They and Them

The ancient gates, the old palaces—many places bore the traces of their photographs.

The crowds were thick, the roads long.

By the end of the day, even Long Aotian’s energy had noticeably waned, let alone the three girls.

They found a favorite restaurant in a nearby mall, and once their bottoms hit the seats, they had no intention of getting up again.

The moment he sat down, Long Aotian felt like he’d been brought back to life.

It was their first visit, and without proper planning, they’d taken many unnecessary detours. Yet, amidst the exhaustion, their hearts swelled with awe—this was their first glimpse of history’s grandeur.

Painful, yet joyful.

While waiting for their food, the three girls rested briefly before eagerly pulling out their phones to share the photos they’d taken.

Long Aotian got up to fetch some drinks from the counter.

Seizing the moment he was away, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning turned to Hu Yuying with playful grins and asked bluntly, “Are you going back to the dorm tonight?”

Hu Yuying’s face flushed at the directness of the question.

But under the expectant gazes of her friends, she shook her head lightly. “I’m not going back.”

She wasn’t trying to hide it—it was just too embarrassing to admit.

A girl like her, staying at Long Aotian’s place...

But since Li Qingxue attended the same university and lived in the dorm across from hers, she’d find out anyway. Better to confess outright.

“So, in the end, you’re the one who gets to keep our brother all to yourself,” Lin Wanning sighed, casting a mock-resentful glance at Hu Yuying.

Li Qingxue chuckled. “A ‘brother’ in name only, huh?”

“But I am curious—do you two sleep in the same bed?”

“Long Aotian, that big pervert, actually managed to keep his hands off you? Or is he...”

Hu Yuying’s legs unconsciously tightened as an image of Long Aotian’s... resilience flashed through her mind.

“N-no! Long Aotian is perfectly healthy! We don’t share a bed...” The more she explained, the redder her face grew. Though, deep down, she wouldn’t mind sleeping beside him—it’d make her feel so much safer...

Hearing that Hu Yuying and Long Aotian hadn’t slept together, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning felt an inexplicable flicker of relief.

But then it hit them—Hu Yuying had mentioned Long Aotian was “perfectly healthy.” Just how healthy, exactly?

Sometimes, when girls got frisky, they left boys in the dust.

What people assumed was a male obsession with female bodies paled in comparison to women’s curiosity about male anatomy.

Some even needed to hold it in their hands before they could sleep soundly...

Hu Yuying shook her head. “It’s not right for us to gossip about Long Aotian like this.”

“But you’re the only one among us with a boyfriend! We’re just curious,” Li Qingxue protested.

“Yeah! I’d never hide anything from my best friends,” Lin Wanning added.

Their back-and-forth left Hu Yuying burning with embarrassment.

The old her would’ve refused to engage in such talk, but now? She was all ears—after all, knowledge was power.

Finally, she stole a glance in Long Aotian’s direction before leaning in and whispering, “Long Aotian has abs... I saw them by accident.”

Not entirely true—she’d actually groped them while he was still asleep that morning.

Lin Wanning’s usually cold expression cracked with excitement as she leaned forward. “Details. How good is my brother’s body, really?”

Before she could finish, she yelped, clutching her head and looking up pitifully at Long Aotian, who had returned unnoticed with their drinks.

Li Qingxue immediately straightened up, the picture of innocence.

Hu Yuying, meanwhile, peeked at Long Aotian before quickly turning away, her guilty expression making him both exasperated and amused.

Sitting beside her, he murmured, “When did you see them?”

Hu Yuying’s head drooped lower. “I... might’ve touched them,” she squeaked.

Long Aotian ruffled her hair and whispered back, “I had no idea my little follower was such a sneak.”

Before he could continue, he felt her fingers curl around his hand.

“Long Aotian, don’t scold me, okay?” she pleaded.

A woman's coquetry was lethal—that saying didn't come from nowhere.

Watching Hu Yuying’s coquettish display and Long Aotian’s helpless fondness, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning couldn’t help but grin like doting aunties.

They could flirt too, but never with Hu Yuying's unrestrained charm or her tender, watery softness.

And the way Long Aotian doted on her... they wanted that too.

Stealing glances at Hu Yuying, they thought—if only they could have even the leftovers of her happiness.

Dinner ended uneventfully.

The four boarded the subway.

As the train sped along, Hu Yuying, who’d been whispering with Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, grew distracted.

Her eyes kept drifting toward Long Aotian.

When the next station approached, she quietly scooted over to sit beside him.

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning noticed immediately, smirking as they leaned in. “Prioritizing romance over friendship, huh?”

Hu Yuying blushed but didn’t deny it—her actions were exactly that.

As the train stopped, Long Aotian made to rise.

Hu Yuying jumped up first, sticking close to his side.

Amused, Long Aotian didn’t get a word out before she blurted, “I’m not going back.”

Then, tentatively, she hooked her pinky around his.

Without a word, he clasped her hand firmly and turned to Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning. “Be careful on your way back.”

Hu Yuying exhaled in relief, her heart swelling with joy. She could stay with him a little longer.

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, however, felt a pang of something indescribable.

They’d once complained that Long Aotian shouldn’t have spent so much on renovations.

Now, they secretly wished the place would hurry up and be ready—so they could wheedle their way in, splitting the rent if needed.

Taking a deep breath, they replied, “We will.”

The subway doors closed, separating them...

[May the new year outshine the last. Happy Spring Festival.]

Wishing all the lovely guys and girls out there to bloom like sunflowers, radiating energy and positivity. May your luck overflow, and may you be blessed with peace, health, and happiness...