Every Minute and Every Second

That night, Hu Yuying fell asleep with a smile lingering on her lips.

It seemed that even in her dreams, everything was just as beautiful.

No one knew what she was dreaming of, but the smile on her face was utterly radiant.

The next morning, Hu Yuying woke up early.

She had originally planned to prepare breakfast for Long Aotian and bring it to him.

But the holiday crowds were overwhelming.

Seeing how busy Grandpa Zhu and Grandma Zhu were at the breakfast shop, Hu Yuying could only grab some savory pancakes and eggs before heading toward the subway station.

As she walked, her mind was filled with thoughts of how she should greet Long Aotian when she saw him.

Should she still call him "Long Ge" (Big Brother Long)? Or should she change it to... to calling him her boyfriend?

The mere thought of the word "boyfriend" sent waves of joy surging through her heart, and the happiness in her eyes was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Lost in thoughts of Long Aotian and distracted by the bustling crowd at the subway entrance, she nearly bumped into someone coming the opposite way.

She quickly sidestepped to avoid them—but so did the other person.

She moved right; they moved right.

She moved left; they moved left.

For a moment, Hu Yuying froze in place—only to find the other person doing the same.

Puzzled, she looked up—and the next second, her eyes lit up with delight as she instinctively called out, "Long Ge!"

Long Aotian had spotted Hu Yuying the moment he stepped out of the subway.

This silly girl was lost in her own world, occasionally giggling, lowering her gaze shyly, not even watching where she was going.

So he decided to tease her a little.

"Little dummy," he murmured, pinching her cheek lightly. "What’s got you so distracted? If you keep daydreaming like this, you’ll end up falling into a ditch."

Hu Yuying obediently tilted her face up, letting him pinch her. "No way! I was watching where I was going."

Then, she grabbed his hand—the one still resting on her cheek—and said eagerly, "Long Ge, I brought you breakfast!"

She presented the pancakes and eggs to him like a treasured offering.

The food itself wasn’t anything special—if it were just for herself, Hu Yuying would have made something much tastier.

But she loved watching Long Aotian eat, especially when it was something she had brought for him.

After a brief moment of happiness, Hu Yuying suddenly looked at Long Aotian curiously. Why was he here?

Her gaze was so intense that he couldn’t ignore it.

He missed her. Yes, Long Aotian missed Hu Yuying. He had missed her before—wondering what she was doing, whether she was eating well, if she was happy at school.

But back then, he had only ever thought about it.

After last night, however, the longing that had built up over time surged through him like a relentless tide.

He wanted to see her. So he came.

Sure enough, under her persistent gaze, she finally asked, "Long Ge, why are you here?"

Her eyes sparkled with unmistakable hope and anticipation.

Long Aotian pretended not to hear.

But pretending didn’t work—Hu Yuying gently tugged at his sleeve, her bright eyes pleading as she gazed up at him, silently begging for an answer.

Glancing at the passersby around them, Long Aotian cleared his throat and tapped her forehead lightly. "Let’s eat breakfast first."

Hu Yuying pouted, her voice sweet and sticky like a spoonful of honey, laced with an irresistible whine. "Tell me, tell me..."

Somehow, flirting seemed like an innate skill for girls. For over a decade after her parents passed away, Hu Yuying had never once acted spoiled.

Being coy wouldn’t ease her grandparents’ burdens, wouldn’t improve her grades, wouldn’t stop the bullies from tormenting her.

But after meeting Long Aotian, she had unconsciously rediscovered this long-forgotten talent.

Did it work?

Absolutely.

Long Aotian couldn’t resist this side of her. Even though he knew she was doing it on purpose, the way she blushed and spoke in that soft, coquettish tone made his heart swell with happiness.

"I missed you," he blurted out quickly.

Hu Yuying’s cheeks flushed pink. She had heard him—clear as day—but she bit her lip, her eyes darting away as she murmured, "L-Long Ge, what did you say just now? I didn’t hear you..."

She had heard. Every word. But she was greedy—so greedy that she wanted to hear him say it again. That he had missed her.

Her slender fingers tugged at his sleeve once more, her voice soft and velvety, whispering by his ear, "Say it again, Long Ge. Please?"

Such tenderness could melt steel.

The words that had come so easily just moments ago now lodged in his throat. Faced with those pleading eyes—begging, "One more time, just one more time, please?"—his heart felt like it might dissolve.

"I... I missed you. That’s why I came."

Hu Yuying tightened her grip on his hand, not saying a word, but her actions betrayed the storm of emotions inside her.

Falling for someone was exhilarating, joyous, uncontrollable—and beautiful.

Humans always chase after beautiful things. And right now, to Long Aotian, Hu Yuying was the most beautiful thing in the world.

He pulled her into his arms, not wanting her to see his face—because he could feel his own cheeks burning.

But his heartbeat didn’t lie.

"Long Ge, are you blushing?" Hu Yuying rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart as she asked softly.

Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "You’re so mature in some ways, but when it comes to me liking you... you’re even shyer than I am."

Then, gently, she took his hand and placed it over her own heart.

"My heart is telling me how much I adore you, Long Ge. Can you feel it?"

Hu Yuying was actually an incredibly shy person. In the past, she would never have dared to place a boy’s hand over her heart in public, let right in front of a subway entrance, surrounded by strangers.

Nor would she have allowed herself to be held like this, nestled against someone’s shoulder amid the bustling crowd.

But she had changed. Maybe it was because she had once been pushed away by Long Ge—had almost lost him.

Now, she just wanted to hold onto him tightly. If he was shy, that was fine—she wouldn’t be.

If he had never been in a relationship before, that was fine too—she would savor every second with him, step by step.

Because he was Long Ge...

And she was his most devoted little follower...