More Like Being Put Through the Wringer

Seeing Hu Yuying's actions, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning exchanged glances, feeling like they had somehow corrupted Yuying.

Yet, they still followed her lead, resting their heads on her shoulders.

"You bullied me before, but now it's my turn to get back at you..." As she spoke, her mischievous hands wandered onto their adorable figures.

Lin Wanning shivered, her legs instinctively crossing. "Yuying, don’t just use your hands—say something too."

"I think buying clothes for Brother Long would be best," Hu Yuying said, not daring to push things too far, lest they gang up on her later.

"Wouldn’t that be silly? Long Aotian already helped us set up the online shop. Do we really need to buy him clothes?"

Lin Wanning and Li Qingxue had actually considered this before but felt it might be inappropriate.

Still, they had never given gifts to a guy before and had no idea what to choose.

"It won’t be silly," Hu Yuying said firmly. "Look, Brother Long always takes us out to eat and have fun. He’s not the type to care about material things."

"But have you noticed? Every time we see him, he’s wearing the same few outfits."

"It’s not that he can’t afford new clothes—he just doesn’t care."

As she spoke, her gaze softened with a tender smile. "He never takes good care of himself. Even now that it’s cold, he’s still wearing the same jacket we bought him last time."

"Brother Long is a simple person. When you buy him something, he’ll act indifferent, saying things like, ‘No need, I have plenty of clothes. Why waste money?’"

"But once he wears it, he can’t hide his happiness."

Without realizing it, Hu Yuying’s smile grew even warmer and more radiant.

"Honestly, Brother Long is the one who needs looking after the most. When he’s busy caring for others, he forgets to care for himself..."

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning watched Hu Yuying as she spoke of Long Aotian, her joy pure and untainted.

To her, Long Aotian was like her sky, her earth—her everything.

Her promise to take care of him wasn’t just empty words.

She was thoughtful, always considering things others overlooked.

Even something as simple as reminding him to dress warmly in winter.

When you thought about it, wasn’t that just like how a mother would fuss over her husband?

"So, I really think buying clothes for Brother Long is the best idea."

Hu Yuying’s words were like a guiding light for their indecisive hearts.

They immediately wrapped their arms around her slender waist. "Yuying, you’re so good to Long Aotian."

"That’s because Brother Long has always been good to me."

"Then you better take good care of my brother."

"Ugh, what’s that sound?"

"Didn’t we agree already?"

"Well, do you two want to see?"

Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue: "..."

"Quit pretending. You’ve been looking forward to teasing my brother, haven’t you?" They playfully ruffled Hu Yuying’s hair.

"No way..." Hu Yuying’s cheeks flushed pink as her thoughts drifted back to that night—her future literally in her hands. Her face burned even hotter as she mumbled, "If anything, I’m the one who gets teased..."

"Wow, that move is seriously impressive."

"Ugh, stop! It’s so embarrassing!"

Lin Wanning stayed silent, quietly committing that "mounting position" trick to memory.

The night passed, and the three little troublemakers—no, the three sweethearts—woke up refreshed and ready for the day.

"I don’t have classes this afternoon, so I’ll come find you guys later," Hu Yuying said after freshening up.

"Sure, just call us," Li Qingxue replied, mimicking a phone by her ear.

"Also, about those discount coupons you mentioned yesterday—I think we should really try it."

After parting ways, Hu Yuying returned to A University. Since it was still early, she stopped by her dorm before heading to the cafeteria.

As she walked in, she lightly flicked her bangs, a faint, melancholic smile playing on her lips.

She seemed especially cheerful today, her long hair swaying with each step. Her beauty was captivating—even in a crowded cafeteria, eyes naturally gravitated toward her.

She flicked her hair again, two fingers resting against the bridge of her nose on the right side. It was a pose of confidence, yet the bitterness in her smile was unmistakable.

"Xue Shaohua, that pose is so cool."

Xue Shaohua maintained his two-fingered pose, slowly lifting his gaze. "Cool? I don’t think so. It’s just something I do unconsciously when I’m feeling sorrowful."

"Some things are beyond your understanding. Even if you mimic the surface, you’ll never grasp the depth of my melancholy." With that, he flashed a pained smile and flicked his hair again, deliberately tilting his head to show off his new earring.

"Whoa, you got your ear pierced?"

"That’s so cool! Where’d you get it done?"

[For readers who might wonder why characters like "Knight Bro" and "Elite Bro" keep flicking their hair—well, if you didn’t live through the emo era, you might not get it. Back then, flicking hair, wearing earrings, and sporting skin-tight outfits were all the rage.]

Flattered by the praise, Xue Shaohua flicked his hair once more, tilting his head at a 45-degree angle. "They say ear piercings are the wounds of love—painful yet tender, a fragile vulnerability..."

His eyes drifted toward Hu Yuying before he flicked his hair again. "Legend says that if you think of someone while getting your ear pierced, they’ll be your destined lover in the next life."

Raising a finger to the sky, he added, "And right now, my heart aches so much that I can only mask the pain by hurting my body instead."

Anyone listening knew Xue Shaohua was hinting at something.

But let’s be real—Hu Yuying was like an untouchable goddess. It was no surprise Xue Shaohua couldn’t win her over.

As Hu Yuying sat down to eat, Xue Shaohua approached, still holding his two-fingered pose.

Stopping beside her, he suddenly took a step back and nodded with a smile. "I’ll become even more outstanding than I am now."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away—this time, decisively.

Hu Yuying shrugged in confusion and finished her meal before heading to class to secure a seat.

As she left the cafeteria, Xue Shaohua smirked to himself. "Right now, I’m like a lone wolf in the night—silently guarding, silently licking my wounds..."

He followed her to the classroom, waiting for the moment she stepped away briefly.

Xue Shaohua glanced around furtively, then pretended to accidentally bump into Hu Yuying's belongings. After obtaining the notebook he wanted, he frantically took photos of it before Hu Yuying could return.

Having accomplished his task, a wicked smile crept across his lips. "Don't blame me. Everything I'm doing is for your own good. That Long Aotian you desire can never give you what you need. You require someone truly exceptional—and I am more than qualified..."

"We'll be together for years to come. I'll make sure you gradually grow accustomed to me..."