Chapter 205: When “Like” has No Definition, That’s When It Finds Its True Meaning
At home, Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning had already built the stove, tidied up some leftover logs from last time, and generally prepared for tonight’s feast.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
Both women looked up at the entrance.
They saw Dragon Brother and Hu Yu Ying walking back in.
Their faces lit up with happiness as they stood proudly, displaying their hard-earned work.
Perhaps in Hu Yu Ying’s eyes—or even Dragon Brother’s—these achievements may seem trivial.
But for Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning, these are their trophies of effort.
Everyone’s growth, everyone’s life—completely different stories.
Some things for Hu Yu Ying are just everyday routine.
But for Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning, it’s a fresh new experience.
Dragon Brother stepped forward, flicked on the light, then sat down in front of the stove and started the fire: “Tonight, we’re doing hotpot.”
Before Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning could say a word, the two little ones saw Hu Yu Ying walk up, proactively removing Dragon Brother’s jacket.
Dragon Brother was very cooperative, too.
Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning blinked.
Helping Brother take off his jacket, Hu Yu Ying looked oddly at their gaze of curiosity and admiration.
Their eyes held smiles, winking playfully at her.
Hu Yu Ying somehow thought of something, her gaze flickering and avoiding, her cheeks glowing fiercely in the flickering campfire light.
Quickly, she slipped into the room, placed Dragon Brother’s jacket on the bed.
Clutching her small face with both hands, biting her red lips, taking a deep breath, she finally stepped out again.
Seeing Hu Yu Ying come out anew, Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning could sense that something had shifted between Hu Yu Ying and Dragon Brother.
But they couldn’t quite put their finger on what it was—an intuition so clear yet so confusing.
Hu Yu Ying started to feel a bit embarrassed under their watchful eyes.
Fortunately, the flames had already blazed up, warm and lively.
“I’ll do what’s left for Brother,” Hu Yu Ying whispered softly as she tugged at Dragon Brother’s sleeve.
This made Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning confirm: Hu Yu Ying was gentle, indeed. But before, at least in front of them, she had never spoken to Dragon Brother with such a soft, gooey tone.
“Okay, be careful,” Dragon Brother nodded, standing up to give up his seat.
As he got up, Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning leaned closer to Hu Yu Ying, whispering in her ear.
Seeing the three tiny figures whispering conspiratorially, Dragon Brother found it amusing.
Especially when Hu Yu Ying’s ears turned red, her eyes overflowing with affection and unwittingly showing a pampered, loving gaze—her lips curled in a faint smile, as tender as gentle moonlight.
Sometimes Hu Yu Ying would blush shyly when teased; occasionally, she’d turn her head just right, locking eyes with Dragon Brother’s gentle, affectionate look. Her eyes sparkled with a smile, cheeks blushing like the world’s fireworks had just bloomed.
Lin Wan Ning nudged Li Qing Xue with her shoulder, signaling silently.
Although they hadn’t known each other long, Li Qing Xue understood her meaning instantly.
She looked up at Dragon Brother: “How can there be hotpot without some cold drinks? We want cold drinks.”
“Is soda okay?” Dragon Brother asked.
“Okay,” Li Qing Xue thought for a moment, then answered.
Honestly, what to drink didn’t matter much. They just wanted to get Dragon Brother out of the way first.
The three little ones watched as Dragon Brother walked around the corner.
And immediately, two of them got mischievous.
They started tugging at Hu Yu Ying’s outfit, scheming.
“Confess honestly, resist strictly—Hu Ying, spill it! What exactly did you two do outside?” one little rascal said with a grin.
Li Qing Xue curled her claws, giggling as she moved closer: “You’d better tell the truth, or I’ll catch you, huh.”
Today, after going swimming, she saw how adorable Hu Yu Ying was. Now she was desperate to squeeze her cheeks.
Hu Yu Ying’s face turned pink, and she wriggled her soft body, looking longingly at the two tiny troublemakers reaching out for her.
“Don’t… don’t do this…” she pleaded.
She had only just been cuddled by Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning this afternoon, and that feeling was strangely humbling and embarrassing.
“We can feel it. You and Brother seem to have some kind of change. If you don’t want us to squeeze you, just tell – but if not, I will squeeze too,” Lin Wan Ning whispered, her voice cold but with a mischievous glint.
It wasn’t clear whether she was doing it on purpose, but she kept leaning close to Hu Yu Ying’s ear, whispering teasingly, with her breath tickling Hu Yu Ying’s ear.
Hu Yu Ying’s petite body trembled.
“Hey!” Li Qing Xue took the opportunity to grab and poke at her, starting to fawn over Hu Yu Ying’s cute as heck “mountains” (her chest).
Hu Yu Ying’s initial resistance gave way; finally, she collapsed softly into Lin Wan Ning’s arms.
She bit her red lip, her dreamy eyes lush and moist, finally unable to resist the mischievous little hands groping all over her.
“I—I—I kissed Brother!” she blurted out, suddenly overwhelmed with embarrassment, clutching her face with her hands.
Hearing this, Li Qing Xue and Lin Wan Ning exchanged glances and both stopped their antics, smiling.
“Did we understand that as kissing?” Lin Wan Ning giggled.
Feeling Hu Yu Ying’s tiny hand still on her face, Li Qing Xue nodded softly, even as she kept her own hands on her cheeks.
From her fingertips, the two girls saw a flicker of happiness lingering on Hu Yu Ying’s lips—a shy, blushing smile that made her look like her cheeks might turn red just from saying it out loud.
“Who made the first move?” they asked, now borderline gossip journalists, appearing more excited than ever.
Seeing Hu Yu Ying’s somewhat embarrassed state, they eased up a bit, softly lowering her hands from her face.
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With a tentative apology, Hu Yu Ying glanced at Li Qing Xue.
Girls’ hearts are so delicate. Even if Hu Yu Ying said nothing, Li Qing Xue seemed to have already heard her inner voice.
She took Hu Yu Ying’s small hand, gently pressing it against her own chest.
“Ah Ying, do you feel it?”
“My heart is happy right now. It’s nothing else, just because of you.”
“Dragon Brother once guided me when I was most helpless, most clueless about what to do. He told me that love has many kinds, and their definitions vary…”
“Although I openly admitted to liking Dragon Brother in front of you…”
“But that doesn’t stop me from being happy for you.”
At this moment, Li Qing Xue beamed with a bright, radiant smile: “Doesn’t that seem very contradictory?”
“Actually, I was pretty conflicted at first. But after hearing what you said to me that night, I no longer felt conflicted.”
Hu Yu Ying truly opened her heart to herself. Of course, Li Qing Xue sincerely wanted her happiness too.
“I’m happy for you because I hope that bad guy Dragon Brother can find happiness too,” Li Qing Xue said, her smile soft and full of kindness, embodying all the loveliest things in the world.
She couldn’t quite explain it—was it because she met him in summer?
Or because—thanks to him—she had a summer of her own.
Just like Hu Yu Ying said, she once possessed it too, didn’t she?
Knowing how much Hu Yu Ying meant to Dragon Brother finally set the true definition of “ liking” into place.
