Owing him from a past life, so this life is all about repaying him.

The village was never short of vast open fields.

Not long ago, snow had just fallen.

Long Aotian finally saw the white world Hu Yuying had described.

In the empty fields, the wheat sprouts had barely grown before being buried under the snow, stretching into a boundless expanse of white.

Walking through such scenery,

one couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace.

Hand in hand as they strolled through the fields, Long Aotian asked softly, "Do you like it here?"

The village was nothing like the city.

In the city, there were endless places to have fun.

But here, apart from the sprawling fields, there were hardly any entertainment facilities.

"I love it," Long Aotian replied. "After seeing nothing but steel and concrete, the endless traffic and noise, coming here feels so quiet. The air is fresh, and it’s so relaxing."

Then he turned to Hu Yuying. "What did you usually do for fun when you were alone in the village?"

"Oh, I had plenty of things to do!" Hu Yuying said playfully.

"Like what? Take me along—I want to experience your daily life, little girl."

"It might be a bit boring. Are you sure you still want to try?"

Long Aotian didn’t answer, simply looking at her intently.

"Then wait here for me a moment," Hu Yuying said before turning and running off.

About ten minutes later, she returned carrying a vegetable basket. "Long Aotian, come with me."

She led him toward the back mountain.

The back mountain had a well-trodden path from frequent use.

But with the recent snowfall, their progress was slow.

It took them a while to reach Hu Yuying’s secret hideout—a secluded little platform.

Scattered around were broken bricks, some still bearing traces of scorch marks.

Hu Yuying gathered the bricks, skillfully arranging them into a circle, then took dry firewood from her basket and started a fire.

"When I was alone, I’d help my grandparents with chores, and in my free time, I’d come here," she explained.

"Sometimes I’d read, sometimes I’d grill food, just sitting here, looking at the distant village, the blue sky, the white clouds..."

She turned to Long Aotian. "Pretty boring, right?"

"Not at all," he said. "Many people would give anything for this kind of peace and quiet. And here you are, enjoying what others dream of in your spare time. How could that be boring?"

Hu Yuying nodded gently.

"I’m lucky—lucky to be born in this era." She crouched down, feeding the fire with more wood. "In the past, many people never traveled farther than the nearest town in their entire lives."

"My grandparents were like that. I’m fortunate to have left the village, to see the wider world, to witness broader skies and clouds."

"I cherish it. I work hard. But no matter how good things are outside, every time I come back here, I feel an indescribable comfort. So no, I’m never bored."

As she spoke, Long Aotian cleared two spots on the platform and pulled her down to sit beside him.

No words were needed. Just being together was enough.

Gradually, Hu Yuying leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Did you take good care of yourself while I was gone?" This separation had felt unbearably long for her.

Even during summer breaks, they’d never been apart this long.

She missed him—so much that even though they were the closest of people, she couldn’t bring herself to say it outright. Instead, she asked indirectly.

"I missed you. So much."

Long Aotian turned to look at her. Their faces were so close now.

He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers—a fleeting touch, cool yet warm with longing.

"A hint of alcohol," Hu Yuying murmured.

Long Aotian chuckled. "That’s from my silent conversations with Grandpa."

At his words, Hu Yuying laughed and lightly punched his chest. "What did my grandpa say to you?"

Wrapping an arm around her, Long Aotian replied, "He said a lot."

"Really?" Hu Yuying was skeptical. She knew her grandfather better than anyone—a quiet, simple man who rarely spoke. Would he really have talked so much with Long Aotian?

"Really. He said his granddaughter has a gentle nature. If she ever does anything wrong, he hopes I’ll be patient and not bully her. And if she makes me angry, I should tell him, and he’ll scold her for me..."

Hu Yuying fell silent.

The love and concern of family always struck straight to the heart.

"But I told him I love everything about you—your little whims, your occasional temper. Loving all your good qualities means I can embrace your flaws too."

"Putting you first was never just empty words."

"You might not believe it, but I actually love it when you fuss over me. Some people might feel stifled, but not me."

Hu Yuying bit her lip and looked up. "Really?"

"Really. Being good to you is my duty, my choice, and my privilege. It’s what I want to do for you."

"If I were ten years younger mentally, maybe I’d be different. But as I am now, I just want to be myself. The way you stand up for me, the way you always give me face in front of others—you deserve everything I can give."

Hu Yuying smiled faintly. "Sometimes I feel like you know everything, Long Aotian. You’re almost too mature."

"Being a little oblivious isn’t always a bad thing. Why take everything so seriously?"

"I know you all mean well, and that’s enough for me. The rest, I’ll leave to you. I’m not some domineering man—like I said, I like being looked after."

"Live in the moment, be happy now. With all of you, I always feel this inexplicable guilt. Maybe your lives would’ve been brighter without me. But since you chose me, I’ll do my best to make you happy."

"That’s not true at all," Hu Yuying protested. "Love goes both ways. We want you to be happy too."

Suddenly mentioning Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning stirred a strange emotion in Hu Yuying—something buried deep in her soul.

She didn’t even understand why she could accept them so easily, let alone get along with them so well...

If she had to explain it, maybe in their past lives, all three of them owed Long Aotian something. And now, in this life, they were here to repay him...

Recommend Series

Too Wicked Princess? Embracing Her Leads to Unexpected Delight!

Too Wicked Princess? Embracing Her Leads to Unexpected Delight!

+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!

Transmigrated Into the CEO Brother of the Real and Fake Heiresses

Transmigrated Into the CEO Brother of the Real and Fake Heiresses

u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.

After Amnesia, They All Say They’re My Girlfriend

After Amnesia, They All Say They’re My Girlfriend

reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?

Being a Wandering Singer in the Cultivation World

Being a Wandering Singer in the Cultivation World

't think I'm that capable, I'm just trying my best to stay alive. I've been kind all my life, never did anything bad, yet worldly suffering spared me not one bit. The human world is a nice place, but I won't come back in my next life. A kind young man, who wanted to just get by singing, but through repeated deceits and betrayals, has gone down an irredeemable path.