Chapter 162 Childhood Sweethearts If-Way 4 "I like you."
As the sun slowly set, the last ray of light disappeared from the horizon, and night descended upon the world.
A breeze rustled through the treetops, bringing a touch of comfort to the summer day, while bright sunlight filtered through the swaying leaves.
The scattered starlight adorned the lively scene below.
The school, which should have been quiet and dark, was filled with students who had changed out of their school uniforms. Bright light streamed in from the auditorium windows, covering the nearby grass, accompanied by the melodious music of the orchestra.
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was time for the school dance.
Everyone changed into their carefully prepared formal attire, their long hair pulled back and their slicked-back hair lining the streets, exuding a youthful yet mature air.
There are no time restrictions for school dances; you can go to the dance floor to dance or chat on the side.
Just as a melodious and lyrical piece of music began to play, the tightly closed door was pushed open.
Black silk was layered over a dark green skirt, with light flowing across it from all directions.
Her long hair, pulled back, revealed Lu Shizhen's moon-shaped earrings, and her delicate collarbone lifted the black gemstone hanging from Xu Shiyue's neck. Every detail echoed the elements of the other.
The lights in the auditorium shone evenly over the entire vast venue, but it seemed as if the lights were particularly biased towards the two people who had just entered, shining on them like roses suddenly blooming in a flower garden, instantly making all the surrounding flowers pale in comparison.
Although Lu Shizhen chose a simple dress to avoid being flashy, she still caught everyone's attention when she stood next to Xu Shiyue, immediately drawing the gaze of most people.
Although Lu Shizhen often participates in school activities, she is not that socially anxious.
But this time, the person standing next to her was Xu Shiyue, and the desire to perform perfectly was unusually strong, so nervousness took the opportunity to creep up.
"Wow, you're here so early? We thought you were going to be the grand finale."
Lu Shizhen was tense when Sun Xiaoning's voice pulled her out of her daze.
The woman smiled and, after speaking, her other friends followed her over.
The presence of familiar faces easily dispelled the unfamiliar environment and the stares from others, and Lu Shizhen couldn't help but relax a bit. She looked at Sun Xiaoning and said, "Why didn't you send someone earlier?"
“It’s not that they won’t allow it, it’s just that they think if you and Shiyue come a little later, you’ll definitely be the center of attention and it will definitely ignite the whole place.” Sun Xiaoning said, and her friend chimed in, “Yeah, didn’t you see how many people were watching you as you walked over?”
Lu Shizhen smiled upon hearing this and politely declined, saying, "Let's leave this kind of thing to those who really want to show off."
Sun Xiaoning knew immediately that Lu Shizhen's social anxiety had flared up again. She turned to look at Xu Shiyue standing next to her and said in a somewhat ingratiating tone, "Shiyue, you look beautiful today."
"Thank you, you too," Xu Shiyue replied politely, her voice gentle.
Upon receiving the gentle praise from the aloof beauty, Sun Xiaoning practically soared to new heights.
It was only then that she realized Xu Shiyue's tone of voice when speaking to acquaintances was quite pleasant. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and her wavering resolve hardened—she would have to provide Xu Shiyue with more information in the future!
Sun Xiaoning sensed this change, so how could Lu Shizhen not notice it?
She watched Xu Shiyue's attitude towards Sun Xiaoning, and noticed the undisguised expression on Sun Xiaoning's face, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Just a second before Lu Shizhen was about to say something, a hand reached out into her field of vision.
Xu Shiyue asked Lu Shizhen in a calm and gentle voice, "Want to go dancing?"
How could Lu Shizhen refuse Xu Shiyue's invitation?
She swallowed back what she was about to say and gladly took Xu Shiyue's outstretched hand, saying, "Okay."
Lu Shizhen thought that if this would help Xu Shiyue understand her better, she wouldn't mind.
Moreover, there's no need to rush about dealing with the traitor Sun Xiaoning; there will be plenty of ways to handle it later.
With these feelings in mind, Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue walked onto the dance floor.
The music that started playing as I entered the room just ended, and new music began to play. Different people then entered the dance floor.
Like Lu Shizhen, Xu Shiyue disliked drawing attention, and the two of them stood on the side at the same time.
As new music began, Lu Shizhen wrapped her arm around Xu Shiyue's waist, her skirt swaying with the first note of the violin.
And as it turns out, the initial low turnout was temporary; the audience was gradually drawn in by the beautiful visuals.
Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue held hands, their slender heels kicking against the hem of their skirts, creating beautiful ruffles as they moved, light as the fluttering wings of butterflies.
They are a good-looking and well-matched couple, and their perfect understanding makes people envious.
Although many eyes kept turning to Lu Shizhen, she wasn't nervous this time.
The soothing and relaxing music was secondary; what mattered most to Lu Shizhen in the bustling background was Xu Shiyue's face.
Xu Shiyue lowered her eyes slightly, her steps moving precisely and gracefully to the music.
Her raven-feather-like eyelashes spread out like a fan, and it seemed that Xu Shiyue had also noticed Lu Shizhen's gaze. One of her eyelashes suddenly lifted, and beneath the cool, dark eyelashes was a gentleness that Lu Shizhen could feel.
Xu Shiyue smiled slightly, took Lu Shizhen's hand, and led her a few steps toward a less crowded area.
Lu Shizhen still remembers the first dance she ever danced. Whether it was the awkward dance she performed while sitting in a wheelchair that could hardly be called a dance, or the clumsy dance she did with Xu Shiyue after standing up and being guided, it was all with Xu Shiyue.
Some people may feel that spending their whole lives interacting with, getting to know, and falling in love with only one person is too boring.
But Lu Shizhen didn't think so.
She liked that every year and every day of Xu Shiyue's life, except for the first six years, had her own mark on it.
She liked being with Xu Shiyue, whether it was dancing, doing homework, or just sitting together when there was nothing to do.
She enjoyed the time when Xu Shiyue was around.
She likes Xu Shiyue.
.
As the closing notes of each song began, more and more people arrived for the dance.
Before the dance floor became crowded, Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue ended their dance for the evening and went to a secluded corner to rest and chat.
"There's no one here."
With practiced ease, Lu Shizhen bypassed several fences, and after parting a layer of wisteria vines, a brand-new Chinese-style pavilion appeared in Xu Shiyue's sight.
Moonlight fell from the pavilion, drifting up along its curved corners.
The surroundings were filled with lush green leaves that almost swallowed the flowers. It was dark and quiet, with the faint sound of singing drifting from afar, giving one a sense of secluded tranquility.
"There are places like this? How come we didn't discover them last year?" Xu Shiyue looked at the scene before her with some surprise.
Lu Shizhen was waiting for Xu Shiyue's reaction.
She had made ample preparations for what she was going to do tonight. Although she hadn't built the pavilion herself, she was still quite proud of it: "It got damaged by the rain this spring, so I rebuilt it. It's beautiful and mosquito-proof, a must-visit date spot for couples in our school..."
"Holy shit."
As Lu Shizhen was showing off, footsteps could be heard not far away.
She was hugging the pavilion pillar and introducing it to Xu Shiyue when she bumped into a couple who were about to have a secret rendezvous, as if to confirm that what she had just said was true.
When the boy saw that the spot he had been looking for was occupied, he accidentally swore.
The girl next to him quickly pulled him aside and said to Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue, who had arrived earlier, "Sorry, sorry, we didn't expect that... You guys continue, sorry to bother you."
She spoke with great sincerity and genuine embarrassment.
After saying that, she tugged at the boy's sleeve, pulled him away in a hurry, leaving Lu Shizhen bewildered in the wind.
The girl's words weren't wrong, but upon closer inspection, they were full of misunderstandings. Lu Shizhen's face flushed slightly, and she said somewhat awkwardly to Xu Shiyue, "You think... they misunderstand us, thinking we're like them, or maybe..."
Is it a misunderstanding?
Xu Shiyue asked in return, and leisurely raised her half-lowered eyes.
Lu Shizhen looked at Xu Shiyue's raised eyes, those dark eyes seemed to be looking into her own.
Suddenly, Lu Shizhen felt her heart skip a beat.
The night was still, and the wind rustled through the bushes and leaves.
The moonlight, filtering through the swaying shadows of the trees, flickered in Lu Shizhen's vision, as if reminding her of something.
This is not a misunderstanding.
This is a beautiful blessing for what is to come.
She shouldn't be so awkward.
Lu Shizhen clenched her fists, mustering her courage...
"In October, there's something I want to tell you."
"Sixteen, there's something I want to tell you."
Almost in unison, Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue spoke at the same time.
Both of them looked surprised, yet as their eyes met, each harbored their own thoughts.
"Um, why don't you go first?"
Then came another unanimous response.
As if she couldn't help it, Xu Shiyue chuckled and suggested to Lu Shizhen, "Then why don't we go together?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Shizhen hesitated for a moment.
She knew what she wanted to say, but worried that it was a bit hasty. However, she also wanted Xu Shiyue to accompany her for courage, and giving her an unexpected surprise was not a bad idea.
After a pause, Lu Shizhen said, "Okay."
The breeze carried the fragrance of a summer night as it passed around the pavilion pillars, and the quiet little pavilion was left undisturbed.
As the surrounding atmosphere gradually quieted down, Lu Shizhen's heartbeat slowly quickened. She didn't notice that, in addition to her heartbeat accelerating due to the tension before her confession, another heart was also racing for the same reason.
Xu Shiyue grasped Lu Shizhen's other hand and counted down with her: "Three, two, one..."
"I like you."
in unison.
Exactly the same.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
