Oh no! My yandere school beauty is so clingy!

Lin Anran could feel Shen Yu's breathing catch in his throat; a silent, tense tension filled the air.

It was a mixture of lingering lust and a sudden, unexpected panic.

Lin Anran's heart was pounding wildly in her chest. In the darkness, she couldn't see Shen Yu's expression and could only guess based on touch and breathing.

She hesitated for a moment, not immediately pulling her hand away, her fingertips lightly touching the skin on his waist, as if feeling the burning heat and accelerating heartbeat beneath those taut lines.

After a few seconds, or perhaps longer, she moved her fingertips very lightly, as if it were an unconscious caress.

Then, she slightly raised her head, leaned close to Shen Yu's ear, and whispered indistinctly:

"Yu Yu... have you... thought about... that?"

Her question was cryptic, extremely subtle, and even somewhat clumsy.

But in the silent darkness, in this ambiguous and escalating physical intimacy, what it all referred to was something both of them knew perfectly well.

Shen Yu's body trembled noticeably and violently when she asked that question.

His already tense body tensed even more instantly, and his breathing became completely disordered, carrying a suppressed urgency.

The arms wrapped around her waist tightened unconsciously.

He didn't answer immediately... After what felt like an eternity, Shen Yu finally found his voice.

He answered her in a similarly breathy, intermittent, low voice:

"I...have thought about it, but I feel...I'm not...ready yet..."

His voice was very soft, and Lin Anran's heart beat slightly faster after hearing it.

She wasn't disappointed; on the contrary, she thought... Shen Yu was quite adorable when she said that...

It turns out that Shen Yu wasn't ready yet.

She wasn't in a hurry. After all, Shen Yu was the only person in her world, so it was indeed a bit early now.

Her fingers, which were resting on Shen Yu's body, moved very slightly. Then, she buried her face in the warm crook of his neck again, her lips almost touching his skin, and whispered:

"Alright then..."

"Well...once you're ready...I'm available anytime."

Shen Yu remained silent for a longer time in the darkness.

Then, he whispered something in her neck:

"Okay... thank you..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Anran shook her head, her cheek brushing against the skin of his neck.

"What are you thanking me for... I... I was always yours. Of course you... can have me anytime."

Shen Yu didn't say anything more, but simply pulled her into a deeper embrace.

After a while, Lin Anran looked up, groped in the darkness, found his lips, and gently placed a goodnight kiss on them.

Shen Yu responded gently, then whispered, "Go to sleep."

"Okay, goodnight, Yu Yu..."

Goodnight, Ranran.

The two adjusted to a more comfortable position, embraced tightly, and closed their eyes.

The bedroom returned to silence, with only the sound of their gradually calming breaths.

However, Shen Yu did not fall asleep.

Even his inner turmoil kept him awake and prevented him from falling asleep peacefully.

Why did he say he wasn't ready?

It wasn't that he wasn't psychologically prepared... He wanted a closer relationship with her, a thought that had been subtly present in his mind for some time.

He was a healthy boy in his adolescence, with all the normal reactions and impulses.

What truly made him blurt out "I wasn't prepared" was the dual lack of knowledge and practical experience.

And the resulting profound anxiety about failure and messing things up...

Yes, anxiety.

Shen Yu's life has always been characterized by clear planning, thorough preparation, and effective execution.

He would ensure that things were under control, whether it was his studies, daily life, or even arranging things for Lin Anran, or at least that he had contingency plans in place.

But regarding that aspect... it was completely beyond his existing knowledge and control.

His theoretical knowledge was limited to the cold, general descriptions in biology textbooks.

And the occasional glimpse of vague, fragmented information online.

As for the specifics... how to satisfy the other party, what to pay attention to, what problems might be encountered, and how to deal with them... he knew nothing.

He wasn't even sure if the little bit he knew was accurate...

Because there is no way to verify it.

Unlike other boys who could discuss these topics with each other, he had never discussed them with anyone, nor had he ever studied them himself, because he had never been interested in this kind of thing before...

He had only vaguely heard that if this matter was not handled properly in a close relationship, it could greatly affect the relationship and even cause harm and estrangement.

He didn't want this to happen between him and Lin Anran... He didn't want to take even the slightest risk.

Therefore, in his original plan, this should have happened much further in the future, after he was fully prepared...

This means he needs time to systematically and privately learn and research the relevant knowledge, make thorough theoretical preparations, and may even need some... psychological preparation.

He originally thought that, given the current pace of their relationship, he still had plenty of time.

But he never expected that Lin Anran would bring it up so bluntly at this time...

She entrusted him with the decision-making power so trustingly and without reservation, saying that it was always possible.

This heavy, sweet trust, ironically, exacerbated his anxiety...

He wasn't prepared...

How can we fight a battle we're not prepared for?!

What if he makes her uncomfortable or even hurts her because he doesn't know how to do it properly?

What if he performs poorly or awkwardly, disappointing her?

What if his lack of preparation casts even the slightest shadow on this precious memory?

In that instant, his body’s instinctive impulses and his inner caution and anxiety clashed fiercely. In the end, anxiety overwhelmed everything, and he almost blurted out the words, “I’m not ready.”

Now, having calmed down, Shen Yu lay awake in the darkness, feeling the girl's steady breathing and soft body in his arms. The anxiety in his heart, far from lessening...

He can't delay any longer...

This matter needs to be taken seriously. Starting tomorrow, he will begin learning about this subject...

Moreover, one must learn quickly, well, and comprehensively...

Shen Yu took a breath silently and then slowly exhaled, trying to calm the turbulent thoughts in his heart.

It'll probably be hard to fall asleep...

I should have joined in when the boys in my class discussed these topics before.

I used to think discussing those topics was boring, but now I realize how pretentious I was...

You only realize how little you know when you need it...