The next day, after finishing his training, Long Aotian sat on the steps to rest.

His phone rang, and glancing at the caller ID, he answered with a smile, "Yuying, I just finished training. I’ll come pick you up soon."

Hu Yuying looked at the president of the Hanfu Club, her expression pleading, and reluctantly said to Long Aotian, "I might be going home a bit late today. There’s something I need to help with at the club."

"Oh? Around what time? I’ll come get you."

"About the length of one lecture."

After hanging up, Hu Yuying turned to the Hanfu Club president. "So from now on, the club can just source purchases directly through me?"

"I guarantee it, but the quality can’t be too shabby."

"Don’t worry about that. I’ll show you samples beforehand."

"Then it’s settled. Hurry and change—we need to get to rehearsal."

Looking at the beautiful Hanfu in front of her, Hu Yuying stepped into the changing room.

......

Meanwhile.

After hanging up, Long Aotian trained a bit longer with Huang Fei and the others before finally leaving the academy.

Wan Ning had mentioned the night before that she’d be busy with rehearsals for the next week and might return home late.

As Long Aotian passed the academy gates, he bought four exquisitely packaged apples.

After carefully storing them, he got on his electric scooter and headed home.

When he arrived, the front door, which had been locked, was now open.

Pushing his scooter inside, he called out for Qingxue, holding the beautifully wrapped apples.

Since Yuying and Wan Ning would both be back late, the only one home now had to be Li Qingxue.

Sure enough, at the sound of his voice, Li Qingxue emerged from her room.

"Here, this is for you." Long Aotian handed her one of the packaged apples.

Li Qingxue’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked at the apple, but she didn’t take it immediately. Instead, she began scrutinizing Long Aotian from head to toe.

Uncomfortable under her gaze, Long Aotian frowned. "What are you looking at?"

"My classmates told me today not to accept apples from guys."

"Why?"

"They said the English word for apple is 'apple,' and accepting one might mean getting hit with that." She tilted her head, eyeing him. "So, are you giving me this apple because you want to do that to me?"

Long Aotian rolled his eyes and placed a hand on her head. "What kind of nonsense are you filling your brain with lately?"

"If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it myself."

"I want it!" Li Qingxue snatched the apple, her lips curling into an irrepressible smile as she carefully unwrapped it. After wiping the apple, she took a small bite.

"Ugh, it’s so sour! Long Aotian, did you buy unripe apples? How can they be this sour?"

"No way? They looked perfectly red. Let me try—I paid three bucks for these."

If they really were that sour, he’d have to go back and confront the seller. Three yuan wasn’t much, but selling unripe, sour apples was unacceptable. Check latest chapters at Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Standing on the steps, Li Qingxue suddenly wrapped her arms around him as he approached and pressed her lips to his.

The soft, fleeting touch made his breath catch. Her bright, lively eyes gazed up at him from close range, shimmering with mischief as she whispered, "Sour?"

Long Aotian swallowed the piece of apple she’d passed into his mouth, her delicate fragrance unmistakable at this distance.

Meeting those glimmering eyes, he nodded. "Sour."

In one swift motion, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bedroom.

Li Qingxue looped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Loving someone reveals itself most honestly through the body.

On the bedside table, the half-bitten apple tumbled onto the bed.

......

"Brother Chen, this is my first time going to a bar—I’m kinda pumped!" Gao Quan was practically vibrating with excitement after hearing Ye Liangchen and Xue Shaohua were taking him to a bar.

He’d never been before. Though he’d always wanted to check one out, he’d never worked up the courage.

Now that he had companions, his anticipation was through the roof.

Ye Liangchen smirked. "If just going to a bar has you this hyped, then brace yourself—tonight’s got something even more thrilling in store for you!"

"Something even more thrilling? What is it?" Gao Quan asked eagerly.

"You'll find out tonight!" Ye Liangchen chuckled mysteriously.

Xue Shaohua joined in with a laugh: "First time's awkward, second time's familiar. Let’s go have some fun today. If you like it, we can come back often when we have time."

Leading Gao Quan to the bar entrance, he said, "Let’s go."

It was Gao Quan’s first time in a bar, and the scene inside left him stunned.

The booming DJ beats pounded against his eardrums, making his heart race uncontrollably under the deafening bass.

The rhythm was so intense that Gao Quan couldn’t help but sway to the music.

In the dance floor, men and women dressed in shockingly skimpy outfits despite the cold weather.

For a moment, Gao Quan’s eyes were overwhelmed.

Noticing Gao Quan’s dazed expression, Ye Liangchen smirked confidently. Sure, his friend was a bit of a country bumpkin, but he was still his bro.

Patting Gao Quan’s shoulder, he shouted over the music, "Just let loose and enjoy yourself here!"

The DJ was so loud that you had to lean in close just to hear each other.

After saying this, Ye Liangchen shot Xue Shaohua a look, signaling it was time to unleash their charm.

Xue Shaohua immediately caught the hint.

The two exchanged glances and declared in unison, "Charm seal—release!"

As soon as the words left their mouths, they flicked their hair—one revealing an earring, the other an ear stud.

Ye Liangchen took a deep breath as he scanned the dance floor filled with beautiful women and muttered, "Li Qingxue, you’ll regret betraying me."

"I hope you won’t beg for mercy when the time comes!"

"P-please... have mercy..." Li Qingxue gasped, weakly pounding Long Aotian’s back as she pleaded.

Mercy?

Not quite yet.

"Ah! You’re at it again?!" Li Qingxue yelped, rolling away on the bed to escape the insatiable man.

Watching Li Qingxue drift into exhausted sleep, Long Aotian grinned. "So weak, yet so eager to play."

Glancing at the time, he closed the bedroom door. Tonight was hot pot night—time to go buy ingredients...

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