Chapter 257
"Got it," the two little ones replied.
As they walked along the road, Hu Yuying softly asked, "Long Ge, is there any other side dish you want?"
"I’m good with anything. I’m easy to please and not picky at all."
"It seems we still have some potatoes at home. Let’s just buy some green peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and chicken pieces."
Long Aotian turned back to glance at her, gently taking her small hand in his. "Marrying you, I feel like I can save quite a bit of money each year."
"Of course! I’m quite thrifty and won’t let Long Ge spend an extra dime."
"I’m really lucky."
Hu Yuying playfully pinched the soft flesh at Long Aotian's waist. "Are you teasing me, Long Ge?"
Long Aotian laughed heartily. "How could I dare? I’m just trying to keep up with you, and I’m more than happy to spoil you."
Hu Yuying nuzzled his back with her nose. "I think I might be sick; I can’t sleep without holding on to you."
"What kind of sickness is that? I’m more than happy to be your teddy bear."
"Hehe, thanks for indulging this little quirk of mine, Long Ge." Hu Yuying hugged his waist tightly, loving how accommodating he was.
The little girl was always so easily satisfied.
In both body and spirit, such a girl was truly wonderful—Long Aotian's ideal in this world.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the market.
While Hu Yuying picked out vegetables, Long Aotian carried the bags. Their occasional sweet interactions drew envious glances from passersby.
Especially the older couples out shopping for vegetables and eggs, who couldn’t help but smile fondly, as if they saw a reflection of their younger selves...
When they returned to the courtyard, they didn’t see Li Qingxue and Lin Wanqing.
But the open door and the cleaned pots were proof that the two little ones had already arrived.
Curious about where they had gone, they soon heard their voices.
Following the sound, they found the two little ones wandering around a room still under renovation.
The layout of the room had been opened up, retaining much of the traditional courtyard style, while the interior design was a modern, minimalist style with a hint of Nordic influence, developed through much discussion and attention to detail.
Of course, the main color scheme still preserved the original wood tones.
It was a sight that felt instantly comfortable.
"Wow, doesn’t this room layout resemble the suggestion I made to Long Aotian? Once it’s finished, it’s going to look amazing. Long Aotian must be secretly pleased."
Lin Wanqing didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on another room layout that was simple and rustic, with a touch of American country style.
When Long Aotian decided to renovate, Hu Yuying and the other two little ones had all pitched in their ideas.
They didn’t know much about renovations; they just imagined what their dream room would look like.
To their surprise, he had actually made it all happen.
They felt quite excited about it.
"Yes, yes, yes, it’s all thanks to your suggestions. You’re the lucky charm here."
Hearing the voices, the two turned to Hu Yuying and Long Aotian, "You’re finally back!"
"We took a bit longer shopping for groceries. Let’s get ready and start cooking!"
---
Chapter 313: Understanding Her is a Kind of Romance
"Long Aotian, when do you think the renovations will be finished?" Li Qingxue asked impatiently.
Long Aotian had promised her that once the renovations were complete, he would leave a room for her to stay in.
She wanted to live in the room she had just seen.
"It’ll take some time. By winter, it should all be done," he replied. At the current pace, it would take about two months.
"Time really flies," Li Qingxue couldn’t help but sigh.
Thinking back to when she first arrived in Kyoto, she had only one suitcase and was all alone.
Now, the house was almost ready, and compared to her first visit, it had changed dramatically—no longer the overgrown, dilapidated place it once was.
"Bro, what are those two big holes for?" Lin Wanqing asked, looking at the excavated pits.
At this, Long Aotian and Hu Yuying exchanged glances.
"They’re for planting trees," Hu Yuying explained. "Fruit trees."
"Once they grow, we can have our own fruit! Buying them outside is so expensive."
Just the other day, Hu Yuying and Long Aotian had gone to the market, and the little girl wanted to buy some fruit.
She was shocked by the price of cherries.
Of course, Long Aotian bought them for her when she expressed her desire.
She grumbled about the cost, but the moment she took a bite, her smile was beautiful and sweet.
She loved to eat, but because it was pricey, she often hesitated, saying apples were just as good.
So that afternoon, Long Aotian dug two holes in the yard, planning to plant two trees for their own consumption.
He understood her, so rather than just spending money, he preferred to cater to her feelings.
They say romance is everything, but understanding her is also a kind of romance.
Lying back in a lounge chair, watching the three little ones bustling about happily, Long Aotian stretched lazily, looking up at the autumn sun, which was warm but not blinding. At that moment, he felt truly light-hearted.
Unintentionally glancing up, Hu Yuying noticed Long Ge seemed to be dozing off, and her lips curled into a smile.
Realizing Hu Yuying was watching him, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanqing teased, "Look how tired our brother is."
"When we went to grab the pot earlier, we saw that huge bed. You two really know how to enjoy yourselves."
Mentioning the big bed made Hu Yuying’s cheeks flush for a moment.
With her period just the day before, she and Long Aotian had spent quite a bit of time on that soft bed, thanks to its bounciness.
But in the end, it was Long Aotian who had exerted a lot of energy.
If he didn’t feel tired after all that, it would be her turn to beg for mercy...
"Should we add some water?" Li Qingxue’s question snapped Hu Yuying back to reality.
"Yeah."
"Add just enough to cover the chicken pieces, simmer on low for half an hour, and the chicken will be tender and fall off the bone. Then turn up the heat to reduce the sauce, so it coats the chicken pieces..."
As Hu Yuying spoke, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanqing followed her guidance step by step.
Both wanted to learn how to cook, but without the tools to practice, they had been pestering Hu Yuying to teach them today.
"Cooking is actually pretty simple, isn’t it?"
Watching the two busy at work, Hu Yuying chuckled softly.
"After all, the food you make yourself brings a sense of satisfaction."
Lin Wanqing gently sniffed the delicious aroma wafting from the pot, her satisfied expression making one want to pinch her delicate little face.
"How about we go out for a stroll after dinner?"
At this, Li Qingxue stood up and stretched. "It’s been a while since we all took a bath together. Let’s go wash up this afternoon?"
"Sure," Hu Yuying nodded in agreement. "There’s a bathhouse nearby. I’ve been there before; I’ll take you both after we finish eating."
Having stayed here for a couple of days, they felt a bit shy about cleaning themselves.
The three little ones seemed to have endless chatter, and soon half an hour had passed.
When they lifted the pot lid, the water that had barely covered the ingredients had turned into a thick, rich broth.
After a quick stir, it was ready to be served.
"Should we wake Long Aotian?"
Hu Yuying gently shook her head. "Let him sleep a bit longer."
Even though they were the same age, she could feel the weariness in Long Ge.
She walked into the room, took a coat, and gently draped it over him.
Watching him sleep peacefully, she reached out to lightly scratch his nose. "Long Ge, we’re going to take a bath now. There’s food in the pot, so remember to eat when you wake up."
"Mm." In his drowsy state, Long Aotian responded.
Seeing this, the little girl chuckled and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.
Pfft~
Li Qingxue and Lin Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh at the scene. "He’s fast asleep, and you still have to report to him. It’s clear you’re the one in charge here."
"I’m not!" Hu Yuying retorted.
Long Ge had said that if he woke up and didn’t see her, he would feel a sense of loss.
By telling him, he would subconsciously remember, and when he woke up, he wouldn’t feel anxious.
After tidying up some toiletries and a change of underwear, they closed the door and held hands as they headed to the bathhouse.
"Ah, I think I left my phone on the bench!" Lin Wanqing suddenly said, patting her pockets as they reached the alley.
"Clumsy Lin Wanqing, hurry back and get it. We’ll wait for you at the alley," Li Qingxue teased.
"Here’s the key. I locked the door when I came out," Hu Yuying said, pulling the key from her pocket and handing it to Lin Wanqing.
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