"How about we give Old Ao a call?" Li Longlong said, looking at the lively scene unfolding around them.

"Sure, I think Old Ao must be pretty tired from training these past few days. A little outing to relax and unwind sounds perfect—work hard, play hard!" Xu Shuai agreed. Everyone from the dorm was here except for him.

Huang Fei immediately pulled out his phone and dialed Long Aotian.

Ye Liangchen, who hadn’t gone far, overheard the suggestion and felt even more certain about his own thoughts.

As soon as the call connected, Huang Fei got up and moved to a quieter spot.

“Everyone’s here, just waiting on you,” came the voice on the other end.

“What?” Huang Fei almost couldn’t believe what he heard. “You’re at the vegetable market buying groceries?”

Long Aotian was holding bags filled with ingredients, mostly meat he’d bought from the supermarket. Now he was out picking up some greens—eating only meat would get a bit heavy.

“Yeah, planning to have hot pot tonight, so I’m grabbing some veggies to dip.”

“You guys go ahead and have fun. I’ll treat you all another day—today’s just not possible.” After all, there was someone at home waiting to be fed.

“You should’ve said so earlier! We could have brought ingredients over to your place and cooked hot pot together. Plus, we’d get to meet your sister-in-law!”

Long Aotian smiled. “Maybe after the sports meet is over. I’ll tidy up the house, and then I’ll invite you all over for hot pot.”

“Alright, it’s a deal. But don’t disappear after the sports meet, or we’ll never see you again,” Huang Fei joked. Every time training ended, one moment Long Aotian was there resting with them, and the next moment he was nowhere to be found.

“Okay, enough talk. You guys enjoy yourselves—I’ve got to buy these veggies.”

After hanging up, Huang Fei looked at his phone and couldn’t help but chuckle.

He hadn’t expected Long Aotian to still be doing grocery runs at home. Just that little detail revealed Long Aotian’s standing in the family.

Back at their booth, Huang Fei spread the news about Long Aotian’s domestic status.

Naturally, Wang Lijuan wasn’t pleased. “Look at Long Aotian, still buying groceries. You, on the other hand, just eat all day long.”

Xu Shuai playfully shook Wang Lijuan’s arm. “I can buy groceries too, but the problem is we don’t even have a place to cook. Maybe we should rent a place? Then I’ll take care of all the shopping!”

Wang Lijuan pressed a finger against Xu Shuai’s forehead and pushed him back a little. “In your dreams. If we’re going to live together, I need to see how you perform first!”

“Well, my performance will definitely be top-notch.”

Li Longlong couldn’t stand it any longer and slapped Xu Shuai on the forehead. “What kind of grown man acts all cute like that?”

Shen Mengjie hadn’t said a word, just quietly listening to their banter. When she heard that Long Aotian had gone out to buy groceries, she covered her mouth and smiled softly.

Someone like Long Aotian, if you were together with him, would definitely be the kind of boyfriend who’s a model of filial piety. Even without seeing it with your own eyes, just imagining him doing chores like grocery shopping made her feel oddly amused.

After hanging up, Long Aotian returned home and opened Li Qingxue’s bedroom door. Seeing her still asleep, he gently lifted the blanket and placed his cold hand softly on her ankle.

The moment Li Qingxue was touched, she suddenly fluffed up like a startled kitten and instantly snapped back to her senses.

“Long Aotian, you bad guy!” she exclaimed, breaking free from his slightly cold yet mischievous hands.

Her smooth, fair skin was exposed to the air. Noticing Long Aotian’s gaze, Li Qingxue grumpily pulled the blanket back over herself. “Are you never going to stop? Ying and Wan Ning will be back soon.”

“If they see you messing with me without their permission, they definitely won’t let you off easily!”

Long Aotian hadn’t even said anything yet, but he looked at Li Qingxue helplessly. “I bought ingredients for hotpot. Get up soon, we’re going to eat.”

Li Qingxue eyed him suspiciously. “Really just hotpot? Not trying to eat me instead?”

“I only ate an apple from you. Don’t expect me to put up with much more!”

“Seriously, I swear on my life. Otherwise, I’ll go out first—you get dressed and come out later?”

Li Qingxue nodded. “Alright then.”

“I’m heading out now!” Long Aotian said, turning his back.

As he turned, Li Qingxue threw off the blanket and prepared to put on the clothes scattered all over the bed.

But just as Long Aotian turned away, he immediately spun back around.

“I think it’ll be faster if I help you.” With that, he lunged at Li Qingxue.

She propped herself up on her hands and gave him two sharp slaps. “We agreed you’d let me get dressed first!” Instead of putting on clothes, she ended up getting ‘eaten’ again!

How does this man have so much energy?

So the first time, he really was holding back...

“It’s your fault. We agreed you’d get dressed first—look at the mess you made.” Li Qingxue pulled out fresh sheets to remake the bed.

“Ying and Wan Ning will be back soon.” Latest content published on NovєlFіre.net

“I’m helping you this time, for real.” Long Aotian couldn’t pretend to be innocent after getting the upper hand; he grabbed the fresh sheets and started making the bed for Qingxue.

Meanwhile, Li Qingxue was busy getting dressed and hurriedly cleaning up the traces they’d left behind, afraid Wan Ning would walk in and catch them—she’d be utterly mortified.

By the time Li Qingxue finished tidying up, Long Aotian had already laid the new sheets.

Seeing this, Li Qingxue gave him a hard kick from behind, sending Long Aotian tumbling onto the bed.

Quickly, she jumped on the bed and planted her foot firmly on his face. “You bad man, how dare you deceive me—take that!”

After stomping on him, she ran off, feeling utterly delighted.

Long Aotian got up helplessly, straightened the bed, and left the room.

Li Qingxue was already in the sunroom, preparing the ingredients. “Call Ying and Wan Ning and see when they’ll be back.”

“They said about the length of one class, so around eight o’clock.”

“That’s good, we have plenty of time.” Li Qingxue exhaled, her previously tense heart finally easing.

Because she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were sneaking around—exciting, yet nerve-wracking, always worried that Ying or Wan Ning would come back and catch them in the act.

Seeing Li Qingxue looking so guilty, Long Aotian stepped forward and sat down beside her. “What’s wrong? Feeling a little guilty?”

“Who, who’s guilty?” Li Qingxue would never admit it and immediately responded stubbornly, “I’m just afraid that some people have gotten addicted to sneaking snacks and keep coming back to me.”

Long Aotian chuckled and deliberately leaned closer to Li Qingxue. “But there’s one thing I have to say—I think you’re right. An apple really does equal a little... ‘ouch’...”

Li Qingxue’s ears instantly turned bright red. “You’re the kind of person who takes advantage and still acts innocent. I’m going to pinch you!”

With that, she gave Long Aotian a playful pinch on the waist.

Just as she was dealing with Long Aotian, the sound of the front door being pushed open rang out.

Li Qingxue quickly pulled away from Long Aotian, instantly transforming into someone who looked as if nothing had happened at all. At first glance, she appeared utterly well-behaved and innocent...