"Qingxue, you're amazing! That slap just now was so cool!" Lin Wanning exclaimed excitedly.

Hu Yuying covered her mouth with a light chuckle, gently taking Qingxue's hand and wiping her palm with a wet tissue. "Consider it revenge for how Ye Liangchen made you cry last time."

Li Qingxue had initially acted on impulse, but now, basking in her sisters' praise, she couldn't help but feel a little smug.

Tilting her delicate nose up proudly, she declared, "Of course! If they think they can bully Long Aotian, they’ll have to get through us first!"

"I really didn’t expect them to have the nerve to come looking for trouble..."

Long Aotian sighed. "They seem trapped in their own world. People like that are inherently stubborn—they never believe they’re in the wrong."

"There’s no reasoning with people like that."

"Let’s shake it off. We shouldn’t let someone like that ruin our mood."

Hearing this, Lin Wanning sidled up to Li Qingxue with a bright smile, mentioning that a room at home had just been renovated and was ready for her to move into tonight.

"Really?" Qingxue blurted out before catching herself, realizing she might have sounded too eager.

She quickly lowered her voice and whispered, "Really?"

Seeing her excitement, Lin Wanning playfully tapped her forehead. "Don’t believe me? Ask Yuying-jie. We even stopped by to check it out before we left."

Li Qingxue turned to Hu Yuying, who nodded with an amused smile. "Better say something nice to me—I’m the one in charge at home." This text is hosted at novel•fire.net

Exchanging a glance with Lin Wanning, Li Qingxue reached out mischievously toward Hu Yuying.

"Ah-ah, none of that. I’m your sister," Hu Yuying said sternly, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "You both have to listen to me, understand?"

"I can sing for you and give you a massage!" Lin Wanning cooed, batting her eyelashes.

Li Qingxue racked her brain, trying to think of something she could offer.

"I can help you deal with Long Aotian if he misbehaves!"

Her answer sent Hu Yuying and Lin Wanning into fits of laughter.

The cheerful banter among the three always managed to dispel any lingering negativity.

The little incident caused by Ye Liangchen was quickly forgotten, nothing more than a fleeting distraction.

Long Aotian, ever the dutiful pack mule, trailed behind the trio, carrying their bags.

After ordering a large bed and a matching set of bedding, they were already brainstorming how to decorate the room.

Watching them, Long Aotian couldn’t help but smile.

He gently took Hu Yuying’s hand.

She turned to him, pressing a finger against his forehead. "Even though I’ve agreed to let Qingxue and Wanning stay with us, you’d better behave—no funny business without my permission."

"Do you really think so little of me?"

"You’re the worst, Long-ge, always going after what’s right in front of you," Hu Yuying huffed. "Not one of us escaped your clutches—you’ve thoroughly ‘corrupted’ all three of us."

"With Wanning, you said you were passive, and I believed you. But what about Qingxue? How do you explain that?"

"You claimed you went into the wrong room, but why didn’t you leave as soon as you realized it was her?"

Long Aotian faltered, unable to respond.

Seeing his flustered expression, Hu Yuying giggled softly. "Admit it—you’ve had your eye on all three of us from the start, haven’t you?"

"Why did you have to be so good to us, making us fall for you one by one...?"

"You must be thrilled right now, aren’t you?"

"And don’t you dare lie—tell me the truth!"

Long Aotian scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. In front of Hu Yuying, he couldn’t help but be completely honest. "Just... a little."

"Just a little?"

"Okay, okay—I’m happy!"

"Tch!" Hu Yuying crossed her arms and turned away. "Well, you’d better keep making me happy, or else—no ‘fun’ for you!"

"I’ll do my best," Long Aotian murmured, leaning close to her ear. "I’ll make sure my little princess is pampered perfectly."

Hu Yuying’s face flushed. "Shameless! Don’t even think about touching me tonight!"

"I’m sleeping with Qingxue and Wanning."

"Absolutely not!" There were some things Long Aotian couldn’t compromise on.

"Why not?" Hu Yuying teased, curious how he’d answer.

"Because the place you hold in my heart... even I envy it."

"Ridiculous." Though secretly pleased, she’d never admit it out loud.

"Yuying-jie, look—aren’t these cute?" Li Qingxue held up three small plush toys in different colors.

"Enough of that. Behave yourself at home from now on," Hu Yuying said, leaving Long Aotian’s side to join the other two in picking out toys.

"Jie, what were you and Long-ge talking about earlier? He looked like a grinning idiot," Lin Wanning whispered. Li Qingxue perked up, equally curious.

"You really want to know?" Hu Yuying teased.

"Yes! Tell us!"

"Hmm... maybe I won’t."

"Come on! We’ll give you a massage tonight!"

Li Qingxue nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Both of us!"

Pretending to consider it, Hu Yuying finally relented. "Fine."

"I asked Long-ge if he was happy about the two of you moving in."

Recalling Long Aotian’s earlier grin, Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning stifled laughter at how unguarded he’d been.

Hu Yuying continued, "But I also told him that even with you two here, he’d better not try anything."

"Long Aotian is completely under your thumb now," Li Qingxue remarked, glancing at him. "The big boss has become the little errand boy..."

After some more shopping, Long Aotian got a call from the furniture delivery team. He loaded their purchases into the car and headed home ahead of them.

The trio stayed behind to pick up a few more things.

Back at the courtyard house, Long Aotian helped the deliverymen set up the bed and nightstands. Before long, the three returned, arms full of smaller items.

Entering the room, they eagerly got to work decorating.

"I’ll go buy groceries," Long Aotian offered, seeing them busy with the room.

"Don’t bother—you wouldn’t know what to get. We’ll go together later."

"Then what should I do?"

Hu Yuying didn’t even look up as she replied, "If you really have nothing to do, go wash the pot."

"Alright, I’ll go wash the pot."

Watching the three of them busy themselves, Long Aotian found even scrubbing the pot with renewed energy...