And So This Place Became Home

Watching Lin Wanning playfully interact with Hu Yuying, Long Aotian touched his cheek and walked over.

For a brief moment, a pang of guilt had made him feel uneasy.

But Lin Wanning seemed completely unaware, lost in laughter, singing, and teaching Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue how to control their breathing while singing...

The KTV room had become her domain.

Many popular songs took on a unique charm when sung in her distinctive voice.

"Wanning, with your singing skills, you’d definitely win if you entered a competition," someone remarked.

"I’m still just a beginner. Right now, I’m focusing on my studies and gaining more experience," Lin Wanning replied modestly, though the praise from her friends brightened her smile.

"You’re being too humble! I’ve watched singing competitions before, and you’re better than most of the contestants. Right, Long Aotian?" Li Qingxue, ever the enthusiast, chimed in.

Normally, the three girls and Long Aotian were close enough that such a question wouldn’t faze anyone.

But at the mention of his name, Lin Wanning, burdened by that faint guilt, resisted the instinct to glance at him.

It was a small act of self-deception, but it worked for now.

"If you get the chance, you should give it a try," Long Aotian said.

Hearing his voice, Lin Wanning finally looked up. Their eyes met, and her beautiful crescent-moon eyes curved into a smile. "Okay."

She really did listen to him.

After a lingering look, she turned away, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

They played for a while longer before Long Aotian led the three girls out.

On the way downstairs, he deliberately glanced at the private room near the stairwell.

Through the glass, the same group was still inside—except Shen Mengjie was missing.

Maybe his earlier assumption was wrong.

Ten minutes later, he’d realize how foolish that thought had been.

On the pedestrian street, Long Aotian stared with a strange expression at the two figures standing outside a restaurant.

The man was unfamiliar, but the woman was unmistakably Shen Mengjie, the same girl from the KTV.

Without the blaring music, their conversation was audible.

Shen Mengjie blushed. "I can’t let you treat me to dinner, senior."

The senior smiled confidently at her shy expression. "We’ve been chatting online for so long. Now that we’ve finally met, it’s only right for me to treat you—a proper introduction."

After a moment of hesitation, Shen Mengjie bit her lip and nodded softly. "Then... thank you, senior."

Long Aotian’s lips twitched. He hadn’t seen her in the morning, but between noon and now... well, this was getting ridiculous.

"Long Aotian, what are you looking at?" Hu Yuying asked softly.

He shook his head with a dry laugh. "Nothing."

After a quick meal, they escorted Lin Wanning back to school and parted ways with Li Qingxue at the subway station.

Long Aotian took Hu Yuying’s hand. "Did you have fun today?"

"I did." She let him lead her down the street, content just to be with him.

In the past, they’d always had endless things to say. Now, even silence felt warm.

Their bond had deepened beyond familiarity—into something wordless, where even a glance could convey everything.

It was hard to describe. Before, their nonstop chatter had been the mark of friendship, of budding affection.

Now, it felt more like... family?

Maybe the analogy wasn’t perfect, but it was close.

The initial excitement had faded into quiet comfort, yet within that simplicity, happiness lingered in every moment.

Back at the courtyard house, Hu Yuying suddenly laughed—a soft, melodic sound in the quiet night.

"It feels like coming home," she said, turning to face Long Aotian. Under the moonlight, she glowed like a tiny sprite.

His heart trembled.

Her smile seemed to whisper:

Home wasn’t a place. It was wherever she was.

In that moment, her purity and warmth shone brighter than ever.

Noticing his gaze, her eyes crinkled with delight. She loved it when he looked at her like this—like she was his entire world.

When he reached out, she placed her hand in his without hesitation. His palm was warm, as if holding it meant holding everything.

A girl’s love was simple. Uncomplicated.

He pulled her into his arms.

Listening to his heartbeat, she felt an inexplicable sense of peace.

"Long Aotian—" A small gasp escaped her as he lifted her effortlessly, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck like a koala clinging to a tree.

Carrying her soft, delicate frame, he headed toward the bedroom, one hand protectively supporting her.

"Long Aotian..." Once set down on the bed, Hu Yuying suddenly recalled that video from the other night. Her pulse quickened, and her grip on his arm tightened.

Seeing her nervousness, Long Aotian leaned close enough to hear her racing heart. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "It’s late. Time to sleep."

The dim lamplight and moonlight filtering through the window cast an intimate haze over the small room.

Feeling him lie down behind her, Hu Yuying curled up and slowly inched into his embrace.

To her, the whole process felt as tense as an action movie—her fingers trembled slightly.

Amused by her trembling form, Long Aotian shifted closer, until their lips were just inches apart. He could feel her breath.

"Yuying."

Hearing the nickname, she lifted her head slightly, her long lashes brushing his chin.

"Can I call you that? Yuying."

As he spoke, he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers grazing her cheek.

Her face burned under his gaze. Shyly, she nodded.

From "little follower" to "little girl," to "Yuying," and now this—each shift in address had drawn their hearts closer.

"Yuying, don’t be afraid of me."

She wanted to say she wasn’t afraid—just nervous.

The words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed by a kiss, vanishing into the depths of her heart.

In the quiet darkness, even the softest sounds seemed amplified a hundredfold.

The kiss lingered endlessly. Clinging tightly to Long Aotian’s neck, Hu Yuying let him trace slow, teasing bites along her collarbone. This strange, intoxicating sensation sent a peculiar warmth coursing through her body...