Little Sweetheart

"…!!!" Gu Siyi's eyes widened.

Their lips unexpectedly met.

Like an electric shock, a current spread throughout her body, leaving her numb…

Her mind short-circuited for a few seconds, as if fried by the current.

When she finally regained her senses, she abruptly took several steps back, raised her hand to cover her mouth, and after a long pause, exclaimed, "…You cheated!"

Her accusing voice was soft and weak, like a startled rabbit.

Xia Zhijun's cheeks felt hot, but fortunately, it wasn't obvious in the dim light.

He cleared his throat, his voice still a little hoarse. "An accident…"

Then he added, "Kiss me again, and we can both avoid any further 'accidents.'"

"No…" Gu Siyi refused.

"…" Xia Zhijun looked up at the starry sky, the heat in his eyes receding slightly.

He sighed softly, and when he looked at Gu Siyi again, his calm expression had returned, like a cool and collected wolf.

"But you promised to kiss me, here." He pointed to his cheek. "The accident just now doesn't count."

"That was you cheating… I'm not talking to you." Gu Siyi turned her back, humming softly.

Xia Zhijun walked forward and embraced her from behind, whispering in her ear, "Really not talking to me?"

"Oh, let me go…" Gu Siyi struggled in his arms.

Xia Zhijun, still behind her, tilted his head and looked at her charming, flushed face in the moonlight. Unable to resist, he lowered his head and kissed her cheek.

"You…"

Not giving her a chance to protest, he moved to kiss her ear.

"Ah…" Gu Siyi was so flustered by his teasing that she wouldn't have been able to stand if he wasn't holding her.

"Please… stop kissing me…" It felt so good, yet so overwhelming.

Her pleading tone sounded as if she was about to cry, which only served to further ignite his senses.

As passion surged, Xia Zhijun immediately released her and walked several steps away, putting some distance between them.

Gu Siyi crouched on the ground, gasping for air as if she had just survived a near-death experience.

That feeling was too frightening, like something was about to burst forth…

After a while, Xia Zhijun calmed his heart, looked at the night sky, and said, "Come here, I'll teach you about the constellations."

"I don't want to, I want to go down," Gu Siyi muttered, head lowered.

"I'll count to five. If you don't come over, I'll come and get you." Xia Zhijun counted while looking at the night sky. "Five, four, three, two…"

"Stop counting!" She had already walked to his side and tugged at his sleeve.

Xia Zhijun glanced at her and smiled, extending his arm to put it around her shoulders. "Good girl."

"We're Geminis, easily recognizable in the starry sky." Xia Zhijun pointed to a certain spot in the sky. "Look at that star, Castor. To the naked eye, it appears as a single star, but with a telescope, you can see another star bound to it. Both of these stars are binary stars, and they are near another binary system. So, there are six stars in this multiple star system."

Gu Siyi looked up, bewildered. "Why would one star be bound to another?"

Xia Zhijun: "Gravity."

Gu Siyi: "…What is gravity? The force between them?"

Xia Zhijun: "No, gravity is the tendency of objects with mass to accelerate towards each other. It stems from the curvature of spacetime caused by mass, and it's related to universal force, cosmic velocity, spatial dimensions, magnetic field strength, and structure. Gravity is the weakest force in nature, and it only has a noticeable effect between celestial bodies…"

As Xia Zhijun spoke, Gu Siyi nodded along. When he finished, she summarized, "I don't really understand…"

"…" Xia Zhijun switched to a more down-to-earth topic. "There's a Geminid meteor shower every winter, next month."

"Wow, a meteor shower! Can we see it from school?" Gu Siyi's eyes lit up.

"Yes, but it's not the best viewing spot. It depends on the weather."

"Oh." Gu Siyi nodded.

Xia Zhijun looked at Gu Siyi, seeing her excited and expectant expression. He gently touched her ear with the hand around her shoulder and whispered, "I'll take you to see the meteor shower then, okay?"

"Okay!" Gu Siyi nodded without hesitation.

"Then shouldn't you fulfill tonight's promise first?"

"…"

Since she couldn't escape it, Gu Siyi turned and quickly pecked his cheek.

He turned his other cheek towards her, a smile playing on his lips. "No playing favorites."

"…"

"One kiss is a kiss, two kisses are also a kiss." He leaned against the wall with his hands, waiting patiently.

"…" Gu Siyi relented, leaning in to give him another kiss on the cheek.

Xia Zhijun looked at her and quickly stated his position. "Absolutely no more kisses, no matter what you say! I refuse to kiss you again!"

Xia Zhijun bent down, a mischievous and handsome look on his face, and whispered, "Today's quota has been met. I'm very satisfied."

"…You rogue." Gu Siyi walked a few steps away, avoiding his distractingly handsome face.

They stayed for a while longer, and when Xia Zhijun checked the time, it was almost ten o'clock.

…How did time pass so quickly? Much faster than studying.

Not wanting Gu Siyi to go back to bed too late, he took her hand and said, "Let's go, it's time to go back to the dorm."

As they went downstairs, Gu Siyi recalled the close call during morning reading and said, "Don't hold my hand in the classroom anymore."

"Oh?" He responded casually.

Gu Siyi became anxious, clutching his hand. "The homeroom teacher talked to me a while ago, asking if there was something going on between us… I don't want to be interrogated by the teacher again!"

At that time, she had confidently refuted the teacher's suspicions, but if she were caught again, she might be too nervous to even speak.

Xia Zhijun then realized that the homeroom teacher had already warned her, no wonder she was so sensitive…

"So you're asking me to be your secret boyfriend?" Xia Zhijun grasped the main point and asked.

"…" That was more or less the meaning, but why did "secret boyfriend" sound so awkward?

"Okay, I'll listen to you," Xia Zhijun said calmly, his tone even.

He also understood the principle of moderation; pushing her too hard would only make things worse.

Besides, going public with their relationship too early wouldn't be good for either of them. He knew his parents didn't want him to date so early.

"However," he paused.

"However what?" she asked.

"A secret boyfriend is still a boyfriend," he emphasized.

"…"

"Hmm?"

"…Hmm."

"What am I to you?" he asked again.

"Oh…"

"Say it." He gently squeezed her hand. What if she went back on her word later?

Forced into a corner, Gu Siyi mumbled, "…Boyfriend."

She didn't even know how it happened, but he had somehow, step by step… become her boyfriend?

"Mm." Xia Zhijun smiled.

So, taking a step back had its own rewards. By retreating, he had finally secured the title of boyfriend.

That night, as Gu Siyi lay in bed about to sleep, she received a voice message from Xia Zhijun on WeChat.

He softly said, "Good night, friend."

Gu Siyi's cheeks flushed. After a while, she replied.

Gu Siyi: "Going to sleep, good night."

X: "."

Zheng Peipei, sitting on the next bed, was still playing a game.

Gu Siyi turned over, seeing her engrossed in the game, and reminded her, "It's time to sleep, or you won't be able to get up tomorrow morning."

Zheng Peipei sighed and said, "I want to sleep too, but that silly Lu Jiaye insisted on playing games with me. He said he had a match with someone, and we'd lose if I didn't join. For the honor of the team, I have to fight."

Gu Siyi said, "Lu Jiaye really likes playing games with you."

"…" Zheng Peipei paused for a moment, then immediately said, "Of course, I'm good at it, I carry him."

"By the way, next week is Lu Jiaye's birthday. He said he's having a party," Gu Siyi said. "Should we go shopping for his present this weekend?"

"Oh right… Then let's go this weekend." Zheng Peipei asked Xiang Li and Zhang Xinyi, "Do you two want to go?"

Xiang Li asked a little shyly, "Should we also give him a present? Will Lu Jiaye not want it?"

"Nonsense, he'll be thrilled to receive gifts. Besides, you all climbed Mount Emei together, you're definitely invited to the party. It wouldn't be good not to give a gift, right?"

Zhang Xinyi said, "Then let's go shopping together this weekend."

On the weekend, the girls went shopping together. They discussed what to get Lu Jiaye.

Zheng Peipei said, "That guy has spent a lot of money on me in the game, I'll get him a lucky watch."

Gu Siyi chuckled, "Such an expensive gift, I can't afford that…"

Zheng Peipei said, "Just get something within your budget, it's the thought that counts."

"Let's get him a pair of sneakers," Gu Siyi suddenly thought.

Xiang Li said, "Then I'll get him a lucky backpack."

Zhang Xinyi said, "I'll get him a jersey."

"Okay, great!" Zheng Peipei snapped her fingers. "Let's go pick them out one by one."

Gu Siyi said, "I have to ask what size he wears."

Zheng Peipei said, "Don't ask him directly, then there's no surprise."

Gu Siyi: "Then I'll ask the study god."

Gu Siyi stepped aside and called Xia Zhijun.

"Hello?" His lazy voice came through.

…Was he still sleeping?

"I want to ask you something, what shoe size does Lu Jiaye wear?"

Xia Zhijun paused, then asked, "Are you asking the wrong person?"

"Huh? You don't know?" Gu Siyi asked in surprise.

Xia Zhijun: "Shouldn't you be asking your boyfriend's shoe size?"

"…" Gu Siyi blushed and retorted, "Don't be silly, it's his birthday soon, and our dormmates are out buying him presents. I plan to get him a pair of shoes."

"Oh…"

"Do you know his size?" Gu Siyi asked again.

"You don't have to give him a present."

"That won't do, we're all good friends, I have to show my appreciation."

"Oh, I'm a size 41."

"I'm asking about him…" Gu Siyi was exasperated.

"Just buy size 41. If he can't wear them, I will."

"…"

Lu Jiaye's birthday present was perfectly arranged by his buddy.

Gu Siyi, as the gift-giver, was quite troubled. She told Zheng Peipei and the others, "The study god doesn't know his size, he himself is a 41."

Zheng Peipei said, "Then 41 it is. They're about the same height, so their shoe sizes should be similar."

Xiang Li said, "I think so too, they should be about the same."

Zhang Xinyi: "I think I saw them swapping shoes last time we traveled…"

Influenced by the others, Gu Siyi bought a pair of size 41 basketball shoes.

She had originally budgeted 1000 yuan, but ended up buying a pair for 1500 yuan. Gu Siyi felt she had to ask her dad for extra money. Lu Jiaye was a rich kid; if she bought something cheap, he might not wear it, and the gift would be meaningless.

While shopping, Gu Siyi passed by a Pandora store and saw the bracelet Xia Zhijun had given her in the display case…

She stared blankly, unable to move.

Zheng Peipei walked to her side and said, "Resist, don't buy it. It's different if you buy it yourself. Wait for the study god to give you another one."

"Isn't that bad? I lost the one he gave me, and now I want him to buy another one…"

"It's not bad at all, the study god is rich, he can afford it. Only one he gives you can replace the one you lost." Zheng Peipei took Gu Siyi's hand and dragged her away. "Resist! If you really can't resist, go tell the study god to buy you one soon."

"…" She couldn't bring herself to do that.

The girls spent the day shopping. They said it was for Lu Jiaye's birthday present, but they ended up buying a whole bunch of other things for themselves. After a full day of shopping and dinner out, they returned, still buzzing with excitement.

On the way back to school, Zheng Peipei sighed, "I have to find a rich husband in the future, so I can shop without any burden!"

Quick-witted Xiang Li said, "Then you should quickly snag Lu Jiaye. His dad, Lu Lin, is the richest man on the leaderboard."

Zhang Xinyi laughed, "Exactly, Lu Jiaye is a proper rich second generation, no one can be richer than his family."

Zheng Peipei froze for a moment, then quickly said, "No way, I don't want that idiot!"

Gu Siyi laughed, "Lu Jiaye is pretty good. I think he's nice. He doesn't get angry no matter how much you tease or hit him. Don't you guys play games together every day?"

Zheng Peipei: "I hit him because he's annoying! Have you ever seen me hit Su Han?"

Gu Siyi commented, "Su Han is a gentle person, like a spring breeze. Lu Jiaye is like the summer sun, pure, passionate, and energetic. They each have their own good qualities."

Zheng Peipei: "Su Han is still better. He's been tutoring me lately."

Gu Siyi nodded, "Oh, so you like Su Han more."

Zheng Peipei reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly bristling. "What do you mean 'like'? We're only in first year of high school, keep it simple! We're just pure classmates!"

"Hmm…" Xiang Li nodded. "First, we had the 'pure siblings' act with the study god and Siyi, and now we have Peipei and Su Han as 'pure classmates'."

Zhang Xinyi couldn't help but laugh.

Gu Siyi, who had been innocently dragged into the conversation, suddenly felt embarrassed and quickly said, "Innocent bystander, please don't drag me into this."

Not long after they returned to school, Gu Siyi received a call from Xia Zhijun.

"I'm downstairs, come down."

"Huh? Didn't you go home?"

"I came back early, come down quickly."

"Oh…"

Gu Siyi went downstairs and saw Xia Zhijun standing in the shade of a tree. She quickly walked towards him.

"Did you buy the shoes?" Xia Zhijun asked.

Gu Siyi nodded.

"What kind? Let me see."

Gu Siyi took out the photos she had taken and showed them to Xia Zhijun.

Xia Zhijun nodded. "Good, I'm satisfied."

"…" Dude, this isn't a gift for you, okay?

"Let's go for a walk in the Si Xue Yuan (Thinking Garden)." Xia Zhijun said. It was too inconvenient with people coming and going downstairs in the dormitory.

Gu Siyi hesitated for a moment. Xia Zhijun said, "Don't you want to accompany me?"

Seeing a hint of disappointment on his stunning face, Gu Siyi quickly agreed, "Let's go."

They strolled through the campus.

At the end of November, the weather was getting colder. A gust of wind blew past, carrying the chill of early winter.

When they reached a deserted area, Xia Zhijun took Gu Siyi's hand.

It was ice-cold, making him frown slightly. He murmured, "Wear more clothes."

Xia Zhijun led Gu Siyi to a quiet corner and said, "I went out today too and bought something."

Gu Siyi: "Did you also go buy him a present?"

"His gift doesn't require shopping."

Xia Zhijun took out a box from his bag and opened it.

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