A Hint of Sweetness Fills the Heart

Walking out of the narrow alley,

they stepped onto a broader road outside.

Hu Yuying didn’t ask where they were headed. She simply followed Long Aotian, walking forward, always moving ahead.

In the past, Hu Yuying loved studying, as if she didn’t know what else to do besides that.

But now, aside from studying, her favorite thing was being by Long Aotian’s side, even if they were doing nothing more than walking together.

It was a strange sense of peace, a fearless calm.

The corners of her lips curled slightly as she felt the sunlight and the gentle breeze. Her hair fluttered as she quietly glanced at Long Aotian beside her.

This feeling—it was wonderful.

Suddenly, Long Aotian stopped in his tracks. Hu Yuying, like a thief about to be caught, quickly averted her gaze.

“Wait for me a moment.”

Long Aotian’s eyes fell on a snowflake dew stand not far away.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you, Brother Long.” Hu Yuying smiled brightly and nodded earnestly at Long Aotian.

“Silly girl.” Seeing the smile on Hu Yuying’s face, Long Aotian couldn’t help but smile too.

It didn’t take long.

Long Aotian returned with two cups of snowflake dew.

He handed one to Hu Yuying. “Try it. It’s really refreshing.”

Cool and sweet, she took a sip through the straw.

Her eyes curved into little crescents as she looked up at Long Aotian. “So sweet.”

In the sunlight, the girl’s eyes were as clear and bright as morning dew, sparkling like countless stars.

So sweet, truly sweet.

Sweets always seemed to lift one’s spirits.

Long Aotian was momentarily stunned as he watched Hu Yuying look up at him with a smile.

It was just a cup of snowflake dew, just a little sweetness.

But that tiny bit of sweetness was enough to fill Hu Yuying’s heart.

How much hardship had this girl endured before...

Then, looking at the glow of the setting sun, he said, “Of course. Life is like that—sometimes a little busy, sometimes a little annoying, and occasionally a little bitter. That’s why we always need a little sweetness to balance it out.”

“Mhm.” Hu Yuying held the snowflake dew in both hands. This little bit of sweetness was something Brother Long had given her.

The two continued walking,

as if without a destination.

Eventually, Long Aotian brought Hu Yuying to the riverside at Shuiwan.

The afternoon at Shuiwan was livelier than the morning, not just in noise but in the number of people.

They found a spot on the grass and sat down.

The first time Hu Yuying had lain on the grass and looked at the sky was with Long Aotian on the school’s sports field.

This was the second time. Near the riverside, the wind was stronger, carrying the scent of grass and earth as it brushed against her cheeks. Hu Yuying slowly closed her eyes, quietly savoring the moment.

Unlike Li Qingxue, Hu Yuying could feel the tranquility of nature from the very first time.

Because everyone’s mindset is different.

Just as Long Aotian said, he understood Hu Yuying.

But no one else could say they understood her the way Long Aotian did.

Long Aotian didn’t disturb Hu Yuying as she lay on the grass, quietly closing her eyes and settling her thoughts.

Studying was monotonous and exhausting, and it required moments to relax the mind and body.

This place wasn’t anything extraordinary, but the flowing water, the sound of the wind, the grass, and the earth could calm one’s heart.

Lying on the grass, Hu Yuying opened her beautiful eyes and looked at Long Aotian’s back.

She gazed quietly, as if her eyes could only hold Long Aotian’s presence.

The girl didn’t understand what it meant to have her heart flutter. She only knew that being with him made her happy.

“Yuying.” After a while, a lazy, carefree voice broke the silence.

“Hmm?”

“The college entrance exam is coming up.”

Hu Yuying’s heart skipped a beat. “Yeah.”

“A University is the second starting point of your life. Tell me, you’ll easily get in, right?”

Hu Yuying opened her mouth, but the smile on her face slowly stiffened.

Long Aotian didn’t look at her but continued, “You’ve worked so hard, never giving up on your beliefs. This time, you’re not just giving yourself a satisfactory answer.”

“You’re also fulfilling your family’s expectations and mine as your big brother. Tell me, you’ll definitely get in, right?”

The air seemed to freeze at that moment, and even the sounds faded away. All that remained was Hu Yuying’s soft whisper, “Yeah.”

Long Aotian smiled and turned to look at her. “You’ll step by step climb to the peak of life. Then, when I brag to others, I’ll be so proud!”

“After all, I’m your big brother.” Though Long Aotian said this with a smile, there was an undeniable weight to his words.

Meeting Long Aotian’s smiling eyes, Hu Yuying didn’t respond as she usually did—smiling and nodding with a firm “Mhm.”

This time, Hu Yuying remained silent.

“Why so dazed? I’ll hit you if you keep spacing out.”

“Brother Long, will we still...”

Before she could finish, Long Aotian cut her off with a laugh.

“The sun will rise, and everyone will move forward in the same unchanging direction. Like the silent turning of a clock’s hands, we’ll meet again on that long, endless road.”

“I’m really looking forward to what Hu Yuying will be like four years from now—more beautiful, more mature, more confident, or perhaps still unnoticed...”

“But let me warn you, if you don’t do well, don’t you dare say you were my little follower.”

After a long pause, Hu Yuying spoke softly, “I won’t.”

“Oh, my little follower sounds pretty confident! Well, I’ll be waiting to see!” Long Aotian said, extending a fist toward Hu Yuying.

Hu Yuying looked at his fist, then glanced up at him with confusion.

Long Aotian sighed with a helpless chuckle.

His clenched fist slowly opened, revealing his pinky finger.

Seeing Long Aotian’s extended pinky, Hu Yuying pressed her lips together and let out a soft laugh. She then extended her own pinky, saying, “Pinky promise, a hundred years...”

She paused for a moment, then looked at Long Aotian and said with utmost seriousness, “A hundred years, no changes...”

Then she pressed her thumb against his, sealing the promise.

*Click!*

The sound of a camera shutter echoed.

Long Aotian and Hu Yuying turned their heads simultaneously.

*Click!*

This time, the flash lit up their faces.

“What are you doing?” Long Aotian stood up and approached the photographer, his tall and sturdy frame closing the distance in just a few steps.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. You can tell by my appearance that I’m an artist,” the man said, adjusting his long hair and pushing his glasses up his nose as he quickly explained.

As he spoke, two photos popped out of the camera.

The first photo captured Long Aotian and Hu Yuying’s backs as they made their pinky promise.

The second photo showed the two of them turning their heads at the sound of the shutter.

“I’m a writer, wandering through various cities to collect material,” the man explained as Long Aotian and Hu Yuying looked at the photos.

“If you like these photos, I’ll give them to you.”

“Over the years, I’ve traveled to many cities and captured countless moments. When I saw your backs, it reminded me of a young couple I once saw in Shanghai. I couldn’t help but take the shot.”

“I wonder how they’re doing now. I hope you don’t mind.”

At the mention of “young couple,” Long Aotian and Hu Yuying couldn’t help but glance at each other...

[Night owls, bats, good night. Rest well.]