Chapter 74
Long Ao Tian chuckled and turned to Hu Yu Ying. “You need to take it step by step to reach the pinnacle of life. That way, when I brag about you in the future, I can do it with pride!”
“I’m your big brother, after all.” Although Long Ao Tian said this with a smile, the weight of his words was unmistakable.
Meeting Long Ao Tian’s eyes, which sparkled with mirth, Hu Yu Ying was no longer her usual self. She smiled back and nodded, then gave a firm “Mm.”
This time, Hu Yu Ying didn’t say anything more.
“Lost in thought? What are you dawdling for? Come on, let’s get moving.”
“Long Ge, we still...”
Before she could finish, Long Ao Tian interrupted her with a laugh.
“The sun will rise, and everyone will move forward in the same unchanging direction, just like the silent ticking of a clock. We will eventually meet on that long road ahead.”
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what Hu Yu Ying will be like four years from now. Will you be even more beautiful, more mature, more confident, or perhaps just quietly unnoticed...”
“I should warn you, if you don’t do well by then, don’t go around saying you’re my little sidekick.”
Little master, there’s more in this chapter! Click the next page to continue reading; it gets even more exciting!
After a long pause, Hu Yu Ying spoke softly, “I won’t.”
“Oh, looks like my little sidekick is quite confident! I’ll be waiting to see!” Long Ao Tian said, extending his fist toward Hu Yu Ying.
She glanced at his fist, then looked back at him, puzzled.
Long Ao Tian chuckled, shaking his head with a sigh.
He slowly opened his fist to reveal his pinky finger.
Seeing Long Ao Tian’s pinky, Hu Yu Ying couldn’t help but smile, then extended her own pinky in return, saying, “Pinky swear, for a hundred years...”
She paused for a moment, then looked at Long Ao Tian with utmost seriousness, adding, “For a hundred years, you can’t change...”
Then she raised her thumb to seal the deal.
Click!
The sound of a camera shutter echoed.
Both Long Ao Tian and Hu Yu Ying turned to look.
Click!
This time, the flash even reflected on their faces.
“What are you doing?” Long Ao Tian stood up and strode over to the person taking the photo, his tall and muscular frame covering the distance in just a few steps.
“Don’t be nervous! Just look at me, and you’ll know I’m an artist.” The photographer adjusted his long hair and pushed up his glasses, quickly explaining.
As he spoke, two photos popped up on the camera.
One photo captured Long Ao Tian and Hu Yu Ying making a pinky promise, their backs turned to the camera.
The second photo showed them turning back in surprise at the sound.
“I’m a writer, traveling through various cities to gather material,” he explained as he watched Long Ao Tian and Hu Yu Ying look at the photos together.
“If you like these two photos, they’re yours.”
“I’ve been to many cities over the years, capturing countless moments. Seeing your backs reminded me of a young couple in the Magic City, and I couldn’t help but take the shot.”
“I wonder how they’re doing now. I hope you don’t mind.”
Upon hearing the words “young couple,” Long Ao Tian and Hu Yu Ying exchanged glances...
【Night owls, bats, good night, and rest early.】
Chapter 89: Like a Serious Adult
Seeing both of them look at him in unison, the photographer had no idea what Long Ao Tian and Hu Yu Ying were thinking; he just assumed they didn’t believe him.
So he pulled out an album from his backpack.
He quickly found the relevant photos, feeling a sense of familiarity wash over him.
“Look at this.”
The people in the photos looked to be about the same age as them.
The boy had a sunny smile, while the girl appeared sweet and shy.
In the photo, their eyes were only for each other, radiating tenderness and love.
The second photo captured them in a sweet embrace.
The joy and happiness on their faces were enough to move anyone who saw the pictures.
In the background of these two photos, a piece of blue stone stood out prominently.
【Chen Tong, I love you.】
【Su Tong, me too.】
As Hu Yu Ying looked at these two photos, she instinctively compared them to the ones she held in her hands.
A faint smile crept onto her lips, sweet and satisfied.
She still thought her photos with Long Ge looked better.
Though 【Chen Tong and Su Tong were beautiful】, Hu Yu Ying felt that she and Long Ge were simply more photogenic.
“Long Ge, can I have these photos?” Hu Yu Ying asked softly.
She genuinely, truly loved those two pictures.
“If you like them, take them,” Long Ao Tian replied after glancing at the photos.
That old guy, despite everything, took some pretty good shots.
“Thank you!” Hu Yu Ying said, happily hugging the photos to her chest.
“Such a silly grin.”
Hu Yu Ying turned her back to Long Ao Tian. “I’m not silly; I’m just happy!”
...
When Hu Yu Ying returned home, she carefully tucked the photos between the pages of her book.
But not long after, she took them out again.
Looking at the photo of herself and Long Ge, she couldn’t help but study his expression.
Especially since their hands were still linked, she gently traced her fingers over her own, feeling her heart race, her breath quicken, and her cheeks warm.
After a long while, this innocent, kind-hearted girl finally understood that this fluttering feeling was what it meant to have a crush. She also realized that someone like her could...
At that moment, she simply felt a deep sense of joy, her smile uncontrollable, as if her heart was overflowing with honeyed sweetness.
But suddenly, she recalled Long Ge’s words, and the smile in her eyes dimmed.
“We’re all moving toward an unchanging direction...”
“And I still owe you a set of clothes. You said you’d come and punch me if you chased me to the ends of the earth.”
Taking a deep breath, Hu Yu Ying pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of the photo.
It was a bit blurry; compared to the actual photos, the images from her smartphone were still somewhat unclear.
Carefully placing the photos back, she treated them as if they were truly precious.
She retrieved a metal box from under her bed.
Opening it revealed the money she had saved over the years.
There were both coins and bills.
From the very beginning, Hu Yu Ying knew what her goal was, so she had been working hard without ever slacking off.
Though there were moments of fleeting confusion.
But Long Ge’s words had ultimately strengthened her resolve.
This was the answer sheet for all her years of hard work, filled with her grandparents’ expectations and Long Ge’s hopes.
“After the college entrance examination, I’ll have more time to work and save enough for tuition.”
With that, she placed the book holding the photos into the metal box.
She even forgot to cook, sitting alone in her room, in that little courtyard, occasionally glancing at the photos on her phone, or playing with her little bunny plush...
At least in that moment, loneliness was far from her...
...
Lying on his bed, Long Ao Tian was lost in thought when his phone suddenly vibrated.
Hu Yu Ying: 【Image X2】
“What a silly girl!” Long Ao Tian chuckled, looking closely at the photos she sent, a smile creeping onto his face.
He clicked to save them.
Then he texted: 【Have you eaten yet?】
【Not yet, I’m not hungry.】
Actually, that wasn’t true. It was just that with Long Ge not around, she didn’t know what to cook, so she thought she’d make do with something simple.
It had always been like this, so it was fine.
【You should eat something. You’re already light enough; don’t let a gust of wind blow you away.】
Last time at school, when he pulled Hu Yu Ying back, she really was so light.
【If the wind blows me away, I can find my way back. I’m not scared.】
【Well, that’s pretty impressive.】
Seeing that message, Hu Yu Ying hugged her phone and lay back on her bed. “That’s because I have a really impressive big brother.”
She rolled over on the bed, then switched to her photo album for a while. As time passed, the hour that should have been for sleep came, but Hu Yu Ying felt no drowsiness.
Similarly, Long Ao Tian was in the same boat.
He was thinking about what Li Qing Xue had said today and Hu Yu Ying’s little gestures throughout the day.
Hu Yu Ying was indeed very good to him. In her presence, he didn’t have to worry about anything; she always took great care of him.
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