SW - 44

The hustle and bustle of the countdown gradually faded.

Tang Yin was still holding onto the things she had bought earlier, completely forgetting to eat them as she hadn’t processed what just happened.

Lu Chi, however, was the first to let go of her.

The crowd around them began dispersing in all directions, but the two of them remained stationary in this spot, drawing some onlookers’ attention.

Tang Yin licked her lips.

In the final second of the year, she received a kiss from Lu Chi.

It was completely unexpected—shocking, even.

Though there was a similar intention last time, nothing ultimately happened, leaving her with regret since it was an opportunity to express feelings.

After being interrupted, things indeed became different, just as she had expected.

But this time, she liked it even more.

Lu Chi’s occasional dominance made her feel unexpectedly happy.

Upon reflection, it seemed that he had shown a side of himself different from his usual personality more than once. It started from their very first meeting outside of school.

“Now that you’ve kissed me, what do you plan to do?” Tang Yin asked, poking at his chest repeatedly with her finger.

This had become a little amusement of hers. Though Lu Chi looked slim, he wasn’t without muscle; his chest was firm yet soft in places.

Poking it felt satisfying.

Amidst the crowded chaos, Tang Yin’s full attention was on Lu Chi’s response, so naturally, she didn’t notice someone bumping into her from the side.

Lu Chi quickly pulled her close, bringing the two of them even nearer.

His face was slightly flushed, difficult to see clearly in the night, and his voice was soft. “Y-you… what do you want?”

Tang Yin heard him clearly. She burst out laughing before grabbing his shirt. “Obviously, you belong to me now, and don’t even think about running away for the rest of your life.”

“…” Lu Chi hadn’t anticipated this response.

Tang Yin raised an eyebrow. “Just kidding.”

But Lu Chi still looked puzzled.

He opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat.

He couldn’t help but feel that whatever he said would only make Tang Yin more upset. His brows furrowed slightly, and he felt a bit disheartened.

Tang Yin didn’t speak further.

She had only said three short words earlier, and she wanted Lu Chi to be the one to say something first, not her. Only then could she truly feel reassured.

No one understood his own heart better than he did.

Tonight had been full of surprises for her, but beneath the surprise lay a tinge of regret.

Everything always seemed to require her to initiate, to guide, to take every step. Relationships like this usually didn’t last long.

Naturally, she didn’t want to see such an outcome.

Not long after the New Year, Jiashui Private High School’s senior year resumed classes.

For the final semester of senior year, the school’s philosophy was to focus every minute of every day entirely on studying.

Visiting relatives? That could wait until after the college entrance exam. No one cared when they did it then, but now was different.

As usual, Jiashui Private held an opening exam.

This exam was ranked based on the results of the final exam from the previous semester, essentially a mock exam. As expected, Tang Yin and Lu Chi were placed in the first testing room, seated front and back.

Lu Ye’s performance this time was decent, placing him ninth in the first testing room.

Though his provincial ranking was less than satisfactory and somewhat unexpected, considering how many talented students there were outside the school, his school ranking was still acceptable.

Over the course of four exams, Lu Ye watched as the two of them handed in their papers one after another, and Tang Yin would always leave together with Lu Chi.

It was the epitome of husband leading and wife following.

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Had a single winter break really changed things that much? Why did he feel that something between the two of them was different? Or was he mistaken?

He felt they had grown more in sync.

At times, he even witnessed Lu Chi preparing key points for Tang Yin from lessons she hadn’t listened to or sneaking her small snacks.

Tang Yin, for her part, acted just as she normally did, no different from last semester, but Lu Ye still sensed a subtle change.

It was enough to make his eyes pop out.

But when asked, neither of them showed any signs of being in a relationship. This mysterious connection left even an onlooker like him feeling anxious.

Yet the two involved parties didn’t seem to care at all.

Time passed quickly.

Every day in class felt unbearably long, the seconds ticking by excruciatingly slowly, but when looking back, the days had slipped away unnoticed.

Before they knew it, the final semester had reached early March, with just over half a month left until the second mock exam. The lights in the teaching building were turned off later and later, and more students stayed behind.

Before the second mock exam, the hundred-day motivational rally took place.

Almost every school held such events to encourage and motivate students preparing for the college entrance exam, giving them a brief moment to relax.

The students who stood out in the first mock exam were naturally invited to speak. Among them, Lu Chi and Tang Yin were the most prominent—ranking first and third provincially, though the third-place student in school rankings lagged far behind provincially.

Even so, they were still considered role models.

The day before the event, the headmaster came to Class Zero and called out the names of the students drafted by the school.

He smiled at Lu Chi: “Tomorrow, Lu Chi will speak first. Write your speech today and submit it to your homeroom teacher for review to avoid mistakes.”

Lu Chi nodded lightly.

The headmaster then turned to Zhao Ruyi. “You’re next. Prepare in advance. Both of you are top students in the school, having performed well since the beginning. You must set an example for your classmates. If necessary, share some study tips.”

Zhao Ruyi verbally agreed but inwardly rolled her eyes.

How nice it sounded. When they listened to speeches from the previous batch of students, there weren’t any real “tips,” just the same old clichés. The so-called methods were simply to practice more. Some people could tell at a glance that these speakers didn’t intend to share anything meaningful.

For instance, Zhao Ruyi had accidentally overheard a senior and his friend complaining during evening self-study: “Only an idiot would share their tips—it’s just inviting more competition.”

Thinking about it, she found herself agreeing.

“Then, encourage your classmates appropriately. I know the pressure is immense, but no matter how great the pressure, you must persevere.”

Lu Chi hesitated before speaking: “Second... not Tang Yin?”

The headmaster’s expression darkened. “Tang Yin isn’t good at public speaking. She almost messed up last time. Let’s not risk it.”

Mentioning it brought back memories of her saying something inappropriate in front of everyone. He felt ashamed for her as a student. If not for her excellent grades, he would have issued her a warning.

“How am I bad at public speaking?”

Tang Yin’s voice suddenly came from behind.

The headmaster didn’t expect her to appear. He responded, “I still remember what you said in front of the entire school last time.”

Tang Yin grinned mischievously at Lu Chi. “I wish you wouldn’t remember. After all, it wasn’t meant for you.”

The headmaster: “...”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Forget it. Don’t even think about speaking. What time is it now? Don’t cause trouble.”

Zhao Ruyi stood silently in the background.

Tang Yin pouted. “What if I write my speech and show it to you? Would that work?”

The headmaster hesitated.

While he was thinking, Tang Yin moved closer to Lu Chi, her hands behind her back. She reached out and secretly pinched his hand.

Lu Chi abruptly felt the pinch, withdrew his hand, and gave her a somewhat dissatisfied look.

Tang Yin smiled at him.

Zhao Ruyi bit her lip.

Since near the end of last semester, she had noticed a shift in the atmosphere between the two of them. Even the two encounters she had with them outside of school made her feel that something was different.

They weren’t exactly a couple, but their interactions didn’t leave room for anyone else.

“If you promise to stick to the script,” the headmaster compromised, “I’ll also need to review your speech.”

“Fine,” Tang Yin nodded, feigning obedience.

After the arrival of spring, everyone had shed their down jackets.

This hundred-day motivational rally was also the first flag-raising ceremony after the start of the semester, coinciding perfectly with a Monday, making it ideal timing.

After the flag-raising ceremony, the headmaster and principal encouraged the college-bound students one by one.

They hoped this year’s results would surpass last year’s, ensuring the school’s reputation grew, attracting more students and thus increasing revenue.

That was the difference between private and public schools.

First up was Lu Chi’s speech.

As soon as he stepped onto the podium, there was a slight stir below, followed by hushed murmurs.

“Is that… Lu Chi? Doesn’t he usually wear glasses?”

“He looks so different without them… His hair could pass for a girl’s, and those eyes... too feminine.”

“Does Tang Yin know about this?”

At the back, Lu Ye—who was no longer in line with Tang Yin and the others—overheard the chatter and couldn’t help but scoff.

Would Tang Yin be the last to notice?

If that were true, she would’ve exploded already. Knowing her personality, she’d prefer Lu Chi to be seen by her alone.

…

Lu Chi held the speech in his hand, though he had already memorized its contents.

He glanced over the densely packed audience filling the entire field, most eyes fixed on him.

Lu Chi subtly tilted his head, glancing to the side.

Tang Yin sat on her chair, propping up half her face with her right hand, smiling at him while mouthing something he couldn’t quite make out.

Lu Chi shifted his gaze back, closed his eyes briefly, then reopened them, delivering his speech at a normal pace—or rather, reciting his prepared script, though there was room for improvisation.

Thinking about Lu Ye’s insistence on talking to him before the speech, Lu Chi lightly pursed his lips, unsure whether to act on it or not.

It had been several months since his last speech.

Most people’s memories of it had faded, replaced by recent impressions of him stuttering or speaking less. They forgot how fluent his speeches usually were.

Immediately, a few girls from the liberal arts classes’ eyes sparkled.

“Wow, Lu Chi looks so handsome like this! I want to pursue him!”

“You’d better deal with Tang Yin first. She’d skin you alive! I’ve heard how fierce she can be.”

“But they haven’t confirmed they’re dating. How can Tang Yin monopolize him? I just want to pursue him. Who knows, maybe Lu Chi likes someone like me.”

The group of girls chattered away.

Soon, news about Lu Chi spread.

Previously, he had worn glasses, and no one paid much attention to him, assuming he was just a bookworm. Even though he was somewhat delicate-looking, he wasn’t particularly outstanding.

Today’s performance caught the attention of many who weren’t focused on studying.

The closer it got to the college entrance exam, the more people tended to indulge themselves.

…

A single person’s speech lasted only a few minutes before it ended.

By the time Tang Yin went up to give her speech, Lu Chi had just stepped down from the podium.

His posture was always impeccable, contrasting sharply with the relaxed stances of others, making him stand out even more. There was an inherent reserve in the way he walked down.

Like a carefully nurtured young birch tree—upright and slender.

Of course, the person everyone was thinking of was Tang Yin.

The two met face-to-face as Tang Yin took the microphone from him. Before she could walk away, Lu Chi suddenly curved his lips upward ever so slightly.

A faint, teasing smile with captivating, arched brows.

Tang Yin felt that this smile might stay with her for a lifetime.

Lu Chi had done it on purpose.