I'm a senior in high school, and the system says I'm going on a blind date with my childho

Chapter 288 You two have to go together
Upon hearing He Zhiyu's words, Zhou Shaojie's expression froze instantly, and he frowned as he pondered: "Tsk...it seems...there's some truth to it? Then..."

His eyes lit up, and he suddenly slapped his thigh: "I've got it! Let's just change the order! Let Young Master Li come out last! That would be perfect!"

He looked at Shen Yuan: "Yuan, what do you say..."

He Zhiyu's eyes lit up, as if she had been enlightened, and she immediately chimed in, "That's right! Zhou Shaojie is right! I propose—"

She put her hands on her hips, her voice carrying an undeniable excitement.

"Let Shen Yuan and Zhizhi leave last! That way, we'll start with Chen Mingyu, and go through everyone one by one until Zhou Shaojie. Then we can suddenly change the order to Peipei and me. This way, we can lay a good foundation."

“Some people will definitely wonder why we skipped Shen Yuan and Li Zhi in the middle, and then Shen Yuan walked by and changed his clothes.”

She drew out her words, pointing her finger at Li Zhi.

"Finally, Zhizhi made her grand finale appearance! She dazzled the entire audience! The ambiance, the anticipation—that's what you call an explosive effect!"

Zhuo Peipei, who had been listening quietly next to He Zhiyu, smiled gently and tugged at He Zhiyu's arm, adding in a soft voice.

“Zhiyu is right, this will definitely be more effective. Or…” She paused and looked at Li Zhi.

"Actually, it would be fine if Zhizhi went first? That way, she would make a stunning debut right from the start, grabbing everyone's attention immediately!"

With He Zhiyu's logically clear and compelling "grand finale theory" and Zhuo Peipei's supplementary "stunning opening theory," the atmosphere, which had just been immersed in the joy of the successful basic shooting, instantly became lively again.

After hearing the two "Li Zhi Focus" proposals put forward by He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei, the friends looked at each other with anticipation, their eyes shifting between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi, especially towards Li Zhi, waiting for her to make the final decision.

It's easy to imagine who's in charge in Shen Yuan's family.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on Li Zhi's face, catching the slight blush on her lips and the shyness in her eyes, as well as the eager glint in them.

The boy's lips suddenly curled into a confident smile, as if this was not a choice that required any struggle.

He waved his phone in his hand, his tone relaxed.

"Tsk, is there even a choice? Only adults think about making choices. We're kids, kids want it all! Since both have their own merits—"

Shen Yuan's voice rang clearly in the quiet evening corridor, drawing everyone's attention: "Then let's all take pictures!"

"You're both filming?!" He Zhiyu and A-Jie exclaimed almost simultaneously, but their voices were instantly filled with immense surprise.

"Wow! Director Yuan is so awesome!" A-Jie rubbed his hands excitedly. "Brother Yuan is so thoughtful! We want them all!"

Chen Mingyu and Yang Ze immediately laughed: "Great idea! That's a good idea!"

Zhuo Peipei smiled knowingly and happily: "That's right, that way we can choose the most suitable one!"

"Okay, then let's not just stand there." Shen Yuan pressed the record button and set up the phone again.

"Hurry up and shoot two more takes! The first one is the grand finale, as Zhiyu said."

He quickly pointed out the slight adjustment in the formation: "The initial formation remains the same. After Ai Muyu and you finish, Peipei and Zhiyu, you two go first, then I will go, and Li Bao will go last."

The group immediately lined up again in front of the wall.

As Shen Yuan announced "Action," Chen Mingyu, Yang Ze, and A Jie stepped out of the frame one after another, their movements more composed and coordinated than the first time.

Immediately afterwards, He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei also swiftly left the frame.

Finally, only Shen Yuan and Li Zhi remained standing side by side by the wall.

Shen Yuan turned his head, gave Li Zhi a silent look, and then stepped across the camera.

Finally, there is Li Zhi.

After one take was completed, the phone was turned on to record again.

This time, Li Zhi was the first one in the team.

"Begin!" Shen Yuan said.

Li Zhi took a deep breath, and under the encouraging gaze of his companions, without any hesitation, he took his first step sideways.

The girl's figure moved with a clean and light grace, disappearing from the camera's view in just a few steps.

Immediately afterwards, the others followed quickly and smoothly, stepping out of the frame one by one.

The two new "cosplay teaser" clips were filmed almost in one go.

Shen Yuan put his phone away with satisfaction and deftly pressed the stop recording button.

"OK, all done."

He held up his phone, waved it at everyone, and smiled with confidence that he was in control of the situation and affirmation of his team. "We've got both effects. When the final product comes out, we'll see which one is more suitable and use that one."

When Shen Yuan put away his phone and announced, "Both effects are achieved," Chen Mingyu suddenly slapped his forehead, as if he had a new idea. He excitedly took two quick steps toward Shen Yuan, his voice even louder than before.

"Wait a minute! Lao Yuan! I feel like something's missing!"

His gaze swept back and forth between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"The previous walks were all done individually, and the effects were quite good. But I'm thinking, when it comes to being truly stunning and sweet... cough cough, I mean, visually impressive!"

Chen Mingyu cleared his throat: "How about we shoot two more takes? Let's add a killer combination!"

His eyes shone with an astonishing light, and his voice was incredibly seductive.

"You two walk together! Side by side or hand in hand, step out! Just imagine the scene, your school uniforms instantly transform into matching couple outfits! The chemistry will be even more explosive than if you walked alone! You'll definitely be the center of attention! That's the ultimate expression of being 'perfectly matched'!"

This idea was like a spark splashed into an oil drum!

"Holy crap! Ai Muyu, you're a genius!" A-Jie was the first to jump up, so excited he almost hugged Chen Mingyu's neck.

"Yes, yes, yes! The ultimate combo! Double flashes working in tandem! We have to use this! The effect will be absolutely explosive!"

"Brilliant!" He Zhiyu immediately agreed enthusiastically, slapping Zhuo Peipei's arm hard and speaking excitedly in a low voice.

"They should have gone together! Just imagine, stepping out side by side and instantly switching gears! Max synchronization! Enough with the dog food! Too much sugar!"

Zhuo Peipei was equally excited: "Yes, yes, yes! Zhizhi and Shen Yuan should go together! You two should go together!"

Yang Ze adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with a smile of agreement, and nodded simply: "I second that. The combined effect is worth a try."

All eyes, filled with burning anticipation and an undeniable urge to "get it done quickly," were fixed on the two main characters.

Shen Yuan paused, his hand that was about to lock the screen, and he turned to look at Li Zhi beside him.

"Then... how about adding two more?"

Li Zhi's cheeks flushed as she faced the expectant gazes of the crowd.

The girl subconsciously met Shen Yuan's eyes. Her ear tips were bright red, but she nodded very quickly.

Shen Yuan smiled.

He turned his phone screen back on with satisfaction, placed it steadily back on the ground, and aimed it at the beige wall that had witnessed many moments of their youth.

The boy flexed his wrists, walked towards the wall, turned to face Li Zhi, and reached out his hand again.

"Then...Teacher Li, how about we collaborate on two more?"

The light outlined the boy's handsome features, and also reflected the girl's flushed profile, as well as the excited, sparkling eyes around her.

A new shoot is about to begin.

……

Evening had passed, and the lively atmosphere of the canteen had not completely dissipated.

Shen Yuan, Li Zhi, and Zhou Shaojie, each carrying a drink, sauntered back to the teaching building.

The last vestiges of orange-red from the sunset gently painted the bright red banner bearing the college entrance examination pledge at the end of the corridor.

The three of them stood in front of the banner without saying a word.

Shen Yuan took out his phone, adjusted the angle, and made sure the camera was only pointed at the banner.

Shen Yuan was the first to raise his Coke: "Go for it!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi touched the water-soluble vitamin C in his hand to him: "Good luck!"

Zhou Shaojie quickly followed, a bottle of coffee appearing in the frame: "Keep it up!"

The beverage in the glass sloshed about, and the last rays of the setting sun refracted through the glass, casting tiny spots of light onto the red banner.

This scene, along with the "Go for it!" echoing in the sunset, was faithfully captured by the phone, becoming an ordinary yet determined moment in the 100-day countdown. Shen Yuan pressed the stop button and skillfully put away his phone.

He glanced sideways at Ah Jie, who seemed still immersed in the excitement of being in the shot, and tapped him on the shoulder with his finger, his voice a mix of buddy teasing and seriousness.

"Alright, the video's finished filming. Has Brother Jie's vocabulary improved yet?"

"Tsk!" A-Jie rolled his eyes and exaggeratedly drew out his voice.

"Okay, okay! I'll go improve my English now—"

He dragged his feet, his face showing an expression that said, "Studying is my greatest grievance," as he moved toward the classroom.

Shen Yuan chuckled and shook his head as he watched his flamboyant back. His gaze unconsciously rose again and fell back on the bright red banner in front of him.

20.

Those enormous numbers hung there, glaringly bright in the light.

When the noise completely subsided, only the soft rustling sound remained in the classroom. June evening study sessions were no longer filled with whispers, only the gentle scratching of pens on paper, like silkworms slowly and steadily gnawing at the towering mountains called "College Entrance Examination."

Shen Yuan put down the beverage bottle, his fingertips habitually tracing across the table before finally settling on the open exercise book.

Li Zhi sat upright by the window, her profile outlined with soft lines under the lamplight.

She was deep in thought, staring at a complex physics problem, her long eyelashes drooping slightly, casting a faint shadow under her eyes.

The stack of papers on the corner of the table resembled a small mountain, a testament to the constant consumption of ink and mental effort.

The entire Class 15 was shrouded in a silent tension.

Old Zhou's figure appeared silently by the small window at the back door, like a ghost.

His sharp gaze, visible behind his glasses, swept over every figure engrossed in their studies.

No one looked up; no one noticed his arrival or departure.

His presence was no longer about maintaining discipline, but more like a silent encouragement and companionship.

The silence at this moment is more powerful than any loud urging.

……

The days were compressed in a near-suffocating focus.

day to day.

As dawn breaks, figures appear early in the classroom, making the most of every minute to memorize key points.

The daytime classrooms were filled with intensive test paper analysis and final sprint instructions. The teachers' voices carried a heavier weight, and even the chalk dust that fell seemed to solidify the weight of the countdown.

The hustle and bustle of lunch break was compressed to the extreme, with more people choosing to take a short nap to replenish their energy or continue working on their problems while munching on bread at their seats.

The lights during evening self-study sessions became the last few sparks to go out on campus.

Exam papers, handouts, notes, error notebooks...

Various review materials almost overwhelmed every desk.

The gaps between the desks were stuffed with document bags, and the shelves at the back of the classroom were piled high with review books.

The air is filled with the unique scent of ink and paper, mixed with the occasional pungent, invigorating aroma of mentholatum or menthol, bearing witness to everyone's efforts to replenish brain cells.

At the front of the classroom, the number shrank day by day, slowly sliding from the glaring "20" to the more pressing "15".

The bell that finally ended evening self-study sounded like a weary rest note, rippling through the night.

Inside the teaching building, amidst the clattering sounds of books closing, desks and chairs moving, and zippers sliding, students slowly dispersed like a stream.

Shen Yuan packed his schoolbag and looked at Li Zhi casually: "Are you leaving?"

Li Zhi nodded, zipped up his backpack, and habitually followed in his footsteps.

The two followed the crowd out of the classroom, out of the still brightly lit teaching building, and into the dim night fog interwoven with the streetlights of the campus.

They walked in silence, the only sounds being the slight swaying of their backpacks and the familiar breaths they shared as they drew near, scattered and then gathered again by the early summer evening breeze, carrying a sense of shared weariness and reassurance.

Occasionally, Shen Yuan would ask in a low voice, "What was that physics question today...?" Li Zhi would quietly reply with a few key points, and their thoughts would briefly collide before falling silent again.

The streetlights stretched their shadows, then shortened, then stretched them again, until they reached the familiar apartment building.

The elevator ascended silently as always, the number keys gleaming faintly. Upon reaching 19A, the metal doors slid open with a "ding."

Li Zhi stepped out of the sedan chair and walked towards his own front door as usual.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the door lock, her wrist was suddenly grabbed from behind.

Shen Yuan rushed out of the elevator and hugged her tightly from behind without saying a word.

The boy's long, strong arms encircled her waist, and his warm chin nestled in the crook of her neck, which was damp with sweat, as he took a deep breath.

"Hey..." The boy's hot breath, accompanied by a low, husky voice, tickled her sensitive earlobe, with a touch of playful, sticky charm.

"Did Teacher Li forget something?"

Li Zhi's body tensed instantly, her cheeks burning hot. She could clearly feel the vibrations and scorching heat from Shen Yuan's chest cavity through his thin school uniform, like a fuse that had ignited her entire body.

The girl's cheeks flushed red. She glared at him and gritted her teeth as she squeezed out the words: "Bad dog!"

Shen Yuan wasn't annoyed by the scolding; instead, he tightened his arms around her waist, a triumphant chuckle escaping his throat.

He stepped back slightly, the dim light of the stairwell lamps reflecting the sly glint in his eyes.

Li Zhi's chest pounded, and his fingertips unconsciously tightened around the side of his school uniform.

Her gaze swept over his sweaty scalp and finally settled on his lips, which always stirred her heart.

Suddenly, the girl tiptoed and gently pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth.

Like a butterfly skimming across a lake, a kiss so light it's almost impossible to catch.

The sweet scent of peach mingled with her breath and suddenly bloomed on his lips.

After the fleeting touch, Li Zhi did not immediately pull away.

She raised her eyelashes and looked into the boy's eyes, which were slightly surprised by her initiative.

In the dim light of the stairwell, a sly glint flashed in her eyes, like a little fox unable to hide its smugness.

Her lips, still carrying his scent, suddenly curved into a delicate smile.

Then, just as Shen Yuan instinctively wanted to pursue that sweet taste, Li Zhi's slender fingertips quickly rose and stopped his chin from pressing down.

"Shen, you can't be naughty now that you've received the goodnight kiss~"

Before he could finish speaking, the beautiful girl tightened her grip on his chin, pushing the two of them slightly apart, and her waist nimbly twisted backward.

The soft ends of her hair brushed against Shen Yuan's chin, which was hanging in astonishment, like a silent and mischievous little hook.

That sly chuckle lingered in the narrow space between them, leaving behind a dazzling, shimmering effect.

Shen Yuan was both annoyed and amused by this sudden "get-rich-quick" move. His romantic thoughts were instantly washed away, leaving only a strong urge to catch this mischievous little fox.

However, the person in his arms had already slipped away like a slippery little fish, deftly breaking free from his still loose arms.

The girl turned around deftly.

"Goodnight, you bad dog." Li Zhi's cheeks still had a lingering blush, but her eyes curved into crescents, filled with the triumphant starlight of successfully flirting.

After saying that, without giving him a chance to retaliate, she quickly opened the door and slammed it shut.

"..."

Shen Yuan stared at the tightly closed door for a long while, and finally shook his head and laughed out loud in utter helplessness.

My fingertips unconsciously brushed against my chin, which still seemed to retain a soft, fragrant touch.

He was left alone in the hallway, and the brief tension that had just been stirred up was completely dispelled by this sudden mischief.

Shen Yuan chuckled softly, then turned and walked towards the door of the house across the street.

(End of this chapter)