lip.
"Why not?" Long Aotian countered, amused.
Li Qingxue pouted. Of course no guy would see anything wrong with it.
Her mind drifted to last week on the boat, when he’d called her pretty.
Hmph. So he’s had designs on me for a while.
The thought sent a flutter through her chest.
But then again—he wasn’t just interested in her. Yuying and Wanning were targets too.
Putting on a stern face, she lectured, "You might be fit now, but that’s just youth. Wait till you’re older—you won’t keep up."
Long Aotian found it hilarious. The contrast between her delicate face and her faux-mature tone was priceless.
Teasing, he flexed his bicep. "Relax, I’m in peak condition."
Li Qingxue’s breath hitched at the sight of his muscles. Peak condition? Would I even handle that? Her face burned anew.
This guy acted so mature and witty at first, but now he’s showing his true colors!
Enough. If he was going all out, so would she.
Steeling herself with two deep breaths, she stepped forward. "Long Aotian, I need to talk."
He turned. "What about?"
Her courage wavered the moment their eyes met.
Okay, maybe she’d overestimated herself.
Standing face-to-face under his gaze, her nerves spiked. She retreated two steps.
In her fluster, her feet tangled—as if her brain had short-circuited.
"Long Aotian!"
"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Her clumsiness sent Long Aotian into laughter.
He caught her by the waist, steadying her. "How do you trip on flat ground?"
Pressed against his arm, she was closer than ever. Even as he mocked her, all she heard was concern.
Her water bottle clattered to the ground.
Long Aotian was still chuckling when he looked up—then froze.
Hu Yuying stood at the gate, stunned. The look on her face twisted something in his chest.
The water she’d just bought slipped from her arms.
Lin Wanning, beside her, felt the shift instantly. Hu Yuying had been chatting cheerfully on their way back, but now—silence.
"What’s wrong?" Long Aotian asked, stepping forward.
Li Qingxue followed, concerned.
Hu Yuying forced a smile. "Just dropped the water. My grip slipped."
"Scared me for nothing." Long Aotian picked up the bottles, ruffling her hair.
The touch unraveled her. With anyone else, she kept her emotions locked tight. But with him, every little thing swayed her.
Long ago, she’d already placed him beside her grandparents—her third closest person.
Handing waters to Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, she mumbled, "I—I need the bathroom," before hurrying off.
In the alley, Hu Yuying leaned against the wall, staring at the sky with a deep breath.
Maybe it was seeing Long Aotian holding Li Qingxue that made her realize—she cared far more than she’d thought.
He was the sunlight in her heart. Losing that light? She couldn’t bear to imagine it.
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."
