Shen Mengjie stared blankly at Long Aotian. The happiness in his words was something she could actually see with her own eyes.
In all her experiences, she had never—not once—seen someone’s joy radiate so vividly through their words and gaze.
The way Long Aotian made her feel at this moment was indescribable.
If she had to put it into words, it was like facing a knife-wielding assailant—he would still step forward without hesitation, shielding the person behind him...
"You two really are something," she murmured in response.
"It’s because of her that everything has become this good."
His eyes sparkled when he mentioned her.
"I mean, someone like you..." Shen Mengjie tightened her grip on the ointment in her hand, her gaze drifting away as she spoke. "Really is a bit..."
Before she could finish, a voice interrupted her.
"Brother?" The voice carried a hint of uncertainty, but also delight.
Turning around, she saw a figure jogging toward them.
"Wanning," Long Aotian said with a smile. "Slow down. Why are you out so late?"
His tone was full of concern, directed at a very pretty girl. Yet, no matter how Shen Mengjie listened, she couldn’t detect anything beyond simple care in his voice.
It was as if his concern was purely for her sake—nothing more.
Lin Wanning reached Long Aotian’s side but didn’t answer his question. Instead, her eyes shifted to Shen Mengjie. A flicker of surprise crossed her expression when she recognized her. "It’s you..."
"You know each other?"
"Yeah, on Friday, this classmate was the one who helped us find you."
While Lin Wanning studied Shen Mengjie, Shen Mengjie was also observing her. Hearing her words, Shen Mengjie smiled and greeted her. "Hello, we meet again. Are you from the neighboring music academy?"
She guessed as much from Long Aotian’s earlier remark.
"Yes, Lin Wanning from the music academy." After introducing herself, Lin Wanning finally turned her attention back to Long Aotian.
A faint smile curled on her cool, delicate face—yet somehow, it carried a chill.
There was a scrutinizing glint in her eyes, as if saying: Brother, care to explain why you’re out with another girl so late?
Her expression practically screamed: If you don’t give me a good answer right now, I’m telling Yuying immediately.
"I needed to ask Shen Mengjie about something," Long Aotian explained.
Lin Wanning’s brows lifted slightly at his answer. Her smile remained flawless, but the slight narrowing of her eyes silently retorted: Do you really expect me to believe that?
Shen Mengjie had been watching Lin Wanning the whole time, observing her silent exchange with Long Aotian.
A thought stirred in her heart, and she spoke up. "It’s true. He asked me for a favor."
Lin Wanning chuckled softly, her gaze shifting back to Shen Mengjie. "I was just teasing my brother. I know his character better than anyone."
On this point, Lin Wanning had no doubts.
She had seen how her brother treated Hu Yuying and understood his nature deeply.
Back then, if he had been less principled, he could have easily taken advantage of her when she threw herself at him—then made excuses later about incompatibility.
But he was mature. Rationality had overruled everything, all for the sake of waiting for Hu Yuying’s answer.
A man who couldn’t even steady his own emotions would never have captivated her and Qingxue so deeply.
Trust wasn’t built on momentary impulses—it was the most rational judgment formed through long-term understanding.
A person who respected love and people so deeply deserved both trust and respect in return.
With a smile, Lin Wanning asked Shen Mengjie, "Anyway, I’m dragging my brother out for fruit tea now. Want to join?"
Shen Mengjie met Lin Wanning’s eyes, her red lips curving slightly. "No, thanks. We just had coffee."
Lin Wanning’s smile faltered for a split second before she turned back to Long Aotian. "Then let’s go, Brother."
Without waiting for his reply, she grabbed his arm and pulled him in the opposite direction.
Honestly, the pressure a girl could exude when serious was overwhelming—especially someone like Lin Wanning, whose aura was naturally cool and ethereal.
Halfway there, Lin Wanning released Long Aotian’s arm. "Brother, what’s going on?"
She trusted him, but she still wanted an explanation.
So she put on a stern face, as if threatening: I’m about to tell Hu Yuying, so you’d better start talking.
"Ah..." Long Aotian sighed. He already knew the three girls were close—if he told Wanning or Qingxue, they’d probably blab to Yuying behind his back.
But given the situation, even if he stayed silent, Wanning would likely tattle to Yuying anyway.
So he explained everything to Lin Wanning.
"You know how rough I can be with these things..."
Lin Wanning frowned, still dissatisfied. "Brother, I’m a girl too. Why didn’t you ask me instead?"
"You? The moment I tell you, you’d run straight to Yuying."
Lin Wanning opened her mouth but then hesitated. Still, when a girl didn’t want to concede, she could always find a way to argue. "But does she really understand? Qingxue and I know Yuying best."
Long Aotian showed her the chat logs with Shen Mengjie.
After skimming through them, Lin Wanning had to admit—as a fellow girl—that Shen Mengjie’s advice was actually quite reasonable.
But her feminine intuition made her dislike Shen Mengjie a little. There was something faintly provocative in the way Shen Mengjie looked at her brother—like he was prey.
Instinctively, Lin Wanning didn’t want him getting too close to her.
"Well, now that I know, if you have any more questions, you can ask me. I promise I won’t tell Yuying before you confess. I swear."
"Can I really trust you?" Long Aotian found her solemn vow amusing.
"Ugh, I won’t say anything! Believe me, Brother, believe me!"
"Alright, alright. I believe you." He started walking ahead.
"Where are we going now?"
"You wanted fruit tea, didn’t you?"
"I’ll treat you. I’ve been earning money too, you know."
Sitting on a bench along the path, Long Aotian asked, "You still haven’t told me why you were out so late alone."
"Here." Lin Wanning placed her phone in front of him.
The screen displayed a series of photos—late autumn, streetlights, fallen leaves. Beautiful shots.
"Yuying helped Qingxue and me a lot with managing our accounts. Qingxue’s friends also gave us technical support and ideas for promotion. But me? I don’t have any skills like that."
"So I thought I’d take more scenic photos, edit them together, and use them to promote our online shop during the school festival..."
【A new month begins, dear friends—I humbly ask for your support. Sending love and gratitude your way...】
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
For the sake of his unrequited love, his ex-girlfriend abandoned him at the altar, indirectly causing the death of his parents. Just when he thought his life was plunged into darkness, a clueless yet beautiful girl unexpectedly took him in. Looking back, he realized how many hidden gems had always been by his side. A childhood friend who had secretly loved him for over a decade, a stunning but socially clueless school beauty, a mischievous and playful girl who lived for chaos... His ex, filled with regret, pleaded: "I was wrong—can we go back to how things were?" Before he could respond, the girl stepped in front of Ye Shuang and coldly declared, "If you didn’t cherish him, then he’s mine now." Also known as: "After Losing My Job, I Was Picked Up by a Hidden Gem," "The School Beauty I Raised," and "Oh No, I’m Surrounded by Rich Girls."
