Faced with the little girl’s teasing, Long Aotian chuckled lightly, “Yeah, a bit absent-minded.”
He took her to a small restaurant in the backstreets.
This place had been recomnded by Xu Shuai—affordable and tasty.
“Two bowls of rice noodles, please.” After ordering, Long Aotian turned to the little girl. “My roommate recomnded this place. Said the rice noodles are great. Let’s give them a try.”
“Okay.” Hu Yuying glanced at the price list on the wall and nodded cheerfully. Five yuan a bowl—definitely a good deal in her eyes.
To her, taste was secondary; affordability mattered most.
“Long-ge, let tell you…” She launched into sharing amusing anecdotes from her ti at A University, as she always did.
Watching her animated expressions and endless chatter, Long Aotian’s heart grew heavy.
As she spoke, their steaming clay-pot rice noodles arrived.
Long Aotian wiped a small bowl clean, ladled in so rich broth, added a dash of sesa oil, and placed it before Hu Yuying with a smile. “Try it.”
“Long-ge, can I add so chili?” The vibrant red chili oil looked irresistibly appetizing.
“Of course.” He quickly drizzled so in for her, indulging her every whim.
“You should eat too, Long-ge.” Hu Yuying took a bite and bead. “So delicious!”
She always radiated warmth, trusting him wholeheartedly, caring for him unconditionally.
The more he thought about it, the more Long Aotian wanted to slap himself.
To him, she was a rare treasure—precious beyond asure. What an incredible girl she was.
And what a despicable, shaless bastard he was.
His guilt twisted inside him. If Yuying ever found out, she’d be devastated. He’d beco irredeemable in her eyes.
Yet from the mont he decided to keep it hidden, his conscience had been in turmoil.
It showed plainly.
Before, conversations with her flowed effortlessly. Now, he hesitated to speak, afraid.
So much so that today, he barely tasted the noodles at all.
In the car, her arms wrapped around his waist.
“Long-ge, is sothing bothering you?”
He shook his head, forcing a laugh. “No.”
“Liar.”
Those two words made his body stiffen instantly.
“I might not be able to help, but I can always listen,” Hu Yuying murmured, pressing her cheek against his back. “Didn’t you tell once? Keeping things bottled up plants thorns in your heart. But sharing them—whether solved or not—brings relief.”
Long Aotian feigned nonchalance. “Really, it’s nothing. Just tired from poor sleep this afternoon.” Read complete version only at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟
One lie demanded countless others. He knew that. But he couldn’t bear her disappointnt. Right now, he felt utterly spineless.
“Long-ge, you don’t have to pick up every day. I’m not a kid—I can get ho myself. I used to co find you all the ti, rember? I won’t get lost.”
Her tone was playful, careful not to burden him.
If she could manage alone, she wouldn’t weigh him down.
Her kindness was innate—especially toward her Long-ge. For him, she’d give everything.
“Not a chance. Escorting my Yuying is a dream co true.” He emphasized “my” deliberately.
Greed changes people. Long Aotian was no exception. He clung to her desperately, unwilling to let go.
A vile thought whispered: if he buried this secret deep enough, she’d never know. He could pretend it never happened. How wretched.
“Life’s busy, but I love it.”
He freed one hand to clasp hers around his waist.
“You know —I can’t sit still. Never could.”
His voice softened. “Though… Yuying could stand to be a little greedier sotis.”
Hu Yuying laughed brightly. “I’m already plenty greedy.”
To her, promising herself to Long-ge—sworn and sealed—was greed enough.
This greedy heart of hers was already overflowing.
“Just a tiny bit more.”
“Too much greed is indigestible. I only want Long-ge. Even that’s already too much… but I’m so happy.” She spread her arms, her quiet voice brimming with joy.
“What if… one day, the little girl finds out her Long-ge did sothing bad?” he ventured.
“Then I’d smack the back of his head,” she answered thoughtfully, “to knock so sense into him. So he stops doing bad things.”
“That’s… all?”
She nuzzled against him and nodded firmly. “Mhm. Because Long-ge treats so, so well. Soone like … to be cherished by the one I love…”
“You’re a good person. The very best.”
Her words only deepened his sha. I’m not half as good as you think.
Before he knew it, they were ho.
The door swung open, and Hu Yuying dashed back to his side. “We’re ho!”
“Yeah. Ho. Our ho.”
In the yard, he gazed at the half-renovated rooms. “By winter, this’ll be ours.”
“I’ll make dumplings for you then.”
“I’ll roll the wrappers.”
Hu Yuying gaped. “Long-ge can roll dumpling wrappers?”
“Hey, what’s that look? That tone—you think I’m an idiot?”
“No, no! Long-ge’s super smart!”
“Too late. Punishnt ti.”
She backed away, grinning but pretending fear. “Nooo, don’t punish ~” Then darted off laughing.
Under the lamplight, Long Aotian held her close, breathing in her scent, feeling her heartbeat. “The moon’s beautiful tonight.”
But it wasn’t the moon. The one in his arms outshone it entirely.
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