Xue Shaohua quickly followed suit when he saw what was happening.
Truth be told, the moment he witnessed Hu Yuying walking into the courtyard with that other guy, his heart ached unbearably.
If he had to describe the feeling, it was like watching someone else play with his most treasured possession—an unbearable frustration.
He was outstanding in his own right, so why couldn’t Hu Yuying seem to see him?
The more unattainable she was, the more his heart stirred with longing.
All of it eventually condensed into sheer unwillingness.
A girl like her—once encountered, impossible to forget.
He wanted her every second of every day. That radiant smile was etched into his mind, and if one day it were to bloom just for him, Xue Shaohua felt his life would be complete.
And then there was Li Qingxue—if possible, he wouldn’t mind getting to know her better too. He knew he shouldn’t be so greedy, but greed was etched into human nature.
Someone as exceptional as him, well-liked in class, deserved a little more leniency, didn’t he?
The only regret was not knowing the name of that aloof yet stunning girl.
As they neared the courtyard, Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua faintly caught snippets of conversation.
Ye Liangchen suddenly raised his arm, signaling Xue Shaohua to stop and not go any further.
"Brother Long, I really have been trying my best."
"Of course I can tell." After all, he’d watched her grow step by step since she arrived from Haishi—how could he not see it?
"No, you don’t. The way you look at me is always so indulgent, like I’m some helpless child who’ll never grow up."
"My mistake. From now on, you’ll just be a slightly bigger child in my eyes. Happy now?"
"Brother Long~~" Hu Yuying stomped her foot, pouting in protest.
Seeing her like this, Long Aotian couldn’t help but chuckle. He pinched her puffed-up cheeks playfully before finally giving in and flicking her nose. "Go on inside. Everyone’s waiting for you. We’ll grab dinner together later."
The two eavesdroppers outside couldn’t suppress their grins, already picturing Hu Yuying’s adorable, sulky expression.
Their smiles were so blissful, as if in that moment, they were the ones standing before her instead of Long Aotian.
"Brother Long." Hu Yuying called out to his retreating figure. The second he turned, she wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace.
Just like that day when he’d carried her on his back, she held him tightly, pressing her face against his chest. "Brother Long, I’m an adult now. I know exactly what’s in my heart."
"It’s not gratitude, not indebtedness—it’s dependence. But not the kind a little girl has. It’s the dependence of a woman... on a man."
With that, she’d said everything she needed to.
Long Aotian looked down at Hu Yuying in his arms, his hand hovering as if to stroke her hair...
Silence. A deep, heavy silence.
Hu Yuying bit her lip and shut her eyes. Even if she expected rejection again, even if...
Thump.
Her lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, pressing even closer to his chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
She smiled—a smile so tender it could melt into one’s very bones.
Her cheeks burned uncontrollably.
Even the tips of her ears flushed hot.
She didn’t need words. She heard it.
And she thought... she might already know Brother Long’s heart.
"Scum! Let her go!" A sudden, jarring voice shattered the moment.
The door was kicked open.
Instinctively, Long Aotian pulled Hu Yuying behind him, his gaze snapping toward the intruder.
Inside the room, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, alerted by the noise, rushed out.
There, standing in the doorway, was a figure.
He faced slightly away, head tilted at a melancholic 45-degree angle, his expression shadowed with sorrow.
At the sight of him, Li Qingxue frowned. Lin Wanning frowned. Even the gentlest of them, Hu Yuying, wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Long Aotian studied Ye Liangchen without a frown—only a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
Hidden to the side, Xue Shaohua gave an approving nod at Ye Liangchen’s dramatic entrance.
Feeling all eyes on him, Ye Liangchen allowed a faint smirk.
With a dramatic toss of his hair, he fixed his piercing gaze on Long Aotian—and the three girls behind him, the objects of his longing.
The sight of Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue, and Lin Wanning deepened his smile, but it vanished as he glared at Long Aotian. "I said, let them go!"
"Ye Liangchen, have you lost your mind?" Li Qingxue snapped. She’d known him the longest, and seeing him here only deepened her disappointment.
She wasn’t stupid. In a city as vast as the capital, how had he found this exact alley, this exact courtyard? The answer was obvious.
Disgust slowly eclipsed her frustration.
Ye Liangchen responded with a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. "They call me mad, yet they see nothing."
"Your knight is here, Qingxue. Don’t be afraid." His gaze shifted to Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning. "You two—fear not. For I have arrived!"
He gave the three girls a solemn nod before finally locking eyes with Long Aotian. This was their first true confrontation.
No matter. He’d already embraced the darkness.
Hands in his pockets, he strode forward, stopping inches from Long Aotian. Swallowing hard, he declared, "Long Aotian, I know you feel threatened by me."
"I never wanted to fight before, but now—I can’t stand by any longer. I—"
Slap!
Ye Liangchen’s head snapped to the side. He stood frozen, lips trembling in shock.
Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning were equally stunned—this was the first time they’d seen Long Aotian act this way.
Only Hu Yuying understood. She looked up at him, her heart aching for her Brother Long... because she knew exactly why he’d struck Ye Liangchen.
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
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!" "......"
