Chapter 99
As Hu Yuying opened the small notebook, a few crisp bills slipped out. She felt a bit embarrassed and said, “I didn’t sell much…”
“Keep this money for yourself. It’s the result of your hard work,” Long Aotian replied, handing the money and the notebook back to her.
Before Hu Yuying could say anything, Long Aotian stood up and looked at her earnestly. “You’ve worked hard.”
A shiver ran through Hu Yuying’s body. Long Aotian’s affirmation felt like a gentle breeze, sweeping into her long-locked heart.
All the strength, all the effort, all the defenses she had put up in these days, in that moment, were effortlessly pierced by his soft words, crumbling her heavy armor to dust.
All the grievances she had buried deep inside her surged forth in an instant.
It was like a lost child finally returning home.
Tears streamed down her face, and her longing made her forget everything else as she threw her arms around Long Aotian and sobbed, “I thought you didn’t want to take care of me anymore, Long Ge.”
Long Aotian stiffened for a moment, watching the weeping Hu Yuying. He sighed softly, raising his hand to rest it on her head, trying to speak with a smile in his voice. “What nonsense are you saying? I finally have a little follower; how could I not care about you?”
“Stop crying, or you’ll get ugly.”
“If you keep crying, I really will hit you.”
Hearing this, Hu Yuying sniffled, looking up at Long Aotian with her red-rimmed eyes glistening with tears, making one want to cherish her. “Then I won’t cry anymore. Please don’t hit me, Long Ge.”
Meeting her wet, innocent gaze, it was clear that Hu Yuying was pleading for mercy.
Perhaps it was her suddenly red eyes, or the grievance in her voice, but Long Aotian turned his head away, trying to hide the strange feeling stirring in his heart...
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**Chapter 119: Because I Believe**
“Life is full of disappointments; it’s rare to have everything go your way. One can only grow by breaking free from their struggles. You’re already doing great,” Long Aotian said softly. “At least I see the strength and independence in you.”
The grievances in Hu Yuying’s heart came quickly and left just as fast. She sniffled, no longer crying, nor feeling wronged.
“Will you come for dinner tomorrow, Long Ge?” Hu Yuying gradually loosened her grip around him and asked softly.
As she spoke, she secretly observed Long Aotian’s expression.
“Hmm?” Was her train of thought jumping a bit too fast?
She had just been crying, and now she was worried about dinner tomorrow?
But Long Aotian replied, “I need to report soon. I’ll be busy handling the remaining goods these days. You still need to go home, right?”
Hearing this, Hu Yuying nodded gently. “Okay, thank you, Long Ge.”
“Thank me for what?” Long Aotian chuckled.
“Thank you for remembering,” Hu Yuying said earnestly.
Seeing her serious expression, Long Aotian lightly tapped her head. “Don’t be so foolish all the time. And don’t get overly sentimental just because someone is nice to you. Never underestimate the ugliness of human nature.”
“Are you a bad person, Long Ge?” Hu Yuying asked with a playful smile in her eyes.
The question caught Long Aotian off guard. Faced with the trust radiating from Hu Yuying, he opened his mouth, “I have my bad side too.”
“But I believe in you, Long Ge.” Hu Yuying’s innocence shone through, and she wanted to show him her purest trust.
Being trusted so completely by this little girl made Long Aotian feel a bit amused. “One day, if I sell you, you’ll be counting the money for me like a fool.”
“It’s fine. I’ll run back myself.”
“What if you can’t run back?”
“Then I’ll wait for you to come find me.”
“Are you silly? If I’ve sold you, how could I possibly come back to look for you?”
Hu Yuying smiled sweetly. “Because I believe.”
Long Aotian was momentarily at a loss for words in response to her statement.
He could feel Hu Yuying’s unconditional trust in him.
This was actually not a good thing.
But at the same time, it felt quite nice.
It was bad because of the excessive trust, but good for the same reason.
People are like tangled creatures, endlessly caught in their own dilemmas, making choices that lead to an inextricable mess...
“Get some rest. Tomorrow we’ll start our money-making venture!”
“Okay.” Hu Yuying was full of energy, clenching her little fist.
“Goodbye, Long Ge.” She waved her hand vigorously at Long Aotian’s retreating figure.
“See you tomorrow.” Long Aotian waved back as he walked toward the end of the alley.
This time, his departure felt different from the last.
There was a sense of lightness, as if a weight had been lifted.
“I’m back.” Opening the door, Long Aotian saw the old man munching on pig’s head meat. “Don’t eat too much greasy food at night. I’ve already eaten, so I’ll wash up and head to bed.”
The old man, caught between eating and not eating the pig’s head meat, finally chuckled, “You brat, you seem to be in a good mood today.”
After showering and lying back in bed, Long Aotian frowned slightly at his phone. “Why didn’t anyone ask if I got home?”
Just as he thought this, a message came in.
Li Qingxue: “I just checked on the computer. T University isn’t too far from A University. How are you planning to get there?”
“My dad is driving me. Since we’re all going the same way, we can ride together.”
“It’ll be our first time in a strange city far away. We can look out for each other.”
Long Aotian thought for a moment and replied, “Thanks, but it’s okay. Let’s just connect when we get to Kyoto.”
He knew Li Qingxue meant well, but riding with someone else meant adhering to their schedule. Since her family was driving her to Kyoto, they would likely leave several days early.
They would surely take their time enjoying the scenery along the way and show Li Qingxue around Kyoto once they arrived.
Since she had offered, he couldn’t just take advantage of her kindness and hitch a ride with Hu Yuying.
Long Aotian had already checked earlier; there was a direct train from Haicheng to Kyoto.
He would just take Hu Yuying directly there.
Li Qingxue: “No need to thank me. It’s nice to have someone familiar in a strange city.”
After sending that message, Li Qingxue tightened her grip on her phone and finally asked, “By the way, have you finished the cookies? I can bring you some tomorrow.”
After hitting send, she burrowed under the covers, feeling inexplicably shy about asking such a question.
Seeing the message, Long Aotian chuckled, as if recalling something. He pulled out a ‘bunny’ cookie from his pocket, squeezing it to feel its hardness...
“There’s time. Tomorrow we’ll start working, so let’s clear out the goods we have before reporting.”
Hearing the notification sound, Li Qingxue peeked out from under her blanket.
Her heart raced with excitement, gradually calming down. “Are you selling clothes?”
“Yeah, selling clothes.”
“Where are you selling them?”
“A bit far, in Pingchang Town.”
“Oh.” Li Qingxue pouted a bit; Pingchang Town was indeed a little far. “I went to the market there once, but it’s been a long time, and I’ve forgotten a lot.”
“I’ll take pictures tomorrow to show you.”
Seeing Long Aotian’s message, Li Qingxue’s face lit up with a smile again. “Okay, but don’t lie to me.”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
Li Qingxue clenched her little fist. “You always tease me like I’m a child, as if you think I’m silly in your eyes…”
After sending that message, she huffed playfully at her phone screen. “I’m not silly!”
Exiting the chat, she opened her photo album, browsing through the beautiful pictures taken today, her fingers gliding over the screen as images flashed by.
Her gaze landed on a sunset silhouette of a boy raising his arms, and she couldn’t help but smile.
---
Long Aotian set his phone down, pulled up a blanket over his midsection, and prepared to sleep.
Just as he lay down, his phone chimed again.
He reached for it.
Hu Yuying: “Good night.”
“Good night,” Long Aotian replied.
In the dark room, the only light came from the phone screen, illuminating a youthful face that was somewhat innocent yet carried a hint of allure.
“Sweet dreams, Long Ge.” The girl’s lips curled into a smile as she whispered softly in the darkness, her voice gentle and lingering.
That night, it felt as if everything had returned to its original state...
【Thanks for all the gifts! A special thanks to the vulture, and please take care to keep warm and stay healthy!ヾ(?°?°?)??】
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**Chapter 120: Yuying and Qingxue**
The next morning.
The old man woke up and instinctively headed to Long Aotian’s room.
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