Chapter 39: Sealing the Deal

Chapter 39: Sealing the Deal

"Shi Yu, let go..."

At this moment, there were quite a few boys playing basketball inside the gymnasium.

Shi Yu pulled her along and walked directly into the locker room through the back passage of the gymnasium.

Hearing the sounds of sneakers screeching on the floor and shouts from the intense movements of the boys outside, Lin Yao's voice trembled with panic.

It would be troublesome if someone saw them.

"Let go quickly..." she whimpered, trying to pull away from his grip.

In the next second, the sound of the locker room door slamming shut and locking from the inside echoed.

"Click."

It was as if an invisible lock had fallen onto Lin Yao's heart.

Her heart tightened instantly as she looked up at Shi Yu.

She realized that the lights in the locker room were off, and it was dim inside. Only a bit of daylight filtered through the high windows, casting dappled shadows of trees, illuminating the space between her and Shi Yu.

Shi Yu turned around after locking the door, his lower face's sharp contours hidden in the shadows.

Only his pupils, dark and heavy, seemed to contain some uncontrollable emotions, shining brightly.

"Shi Yu, what... what are you doing..." Lin Yao asked while backing away, her head feeling hot, her cheeks flushed.

She could even hear her heart pounding in her chest clearly.

An instinct told her she couldn't stay here.

She needed to leave immediately.

Otherwise, something she couldn't control might happen.

With a "clang,"

Lin Yao's heel suddenly hit the metal surface of the row of lockers behind her.

The metallic collision echoed from one end of the lockers to the other.

Lin Yao was startled and hastily glanced back, realizing what she had bumped into. Before she could calm down, she felt the person in front of her moving closer.

"Mmm..."

Her vision went black as she was suddenly pressed into his chest.

Muffled by the impact, their combined weight slammed against the row of lockers behind her.

"Clang clang clang..."

The metal lockers made an even louder noise than before.

Yet, the boy's slender, beautiful fingers cushioned her head, while another arm wrapped around her shoulder.

He forcibly held Lin Yao between him and the narrow gap of the lockers.

In that instant, Lin Yao was enveloped in Shi Yu's school jacket, breathing in the cold, woody scent from his body.

Her heart raced, plummeting.

The sensation of weightlessness and unfamiliarity left her more disoriented than ever.

The girl's eyes instantly welled up, her nose tingling, and her small, pale hands helplessly clutched Shi Yu's open school jacket.

She lifted her face from the white T-shirt he was wearing, about to question him indignantly.

"Why are you doing thi..."

Before she could finish the word "this," Lin Yao's voice stopped.

Her face, tilted upwards, showed surprise, her moist lips trembling, the hurt in her reddened eyes not yet fading.

Because Shi Yu suddenly leaned down and hugged her.

Unlike the previous hug where he held her head and shoulders to prevent her from hitting the lockers,

This time, he simply opened his arms and loosely embraced her.

As if holding something precious.

Afraid to touch but treasuring it immensely.

His chin rested on her shoulder, all his weight pressing down on her.

He closed his eyes, looking at her.

The light in his deep pupils seemed to dim.

His jet-black lashes fluttered.

"Youyou, don't do that to me again."

Lin Yao: "..."

Feeling guilty, she instinctively tried to make amends.

"I... What did I do to you..."

"If you're talking about carrots, then I... then I'll apologize to you..."

Shi Yu remained silent, only looking at her more intently.

Meeting his deep, dark eyes that seemed to speak volumes.

The girl's unfinished words faltered.

She knew he wasn't asking in that sense.

Lin Yao lowered her gaze, not daring to look at Shi Yu anymore, biting her lip tightly.

Some things couldn't be spoken aloud.

Once they were, she wouldn't be able to pretend anymore.

But Shi Yu didn't seem to want to let her off easily. He forcibly turned her chin, making it impossible for her to avoid meeting his eyes.

"Or tell me why you asked Zhou Yuwei that question."

Lin Yao's heart trembled as she looked at him in disbelief.

Did Shi Yu overhear her conversation with Zhou Yuwei that day?

So, he knew she had asked Zhou Yuwei how to make him dislike her!

"I..." Lin Yao's throat felt dry as she bit her lip and pretended to be calm, looking at Shi Yu, "I don't know what you're talking about. I've been asking Zhou Yuwei many questions lately."

Still refusing to admit it.

Why should she admit it?

If she admitted it, he would definitely press the issue. And pressing it might lead to questions about feelings and emotions.

What Lin Yao feared most was discussing feelings with Shi Yu.

She would rather pretend to be an ostrich than disrupt the original storyline and bind herself to him.

"It doesn't matter if you don't remember. I'll remind you." Shi Yu's eyes darkened as he pulled her wrist, "Yoyo, you asked Zhou Yuwei how to make me hate you. So... you already know that the person I like is..."

"Don't say it, don't say it!"

She rushed over anxiously, covering Shi Yu's lips with her hands.

Her palms could feel his cool breath against them.

She didn't want him to say it.

Didn't want to hear it.

Lin Yao was using the clumsiest way to avoid the truth.

As long as she pretended not to know and he didn't say it face-to-face, she could convince herself that the plot hadn't been altered, and the emotional lines of this world were still intact and correct.

Shi Yu didn't like her, and she didn't like Shi Yu. The person Shi Yu liked was Zhou Yanan, and they would become the official couple in the future.

She didn't like Shi Yu... Yes... She didn't like Shi Yu...

In the empty changing room, at that moment, the girl's palm was pressed firmly against the boy's lips.

Her beautiful deer-like eyes were misty with tears, conveying a deep plea and fear.

Don't say it...

Shi Yu.

Please don't say it...

Let me pretend I know nothing...

Finally, Shi Yu's hand clasped her delicate fingers, removing her hands from his lips.

Lin Yao's strength was no match for his, and seeing that she couldn't cover his lips, she panicked, "Shi Yu, you can't say it, I don't want to..."

"Hiss..." The girl suddenly drew a sharp breath, staring in disbelief at Shi Yu who was now burying his head in her shoulder.

He... actually bit her collarbone.

A tingling sensation spread up her neck, and she stifled a moan, her gaze unconsciously landing on Shi Yu's chiseled profile.

Lin Yao gently pushed him away, whining, "Shi Yu..."

He finally released her.

Looking up, his eyes were darker than usual, gazing at her without blinking.

Lin Yao looked down, her fingers touching the clear tooth marks on her collarbone, pouting, "You... what are you doing..."

Even if she didn't let him say those four words.

He didn't need to bite her in retaliation!

Was he a dog?

Shi Yu said nothing.

His gaze shifted from her flushed face to the vivid red tooth mark on her neck.

Two seconds later, he raised his hand and ran his fingertips over the beautiful mark on her collarbone.

Dark currents stirred in his eyes.

"This is... a carrot-flavored stamp."

"From now on, you won't forget."

He said.

Lin Yao's face turned bright red.

What carrot-flavored stamp? She... she didn't want to understand what he was talking about.

Shi Yu's words seemed to imply that since she wouldn't let him confess his feelings directly, he would mark her first to secure a place in her heart.

No, don't overthink it, Lin Yao.

Shi Yu couldn't possibly mean that; you mustn't jump to conclusions.

Just as Lin Yao was about to warn Shi Yu not to talk nonsense, there was a sudden pounding on the door outside.

"Bang bang bang— who's inside! Open the door quickly!"

"It's so hot, open the door fast, I need to take a shower."

"Hey, someone locked the door from the inside, go get the key from the manager."

"Hurry up, hurry up..."

"Oh no, there are people outside!" Lin Yao looked up, nervously at Shi Yu.

If other students found out she was alone with Shi Yu in the locker room, with the door locked, she would be in trouble.

Then, rumors would spread throughout the school.

Most importantly, there was no romantic subplot between her and Shi Yu in the original story. If their high school years were filled with rumors about them, it could affect the plotline involving Shi Yu.

Instinctively, Lin Yao reached out to grab Shi Yu's hand, her delicate fingers intertwining with his long ones, almost on the verge of tears.

"Shi Yu, Shi Yu, think of something quickly."

"Don't let them find me..." She clutched his palm, looking around for an escape route.

But there wasn't one.

The only way out of the locker room, besides the main door, was a narrow ventilation window high up.

Shi Yu should have ignored her.

He probably wanted everyone to know about their secret relationship.

Even if this 'secret' needed quotation marks, it was better than nothing.

However, he couldn't bear to see her scared and teary-eyed.

"Come cheer for me in next week's basketball game against No. 5 Middle School."

His voice was low, gently coaxing her.

"W-what?" Lin Yao looked up, almost in tears, and he was talking about a basketball game.

"Two games, cheer for me in both." Shi Yu stared into her flushed, deer-like eyes, his voice slightly teasing, "Promise, and I'll take you out."

"No one will find out."

Lin Yao: "..."

"Okay." Her weak voice forced a nod, biting her lip.

Shi Yu smiled slightly.

"Don't lie to me, Lin Youyou."

He leaned down to ruffle her hair, his voice close, his breath tickling her ear.

Then, Shi Yu took off his school uniform jacket.

In the girl's surprised gaze, the large black jacket covered her head.

...

Outside the door, several boys who had just finished playing basketball had gotten the key from the manager.

"The key is here... open the door quickly..."

Just as they were about to insert the key, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

Shi Yu's expression was cold, and he was holding the hand of a small, delicate girl. The girl's head was covered by his school uniform jacket as they appeared behind the door.

The boys outside were stunned: "Yu... Brother Yu..."

"Oh, it was Brother Yu inside just now..."

Their gazes all drifted toward the girl standing beside Shi Yu.

It seemed that the girl looked gentle and soft, with a slender and petite figure. She seemed to sense their gaze, and her legs were trembling.

Shi Yu gently took the girl's hand, stepped forward, and blocked the prying eyes of others.

His cold gaze swept over them, "What, is there something?"

"No, nothing... Sorry, Brother Yu, we didn't mean to disturb you."

"Oh, it's our fault, our fault."

The group all willingly made way in front of the locker room.

Shi Yu retracted his indifferent gaze, carefully holding the girl's hand beside him, as if protecting a precious treasure, and led her out of the basketball gym.

*

Before the first class in the afternoon, the entire forum went crazy.

According to a student who was playing basketball during lunch break, the girl rumored to be close to Brother Yu, who had previously been seen wearing a hooded school uniform, was suspected to have appeared again.

"Hey, check the forum! Last time, Brother Yu clarified that he wasn't familiar with the girl, but now he's been spotted with her again."

"What do you mean not familiar? They're definitely close! When have you ever seen Brother Yu lend his school uniform to anyone? This girl has worn it twice."

"Observe, this time they've even captured the finer details! The girl is adorned in a pair of pristine white sneakers. Regrettably, the perspective of the surreptitious photograph is suboptimal, making the brand辨认不清."

"Let's find out if any girl in our class wears those shoes."

Lin Yao had just arrived at the classroom in the afternoon when she was blocked at the door by a crowd.

Xiao Kai held his phone in one hand and studied the shoes on her feet with the other.

"Class Rep, you're also wearing white sneakers today. Could it be you who was with Brother Yu in the locker room at noon?"

Lin Yao was taken aback, "Wh-what..."