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!)

ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!

with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!

agon king storylines. At the start, I obtained the "Ultimate Lackey System" - the more I act as a lackey, the stronger I become. What else could I do? I chose to become the personal henchman of the ultimate villain, Su Muwan. I provoke all sorts of chosen ones, snatch away their opportunities, and commit every evil deed imaginable. You ask who's behind me? Hmph! You're not worthy of knowing my lady's name! ...... ....... I am Su Muwan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. Since childhood, I've possessed extraordinary talent in martial arts, which led to my arrogant and domineering personality in my past life. I was even foolish enough to repeatedly challenge those favored by heaven, ultimately resulting in a tragic death. In this life, I must behave and absolutely cannot walk the same path again!! However... SLAP!! "So you're the Dragon King, huh?!" When I saw my little lackey swagger over and viciously slap the Dragon King who was hiding his identity, I felt my heart sink. Su Muwan's suspended heart finally died as she watched Qin Luo, her utterly loyal lackey, standing before her. She fainted on the spot from shock. Heaven is determined to destroy me!! (Pure love 1v1, light-hearted, no angst, single female lead, villain, reincarnation, lackey)

ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!