Still an undergrad?
So he’s just a college boy!
Mao Ruirui’s social circle was painfully simple.
Counting even the regular customers at her shop, the only male college student she knew was Lin Yu.
So.
Wasn’t Lin Yu’s question just a roundabout way of talking about himself?
Did Lin Yu actually like her?!
"Ruirui, answer my question."
Lin Yu’s persistent questioning felt like a siren blaring in her ears, fraying her nerves.
"Sure…"
As if possessed, Mao Ruirui blurted out what was on her mind.
The moment the words left her lips—
Oh no, oh no!
Now there’s no way to explain this away!
Would Lin Yu think her proactive help was just a ploy to chase after him?
She really hadn’t thought it through—she never meant for him to misinterpret her actions.
The next moment.
Lin Yu gently lifted her by the shoulders, helping her sit upright.
The second she left his embrace, a pang of loss shot through Mao Ruirui’s heart.
She was still scrambling for a way to explain her earlier response.
Could she just say, "I was joking"?
But what if…
Even if there was just a sliver of hope…
What if Lin Yu really did like her?
Saying "just kidding" might shatter any chance of that.
To Mao Ruirui’s surprise.
Lin Yu gazed into her eyes with deep affection and murmured:
"Ruirui, do I… meet the criteria? Even just as one of them?"
Mao Ruirui’s ears burned crimson.
There wasn’t another guy in her life who could even hold a candle to Lin Yu.
Not "one of them."
He was the only one.
So now…
What did Lin Yu mean?
Was this some kind of confession?
Not exactly, right?
Don’t couples usually confirm things with, "Will you be my girlfriend/boyfriend?"
Even so.
Mao Ruirui couldn’t bring herself to lie.
With a slight nod, she whispered:
"You do."
Who would’ve thought?
Even the bubbly, lively girl couldn’t escape the flustering torment of love.
Seeing the moment was ripe, Lin Yu completely dropped his earlier questioning tone.
In a firm, almost commanding voice, he said:
"Ruirui, close your eyes."
Mao Ruirui: "!!!"
Now? Close her eyes?
What was Lin Yu planning?
Could it be…?
Before her brain could catch up, her body had already obeyed.
The next second.
Her vision plunged into darkness as she shut her eyes.
With sight gone, she became hyper-aware of her own breathing.
"In… out…"
"In… huff…"
Her frantic nerves made it feel like nose-breathing alone wasn’t cutting it.
Without thinking, Mao Ruirui parted her lips slightly, gasping for the oxygen her overwhelmed brain desperately needed.
That subtle parting.
Drove Lin Yu wild!
Though he’d tried to let emotion guide his actions.
Honestly.
The Beast Taming Order was just too overpowered!
If this weren’t a public track but some private space between them.
Lin Yu couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t fully indulge the little devil on his shoulder.
Who could resist a girl who’s smitten, utterly compliant, hanging on your every word?
Lin Yu had already shown more restraint than most.
Watching Mao Ruirui’s breathing grow quicker.
Lin Yu cupped her face tenderly and leaned in, sealing their lips together.
The moment they touched.
Lin Yu realized.
It wasn’t his actions that were tender as water.
It was Mao Ruirui’s entire being—soft, pliant, melting.
He had to adjust, one hand cradling her cheek, the other supporting her back.
Otherwise.
Sister Ruirui might’ve dissolved into a puddle right there on the bleachers.
Damn…
Another wave of regret hit Lin Yu.
If he’d known it’d be like this, why bother with morning jogging?
Couldn’t they have gotten their cardio in a bedroom?
Below the bleachers.
Two janitors pushing trash carts—one with a cigarette dangling—noticed the young couple lost in each other.
They couldn’t resist ribbing:
Janitor A: "Gotta hand it to the youth—frisky as hell this early!"
Janitor B: "Tch, tch, goin’ at it like suckin’ on a lollipop!" (Exhales a lazy puff.)
Janitor A: "Hah! Bet they’ll switch spots soon—lyin’ down’s comfier."
Janitor B: "Switch my ass! Yesterday I scooped up three used ones in there! Kids these days pinch pennies hard!"
Janitor A: "Says the guy who rocked disco back in the day."
Janitor B speeds up his cart: "Yeah, with your mom!"
Janitor A (despite bad knees, gives chase): "I’ll wreck you, you little—!"
On the bleachers, Lin Yu: "…"
Turns out the elderly aren’t so different—still fighting to be each other’s dad.
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! The Saint’s tender affection leaves his dao companion flustered and smitten!]
[Reward: 50 spirit stones.]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host! Your bond with the Beast Garden elder deepens, advancing to the 7th stage: "Threads of Love Entwined"!]
[Reward: 100 spirit stones.]
The kiss lingered, slow and deep.
Clueless, Mao Ruirui could only mimic what she’d seen on TV, moving her lips stiffly.
At first, she couldn’t sync with Lin Yu’s rhythm at all.
But halfway through, it dawned on her—no need to rush.
That’s when she lost herself completely.
So much so that.
When Lin Yu finally pulled away, Mao Ruirui was still dazed, craving more.
The second they separated.
She noticed Lin Yu’s flushed face, his eyes darting down, too shy to meet her gaze.
His reaction.
Oddly eased most of her own embarrassment.
But wait—he’d been the one to initiate…
Then it hit her.
College boys will be college boys—acting on impulse without thinking of the awkward aftermath.
So maybe…
Her behavior today had just been too irresistible for him to hold back… right?
The thought sent a secret thrill through her.
As for Lin Yu?
The blush?
Pure oxygen deprivation.
Try holding your breath that long—see if you don’t turn red!
To sell the post-kiss vibe.
He’d been deliberately breathless near the end.
If he’d acted too casual afterward.
She’d demand answers, wouldn’t she?
Why did you kiss me?
What does this mean?
Otherwise—
His carefully crafted persona would’ve crumbled!
Right now.
Shyness was the perfect cover. No further explanations needed.
Who’s he gotta answer to anyway?
If he had to justify every little thing, he’d never get anything done!
Just as planned.
The "flustered silence" worked.
Mao Ruirui was the one who broke it, offering her own closure…
…
(Second update today! Only 230 more "power by love" clicks till bonus chapters. Spend a moment watching an ad to support this humble author—tonight’s grind will be worth it!)
and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!
+【Epic Battles!】 "Your Highness, they say Linxi Temple is miraculous. Won’t you make a wish?" "A wish? It should be making wishes to me." "That may be so, but since you’re already here..." "..." "Fine. Then grant this princess a consort to play with." "He must be obedient, devoted, and utterly infatuated with my body—so much so that he’d kneel and kiss my feet." "Your Highness, that’s not a consort. That’s a dog." "Then add clever, witty, heroic, ambitious yet pragmatic..." "Hmm, that’s enough for now. I’ll add more later." After tossing out these words half in jest, Princess Anle departed the temple—only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the Bodhisattva statue smiling at her. Meanwhile, Yang An, fresh out of university, was having a very bad day. Good news: He’d transmigrated into another world with a cheat granting tenfold combat power. Bad news: He’d immediately fallen into the clutches of a certain villainess. Good news: Said villainess possessed peerless beauty and royal status. Bad news: She was absolutely monstrous!!! In the frozen wilderness, Yang An knelt beneath Qin Guo’er’s feet, drenched in sweat despite the cold. Desperately clutching her porcelain-perfect foot—the very one poised to crush his throat—he could only think: How do I survive this?! Need answers NOW!
【Prologue: The Beginning of It All – Use holy water to heal the saintess tainted by demonic energy, then converse with her.】 Shen Nian stared at his older sister sipping yogurt, lost in thought. So you’re telling me my sister is the saintess, and yogurt is the holy water? 【Main Quest 1: Brave Youth, Become an Adventurer! Reward: Rookie Adventurer Title.】 【Side Quest 1: Find the Adorable Kitty! Reward: 1000 Gold Coins.】 Shen Nian: "Wait, I’m a high school senior here—did some guy who got isekai’d accidentally bind his system to me?" Hold on, completing quests gives gold rewards? Titles even boost stats? Is this for real? (A lighthearted, absurd campus comedy—not a revenge power fantasy.)
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
