Chapter 123
"Are you tired?" Lin Wan Ning knew that during mealtime, staying silent wouldn’t bother him.
But she still asked, because only she understood that she didn’t want this meal to end so quickly.
"What?"
"Military training is exhausting, right?" The boys had much more stamina than the girls, and they burned through it just as fast. Seeing Long Ao Tian eat so heartily prompted her question.
"It’s not bad. More interesting than I expected."
For Long Ao Tian, this was a brand new experience, something he had never encountered before, which made it intriguing.
As they walked back to the academy, Lin Wan Ning’s unique voice was always so pleasant to hear. "So, I guess we’re friends now?"
"Of course! Otherwise, you can just call me ‘Brother Long,’ and I’ll look out for you from now on."
Lin Wan Ning didn’t respond immediately; she occasionally glanced at Long Ao Tian, her expression quite complex...
---
Chapter 148: Oh no, this little sister is a bit too flirty.
"Brother."
In the stillness of the night, this word sounded particularly sweet, catching Long Ao Tian off guard for a moment.
He involuntarily stopped, a hint of surprise in his eyes as he turned to look at Lin Wan Ning beside him.
At that moment, Lin Wan Ning felt a bit shy, not quite sure why she had called out like that.
Perhaps it was Long Ao Tian’s open smile, or maybe the joke he made was a bit too dry, or perhaps the usually cool Lin Wan Ning was yearning for warmth.
In any case, she had never met someone like him—someone so straightforward.
Everything he did seemed devoid of ulterior motives; he helped her simply because he understood the situation and knew she was in the right, stepping up to ensure that the bullies wouldn’t pick on her.
Everyone has their own moral compass, weighing right and wrong, but only Long Ao Tian had the courage to stand up.
So, even though she had only known him for a few days, her fondness for him had already grown significantly.
That single word, "Brother," left Long Ao Tian stunned for a long time. "I was just joking."
"But I’m not joking," Lin Wan Ning turned her head, her voice cool. "I’m not like other girls. I take what you say seriously."
At this point, she looked up at Long Ao Tian earnestly. "And I’m serious now."
As her words fell, she lowered her gaze, her delicate face revealing no emotion. "If you want to refuse, that’s fine. I’m not as fragile as I seem."
Now it was Long Ao Tian’s turn to feel awkward. He had genuinely just wanted to make a joke, never expecting Lin Wan Ning to take it seriously.
"Um, can I ask why? We’ve only known each other for a few days, and you’re so willing to trust me?"
"Because you’re the first person who’s ever stepped up to protect me," Lin Wan Ning said softly. "You might not understand, but without your help that day, I would have really fallen apart."
At this point, Lin Wan Ning’s cold demeanor seemed to lighten a bit, as if a weight had been lifted. "In this unfamiliar city, you’re the first person to show me kindness."
"And you’re such a strange person. If I think of you as an older brother, I feel particularly secure and at ease."
"Am I really that strange?" Long Ao Tian chuckled. "It’s not as exaggerated as you say. I just..." He trailed off, unsure of how to continue.
Before coming to this world, he had often been bullied in the orphanage.
Eventually, he learned to fight back and stopped being a victim, but he had still weathered the storms. Sometimes, when he saw bullies taking advantage of others, he felt compelled to hold an umbrella for them.
Because Long Ao Tian could empathize with what it felt like to be bullied.
You might not believe this, but those who feel the most insecure are often the ones who can provide the most security to others.
Don’t be fooled by how he always comforts others; that’s because he stands outside the situation.
He could help Hu Yu Ying because he was strong enough to protect her.
He could untangle Li Qing Xue’s emotional knots because he had the experience and understanding.
But often, such people, once caught in their own dilemmas, find themselves in an irretrievable situation because they can’t guide themselves, even though they understand everything...
Just like when Hu Yu Ying kissed him, he didn’t know how to react, because he was acutely aware that from the very beginning, he and Hu Yu Ying were not on equal footing.
He helped Hu Yu Ying from the perspective of a protector, and no matter how she felt, he instinctively thought she couldn’t distinguish between gratitude, habit, and dependence.
If one day, Hu Yu Ying stood in the same position as him, understanding what gratitude and affection truly meant, perhaps everything would change.
"If you don’t refuse, I’ll take it as a yes," Lin Wan Ning said, looking at Long Ao Tian with a playful smile. In that moment, she was no longer the cool school beauty; she was just a little girl who had successfully executed her scheme.
Who says that someone with a cool demeanor doesn’t have a few tricks up their sleeve? It’s just that you can’t see them.
Usually, she suppressed her true nature, appearing more aloof and reserved than anyone else.
But she was also influenced by the crude jokes of those around her.
Once her true nature erupted, her boundaries would lower infinitely.
Just like if you asked Hu Yu Ying to watch a risqué video, she would be mortified, too shy to even listen to the sound.
But Lin Wan Ning, while perhaps feeling shy under her roommates’ teasing, could remember everything clearly, even learning a lot about strange cheeses.
So, you see, there’s only a thin line between innocence and flirtation.
Long Ao Tian appeared at the moment Lin Wan Ning was about to break down. Perhaps it didn’t matter what he did; he was simply the only one who had covered her with a veil of protection before her collapse.
Maybe that wasn’t enough, but after spending these days together, Lin Wan Ning felt that Long Ao Tian gave her a sense of security, a comforting presence.
"If you don’t mind, I’m all in."
"However, this is my first time being an older brother, so if I don’t do well, you won’t have a chance to regret it."
Lin Wan Ning covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. "So domineering!"
"Yep," Long Ao Tian stretched his back. "I can be quite domineering."
Watching Long Ao Tian stretch, Lin Wan Ning couldn’t help but think of the boy at the school gate, who had made a hugging gesture towards the sky.
Even though their postures were similar, why did they feel so utterly different?
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, I just suddenly thought of something funny." She looked at Long Ao Tian, and perhaps with a new perspective, she felt less reserved around him this time.
"What do you think someone is feeling when they make a hugging gesture towards themselves?"
She asked this likely because men understand men better.
"Hmm, hard to say. Maybe they’re just trying to show off? But I feel like I’ve seen that gesture before," Long Ao Tian frowned, deep in thought.
He had a nagging feeling that he had seen someone embrace themselves with a look of ecstasy directed at the sky.
"Wait!" Lin Wan Ning suddenly remembered something and turned to Long Ao Tian. "Did you put on ointment on your back today?"
Seeing Long Ao Tian’s confused expression, Lin Wan Ning wrinkled her nose. "I knew it! You always forget."
As she spoke, she took out a tube of ointment from her bag. "Good thing I brought some."
"It’s hot, and the military training uniforms are of poor quality, so they can really chafe the skin, which is why I prepared this."
"Didn’t you put on any patches?"
"How did you know?"
"I don’t know..." Long Ao Tian quickly shook his head.
Seeing Long Ao Tian’s serious demeanor, Lin Wan Ning rolled her eyes, both amused and exasperated. After applying the ointment, she whispered, her ears flushed and hot, "I’m wearing it, no need for patches!"
Noticing Long Ao Tian’s body tense up in an instant, Lin Wan Ning couldn’t help but burst into laughter...
Good news: unexpectedly, she gained a little sister.
Bad news: this little sister seems a bit too flirty.
---
Chapter 149: Maybe I’m just a bit aloof.
"This is my phone number," Long Ao Tian said as he took out his phone.
Lin Wan Ning chuckled softly. "This is the first time you’ve proactively given me your contact information."
As she spoke, a hint of melancholy crossed her beautiful face.
Previously, she had boldly asked for Long Ao Tian’s contact information in front of so many people, only to be met with laughter from her roommates.
But she still took out her phone and saved Long Ao Tian’s number.
Then she directly dialed the number.
Once the call connected, she hung up and saved the number.
Table of Contents
