Chapter 63: So that's what he meant

Suddenly being called out by name, both of them tensed up and stopped in their tracks.

He Huanhuan nudged Han Mo with her elbow: "Should we run?"

Han Mo hesitated: "Don't you think that voice sounds a little familiar?"

It seemed their home had come to find them.

He Huanhuan tried to recall: "Familiar? I don't think so?"

Before she could remember, the person was already sprinting toward them: "He Huanhuan! You're alive! Wuwuwu... thank goodness!"

The voice reached them in a flash, and He Huanhuan finally recognized him: "Liang Ye? What are you doing here?"

Wasn't he working at the neighborhood committee?

She remembered that the big heart she'd sent him last time didn't say this village on it.

"He Huanhuan! I knew you weren't dead! Wuwuwu..."

Liang Ye had no interest in answering her question. He spread his arms wide, ready to wrap He Huanhuan up in a good cry.

Han Mo saw his outstretched arms and couldn't help but frown.

He quickly sidestepped, blocking himself in front of He Huanhuan.

Liang Ye was crying with his eyes closed and hadn't noticed the movement at all, so he hugged him directly: "Wuwuwu... Huh?"

Since when was He Huanhuan this tall?

Opening his eyes, he instantly let go: "Han Mo! Why aren't you dead?"

Han Mo looked down at him: "Sorry to disappoint you."

"Hmph!"

Liang Ye glanced at him, then at He Huanhuan.

His brother was right — the two of them really had disappeared together.

He looked at He Huanhuan with a wounded expression: "Why did you disappear with Han Mo? His family's mess has nothing to do with you!"

"How is it nothing to do with me? We're..."

Mid-sentence, He Huanhuan snapped her mouth shut, her eyes darting away.

Liang Ye blinked his innocent little eyes and asked: "You're what? What?"

No wonder he never succeeded in all those blind dates — he had zero situational awareness!

He Huanhuan flushed with embarrassment and anger, hopping up to punch him: "Ask again and I'll beat you up!"

Liang Ye clutched his aching arm with a silly grin: "That punch actually hurt, hehe..."

...

That made He Huanhuan unable to throw another punch — wasn't that just rewarding him?

She said to him in a huffy tone: "Don't tell anyone you saw us, got it?"

Liang Ye nodded: "Got it."

Hearing that, He Huanhuan made to leave.

But before she could lift her foot, she saw Liang Ye pull out his phone and start sending a voice message: "Bro, guess who I saw today..."

He Huanhuan snatched the phone away: "Didn't you just promise not to tell anyone?"

Liang Ye nodded: "But that's my brother."

...

"Not even your brother!"

Liang Ye frowned: "Then I might not be able to control myself..."

He never kept secrets from his brother.

Brother would say: That's because you have no secrets. I still have mine.

He Huanhuan glared at him: "You have to control it even if you can't!"

Liang Ye's little eyes darted around, then he said as if casually: "Unless you keep an eye on me, I definitely won't be able to hold it in..."

He Huanhuan took the bait: "Fine, I'll watch you!"

She and Han Mo had already held out for two days. Only thirteen more days to go — they had to tough it out!

Wasn't it just watching Liang Ye?

Wasn't it just...

Hmm?

Her eyes suddenly lit up. Oh, wow!

They'd been stuck with no place to stay!

This was the perfect chance to stay at Liang Ye's house!

Hahahaha...

What was this called?

You search high and low for something, only to find it right in front of you with no effort at all!

She tried to suppress the smile tugging at her lips and nudged Han Mo with her elbow: "We have to go watch him, right?"

Han Mo nodded: "Right."

He Huanhuan struggled to keep her mouth straight: "Then let's stay at his place and watch him around the clock."

A faint smile curved Han Mo's lips: "Sounds good."

Liang Ye's smile was even harder to suppress: "Then come on over!"

Han Mo watched the two of them and gave a helpless chuckle.

Those two were basically a mutual match made in heaven.

Liang Ye checked the time — it wasn't quitting time yet, but he was afraid they'd run off, so he quickly said to them: "You two wait for me. I'll go request leave, and once that's done, we'll go home together!"

He sprinted off toward the village committee office, shouting back as he ran: "Make sure you wait for me!"

He was overthinking it — even if hail were falling from the sky right now, those two wouldn't leave.

They'd finally found a place to stay; there was no way they'd give that up.

By the time Liang Ye finished requesting leave and ran back out, they were indeed still waiting right where he'd left them.

He jogged over to He Huanhuan cheerfully: "Come on, follow me home!"

The two fell in step behind him, but Liang Ye scowled at Han Mo: "Why are you following me?"

Han Mo smiled: "We're together."

Liang Ye's face soured even more: "You're not welcome in my house."

The smile in Han Mo's eyes deepened: "Fine."

He reached out, took He Huanhuan's hand, and turned to leave.

He hadn't taken two steps before a desperate shout rang out behind him: "Stop!"

"No, let go of her first!"

Liang Ye stomped over and separated the two of them. He shot Han Mo a glare: "You're coming home with me too!"

Dammit, he'd actually let his rival stay under his roof.

He was tainted now!

At the parking lot at the edge of the village, he pointed at the electric scooter parked farthest in and showed off: "See? I bought my own scooter!"

He Huanhuan didn't get it. What was he bragging about?

Was he a rich second-generation kid or something? Why show off over an electric scooter?

What Liang Ye wanted to say was that he used to be so naive, thinking taking a taxi was already the thriftiest way to get around.

If it hadn't been for He Huanhuan, he'd never have learned just how much money a scooter could save.

That was all her doing.

He looked down at He Huanhuan: "If it weren't for you, I'd never have gotten on an electric scooter..."

He Huanhuan rolled her eyes at him: "Are you trying to insult me?"

Liang Ye rushed to explain: "No, no! I mean, if it weren't for hitching rides on your scooter, I'd never have known a person could be that shameless about bumming rides..."

...Was that even a compliment?

Han Mo's lips twitched upward. What a pitifully weak rival.

Han Mo cut off his clumsy rambling: "If not for you, his world wouldn't have so many options."

Liang Ye hurriedly nodded: "Right, right, right! That's exactly what I meant!"

Han Mo continued: "You've shown us a different world, Huanhuan. That's all your doing."

Liang Ye nodded frantically: "Yes, yes! That's what I meant!"

He Huanhuan looked at Han Mo with a smile: "Really? You're not lying to me?"

Han Mo nodded: "Really."

He Huanhuan wrinkled her nose: "Hmph! I don't believe you!"

Liang Ye stood at the side, frowning. Something felt off here, right?

Wasn't that his line?

Why was He Huanhuan humming at Han Mo?

That wasn't right!

He tried his best to squeeze between the two of them: "Hey, Huanhuan, I meant that too. Really, I meant the same thing..."

He Huanhuan gave a perfunctory nod: "Mm-hmm, I know. Let's go. Time to head home."

The two of them walked over to his scooter in perfect sync, leaving him looking as unnecessary as a bystander.

No wait — those had been his words!