Chapter 94
“No, it shouldn’t be like this.”
With that, Ye Liangchen directly dialed Li Qingxue’s QQ video.
Seeing the video call end abruptly, Ye Liangchen’s breath quickened. He quickly typed on his phone: “Qingxue, are you trying to drive me to my grave?”
Li Qingxue: [Ye Liangchen, are you out of your mind? Is there nothing in your head besides romance?]
[What did you say back in the classroom?]
[You said we’d just be friends from now on. So why are you saying all these strange things now?]
After reading Ye Liangchen’s messages, Li Qingxue couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anger.
What did he mean by trying to drive him to his grave?
What had she done to make him feel that way?
Li Qingxue recalled how many times she had been angry with Ye Liangchen in the last half year of their senior year. If it weren’t for encountering Long Aotian, her mindset would have been completely influenced by him.
Thinking of this, Li Qingxue instinctively compared Ye Liangchen with Long Aotian.
The more she thought about Long Aotian, the more her previously troubled mood began to shift.
Indeed, some people only provide positive emotional value, while others carelessly bring all their negative emotions to you.
Ye Liangchen: [Qingxue, how can you say that? Do you have any idea what I’ve done for you? Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed for you?]
[You still haven’t seen your true feelings clearly. Nine years of knowing each other, nine years of companionship—admitting you love me is really that hard?]
[Just admit it! Doesn’t it hurt to keep it bottled up inside?]
Seeing Ye Liangchen’s messages, Li Qingxue rolled her eyes in exasperation. “I used to think we were the best of friends, that I genuinely saw you as an older brother.”
“Maybe I gave you some wrong impressions, but I’m telling you seriously now: I’ve never liked you.”
Feeling that her statement wasn’t strong enough, she added, “Not even for a moment.”
As she read the messages coming in, Ye Liangchen smiled. But as he smiled, two lines of tears slowly traced down his cheeks. “So you still haven’t come to your senses. Heh, well then, don’t blame me for slapping you with reality!”
“It seems that the only way to make you realize is for you to see how you lose me with your own eyes.”
“In the past, it was the treasure girl who made you feel a sense of crisis, ultimately leading to your regret and awakening.”
“Now, I can only use Qingmei Lin Wanqing to stimulate you, to make you feel that sense of crisis again, so you can finally realize and fall in love with me.”
“Don’t blame me; if you don’t look for other women, you won’t regret it. But if you do, that’s when you’ll feel heartache. Heh, it turns out this kind of pain is something you must go through. Everything was already destined…”
---
**Chapter 113: Be Happy!**
For a while after that, Long Aotian found himself wandering to the market for no particular reason.
When it was crowded, he could chat with the elderly folks buying pork.
When it was empty, he seemed to lose all his energy, standing up every so often to scan the market.
He didn’t even know what he was looking for.
“Son, why don’t you go home and rest for a bit?” The old man, noticing Long Aotian’s lackluster demeanor, spoke up.
Long Aotian yawned. “I’m fine; I’m not tired.”
“Go on, go play if you don’t want to go home. I can handle things here by myself.”
The old man insisted, urging Long Aotian to leave.
Was this about being tired or not?
Not long ago, he was out early and back late, and every time he returned, he was all smiles, ready to tackle the next day with enthusiasm.
But now, despite saying he was tired and wanted to rest at home, he only seemed to grow more listless.
It was clear he had something on his mind...
“Alright then.” Long Aotian didn’t press the issue further.
After tidying up a bit, he walked out of the market.
Watching Long Aotian’s retreating figure, the old man chuckled, wiped his hands on his apron, and lit a cigarette.
With nothing to do, Long Aotian stepped out of the market, unsure of what to do next.
When he had tasks to occupy him, time flew by, and he didn’t feel bored.
But when he was idle, his thoughts would wander aimlessly.
At his age, he should be living life to the fullest.
Most people his age would head to an internet café when bored, hang out with friends, or at the very least, go sing karaoke—there were countless ways to entertain oneself.
But Long Aotian’s mental age had long surpassed that phase.
Perhaps only those a bit older could understand this feeling, as if there was nothing left worth playing for.
Thinking back, ever since he had crossed over to this world, everything that had happened around him seemed to revolve around Hu Yuying, or at least, she was always in the picture.
Before he knew it, he had reached the banks of the Shuiwan River.
This place was the only spot in this unfamiliar world where he could find relief and relaxation.
In his previous life, growing up in an orphanage, he had always been alone.
If he were to say he was used to loneliness, it was more accurate to say that he understood the silent confusion that came with solitude.
When he first arrived in this strange world, Long Aotian particularly enjoyed the quiet.
The brief moments of silence allowed him to adapt to this new environment more quickly.
Here, apart from the sound of flowing water, the wind, and the scent of grass and earth, there were no other distracting noises.
Another gentle breeze, carrying a hint of dampness, swept by, and suddenly, Long Aotian felt a strong desire.
It was a desire to express himself.
“Indeed, one shouldn’t be too idle; it’s all about being idle!”
“Not idleness; you just haven’t found your own way to relieve stress.”
Long Aotian was taken aback and looked at the newcomer. “Did you plant a tracker on me?”
Li Qingxue rolled her eyes but felt a bit unsure of herself. “Stop slandering me! Just because you like the environment here doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it too!”
As she spoke, she walked over to Long Aotian.
Today, Li Qingxue wore a simple yet elegant white dress, youthful and radiant, her skin as fair as snow. She was truly a beautiful girl.
She set down her small basket and took out a medium-sized blanket, spreading it on the ground before sitting down.
After sitting, she looked at the dazed Long Aotian with a smug smile, her expression a mix of pride and playfulness.
Then she pulled out drinks, fruits, and two small cakes from her basket. “Hmph, didn’t expect this, did you? I’m here to enjoy a lovely afternoon. Strictly speaking, you’re taking advantage of me!”
The youthful energy radiating from her effortlessly influenced everything around them, creating a relaxed atmosphere...
After laughing enough, she continued, “You seem so old-fashioned.”
“Old-fashioned? I’m still young!”
“But you’re different from most people. Especially the way you were just now—so sentimental, sighing and moaning. It feels like the world in your eyes is so complicated, and you seem to have a lot on your mind. Not at all relaxed.”
“That’s why you seem old-fashioned.”
This wasn’t just Li Qingxue’s random observation; it was a genuine feeling she had when she first saw Long Aotian.
In her eyes, at least the classmates she knew were all quite happy.
Some were excited about the upcoming college life.
Others were thrilled about stepping into society.
In Li Qingxue’s view, she saw the vitality and aspirations bursting forth from them.
But when she looked at Long Aotian, she saw a complex emotion that didn’t match his age, devoid of any youthful passion.
It seemed she could somewhat understand what Long Aotian meant when he said he could see through Hu Yuying.
At least in that moment, she felt she could understand a bit of Long Aotian.
“So what should I do?” Long Aotian smiled but still asked.
“Be happy!” Li Qingxue blinked and smiled.
Remembering how Long Aotian had always encouraged her, Li Qingxue decided to return the favor: “When you’re usually advising others, you seem so open-minded. Why can’t you be the same with yourself?”
“Alright, I’ll try to be a bit happier.”
“See? That’s why I said you seem old-fashioned. You have to ‘try’ to be happy.” As she spoke, Li Qingxue looked around, then picked up a handful of small stones from the ground.
“Come on, follow me.” Li Qingxue tugged at Long Aotian.
To go along with her, Long Aotian stood up and let her lead him toward the water’s edge.
“Hey, be careful! There’s no railing down there.”
Below the water’s edge was the Shuiwan River, which had risen significantly after a heavy rain a few days ago.
To be honest, Long Aotian couldn’t swim. Those who couldn’t swim would instinctively be cautious near the water’s edge; it was just instinct.
Table of Contents
