Guaranteed Admission

"Thank you, I really needed this!"

Lin Yu accepted the precious gift and casually placed the shopping bag inside the door.

Seeing that Tang Manman had come all this way, Lin Yu felt he couldn’t let her leave empty-handed. Might as well grab...

a meal together!

Just to express his modest gratitude!

After slipping back into his room to throw on a jacket and tidy up a bit, Lin Yu took Tang Manman downstairs.

Since their destination was nearby, he decided against riding his motorcycle and instead walked with her.

Inside the restaurant, after ordering a few dishes, the two began chatting idly.

Remembering the recent second mock exam, Lin Yu casually asked,

"So, how’d you find the second mock?"

"Was it hard?"

At this point, Lin Yu suddenly grew wary, narrowing his eyes at Tang Manman and warning,

"Don’t you dare pull that act again—complaining about how hard it was, only to casually leap up a rank and snag first place in the whole school!"

Tang Manman couldn’t help but laugh at his words, then shook her head.

"Not this time."

"I already know my results."

Lin Yu perked up, urging,

"What’d you get?"

"Come on, spill!"

Tang Manman paused, then raised both delicate hands—one forming the number three, the other seven.

"Thirty-seventh?"

Lin Yu nearly gasped, but quickly sensed something off.

Tang Manman had ranked second in the entire school during the first mock exam!

Even if she’d slacked off lately, there was no way she’d drop this low.

Realizing this, Lin Yu studied her expression closely.

Happiness, pride, and a hint of barely contained triumph—nothing about her demeanor suggested a decline.

A more plausible idea struck him, and he ventured cautiously,

"City-wide thirty-seventh?"

Tang Manman shook her head, her smile not fading but deepening, her eyes crinkling with delight.

"Province-wide thirty-seventh?"

Lin Yu blurted out, this time unable to control his volume.

Tang Manman nodded cheerfully, lowering one hand while the other formed a six, then a one.

"Province rank: thirty-seventh."

"City rank: sixth."

"And school rank: first."

"Holy crap!"

Lin Yu exclaimed, then remembered Tang Manman’s dream university and asked,

"With these scores…"

"You’re basically a lock for A University, right?"

Tang Manman nodded.

"But my teacher suggested I consider other options."

"They said I could aim for even better schools with these results."

"If I insist on A University, I’ve already secured a spot through early admission."

"What about you?"

Tang Manman gazed at Lin Yu, her soft eyes glimmering with nervousness and unease.

"Which university are you planning for?"

"Secret!"

Lin Yu replied mysteriously.

No way was he spoiling the surprise—his plan to attend a college near wherever she ended up.

Admitting that now would sound way too much like simping!

"Never mind me," he deflected.

"What’s your plan?"

"Shoot for a top-tier school?"

"Or stick with A University?"

He needed to confirm her decision. The last thing he wanted was to enroll near A University only for her to change her mind.

Tang Manman’s eyes flickered with uncertainty. She shook her head lightly.

"I don’t know."

Lost in thought, she slowly looked up at Lin Yu and asked,

"Lin Yu, what do you think I should do?"

"Why ask me?"

Lin Yu frowned, speaking earnestly.

"This is a life-changing decision. You should discuss it with your mom and little sister."

"Of course," he added,

"what matters most is what you want."

Hearing this, Tang Manman silently studied him, her gaze carrying an inscrutable mix of melancholy and tenderness.

Minutes passed before she lowered her head, murmuring almost inaudibly,

"I want to go to the same university as you..."

"What?"

"You want what?"

The restaurant was packed and noisy during lunch hour. Lin Yu hadn’t caught her words.

Tang Manman lifted her head, shooting him a resentful look—equal parts pouty and aggrieved.

"Huh?"

Lin Yu pressed, baffled.

Tang Manman gave him a long stare, then sighed and muttered gloomily,

"Never mind."

"Alright then."

"Let’s eat."

Their food arrived quickly. As they ate, the conversation lightened, and by the end of the meal, Lin Yu offered to drive Tang Manman home.

Early May in H City, daytime temperatures had already soared past 20°C.

People’s outfits weren’t exactly skimpy, but they were far from heavy.

As a young guy with plenty of body heat, Lin Yu wore just a thin T-shirt and a basic jacket.

As for Tang Manman...

Lin Yu wasn’t sure what layers she had on, but it couldn’t be much.

Because during the entire ride, Lin Yu dedicated 10% of his focus to the road—and the remaining 990% to the inexplicably soft pressure against his back.

At that moment, he sent silent gratitude to the designer of his motorcycle.

Genius.

The seat was positioned farther from the handlebars, sloped slightly upward at the rear.

This meant anyone riding pillion had to lean forward, nearly hugging the driver.

Tang Manman, far from shy, acted downright bold.

She rested snugly against Lin Yu’s back, arms loosely circling his waist, her cheek pressed to his shoulder, eyes closed, lips curled in a secret smile.

Lin Yu? Pure bliss.

Breathing in her floral scent, he grinned so wide his cheeks ached.

Every bump in the road sent a jolt of warmth through him, his imagination running wild—so much so that he briefly fantasized about detouring to a very different kind of destination.

But a tiny voice of reason snuffed out the thought.

Are you insane?

We’ve got a month left till the college entrance exams!

You’d risk that now?

Just. Wait.

Cool-headed once more, Lin Yu dropped Tang Manman at her doorstep and sped home.

Given her scores, her notes were probably as valuable as a martial arts master’s secret manual.

Reviewing them might give his own grades the boost they needed.

Go for it!

For a future where we’re even closer!

The pure romance ahead—

I’m coming for you!