Chapter 395: Feeling Heartbroken? Feeling Heartbroken is Right
“We all believe in you.”
Hu Yu Ying and Li Qing Xue’s voices rang out behind Lin Wan Ning.
Lin Wan Ning blinked in surprise, turning around to face Hu Yu Ying and Li Qing Xue. “You, how did you…?”
Li Qing Xue covered her mouth to giggle. “Some people come out and forget how to go back. Can’t we come out and take a look sometimes?”
“The dumplings are already ready. First winter solstice we’ve had since arriving in Kyoto, so of course we have to celebrate together!”
Hu Yu Ying finished, grabbing her chopsticks. “Let’s dig in.”
A group of them cheerfully strolled into the sunroom.
“I really love this sunroom, so warm, so cozy,” Li Qing Xue sighed blissfully, stretching lazily.
With a finger, she drew a smiley face on the fogged-up glass. “Hope every day ahead is filled with happiness and cheer.”
“Yes!” Lin Wan Ning nodded with a smile, adding a checkmark next to the smiley face Li Qing Xue drew. “We all want to be happy!”
Long Ao Tian cast his gaze downward at the Little Girl.
Noticing Long Ao Tian’s stare, Hu Yu Ying whispered softly, “This winter, really warms my heart.”
“I’ll be with you from now on.”
In the past, only Hu Yu Ying would brave the winter solstice alone. You could just imagine that poor little thing sitting alone in a barren room, rolling her own dumplings, eating them solo, with no one to talk to…
But that won’t happen anymore. From now on, she’ll have someone by her side always.
“Mm.” Hu Yu Ying smiled, sneaking a shy glance at Long Ao Tian and whispering, “I like you so much.”
Long Ao Tian froze slightly, watching Hu Yu Ying’s cheeks flush pink. If only Li Qing Xue and Wan Ning weren’t still here, and if it weren’t broad daylight, he’d really want to scoop her into his arms—and maybe deal with some ants.
He’d rested for a few days, and now his energy was bursting. He could definitely go full ant exterminator and make all those bugs wish they’d never crossed his path!
Sensing something, Hu Yu Ying kicked Long Ao Tian lightly. “Can’t you just be nice to me? Always thinking about that stuff when you’re free.”
Then she came over to the stove, took a dumpling, and took a bite. “Alright, that’s enough. Time to eat!”
As Hu Yu Ying finished speaking, Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning also gathered around.
“Wow~ these dumplings are huge.”
“Hehe, I made these! A Ying, do they look like a gold ingot?”
“Yeah, kinda,” Hu Yu Ying nodded.
“Wan Ning said the same thing. Well, I wish us all prosperity!”
“Time to eat!”
…
“Ugh… I’m full. Can’t eat another bite…”
Hu Yu Ying looked at the remaining dumplings in her bowl, feeling shy about saying she was stuffed. Who would’ve thought only eating ten dumplings would fill her up?
They’d been too big.
All three little ones looked at Long Ao Tian simultaneously.
Seeing their gazes, Long Ao Tian couldn’t help but feel awkward. He hiccupped. “Next time, make them smaller.”
He then set his bowl down in front of the three of them.
All the leftover dumplings slithered into Long Ao Tian’s bowl. Great, now it’s a mountain again.
“Sigh.” Long Ao Tian took a deep breath, unbuckling his waistband.
He bit into his first dumpling. “Ouch! Why is this so hard?”
He spat out what was in his mouth—and it turned out to be a coin.
Seeing the coin, Lin Wan Ning sighed regretfully. “Ah, I should’ve eaten one more.”
“Maybe I was the one who swallowed that coin.”
Li Qing Xue chuckled, looking at the coin in Long Ao Tian’s hand. “That’s a lucky coin. Anyone who eats it will be blessed with good fortune for a whole year.”
“Long Ao Tian, you’ll be blessed by the goddess of luck this coming year.”
“Wow, I must be pretty lucky,” Long Ao Tian said with a grin, licking his sore teeth. “But, can I make a request?”
“Next time, put a one-yuan coin in. Don’t put in fifty-cent pieces—they’re too small. I’m worried someone’ll swallow it unaware.”
“Alright. This coin was change from the supermarket. I’ll swap it for a one-yuan coin next time.”
Suddenly, Lin Wan Ning sniffed the air. “That smells so good.”
“My lamb soup should be almost ready,” Hu Yu Ying said, heading quickly outside.
She lifted the lid—milky white broth was bubbling vigorously.
She used a spoon to taste a small sip and smiled. “How is it, sister?”
“Try some,” Hu Yu Ying said, blowing on the spoon before offering it to Lin Wan Ning.
“It’s so fresh, not even a trace of gamey taste,” Lin Wan Ning praised, giving a big thumbs-up to Hu Yu Ying.
Li Qing Xue, also eager to try, despite being full, couldn’t resist the delicious aroma and the excited expression on Lin Wan Ning’s face.
Seeing how much they loved it, Long Ao Tian shook his head. Can’t they be a little less spoiled? The Little Girl’s cooking can’t be bad, right?
“Go check on my vegetable garden,” Hu Yu Ying suggested, taking Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning with her, heading toward the small garden that Long Ao Tian had cultivated a while back.
She plucked a tiny white radish.
The three of them looked at the small, stubby radish, each thinking something, then suddenly burst into laughter.
Seeing how happily they were smiling, Long Ao Tian also moved closer. “What are you all laughing at?”
Hu Yu Ying looked at Long Ao Tian, then all three shook their heads and said, “Nothing!”
“The radish is only palm-sized. Later, we’ll go buy ingredients for tonight’s dinner. You just stay home and clean the pot, okay?”
“Okay. When I’m done eating, I’ll go clean the pot.”
“Then we’ll eat this radish,” Hu Yu Ying said, washing the dirt off and taking a bite. This size of radish is especially crispy—super refreshing—but not suitable for cooking.
The Little Girl stared at herself, then took a bite of the radish, and Long Ao Tian’s body suddenly trembled.
When Lin Wan Ning also smiled at herself and bit into a large piece, this uncomfortable feeling grew even more obvious.
Finally, Li Qing Xue took the radish, looked at Long Ao Tian with her eyes spinning, and with a mischievous grin, she wolfed it down. “Hehe, it’s actually pretty tasty.”
After saying that, she laughed more happily.
“Here, for you.” She tossed the radish root to Long Ao Tian.
Looking at the busted, chewed-up radish, Long Ao Tian suddenly felt a strange twinge of sadness.
“Why do I suddenly feel kinda sad?”
“Sad? Feeling sad is right!” Li Qing Xue snorted, giving Long Ao Tian a pointed look at his lower body. “If you’re not honest again, then just go ahead and be heartbroken!”
After that, she turned and went with Hu Yu Ying and Lin Wan Ning to buy more ingredients…
