Sweet Kiss - Chapter 2.2

Chapter 2.2: Taking You Home

Li Yansui sat in the corner, staring out the window, feeling out of place.

For many, senior year is filled with pressure and challenges, requiring constant vigilance.

For someone who never planned on taking college entrance exams, entering this new world was overwhelming.

It’s no wonder her old classmates thought she was crazy.

She felt pretty crazy herself.

Lost in thought, Li Yansui seemed preoccupied all day. Lin Ai noticed but didn’t interrupt, just keeping a watchful eye on her.

Curious about her, the classmates refrained from approaching due to her quiet personality.

Some students from other classes had heard rumors about her, but they held back from asking.

Finally, it was the end of the school day. Li Yansui’s deskmate, a quiet girl with black-framed glasses, continued with her homework and is uninterested in her, a new student.

Despite her disinterest, she silently helped Li Yansui by pushing her during her daydreams and explaining unfamiliar concepts in class.

At lunchtime, Li Yansui skipped the cafeteria and noticed her deskmate didn’t go either. The girl quietly drank milk and whole wheat bread from her desk.

This reminded Li Yansui of her strict dieting days for better camera appearance.

Seeing Li Yansui’s gaze, her deskmate offered her some milk and bread.

Li Yansui took the milk but declined the bread.

She was sick of it from her previous diet and didn’t want any more.

At the end of the day, she smiled at her deskmate. “See you tomorrow, Xiaoxi,” she said.

Xiaoxi, as she called her, nodded silently.

After leaving Lin Ai’s office, Li Yansui ran into someone in the stairs.

Hengshan First High School had a tradition of no evening classes on the first day to ease students back into the school mindset.

When this was announced, students eagerly supported it, some even celebrating downstairs.

Thus, at this time, the hallways were empty.

Li Yansui felt a warm, familiar hand rub her bumped forehead, briefly dazing her.

“Are you an idiot? Watch where you’re going,” the familiar, indulgent voice said. “Does it still hurt?”

“You’re the idiot. How much could it hurt bumping into someone?” Li Yansui’s nose tingled, and her heart warmed at his voice, making her want to cry.

Spending the day alone in an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people made her feel inexplicably sad and empty.

Still, she couldn’t resist snapping back.

She fought to hold back tears, not wanting to cry in front of him.

Bai Tingshou noticed her emotional state and hugged her tightly. “Don’t cry, let’s go home.”

As she leaned into his embrace, Li Yansui’s tears fell uncontrollably.

His clothes soaked, Bai Tingshou gently patted her back, smiling helplessly. “Dummy.” But his heart stirred.

He was sent by Ms. Yu to bring Li Yansui home for dinner.

When he didn’t find her in class after school, he decided to try the stairs by the office.

His luck paid off, but she was crying.

Understanding why, he felt both amused and frustrated, unsure how to comfort her.

He said nothing, just holding her and soothing her with his presence.

The sunset bathed them in soft light, painting the sky with evening hues.

Soon, Li Yansui composed herself and pulled away from Bai Tingshou’s embrace.

Lowering his eyes, his long lashes hid his feelings.

Li Yansui noticed him standing in the shadows, his expression obscured. She took his hand, leading him out of the darkness.

Her slender fingers warm in his hand, Bai Tingshou felt her pulse in his palm.

His gaze lingered on their joined hands.

Li Yansui felt an urge to observe him closely.

He had a beautiful face, with delicate features and expressive eyes, a straight nose, and fair skin, exuding a cool aura.

His eyes held a magnetic charm that drew her in.

This was why she liked him; though she didn’t know when it started, she just wanted to be close to him, to see him, to spend more time together.

“What are you looking at?” Bai Tingshou asked, ignoring her gaze.

Li Yansui snapped out of it, shaking her head.

Bai Tingshou kept his eyes on her palm, feeling her warmth.

She led him down the stairs.

She avoided looking at him, focusing ahead until they reached the car.

Li Yansui looked up at him and said, “Sorry for wasting your time.”

They spent quite a bit of time together.

Twilight had given way to nightfall, with stars shimmering in the sky.

Bai Tingshou opened the car door for her, motioning her to get in.

Li Yansui looked at him with a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

“I told you, I’m taking you home,” Bai Tingshou said, his eyes shining with determination and his tone firm.