Li Mo

However, Liang Xinchong is indeed the type who can shine brightly with just a little sunshine and is extremely adaptable.

After the initial nervousness and shyness subsided, feeling the warmth of her hand that she hadn't pulled away from, and hearing her clear "I like you" echoing in his ears, his courage, like a balloon that had been rapidly inflated, swelled up again.

He held her hand tightly, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the back of her hand twice. Then, mustering his courage, he turned his head and leaned closer to her. In the darkness, his eyes shone brightly, filled with a cautious probing and an overwhelming anticipation. His voice was low, his breath brushing against her cheek.

“Li Mo,” he said, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, “then…can I kiss you now?”

Does he look nervous in this picture?

That's so blunt.

Li Mo's cheeks suddenly became burning hot, but fortunately the dim lighting in the theater concealed the sudden surge of heat.

Without a second thought, she immediately turned her head away from his overly intense gaze, her voice trembling slightly as she firmly refused:

"Can't."

"oh."

The light in Liang Xinchong's eyes dimmed visibly, his lips drooped in grievance, and he seemed to be pressed down by an invisible hand, leaning back listlessly in his seat.

The hands that were just tightly clasped together, though not loosened, seemed to have lost some strength.

Li Mo caught a glimpse of his pitiful, dejected look as he instantly transformed from a large dog into a lost Inton.

She found it amusing, yet also inexplicably soft-hearted. After a few seconds of silence, the hand he was holding moved slightly, and she squeezed his fingertips in a comforting gesture.

Then, she raised her other free hand, crossed the armrest between them, and gently, with a slightly awkward yet tender touch, placed it on the top of his soft, fluffy hair, stroking it like she was petting a large dog seeking comfort.

“Next time,” her voice sounded particularly clear against the background noise of the movie, “when I… like you a little more.”

Liang Xinchong curled his lips and said somewhat shamelessly, "Touch it again, my head is very tactile."

Li Mo slapped his arm with her other hand.

Liang Xinchong grinned and accused her, "You've been abusing me."

Li Mo: "..."

As the movie ended and the lights came on, the crowd began to move.

Liang Xinchong, as if afraid she would get lost, held Li Mo's hand tightly and led her through the bustling crowd.

A thin layer of sweat did seep out where their palms were touching. Li Mo moved her fingers slightly and said softly, "We've been holding hands for a long time, and you're sweating. You can let go now."

Liang Xinchong not only didn't loosen his grip, but tightened it even more, retorting confidently, "It's winter now, my hands are cold, sweating is just right, it's warm." He even added emphatically, "Besides, it's only natural for a boyfriend to hold his girlfriend's hand!"

Listening to his twisted logic, and seeing his profile where his ears were still red but he was trying to remain calm, Li Mo ultimately said nothing more, letting him lead her. But where he couldn't see, a small smile quietly curved her lips.

As they walked out of the theater and passed the row of brightly lit claw machines playing cheerful music in the lobby, Liang Xinchong stopped and looked at Li Mo with shining eyes: "I'll get you one!"

Li Mo's gaze swept over the claw machines, finally pointing precisely to the one in the corner, which was piled with various plush dog toys: "I want that one," she paused, her tone carrying a hint of mischief, "the husky."

Liang Xinchong looked in the direction she was pointing, and then met her clear eyes with a hint of a smile, instantly realizing that she was teasing him.

Instead of being annoyed, he puffed out his chest, with a hint of pride that said, "Okay, I'll take the husky. I guarantee I'll get it for you."

He immediately ran to the service counter and exchanged a large handful of game tokens, carrying them back with a clinking sound, and stood eagerly in front of the claw machine.

The first time, the paw landed, wobbling as it grabbed a husky's head, but after lifting it slightly, it limply let go. "Oops!" Liang Xinchong slapped the machine in frustration.

The second time, he adjusted the angle and grabbed the husky's body, but during the movement, it bumped into the glass wall, and the toy fell down again. "Hiss... Is there something wrong with this machine?" He frowned and began to look for external causes.

The third time, the fourth time... he became more and more focused, his brows furrowed, muttering to himself as he calculated the angle and landing point. He was even more engrossed in his work than when solving a math problem.

Li Mo stood quietly beside him, watching him fail time and time again, yet still insert coins without hesitation each time. Her eyes, which always seemed somewhat nonchalant, were now filled with stubbornness and focus.

She didn't urge him or give him any instructions; she just watched the fine sweat gradually appearing on his forehead and found it even more interesting than watching a movie.

After countless attempts, the paw finally firmly grasped the blue-eyed, somewhat silly-looking husky plush toy, and accompanied by a triumphant melody, the toy fell precisely into the exit.

"We did it!" Liang Xinchong shouted excitedly, attracting the attention of several girls nearby.

He didn't care about anything else, immediately bent down and pulled the fluffy husky out of the exit, presented it to Li Mo with both hands like a treasure, his eyes sparkling as he asked for praise: "Here, your husky."

Li Mo took the soft doll, pinched its silly face, and then looked up at Liang Xinchong, who was beaming like a big boy because he had successfully caught the doll.

She was holding the husky when she suddenly stood on tiptoe and quickly gave him a light kiss on his still sweaty cheek.

The touch was fleeting, like a feather brushing against you.

Liang Xinchong froze completely, his eyes wide open, as if a pause button had been pressed. All the ease and smugness he had displayed while playing the claw machine vanished instantly, leaving only disbelief on his face and his skin turning bright red.

Li Mo had retreated to a safe distance, holding the husky, her expression returning to its usual calm, only her slightly reddened earlobes betraying her unease. Looking at his stunned expression, she whispered:

"award."

Liang Xinchong finally came to his senses and abruptly raised his hand to cover the spot where he had been kissed; it was incredibly hot.

He looked at her, opened his mouth as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he could only stare at her and grin foolishly, the smile growing wider and wider, unstoppable.

He took her hand tightly again, this time their fingers intertwined, with such force that it seemed he wanted to keep her by his side forever.

Liang Xinchong held Li Mo's hand, and the two slowly walked towards the tenement building.

The streets were deserted on this winter night, and the streetlights stretched and shortened the shadows of the two people, making them overlap.

I passed by a small shop that was still lit up, with colorful beaded curtains hanging at the entrance and cheerful pop music playing from inside. It was one of those self-service photo studios where you could take selfies.

Liang Xinchong's eyes lit up, and he stopped in his tracks, shaking their clasped hands: "Li Mo, shall we film this?"

Looking at the gaudy set and equipment, Li Mo hesitated, "This..."

“Come on,” Liang Xinchong said without waiting for a reply, pulling her inside. “Let’s commemorate this! Our first date.” When he said the word “date,” his voice unconsciously lowered, carrying a hint of youthful shyness.

The shop's interior space is small, but it's crammed full of various cartoon backdrops and props.

Liang Xinchong studied the machine with great interest, inserted coins, and then searched through the colorful photo frame templates, finally choosing a frame with a cute puppy paw print and the words "HappilyEverAfter".

In the cramped photo space, the two squeezed in front of the camera. Their faces, so close together, were reflected on the screen.

Liang Xinchong smiled, revealing a set of white teeth, his eyes crinkling, making no attempt to hide his happiness.

Li Mo was initially a little reserved, with a faint expression, but when Liang Xinchong deliberately made funny faces or rubbed his face with a fluffy husky plush toy, she couldn't help but laugh, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"Look at the camera," Liang Xinchong called out, his arm naturally wrapping around her shoulder.

As the shutter clicked and counted down, he suddenly leaned closer and whispered quickly in her ear, "Li Mo, I like you so much."

"Snap!"

The scene freezes—Li Mo's slightly widened eyes held a hint of surprise, her cheeks flushed, while Liang Xinchong smiled like a child who had stolen candy, both smug and satisfied.

They took a set of four photos. In each one, Liang Xinchong would find different ways to get closer to her, either tilting his head towards her or making a heart shape with his fingers above her head. Li Mo went from feeling a little helpless at first to gradually relaxing later, and her eyes revealed a gentleness that she herself did not realize.

Holding the freshly printed photo booth picture, still warm and smelling of ink, Liang Xinchong treasured it like a precious gem. He carefully examined it again and again before giving half to Li Mo: "Half for each of us, don't lose it."

Li Mo took the few small pieces of paper that recorded their smiles at that moment, gently hummed in agreement, and carefully put them into her coat pocket.

As I walked down to the tenement building, the night grew deeper, and the surroundings were quiet and deserted, with only the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.

The glow of the streetlights appeared somewhat hazy in the cold air.

Liang Xinchong stopped and turned around to face her.

He looked at her cheeks, slightly flushed by the night breeze, and her eyes, which seemed exceptionally bright under the lamplight. The impulse he had just suppressed in the photo studio surged up again.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tightened his grip on her hand slightly. Then, with a sudden effort, he gently pulled her one step closer to him.

The distance between them instantly shrank, so close they could feel each other's breath.

Liang Xinchong lowered his head, his gaze fixed intently on her, his voice low and hoarse with nervousness, carrying a desperate courage:

“Li Mo,” he called her name, as if to confirm, “I still…want to kiss you.”

Li Mo's heartbeat suddenly became erratic.

As he drew closer, his face gleaming with undisguised longing and affection, her long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly closed her eyes.

This is a silent acquiescence.

Sensing her compliance, Liang Xinchong's heart pounded like a drum.

His gaze lingered on her slightly pursed, soft lips for several seconds, his breath becoming hot.

However, at the last moment, as if he had exhausted all his restraint, he slightly changed direction.

Finally, a kiss as light as a feather, carrying all the preciousness a young man cherishes, landed gently on her left cheek, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

It feels warm to the touch and separates instantly upon contact.

Liang Xinchong quickly straightened up, but his face turned bright red before he could, even his ears burned. His eyes darted away, and he dared not look at her again, as if he wasn't the one who had just taken the initiative to kiss her.

Li Mo slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, who was even more shy and helpless than she was. The spot on her left cheek where he had kissed her still seemed to retain that slightly damp and hot touch.

She didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently grasped his slightly sweaty hand.

Liang Xinchong immediately grabbed her hand tightly. Neither of them spoke again. They simply held hands and stood quietly for a while under the cool moonlight and the dim streetlights. A sweet and fluttering atmosphere filled the air, unspoken yet palpable.

They held hands for an unknown amount of time before reluctantly parting ways and saying goodbye.

Later, Li Mo heard a saying that first love is the first time you seriously fall in love with someone, the first time you give your most innocent feelings to them.

First love is the most beautiful, and the affection of youth is the purest.

She was very fortunate that her first love was Liang Xinchong.