Granny stepped forward, holding Long Aotian's hand with a warm smile. "Haven't eaten yet, have you?" Her kind expression, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes carrying the tenderness of time, and even the slight cloudiness in her gaze couldn't hide the bright sparkle Long Aotian saw in them at that moment. "Hello, Granny. No, I haven’t eaten yet," Long Aotian replied, glancing at Hu Yuying with a smile. Just as Ah Ying had said, her grandparents were truly easy to get along with. A single look, a smile, or even a word from them made Long Aotian feel overflowing care—the kind only elders could give their younger ones. "Come inside and sit first. Granny will prepare lunch." "Alright, let me bring the things in first," Long Aotian said, turning to Ah Ying’s grandfather. He bowed slightly and greeted him before starting to carry the items inside. Grandpa, seeing this, immediately stepped in to help. Meanwhile, Granny led Hu Yuying into the kitchen. Long Aotian watched as Ah Ying and Granny disappeared into the kitchen, and his movements quickened as he finished arranging the things. Inside the kitchen, Hu Yuying absentmindedly peeked outside at Long Ge moving the items. "He’s quite good," Granny suddenly remarked. Hu Yuying’s cheeks instantly flushed red. Playing coy, she asked, "What’s quite good?" Granny chuckled and gently pinched her granddaughter’s nose. "My little girl has grown up, even learning to play riddles with Granny now." "Not at all," Hu Yuying giggled, acting spoiled. "Do you like Long Ge, Granny?" From the moment Long Aotian entered and greeted them, it was clear he was a well-mannered young man. Bringing so many gifts also proved his sincerity. But whether Granny liked him or not wasn’t the point. They were old now. All they wanted was to see their granddaughter, who had endured so much hardship with them, happy and well taken care of after they were gone. The fact that Ah Ying hadn’t stopped smiling since Long Aotian arrived was proof enough that she had found someone willing to care for her for a lifetime. Liking someone was a joy that came from the heart, spilled from the eyes, and couldn’t be hidden no matter how hard one tried... "Granny, what do you think Grandpa and Long Ge are talking about?" "You know your grandpa—he’s been honest and quiet his whole life. If you don’t want them to feel awkward, hurry up and finish cooking so we can bring the food in," Granny said with a smile. Hu Yuying nodded softly and sped up her movements. Granny simply watched her with amusement. "Can you tell Granny properly how you and Aotian met? How did you two end up together?" Hu Yuying’s hands paused briefly as her face flushed crimson. Then, in a soft voice, she began recounting their story. She had known Long Ge for a long, long time, yet when spoken aloud, those moments felt fleeting. From their first meeting, to how Long Ge took the initiative to help her when she was timid, teaching her step by step to change... So many interesting things had happened between them, and she had learned so much from their daily life together. Falling in love with him had felt completely natural. By the time she finished speaking, the meal was ready. Granny gently stroked Hu Yuying’s long hair. The change in her personality was the most obvious transformation. "The road ahead is still long. Granny hopes the two of you can support each other and walk it well." "My little Ah Ying has grown up and become brave. Granny is happy, and from the bottom of her heart, she wants to thank Long Aotian." "He indulges me a lot and takes good care of me. But I know it’s because he respects me—he believes a man’s responsibility should be just like that." "Sometimes I act spoiled or throw little tantrums, but it’s only because I care about him so much..." Once the food was plated and carried into the room, laughter between Grandpa and Long Ge greeted them before they even stepped inside. The two were already drinking. Granny immediately scolded them, saying Long Aotian hadn’t even eaten yet—how could they start with alcohol? Long Aotian quickly waved his hands. "Granny, Grandpa and I didn’t drink much." That simple, instinctive reply unknowingly bridged the distance between them as family. Grandpa, a man of few words, had only briefly mentioned Ah Ying’s gentle nature. He said that if there were any shortcomings, he hoped Long Aotian would be patient or simply tell him directly—Grandpa would talk to Ah Ying. His concern for his granddaughter was hidden in the aged warmth of his voice. At first, Long Aotian had been nervous, afraid of making a bad impression on the grandparents. But after a drink, that tension melted away inexplicably. Truly, nothing brought men closer than sharing a drink. Now, watching Granny and Ah Ying enter, Ah Ying smiling at him while Granny scolded Grandpa, Long Aotian realized all his earlier worries had been self-inflicted. Ah Ying was so wonderful—how could the grandparents who raised her be anything less? At the dinner table, the grandparents asked him a few questions, and Long Aotian answered earnestly. In fact, he ended up sharing much more than necessary. He wanted to prove that with him, Ah Ying would never suffer again—he would treat her well. Fınd the newest release on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝘯𝘦𝘵 But the harder he tried to explain, the more his words tangled, as if his brain had short-circuited. Seeing Long Ge , Hu Yuying couldn’t help but laugh. The bold declarations he’d made before coming here now echoed in her ears. She reached out and took his hand. Right in front of her grandparents, she clasped Long Aotian’s palm gently. "He treats me very, very, very well..." A simple sentence, repeated three times. Her flushed cheeks spoke louder than any words could. Long Aotian stayed silent, only nodding repeatedly. After the meal, Hu Yuying took Long Aotian outside. Walking along the path, the cold wind cleared Long Aotian’s head a little. Noticing their still-joined hands, he tightened his grip slightly. "I think your grandparents like me." Hu Yuying grinned at him. "Long Ge wasn’t earlier—stuttering over every word!" "I—I just didn’t know what to say at the time!" He adored this girl, yet when it came to expressing it, his mind went blank. Looking back now, his love for her was in every moment—in their companionship, in his happiness, in everything. It was there from the beginning, later, and now. That was why he hadn’t known where to start. "And thank you," he added softly. "Thank you for always standing up for me." At school, Ah Ying was outstanding, favored by many professors and pursued by equally remarkable admirers... yet in her heart, there had only ever been him. By his side, she was his little chef, his constant shadow. At home, she might scold him and refuse to indulge his whims, but outside, she was always the one standing up for him, giving him all the face he needed... Regarding the issue of cross-device bookshelf saving for logged-in users, it has been fixed. If you still can't save your bookshelf, please first note down the contents of your bookshelf, clear your browser's cookies, then log back in and re-add the books.