Chapter 101
"Looks great!" Li Qingxue said with a bright smile, her praise flowing freely.
Hu Yuying couldn't help but chuckle softly as she watched the radiant Li Qingxue on the screen.
It was as if Li Qingxue embodied the beauty of youth, her lively and alert demeanor tinged with a hint of languor, effortlessly drawing others in with her charm and enthusiasm.
After hearing Li Qingxue's size, Hu Yuying quickly found the corresponding measurement. "We wear the same size, so this should be no problem."
"But how am I supposed to give it to you?"
Li Qingxue replied with a grin, "By the riverside, of course. Long Aotian knows."
"Okay, Long Ge just went to the restroom. I'll tell him when he gets back."
"What are you telling me?" Long Aotian asked as he returned, catching Hu Yuying mid-sentence.
As he got closer, he realized the little girl was on a video call.
"Hey, good morning!"
"Ah~~ I haven't even washed up yet, don't look!" Li Qingxue squeaked, seeing Long Aotian's face appear on the screen. She immediately burrowed under her blanket, leaving only her mischievous eyes visible, playfully scolding him.
"Hahaha, still shy, huh?" Long Aotian chuckled and stepped aside.
Once he was out of sight, Li Qingxue popped back out from under the covers. "Long Aotian, I found a piece of clothing I like. When you pass by the riverside, I’ll go pick it up."
"Got it, I’ll bring it to you later." Though he didn’t appear on screen, his voice was clear.
"Uh-huh, but you better not trick me."
Li Qingxue recalled how this rascal had once conned Ye Liangchen out of 299 yuan.
"I won’t, Long Ge is not the type to cheat." Hu Yuying reassured her.
At that moment, more people began to gather around.
Long Aotian glanced at the street and said, "Yuying, why don’t you take Li Qingxue around a bit?"
"Okay, but are you sure you can manage alone, Long Ge?"
"Just drop the 'are you sure.'"
Suddenly, Li Qingxue's voice came through the phone, "So full of yourself!"
Hu Yuying chuckled softly and stepped outside with her phone.
"What’s that thing, Yuying? It looks so pretty! Can you get me one? I’ll pay you back for the clothes later."
Hearing Li Qingxue's voice, Hu Yuying glanced at the stall owner, then turned her back to him and whispered, "Qingxue, Long Ge said that thing is fake and not worth it..."
"What about that one? The rainbow one looks delicious!"
Hu Yuying hurried over, then turned back to continue in a hushed tone, "No way, Long Ge said those are all artificial colors, and your mouth will change color after eating them..."
Watching Hu Yuying stop and go at various stalls, Long Aotian stretched lazily. "Looks like they’re having a good time chatting."
"I’m ready to embrace a new day today."
With that, he honked the horn.
A voice echoed through the market: "Yiniao Clothing Factory, Yiniao Clothing Factory... running off with the sister-in-law... 19 yuan, everything for 19 yuan..."
Two hours later, Hu Yuying returned.
It was a bit terrifying, really.
"Welcome back! Take a break; we’ll get ready for dinner soon."
"Okay." Hu Yuying replied, glancing at her phone. "I need to go buy dinner soon."
"Alright, I should go eat too."
With that, they hung up.
"You two seem to get along well," Long Aotian remarked.
Hu Yuying nodded with a light laugh. "Yeah, Qingxue has a great personality; we always find something to talk about."
"She’s planning to go to A University for finance, and I’m going for business management. Even though they’re different majors, they’re pretty close."
Clearly, having a friend to talk to in a new city made Hu Yuying very happy.
"By the way, she said she can bake cookies and will bring some to the riverside tonight."
"She wants to thank me for taking her around this morning."
"I told her it wasn’t necessary, but she still wants me to try..." As she spoke, Hu Yuying's voice trailed off, becoming softer. "Long Ge, can we give the clothes to Qingxue for free?"
After saying that, she looked up at Long Aotian cautiously, only to see him twitching at the corners of his mouth.
Long Aotian instinctively reached into his pocket and squeezed the hard cookie inside. Oh no! It was still so tough.
"Yuying, listen to Long Ge, let’s skip the cookies."
"Huh? Isn’t that a bit rude? Qingxue has already started making them. If I say I don’t want them now, won’t that be a bit awkward?" Hu Yuying said softly. She wasn’t being greedy; she just felt it would be wrong to refuse.
Qingxue was excited to invite her to try the cookies she made, and she had already agreed. Now to back out... it just felt wrong...
Long Aotian scoffed and patted Hu Yuying on the shoulder. "You’re too naive. You have no idea there’s a food out there that’s as hard as a rock..."
"Just give the clothes to Li Qingxue; they’re not worth much..."
---
**Chapter 122: The Happiest Summer**
After packing up, Hu Yuying sat obediently. "Long Ge, I’m ready."
"Let’s go." As Long Aotian’s words fell, the tricycle started up, speeding toward home.
Unlike the morning rush, the breeze felt refreshing as they passed by vast fields in the surrounding villages, bringing a sense of comfort to both body and mind.
"There’s not much stock left; we’ll clear it all out in a couple of days. Let’s head home early and take a look," Long Aotian said softly.
"Mm." Hu Yuying nodded, secretly wishing to go home and see her family.
She had saved enough for tuition, and there was still plenty left for living expenses, enough to send some to her grandparents.
It felt like ever since she met Long Ge, everything in her life was moving in a positive direction.
Watching Long Aotian’s back, Hu Yuying smiled, grateful to have met him, thankful to be his little follower, and equally relieved that he hadn’t drifted away from her.
"Long Ge, I’m feeling a bit happy."
"Really? If you’re happy, shout it out loud! The more you shout, the happier you’ll feel."
"No way." She thought it was enough for just her and Long Ge to know about her happiness. Shouting it out loud would make her feel a bit shy.
"It’s fine; we won’t come here tomorrow, and no one knows us."
"Okay, then." Hu Yuying took a deep breath, placing her hands at the corners of her mouth, and shouted toward the open fields, "I’m so happy! Really, I’m so happy!"
After letting it all out, she felt even happier than before, her smile brighter and more genuine.
Long Aotian turned to Hu Yuying. "Do you feel happier now?"
"Mm-hmm." Hu Yuying nodded vigorously, then looked up at the sky and whispered softly, "I didn’t know my life could be this happy."
"Remember this happiness. Long Ge hopes that every day from now on will be even happier than today."
"I got it! I wish Long Ge every day is happier than the last too."
"It will be, after all, our lives are just beginning!"
An hour later, Long Aotian turned his head and said, "Text Li Qingxue and let her know to meet us by the riverside. We’re almost there."
"Got it." Hu Yuying replied cheerfully, then took out her phone to draft a message.
"Qingxue said she’ll be here in about ten minutes; she’s already on her way."
Hu Yuying smiled, feeling that besides Long Ge, she now had another friend.
In fact, it was hard not to become friends with someone like Li Qingxue after getting to know her.
Li Qingxue was the proactive type, while Hu Yuying was more passive.
Back in school, Hu Yuying’s changes were only directed toward Long Aotian. To outsiders, she still seemed a bit aloof, but it wasn’t that she was cold; she just didn’t know how to strike up a conversation.
However, after the college entrance exams, Long Aotian took Hu Yuying to set up stalls, and they met many people buying clothes. Gradually, her transformation extended to everyone.
Today, at Long Aotian’s request, it was Hu Yuying who took the initiative to message Li Qingxue.
In human interactions, if one party takes the first step, as long as the other isn’t a difficult person, it’s easy to connect.
Especially since Li Qingxue was a lively girl with a touch of playful pride.
Before long, Long Aotian stopped the tricycle; they had arrived at the riverside.
Hu Yuying grabbed the clothes she had prepared for Li Qingxue and jumped off the vehicle.
Glancing at her phone, she decided to cancel the message she was about to send to Li Qingxue.
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