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.
m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
n] Top-tier player Zhou Yi died and was reborn into the body of a hopeless simp who shared his name. His first love callously dumped him for a rich heir, his childhood sweetheart saw him as an embarrassment, the ice-cold campus beauty looked down on him—every woman he ever loved treated him like a pathetic doormat. But later, his ex came crawling back in tears: "Yi, I was wrong. Please take me back." His childhood sweetheart became hopelessly devoted: "Yi, just one more glance from you is all I ask." The aloof campus belle blushed as she handed him a love letter: "Zhou Yi, I was blind before. Will you accept my feelings?" To all of them, Zhou Yi just smiled. "Sorry, too late. I’m done with love." Oh, and he also gained a system—every time he earned a woman’s affection, his looks improved and his bank account grew. Soon, he became the nation’s most eligible bachelor, with socialites and heiresses begging for his attention...
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
