Why can't I just taste him

Li Qingxue witnessed Long Aotian and Lin Wanning entering a hotel with her own eyes.

Her shock was beyond measure, almost unbearable.

She recalled the words Lin Wanning had spoken when they bathed together earlier.

She remembered how Lin Wanning had begged her not to tell anyone.

She thought back to how Lin Wanning had once mentioned that many people disapproved of them...

Everything seemed to make sense now.

The one who had taken Wanning’s innocence was Long Aotian.

That was why Wanning was afraid of others finding out, why she wanted to keep it hidden.

Because she didn’t dare let Hu Yuying know.

At this realization, Li Qingxue rubbed her temples with both hands.

"How could they do this?"

A single photograph had allowed her to glimpse the little secret between Long Aotian and Lin Wanning.

Now, Li Qingxue had no idea what to do.

Even if the photo’s authenticity was uncertain, the scene before her eyes confirmed everything.

Her thoughts churned uncontrollably.

Among their trio, Li Qingxue was usually the one with the quickest wit, but now her mind was a tangled mess.

She clenched her small fists tightly. "Why did I have to be the one to discover this?"

If she were to tell Hu Yuying about this...

Just the thought of it filled her with frustration.

A surge of anger rose in her heart toward Lin Wanning.

Yet, at the same time, she couldn’t help but admire Lin Wanning’s boldness.

If it were her, she would never dare to do such a thing.

A long, long time passed.

Li Qingxue wandered around the area, feeling awkward standing in one spot for too long.

But her gaze remained fixed on the hotel entrance.

As dusk fell, she stretched and yawned. "Why is it taking so long?"

"Can Wanning even handle it?"

Just as she muttered this, two figures appeared in her line of sight.

Li Qingxue immediately perked up, blending into the crowd as she secretly observed Long Aotian and Lin Wanning.

Too far to hear their conversation, she couldn’t make out what they were saying.

Nor did she know what Lin Wanning had whispered.

Long Aotian chuckled, but from Li Qingxue’s angle, his smile seemed forced and complicated.

Finally, he gently placed his hand on Lin Wanning’s cheek.

Lin Wanning, as if craving his touch, nuzzled into his palm.

Their moment was brief before they parted ways.

Long Aotian rode off on his bike, leaving University T behind.

Seeing this, Li Qingxue hurried in the direction Lin Wanning had gone.

She quickly caught up with her, finding that Lin Wanning hadn’t returned to the campus. Instead, she had taken a seat on a bench along the inner path.

Under the dim streetlight, her slender figure was framed by the shadows of trees, her long hair tousled by the cold wind. She sat motionless, like a statue, exuding an inexplicable air of loneliness.

"Wanning!"

Hearing her name, Lin Wanning looked up, her face instantly lighting up with a warm smile upon seeing Li Qingxue.

The contrast between her usual cool demeanor and this sudden gentleness was striking, yet oddly comforting.

"Qingxue, what brings you here?" Her voice was filled with delight.

She stood and embraced Li Qingxue tightly.

In that hug, Li Qingxue’s tangled emotions inexplicably smoothed out.

"I had something to discuss with Long Aotian," Li Qingxue murmured, avoiding eye contact.

For some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to mention what she had just witnessed.

"You came to see him? He just left for University A," Lin Wanning said, pulling Li Qingxue down onto the bench. "Was it something urgent? Should we call him?"

Li Qingxue steadied herself before replying with a hint of irritation, "I ran into Ye Liangchen yesterday."

Lin Wanning frowned. "Was he bothering you again? Why won’t he take a hint? We’ve made it clear we’re not interested!"

"Don’t worry, though. Brother said he’d protect us. Next time Ye Liangchen tries anything, just tell him—"

Her instinctive concern was unmistakably genuine.

Li Qingxue met Lin Wanning’s gaze, seeing the urgency in her eyes, and slowly shook her head. "He didn’t harass me. He just showed me a photo."

"A photo?" Lin Wanning stiffened—Shen Mengjie had also shown her one yesterday.

"What kind of photo?"

"One of Long Aotian kissing another girl."

"That girl was the one we saw at University T last time—"

Before she could finish, Lin Wanning cut in. "Shen Mengjie!"

"Shen Mengjie?"

Lin Wanning scoffed. "She showed me a photo yesterday too."

Li Qingxue blinked. "You saw it as well?"

Lin Wanning nodded, squeezing Li Qingxue’s hand. "I was confused at first about why Shen Mengjie would show me that. Now it’s clear—Ye Liangchen is behind this!"

"Qingxue, do you trust him?"

"That photo wasn’t fake, but I can say with absolute certainty that Brother wasn’t the one initiating it."

Lin Wanning’s confidence stemmed from the fact that she had already drained Long Aotian’s energy beforehand. Weren’t men supposed to have a refractory period?

After the intensity of their intimacy, there was no way he would’ve gone straight to flirting with Shen Mengjie.

"Besides, didn’t you find the photo suspicious? It looked staged, like someone was lying in wait to take it."

"Ye Liangchen was the one hiding to take that shot, so he and Shen Mengjie must be working together," Li Qingxue realized.

"But why show it to us instead of Yuying?"

As soon as she asked, Li Qingxue remembered Ye Liangchen’s words from yesterday. "Because he thinks both of us have already given ourselves to Long Aotian. He wants to drive a wedge between us—make us think Long Aotian is unfaithful despite having the three of us, so we’ll resent him?"

"But in reality, we’re not like what Ye Liangchen assumes. We haven’t all... given ourselves to him..."

Hearing this, a faint blush spread across Lin Wanning’s fair cheeks.

Still, she agreed with Li Qingxue’s analysis.

"Maybe that’s it. That guy is truly despicable, still scheming to get his hands on us. As if we’d ever choose him over Brother! Don’t fall for his tricks, Qingxue..."

The moment those words left her mouth, Lin Wanning’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed her lips together nervously.

She stole a glance at Li Qingxue.

Fortunately, Li Qingxue didn’t seem to notice the implication in her words, so Lin Wanning quietly exhaled in relief.

Unseen by Lin Wanning, a small smile curved Li Qingxue’s lips.

Yes, even without Long Aotian, she would never choose Ye Liangchen...

Stealing a glance at Lin Wanning, she thought to herself—if she could be like that, why couldn't she give Long Aotian a try...