Before Lin Wanning could gather her thoughts, Long Aotian walked into the private room, carrying a copper teapot in his hand.
"Have some water first. The food is still being prepared," he said, placing disposable cups on the table and pouring the liquid.
As the dark red liquid flowed out, the three girls immediately caught the pungent scent of ginger.
"Brother, is this brown sugar ginger water?" Lin Wanning asked.
"Yeah, drink a couple more cups. I can boil more if it’s not enough." Earlier, Long Aotian had brought some sales staff and foremen to eat at this restaurant, bringing in a steady stream of workers.
Borrowing the kitchen to boil some water was no trouble for the owner.
"Thank you, Brother Long," Hu Yuying said with a smile as Long Aotian finished pouring her cup.
"If you keep being so polite, I might just have to knock some sense into you," Long Aotian teased, lightly tapping her head.
Between them, there was no need for thanks.
Hu Yuying rubbed the spot where he had tapped her, grinning playfully. "Got it, Brother Long."
Li Qingxue watched the scene quietly. The moment she saw Long Aotian pour the brown sugar water, her gaze locked onto him, unwavering.
So he remembered. Even if it was just a simple misunderstanding, he still remembered.
Her expression shifted slightly, her small hands clutching her clothes tightly.
She really, really wanted to ask Long Aotian—would he, would he ever care for her like this too?
She wanted so badly to ask this infuriating man why he treated her so well.
Didn’t he know that being this kind to a girl would… would…
"What are you spacing out for? Drink up. Feeling touched by how amazing I am? Hahaha..."
Li Qingxue pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. One day, she’d straighten this rascal out.
"After the meal, you girls head back first. I’ve got some business to take care of, so I won’t be able to walk you home," Long Aotian said, setting down his chopsticks and wiping his mouth.
"Mm, got it, Brother Long."
"Be good at school. I’m heading out now." Without thinking, he reached out and ruffled Hu Yuying’s long hair.
Watching his retreating figure, Li Qingxue pulled a tissue from her pocket. "You two keep eating. I’ll be right back."
Seeing the tissue in her hand, the other two didn’t question her.
Li Qingxue stepped out of the private room and quickened her pace, catching up to Long Aotian.
"You—"
Before he could finish, she grabbed his hand. "Don’t talk!"
She dragged him into a private room at the end of the hallway.
Once inside, she closed the door and stood with her back to him, silent. Long Aotian was utterly confused.
She told him not to speak, yet now she was facing the door like she was reflecting on her mistakes?
"Qingxue, you—"
"Wait. Don’t say anything yet."
After speaking, Li Qingxue took a deep breath, then swiftly turned around, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his.
Her soft lips brushed against his, her eyes hazy with emotion as she blinked slowly. Gazing at his stunned expression, she whispered, "I think I must have lost my mind."
"You’re not crazy. You’re just messing with me."
Li Qingxue let go of him and turned her head away. "I just heard my roommate say that kissing a guy is supposed to feel magical. I wanted to try it but didn’t know who to ask. Turns out, it’s not as amazing as they made it sound."
Long Aotian sighed. "You’re such a fool. Why do you believe everything people say?"
Li Qingxue avoided his gaze. "I… I know I’m being stupid."
"Can you talk to me like you used to?"
She looked up at him, her eyes slightly red. "Help this fool find her way back to reason."
"Did something happen?"
Li Qingxue shook her head. "I’m not feeling well, and my emotions are all over the place. Don’t tell anyone, or I’ll strangle you."
With that, she pinched his waist hard.
"Ow! Take it easy."
"If it hurts, why didn’t you dodge?" Li Qingxue asked, puzzled.
Long Aotian flicked her forehead lightly. "If I dodged, who would you pinch?"
"If you’re feeling down, just tell me. I’ll always be here to listen. And don’t listen to your roommates—they’re just kids who don’t know anything."
He flicked her forehead again, watching her wince before continuing, "You really are silly, getting curious about everything."
"Try teasing me again, and I’ll knock some sense into you!"
......
Back in the private room, Li Qingxue sat down and sipped the brown sugar ginger water quietly.
"What were you doing earlier?" Lin Wanning whispered.
The blush on Li Qingxue’s cheeks, which hadn’t fully faded, deepened at the question.
Before she could answer, Lin Wanning added even more quietly, "I went to the restroom just now."
Li Qingxue’s heart tightened as she scrambled for a response.
Lin Wanning suddenly chuckled. "We’ll talk another time."
Li Qingxue pressed her lips together and nodded slightly.
On the way back…
"Qingxue, watch out for the cars."
Faced with Hu Yuying’s concern, Li Qingxue didn’t know what to do.
She felt like a terrible friend. The emotional turmoil made her feel as though she had betrayed Hu Yuying.
It was unbearable.
"What’s wrong?" Hu Yuying gently took her hand, sensing her unease.
"Nothing." Li Qingxue held her hand but couldn’t shake the guilt. Finally, she asked, "Yuying… do you like Long Aotian? Not just as a brother, right?"
Caught off guard, Hu Yuying froze before meeting her gaze.
She didn’t know how Li Qingxue had figured it out, but her heart told her it was time to be honest.
So she nodded softly. "Yes. He’s more than just a brother to me."
Hearing her answer, Li Qingxue exhaled in relief. "I’m sorry."
"Don’t apologize. Because I can’t say it’s okay."
Hu Yuying kept holding her hand as they crossed the street. "Brother Long is wonderful. There are probably many people who like him, and I’m just one of them. So, Qingxue, you really don’t need to apologize."
She turned to Li Qingxue with a smile. "Besides, didn’t you say it yourself? If someone else likes him too, then it’s fair competition."
"Is that really how you feel?" Li Qingxue asked seriously.
Hu Yuying nodded without hesitation. "I care about Brother Long, so I care even more about his happiness."
"My feelings for him are like sunlight warming my heart. I truly, truly want him to be happy because he deserves it."
"Even if that happiness isn’t with me… at least this sunlight once shone on me too."
"I need help testing potential book titles—I’m terrible at naming things, dear friends! Any suggestions from you brilliant minds? Let me soak up your creativity and expand my horizons. Love you all!"
ap a wealthy young lady? Or else I'll be eliminated by the system? Ye Feng, who awakened the Kidnapper System, originally wanted to live a peaceful life but never imagined he would become a kidnapper of young women. However, after some time, he discovered that all the girls the system ordered him to kidnap were far from ordinary. "Big brother Ye Feng~ You've kidnapped my heart, and now you're not allowed to leave me ever again~" "Ye Feng~ You kidnapped me back then, now it's my turn to capture you♡" "Little Feng, you're mine! You can only be mine!" "Ye Feng, none of them deserve you. Only I love you the most♡" ... This is madness, they've all gone mad! Wait, what? Why are all the girls I kidnapped yanderes?!
agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
