Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Lin Zhan rubbed her neck and let out a dry laugh. Then, she heard him reply calmly, “Mm.”
You’ll find out soon enough.
Lowering her lashes, she chuckled and followed the crowd forward.
Places like this were usually packed with girls in groups or couples.
Lin Zhan walked alongside the massive glass panels, the blue aquatic glow casting a soft, serene light on her face.
Shen Xi suddenly realized that outings—which he had always disliked—weren’t as boring or time-wasting as he’d thought.
The world is actually quite beautiful.
For the first time, the thought crossed his mind.
________________________________________
By evening, after seeing Lin Zhan home, Shen Xi returned to his own place.
Ye Qian was tidying up when she noticed the faint smile on his face as he walked in.
“Did you have fun today?” she asked.
Shen Xi nodded. “Mm.”
Ye Qian smiled. “You never go out when I ask you to, but now you finally do. Did Zhang Ze convince you? Still, it’s good to get out more—relax, take in the world around you. You used to be so closed off. If you ever get a girlfriend, she might find you boring.”
Images of Lin Zhan flashed through Shen Xi’s mind—her thoughtful expression when she clasped her hands behind her back, the sparkle in her eyes when she blinked, the way her lips drooped when she was frustrated, the rare focus when she was immersed in her art.
Unlike most people their age, she had direction. She knew exactly where she wanted to go. It was just that the path was often thorny, tripping her up along the way.
Shen Xi replied nonchalantly, “Then I’ll just find an interesting girlfriend.”
Ye Qian laughed. “You think it’s that easy?”
Then she sighed. “I used to think the same. But later, I realized how rare it is to find someone who can always keep up with you—someone who understands everything you say and responds in kind.”
Shen Xi smiled without answering and turned to his room.
I’ve already found her.
________________________________________
That night, before bed, Lin Zhan called Shen Xi.
Twirling her earphone cord, she said lazily, “Shen Xi, let’s go to the library tomorrow?”
Without hesitation, he agreed. “Okay.”
Lin Zhan grew more excited. “You don’t know this, but I’ve always had this fantasy—I really wanted a top student to tutor me.”
Shen Xi chuckled, his voice low. “Why?”
Lin Zhan: “So I wouldn’t have to think as hard.”
His smile froze.
“...”
After a pause, Shen Xi cut off her daydream. “If you’re with me, you’ll actually have to think more—just in a more efficient way.”
Lin Zhan fell silent. Then, as if carefully considering, she asked with a hint of despair—
“Shen Xi… if we’re in the library together, will you even be able to focus on studying?”
“...”
After hanging up, Shen Xi reflected on their outing the day before.
Maybe I was too rigid.
Just as he was pondering how to improve, Zhang Ze’s message popped up.
[Bro, got a date tomorrow?]
Shen Xi: [Mm.]
Zhang Ze: [I was thinking—you probably don’t know what a real date looks like. So, I’ve decided to enlighten you.]
Shen Xi: [Since when are you a love expert?]
Zhang Ze: [I’m not teaching you, dumbass! I’m enlightening you! Men are born with these instincts—it’s just a matter of unlocking them. You’re the top student in school; you should get this.]
Like solving problems—brute force doesn’t guarantee high marks. The key is pinpointing the right knowledge and approach.
Zhang Ze: [Actually, one sentence is all you need to understand everything.]
Shen Xi: [?]
Zhang Ze: [Now that you’re officially together, just do all the things you didn’t dare to before.]
Shen Xi: [...]
Zhang Ze quickly added: [In a wholesome way! I mean normal stuff—holding hands, tucking her hair behind her ear… Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it!]
Shen Xi’s breath hitched.
Zhang Ze: [You’re probably naturally passive, but after what happened last time, you should know—being passive in a relationship doesn’t work. Since Lin Zhan took the first step, you should take a few more. The key is to flirt, to charm, to be romantic. Got it?]
Zhang Ze: [And stop being so expressionless. Smile when you feel like it—don’t let her feel like she’s not getting a response. I refuse to believe you don’t feel like smiling around her all the time.]
Zhang Ze: [If you want to hold her hand, just do it. Don’t keep it bottled up. With your learning skills, watch a couple of K-dramas and you’ll figure out how to flirt.]
Shen Xi thought for a moment. [Why should I flirt with her?]
Zhang Ze: […You are, without a doubt, a certified steel-straight man.]
Zhang Ze: [To make her love you more. To make her never want to leave you. :)]
Zhang Ze’s words seemed to instantly unlock something in him.
________________________________________
The next day, Lin Zhan reluctantly packed three math practice tests.
Shen Xi was in the science track, while she was in the humanities. Three subjects didn’t overlap, but at least Chinese, math, and English were the same.
Her Chinese and English were fine, but math hovered around the passing line—sometimes even dipping below.
If she could just raise her math score by twenty points, Wei University would be within reach.
Shen Xi had told her to bring extra tests…
He really plans to tutor me properly.
Sighing, she tucked the papers into her book and grabbed her pencil case.
She’d never dated before, but she’d heard some girls loved making their boyfriends wait.
The longer they wait, the more they like you.
She didn’t agree.
To her, relationships were mutual. If she didn’t like waiting, she had no right to make others wait for her.
So she left early.
She arrived at the library five minutes ahead of time—but Shen Xi was already there.
He’d even brought drinks.
Hers was an iced milk tea. His was plain hot water.
Lin Zhan silently grumbled: …With habits like this, if he doesn’t live to a hundred, the heavens would be unfair.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Shen Xi turned and saw Lin Zhan approaching with a mysterious smile.
A bad feeling crept up on him.
Lin Zhan placed a cup with a lemon slice on the table.
In a hushed voice, she said, “Remember when you rejected me a year ago?”
Shen Xi stayed silent. Lin Zhan tsked. “You really broke my innocent teenage heart.”
“Back then,” he said, his gaze softening, “I didn’t expect you’d be the one sitting across from me now.”
Her back warmed, but she forced herself to sit down and bite her straw.
Then, under the table, the tip of her shoe brushed against his. Her breath caught as she looked up.
Shen Xi leaned forward casually and took the other straw between his lips.
What she wanted, he wanted too.
So why hesitate?
The distance between them was about ten centimeters.
She could see each of his distinct eyelashes.
Flustered, she looked down, not daring to meet his eyes again.
She started it. She chickened out.
When Shen Xi let out a low chuckle, the sound burned her to ashes. Even her fingers under the table curled slightly.
Her heart itched. Her ears burned.
Shen Xi released the straw, watching as Lin Zhan’s guilty gaze darted around like a thief’s. He couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
…This little rabbit of mine really has no courage.
He reached out and pinched her straw.
The flow of liquid was cut off. Lin Zhan sucked up the remaining half and mumbled, “…What are you doing?”
Shen Xi smirked. “Does the straw taste good?”
Only then did she realize she’d been biting it. Shooting him a glare that was more of a pout, she huffed.
To him, her eyes were just shimmering—completely lacking any intimidation.
That tear mole of hers was especially vivid.
Lin Zhan unzipped her bag. “Don’t distract me. I need to focus on math.”
Shen Xi tapped the table. “Wasn’t this water your idea?”
“Shen Xi,” she whispered, mindful of the library’s quiet, “it’s only been a day, but you’ve changed.”
“How?”
Lin Zhan’s voice was barely audible. “You’ve gotten… even handsomer.”
Shen Xi’s heart skipped. He could almost hear Zhang Ze gloating: See? My flirting advice works.
Smiling faintly, he shook his head and returned to his work.
They were upstairs, where it was quieter.
The first floor enforced silence, but the upper levels housed tutoring centers. Between classes, kids ran around laughing and playing.
Lin Zhan reached the last multiple-choice question and hit a wall.
Spinning her pen, she propped her chin on her hand and watched the children dart around.
Shen Xi noticed. “Stuck?”
She licked her lips, suddenly wanting to negotiate.
“Shen Xi.”
“Mm?”
“If I get ten multiple-choice questions right… do I get a reward?”
He studied her innocent expression. “What reward do you want?”
She nibbled her lower lip, teeth leaving faint marks before it plumped back to a soft pink.
“Will you… kiss me?”
The moment the words left her mouth, her face turned red—so fast Shen Xi could see it happening.
Shen Xi raised a brow. “Lin Zhan, we’re in a library.”
“So what?” she said. “Then let’s go outside—find a hidden spot…?”
She was getting carried away.
Shen Xi flicked her forehead.
“Finish your test.”
Two hours later, Shen Xi called time.
Lin Zhan protested, “Just two more minutes!”
Shen Xi was merciless. “The college entrance exam won’t give you extra time.”
Lin Zhan wrinkled her nose. “Always so strict. Anyone can time things. Next time, I’ll time you—down to the millisecond…”
Shen Xi opened the answer key and picked up a red pen. At first, he didn’t grasp what she meant.
But when he checked the first multiple-choice answer, it clicked.
His brows furrowed.
“Lin Zhan!”
Google Sites
Report abuse