Chapter 95
Li Qingxue, however, was completely unafraid. She lifted the hem of her skirt to walk more easily, ensuring it wouldn’t get dirty.
Mainly, Li Qingxue had seen on TV how the male lead would comfort the female lead by taking her to the seaside, shouting into the ocean, or skipping stones.
Shouting was a way to release the pent-up frustrations in one’s heart, while skipping stones was a means of casting away one’s unhappiness.
At least, that’s how Li Qingxue saw it.
“I’m a girl and I’m not scared, so what are you afraid of?”
“Can you swim?”
Li Qingxue paused, thought for a moment, and replied, “No.”
“But we’re not going into the water. Even if you can’t swim, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Long Aotian couldn’t help but twitch his lips. Here she was, acting all brave despite not knowing how to swim...
Youthful ignorance, indeed.
Comparing themselves, he felt a bit old...
---
**Chapter 114: Listen to Your Mother**
As they spoke, Li Qingxue had already led Long Aotian to the water’s edge.
The river flowed, splashing water that created a delightful sound.
“When I was little, my mom always told me not to play near the water. But looking at it now, it’s really not that bad,” Li Qingxue said cheerfully.
She handed Long Aotian some stones from her basket. “Here, take these and throw them away. Please toss your worries away with them too.”
Long Aotian found it amusing but didn’t refuse, knowing that Li Qingxue was trying to help him lighten his mood.
He picked up a few stones and tossed them like skipping stones.
The stones skimmed across the water’s surface a few times, creating ripples before sinking to the bottom.
Watching Long Aotian skip stones was quite entertaining.
Li Qingxue picked up a stone and tried it herself, but she had no idea how to do it. The stone she threw sank straight to the bottom.
Seeing her clumsy attempt, Long Aotian couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at? I’ll definitely make a lot of ripples next time!”
With that, she picked up another stone. This time, she didn’t rush to throw it but took a deep breath, as if gathering strength.
From the way she held the stone, it was clear she was really trying to throw it farther.
But in the end, with a “plop,” the stone sank straight to the bottom.
There was a moment of silence.
Li Qingxue sneaked a glance at Long Aotian and found him looking back at her. She immediately said stubbornly, “I’ll definitely get it right next time.”
In truth, her tenacity was quite endearing. Perhaps it was this very trait that kept her youthful spirit alive, always pursuing freedom and perfection.
But to be honest, with the way she was throwing stones, if she kept this up, she’d never grasp the meaning of skipping stones.
“You’re doing it all wrong. To skip stones, you need to angle your body like this.”
Long Aotian demonstrated with a stone.
“When you throw, you have to do it like this, making the stone spin. Use finesse to toss it.”
Li Qingxue watched Long Aotian’s movements and tried to mimic him.
But at the moment she threw the stone, Long Aotian’s heart skipped a beat!
She must have lost control of her strength, throwing too hard and leaning forward...
“Whoa!” Long Aotian exclaimed, rushing forward to grab Li Qingxue’s shoulders and pull her back.
He hadn’t forgotten that she had just said she couldn’t swim!
In his haste, he pulled her a bit too hard, forgetting how light she was.
By the water’s edge, Long Aotian was momentarily stunned, then let out a sigh of relief, breathing heavily.
Li Qingxue, on the other hand, had completely frozen, lying on Long Aotian, too scared to move, or perhaps just overwhelmed.
After a moment, Long Aotian calmed down.
It wasn’t exhaustion that had him catching his breath, but the shock that made his heart race.
“Still not getting up? Even if you’re light, you should consider the feelings of your human cushion.”
“You’re so reckless and playful. If you can’t swim, stay away from the water next time. If I hadn’t been quick on my feet, I’d probably be lighting incense here next year, praying for wealth and prosperity...”
For once, Li Qingxue didn’t retort but instead felt her eyes welling up.
“Mom was right; I shouldn’t have played by the river...”
Seeing her like this, Long Aotian couldn’t help but laugh.
Before, Li Qingxue had been bold, confident, and full of youthful energy with a hint of arrogance.
Now, she resembled a frightened little kitten, her trembling lashes and slightly damp eyes making her look fragile, as if a gentle touch would make her tears fall.
As Long Aotian laughed, Li Qingxue, lying on him, could feel the rise and fall of his chest.
“What are you laughing at? I was almost scared to death, and you’re still laughing.” She instinctively pinched his waist.
“Ouch! Do all girls love to pinch?”
Teased by Long Aotian, the tears that had almost fallen from Li Qingxue’s eyes were suddenly held back.
She got up from him, annoyed. “Who told you to laugh at me?”
Long Aotian stood up too. “I’m your savior, you know.”
Li Qingxue paused, then playfully rubbed his waist. “Then let me help you with that.”
“Let’s go.”
After taking a couple of steps, Li Qingxue stopped.
“What’s wrong?”
“My little flower basket.” She pointed to the small basket by the water’s edge and started to go get it.
“Wait, don’t move. I’ll get it.”
“Just be careful,” Li Qingxue said shyly.
It seemed she was genuinely scared now.
“Let’s go.”
Back at their original spot, Long Aotian grabbed a bottle of drink and snacked on some small cakes.
He hadn’t had much of an appetite at lunch, but now he realized he was hungry.
After a while, Li Qingxue watched Long Aotian enjoying his food and casually peeled some fruit for him. “Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gone to the water’s edge. Now you know, some dangers can’t just be faced with enthusiasm. Be more careful next time.”
Li Qingxue genuinely wanted to thank Long Aotian. After all, he had helped her in the end.
But hearing his words, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Anyway, thanks. Eat slowly. If you like it, I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”
With that, she hugged her knees and stared blankly at the river.
“Hey, stop thinking about those bad things. You’re fine now, right? Eat more; you’re too light.”
At his words, the tips of Li Qingxue’s ears turned bright red.
The fear of almost falling into the river was replaced by the sensation of lying on her human cushion.
Was this considered an embrace?
Thinking of this, Li Qingxue’s breath quickened, and her cheeks felt hot as she fanned her face with her hands.
“This... this isn’t good.”
“Huh?” Long Aotian looked at her actions in confusion, not understanding what was “not good.”
“Are you okay?”
“I... I need to go home.” Li Qingxue lowered her head, her long hair falling over her face, hiding her expression.
After packing up and leaving the fruit for Long Aotian, she hurriedly left.
“Hey, that pink...”
Before he could finish, Li Qingxue, blushing, bit her lip, feeling shy but more angry than anything. “When did you see that? You bad guy!”
Then, in the midst of Long Aotian’s bewildered expression, she tugged at her skirt and hurriedly left, looking a bit flustered.
Long Aotian stood there holding a pink hair tie, scratching his head in confusion. “If you don’t want it, then don’t. What makes me a bad guy?”
---
**Chapter 115: I Can’t Show My Face Again; I’m Going to Die Socially**
Even though he had been scolded for no reason, Long Aotian felt a shift in his mindset.
After finishing the fruit Li Qingxue had left behind, he patted his stomach in satisfaction and stood up.
Glancing at the pink hair tie in his hand, he tucked it into his pocket. “I’ll return it when I see her again.”
---
Li Qingxue rushed home, heading straight for her room.
Seeing her daughter in such a flurry, Li’s mother said, “You’re in such a hurry, be careful not to bump into anything.”
“Got it.” As soon as Li Qingxue finished speaking, the sound of the door closing followed.
Back in her room, Li Qingxue jumped onto her bed, quickly covering herself with the blanket, leaving only her flushed little face exposed.
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