I Will Always Let You Win

The day after the semester ended.

The audition venue was even livelier than expected.

Long Aotian, Hu Yuying, and Li Qingxue held up glow sticks, waving them vigorously to cheer for Lin Wanning, who was performing on stage.

The audition format required contestants to sing a cappella, after which the judges would score them. If two judges approved, the contestant would advance directly to the next round.

As expected, Lin Wanning received high scores from all three judges after her performance, securing her spot in the next round.

The result had Hu Yuying and Li Qingxue jumping with excitement, as if they were the ones who had passed.

"Why aren’t you excited, Long Aotian?" Li Qingxue asked, noticing his calm expression.

Long Aotian feigned profundity. "It was expected. If she hadn’t passed, I’d have been shocked!"

"Then let’s celebrate tonight! I’ll be leaving tomorrow." Li Qingxue turned to Hu Yuying. "Are you sure you don’t want to come back to Haiwan City with me?"

"Your parents are picking you up, and they must miss you. They might even take you sightseeing along the way. I’ll pass," Hu Yuying replied with a smile.

Long Aotian glanced at Li Qingxue—she was clearly reluctant to part. "We’ll see you off at school tomorrow."

"Yeah." This time, Li Qingxue didn’t argue with him.

Soon, Lin Wanning joined them backstage.

Back at home, Lin Wanning shared her holiday plans.

She didn’t want to go back. Since the next elimination round would be held in the same place a week later, she decided to stay.

Meanwhile, Long Aotian and Hu Yuying had booked their tickets home for two days later, waiting until after Lin Wanning’s audition.

"Cheers!"

Their time together was short, but it was tinged with reluctance.

Ever since they started living together, this would be their longest separation.

The next morning, no one slept in.

They got up early, had breakfast, and prepared to send Li Qingxue back to University A.

As Long Aotian helped her with her luggage, she suddenly asked, "Long Aotian, will you miss me?"

"You better miss me, got it? Otherwise... otherwise, I’ll keep bothering you."

Li Qingxue, usually so proud, sounded choked up as she spoke.

Long Aotian chuckled and gently pulled her into a hug. "It’s just a trip home. Why make it sound like a life-or-death farewell? Aren’t you embarrassed?"

"It’s your fault for always spoiling us. You’ve made me so attached. You should take full responsibility."

He pinched her nose playfully. "Who else would I spoil? If you don’t mind me being the ‘grass-eater next door,’ why should I complain? I’m more than satisfied."

"I always annoy you. Doesn’t it make you angry?"

"If I only focused on that and ignored how much you care for me, I’d be the worst."

"I don’t need you to change for anyone. Here, you can just be your truest self."

"Whether you’re happy, joyful, or sad, I’ll accept it all. Not for any other reason—just because it’s you."

With that, Long Aotian picked up the suitcase again. "If I couldn’t even do that—if I couldn’t tolerate the women I love, arguing every few days—why would you even want to be with me?"

"So, in love, there’s no winning or losing. But if there were, I’d always let you win."

"Let’s go!"

Watching his retreating figure, Li Qingxue felt a pang in her heart. She bit her lip, smiled faintly, and hurried after him. "So, if you’re good to us now, will you keep being good to us in the future?"

"How far in the future?"

"Like, a really, really long time."

"That long? Well, we’ll see."

"Hey! No ‘we’ll see’!"

Seeing Long Aotian and Li Qingxue bickering as they ran out, Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning couldn’t help but laugh.

With the holidays over, the usually bustling campus entrance now felt deserted.

Around ten o’clock, a black car with Haiwan City license plates pulled up slowly.

Spotting it, Li Qingxue waved excitedly.

She turned back to Long Aotian, Hu Yuying, and Lin Wanning. "I’m off."

They watched as she walked toward the car, as her parents waved at them, and finally, as the car disappeared from sight.

Only then did the three of them look away.

"Let’s go home," Long Aotian said.

"Without the loudest, most lively one around, it feels like something’s missing. It’s weird," Lin Wanning murmured, taking a deep breath.

"Imagine how you’ll feel when we’re all gone," Hu Yuying teased.

"Ugh, don’t say that! I can’t even picture how I’ll survive without you all," Lin Wanning whined, scrunching her face in mock distress.

"Why not come to Haiwan City with us?"

Knowing about Lin Wanning’s strained family situation and her reluctance to return, Hu Yuying made the suggestion.

There was plenty of space at her family’s place.

"Maybe next time. The PK round is in a week, and if I make it through, I could be on TV by May."

Before the audition, Lin Wanning had been nervous, but after the first round, her confidence had grown, and she was now full of hope for the future.

"I’ll be your manager!" Long Aotian declared.

"Deal. You’ll be my top manager."

Just then, Long Aotian’s phone rang.

Seeing an unknown number, he answered on impulse.

"Long Aotian, it’s Shen Mengjie. Come to the school. I have something for you."

Without waiting for a response, she hung up.

"Something urgent?" Hu Yuying asked softly.

"Nothing serious. I’ll take you two home first, then head to the school."

"No need for the trouble. Do you think we’ll get lost?" Hu Yuying laughed. "Wanning and I will wait for you at home."

"Alright."

Back at University T, Long Aotian called Shen Mengjie back.

The call was disconnected after two rings. Staring at his phone, he wondered if she was messing with him.

Then, a message popped up on QQ.

"Track field."

Tucking his phone away, he headed toward their usual training ground.

The campus was eerily quiet, with barely anyone around.

Soon, he spotted Shen Mengjie in the distance.

"You’re not going home? Why call me here? What did you want to give me?" Long Aotian jogged over.

Without a word, Shen Mengjie handed him a small box.

"Is this for me?" Long Aotian frowned slightly as he looked at the clothes in the gift box, finding them vaguely familiar...