They Will Become Good Friends, Regardless of Anything Else

Hu Yuying gently tugged at Long Aotian's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Long, let's not eat out. How about I cook for everyone instead?"

Hearing this, Long Aotian glanced around. Though the courtyard had been cleared of all clutter, there was still...

At the thought, seeing the hopeful look in Hu Yuying's eyes, Long Aotian smiled. "Sure, it’s still early anyway. I’ll go prepare what we need."

It seemed that, except in certain matters, Long Aotian had never refused Hu Yuying.

As for Hu Yuying’s suggestion, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning naturally had no objections. In fact, the idea felt rather novel to them—suddenly giving them a sense of home.

Especially with Hu Yuying’s help, the three of them built a simple stove.

Well, calling it a "stove" was generous—it was really just bricks arranged in a circle.

But even so, the three of them were thrilled. There was nothing quite as satisfying as creating something with their own hands.

Once the stove was ready, the trio left the courtyard to buy seasonings. These could be found at a nearby convenience store, and since they’d last a while, there’d be plenty of chances to cook together in the future.

At this moment, Hu Yuying was like a gentle big sister, leading Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning.

Everyone had their own strengths, and when it came to practical life skills, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning still had a ways to go compared to Hu Yuying.

Of course, Hu Yuying had her own shortcomings too—areas where she fell short of Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning.

Maybe she wasn’t the best, but she’d strive to become better.

Back in the courtyard, the three arranged the seasonings and sat together chatting, quietly waiting for Long Aotian.

Brought together by him, their conversation inevitably turned to Long Aotian.

And in Hu Yuying’s heart, Long Aotian would always, always be the best.

But when his name came up, Li Qingxue couldn’t help but glance at Hu Yuying. Women were intuitive—and sensitive.

Earlier, when Hu Yuying saw Long Aotian holding her, the shock, the disappointment, the barely concealed unease in her eyes...

No matter how well she hid it, as fellow girls—and close friends who’d spent so much time together—how could they not notice?

"What’s wrong, Qingxue?" Hu Yuying asked softly, noticing her staring.

"Nothing." Li Qingxue shook her head slowly and smiled at her.

Long Aotian might have been a little mischievous, but he was right about one thing: at home, you rely on family; outside, you rely on friends.

At least in this unfamiliar city, at least in this moment, she felt an inexplicable warmth.

A warmth brought to her by Hu Yuying, by Long Aotian. Though she wasn’t yet very close to Lin Wanning, the fact that they’d all come together was fate.

Lin Wanning might have been reserved by nature, but right now, she felt the same as Li Qingxue—a quiet warmth flowing through her heart.

At the very least, they could be friends, good friends. This had nothing to do with anything else, nothing to do with Long Aotian. It was just the three of them.

Silently, they tucked away their little secrets.

Soon, the trio gathered plenty of firewood.

At the same time, Long Aotian returned with his purchases—a wok, some kitchenware, and ingredients he’d already had chopped at the market.

It was a bit of a hassle, but how could he refuse when his most obedient little follower had asked?

Besides, it had been a while since he’d tasted her cooking.

"Alright, the setup’s ready. Now, let’s see what our little chef can do," Long Aotian said.

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning clapped in unison, playing along.

The scene was so heartwarming that even Hu Yuying, who was usually shy, mustered rare confidence and declared, "Leave it to me!"

Back in her hometown, Hu Yuying had often cooked with an iron wok. The same ingredients, but the taste from a gas stove versus a wood fire? Completely different.

She was sure Brother Long would enjoy it today.

When it came to cooking, Hu Yuying was undeniably the best among the three.

But Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning couldn’t just sit around waiting to eat, so they helped as her assistants.

Watching Hu Yuying work with practiced ease...

Watching Lin Wanning move with careful precision...

Watching Li Qingxue fumble adorably...

Long Aotian couldn’t stop smiling. He loved this cozy, almost domestic feeling.

In his original world, he’d been an orphan. As a child, he’d endlessly longed for the warmth of family.

After coming to this world, he’d somehow gained a father. But with the soul of a twenty-eight-year-old man, calling someone "Dad" felt awkward and unnatural.

So he always called him "old man" instead. Their relationship was less like father and son, more like buddies.

But the scene before him suddenly gave Long Aotian a warm, homely feeling.

Stretching lazily with contentment, he murmured, "This is nice."

"Long Aotian, don’t just sit there sunbathing like a lazy old man," Li Qingxue said, hands on her hips as she glared at him.

"Coming, coming! What do you need me to do?"

Among the three girls, Li Qingxue was the only one who could truly keep Long Aotian in check.

"Then go add some firewood."

"Sure thing!"

Hu Yuying smiled without saying a word, knowing full well that Li Qingxue just wanted Long Aotian to join in.

Lin Wanning couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. Though she could also get her way by acting coquettish, Li Qingxue’s straightforward and carefree attitude toward Long Aotian was something she couldn’t replicate—not even Hu Yuying could. How could she not envy that?

Lifting the lid of the pot, a rich aroma wafted out.

"Time to eat!"

The four of them gathered around, each holding a box of steamed rice.

"Let’s try Yuying’s cooking."

"It’s definitely delicious—it smells amazing!" Li Qingxue exclaimed excitedly.

"Mmm, even more appetizing than restaurant food," Lin Wanning praised with a smile.

"Not at all. Come on, try it," Hu Yuying replied, a little flustered by the compliments. She lowered her eyes and stole a glance at Long Aotian.

More than praise, what she really wanted was to see Long Aotian devouring her food with gusto.

There was a violent beauty in the way he ate—taking huge bites, swallowing large portions at once. It had been so, so long since she last saw him enjoying her cooking.

Following his lead, everyone picked up their chopsticks.

The thick, flavorful sauce clung to the tender chicken, delivering a spicy yet slightly sweet taste that paired perfectly with the rice.

"The conditions aren’t ideal, otherwise I’d have made some noodles too," Hu Yuying said, looking at Long Aotian.

She knew better than anyone—Long Aotian loved noodles.

The setting wasn’t glamorous, even a little shabby, but despite that, the meal was filled with joy.

[Thank you for the gifts and support, everyone. Some happy events have been keeping me busy—I’ve barely slept more than a few hours in three days, running around until my legs and feet are sore. Once things settle down, I promise to make up for all the missed updates.]

[Once again, thank you so much for your generosity and encouragement. I truly, truly appreciate it. Love you all.]