Chapter 92: Moving Closer, Nearer to Him
Upon hearing those words,
Hu Yu Ying gently bit her red lip, and obediently unwrapped the lunchbox and side dishes on her lap.
The moment the food touched her tongue, her smile broke free uncontrollably, soaring high, turning her eyes into little crescent moons.
Simple rice and vegetables, but to Hu Yu Ying, it was as if she’d tasted the most blissful delicacy in the world.
He had considered everything for her.
This was the first time in many years since her parents left that someone showed her this level of care.
Even if not by her side, he still looked after her with meticulous attention.
“Wonder what Brother Long is doing right now.”
Her thoughts drifted away.
Elsewhere, Dragon Bro (that’s Dragon Brother, aka Long Aotian) and Li Qing Xue, after finishing their meal, returned early to the exam hall.
“Thanks.”
“It’s just one meal; you better invite me out again next time,” said Dragon Bro with a grin.
Li Qing Xue chuckled, “Alright, I’ll treat you to a meal someday.”
“Go sit in the shade up front,” Dragon Bro pointed towards a nearby tree’s shadow.
“Yeah, it’s so hot today,” Li Qing Xue waved her hand in front of her face to fan herself, both of them heading towards the shade.
“I used to fantasize about what’d happen after college entrance exams, but honestly… after this day, mostly excitement, but also a bit of reluctance. What about you?”
Sitting down, Li Qing Xue supported her weight with both hands behind her and gazed upward towards the distant sky.
Moving from elementary to middle school, she was mainly excited.
From middle to high school, pure joy.
From high school to university, growing up and forming deeper bonds with friends, a twinge of reluctance was inevitable.
“Youth is like that—constantly rushing past, only to meet again,” Dragon Bro said, then looked at Li Qing Xue. “On TV dramas, the most used phrase about youth is: ‘Youth will eventually fade, only memories remain eternal.’”
“That’s an unavoidable part of our life journey. But what can we do? Can’t exactly freeze time right here, right?”
Li Qing Xue stretched and said softly, “That’s true, but this is my ordinary yet passionate youth, slipping away just like that in the summer.”
“Look at your sentimental self. If you’re so reluctant, why not just enjoy this summer to the fullest?”
Li Qing Xue nodded in agreement, then clenched her small fist solemnly and said, “You’re right. After the exams, I’ll put on a delicate makeup, go shopping, eat ice cream, have fun—be free and carefree.”
“Alright, alright, whatever you say, but now it’s time to get back to the exam hall,” Dragon Bro interjected.
“Oh, you’re such a killjoy…”
Two days passed in a flash.
After handing in the last exam paper, summer officially kicked off!
As they stepped out of the exam hall, somehow feeling the weight lift from their hearts, Dragon Bro couldn’t help but feel that the afternoon air was just… sweet.
He lazily stretched.
“It’s over,” Li Qing Xue said with a bright smile, taking a deep breath and exhaling heavily.
“Finally, it’s over!” After stretching, Dragon Bro looked at Li Qing Xue. “Hey, come here, I’ve got a secret for you.”
Hearing that, Li Qing Xue squinted her eyes slyly, wrinkling her small cute nose, and took a step back. “I’m not a three-year-old anymore. If you dare tease me like I’m a kid again, I’ll punch you.”
She nodded fiercely, fists raised.
“Oh, you caught me there.”
“Hmph, of course I did,” Li Qing Xue said proudly.
They walked out of the school gates together. Li Qing Xue immediately spotted her mom waiting outside the campus.
“My mom’s here to pick me up,” she said happily, full of joy.
“Bye!”
“Of course, see you later! I owe you two meals; I’ll pay you back,” she added with a smile before heading towards her bike.
Li Qing Xue glanced at Dragon Bro’s back and chuckled softly, then went over to her mother.
As soon as she saw Li Qing Xue, her mom hurried over: “Sweetheart, tell me, how did you do on the exam?”
“Not bad,” Li Qing Xue replied coquettishly with a smile.
Those two words from her own daughter basically meant everything was fine.
“Let’s go home. Mom will cook a big dinner for you. It’s been tough on my precious girl these days.”
…
Just unlocked her bike lock.
Dragon Bro paused, feeling an inexplicable flutter in his heart.
A strange feeling—like something was guiding him…
He turned around, momentarily stunned, then smiled wryly.
And there, Hu Yu Ying was trotting over through the crowd.
She had just seen Dragon Bro get off the bus, and now their eyes met. Breathing hurried, maybe her heart was tossed into disarray by the breeze.
The boy stood in the sunlight, the smile on his face shining like the sun itself, sparkling brightly.
“Hu Yu Ying!”
Those three words felt like a jolt of electricity through her young heart. Her face lit up even more, her heartbeat sped up, her cheeks warmed—like every cell in her body was shouting, “Move closer to him, go to his side!”
“You came?” Dragon Bro stared at her seriously.
When they were at separate exam locations, both went to each other’s exam sites, far apart.
After hearing Dragon Bro, Hu Yu Ying felt a little unsure of herself, cautious even, not knowing where to put her hands or feet. “I—I submitted early,” she said, cheeks turning crimson all the way to her ears.
That was probably the boldest thing she’d ever done in her whole life.
Seeing Dragon Bro raise his hand, Hu Yu Ying instinctively shrank her neck, imagining him gently ruffling her hair, but the anticipated gesture never happened.
Instead, she felt the warmth of a big hand, gently stroking her long hair.
She quietly looked up at Dragon Bro.
He muttered, “Get on the bike!”
Sitting behind Dragon Bro on his bike, with the breeze brushing her face and raising her hair, Hu Yu Ying smiled. At least, in this moment, she felt free and alive.
The scenery around them receded into the distance. The girl watched the tall, strong back of the boy behind her, her smile bright.
She tentatively grabbed at his clothes. At this moment, the fact she’d turned in her exam early didn’t seem so important anymore.
Because right then, they were so close. So close…
Close enough to clearly smell the detergent on him.
Close enough to feel his warmth radiating.
Amidst the congested traffic, a bicycle carrying youthful dreams weaved through.
From one car, the girl glanced sideways and caught this scene, her gaze lingering.
Until the bicycle disappeared into the traffic jam, vanished from her line of sight.
She lowered her eyes and softly smiled, not as happy as she had imagined she’d be for them…
