Hu Yuying with a Modest Capital

"But now you have to listen to me, or else I'll..."

"Or else you'll hit me, right?" Hu Yuying had already learned to anticipate his words.

"Smart!" Long Aotian gently tapped Hu Yuying's head with his hand.

Hu Yuying rubbed the spot where Long Aotian had tapped her and quickened her pace to catch up with him.

She felt a sense of pride, though even she couldn't quite explain where this feeling came from.

It seemed that since meeting Long Aotian, he had only ever tapped her head like this.

"What time are we getting up tomorrow?"

"I usually wake up at seven."

"Okay, got it. Can we go to school together tomorrow?"

"Of course."

This was Long Aotian's promise to Hu Yuying.

Having been through the same experience of studying alone in a foreign place, he deeply understood the loneliness she felt.

Besides, it wasn't a big deal—they were going the same way anyway.

This girl needed to talk more to liven up her personality.

Soon, they arrived at the residential building in the compound.

Long Aotian didn't stop but continued walking alongside Hu Yuying.

"Long Aotian, you're home," Hu Yuying said softly, glancing at him.

"Stop talking. I just like walking a bit more at night—it helps me sleep better."

"But..."

"No buts. It's annoying. Be careful, or I'll hit you."

Hu Yuying lowered her gaze, stealing a glance at Long Aotian. She bit her lip lightly and didn't say anything more.

Only when they reached the village entrance did Long Aotian turn back.

Watching Long Aotian's retreating figure, Hu Yuying took a deep breath. "Thank you, Long Aotian."

Long Aotian didn't respond but simply waved his hand behind his back, signaling her to go ahead.

"Thank you, Long Aotian," Hu Yuying whispered again, this time so softly that only she could hear it.

Back at her rented home, she opened the door and turned on the light.

It was quiet.

The night was silent, and so was Hu Yuying's home.

Sitting on the couch, she had grown accustomed to the solitude.

This was how it had been for the past three years.

But now, her heart felt different.

This sense of loneliness and silence seemed to be tearing her apart.

"Turns out, I still can't fully adapt to being alone," Hu Yuying murmured to herself.

In the past, she had enjoyed the solitude and the quiet.

But now, compared to the loneliness, she longed to hear Long Aotian's voice.

"It's so nice to have someone to talk to..."

"I'm really lucky."

After saying this, Hu Yuying smiled and headed to the kitchen to prepare her dinner.

To an outsider, Hu Yuying had changed so much.

Once a cute yet gloomy young woman, she now wore a smile—a sign of the best and most perfect transformation.

Seeing the remaining meat in the fridge,

Hu Yuying ran back to her room and took her phone from under her pillow.

She opened her chat with Long Aotian: "Long Aotian, do you want porridge tomorrow?"

"Yes," came Long Aotian's quick reply.

Seeing his response, Hu Yuying put her phone in her pocket and returned to the kitchen. She took out the meat to thaw and cut a portion.

After finishing, she sent another message: "Okay."

Seeing Hu Yuying's message,

Long Aotian turned over and turned off the light.

Meanwhile,

Hu Yuying put the thawed meat in the fridge's fresh-keeping compartment.

She washed up, changed her clothes, and lay down on her bed.

The next morning,

she turned off the alarm.

Hu Yuying rubbed her messy, fluffy hair and tied it up with a claw clip.

The morning was still chilly, and she shivered slightly, wrinkling her nose, which helped her wake up.

She went to the kitchen, filled the pot, and began chopping the meat.

Everything was done in an orderly manner, without a hint of panic.

Soon, the sky began to lighten.

Sitting on the doorstep, she propped her chin on her hand and gazed at the whitening sky.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Hu Yuying was startled, not expecting anyone to knock so early in the morning.

Fear crept in.

She remembered the last time someone knocked—it had been Ye Liangchen.

Nervously, she grabbed a broom and approached the door, trying to peek through the crack to see who it was.

"Hu Yuying," the person outside called out, having spotted her through the gap.

Hearing the voice, Hu Yuying put down the broom and opened the door.

As the door swung open, Long Aotian was about to complain about her not checking her phone,

but he paused for a moment.

Standing before him was Hu Yuying, wearing a loose floral short-sleeve shirt and matching knee-length shorts.

Her slender arms and legs, pale and delicate, were somewhat dazzling.

"Long Aotian, why... why are you here?"

Her innocent, clear eyes sparkled with surprise and amusement, her long lashes blinking softly. The snow-white nape of her neck, exposed by her tied-up hair, exuded a faint, alluring fragrance—a mix of shampoo and her natural scent.

Seeing Long Aotian's stunned expression, Hu Yuying tentatively reached out her hand and suddenly noticed her bare arms!

She snapped back to reality, looking down, and a blush spread across her neck!

Quickly clutching her loose collar, she turned around. "I... I forgot to change my clothes. I'll go change..."

Without waiting for Long Aotian's reply, she hurried back to her bedroom.

Her flushed face and soft, anxious voice perfectly embodied a charm that was both delicate and enchanting.

Watching Hu Yuying's retreating figure, Long Aotian took a deep breath. Though still youthful, she already possessed a beauty that could captivate anyone.

Long Aotian touched his nose, deciding to take back his earlier thoughts.

Hu Yuying wasn't just a stick—she had her own charms...

Back in her room, Hu Yuying looked at herself in the mirror.

She loosened her grip on her collar, revealing her collarbone, and rubbed her face in frustration.

Recalling Long Aotian's stunned gaze,

she stood on tiptoe, trying to see if anything was visible from his perspective.

Of course, she couldn't see anything, so she assumed Long Aotian hadn't either.

Taking a deep breath, she changed into her school uniform and walked back out.

Long Aotian was standing in the yard, not entering the house.

Pushing aside the bamboo curtain, Hu Yuying tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, embarrassed. "I... I didn't know you'd come over..."

"Didn't you say we were having porridge?" Long Aotian coughed lightly.

"Oh, right! Just wait a moment, Long Aotian. It's almost ready." She went into the kitchen, lifted the lid of the pot, and checked the fragrant, bubbling porridge.

Hu Yuying turned off the stove.

Through the window, she glanced at Long Aotian's figure and pressed her hand to her chest...