Watching Long Aotian stretch, Hu Yuying also stopped writing: "Want to take a break?"
Long Aotian nodded and placed the completed problems he had solved in front of Hu Yuying: "I'm done, I bet it's all correct this time. Let's take a break."
With that, he carelessly sprawled out on the sofa.
"Alright," Hu Yuying said, but her eyes never left the problems Long Aotian had solved.
Only after confirming they were all correct did she stretch and lean back on the sofa.
Long Aotian took out his phone and checked his bank account, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Although the money came from his "cheating," it was legal and legitimate, so Long Aotian was naturally happy.
Especially when he was tired, just looking at it filled him with energy.
In the previous world, he was just a frugal office worker.
Who knows, maybe in this world, he'll become a tycoon with his memories.
*Note: In the original novel, Long Aotian succeeded and founded the Aotian Group based on the author's plot setup (involving mafia elements).*
According to the timeline of this world, the 4G era will arrive soon.
From then on, the internet will boom, smartphones will replace computers as necessities for life and work, and industries like short videos, e-commerce, and live streaming will flourish, forming a profitable online model.
These will all be Long Aotian's opportunities.
If he seizes them well, using his memories from the previous life in this one, he's sure to make a fortune.
Though he's too shy to admit it, truthfully, the industries Long Aotian was involved in before were the hardest and most exhausting.
He lacked the cultural background to support more ideas, didn't understand business models, startup patterns, or finance, and wasn't a man with grand ambitions.
As long as he could sip some broth and earn money that would last him a lifetime, he would be more than satisfied without any big aspirations.
In the future, with money made from stocks, he plans to invest and wait for Bitcoin to appreciate, and that would be enough for a fulfilling life.
Recently, Long Aotian had considered using his past-life memories to write some future hit songs for traffic monetization.
But after careful thought, he decided it wasn't necessary.
His life now was already satisfying. This world doesn't revolve around him but around the main couple.
The success of the protagonist group is inevitable. The best he can do is ensure he doesn't end up tragically, clutching half a moldy bun, dying on the streets.
If he becomes too high-profile, no one can guarantee no unexpected troubles will arise.
After all, in life, peace and simplicity are the essence.
All in all, buying a countryside villa, bringing his old man, and enjoying rural life would be better than anything.
Isn't that what everyone desires in the end—a life like that?
Seeing Long Aotian grin foolishly at his phone, Hu Yuying was puzzled. After a rest, she continued to organize notes for Long Aotian.
She based them on Long Aotian's mistakes, extending alternative solution paths for better understanding.
Some problem-solving methods work for oneself but not for others.
"Stop writing," Long Aotian said after playing with his phone for a while, noticing Hu Yuying still working.
"Don't you know what 'work-rest balance' means? Come on, let's get some fresh air."
The rain had stopped outside, and the air was refreshingly cool.
The breeze invigorated them.
Eyes fatigued, they felt relief at this moment.
"Long Ge, want to go to the rooftop?" Hu Yuying closed her eyes, deeply breathing in the fresh air, then opened them and smiled at Long Aotian.
"Sure, the higher up the better the view."
Hu Yuying guided Long Aotian up the ladder. Their home was a bungalow, so they had to climb a ladder to reach the rooftop.
Once up, the wind was strong. Fresh due to the recent rain, the clear blue sky with white clouds painted a picturesque scene.
"Long Ge, close your eyes and open your arms." Hu Yuying took the lead, closing her eyes and spreading her arms wide.
Feeling the wind on her body, she felt overjoyed.
Long Aotian found her childish behavior amusing, but he closed his eyes and spread his arms too.
Perhaps because the wind was just right today, or maybe it was the innocence of the person beside him, Long Aotian suddenly felt a lightness of body and spirit. A release that can't be described after exhaustion.
Suddenly, a muffled sob broke the moment.
Long Aotian opened his eyes: "Why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying, Long Ge," Hu Yuying insisted.
And she was happy right now, so definitely not crying.
Long Aotian stared at Hu Yuying's face. No redness in her eyes, no tear streaks, her voice wasn't nasal from crying.
Hu Yuying's eyes fluttered, feeling Long Aotian's gaze, her ear tips uncontrollably flushing red.
"Hmph, guess it wasn't you," Long Aotian said, moving to the rooftop's edge to look around.
Hu Yuying breathed a sigh of relief, instinctively placing her hands on her cheeks.
The ground below was still wet from the rain, and no one was visible.
"Strange, could I have been mistaken?" Long Aotian rubbed his head. His hearing was always sharp, so he was certain he heard a sob just now.
...
"You didn't hear wrong!!"
"You didn't hear wrong... wuuu..." Ye Liangchen bit his teeth, speaking in barely a whisper to himself.
Tears trickled down his face as he desperately covered his mouth to minimize his sobs.
After returning from Nangong Square, Ye Liangchen had been reflecting on what Long Aotian told him.
It must have been last week, when he couldn't find Hu Yuying in the mall and impulsively went to her home to check if she was safe.
After returning home, Ye Liangchen felt restless.
It was just a misunderstanding. He just worried about Hu Yuying and knocked on her door to ensure her safety.
But could that have caused Hu Yuying to misunderstand him?
Thinking about it that way, Ye Liangchen felt it necessary to clarify things with Hu Yuying.
He's not a bad guy or a stalker, he just cared about her.
After the rain stopped, Ye Liangchen decided to find Hu Yuying and explain this.
He couldn't let his treasure of a girl misunderstand him!
On his way out, Ye Liangchen even played a little trick. He wore his previously wet white shirt, hoping to make Hu Yuying think he'd been standing outside the whole time to apologize.
But just upon arrival, he saw Long Aotian in a floral-printed short-sleeved shirt, standing on the rooftop.
That floral shirt, he recalled vividly, was like Hu Yuying's pajamas from a dream—it was Hu Yuying's pajamas!
What had Long Aotian done to her? Why was he wearing Hu Yuying's clothes?
An experienced one from living a whole other life in his dreams, Ye Liangchen was no longer a pure lad.
There was only one explanation: Long Aotian, a beast, coerced Hu Yuying...
His heart shattered. It felt unbearable, devastating, Ye Liangchen couldn't accept this—he couldn't accept this outcome at all...
The pain and sorrow, like a tidal wave, surged towards him...
Ye Liangchen was suddenly brought back from his despair...