Looking a gift horse in the mouth

Back in the dormitory, lying on his bed, Long Aotian tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Huang Fei, Xu Shuai, and Li Longlong, who had returned with him, had already drifted off to dreamland, and even Xu Shuai's snoring could be heard.

"Can't sleep..." That feeling of being used to someone sleeping beside him, only to suddenly feel the emptiness of being alone...

He threw off the covers and sat up abruptly.

Grabbing his phone, he checked the time—it was already past eleven.

"I miss you. Can't sleep." After sending the message, Long Aotian lay back down. Soon, his phone buzzed with a reply.

"What should we do then?" In the darkness, the glow of the phone illuminated Hu Yuying's face.

On either side of her lay Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, both already asleep. Strangely, despite how exhausting today's shopping had been, Hu Yuying just couldn't fall asleep... and then came Long Aotian's message.

Seeing the little girl's reply, Long Aotian's face instantly lit up with a grin.

"How about coming home?"

Hu Yuying pressed the phone to her chest, glanced left and right at the sleeping Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, then quietly slipped out of bed. She tiptoed to the edge, dressed carefully, and replied with a single word: "Okay."

By the time he received this message, Long Aotian was already fully dressed and standing by Xu Shuai's bed. He pulled out a sock and placed it over his mouth. "That’ll teach you to snore!"

After this little act of mischief, he opened the dorm door and stepped out.

A small wall stood in his way—one running leap, and he was over it.

He scanned a shared bike and pedaled furiously toward home.

As he entered the alley where their courtyard house stood, he spotted the light at the entrance and the figure waiting by the door.

Seeing Long Aotian return, Hu Yuying, bundled up against the cold, let out a soft cough. Her bright eyes sparkled with joy, making her look especially beautiful.

The sight of her mischievous, slightly teasing smile made Long Aotian feel like the whole world belonged to him in that moment.

Happily, he pulled her into his arms. She nestled close, whispering in his ear, "Long Aotian."

Whether it was the mood or something else, her voice carried a tender affection that seeped straight into his heart.

"Let's go home." Long Aotian scooped Hu Yuying into his arms and carried her inside.

Obediently nestled against him, she could hear the rapid, pounding rhythm of his heartbeat.

With a kick, he shut the door behind them and headed straight for their room.

Hu Yuying lightly hooked her foot, and the door clicked shut.

"I think I saw ants again just now..." Long Aotian said with a straight face, not a hint of embarrassment.

"Then let’s release a snake to bite them..." Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her voice soft, yet irresistibly alluring.

By the time they dealt with those pesky ants, it was well past midnight.

Long Aotian pulled the blanket over Hu Yuying and propped his head up on one hand, quietly admiring the blush on her face.

"Stop staring..." Hu Yuying covered his eyes with her hand, unable to hide her shyness.

Letting her keep his eyes covered, he chuckled. "How are you still so easily flustered?"

"I don’t know." Hu Yuying wiped the sweat from his cheek with her fingertip. Sometimes she didn’t understand it herself—her heart wasn’t so easily embarrassed anymore, yet her body still reacted this way in front of him.

"Guess I haven’t worked hard enough. After all this time, my little girl still blushes."

At this, Hu Yuying rolled her eyes. "That’s enough for today. Look at you, drenched in sweat. The bed’s turned into a furnace."

She knew he had training tomorrow for the upcoming sports meet. If he didn’t rest now, he’d lag behind during the run.

"Go to sleep. I have to head back early tomorrow. If Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning wake up and don’t see me, they’ll know I sneaked back here."

"So what if they know? They’re well aware you’re mine, yet Qingxue keeps taking you out overnight, leaving me all alone..." His voice dripped with jealousy.

Hu Yuying pinched his cheek. "Since when do you get jealous over Qingxue?"

"It’s been a while since we’ve been together, and I did come back to be with you, didn’t I?"

"Two whole days—yesterday with Wanning, today with Qingxue and Wanning. Were you about to forget me?" Long Aotian sprawled lazily in her arms, sulking.

"What should we do then?" Hu Yuying looked at him. "How about letting Wanning move in too? When I’m not around, she can keep you company?"

Long Aotian coughed awkwardly. "Nonsense. In this house, you’re the one who calls the shots."

"Yeah, right. You’re just a sly fox who plays innocent." Hu Yuying wrapped her hand around him. "Back then, I was upset and needed answers."

"And now?"

Her face flushed, but she tried to look fierce. "You still dare ask? Want me to bite you?"

Feeling the change in her grip, she quickly let go.

Just as she tried to draw a line between them, Long Aotian yanked the blanket over them both...

"Wait, hold on—just a second..."

......

The next morning.

Hu Yuying got up, rubbing her sore waist, and glared at the culprit still sleeping soundly. She gave his backside a sharp smack.

Long Aotian mumbled groggily.

Watching him like this, Hu Yuying felt both amused and embarrassed.

She’d told him no, but he wouldn’t listen—now look at him, too tired to even get up after a spanking.

Kneeling by the bed, she brushed a strand of her hair against his nose.

"I’m heading out. I set an alarm on your phone, and the e-bike’s charged. Don’t be late."

Seeing him struggle to open his eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh. "Serves you right for not behaving..."

After laying out his clothes by the bed, she left.

......

Carrying breakfast, she pushed open the door.

Seeing Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning still asleep, she kicked off her shoes, climbed into bed, and burrowed under the covers.

Her icy-cold body from the outside air jolted them awake.

Now that they were up, Hu Yuying nestled contentedly between them. "I brought breakfast. Get up and eat a little."

Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning checked the time—barely past five—and immediately cuddled her from both sides, murmuring about sleeping a bit longer.

Her freshly worn clothes were stripped off, and wrapped in the warmth of the blankets with two beauties by her side, Hu Yuying soon drifted back to sleep with them...