It Was Her Who Made My Life Meaningful

"What are you looking at?" Shen Mengjie asked softly, glancing at her slightly reddened hand.

Long Aotian shook his head. "Nothing. Just thought that person's silhouette looked familiar, but I can’t quite remember where I’ve seen them before."

Shen Mengjie also turned her gaze toward the fading figure. "There are so many people in the world, and countless silhouettes look alike. If it really was someone you knew, they would’ve greeted you just now."

"You’re right."

Long Aotian withdrew his gaze and looked at Shen Mengjie’s hand. "Let’s head back first. Get some ointment for that burn—it shouldn’t be serious."

With that, he stood up to pay the bill.

As they walked, Shen Mengjie gave Long Aotian a strange look.

"If you have something to say, just say it. That hesitant expression of yours is making me anxious."

"I promised to give you advice today, but I ended up ruining it myself. Did it… affect your mood?"

Long Aotian chuckled. "What are you talking about? How would that affect me? Besides, you got burned too."

"Actually, your analysis of that girl’s personality earlier was spot on in some ways. It gave me an idea."

That girl was such a good person—not as fragile as she seemed. She was brave, determined to change.

How many people dared to take that step?

But his little girl had done it, and so far, she was doing well.

If the characters in a storybook were fixed NPCs, then his little girl had already broken free from her predetermined path.

The life she was striving for now was likely the one she truly wanted.

Maybe it wasn’t as dazzling as the original story.

But Long Aotian firmly believed she would make her life wonderful in her own way.

Besides, she had him by her side. He might not be extraordinary, but at the very least, he could protect her and keep her happy. That was enough.

After hearing his words, Shen Mengjie’s expression grew even more peculiar. "You know, you’re a really strange person."

"Strange? How so? I think I’m more of a lucky person."

"That’s exactly what’s strange. Who goes around calling themselves lucky?"

"In this vast, colorful world, meeting someone and getting to know them—I really do think I’m lucky."

Shen Mengjie shook her head and scoffed. "If luck like that really exists, why have I never experienced it?"

"You will."

Shen Mengjie paused. "What?"

"I said you will. When you’re upset, haven’t there always been people willing to lend you a hand?"

"Long Aotian." Shen Mengjie suddenly stopped walking, shedding her usual carefree demeanor as she looked at him with rare seriousness. "In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"

It was strange. She’d always claimed not to care about others’ opinions, yet she desperately wanted to know how Long Aotian saw her. She was too conflicted...

She’d asked him this before but never got a real answer.

She considered herself proud and strong-willed—always had been.

But around Long Aotian, that pride and strength felt fragile.

Her upbringing had taught her from a young age to read people, to see through their hidden motives.

So she’d always navigated effortlessly around men with ulterior motives, getting whatever she wanted.

Did she want money? Not necessarily. Maybe it was the thrill of victory, the joy of manipulating others, the satisfaction of holding them in her palm.

She thought her life was a mess. Maybe she’d once wanted to change, but in the end, she’d given in.

Long Aotian thought carefully before answering. "You’re someone who’s flippant yet impossible not to love and hate at the same time."

Hearing this, Shen Mengjie glanced at him, a faint smile playing on her lips as she murmured, "Actually, I’m a bad woman."

"Yeah, you’re definitely frustrating."

By then, they’d reached the small pharmacy where Wan Ning had once bought ointment for him.

"Let’s go in."

The burn wasn’t serious. Some ointment would help reduce the swelling.

"Thank you."

Long Aotian handed her the tube. "No need for thanks. Just stop being sarcastic with me every time we meet."

Shen Mengjie looked slightly ashamed. "I’ll try."

"‘Try’? What kind of answer is that? Is teasing me that fun?"

"You’re the one who always bullies me." Shen Mengjie lowered her eyes and kicked a pebble on the ground.

Long Aotian was baffled. "Who’s bullying you?"

"You used to scold me all the time, even knocked me on the head. I’m a grown woman, yet you made me feel like a kid..."

Long Aotian burst out laughing, remembering now. He had scolded her before—he just hadn’t expected her to hold a grudge this long.

"And I never once got the upper hand. You never let me win!"

"Fine, I’ll let you win next time."

"That’s so half-hearted!"

"Wow, you’re really something. If I don’t let you win, you complain. If I do, you say I’m being insincere..."

"You’re so blunt! Isn’t this how girls usually are?" Shen Mengjie couldn’t understand. If she’d said this to anyone else, they’d have taken it as her being playful and sweet-talked her.

She truly couldn’t figure this man out. But the more she couldn’t, the more she wanted to understand. And the closer she got, the more she felt an inexplicable pull...

Long Aotian shook his head. At least his little girl wasn’t like this. She always went along with him.

Even when he teased her and she found out, she’d just say, "Long-ge, you’re so mean. I’ll never believe you again!" Yet she always trusted him in the end—a silly, kind-hearted girl.

Seeing the faintly doting smile on Long Aotian’s face, Shen Mengjie pursed her lips, her eyes flickering as she tentatively asked, "Long Aotian, have you ever thought about what you’d do if you and your girlfriend disagreed on something and ended up fighting?"

"Then it’d definitely be my fault. I’d let her have her way." Long Aotian answered without hesitation.

Having a treasure like his little girl was his luck. When the cage opened and she flew back to him, right or wrong, it would always be his fault.

"No two people in this world are perfectly matched. Lasting relationships take compromise. Mutual effort makes it beautiful. I understand my little girl, so I’m willing to be patient and accommodating. She’s the one who gives my life meaning..."