Liking Someone Is Beyond One's Control

Then she walked up to Long Aotian and reached out her hand toward him.

"What are you doing?"

"Give me your underwear. I’ll wash it for you."

Long Aotian instinctively shook his head. "I’ll wash it myself tonight."

Seeing his reaction, Hu Yuying bit her lip, her eyes dimming slightly. She tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt. "Long-ge, do you still see me as an outsider?"

When the girl made that expression, Long Aotian wanted to take her hand.

But Hu Yuying subtly turned away, her almond-shaped eyes filled with a hint of reluctance, refusing to let him hold her hand.

Long Aotian sighed helplessly. "I—I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… I can wash it myself..."

He stole a glance at Hu Yuying and noticed her lowering her head, lost in thought.

Her emotional shifts were always so transparent.

"Long-ge, you’re just too used to being alone." She lifted her gaze, staring at him earnestly. "You’re my boyfriend. Why can’t I wash it for you?"

She sniffled slightly. "Long-ge, I’m your girlfriend now. I can take care of you, and I’ll do anything for you..."

Her eyes were unwavering, so pure that Long Aotian couldn’t bear to meet them. Especially after that sniffle—if he didn’t give in and she started crying, he’d feel terrible.

So when Hu Yuying stretched out her hand again, Long Aotian scratched his head awkwardly. Seeing her eyes welling up, he quickly handed over the underwear he’d been clutching tightly.

Taking it, Hu Yuying lowered her lashes and picked up the newly bought underwear as well.

Behind the curtain of her long hair, no one saw the happy smile curling at her lips.

Sometimes, her best friends’ advice really worked—as long as Long-ge couldn’t stand seeing her upset...

Through the doorway, Long Aotian watched as Hu Yuying sat on a small stool, meticulously washing his underwear.

An indescribable emotion surged in his chest.

Right now, all he wanted was to hold the girl in front of him—just hold her, nothing else.

And so he did.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, inhaling the faint fragrance of her hair.

Feeling his embrace, Hu Yuying paused for a moment before reaching up to gently touch his cheek. "Long-ge, even your little follower can grow up. She can take care of you too."

Ever since becoming Long Aotian’s little follower, he had always been the one looking after her.

She truly wanted to do something for him in return.

For the past eighteen years, Hu Yuying had taken care of herself most of the time. She was perfectly capable of handling things on her own.

Now, she wanted to take care of Long-ge—and she could.

Because it was Long-ge who had brought a new color into her life.

Like the shimmering candy wrapper under the sunlight...

After a long while, Hu Yuying seemed to notice something.

She glanced at the hand that had somehow found its way to her chest, then tilted her head back against Long Aotian’s shoulder, her smile hazy. "Long-ge, you’re so naughty..."

Long Aotian’s breath hitched as he gently cupped her chin, drawing her closer.

Her lips were so sweet...

A breeze swept through the courtyard, scattering leaves across the ground...

......

On their way back, Li Qingxue looked at Lin Wanning with a hint of confusion.

"Wanning, you seem really eager to push Yuying and Long Aotian together."

Hearing this, Lin Wanning nodded without denying it.

But that only made Li Qingxue more curious. She probed carefully, "Do you want Yuying to get with Long Aotian quickly so you can move on?"

That was the only explanation she could think of.

Lin Wanning swung her arms lightly, gazing at the sky where sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting fragmented rays of light.

The scattered glow fell on her face, softening her usually cold and ethereal features.

"Do you think someone like my brother can really be forgotten so easily?"

Li Qingxue already knew the answer. Long Aotian wasn’t particularly outstanding, yet there was an undeniable magnetism about him.

The more time you spent with him, the more you sensed his charm.

Were there men more handsome than Long Aotian? Yes.

Were there men with better physiques? Yes.

But none of them were Long Aotian...

"I really can’t figure you out sometimes," Li Qingxue admitted honestly.

"I’m actually very simple. But there are some things I can’t tell you yet."

Lin Wanning flashed a playful smile—an unexpectedly warm sight on her otherworldly face.

"It’s definitely nothing bad, so don’t worry." Seeing Li Qingxue’s puzzled expression, she chuckled. "Sometimes, falling for someone makes you feel helpless."

"It’s unlike anything else."

Even when you know it’s wrong, your body still gravitates toward him.

It’s terrifying, impossible to shake off. Even if your mind knows it’s inappropriate, there’s no escaping it—just an overwhelming sense of inevitability...

Lin Wanning didn’t answer Li Qingxue’s question directly, because she still clung to something deep inside.

Everyone’s personality is different.

Sometimes, Lin Wanning envied Li Qingxue’s "take it or leave it" attitude—even if the process was painful.

Compared to Li Qingxue, she was much more stubborn.

But they were still best friends, the closest of confidantes.

If someone had to bear the blame, Li Qingxue’s pride wouldn’t allow it—she had her own dignity to uphold.

But Lin Wanning was different. She had once known happiness, only for her birth mother to snatch it away.

She claimed she didn’t resent them, but was that really true?

At least she had met her brother—someone who gave her an overwhelming sense of security, someone who would pull her out of the darkness no matter what.

So Lin Wanning didn’t have that kind of pride. Instead, she clung to things with an almost pathological intensity.

The first time she was abandoned, her birth parents didn’t want her.

The second time, they had their own flesh and blood.

She didn’t want to be abandoned again. If it meant leaving something behind, she’d do anything—without regret...

[Thank you to all the lovely ladies and gentlemen for your support! I knew that with everyone contributing, even small efforts could add up. Thank you!]