130: The cold school boy forced to love

The moment Wen Ci pushed open the private dining room door, she was showered with streamers that covered her face.

"Wow, the school's most popular boy and girl are finally together!"

"Congratulations to the first couple in our class to go public!" The Class Monitor stood on a chair, shaking a champagne bottle, and foam sprayed all over the people nearby.

The private room immediately erupted.

Thirty-plus pairs of eyes stared at the two people holding hands at the door. Someone whistled, and then cheers rose one after another.

"Spill it! Where did you go just now?"

"Dr. Shen, you're quick!"

"Ci Ci, you're blushing! There's definitely something going on!"

Ci Ci's ears burned, and she instinctively hid behind Shen Mo.

This action made everyone even more excited, and several girls had already pulled out their phones to record.

"Don't tease them." Class Monitor Li walked over with a smile, holding a glass of juice. "It's normal to date after the college entrance exam, but you should be mindful of boundaries."

Just as Ci Ci was about to nod, she felt a tightening around her waist.

Shen Mo directly pulled her in front of him, his eyes behind his glasses slightly narrowed: "Teacher, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

This sentence somehow hit a funny bone with the classmates, and the private room immediately burst into louder cheers.

Ci Ci, embarrassed, buried her face in Shen Mo's chest, hearing a low vibration from his chest.

"Alright, alright, let's eat first!" The Class Monitor tapped the table to maintain order, "However—"

He suddenly drew out his words, "It's not too much to ask the two of you to explain how your relationship started, is it?"

"Exactly! Who confessed first?"

"How long have you been secretly in love?"

"What's with the tie play?"

Questions came like a barrage, and Ci Ci felt like her head was about to smoke.

She secretly pinched Shen Mo's palm, hinting for him to quickly rescue her.

But Shen Mo suddenly raised their clasped hands and, under everyone's gaze, kissed her fingertips: "I fell first."

The private room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Holy crap..." someone muttered.

Everyone couldn't believe that the usually cold Shen Mo could say such a thing.

Ci Ci's eyes widened.

She hadn't expected Shen Mo to be so direct, and even less what he would say next—

"The first time she transferred here and I saw her, I was smitten." Shen Mo's tone was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "The tie is a mark, so no one gets any ideas about her."

This statement contained too much information, even Class Monitor Li was surprised and pushed up his glasses.

The classmates in the class were even more agape.

"Wait!" The sports committee member suddenly slammed the table, "So, you didn't refuse Ci Ci sitting next to you back then because it was love at first sight?"

Shen Mo nodded, casually picking up a sweet and sour pork rib for Ci Ci: "Eat."

This action completely ignited the private room.

The girls shrieked and hugged each other, while the boys looked at Shen Mo with complex expressions. Who would have thought that the aloof Dr. Shen would be so intense when in love?

And at the time, Shen Mo seemed so indifferent, who would have thought he would fall in love with Ci Ci at first sight?

He was truly good at disguising himself.

"It's too sweet!"

"What kind of idol drama plot is this!"

"I'm so jealous, why don't I have a boyfriend like that!"

Ci Ci took small bites of her rib, feeling like her whole body was on fire.

She quietly looked up and met Shen Mo's focused gaze, the tenderness in it made her heart skip a beat.

"Why did you suddenly say all that...?" she mumbled softly.

Shen Mo leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing her earlobe: "To let them know, I pursued you."

This sentence was like a piece of candy melting in her heart, making Ci Ci's fingertips tingle with sweetness.

She suddenly remembered something and pulled out the familiar dark blue tie from her bag: "So this... do I still need to wear it?"

Shen Mo's eyes darkened. He brushed the tie and gently squeezed Ci Ci's fingers: "Tonight, we'll wear it differently."

The ambiguous hint almost made Ci Ci choke on her juice. She blushed and tried to pinch Shen Mo's thigh, but he grabbed her wrist, intertwining their fingers and resting them on his lap.

"Youth is truly wonderful," Class Monitor Li suddenly sighed, raising his juice glass. "Teacher wishes you a bright future and a long-lasting relationship."

The classmates all raised their glasses, and the clinking of glass was clear and pleasant.

Ci Ci looked at the familiar smiling faces before her, suddenly feeling a warmth in her eyes. These companions she had spent so much time with would soon go their separate ways.

"Why are you crying?" Shen Mo wiped the corner of her eye with his thumb.

Ci Ci shook her head, then suddenly stood up and raised her glass: "Thank you everyone... I've been very happy these past two years!"

Her voice was slightly choked, "In the future... let's keep in touch!"

No sooner had she spoken than she was pulled into a warm embrace.

Shen Mo's chin rested on her head, his voice very soft: "You have me."

These simple four words were like magic, instantly soothing all her sorrow of parting.

Yes, as long as this person was by her side, what was there to fear in the future?

By the time the dinner ended, the sky was full of stars.

Classmates said their goodbyes in twos and threes; some hugged, some cried, some made plans for a graduation trip.

Shen Mo held Ci Ci's hand, walking last, the moonlight stretching their shadows long.

"Where to next?" Ci Ci swung their clasped hands. "Home?"

Shen Mo suddenly stopped. Under the streetlights, his silhouette was exceptionally deep: "Which home?"

Ci Ci was startled, then understood the implication in his words, stammering: "Of, of course, everyone goes home! My parents are waiting!"

"I've already spoken to them." Shen Mo pulled out his phone from his pocket; the screen showed a message Wen Mother had just sent: [Ci Ci is with you, don't be too late]

Ci Ci's eyes widened: "When did you—"

"Last week." Shen Mo put his phone away, his tone matter-of-fact, "After all, after the college entrance exam, I needed to formally visit, so I had to get permission first."

Ci Ci then belatedly realized that the "visit" Shen Mo mentioned probably wasn't a meeting in the ordinary sense.

Just as she was about to protest, she was suddenly pulled into a nearby alley.

Shen Mo pinned her against the wall, his eyes, without glasses, were exceptionally deep in the moonlight: "Now..." He leaned down closer, "It's time to fulfill the tie's promise."

Before Ci Ci could react, the familiar dark blue fabric gently covered her eyes.

The moment her vision was deprived, her other senses were infinitely magnified: Shen Mo's breath, Shen Mo's heartbeat, the faint cedar scent on Shen Mo.

"Shen Mo... not here..."

"What did you call me?" The man's voice carried a dangerous undertone.

Ci Ci bit her lip, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear: "...Boyfriend."

This address clearly pleased Shen Mo.

He chuckled softly, and as he untied the tie, he kissed her lips.

This kiss was more passionate than any before. Ci Ci's legs went weak from the kissing; she could only tightly grip his lapels.

In the distance, the laughter of classmates could be heard; nearby, cicadas chirped and the wind blew.

On this midsummer night, at eighteen years old, they had their first truly meaningful kiss, and a future promised to each other.