Chapter 113: Let’s Be Happy!
After that, for a period of time, Long Ao Tian found himself wandering to the vegetable market for no particular reason—just to see if anyone was around.
When it was crowded, he could chat with the Uncle and Aunties who came to buy pork, killing time easily.
When it was empty, he’d feel like all his energy had been drained—he’d stand up every so often and glance around the market, totally clueless about what he was looking at.
Like he was lost in thought—no, lost in what, exactly?
“Son, why don’t you go home and rest for a while?” Old Man, the vendor, looked at Long Ao Tian with concern as he pictured him looking like a deflated balloon.
Long Ao Tian yawned dramatically. “I’m fine, I’m not tired.”
“Bah! If you’re tired of staying home, go out and play! Old Man here can handle the stall myself!”
Without waiting for a response, Old Man shooed him away as if he was shooing a lazy cat.
Seriously, is it tiring to do this—standing around all day?
Previously, he’d come home early and late, but no matter how many hours he worked, he always wore a smile and slept like the dead, full of energy the next day.
And now? He kept saying he was exhausted, just wanting to laze around at home.
But the more he rested, the more he just… wilted. Basically, he looked like he had a lot on his mind.
“Fine,” Long Ao Tian sighed and didn’t argue further. He packed up, then headed out of the market.
As he left, Old Man chuckled to himself, wiping sweat from his forehead on his apron and lighting a cigarette.
Long Ao Tian, feeling bored out of his mind, wandered away from the market, clueless about what to do next.
When he was busy, time flew by, and boredom was nonexistent.
When he was free, his mind would drift off into all sorts of random thoughts.
At this age, he supposed he should be acting wild and carefree.
Most people his age, when bored, would hit the internet café, hang out with close friends, or even sing karaoke—any way to amuse themselves.
But Long Ao Tian’s mental age had long since surpassed that stage.
Maybe only slightly older folks could understand this feeling—like, there’s just nothing fun worth doing anymore.
Thinking carefully now, ever since he transmigrated into this world, everything around him seemed to be connected to Hu Yu Ying, or at least had her shadow lurking behind.
Before he knew it, he found himself at the banks of Shuiwan River.
This place was the only spot in this strange new world where Long Ao Tian felt truly relaxed, truly at ease.
He grew up alone in the Welfare Institute, so being lonely was second nature.
Getting used to solitude, he could really feel the silent confusion that loneliness brought.
He liked the quiet at first—short moments of silence helped him adapt faster.
Here, besides the sound of flowing water, the wind, the grass, and the earthy smell, there were no other noises.
A gentle breeze, faintly damp, blew over him. In that moment, Long Ao Tian suddenly felt a strong desire.
A longing to vent.
“See? You really shouldn’t be too idle—only bored people are like this!”
“It’s not because I’m bored! You just haven’t found your stress relief method,” he snapped back.
He looked at the speaker: “Are you secretly tracking me now?”
Li Qing Xue rolled her eyes but looked a bit sheepish. “Don’t DARE slander me. Do you think I don’t appreciate this place? I actually like it here!”
She approached him with her signature youthful grace, wearing a simple yet elegant white dress—full of vitality, her skin like snow—she really was a pretty girl.
She set down her small basket.
Then took out a small picnic blanket, spread it on the ground, and sat down confidently.
Sitting there, she looked at Long Ao Tian with a slight smirk—proud and playful.
Then she pulled out drinks, fruit, and two tiny cakes from her basket. “Hmph, bet you didn’t see this coming—I’m here to enjoy a lovely afternoon. Strictly speaking, you’ve kinda taken advantage of me here.”
Her youthful exuberance radiated, and it subtly influenced everything around her—a feeling of light-heartedness.
After enough of that, she continued, “You’re so old-fashioned.”
“What old-fashioned? I was young once, too,” he shot back.
“But you’re very different from most people, especially that look you had just now—so gloomy, sighing, as if the world in your eyes is complicated. You look like you’re worried about everything, not relaxed at all.”
“So that makes me old-fashioned,” she teased.
It wasn’t just a random remark. In that moment, when she saw Long Ao Tian, she truly felt it—in her heart, she sensed something unusual about him.
In Li Qing Xue’s eyes, most classmates around her looked happy.
Some were excited about the upcoming college life.
Some were eager about entering society and starting a new adventure.
She saw their vitality, their aspirations—bright and lively.
But looking at Long Ao Tian, she sensed a type of complex emotion that didn’t fit his age, lacked the youthful passion she expected.
It kind of confirmed what he’d said before—he understood what Hu Yu Ying was really about.
At least, in that moment, she felt she understood Long Ao Tian a little better.
“So what should I do then?” Long Ao Tian smiled but still asked honestly.
“Just be happy,” Li Qing Xue grinned mischievously.
Thinking back on how Long Ao Tian had always tried to cheer her up, Li Qing Xue decided to return the favor.
“If you always try to cheer others up, why can’t you do it for yourself?” she said.
“Fine, I’ll try to be a bit happier,” he sighed.
“See? That’s why you’re so old-fashioned—being happy still requires effort!” she teased, then looked around and started picking up small stones from her basket.
“Come on, follow me,” she beckoned.
Long Ao Tian got up and let her pull him along toward the water’s edge.
“Hey, careful! There’s no railing down there,” he warned.
Below was Shuiwan River—a bay. A few days ago, a heavy rain had flooded the area quite a bit.
Honestly, Long Ao Tian couldn’t swim, and people who couldn’t swim tend to be extra cautious around water—an instinct.
But Li Qing Xue? Not at all scared. She lifted her skirt, making walking easier without dirtying it.
Mainly, she watched TV shows where the male lead comforts the female lead by bringing her to the seaside, shouting into the ocean, or tossing stones.
She thought shouting out frustrations or throwing stones to cast away worries—like she was doing—were good ways to vent.
“At least I, a girl, am not afraid. What are you afraid of?” she challenged.
“Can you swim?” Long Ao Tian asked.
She paused. “No.”
“Then don’t go in the water—if you don’t know how to swim, you’ll be fine not to be scared,” he said, trying to sound confident.
Li Qing Xue looked at him—so earnest—and then burst out laughing.
“You don’t know how to swim but want to act brave?”
“Young and clueless,” he muttered.
In comparison, he almost felt a little old-fashioned himself…
