I'm a senior in high school, and the system says I'm going on a blind date with my childho

Chapter 294 On the Road of Youth, There Are Companions

As soon as the Class 15 students walked down from the teaching building and joined the tree-lined path leading to the playground, they immediately became the absolute focus of attention along the way.

Especially Li Zhi's figure.

She gently took Shen Yuan's arm, her meticulously crafted elegance and dazzling radiance blending seamlessly together.

The skirt, like a splashed galaxy, refracts tiny, dazzling lights with every sway.

The pure white shawl accentuated her graceful figure, and her elegant updo further highlighted her beautiful figure.

Their journey immediately ignited the entire "battle line".

The other senior high school students on both sides were walking towards the playground in twos and threes, and almost everyone's eyes were glued to Li Zhi the moment he appeared.

"Holy crap!" A gasp of disbelief erupted from one of the classes.

"Who is that?!" A low gasp of surprise spread like ripples.

"My God... that one from Class 15?! She's... so beautiful?!"

"Hiss—that's Li Zhi?! Holy crap?! Really?!"

"Li Zhi? Is that the girl who's second in the grade? She's so beautiful?"

"What an amazing face! I feel like she didn't even wear much makeup."

The rising and falling cries of praise, like invisible waves of sound, propelled the procession forward.

Countless burning, amazed gazes were fixed on Li Zhi, as if he had been frozen in place.

Li Zhi clearly felt the immense impact coming from all directions.

The blush on the girl's cheeks spread rapidly again, almost staining the delicate skin on her ears and the back of her neck.

The beautiful girl unconsciously tightened her grip on Shen Yuan's arm.

The calm shell that had been built up by Shen Yuan and the affirmation of a small group of classmates began to crack under the immense and unfamiliar gaze.

But her inherent pride prevented her from feeling intimidated. Instead, she straightened her back even more, raised her chin slightly, and looked straight ahead. However, her elegant gait was tinged with a subtle increase in speed and tension.

The entire playground resembled a lake in early summer dotted with shooting stars.

Senior high school students, dressed in various formal attire, continuously flowed into this vast green field.

The girls' delicate skirts swayed gently in the breeze, their hems brushing against the green grass like newly blossoming flowers.

The boys, on the other hand, were like tall saplings, their crisp suits or neat shirts highlighting their youthful and upright figures.

They shone with a slightly clumsy yet sincere vitality in the sunlight.

Those individual personalities and brilliance that are usually hidden by the uniformity of school uniforms are now blooming without reservation.

On each young face was tension, excitement, solemnity for this moment, and the vibrant spirit unique to youth.

They gathered in twos and threes, chatting and joking to ease the tension, or bending down to straighten their clothes that had been ruffled by the wind, and eventually all converged on the area in front of the stage.

The parents sitting around the viewing area had their eyes fixed on the individual figures standing out from the crowd.

We are used to seeing children dressed in loose school uniforms or casual clothes, but seeing them dressed up and shedding their youthful innocence is quite a surprise.

The impact and the complex emotions that followed were like a warm tide, instantly overwhelming the hearts of every parent.

Their eyes held undisguised amazement.

A mother stared wide-eyed, barely recognizing that the graceful young woman in the champagne-colored dress was her own daughter.

She instinctively gripped her husband's hand, and he returned the grip, his gaze fixed on their daughter, a proud yet somewhat dazed smile playing on his lips.

A father's gaze cut through the crowd, precisely catching sight of his son, who was trying to appear mature by wearing a bow tie. He noticed that beneath the son's neatly tailored suit, there was still an unconscious youthful spirit.

Suddenly, I felt like I was looking at my younger self.

In the eyes of many, there is an indescribable tenderness intertwined with appreciation and admiration.

Admire the radiance of the carefully chosen dress worn just for today on the child, and appreciate the expressions on the child's face—whether confident or shy, they all convey a deep sense of cherishing the moment.

Amazing is the magic of time; before we know it, the sapling has been nurtured into a tall and straight sapling, and the timid fledgling has been pushed into the blue sky on the eve of its flight.

When the parents saw their children find them and wave excitedly in their direction, genuine smiles bloomed on their faces.

At that moment, no matter what kind of fancy clothes the children were wearing, in their parents' eyes, they were the most dazzling light on the entire playground.

Look, that's my child!
The clamor and exclamations from the edge of the playground had not yet subsided when a clear and solemn voice, transmitted through the sound system set up throughout the field, pierced the summer air and reached everyone's ears:

"Dear parents, teachers, and students—"

All eyes turned to the source of the sound—the podium.

The director of the Political Education Department, dressed in a sharp dark suit and holding a microphone, had already stepped to the front of the stage.

His face wore a solemn yet blessing-filled smile as his gaze slowly swept over the youthful faces gathered below and the parents watching with eager eyes.

"In this hopeful and vibrant early summer season, we gather here to witness a momentous occasion! The coming-of-age ceremony for the graduating seniors of Jiyang High School—now begins!"

"Whoosh—"

The applause was like a sudden downpour, instantly sweeping across the entire playground!

Thunderous cheers and excited applause erupted from the student ranks.

All the nervousness and shyness transformed into a resounding symphony announcing growth at this moment.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Several firework tubes were activated, and colorful confetti, like awakened butterflies, suddenly shot into the azure sky, refracting into countless golden fragments under the bright sunlight. They fluttered down, scattering over the heads and shoulders of the newly transformed teenagers, and onto the green field, adding a sense of ceremony to this carpet that witnessed their transformation.

The bright red characters on the backdrop, "At eighteen, set sail and embark on a new journey!" shone even brighter amidst the cheers and scattering of confetti.

An invisible clock seemed to be turned silently, frozen at the starting point of a thousand sails racing.

"First item on the agenda: All stand at attention, raise the national flag, and sing the national anthem!"

A powerful and majestic prelude suddenly began.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
As if they had trained a thousand times, everyone on the playground, whether they were students in their finest clothes, excited parents and teachers, or school staff maintaining order, suddenly stood at attention in that instant.

The faces that were just adjusting their hair accessories and skirts instantly transformed into expressions of utmost seriousness.

Countless young eyes were fixed on the red flag that was rising slowly to the side of the rostrum.

The bright red flag, bathed in the early summer sunlight, rose proudly along the flagpole with immense power, illuminating every focused and youthful face.

The air seemed to freeze under the solemn melody of the national anthem, with only the soft rustling of the wind through the treetops and the resonant pounding of hearts in the chests for this moment.

As the solemn national anthem faded into the last note, the dignified and quiet atmosphere of the playground seemed to linger in the air, intertwining with the early summer morning sunlight.

But the youthful excitement in the air did not dissipate; it was merely temporarily contained under a solemn sense of ceremony.

The coming-of-age ceremony proceeded as scheduled.

The school leaders' heartfelt words were like a warm current flowing into my heart, and the teachers' earnest teachings were full of expectations and admonitions.

The parents' representatives' sharing painted a picture of endless possibilities for the future.

Every word spoken was reflected in the straight backs and focused eyes of the young people.

The parents nodded frequently, occasionally exchanging knowing and gratified glances with those around them. Xu Chan even unconsciously stroked her phone screen with her fingertips, ready to capture her daughter's image at any moment.

Comrade Lao Li still sat upright, but the sharpness in his eyes had unconsciously been mixed with more complex emotions. Only when he caught a glimpse of that tall figure in the distance would he unconsciously tighten his jawline a little.

"Next—" the ceremony host's clear voice rang out, providing clear guidance.

"Students, please proceed in class order, led by your homeroom teacher..."

He paused slightly, then raised his hand and pointed to the spot behind the playground that had already been set up and had become the focus of everyone's attention.

All eyes turned to them.

A bright red carpet stretched straight forward from the end of the ceremony area, like a life trajectory that had been ignited.

At the end of the carpet stood a magnificent, elaborately decorated archway.

The main body of the archway is entwined with deep green branches and leaves, symbolizing vigorous vitality and resilience.

At the top of the archway, a huge red flag flutters in the wind.

The most striking feature is the sign hanging high in the center of the lintel: the silhouette of a golden ship setting sail, shimmering brightly in the sunlight.

The sail shape of the ship cleverly echoes the resounding vow on the backdrop: "At eighteen, we set sail with ambition!"

The entire archway is both solemn and full of vitality, like an entrance to a painting of the future.

"—Walk through the Gate of Success one by one! Embark on this path of youth, symbolizing growth and responsibility!"

As the sound faded, rousing background music began to play, instantly igniting the atmosphere across the entire playground!
The classes, already lined up, were like torches ignited by the musical notes. One after another, under the calm yet encouraging gaze of their homeroom teacher, they stepped onto the bright red carpet that symbolized the future.

The teams from each class moved forward one by one.

Old Zhou stood at the front of the line. He turned around, his gaze as steady as ever, yet with a subtle hint of gentleness and solemnity.

He pushed up his glasses, his gaze sweeping across the young faces before him, each one meticulously dressed and radiating a different kind of brilliance than before.

"Cheer up, everyone!" Old Zhou's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly cut through the noisy background music and reached every student's ears.

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over Shen Yuan and Li Zhi standing side by side, before looking at the entire class, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"When you walk down the red carpet later, be careful with your steps."

His voice paused, as if he were choosing his words, and then his tone became more relaxed than usual, with a hint of guidance.

"...When the time comes, whoever wants to walk together can walk together side by side. It's good to have someone to accompany you on the road of youth."

Old Zhou's seemingly casual yet meaningful addition at the end was like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating subtle and pleasant ripples in the queue.

Especially for the two people standing together.

Shen Yuan's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He immediately turned his head and his gaze instantly caught the girl's reaction beside him.

Almost at the same time, Li Zhi also looked up as if he had a telepathic connection.

Their eyes met again.

Amidst the commotion, and after the homeroom teacher's seemingly blessing-like words of advice, the moment their eyes met, an unspoken sweetness spread out without reservation.

A pure smile spread across the eyes of the boy and girl, a smile filled with joy.

Without a word, the two of them saw the unwavering answer in each other's eyes as they locked gazes.

They'll walk together later.

Sunlight bathed the crimson carpet, and golden-red ships sailed against the waves beneath flags atop the archway.

Under Old Zhou's final, silent urging gaze, the boys and girls of Class 15 finally embarked on that radiant path of youth, symbolizing adulthood.

At the front of the line, Zhou Shaojie grabbed Yang Ze and Chen Mingyu by the shoulders, his grip so tight it almost crumpled Yang Ze's usually composed expression. "Aze! Ai Muyu!" Ajie's voice rang out loudly amidst the clamorous background music, his face brimming with barely suppressed excitement as he forcefully raised his chin toward the archway.

"Come on, let's go, guys!"

He deliberately made his steps resounding, the hem of his brand-new suit fluttering with each movement.

Yang Ze stumbled half a step as he was being held so tightly that he immediately cursed, "You better walk properly!"

Chen Mingyu straightened his back in cooperation, and the three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, their figures casting three tall, slanted shadows on the red carpet. Facing the gazes from the parents on both sides, they were the first to blend into the halo of light adorned with branches and red flags in the doorway.

Not long after, He Zhiyu took Zhuo Peipei's hand and walked through Chengcai Gate.

Today, the young author wore a snow-white short skirt, looking like a bouncy lark.

She deliberately stood on tiptoe and waved enthusiastically in the familiar direction of the parents' seats, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Pepe, look! My parents are over there!" She turned her head, her clear voice cutting through the cheers.

Zhuo Peipei was led by her to run a few steps, the hem of her lotus-colored long dress rippling gently.

The president swayed slightly as she was pulled, but she just smiled and quietly tidied the stray hairs that had been blown across her forehead by the wind with her other hand, letting He Zhiyu hold her arm tightly.

The two walked lightly on the red carpet, their white and purple figures intertwined, like two summer flowers blooming side by side, before disappearing behind the archway in a flash.

The photographers called in by the school captured the beautiful appearance of the boys and girls at this moment.

Suddenly, the crowd paused slightly.

In that brief moment, all eyes involuntarily converged on the last couple at the end of the red carpet.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stepped forward.

The girl's cool fingers slipped quietly into the boy's warm palm.

He immediately closed his fingers, gently enveloping that delicate touch.

The glow of the red carpet spilled over Li Zhi's floor-length black satin dress, and the white shawl draped over her left shoulder fluttered in the breeze, lightly brushing against Shen Yuan's crisp dark suit sleeves.

Black and white, softness and sharpness, outline a perfectly harmonious silhouette under the sunlight.

They didn't shout like Ah Jie, nor did they wave excitedly like Ru Zhiyu.

Shen Yuan turned his head to the side, his gaze lowered, landing on Li Zhi's neck, which appeared even longer and whiter because of her hair bun.

Li Zhi seemed to sense something and slightly turned her head to meet his gaze.

The moment their eyes met, a faint blush quietly spread across the girl's delicate cheeks.

There were no words spoken, only the steady, synchronized heartbeats emanating from the palm of their hands.

Under such intense scrutiny, the two walked side by side through the archway adorned with lush greenery and dreams.

The bright red door frame swept overhead, and Old Zhou's words of advice, "On the road of youth, there are companions," seemed to take root at that moment.

The noise was overwhelming, but their hands remained clasped together.

The wind swept past the red flag atop the archway, making it flutter and adding the most dazzling footnote to this journey that belongs to the young people.

In a corner of the viewing area, Xu Chan and Zhang Yuyan held their breath almost simultaneously.

Xu Chan's slender white knuckles firmly pressed against the edge of the phone, the screen clearly framing the moment when the perfect couple stepped hand in hand into the center of the halo.

Her eyes reflected her daughter's exquisite beauty, her focused gaze filled with tenderness and emotion that almost overflowed from the frame, blending into the warmth flowing through the scene.

Her fingertips hovered over the record button, just to preserve this eternal and moving moment.

Zhang Yuyan then held up the camera, whose parameters had already been adjusted, and leaned forward slightly.

The small camera was held firmly in her hands, and the angle was precisely adjusted as her son moved with his upright posture.

Click, click...

The rapid clicking of the shutter, like the ticking of a fine second hand, clearly captured the undisguised deep meaning in the corner of the son's lips as he glanced down at the girl beside him.

The corners of her mouth curled up in an irrepressible smile, a smile of a mother's satisfaction at witnessing her son protecting his treasured possessions.

Every time the shutter is pressed, there is a sense of emotion and pride in seeing the child grow up.

The two of them, one holding a phone to record and the other holding a camera to capture the moment, moved with practiced ease and tacit understanding. Their bodies even unconsciously leaned slightly towards each other, and their focused gazes seemed to intertwine silently in the air.

They exchanged a silent, knowing glance, their intertwined gazes softened by the scene before them.

It is the joy and satisfaction of witnessing fledglings leave the nest and fly side by side.

Behind the two mothers, Lao Li gazed at his daughter's radiant smile at the end of the red carpet.

The girl's eyes, which had once held the bright curve of a boy's eyes, were as clear and vibrant as a newly thawed spring stream.

Old Li's eyes flickered slightly, and his tense lips finally relaxed as he let out a barely audible sigh.

Before the sigh had even faded, a figure suddenly approached from the side.

"Old Li!" Old Shen's voice was low and warm, with a hint of ingratiation as he gently nudged his childhood friend's tense arm with his elbow.

"Our daughter looks so beautiful today! That rascal Shen Yuan is only standing next to her because he's lucky!"

Old Li glanced at him sideways and hummed a muffled syllable through his nose.

But when his gaze fell back on Li Zhi's hand, which was firmly held by Shen Yuan, the last sharp edge in his eyes finally melted away in his daughter's untroubled smile.

Seeing Lao Li's appearance, Lao Shen felt relieved.

He grinned, about to burst out laughing, pat his childhood friend on the shoulder, and praise Li Zhi a few more times.

The smile had just begun to appear on Old Shen's face, and before he could even utter a sound—

Old Li didn't even turn his head; his gaze remained fixed on his daughter's departing figure on the red carpet.

"Bring me your jar of cordyceps wine, jar and all."

"..."

Old Shen's buddy-buddy smile froze instantly on his face.

Old Shen tried to accuse him with his eyes, but Old Li had already decisively looked away, as if what he had just said was just a notification.

At the same time, Shen Yuan and Li Zhi did not let go of each other after passing through Cheng Cai Gate.

The unspoken sweetness between the boy and girl was still flowing in their eyes. Just as they were about to find a relatively quiet corner to linger, an excited shout pierced through the noise and rushed straight to them.

"Yuan!! Young Master Li! Over here, over here!!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see Zhou Shaojie waving his arms vigorously, bouncing around like he was on springs.

Standing on the lawn not far from Chengcai Gate, He Zhiyu, Zhuo Peipei, Yang Ze and Chen Mingyu had already gathered around him.

Clearly, A-Jie had been waiting for them there all along.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow helplessly, while Li Zhi was infected by A-Jie's unwavering energy, and the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

As soon as he got closer, A-Jie rushed forward, gesturing excitedly with his hands, his loud voice drawing the attention of several classmates nearby.

"Damn it! You two finally came out! What are you dawdling for?! Hurry up and get your phones out! Quickly film the transformation video!"

He shouted as he patted Shen Yuan's arm, then looked excitedly at Li Zhi.

"Director Li looks so beautiful today! The resulting photos will be absolutely stunning!"

Ah Jie looked at Shen Yuan eagerly, his eyes burning with desire.

"Now's the time! Let's cut together all those incredibly handsome moments, the effect will be absolutely explosive!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, almost gesturing wildly, completely oblivious to the stares of those around him.

Zhuo Peipei shook her head helplessly and chuckled, while He Zhiyu chimed in with a grin, "That's right, that's right, A-Jie's been nagging about it all morning! Let's hurry up and give in to him!"

Yang Ze crossed his arms, a slight smile appearing on his usually composed face, clearly agreeing with the suggestion.

Chen Mingyu nodded as well.

Looking at A-Jie's eager expression, and then at Li Zhi and the other friends beside him who were also smiling, Shen Yuan couldn't bear to refuse.

He took out his phone, skillfully operated it, and smiled, "Okay, okay, okay."

"Then let's film all the previous sequences."

In the videos filmed before, apart from the first version which was completely rejected, there were four other versions.

Shen Yuan placed his phone on the playground: "Come on, take pictures one by one!"

The summer sun generously shone on the green field, and the excitement of the red carpet had not yet completely faded.

The boys and girls repeatedly filmed four carefully designed different transition sequences.

After each "start" command, the boys and girls were filled with the energy to complete their work.

After a video is filmed.

Shen Yuan smiled and put his phone away, his fingertips expertly scrolling through the footage he had just shot on the screen, his eyes shining.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over his companions' smiling faces, illuminated by the sunlight.

"It's done!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed a light sheen of sweat from exercise and satisfied smiles.

"I'll edit the final video today. Just wait and see how cool we look on social media."

"Wow, Director Shen!" Zhou Shaojie was the first to jump up and cheer, excitedly patting Shen Yuan on the shoulder, as if he could already see the grand occasion of the video release.

Just then, He Zhiyu magically produced an exquisite white selfie stick.

"Since the video won't be edited until tonight!" She deftly and steadily clipped her phone in place, then extended the selfie stick.

"Come on! Let's strike while the iron is hot! How can we miss such a highlight moment? They're so handsome and beautiful, it would be a disservice to heaven and earth not to take a picture with them!"

The young author held up a selfie stick, his round face beaming with a vibrant smile.

"Come on, stand back in your original positions! Shen Yuanzhi, you two, stand in the center!"

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi, whom she had arranged, stood in the middle. Shen Yuan subconsciously turned slightly to the side, offering his arm to the girl next to him.

Li Zhi naturally moved closer to him, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Ready—three! two! one!"

"eggplant--"

The camera freezes on that moment.

Sunshine, grass, fine clothes, and the spirited smiles of young people leaning on each other—all these elements are captured in this early summer light and shadow image, held up by a selfie stick.

(End of this chapter)