Chapter 108: This Place Has Already Filled Up Without Me Noticing
Feeling the touch of lips against lips, Long Aotian suddenly felt a thunderbolt strike him—his whole body trembled fiercely. The faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose made him instinctively pull back.
“Don’t do that.”
For a moment, Long Aotian’s mind buzzed like a hive of bees; he was a total mush ball. His heart was pounding so wildly he could hardly keep it together, even breathing became a challenge!
Hu Yuying looked shyly at the bewildered Long Aotian, feeling the residual warmth on her lips, and then, mustering her courage, tiptoed forward again…
“I told you, don’t do that!”
Long Aotian took a step back, and the gentle touch found his chin.
Staring at Hu Yuying in front of him, Long Aotian was at a loss—hands not really hands, feet not quite feet—so he rubbed his forehead and asked, “Uh, you do know what you’re doing, right?”
Hu Yuying lowered her head without speaking, then raised her eyes to glance at Long Aotian and serious-nodded.
The tiny living room was filled with an odd, unspoken feeling.
Looking at the obedient Hu Yuying right now, Long Aotian wanted to say something but finally just sighed helplessly.
Frustrated, he scratched his head. “I, I’m going to cook now!”
Without waiting for Hu Yuying to reply, he left straight away.
Hu Yuying stayed motionless, only listening silently to Long Aotian’s footsteps fading away.
Until the sound of the kitchen door closing, she turned around blankly and looked toward the kitchen. She was a bit at a loss now.
That fleeting emotional surge made her almost forget herself.
That moment of heartbeat, that fleeting flutter of emotion—she was momentarily overwhelmed, lost in her feelings, uncontrollable…
Gently tracing her fingertips over her lips, she listened to her own heartbeat and slowly lowered her head.
The rain grew heavier. Long Aotian’s breathing was rapid, and only his trembling fingers revealed the turmoil inside him.
Standing in the kitchen, he took a deep breath, fighting the urge to look toward the living room, silently continuing to cook.
His mind was in chaos—no matter how much he tried to calm himself, deep down, there was a voice endlessly repeating: “Out of control, you’re out of control, everything’s out of control…”
The food was ready, yet his heart wouldn’t settle.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside the bamboo curtain and entered the living room.
Hu Yuying sat quietly on the sofa, well-behaved. Seeing Long Aotian come in, even though she wanted to appear composed, her clenched fingertips betrayed her nervousness.
Seeing her flustered and tense, Long Aotian also awkwardly turned his head away.
For a moment, neither of them knew what to say.
The atmosphere fell into a brief awkward silence, but amidst the awkwardness, there was an indescribable charm.
Long Aotian finally broke the silence. “Um, Yuying, you’re still young.”
“I’m not anymore. I’m 18—I’m technically an adult.” Hu Yuying kept her head down but spoke her truth.
Long Aotian scratched his head. “I mean, in my eyes, you’re still little. I’ve always thought of you as… like a little sister. Do you understand?”
Hu Yuying lowered her gaze, recalling all the details with her ‘big brother’…
From the start, he cared for her like a little follower; over time, they became more familiar…
She couldn’t deny that her big brother had always been the one taking care of her.
After a long while, she slowly said, “I got it.”
Hearing this, Long Aotian sighed in relief. “Come on, eat. Let’s see if my cooking is good or not.”
Hu Yuying nodded.
But we’re not real siblings.
And… I also heard your heartbeat… I heard it…
She secretly looked at Long Aotian. She was smart—her acceptance to Kyoto’s famous University A proved that. Losing her parents young, she was most perceptive of others’ emotions.
When facing her big brother before, her heart thumped wildly. She thought it was happiness, excitement, even feeling touched.
But a single sentence, “You’re worth it,” made Hu Yuying realize her true feelings in an instant. She understood it wasn’t that simple…
She had also heard her own heartbeat—fast and joyful—like hers but more intense.
That moment she kissed her big brother absentmindedly, she saw hesitation and shock in his eyes—not disgust, not dislike…
In the end, they didn’t speak a word during that meal.
After eating, Hu Yuying began tidying up.
Everything seemed unchanged.
Long Aotian left the living room, standing in the yard, clearing his throat. “There’s some stuff going on, can’t come over often. Take good care of yourself.”
Hu Yuying, washing dishes, froze.
Staring silently at Long Aotian’s figure, she didn’t know what to say. That sudden wave of disappointment left her at a loss.
He turned his head away when he saw her disappointed eyes, choosing not to look.
From the moment he decided to help her, their relationship slowly improved, gradually drawing closer.
Soon, she’d go off to university. He couldn’t stay by her side forever—that was just reality.
He also wanted to give both of them some time to cool off.
Gratitude and dependence aren’t the same as love.
Hu Yuying was still too young—she couldn’t tell the difference yet. That’s okay. When she reaches a higher, broader platform, she’ll understand her true feelings. And when that moment comes, she’ll still choose with certainty…
Young lady, there’s more to this chapter—click ‘Next’ to read on, it gets even more exciting!
“Ugh~ Today’s still kinda cold. Let’s go!”
Before Hu Yuying could speak, Long Aotian swung open the door and left.
Hu Yuying put down the dishes hurriedly and chased after him, watching his figure grow smaller in the rain. Her heart, too, seemed buried under this gentle drizzle.
Walking down the street, whenever she saw someone she recognized, Long Aotian would instinctively shy away, avoiding their gaze—even if they only wanted to lend him an umbrella…
Until she returned home, turned on the bathroom’s shower, and let the hot water wash over her.
Long Aotian slowly exhaled, feeling the pounding in his chest. His heartbeat was so intense he couldn’t help but press his hand over his chest, trying to calm the turbulent feelings inside.
His phone vibrated.
Long Aotian reached for it instinctively, but at the moment of contact…
He hesitated.
Finally, he picked up the phone.
Wiping the mist off the screen, he went back to his room.
Into his bed of dreams, he finally let out a breath.
It was a class group chat.
Someone was organizing classmates to attend a graduation party.
He lazily tossed his phone aside, pulled the curtains, and listened silently to the rain.
On the other side…
Hu Yuying heard her phone ping.
She hurriedly picked it up, but the joy that bloomed in her eyes disappeared just as quickly.
Silently, she put the phone down and sat on her bed curled up, clueless.
…
The next morning, the rain cleared.
Hu Yuying got up early and went to the kitchen to cook.
Even though big brother said he was busy recently, what if—what if he came?
After cooking, she opened the door and waited silently.
Minute after minute, time slipped by.
The rice had cooled, yet long Aotian still hadn’t come.
Hu Yuying looked at the porridge that was now cold and couldn’t help but feel a faint redness in her eyes.
She didn’t know what to do now.
Sitting on a small bench in the yard, Hu Yuying looked at a photo on her phone.
A person.
It felt like she had become alone once more.
But, but…
Hu Yuying pressed her palm tightly against her chest. “But, but this place has already filled up without me noticing.”
