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

Chapter 295 The Bride, Groom, and Their Best Man and Maid of Honor
The hustle and bustle of the coming-of-age ceremony on the playground gradually subsided, and the daytime finery had been changed out, but the brilliance of youth and the memories of standing shoulder to shoulder with friends remained in their hearts, becoming clearer and clearer.

The bell rang to signal the end of evening self-study in the quiet campus, like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples of noise.

The lights in the teaching building went out one by one, and the students, carrying their schoolbags, rushed towards the school gate, feeling both tired and relaxed after a day of studying.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked side by side on the familiar tree-lined path.

Having shed the constraints of their coming-of-age ceremony attire, the two returned to their comfortable and familiar blue and white school uniforms.

Li Zhi's long black hair was tied into a neat ponytail after school, swaying gently behind her shoulders as she walked.

A gentle evening breeze caressed Shen Yuan's forehead, carrying with it the unique scent of fresh grass and a faint fragrance of peach blossoms.

This was a scent emanating from Li Zhi, a scent that brought him peace of mind.

The noise was gradually left behind.

The streetlights shone through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two people.

The shadows of the two walking side by side stretched long, intertwining on the road in front of the school gate, sometimes close, sometimes distant.

Shen Yuan turned his head slightly, looking at Li Zhi's quiet and gentle profile in the light and shadow.

The girl's eyes were calm, as if she was still lost in thought.

Shen Yuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the end of her ponytail, a gentle smile barely perceptible in his eyes.

Without words, the radiance of that coming-of-age ceremony seemed to be contained within their hearts, transforming into the silent warmth that flows as they walk side by side now.

Li Zhi seemed to notice his gaze, and the corners of her mouth curved upwards in a slight arc, like the first glimpse of a crescent moon.

She suddenly turned her head, her clear eyes, like water-soaked black jade under the dim streetlights, met his focused gaze.

"What are you looking at?" The girl's voice was exceptionally clear in the night, carrying a hint of knowing and mischievousness after her gaze was caught.

Shen Yuan did not look away, but instead met her gaze openly, a lazy smile curving his lips, and a deep, straightforward voice escaping from his throat.

"Look at you."

A gentle evening breeze ruffled the stray hairs by the girl's cheek.

Li Zhi gave a soft "humph," and a hint of smugness welled up in his eyes that he couldn't hide.

She tilted her head slightly, her delicate chin raised a little, and deliberately asked, "Oh? Then... is it pretty?"

"nice."

Shen Yuan should act decisively and efficiently.

He unconsciously twisted the backpack strap with his fingertips, as if trying to hold onto this good-looking bag even tighter.

The beautiful girl, having received an affirmative answer, smiled even more broadly.

Her eyes darted slyly over Shen Yuan's face before she posed the next question.

"So... am I prettier this morning, or am I prettier now?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The girl's bright eyes sparkled with anticipation and a mischievous glint of "let's see how you answer."

Shen Yuan paused for a moment.

He looked at her now, looking neat and tidy in her school uniform and with her ponytail, and then his memory of her figure in the morning light flashed by.

The streetlight cast a clear shadow beside his deep-set brow bone, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

This classic "death question" abruptly shattered the facade of composure he was trying to maintain.

Li Zhi waited for a moment, and seeing him so deep in thought that he was speechless, she finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The girl quickly covered her mouth with her slender fingertips, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her eyes curved into bright crescents.

The dappled light from the streetlamp fell on her eyelashes, dancing lightly with the ripples of her smile, like a fox that had successfully pulled off a prank.

Seeing her barely suppressed laughter, Shen Yuan's earlier embarrassment at being trapped by the "death question" instantly turned into a gentle smile.

He raised his hand and touched the girl's head in front of him.

Then, he lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on her smiling face.

"What kind of question is that...aren't you beautiful at every moment?"

"Wearing a formal dress and standing in the light, you are the dazzling sun; now, wearing a school uniform and standing beside me, you are the gentle moon."

"Of course, the important thing is that, whether it's that brilliant second or every second of this moment... you are the most precious treasure in my heart."

"I want to collect and watch every minute and every second of Li Zhi."

Hearing Shen Yuan's words, Li Zhi was slightly taken aback.

A burning sensation suddenly shot up her cheeks, and her earlobes turned almost transparently red.

She instinctively wanted to lower her head to hide this sudden flutter of emotion, but her clear eyes remained fixed on Shen Yuan.

"..."

The next second, the girl's slender fingertips tightened around the backpack strap, as if trying to grasp the handle she had caught.

She tilted her head back, suppressing the smile that was about to spill from her lips, and tried her best to put on a feigned look of disgust, transforming her shyness into a spoiled and arrogant facade.

"Shen Yuan!" Li Zhi's voice rose slightly, carrying a hint of reproach that she herself was unaware of.

She poked the boy's strong forearm with her fingertip.

"Aren't you...aren't you just being sarcastic?!"

The light from the streetlamp brushed past her fluttering eyelashes, the blush on her cheeks still lingering, and her clear eyes shone with the message "confess and you will be treated leniently."

She tiptoed closer, her expression a mixture of inquiring curiosity and a deliberately constructed air of authority.

"Where did you learn all this, hmm?"

The girl's question fell on the slightly intoxicating night breeze of early summer, like a feather, softening the night.

Shen Yuan met her probing gaze, his smile deepening, yet he showed no embarrassment at being pressed for answers.

He gazed at her calmly, as if trying to etch this proud young woman into the deepest part of his heart.

"Does this even need to be learned?"

The boy's voice, like a night breeze rustling through the leaves, reached Li Zhi's ears, making her heart race.

“Li Bao, when I look at you, these words... just came out of my heart on their own, didn’t they?”

"..."

Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat.

That feigned composure and exaggerated expression of disgust instantly crumbled.

"Oh dear...you!"

The girl subconsciously let out a short, coquettish complaint, like a plum soaked in honey, cloyingly sweet yet wrapped in a shy sourness.

Her shyness could no longer be hidden, turning into a shimmering crimson that spread across her delicate skin.

She abruptly lowered her head, unable to bear this overly direct attack of sweetness.

The streetlights outlined her lowered profile, her long eyelashes casting a shy shadow beneath her eyes, trembling slightly.

But those once clear eyes now shimmered like jewels soaked in water, overflowing with unspeakable joy.

That wicked dog... it's really... so clever!

"..."

Shen Yuan smiled as he looked at her skin, which was flushed with a shy blush, and he could no longer suppress the throbbing in his chest.

He raised his arm and naturally wrapped it around the girl's slender back, pulling her firmly into his arms with an irresistible yet gentle force.

Startled by his sudden movement, Li Zhi gasped softly and instinctively looked up: "What are you doing..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was silenced by the wicked glint in Shen Yuan's eyes.

His deep voice brushed against her ear like a feather.

"Teacher Li... how many points would you give my answer?"

He lightly touched her waist with his fingertip through the fabric of her school uniform, his gaze fixed on her eyes, a hint of a desire for a reward in his smile.

"You've made your little one so happy... Is there a reward? Hmm?"

The warm breath, carrying the refreshing scent of soapberry from the boy, brushed past his ears.

Li Zhi felt as if he had been electrocuted the spot where the fingertips had touched him.

what!

They took advantage of my praise and started trying to curry favor!

Li Zhi's cheeks burned even hotter, and her misty eyes glared at him suddenly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, blurting out her words in a mixture of shame and anger.

"No! No! Anyone want to reward you! You...you wish! Forget about it!"

His voice was utterly arrogant, however—

The girl's slender and soft body showed no sign of struggling or pulling away; instead, due to her emotional excitement, she nestled even deeper into his warm chest.

Her burning forehead even pressed lightly against the soft fabric of his chest as if in a huff, like a fledgling bird hiding its face but refusing to leave its warm nest.

Under the warm glow of the streetlights, a gentle evening breeze swept by, causing the tips of her tied ponytail to sway softly and brush against his strong arms.

The girl nestled in the boy's arms, though she uttered harsh words of rejection, her entire figure quietly blended into the embrace he had created, fitting together perfectly without a single gap.

Shen Yuan looked down at the little head in his arms, a low, pleasant chuckle escaping his throat.

The force of his embrace tightened silently.

The warm, real touch of her embrace was transmitted through the thin school uniform.

The sweet peach scent emanating from the girl lingered around his breath.

The playful and teasing atmosphere suddenly dissipated like the receding tide.

A purer emotion silently welled up from my heart, carrying the slightly tipsy warmth of an early summer night.

Shen Yuan gently tightened his arms around Li Zhi and tenderly rested his chin on the top of Li Zhi's head.

"...It's time to go home, Li Bao."

The little head in my arms moved slightly.

Li Zhi buried her burning cheeks in his warm chest, absorbing the comforting scent.

She didn't look up immediately, but instead, nestled in the warm embrace, she let out a soft "Mmm."

Shen Yuan raised his head and naturally took Li Zhi's hand.

The girl's fingers slid into his palm.

"Let's go."

……

Night gently enveloped the city.

Shen Yuan's room was lit by only one desk lamp, its soft light illuminating his focused profile.

The cursor in the editing software on the screen moved quickly, importing the footage shot on the playground during the day and cutting it precisely.

The carefully designed transition sequence, whether it was Li Zhi's closing version, the stunning opening version, or the two most anticipated combined versions, were all imbued with a magical rhythm and tension under his skillful operation.

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, and the dazzling array of costumes, the smiles of the young men and women are captured and brought to life in front of the camera.

The transition between school uniform and formal attire, skillfully handled by Shen Yuan, was as smooth as a natural flash, truly achieving the transformation effect they had envisioned—glamorous and dramatic.

Especially in the duo version, when Li Zhi and Shen Yuan walk side by side or hand in hand, taking steps in sync, their figures suddenly transform from school uniforms to formal wear in the center of the screen.

The moment the girl's high heels appeared in the video, they captured everyone's attention.

Then, the cold and elegant black dress clashed with the sharp and tall figure of the young man in formal attire beside her, creating an indescribable visual impact.

The music's rhythmic pauses and climaxes were perfectly timed, and the synchronicity created a truly explosive impact.

With a delicate touch, Shen Yuan leaned back slightly and stretched his stiff neck.

The light reflected from the screen shone in his eyes, dancing with the brilliance of his completed work.

He smiled with satisfaction and opened the familiar little group chat on his computer.

Without any unnecessary words, he dragged the four edited videos into the group chat and gently pressed the send button.

Buzz buzz—!
Almost simultaneously, cell phone screens lit up in various corners of Jiyang City, dispelling the tranquility of the night.

Zhou Shaojie: "What the hell?"

He probably only looked at it for a few seconds before sending a series of messages.

"Aaaaaah! This transformation!!! I'm so incredibly cool!!!"

"Holy crap, but I have to admit, those two walks together!! Side by side, hand in hand, it was blinding! The chemistry between you two was off the charts!"

Zhou Shaojie: "[Groundhog screaming.jpg]"

Soon, He Zhiyu also stepped forward.

He Zhiyu: "My God!!! Shen Yuan, are you a nuclear-powered donkey?! This editing speed is like riding a rocket, isn't it?!"

"Ahhhh!! Zhizhi is my goddess! Waaaaaah, she's absolutely amazing!"

"It's too sweet! Help!"

Zhuo Peipei: "It's so fast! Zhizhi looks so beautiful and elegant in every frame."

Yang Ze: "Great! By the way, Shen Yuan, you're really fast!"

Chen Mingyu: "Amazing! It was the right decision to suggest we go together! Your insistence on appearing on screen together was brilliant. Oh, and by the way, Shen Yuan, you're so fast!"

Zhou Shaojie: "By the way, Shen Yuan, you're really fast!"

Shen Yuan: "? Die, you bastard!"

The small group chat was instantly flooded with enthusiastic praise and endless emojis, and the phone notification sounds almost formed a joyful concerto.

Shen Yuan tapped lightly on the screen, engaging in a fierce online battle with A-Jie and the other two.

However, the message had only been sent out for a short time.

buzz-

A new message popped up directly in his private chat window.

Li Zhi: "Amazing, you cut it so fast!"

It was followed by a small thumbs-up emoji.

Shen Yuan could almost picture the girl poking at the screen with her finger on the other side.

His smile deepened.

Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed: "I was worried my Li Bao would get impatient, so tell me quickly how it went?"

The message "The other party is typing..." flashed several times before a new reply appeared.

Li Zhi: "Okay, okay! The photos are great! Alright?"

Immediately afterwards, another message followed, filled with the girl's secret joy:
"However, the one walking together looks a little better."

Shen Yuan looked at her message, and his smile finally spread across his face.

The light from the phone screen illuminated his smiling eyes.

The boy chuckled silently, answering in his heart, "It's not just a little bit."

With a tap of the fingertip on the screen, a line of text is quickly sent:

Shen Yuan: "Which one specifically? The grand finale? The opening version? Or do you like both of the duet versions?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, and the message "The other party is typing..." kept flashing.

Finally, a new message popped up:

Li Zhi: "The opening version with two people." Seeing the beautiful girl's reply, Shen Yuan chuckled, quickly replied "Received," and then switched the chat window to the small group.

Shen Yuan: Everyone, tell me, Li Bao chose the duo opening version @All Members
The group instantly became lively.

Zhou Shaojie: "I totally get it! The moment she stepped out in those high heels in that version, my heart skipped a beat! She was definitely the queen!"

He Zhiyu: "I second that, I also think this version is the best!"

Zhuo Peipei: "Yes, the opening version fully unleashed Zhizhi's aura. Moreover, the transitions between the two scenes were particularly natural; the opening was a bombshell!"

Yang Ze: "I second that."

Chen Mingyu: "Two-person opening version +1!"

Shen Yuan: "OK, then I'll send it."

Shen Yuan glanced at the screen full of comments agreeing to the idea, and his finger had already tapped to open Douyin.

He selected the video that Li Zhiqin had chosen and typed a line in the text box:

"On the road of youth, there are companions."

Tap the publish button with your fingertip.

A few seconds later, a "Published successfully" message popped up on the Douyin interface.

Shen Yuan took a screenshot of the post and sent it to Li Zhi privately, as well as to the small group chat.

Shen Yuan: "Teacher Li's top-rated video is now available. I'm waiting for the comments section to be overflowing with praise for you."

Li Zhi: "[Kitten nodding.jpg]"

Li Zhi: "That's for sure."

The boy smiled and opened the notification bar, and sure enough, dozens of red dots popped up in the message bar instantly.

The top comment below the video has been upvoted:
What should Shui Shui wear today? "Well, why does it feel like a bride, groom, best man, and maid of honor?"

……

The next morning, the classroom still held the lingering excitement of the coming-of-age ceremony.

Zhou Shaojie slammed the classroom door open with a bang, his face filled with grief and indignation.

With a clear goal in mind, he strode over to Shen Yuan's desk, slammed his hand on the table, making the pen he had just placed jump.

“Who in the family understands this!” A-Jie’s voice was so loud that the whole class turned to look.

"Did you see that comment, Sister Shui? What bride, groom, best man, and maid of honor? So, I, Zhou Shaojie, am so incredibly handsome, but I ended up being your best man, huh?!"

He exaggeratedly clutched his chest, pointed at Shen Yuan with one finger, and spoke with great anguish.

"Is this reasonable? I looked my best yesterday, outshining everyone else! And in your video, I'm just a background figure at your wedding rehearsal! And I'm even in the best man section!"

The students around him burst into laughter at A-Jie's exaggerated accusations.

Shen Yuan slowly lifted his eyelids, looking at A-Jie's frustrated expression: "Then go find Sister Shui."

Ah Jie rolled his eyes, speechless at Shen Yuan's half-finished sentence.

A moment later, the exaggerated expression on his face suddenly seemed to be paused, gradually fading away.

The laughter around them gradually subsided, and they looked curiously at A-Jie, who had suddenly fallen silent.

Ah Jie took a deep breath and, unusually, put away the frivolous look on his face.

He looked at Shen Yuan intently.

"Shen Yuan."

"Hmm?" Shen Yuan was also taken aback by his sudden seriousness and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Zhou Shaojie's gaze slowly swept between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi, finally settling on Shen Yuan's face, and he said, word by word:
"Seriously. If..."

He paused, as if carefully choosing his words, then said with unusual firmness:

"If that day ever comes... and you and Young Master Li get married, remember to call me your best man!"

"You have to call me! Otherwise, I'll get mad at you!"

After he finished speaking, the classroom fell completely silent for a moment.

Immediately, even louder laughter erupted like a tidal wave!
"oh--!!!"

"Hahaha, Ah Jie has become successful!"

"No problem, A-Jie, you're the perfect best man!"

Sunlight streamed through the window, warmly falling on the boys' spirited faces.

Shen Yuan looked at Zhou Shaojie, who was unusually serious, and a warm smile gradually spread across his eyes.

He didn't speak, but simply extended his fist and made a powerful impact with A-Jie's outstretched fist in mid-air.

"Alright, alright, I'll reserve the land for you, okay?"

This is one of the most solemn promises the teenagers have made about the future.

Perhaps it carries the playful exterior of youth, but the sincerity and cherishment at its core are absolutely real.

Just as Shen Yuan and Zhou Shaojie were getting along well, a cold gaze was fixed on them.

It is Li Zhi.

The girl had turned to the side at some point, her pretty cheeks still flushed, and her misty eyes were now slightly narrowed, her gaze sharp as icy blades, precisely slicing through Shen Yuan and Zhou Shaojie.

Her eyes clearly conveyed a warning: "You two better behave yourselves."

Almost simultaneously—

Just a second ago, Shen Yuan and Zhou Shaojie were exchanging fist bumps like brothers, but in perfect unison, they quickly shrank their necks.

Shen Yuan turned his face away nonchalantly, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the tip of his nose.

Zhou Shaojie quickly composed himself, coughed twice in a mock manner, and seemed to suddenly develop a strong interest in studying the ceiling.

The two moved in perfect unison, as if they had been trained.

Li Zhi gave a soft hum, the embarrassment and annoyance that had risen because of the topic of the best man at the wedding eventually turned into a sweet feeling that she herself did not even realize.

The girl withdrew her sharp gaze, sat up straight again, and flipped open the exercise book with her fingertips, making a crisp rustling sound, with a bit more force than usual.

The brief burst of laughter in the classroom gradually subsided.

……

The sunlight shifted subtly, casting more slanted shadows on the desks piled high with books and exam papers.

The brilliant melody of the coming-of-age ceremony had not yet completely dissipated in the corridor when it was replaced by a more solid and somber rhythm.

The bright red countdown numbers in the upper right corner of the blackboard had unknowingly shrunk from two digits to a breathtaking single digit.

The laughter in the corridor gradually subsided, and the excitement was replaced by another force.

The scratching sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper rose and fell, gradually forming a deep and powerful background sound wave.

The "wall of books" next to the desks seemed to have grown even thicker, and the air was filled with a sense of tension and anxiety.

Some people were writing furiously at their desks, some were flipping through their notebooks of wrong answers with curled edges and muttering to themselves, and some were staring blankly at the clear blue sky outside the window, taking long, deep breaths as if gathering strength.

The exuberant spirit at the coming-of-age ceremony has settled and refined into a more focused glint in the eyes.

It is wonderful to have companions on the road of youth, but at this moment, the single-plank bridge called "college entrance examination" before them requires them to concentrate and steadily measure forward step by step.

The noise subsided, leaving only the sound of pages turning, like countless butterfly wings poised to take flight.

The bright red number in the upper right corner of the blackboard has silently slid towards the alarming "5".

The fan slowly cut through the stagnant air overhead, causing the edges of the book pages to tremble slightly.

The sound of fabric rustling could be heard during a leisurely after-school time.

A girl pulled a neatly folded blue and white school uniform jacket from under the desk, while the white parts of the jacket were covered with colorful marker messages.

She approached Li Zhi with the clothes in her hand: "Li Zhi, can I leave my name?"

Li Zhi paused slightly at the tip of his pen.

The girl looked up at her classmates, then her gaze fell on the familiar names on the coats in front of her. She picked up a pen and wrote her name in a few strokes.

Light and shadow flowed silently between the desks.

Some people unfolded the blank lining of their school uniforms, while others shook out the colorful patterns written all over their shirts.

Seeing the scene before him, Pan Hao, the math class representative in the back row, carefully pulled out his school uniform, pointed to the blank space near his heart, and coughed lightly: "Li Zhi, can you sign here?"

Upon hearing the commotion, Shen Yuan's gaze swept over that hidden area.

Just as Li Zhi was hesitating, Shen Yuan reached out his hand first.

He naturally took the school uniform that Pan Hao handed him, his gaze falling on the spot the other was pointing to.

"Row."

Shen Yuan responded calmly, smoothly removed the pen cap, and without hesitation, neatly signed his name in the spot close to his heart that Pan Hao had indicated.

Pan Hao was visibly taken aback by Shen Yuan's lightning-fast, preemptive move: "Uh...?"

After Shen Yuan finished signing, he naturally handed the clothes to Li Zhi beside him, his expression serious, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"I've saved you a spot. Here you go, Teacher Li."

Looking at the neat and powerful name Shen Yuan had signed, and then at his serious expression that said "I'm just helping out," Li Zhi couldn't help but smile slightly.

She reached out and took the school uniform and pen. Next to the boy's signature, the girl picked up the pen and wrote her own name following Shen Yuan's strokes.

The two words together are like an invisible stamp on the edge of a heartbeat.

Pan Hao snapped out of his daze, looked at the two signatures next to each other on the inside of his shirt collar, and pursed his lips.

He carefully took back the signed school uniform in the end, gently pressing it against his chest, as if treasuring a precious item.

A girl with a ponytail hesitated for a moment, then walked straight to Shen Yuan, clutching the yearbook, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Shen Yuan, yes, I can."

Before he could finish speaking, a slender white hand reached out.

Li Zhili deftly pulled out the hard-covered commemorative booklet, her fingertips brushing against Shen Yuanwei's palm before he could react.

The girl raised her chin to meet the other person's astonished gaze, and her pen swiftly swept across the title page, the elegant characters "Li Zhi" landing right in the center.

She slapped the notebook back onto Shen Yuan's chest, her voice laced with arrogance: "Here, it's your turn, Shen Yuan."

Shen Yuan chuckled softly, his Adam's apple bobbing, as he wrote his name, Li Ming's name, with a flourish of his pen.

The two side-by-side signatures resembled a seal of unity stamped on a piece of paper, the ink blending quietly in the halo of light.

Like shadows side by side on the red carpet of a coming-of-age ceremony, like footsteps taken in sync in a corridor shot.

Sunlight streamed through the classroom windows, casting geometric patterns of light between the desks.

Time seemed to be accelerated amidst the fluttering pages and the scratching of the pen tip.

The countdown numbers burned from a bright red "5" all the way down to a breathtaking "3".

The intense afternoon sun in June seemed to freeze the dust in the air, and the entire Class 15 was immersed in a heavy tranquility.

Studying is the only background music; everyone is like a wound-up machine, squeezing out the last bit of brainpower.

squeak-

The sound of the door being gently pushed open was particularly clear in the excessively quiet afternoon.

You don't have to think twice to know who it is.

Almost no one looked up; all attention was fixed on the test papers and error notebooks, as if in a silent struggle.

The homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhou, appeared at the door.

Instead of immediately going around or speaking as usual, he stood quietly by the door for a moment.

The sunlight stretched his shadow long, casting it onto the aisle piled high with documents.

His usually serious face was unusually devoid of any urging or scrutinizing expression today; his gaze behind his glasses swept deeply over each face buried in their studies.

There was an indescribable complex emotion in that gaze: relief, expectation, and perhaps a hint of melancholy at the impending farewell.

He didn't make a sound to disturb this battlefield where people were striving for their dreams; he simply walked slowly to the front of the podium with his hands behind his back.

The students seemed to finally notice the unusual silence. Several students in the front row quietly raised their heads and looked at the silent teacher, Mr. Zhou, on the podium with a hint of inquiry.

Subsequently, more and more people stopped writing, and the remaining background noise in the classroom gradually faded away, eventually falling into silence.

Dozens of gazes, filled with doubt and a hint of barely perceptible tension, finally focused on Old Zhou.

Old Zhou took a deep breath, the sound of which could be clearly heard in the quiet classroom.

He didn't explain much, but took out a stack of neat, brightly colored white papers.

"Snapped."

The stack of papers was gently placed on the podium, making a crisp sound.

"The admission ticket has arrived."

Old Zhou's voice was not loud, and it was as calm as stating a given fact, but it was like throwing a stone into water, instantly shattering the last bit of solidified silence in the classroom.

His gaze swept across the room once more, taking in every pair of eyes that had suddenly lit up, yet were filled with complex emotions.

That usually stern face twitched slightly at the corners of his mouth, as if trying to convey a message of reassurance.

He reached out and gently tapped the stack of exam admission tickets on the podium, his voice even softer, as if trying to soothe the tension in the air.

"Everyone, please be patient and sit tight."

Old Zhou looked around and saw that the tense faces were gradually relaxing before continuing.

"Now, I'm handing out the admission tickets. After you get them, take a close look at the information on them. Name, photo, ID number, test center, exam room number, seat number... make sure you see every single word clearly."

He paused, his eyes gleaming, making sure everyone had grasped the main point.

"Find any error in the information, or any incorrect photo, even the smallest suspicious detail—"

Old Zhou's voice turned serious: "Raise your hand and tell me right now!"

He emphasized the urgency, then softened his tone slightly.

"After you've checked it and there are no problems, keep it safe before the lunch break ends. Remember, the rest of the lunch break is for you to confirm it."

He glanced at the whole class and gave his final instructions: "Then, when it's time, I have to collect them and keep them safe. Okay, now I'll start distributing them."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lao Zhou picked up the first admission ticket and began to calmly read out the names in the order of the student list.

"Shen Yuan."

Shen Yuan stood up in response and walked steadily to the podium.

Just as Shen Yuan was about to walk to the podium, Lao Zhou's movements underwent a subtle change.

Instead of handing over the admission ticket directly, under the silent gaze of dozens of eyes in the class, Old Zhou reached his hand to the very bottom of the stack of admission tickets.

When Lao Zhou raised his hand again, two square white admission tickets were stacked together.

Shen Yuan's photo was placed at the bottom, while the one at the top was naturally Li Zhi's.

"Take Li Zhi's too."

Shen Yuan's lips twitched. "So, you're not acting anymore, are you?!"

A strange silence instantly fell over the classroom.

Old Zhou remained expressionless, as if he had simply done something completely ordinary.

He steadily handed the two stacked admission tickets forward to Shen Yuan, who had just walked to the podium.

The entire movement was natural and fluid, without the slightest deliberate pause.

Shen Yuan looked at the two stacked admission tickets handed to him, especially the one on top with an extremely familiar name, and then naturally reached out and took it.

(End of this chapter)