Chapter 189: You Must Have Been Really Sad Back Then
The next morning, bright and early.
Dragon Brother (Male) woke up before the rooster even crowed. Today was the big day for the workers to start mining; he had to go check on them.
“Old Owl, you’re up so early! Where are you heading?” Huang Fei, still half-asleep, yawned and blinked awake. Yesterday’s drinks still made him wish he could just sleep all day.
“Got some stuff to do. Just stepping out for a bit.”
“You really are a busy bee… I can’t do this anymore. I’m going to catch a quick nap…” Huang Fei mumbled, turning over and pulling the blanket back over his head.
Wizarding out of the dormitory, the air in Kyoto wasn’t exactly a breath of fresh air—morning included. Not quite as sweet as Bay Harbor City, Dragon Brother thought to himself.
Before long, he arrived at the courtyard—a traditional siheyuan, feng shui on point.
After a quick phone call, he met up with the salesperson. The deal was pretty straightforward: over sixty workers mobilized today, ready to start.
…
Hu Yu Ying wakes up alarmingly early every day. It’s her ingrained biological rhythm; she can’t sleep in. When the clock hits this hour, her eyes just won’t stay shut.
She gets up, dresses, washes up, then sends a message to Li Qing Xue. She stands in the corridor waiting for a reply, but nope, no response.
She lifts her head, gazing at the sky—through a glass ceiling, yet still breathtakingly beautiful.
“Today’s weather is so nice,” she murmurs.
She gets up and heads out towards the campus gate.
When she arrives at the breakfast shop outside school, she hesitates, takes a deep breath, as if giving herself a pep talk.
Then she steps inside.
A moment later, Hu Yu Ying sprints out, a bright smile lighting up her face.
Not long after, she puffs back into the shop, breathless but radiant.
“Thanks, thank you!”
Seeing this adorable, well-mannered girl, the old couple inside grin happily and wave her off.
Out on the street, Hu Yu Ying scans her bike, then pedals furiously toward the nearest subway entrance.
She’s panicked, anxious—her mood is tense and desperate, like she’s about to sprint her heart out.
When the subway doors open, she dashes out in a small burst.
Everyone on the sidewalk watches her run.
This time, Hu Yu Ying doesn’t care about their stares—her face still holds an expectant smile. Like a rainbow, she leaves countless colors in her wake.
Her unwavering determination makes her no longer afraid of anyone’s gaze.
Because Brother Long once said: “Nobody knows you, so why be shy? People who don’t care brush past—forget in the blink of an eye. But those who matter? They care no matter what you look like.”
Everyone heads in the same direction, as if silently turning the hands of a clock. On this endless road—she finally found him.
At the alley entrance, Dragon Brother feels something. He looks back, and suddenly relaxes, smiling wryly.
The fourth time.
The fourth time he’s seen her rush furiously towards him without hesitation.
“Brother Long,” she calls, bright and cheerful, her face lit with joy.
She slows her pace and stops in front of him. Carefully, she places what she’s been carrying in front of him.
“Silly!” Dragon Brother (Male) ruffles her hair roughly, looking at what she’s holding.
It’s okay if her hair gets messy—she likes it that way. Because she likes Brother Long’s spoiled little touches.
“Brother Long, have porridge,” she says.
Those four words—‘Brother Long, have porridge’—cut like an invisible blade. Not painful, but deeply carved into her heart.
Sometimes, Dragon Brother (Male) wonders if his maturity is too much—emotional too easily stirred.
He’s heard those words before, back in Bay Harbor City, more than once.
But in Kyoto, at this moment, it’s like a honey-made blade—sweet, filling his mind with bliss.
So sweet, so sweet—yet never overwhelming.
…
Sitting on a garden step, he opens a disposable lid—hot, fragrant steam rising.
Beef congee.
Hu Yu Ying’s eyes sparkle with a smile. “Brother Long, try it.”
She takes a big spoonful—aromatic, just like back in Bay Harbor City.
Watching Brother Long eat her homemade food, Hu Yu Ying can’t help but smile happily. “Is it good?”
“Very good. You… haven’t had a chance to eat yet?” he asks, probing. The congee’s still warm—obviously made not long ago—and seeing Hu Yu Ying rush over, he figures that’s why he asked.
“I’m not hungry.” Without meeting Brother Long, she rarely has breakfast; years of habit, uninterrupted. Only after meeting him does she cook for him and eat together.
“Here, I’ll give you some.” Brother Long (Male) hands her a large spoonful of congee.
Hu Yu Ying shakes her head rapidly. “I’m not hungry. You eat, Brother Long.”
“Huh? Not listening? Fine, I’ll tickle you if you don’t!”
“Come on!”
He forcibly places the congee in her hand. “Eat up.”
Looking at the spoonful, Hu Yu Ying takes a small sip—then raises her eyes, locking onto his gaze. In that instant, she beams, holding the congee dumbly and happily.
Her smile is so beautiful—light, like an affectionate spring rain, intoxicating and tender.
“You… you,” Dragon Brother (Male) gently pinches her nose. She really is adorable…
…
From afar, someone stops in their steps—tightly clutching a bag of buns and a soy milk.
Long pause. Long pause. Her grip on the bag relaxes slowly.
She doesn’t approach anymore, instead hiding behind another alley corner.
Her palm presses softly against her chest.
Very calm. Very peaceful inside.
Li Qing Xue stares blankly—so close yet somehow distant.
Although Hu Yu Ying’s laughter is just a few steps away, it feels a world apart.
Dragon Brother (Male) watches her smile, pouring all his affection on Hu Yu Ying. At least for this moment, his gaze contains no one else.
Seeing this scene, Li Qing Xue suddenly feels a strange sense of relief.
No, not quite relief—more like an odd emotion that’s hard to describe.
It’s as if her heart’s at peace, yet a subtle discomfort lingers. But when she sees Hu Yu Ying so happy, she can’t help but feel happy for them.
Yes, happy.
Her mind flashes back to that night Hu Yu Ying called her.
She said: “Qing Xue, what if I also like Brother Long?”
She can’t quite remember her own expression from that moment anymore.
“Foolish Hu Yu Ying, were you really that sad back then?”
“Probably. Saying something like that while I was with you… You must’ve been heartbroken, yet I couldn’t even tell…”
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