Chapter 179
The old man’s expression was nothing short of exaggerated. When he first saw Hu Yuying, he was momentarily taken aback.
But upon hearing her call him "uncle," he broke into a wide grin, revealing his big teeth.
"Little teacher." Just from this title, one could sense the old man’s joy—genuine joy.
He was truly grateful to this "little teacher" that Long Aotian spoke of, for the changes in his son and for the fact that he could now attend university. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said such things to Long Aotian just moments ago.
Hearing her uncle call her "little teacher" made Hu Yuying blush furiously, a lovely flush blooming on her cheeks, bright yet bashful.
He had called her that before, and she had felt shy then too.
Stealing a glance at Long Aotian, who was looking at her with a face full of affection, she could tell that things were different now.
"You and Aotian are out shopping together during the break," the old man said, his satisfaction growing the more he looked at Hu Yuying.
He still vividly remembered his son’s behavior over the past few days.
That distracted, lifeless look on his face was all because of this girl. Although his son tried hard to hide it, everything was clear to him, the father.
Hu Yuying nodded slightly and let out a soft "mm."
Though she knew it might be impolite, she really didn’t know what to say at that moment.
"Good, good, good..."
With each "good" the old man uttered, the blush on Hu Yuying’s cheeks deepened.
Did this mean her uncle was pleased with her?
She couldn’t help but think so, and the more she thought about it, the less she dared to look up at the screen.
"Ahem, old man, we’re still eating here," Long Aotian said, noticing Hu Yuying’s embarrassment as he turned the phone to face himself.
Seeing Long Aotian point the phone at himself, Hu Yuying let out a sigh of relief, and it was quite obvious.
This little woman’s demeanor was simply captivating in Long Aotian’s eyes; he couldn’t tear his gaze away.
The old man rambled on for a bit, emphasizing how important it was to treat the little teacher well.
Long Aotian agreed to everything before finally ending the video call.
"That’s just how my dad is. He may not say much, but he has a good heart," Long Aotian explained.
"I know," Hu Yuying replied, how could she not? From the way her uncle had asked about her and encouraged Long Aotian to pay more attention to her, she could tell.
After saying this, she noticed that Long Aotian had fallen silent.
So she quietly looked up, only to find him gazing at her with a smile in his eyes, unblinking.
She quickly averted her gaze and asked softly, "Long Ge, why are you staring at me?"
"Your blush is really beautiful," Long Aotian said, a line he had been wanting to say for a while. Hu Yuying’s rosy cheeks were just too adorable.
Biting her lip, she unconsciously lowered her eyes. No one dislikes being complimented, especially by a boy they like.
Hu Yuying was no exception, so she mustered her courage and raised her gaze to let Long Aotian see her properly.
He stared at her intently, and for a fleeting moment, Hu Yuying thought she saw a glimmer of desire in his eyes. Though it vanished quickly, she was sure it was the kind of longing a man feels for a woman.
The emergence of desire marks the beginning of affection. While that may sound a bit crude, it’s an undeniable truth.
There are many kinds of affection—liking a toy, a delicate doll, the love parents have for their children...
The above examples are all about joy and care.
But when desire intertwines with affection, it transforms into something deeper, something that changes everything...
"I really struck gold," Long Aotian said as he took Hu Yuying’s hand.
Inside, he felt an indescribable sensation. He thought she looked so good, yet this silly girl, despite being so shy, still tried to present her best self to him. How foolish...
...
"I’ll tell you, late-night drinks hurt the stomach, but morning porridge can warm the heart all day long." As he spoke, a confident smile crept onto his lips.
Sometimes, a single gesture or a phrase can elevate one’s presence without effort.
This was something Ye Liangchen had come to realize during this time.
Xue Shaohua tossed her hair and caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye, then froze in place.
Ye Liangchen had intended to elevate his presence further, but he noticed that Xue Shaohua hadn’t followed him.
He stopped and turned back, "Xue Shaohua, are you even listening to me? These are my spontaneous thoughts, my heartfelt feelings. If you could grasp even a little of it, just a little, it would be immensely beneficial for you. Can you focus?"
But Xue Shaohua seemed petrified, still staring blankly to her left.
Ye Liangchen frowned, feeling displeased. No one was engaging with his musings, which made him feel rather foolish.
He stepped closer and followed her gaze, and in that moment, his furrowed brow relaxed as he saw the shy, happy, and bashful smile on her face.
Ye Liangchen couldn’t help but smile slightly. It reminded him of a scene from his past life, running under the sunset—his once-lost youth.
But in the next second, that image shattered, and even the smile that had crept onto his face began to stiffen and fade away.
In his line of sight, a hand was pinching the girl’s cheek.
"Uh..." Ye Liangchen gasped, startling Xue Shaohua. "What’s wrong with you?"
Ye Liangchen clutched his chest tightly, stumbling back a couple of steps, his face contorted in pain, as if wearing a mask of suffering.
He slowly closed his eyes, a tear of regret slipping from the corner of his eye. "Is this the path you’ve chosen? Even if you’re being pinched, even if you’re scolded, even if you know he has no good intentions..."
"Hehe, hehe..." He wiped the tears from his face and walked toward the breakfast shop...
---
Chapter 217: Don’t Force Me to Hit You When I’m at My Happiest
"Long Ge, do you really like pinching Yuying’s face that much?" Hu Yuying asked softly.
Seeing her shy demeanor, Long Aotian instinctively nodded.
Watching Long Aotian nodding absentmindedly, Hu Yuying lowered her eyes and smiled lightly, "Then I’ll just let Long Ge pinch."
...
"Late-night drinks hurt the stomach, morning porridge warms the heart..."
Before he arrived, his voice was already heard.
People in the breakfast shop couldn’t help but look over.
Following the sound, they saw a young man standing at the entrance of the breakfast shop, looking down at a forty-five-degree angle, one hand in his pocket, completely still.
Though Ye Liangchen had his head down, he could feel the weight of everyone’s gaze.
A confident smile crept onto his lips. There was no way around it; wherever he went, he always attracted attention.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ye Liangchen slowly raised his head and confidently tossed his hair.
"My life has been a series of ups and downs, leaving me with regrets for half of it."
At this point, he looked up at a forty-five-degree angle and gave a self-deprecating smile. "I tread carefully through life, unsure if I can reach the other side."
The sense of fragmentation in his eyes was so evident. Taking a deep breath, he slowly lowered his head.
Then, his gaze brightened as he fixed his eyes on Hu Yuying, then turned to Long Aotian. "What a coincidence, I didn’t expect to see you again."
With that, he flicked his bangs and walked over.
Each step seemed deliberately controlled, striving for perfection and elegance.
His elegance was meant to starkly contrast with Long Aotian’s roughness.
He aimed to overshadow Long Aotian with his own graceful aura.
Faced with such elegance, Long Aotian didn’t know how to respond, and he wondered if Hu Yuying felt even the slightest regret seeing him like this.
After all, elegance never goes out of style.
Seeing the unmistakable disgust in Hu Yuying’s eyes, Long Aotian turned his gaze to Ye Liangchen. He had never seen Hu Yuying dislike someone so much.
Even when she was bullied in the past, her clear eyes had never shown such a look.
He gently squeezed Hu Yuying’s hand.
Feeling Long Aotian’s grip, Hu Yuying withdrew her gaze. "Long Ge, shall we go?"
"Whatever you say." Long Aotian had never refused Hu Yuying before, and now he was even more inclined to comply with her wishes.
Besides, they had already finished eating.
So he stood up, took Hu Yuying’s hand, his sturdy frame like a small mountain, protecting her behind him.
Seeing Long Aotian rise, Ye Liangchen instinctively halted his steps.
His eyes dimmed, reflecting a heartbroken expression. He looked fragile and worn, yet he still forced a smile. "I..."
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