After packing up her things,
Hu Yuying sat obediently and said, "Long Ge, I'm ready."
"Let's go." With Long Aotian's words, the tricycle started and sped toward home.
Unlike the brisk morning ride, the wind now brushed gently against them as they passed vast fields in the surrounding villages and towns, bringing a soothing comfort to both body and mind.
"There aren't many goods left. We’ll finish selling them in a couple of days, so we can go home soon," Long Aotian said softly.
"Mm." Hu Yuying nodded. Truthfully, she missed home too.
Her tuition had long been saved up, and she still had plenty of living expenses left—enough to spare some for her grandparents.
It seemed that ever since meeting Long Ge, everything in her life had been moving in a better direction.
Gazing at Long Aotian’s back, Hu Yuying smiled faintly, grateful for knowing him, for becoming his little follower, and for the fact that he hadn’t pushed her away.
"Long Ge, I’m really happy."
"Yeah? Then shout it out loud. You’ll feel even happier after that."
"No way." She was content keeping her joy between the two of them. Shouting it out would just make her feel embarrassed.
"Come on, we won’t be coming here tomorrow, and no one knows us anyway."
"W-Well… okay." Hu Yuying took a deep breath, cupped her hands around her mouth, and shouted toward the open fields, "I’m so happy! Really, really happy!"
After letting her feelings burst forth, she did feel even happier, her smile brighter and purer than before.
Long Aotian glanced at her. "Feel better now?"
"Mhm!" Hu Yuying nodded vigorously, then looked up at the sky and whispered, so softly it was almost inaudible, "So… my life can be this happy too."
"Remember this feeling. I hope every day from now on is even happier for you."
"I will. And I hope Long Ge gets happier every day too."
"We will. After all, our lives are just getting started!"
An hour later, Long Aotian turned his head. "Message Li Qingxue to meet us by the river. We’re almost there."
"Got it." Hu Yuying replied cheerfully, pulling out her phone to type the message.
"Qingxue says she’ll bike over and should be there in about ten minutes. She’s already on her way."
Hu Yuying smiled. Now, besides Long Ge, she had another friend.
Honestly, someone like Li Qingxue was hard not to befriend once you got to know her.
Li Qingxue was outgoing by nature, while Hu Yuying was more reserved.
Back in school, Hu Yuying’s warmth had been reserved only for Long Aotian. To outsiders, she might have seemed aloof—though it wasn’t that she was cold, just unsure how to strike up conversations.
But after the college entrance exams, when Long Aotian took her to sell clothes at the market, interacting with customers daily slowly softened her edges. Now, her openness extended to everyone.
Today, at Long Aotian’s suggestion, she had even initiated the message to Li Qingxue.
In any relationship, if one person took the first step, as long as the other wasn’t difficult or gloomy, it was easy to hit it off.
Especially when that someone was Li Qingxue—bold, lively, and just a little bit proud.
Soon, Long Aotian parked the tricycle by the riverside.
Hu Yuying hopped off, clutching the outfit she’d picked out for Li Qingxue.
She checked her phone but decided against sending another message. Li Qingxue was biking—getting distracted wouldn’t be safe.
Long Aotian yawned, slumping on the tricycle. Used to sleeping in, waking up early today had left him drowsy.
Before long, a girl on a bicycle appeared down the road.
Even from a distance, her bright voice carried over: "Sorry, have you been waiting long?"
Hu Yuying shook her head. "Not at all. We just got here. This is for you."
She handed over the carefully chosen clothes, and Li Qingxue accepted them, offering a box of homemade cookies in return.
"How much? I brought cash."
Hu Yuying stared at the cookies, waving her hands. "N-No need! The clothes are a gift. Thank you for the cookies, though."
Li Qingxue grinned. "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."
"Can I see them now?"
"Of course! If they don’t fit, I can exchange them."
Li Qingxue unwrapped the package and pulled out the clothes. The fabric was cool and silky—so nice she almost wanted to change right there.
While the two chatted amiably, Long Aotian stealthily swiped the cookies from Hu Yuying’s hands.
Hu Yuying didn’t mind. In her heart, she’d give Long Ge anything he wanted.
"Hey, Long Aotian, don’t steal Hu Yuying’s share!" Li Qingxue tucked the clothes away. "If you want some, I’ll make extra next time. Let Hu Yuying try them first!"
"Nope. Possession is nine-tenths of the law." Long Aotian smirked, shameless.
Hu Yuying giggled and tugged Li Qingxue’s sleeve, signaling it was fine.
Li Qingxue rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing. So, Long Aotian really liked her cookies, huh?
Well, they *were* delicious. Fine—she’d bake more next time. What a glutton.
As dusk settled, they exchanged a few more words before parting ways.
Hu Yuying sat on the tricycle’s small rear seat, waving. "We’re heading off now."
"Okay, ride safely."
Watching Long Aotian and Hu Yuying leave, Li Qingxue bit her lip lightly, a flicker of envy in her eyes. "Lucky them."
That kind of freedom and happiness was something she longed for too.
At least her own joy was hers to cherish.
At least they were friends.
With that thought, Li Qingxue took a deep breath, turned briskly, and pedaled away into the distance.
Meanwhile, Long Aotian and Hu Yuying had already returned to their base.
After unloading, Hu Yuying checked the remaining stock.
"Let’s clear these last items in the next two days. Summer’s almost over!" Long Aotian stretched lazily.
"Yeah… this summer went by so fast," Hu Yuying murmured, sitting beside him.
From the day after their college entrance exams, when they’d gone to Yiwu for goods and started their market stall, to now—time had slipped away unnoticed. Summer was truly ending.
But it had also been her happiest summer yet…