Chapter 169
**Chapter 204: Teaching You to Be Thick-Skinned, Not to Be Indecent**
After buying groceries, on the way home.
Hu Yuying chose to obediently follow Long Aotian, the sky darkening as a gentle breeze lifted her long hair, revealing her ears, which were already flushed bright red.
She occasionally glanced up to steal a look at Long Aotian, her joyful expression lighting up her small face.
Long Aotian didn’t turn to look, but he could feel her gaze on him from time to time.
Feeling a bit awkward, he shifted his eyes elsewhere, but his large hand inadvertently brushed against Hu Yuying’s small hand that hung by her side.
The moment he felt his hand touch hers, Hu Yuying paused, biting her lip in delight, then quickly fell back into step beside him.
The distance that had once separated them slowly closed.
Their fingertips unintentionally brushed against each other.
Before long, Hu Yuying felt a finger gently hook onto her pinky.
It was reminiscent of their childhood promise, yet it felt fundamentally different.
The difference was significant, sending her heart racing.
She bit her red lip, her unique shyness causing her heart to leap as if a little deer were bounding within her chest.
Her eyes sparkled with laughter as she looked up at Long Aotian.
Noticing Hu Yuying’s gaze, Long Aotian, who had always prided himself on being thick-skinned, turned his eyes away, avoiding her gaze, yet the finger that remained hooked on hers showed no sign of retreating.
Unable to hold back, Hu Yuying let out a light laugh.
The sound of her laughter echoed sweetly in the narrow alley.
She saw the shy Long Aotian, his ears tinged with red.
He had just been teaching her to be thick-skinned, yet in this moment, he seemed even more innocent than she was.
This version of Long Aotian, stripped of his usual maturity and adult demeanor, was surprisingly endearing.
Being with him felt incredibly joyful; no, anyone would feel happy with a guy like Long Aotian, but lucky for her, it was her moment with him.
It didn’t matter; Yuying had already become thick-skinned, so she tightly hooked her pinky around his.
“It feels like a dream,” Hu Yuying chuckled softly.
“Maybe the night just isn’t long enough,” Long Aotian mused. Was he moved? He had once asked his own heart if he believed in fate, and it had told him it was irresistible.
The help they offered each other was a mutual salvation from the start.
If fate truly existed, then the intricate threads binding them had already intertwined from the very beginning.
Pulling this gloomy girl from the darkness had brought peace to his own confused heart.
The myriad glories of the world paled in comparison to the bright smile on the little girl’s face at this moment.
“Long Ge.”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Nothing, just wanted to call you.”
“Long Ge, you’re so nice, so handsome, the best in the world.”
The first time she said these words, she had blushed with embarrassment, unable to voice them.
But now, they rolled off her tongue effortlessly, without a hint of shyness, as if it were only natural.
In truth, Hu Yuying had so many things she wanted to say to Long Aotian.
She wanted to ask him why, when they first met, he chose to help her when everyone else ignored her plight. It had been their first encounter...
She wanted to know what he felt when he first tasted the meal she had cooked.
Because when she made him dinner for the first time, her heart had been a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, anxiety—fearing that it wouldn’t taste good...
She wanted to ask him if, when he first pushed her away, he had felt a flutter in his heart.
Because at that moment, she had clearly sensed his rapid heartbeat...
She had so much to say to Long Aotian, but no matter how slowly she walked, they eventually reached their destination.
Just before opening the door, Hu Yuying gently tugged at Long Aotian’s arm.
“Long Ge, do you think I’ve become thick-skinned?”
Long Aotian chuckled as he pinched her little face. “Let me take a good look at whether my little sidekick has thickened her skin.”
Meeting his affectionate gaze, Hu Yuying felt emboldened, knowing that Long Aotian would always pamper her.
He pulled her closer by the neck, and she fell into his embrace.
Her lips parted slightly, her dreamy eyes glistening as if they could spill over with water. Under the cover of night, she boldly rose on her toes and quickly kissed him.
Her delicate fingers wrapped tightly around his neck. Why was it that even though she was the one kissing Long Aotian, her body felt weak and tingly, almost unable to stand upright against him?
Long Aotian wrapped his arms around her waist, his breath slightly disordered from her playful antics. With a mix of amusement and helplessness, he sighed softly in her ear, “Teaching you to be thick-skinned doesn’t mean you should lose your modesty.”
“But once I become thick-skinned, I won’t be modest with you, Long Ge.” It was trust, belief, and the accumulation of countless moments together.
Those taller than her spoke ill of Long Aotian, criticizing him.
But that wasn’t true.
In her eyes, Long Aotian was genuinely good. Others might never understand, but she could, just like those who had shared similar experiences could always empathize...
Fortunately, we all have the ability to heal ourselves.
Hearing this, Long Aotian laughed, “Look at you, greedy, flirtatious, clumsy, and playful. What am I supposed to do with you?”
Little master, there’s more to this chapter, please click the next page to continue reading; it gets even more exciting!
Feeling Long Aotian’s gentle hand resting on her head, Hu Yuying tilted her head seriously to look up at him. “I’ll be very obedient and listen well.”
“Fool, do you know what you might lose?” All along, Long Aotian had built everything while helping Hu Yuying without affecting her future.
He had once suppressed his feelings with reason, but now, everything seemed filled with uncertainty...
“My life has countless paths, but ultimately, it’s like the hands of a clock turning, leading to fulfillment. I don’t know what you mean by loss, Long Ge, but I might as well try another path in life.”
She wanted to tell Long Aotian that the path she chose was her own life.
Another path in life, Long Aotian murmured to himself, wasn’t he also trying to walk a different path?
He smiled and pinched Hu Yuying’s tender cheek. “My little sidekick has really grown up.”
“It’s because Long Ge always sees me as a child.” She nuzzled her cheek against his palm. “But I can take care of you too.”
At that moment, Long Aotian saw in her eyes the same look he had once had when he looked at her.
Because she truly wished for Long Aotian’s happiness.
**Chapter 205: Liking Without Definition, That’s What Defines It**
At home, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning had already set up the stove and tidied up some leftover wood from their last cooking session.
They heard the sound of the door opening.
Both looked up.
They saw Long Aotian and Hu Yuying returning.
Excitedly, they stood up, proudly showcasing their hard work.
Perhaps to Hu Yuying, and even to Long Aotian, it didn’t seem like much.
But for Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, these were the fruits of their labor.
Everyone’s growth is different, and life experiences vary.
Some things were just part of daily life for Hu Yuying.
Yet for Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning, they were fresh experiences.
Long Aotian stepped forward to turn on the lights, then sat down at the stove, preparing to start a fire. “Tonight, we’re having hot pot.”
Before Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning could say anything, the two little ones saw Hu Yuying step forward, eagerly helping Long Aotian take off his coat.
And Long Aotian was very cooperative.
Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning exchanged glances, their eyes sparkling.
After helping Long Ge out of his coat, Hu Yuying curiously looked at the way Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning were gazing at her.
As the two exchanged knowing smiles and winked at her, Hu Yuying felt a rush of thoughts, her eyes darting away, her cheeks glowing a bright red in the light of the fire.
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