Feeling Hu Yuying's heartbeat, Long Aotian realized he might even be less composed than her.
Having spent twenty-eight years as a perpetual bachelor in his original world and then another eighteen years "technically" single in this one, he wasn’t exactly experienced in matters of the heart. Sometimes, he simply didn’t know what to do.
But one thing was crystal clear to him: being with Hu Yuying was effortless and joyful.
This feeling hadn’t just appeared now—it had been there from the very moment they met.
Long Aotian smiled, loosening his embrace but tightening his grip on her hand instead.
If his little follower could be this brave, how could he, as her "big brother," afford to hesitate?
Feeling his firm hold, Hu Yuying lifted her gaze, her beautiful eyes shimmering with amusement as she looked at him.
Sometimes, love struck without warning—a single word, a fleeting gesture. For Hu Yuying, these heart-fluttering moments weren’t rare.
But only twice had Long Aotian reciprocated.
The first time was last night—when they kissed.
The second time was now—when he held her hand so tightly.
Hu Yuying was simple—happiness and sadness were both written plainly on her face. Right now, she was undeniably happy.
"Let’s grab some breakfast first," Long Aotian said, his voice softening at the sight of her smile.
"Okay," Hu Yuying nodded. She’d follow whatever Long Aotian said.
Ever since she took that first bold step to travel with him for business, she had placed unconditional trust in him.
Ah, the little things about love.
It made the mature act a little immature.
It made the timid unexpectedly brave.
And yet, this "little thing" filled every moment with joy.
Hu Yuying rested her chin on one hand, her eyes fixed on Long Aotian with unblinking delight as he devoured one steamed bun after another, his lips curving into that effortlessly charming smile.
Long Aotian grew a little self-conscious under her gaze. She’d stolen glances at him before, but never this openly.
Surely, everyone had experienced this—eating while someone watched with such fond amusement that it became impossible to chew naturally.
But Hu Yuying adored watching him eat.
When he finally set down his chopsticks, she reached for a napkin. Long Aotian extended his hand to take it, but she didn’t stop—instead, she leaned forward and gently dabbed the corner of his mouth.
His body stiffened. After so long fending for himself, he wasn’t used to being cared for like this. "I—I can do it myself."
Hu Yuying’s eyes shimmered, her own shyness not stopping her. "I can take care of you too, Long Aotian."
Her fair neck flushed pink as she continued, "You... you’re not alone anymore. You’ll have to get used to it."
"Back home, we’d say you’ve been independent for too long."
"You don’t dislike being cared for—you’re just afraid of it, aren’t you?"
Long Aotian met her gaze, seeing his own reflection in her pupils. Slowly, the tension in his body eased.
Who wouldn’t want to be looked after by someone they loved?
It wasn’t fear—it was something harder to put into words, especially when Hu Yuying said, You’re not alone anymore.
If he had to name this feeling, it might be... guilt.
He owed her a proper confession.
Her feelings for him were so transparent.
Maybe she thought it unnecessary, but shouldn’t there be one?
Hu Yuying sat back down, fingers nervously crumpling the napkin—far less composed than she pretended.
"I... I just want you to know, I’d do anything for you."
To her, Long Aotian was incredible—capable of anything, solving every problem.
She might not be able to help him in those ways, but she could learn. She wanted to be someone he could rely on too.
Love went both ways. He’d helped her, cared for her, even given her the freedom to distinguish gratitude from affection.
This man who called himself "rough around the edges" had gone so far for someone like her.
He’d already given so much.
So she wanted—no, needed—to show him she could take care of him too.
Their eyes locked, and Long Aotian couldn’t resist reaching out to cup her cheek. Her earnestness tugged at his heart.
Hu Yuying leaned into his touch without hesitation.
Ding-ding-ding!
The sudden video call alert froze them both.
Long Aotian’s lovestruck expression made Hu Yuying blush.
The way her lashes fluttered, so willing, drew a soft sigh from him.
Pulling back, he grabbed his phone. Who on earth—
One glance at the caller ID deflated his frustration into amusement. "It’s Dad."
At those words, Hu Yuying’s eyes lit up—then immediately shifted to panic as she hurriedly smoothed her hair and clothes.
Long Aotian chuckled. "You already look perfect."
But his reassurance only made her more nervous, like a bride meeting her in-laws for the first time.
He answered the call.
"Son!"
His father’s face filled the screen, his voice booming loud enough for the entire café to hear.
The man had only recently learned to use messaging apps—Long Aotian had set up the account for him weeks ago.
Rubbing his forehead, Long Aotian shot an apologetic glance at nearby customers. "Dad, I’m out right now."
"Out with friends, eh?" His father lowered his voice—or tried to, forgetting the speaker was on. The effect was comically ineffective.
But the next words turned that comedy into warmth:
"Take care of yourself, son. I’ll transfer some money later—you’ll need it for food and outings. And get along with your friends..."
"No need, I’ve got enough. Don’t trouble yourself."
"No trouble now! I finally learned how to send money on the phone."
That simple sentence painted a clear picture in Long Aotian’s mind—his father, phone in hand, asking anyone and everyone how to make a digital transfer.
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
