Lin Wanning’s gaze often lingered on Long Aotian.
Though these words were spoken for Li Qingxue’s ears, there was always a sincerity in them—a genuine desire for Li Qingxue’s well-being, without expecting anything in return.
Sometimes, Lin Wanning truly wished her brother would say such things to her too.
At least it would prove she held some small importance in his heart.
“What’s on your mind?” Long Aotian turned and noticed Lin Wanning staring at him absently, so he asked with a smile.
Lin Wanning shook her head. “Nothing. I just think what you said was really nice.”
Long Aotian glanced at Li Qingxue, who was striding ahead. “Qingxue is a good person, though she sometimes gets stuck in her own head.”
“I actually think her temper is a lot like yours,” Lin Wanning murmured softly.
“Ah, yeah, that girl’s just as stubborn.”
“It’s not stubbornness—it’s sensitivity. She’s sensitive, just like you.”
This reminded Long Aotian of how Li Qingxue had once teared up, thinking he’d been wronged.
Wasn’t that the very definition of sensitivity?
“Wanning, hurry up!” Li Qingxue called from a short distance away.
Her smile was breathtaking...
“Coming.” Lin Wanning cast one last deep look at Long Aotian before quickening her steps toward Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue.
Hand in hand, the three of them strolled beneath the streetlights, bathed in the night’s embrace.
Long Aotian took out his phone and snapped a photo of their retreating figures.
The shutter sound cut sharply through the quiet night.
Hearing it, the three turned in unison to look back at him.
“Long Aotian, were you secretly taking pictures of us?” Li Qingxue, already in high spirits from being addressed as “Miss Li Qingxue,” was now the happiest version of herself.
Lin Wanning watched as Long Aotian raised his phone, her slender fingers forming a “V” beside Li Qingxue’s cheek.
Hu Yuying stayed silent, her eyes curved into a teasing, alluring gaze as she stared intently at her Long-ge.
After the photo was taken, the trio gathered around Long Aotian again, clamoring for him to send them the picture.
Aside from the occasional unflattering shots he took of them, Long Aotian’s photography skills were actually quite good.
“Long-ge, can we take one together too?” Hu Yuying asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
As if afraid he might refuse, she lowered her lashes and gently tugged at his pinky finger.
No man could withstand such a test.
In that moment—at least for that moment—Long Aotian was utterly helpless.
He could never bring himself to refuse his little follower. Never.
Placing his phone on a nearby planter at a 45-degree angle, he set the timer before turning to the three. “Get in position first.”
They obediently lined up.
Compared to Hu Yuying, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning seemed visibly nervous—this was, after all, their first proper photo with Long Aotian.
“Ready?” Long Aotian asked with a smile.
“Ready!” they chorused.
As their voices faded, Long Aotian tapped the shutter and dashed toward them.
Watching him run toward her, Hu Yuying’s lips curved into a tender smile, her beautiful eyes reflecting only his approaching figure.
For Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, their nervousness melted away the moment Long Aotian moved. There was a sense of security in his presence—knowing he would always protect them.
Once he reached them, Long Aotian turned toward the phone, lifting a hand to rest it gently atop Hu Yuying’s head.
Instinctively, she raised her own hand, covering his.
Click!
As the shutter closed, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning hurried over to check the result.
Long Aotian, however, glanced down at Hu Yuying, his lips quirking into a smile, his entire expression softening.
A light breeze brushed past as he averted his gaze, his body fidgeting slightly before he silently intertwined his pinky with hers.
Feeling his touch, Hu Yuying’s heart swelled with unspoken joy.
She looked up—even in the dim light, Long-ge’s features were strikingly clear to her. Her lips curled sweetly, her delicate face utterly enchanting.
The night was dark, but the faint blush on Long-ge’s ears was unmistakable to her eyes.
Hu Yuying was certain now—he must have long harbored feelings for her.
Her fingers tightened, gripping his firmly.
The restless fluttering in her chest gradually steadied.
This feeling was perfect. She loved this quiet, peaceful closeness.
Too awkward to let go yet too reluctant to release him, Long Aotian kept their fingers linked as they walked toward Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning.
“Long Aotian, come look! It turned out so well,” Li Qingxue called out. When she and Li Qingxue turned and noticed their intertwined fingers, they paused—then broke into smiles.
Their hearts filled with an indescribable mix of happiness and envy.
Hu Yuying, however, bit her lip shyly and lowered her head at their teasing grins, gripping Long-ge’s hand even tighter.
The photo on the phone captured the four of them in their most natural state.
It might not have been perfectly composed, but in their hearts, it was flawless.
As the night deepened, Long Aotian walked the three to the subway station after their evening stroll.
He led the way, giving them space to chat among themselves.
Hu Yuying kept her head slightly bowed, her occasional shy smiles making her appear irresistibly charming. Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning couldn’t resist the urge to tease her.
If they weren’t in public—if Long Aotian weren’t right there with them—they would have playfully tormented her until her coquettish side fully emerged.
Sensing their intentions, Hu Yuying protectively shielded herself.
No more letting them mess with me, she thought. Long-ge hasn’t even had his turn yet...
The mere idea of his large, warm hands sent a flush spreading from her cheeks down to her neck.
“What on earth are you thinking about?” Lin Wanning teased. “Look at you—we haven’t even done anything, and you’re already blushing like this.”
Hu Yuying wanted to say, You’re the ones who corrupted me.
But the words caught in her throat. She’d become this kind of person now?
The old her would never have been like this.
Li Qingxue smirked mischievously. “Could it be...?” she whispered.
“N-no! It’s not like that!” Hu Yuying shook her head hastily, her voice trembling with embarrassment. “I wasn’t thinking about Long-ge...!”
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
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?"
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
