“Squeak!”
The chair slid.
“Teacher, it’s nothing!”
Cheng Minghao sat upright in his seat, his face slightly flushed.
He had just forcefully straightened and pushed Lin Qingya’s body.
The moment the classmates softly shouted “kiss,” he knew trouble was coming.
Right as Lin Qingya closed her eyes and leaned in for a final kiss, he felt the heat and moisture on his lips, then straightened and pushed her away.
The squeak from the chair earlier was the sound of Lin Qingya being placed and pressed onto it.
After being caught once, Cheng Minghao naturally didn’t want a second or third time.
Dancing on the edge of a knife was thrilling, but being stabbed by it…
Not so much.
So he analyzed and predicted in advance, changing the outcome ahead of time.
Though, it was as if the ending hadn’t changed at all.
Lin Qingya was still kissed by him—or rather, she once again made a final, desperate move to kiss him.
Lin Qingya was in a passive, forced position; she couldn’t use any strength to change her situation.
All she could do was, before being punished, give her lover a final kiss, preserving a bit of sweetness on her lips.
Only then could she face her punishment with peace.
Cheng Minghao, on the other hand, was in an active and dominant position.
He could do so much more.
He preemptively straightened and pushed Lin Qingya, saving the situation so that at least, to others, they appeared…
Aside from blushing, completely normal.
Of course, if the teacher insisted on checking the surveillance…
Ahem! That would be troublesome!
There’d be no escape then.
But that was nearly impossible.
Still, it was dancing on the knife’s edge.
The main thrill was the racing heartbeat.
The homeroom teacher glanced at Cheng Minghao and Lin Qingya.
Although it felt a bit odd, there was nothing particularly unusual.
He could only scold, “Focus on class, fill out your college preferences, and don’t cause trouble!”
“Yeah, understood. Teacher said don’t cause trouble, got it?”
Cheng Minghao asked the surrounding classmates.
“Yeah, got it!”
The surrounding classmates responded, some listless, others laughing or snickering, but all full of energy.
A crisis that was both unexpected and inevitable passed by safely, sweetly, and with a rush.
—
“Ring ring ring~”
The bell for class ending sounded, and students poured out of the classroom.
In the rush of people leaving, Cheng Minghao held Lin Qingya’s hand, carefully observing the crowd around them.
When most people had left, Cheng Minghao stood up, pulling Lin Qingya to her feet, and explained:
“Let’s go.”
“Mm!”
Lin Qingya smiled and nodded vigorously, then followed Cheng Minghao out from between the computer desks.
The homeroom teacher stood outside the classroom, seemingly glancing their way—though it was unclear if he noticed their hands linked.
This glance startled Lin Qingya, and her small right hand shrank back, only for Cheng Minghao to gently hold it tighter, unwilling to let go.
Luckily, the teacher only gave a casual look and walked away, turning the tense moment into a false alarm.
“It’s fine now. Let’s go.”
Cheng Minghao comforted her softly.
“Mm~”
After the little incident, Lin Qingya glanced at their tightly clasped hands.
Her face reddened, and she leaned her head against her boyfriend’s shoulder, following Cheng Minghao out.
On the way back to their original classroom, Lin Qingya asked quietly, “I can get in, right? During class, I checked the score line for that school again. It’s actually pretty high.”
“If I can’t get in…”
Lin Qingya was especially worried.
She didn’t want to hinder Cheng Minghao’s future.
If she gave up her own future for love, that wouldn’t be love—it would be obstructing his growth.
Lin Qingya didn’t want her love to be selfish; she hoped it could be excellent, worthy, and even more valuable.
That way, even if they broke up one day, she could still leave him with a beautiful memory, proof that she wasn’t lacking.
Thinking this, Lin Qingya’s heart grew heavy and filled with uncertainty.
“It’s fine. Even if you can’t get in, it’s okay. When I finish my service, I’ll come find you too. By then, you’ll be a Bai Fumei with academic success—don’t abandon me then!”
Cheng Minghao smiled gently as he comforted Lin Qingya.
“Wait for you to finish your service?”
Lin Qingya asked curiously, lifting her head to meet Cheng Minghao’s gaze.
“Haoh-Hao, do you want to stay in the military forever, or just finish your duty and then leave?”
“Which is your true thought? Don’t worry about me. What’s important is understanding your own feelings.”
Cheng Minghao thought seriously, then smiled.
“To be realistic, I’ll first take the Military Academy exam. With systematic training, it’s easier to improve myself.”
“That way, naturally, I’ll join the army to earn money, serve the country, and support myself—then… then come out to find you.”
“Find me… dad?!”
Lin Qingya tilted her head to the left and suddenly joked.
She laughed.
“Finding me is fine, too. Then I’ll wait for you! No, I have to study hard and improve every day, then go to your military district early to find you. When you get into the Military Academy, I’ll go look for you outside.”
She continued, “I wonder if outsiders are allowed into the Military Academy… Maybe I should just take the Military Academy entrance exam myself.”
“Wait!”
Lin Qingya puffed up her cheeks in annoyance and realization.
“I’ve been daydreaming and forgot about the Military Academy’s score line and the tuition needed. For college tuition, I… don’t have a single cent!”
Suddenly, Lin Qingya became pouty and even stomped her foot hard.
“Heh~ It’s fine! I’ll go serve in the army… and support you through university! There’s nowhere to spend money in the military, so I’ll have to let you spend for me.”
Cheng Minghao asked,”Beautiful lady, would you be willing to help me spend money, turning the cold numbers in my bank account into your joyful, passionate smile?”
Hearing this, Lin Qingya froze, then her face turned red with embarrassment.
She turned her head to the left, then shyly leaned her head against her boyfriend’s right shoulder.
“You’re so bad, making me spend your money. You’re really lazy~”
As she spoke, Lin Qingya secretly smiled and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend’s waist.
She pressed her chest tightly against his arm, snuggling, acting cute, and feeling comfortable in his embrace.
“Ha~”
Cheng Minghao also hugged back, simply standing still as he kissed Lin Qingya’s earlobe.
Lin Qingya let out a soft, bashful sound of protest.
“This can’t be helped—the money just can’t be spent in there, so I’ll have to trouble my girlfriend~ And it’s my freshly-official, warm girlfriend too~”
As he said the word “official,” Cheng Minghao emphasized it a bit.
He gently rubbed his forehead against Lin Qingya’s.
The heat of his breath dampened the strands of her hair in the cool autumn air.
It made Lin Qingya push and protest softly at his excessive closeness.
“We’re still at school. Let’s go back to the classroom.”
“I’ll work hard, you help me study, and I’ll… I’ll get into university, go to the Art Performance School, and come find you during internship.”
“Then, whatever you want…”
Lin Qingya blushed, lowered her head, and played with her fingers.
“Whatever Tu-Ear Girl, Fox-Tail Girl, Dog-Ear Girl you want—once I’ve learned acting properly, with all kinds of expressions, I can manage them and perform them all for you~”
“Hiss~”
Cheng Minghao hissed through his teeth, feeling his motivation to help Lin Qingya study soar with passion!
Even all sorts of strange Tu-Ear Girl and Fox-Tail Girl poses and expressions filled his mind instantly.
Girls majoring in acting and expression management—was that what their skill was, being able to manage expressions to the max?
“I’ll wait for you~”
Cheng Minghao smiled sweetly, pinching Lin Qingya’s delicate nose.
“Go!”
Cheng Minghao quickly pulled Lin Qingya toward the classroom.
“Let’s study hard and look forward to the day you return as a graduate!”
Hearing this, Lin Qingya rolled her eyes at Cheng Minghao.
He just wanted her to put her learning to use, so she could make all kinds of expressions to satisfy his desires.
But she only blushed and shyly followed Cheng Minghao, quietly staying by his side as they returned to the classroom.
Because, if it meant making Cheng Minghao happy—
She was more than willing!