Understanding Her Is Also a Kind of Romance

"Long Aotian, how much longer until the renovations are done?" Li Qingxue couldn't help but ask eagerly.

Long Aotian had promised her that once the place was fully renovated, he would reserve a room just for her.

She had her heart set on the room she'd seen earlier.

"It'll take a while. Everything should be ready by winter." At the current pace, it would likely take another two months.

"Time really flies," Li Qingxue sighed wistfully.

Thinking back to when she first arrived in the capital, all she had was a single suitcase.

Now, the house was nearly finished, and compared to her first visit, the place was unrecognizable—no trace of the overgrown weeds and dilapidated state remained.

"Brother, what are these two pits for?" Lin Wanning asked, eyeing the freshly dug holes in the yard.

At the question, Long Aotian and Hu Yuying exchanged a glance.

"These are for planting trees," Hu Yuying explained. "Fruit trees."

"Once they take root, we can enjoy homegrown fruit. The prices at the market are ridiculously high."

Just two days ago, Hu Yuying and Long Aotian had gone shopping, and the young girl had wanted to buy some fruit.

But the price of cherries had left her stunned.

Of course, Long Aotian bought them for her anyway.

She muttered about the cost, but the moment she took a bite, her smile was radiant and sweet.

She loved indulging, but because of the expense, she often made excuses, insisting that apples were just as good.

So that very afternoon, Long Aotian dug two pits in the yard, determined to grow their own fruit.

He understood her—rather than simply spending money, he preferred to tend to her feelings.

Romance is often said to outweigh everything, but romance isn't everything. Understanding her—wasn’t that its own kind of romance?

Stretching lazily on the recliner, Long Aotian watched the three girls bustle about happily. The gentle autumn sun overhead filled him with a lighthearted contentment.

Catching a glimpse of Long Aotian seemingly dozing off, Hu Yuying pressed her lips together in a faint smile.

Noticing Hu Yuying's gaze, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning teased, "Look how exhausted our brother is."

"Earlier, when we went inside to get the pot, we saw that huge bed—you two really know how to live luxuriously."

At the mention of the bed, Hu Yuying’s cheeks flushed pink.

The night before her period, she and Long Aotian had made full use of the bed’s plush bounce—leaving her thoroughly worn out.

But in the end, it was Long Aotian who had expended the most energy.

If even that didn’t tire him out, she’d be the one begging for mercy next time...

"Should we add more water now?" Li Qingxue’s question snapped Hu Yuying out of her daze.

"Yeah."

"Add enough to cover the chicken pieces, simmer on low heat for half an hour until the meat falls off the bone, then turn up the heat to reduce the sauce until it coats the chicken..."

Under Hu Yuying’s guidance, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning followed each step carefully.

Both wanted to learn how to cook but lacked practice. Today, they’d pestered Hu Yuying into teaching them.

"See? Cooking isn’t so hard, is it?" Hu Yuying chuckled softly as she watched them work.

"Food just tastes better when you make it yourself—it’s satisfying."

Lin Wanning inhaled the rich aroma wafting from the pot, her delighted expression making her adorable face even more pinchable.

"After dinner, should we go out for a bit?"

Hearing this, Li Qingxue stood and stretched. "We haven’t bathed together in ages. Let’s go to the bathhouse this afternoon!"

"Sure," Hu Yuying agreed. "There’s one nearby—I’ve been before. I’ll take you after we eat."

Staying here these past few days, she’d felt too shy to properly wash up.

The three chattered endlessly, and before they knew it, half an hour had passed.

Lifting the lid, they found the water had thickened into a rich, glossy sauce.

A quick stir later, the dish was ready to serve.

"Should we wake Long Aotian?"

Hu Yuying shook her head gently. "Let him sleep a little longer."

Despite being the same age, she could sense the weariness in him.

She slipped into the room, fetched a jacket, and draped it over him.

Gazing at his peaceful face, she couldn’t resist brushing a finger along his nose. "Long Aotian, we’re going to the bathhouse. There’s food in the pot—eat when you wake up."

"Mhm," he mumbled drowsily in response.

With a soft laugh, she pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

Pfft—

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning giggled at the sight. "He’s asleep, and you’re still reporting to him? Such a dutiful wife."

"I am not!" Hu Yuying protested.

Long Aotian had told her—waking up to find her gone left him with an ache of loneliness.

By telling him, she ensured the thought lingered in his subconscious, so he wouldn’t panic upon waking.

After gathering their toiletries and spare underwear, they locked the door and set off hand in hand.

"Oh no—I think I left my phone on the bench!" Lin Wanning patted her pockets just as they reached the alleyway.

"Clumsy Lin Wanning," Li Qingxue teased. "Go get it—we’ll wait here."

"Take the key. I locked the door," Hu Yuying said, fishing it out of her pocket.

"No need, I’ve got mine. I’ll be right back!" Lin Wanning dashed back toward the courtyard.

"Hurry up, slowpoke! We won’t wait forever!" Li Qingxue called after her.

Turning to Hu Yuying, she added, "Let’s wait at the alley entrance. I’ll buy you a soda."

"I can’t. Long Aotian said no soda during my period."

"If I don’t tell, and you don’t tell, how would he know? Besides, it’s fine—I drink soda all the time during mine. Long Aotian’s just a clueless man."

In the past, Hu Yuying’s part-time earnings barely covered necessities—who had spare change for soda? So when Long Aotian listed period precautions, she obeyed without question.

Meanwhile—

Back inside the courtyard, Lin Wanning retrieved her phone from the bench.

Taking a deep breath, she approached Long Aotian.

His sleeping face softened her usual cool demeanor.

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she leaned down and brushed her lips against his.

Timidly, she tried to part his lips—

Then froze as she felt him respond.

Her lashes fluttered, the teardrop mole at her eye corner flushing a delicate pink.

Her heart raced uncontrollably—like a thief stealing a fleeting, forbidden moment.

Loving someone defies reason—it’s involuntary.

In that instant, right and wrong ceased to matter...