Liu Zhiyue’s words were really cheesy.

So cheesy it sounded like a line out of a TV drama—clearly awkward, and yet…

Zhou Shiyan couldn’t help but like it.

Even though Zhou Shiyan was more mature than most kids her age, she was still young after all. A grown woman might be immune to words like that, but Zhou Shiyan wasn’t there yet.

She had no defense against that kind of promise.

The two of them looked at each other.

Memories slowly resurfaced in her mind, one by one—the time they spent together at his home coming back bit by bit.

“You really aren’t… a good person.”

Zhou Shiyan said softly.

Then she rose up on her toes. With their height difference, that was the only way. Her lips gently brushed against Liu Zhiyue’s cheek.

Just a light touch, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of water.

Then she threw herself into Liu Zhiyue’s arms.

Feeling her embrace, Liu Zhiyue was stunned for a moment, and when he came back to his senses, he wrapped his arms around her.

They just quietly held each other.

Time seemed to stop at that moment.

Nighttime. Moonlight.

The two of them in an embrace.

All of it was clearly seen by Liu Changqing, who had secretly followed them out of worry for his son.

He sat in his car, looking a little melancholic.

The window was rolled down, his left arm resting on the window edge, and his right hand on the steering wheel.

After his son had gone upstairs, Liu Changqing had driven to this spot.

It was a fairly visible place—if his son hadn’t been completely focused on Zhou Shiyan, he probably would’ve spotted the car right away.

His feelings were complicated.

Watching these teenagers act this way.

What could he say…

It was kind of nostalgic, honestly.

No kind of romance compares to the pure, unforgettable love of student days.

Especially with a girl as outstanding as Zhou Shiyan.

What a pity… she’s just a bit short.

If only she were taller…

Then at least his future grandson would start off at 180 cm.

Wait a second… why was he even thinking that far ahead?

He shook his head, tossing the unrealistic thought aside, and looked back at the scene in front of him.

Though he couldn’t hear what they were saying, from the moment Zhou Shiyan came downstairs, she had talked a lot to his son, then suddenly kissed him out of nowhere, and then they just stayed in that embrace.

He waited a long time.

So long he started to feel sleepy.

After thinking for a while, he took out his phone to check the time.

10:48 p.m.

It had been almost an hour since his son came out—subtracting the time spent on the road and upstairs…

“That little brat’s still not done hugging? It’s been like twenty minutes…”

He muttered under his breath.

Then he yawned.

Twisting the key, he started the engine.

As the headlights lit up, he pressed the horn at the same time.

“Beep beep beep!”

The sound of the horn and the lights forced the two of them apart.

Liu Zhiyue looked toward the source of the sound and immediately noticed their family’s minivan.

“My dad’s here?”

“Is that Uncle Liu?”

“Yeah… that’s our car.”

“Maybe he’s worried about you…”

Zhou Shiyan replied.

Then she turned to Liu Zhiyue and said,

“It’s getting late. You should head back.”

“Okay. You rest early too. I’ll come find you tomorrow—it’s Saturday.”

“Alright… got it.”

“Bye.”

After saying their goodbyes, Liu Zhiyue stood still for a moment, then turned and walked toward the family car.

He reached the car, opened the passenger door, and got in.

Liu Changqing watched his son get in the car and quietly said,

“You just gonna leave your e-bike behind?”

“…”

That sentence reminded Liu Zhiyue.

He suddenly realized—he’d ridden his e-bike here!

He quickly jumped out of the car and ran toward the spot where he had parked downstairs.

Zhou Shiyan, who had been watching him all along, saw him running in her direction and got flustered for a moment.

She quickly called out to stop him.

“Uncle Liu’s here, don’t hug me again!”

“No, I’m just getting my e-bike…”

“…”

“Anyway… we’ll talk tomorrow. I’m heading back.”

“…”

Feeling a bit awkward, Zhou Shiyan didn’t say anything.

She let Liu Zhiyue walk past her, and soon after, he came back pushing his e-bike.

“You should head upstairs.”

“…”

Still silent.

Seeing that, Liu Zhiyue didn’t say anything else. He got on the e-bike and left.

He came around to the back of the car, opened the trunk, and with his dad’s help, loaded the e-bike inside.

With a loud “thunk,” they slammed the trunk shut.

Liu Changqing instinctively dusted off his hands but kept his eyes on his son.

It was hard not to notice.

His son… was having a physical reaction.

Men are weird like that.

When they hug a girl they like, most can’t help but get that kind of reaction.

And maybe because his son was still young, it wasn’t fading too quickly.

Thankfully, he wore jeans today, not sweatpants…

Otherwise, with how soft sweatpants are, the embarrassment would’ve been unbearable.

He might’ve completely ruined the good image he had in Zhou Shiyan’s heart.

His dad’s intense stare made Liu Zhiyue very aware of the situation.

He silently tried to cover himself with his hand.

Then Liu Changqing turned and walked back to the driver’s seat.

As he walked, he said,

“Get in.”

Hearing his dad, Liu Zhiyue got in the car.

He shut the door and sat in the passenger seat.

By the time they had finished loading the e-bike, Zhou Shiyan had already gone back inside her home.

As Liu Zhiyue fastened his seatbelt, Liu Changqing glanced up at their apartment building.

Only when his son said he was ready did he snap out of it.

He turned the car around and left the area.

With both hands on the wheel, Liu Changqing drove.

After holding it in for a long time, he finally decided to offer some fatherly advice.

“Look, you two are still minors, okay? Don’t take things too far.”

“…”

“If you’re serious about being with her, then protect her. She’s still young—you can’t do those kinds of things… You need to be clear on that.”

“Dad…”

Liu Changqing had already given his son “the talk,” so Liu Zhiyue knew exactly what he meant.

Although…

He had thought about it.

But just in his head…

Seeing his son’s reaction, Liu Changqing fell silent.

Zhiyue was different from most teenagers.

He knew what could and couldn’t be done.

Still… you never know. What if he lost control in the heat of the moment?

Impulses are dangerous… really hard to rein in.

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Changqing said,

“If it comes to that, just do it yourself to cool off.”

“Dad! Please—I’m begging you, stop talking!”