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

Chapter 302 Happy Graduation
On the podium, the invigilator stood solemnly, surveying the entire room.

"Attention all candidates, there are only five minutes left in the exam." The deep voice carried through the frozen air.

The examination room was unusually quiet.

The last page of the answer sheet was carefully smoothed out, its edges fitting snugly against the table.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on the signature and examination number at the beginning of the paper, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.

English was always the easiest language for Shen Yuan.

Whether it's a regular exam or the college entrance exam right now.

Unlike the others who felt a sense of relief, almost exhaustion, after a long run, he did not experience that same feeling.

Shen Yuan felt okay, even relaxed.

It felt like I had submitted a satisfactory answer sheet.

This answer sheet is not only for myself, but also for Li Zhi.

"Ring ring ring—!!!!"

The final bell, shattering the silence, rang out suddenly like a sharp blade tearing through a heavy curtain!

"Exam over! All candidates, please stop writing immediately!"

Shen Yuan gently placed his pen on the answer sheet, listening to the final bell echoing in the examination hall.

As the proctor began collecting the papers, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Three years of hard work have finally come to an end.

As he walked out of the examination room with the crowd, a thunderous cheer suddenly erupted in the corridor!

"Liberation has begun!"

Happy graduation!!

The screams, laughter, and shouts that rose and fell, along with the sounds of joyful shouts being thrown into the air, instantly transformed the somber examination room into a wave of youthful energy.

Shen Yuan paused, standing at the top of the stairs amidst the noise.

Looking up, figures in blue and white school uniforms were flowing downstream like a stream.

Suddenly, that slender figure appeared in his eyes.

Li Zhi quickly descended the stairs, holding onto the railing. Her ponytail swayed gently with her movements, and the setting sun outside the window gilded her fair cheeks.

She suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Through the throng of people, the girl's gaze pierced his eyes like an arrow through the tide.

The next second, she suddenly pushed through the crowd and rushed down the last few steps!
Amidst the boiling cheers, Shen Yuan opened his arms to catch the girl who was rushing towards him.

The moment the warm body crashed into my arms, all the noise became a blurry background sound.

"Shen Yuan."

Li Zhi buried her burning face in his shoulder, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her voice muffled by the fabric but making his heart burn:

"—We've graduated!"

Shen Yuan pulled his arms closer, resting his chin against the top of her soft hair, as if he wanted to infuse the burning joy in his arms into his very bones.

The boy's chest vibrated slightly, and his deep, mellow voice, brimming with almost overflowing laughter, clearly struck Li Zhi's eardrums:

"Happy graduation, Li Bao."

This blessing was like knocking on the last floodgate.

Li Zhi suddenly raised her head, and a burst of dazzling stars exploded in her watery eyes.

The golden rays of the setting sun spilled onto her rosy cheeks, and a smile appeared on her face in that instant.

The girl was as radiant as a dazzling firework that pierced the entire examination hall; she was clean, pure, and radiant with unparalleled youthful brilliance.

The noise of the crowd, like the receding tide, gradually thinned out in the corridor leading to the classroom.

Shen Yuan took Li Zhi's hand and pushed open the all-too-familiar classroom door.

Inside the door, it was a completely different world.

The ecstasy of finishing the college entrance examination was completely ignited at this moment.

"Holy crap! I graduated!!!"

Ah-Jie stood on the desk, raised his arms, and shouted, his face flushed.

"It's over!"

"Liberation is here!!!"

The entire Class 15 of Senior Three erupted in cheers the moment the door was pushed open!
Happy graduation!!!

"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!!"

Amidst indescribable waves of laughter and commotion, like bursting balloons, they crashed into every inch of the classroom, making the windowpanes vibrate and rattle.

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei hugged each other tightly, jumping and screaming excitedly.

Yang Ze took off his glasses, clenched them in his hand, and waved them vigorously.

Chen Mingyu slammed his fist on the table, his voice hoarse as he roared, "Damn it! It's all over!"

Zhou Shaojie's voice was the most penetrating, almost lifting the ceiling as he stood on the desk: "Brothers of Class 15! Happy graduation—!!!"

All restraint and self-control were utterly shattered at this moment, leaving only pure, overwhelming ecstasy and liberation.

Arms raised high, countless roars converged, condensing into the strongest sound called "The End of High School Life".

That sonic boom, which nearly lifted the roof off, was filled with the most unbridled power of youth and the most fervent youthful spirit.

The classroom door was silently pushed open a crack.

The noise and heatwave seemed to have met an invisible dam, and the clamor suddenly stopped for a moment.

At the entrance, that familiar tall figure stood quietly.

Old Zhou crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame, his gaze behind his glasses calmly sweeping across the entire classroom, over every young figure.

Old Zhou smiled and exchanged a glance with the students in the classroom.

"Happy Graduation."

The moment the four words "slow and steady" landed—

"Old Zhou!!!"

Zhou Shaojie was the first to jump off the desk and roar, swinging his arm to create an even louder sound.

Yang Ze's glasses hung in mid-air, Zhuo Peipei dragged He Zhiyu and shoved her chair aside, and everyone's arms formed a sea: "Happy graduation—!!!"

As the cheers echoed across the roof, Old Zhou suddenly raised his palm and pressed down.

"Quiet down!" The voice, like a rock crushing the clamor, instantly plunged the classroom into silence.

He tapped the podium with his fingertips, chalk dust floating frantically in the beam of light: "What's all the fuss about? We haven't even finished processing your graduation paperwork yet! It's too early for you to run wild!"

Dozens of bright, burning eyes focused in astonishment.

Old Zhou's gaze slowly swept over the faces that were still brimming with excitement, finally landing on the pile of books at the back of the classroom and the broom and dustpan in the corner.

He adjusted his glasses, and his voice returned to its usual calm and capable tone.

"The college entrance exam is over, but your identity as high school students is not completely over yet."

"Later, everyone pack up all your things and take them home!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "all," his sharp gaze sweeping over the entire class.

Although his tone was stern, there was a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips, as if he were teasing these students who wanted to completely 'get rid of' their burdens.

Seeing the students nod in agreement and the noise completely subside as they prepared to take action, Old Zhou paused, softened his tone slightly, and added.

"Also, you should rest these few days, but don't let the sheep roam too freely."

"Keep your admission tickets safe. You might need them to check your college entrance exam scores, fill out your college application, and register for university later! Don't just throw them away and then be in a bind if you can't find them later."

“Finally,” he cleared his throat, raising his voice slightly to make sure everyone could hear him:

"After the college entrance examination results are released, you will need to return to school to complete the graduation-related procedures. I will notify your parents of the specific time."

After he finished speaking, he didn't linger. His gaze swept around the classroom one last time, as if trying to imprint the image in his mind.

Old Zhou looked around at the group of children, and the lines on his face seemed to soften for a moment.

His lips moved slightly, uttering those two words that he had repeated a thousand times throughout his high school years, but which were destined to have a different meaning at this moment:
"School is over."

That "school's out" is like an invisible switch.

The classroom suddenly fell into a strange, brief, vacuum-like silence.

It was as if, the moment the words "school is over" were thrown into the air, everyone truly realized what those two words meant today.

It's not "Going home after school, see you tomorrow." It's "School's over, high school is over."

Classrooms, desks, podiums, camphor trees outside the windows...

These things, which they had lived with day and night for three years and which had long become the backdrop of their lives, would truly no longer belong to them, nor would they be the place they returned to every day.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stood side by side.

Li Zhi's fingertips, which had been jumping with joy at the end of the college entrance examination, now unconsciously curled up and gently dug into Shen Yuan's palm.

Shen Yuan noticed her unusual behavior and subconsciously tightened his grip, completely enveloping her slightly cool hand in his own warmth.

He didn't speak, but simply turned his head slightly and looked calmly at Li Zhi.

Just then, Li Zhiye looked up at him. The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the window, outlining her slightly drooping eyelashes and the tip of her pert nose.

The celebratory blush on the girl's cheeks faded somewhat, and a more complex and profound emotion welled up in the depths of her eyes.

She looked into Shen Yuan's eyes, and there, besides unwavering companionship, seemed to be a silent farewell to the passing time.

At that very moment, the lingering emotions of parting, which had been briefly overshadowed by the immense joy of the college entrance examination, finally spread silently yet powerfully, quietly enveloping everyone's hearts.

They suddenly realized that the familiar "school's out" was the real end.

High school is truly over.

Some people we may see again tomorrow, but most of our time together, spent day and night, will be frozen in this moment.

Many people suddenly feel a tightness in their throat and their eyes start to feel hot for no reason.

Silence quickly brewed and expanded in the brief vacuum that followed the announcement of "school's out."

This marks the end of a chapter in youth.

Just as everyone was feeling sad, a voice rang out in the classroom.

"Old Zhou! Are you doing this on purpose?!"

Zhou Shaojie held his chin high, and his usual loud and boisterous tone was mixed with a barely perceptible nasal tone.

"The college entrance exam just ended, a perfectly good day of liberation, everyone's in a good mood! And you just had to bring on some sadness!"

Old Zhou paused for a moment while adjusting his glasses, then a wide smile spread across his face.

"Nonsense!" he raised his voice several decibels, decisively denying it.
"What's there to be sad about? You bunch of brats, we just want some peace and quiet! Stop standing around here—"

He waved his hand, as if shooing away a flock of noisy sparrows, his eyes sweeping over the wall clock.
"Hurry up and pack! Get your things ready and get out of here! Look at the time! What are you all dawdling for? Your families are waiting for you! Hurry up, all of you, get your hands dirty!"

That slightly "disdainful" urging was like pressing the final start button.

The brief silence was abruptly broken, and a cacophony of sounds erupted in the classroom.

Someone bent down and reached under the table, pulling out all the test papers and review materials stuffed inside.

Some people carefully organized their notes and error notebooks from the past three years, as if trying to preserve the imprint of this time of hard work.

The books were stacked one by one and packed into the prepared schoolbag.

"Wow, so many books! I'm going to die from carrying them all!"

Despite his complaints, Ah Jie moved swiftly, grabbing several neatly stacked English vocabulary books from the table.

Actually, there aren't many books left. Since I've already moved some books in the last couple of days, there are only some English materials left.

A-Jie has a lot of English materials.

Chen Mingyu remained silent as he neatly packed the items from the drawer into his schoolbag.

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei helped each other sort out the things they had scattered around them.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi also began their farewell.

Their seats were already next to each other, and Shen Yuan deftly swept the few remaining books and stationery in his drawer into his schoolbag.

"Li Bao, is she gone?"

Shen Yuan slung his bag over one shoulder, picked up her canvas bag from the back of the chair, and then naturally reached out his hand.

Li Zhi gave a soft "hmm" and placed her hand in his large, warm palm.

The two intertwined their fingers, and that familiar and reassuring touch felt especially precious at the moment of parting.

There was no grand farewell.

While Shen Yuanchao was still rummaging under the table, A-Jie raised his chin and spoke in a low but clear voice that cut through the noise of the classroom: "Jie, A-Ze, Ai-Mu-Yu, let's go!"

Li Zhiye called out to He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei, "Zhiyu, Peipei, let's go! Happy graduation!"

Hey! Happy graduation!

Happy graduation!

A response came, carrying a warm, nasal tone and a smile.

"Old Zhou!" Shen Yuan finally called out to the tall figure on the podium who was silently watching everyone pack up.

Old Zhou turned his gaze away from elsewhere and landed on their tightly clasped hands and side-by-side figures. He hummed a weak "hmm" through his nose, as if he had heard them, but his eyes followed them as they turned around.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked hand in hand through the books and the aisle filled with classmates.

The golden-red rays of the setting sun slanted in through the classroom's tall windows, illuminating the fine dust particles floating in the air and casting long, long silhouettes of the young boy and girl walking away side by side on the floor.

The door hinge made a slight creaking sound.

The moment Li Zhi stepped out of the classroom, he paused slightly, unconsciously tightening his grip on Shen Yuan's hand.

Shen Yuan felt it, and he gently stroked the back of her hand with his thumb in a soothing manner.

Without hesitation, the two figures disappeared into the corridor.

The cicadas outside the window continued their noisy chirping, yet it seemed to be singing a lament for something fading away.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi held hands tightly, their schoolbags swaying beside them, their shoes scraping against the pavement with a soft rustling sound. The evening breeze carried the scent of camphor leaves, dispelling the last trace of noise in the classroom.

As Li Zhi walked along the road, she suddenly spoke softly, her voice unusually clear in the quiet roadside: "I really can't believe... three years of high school have passed just like that."

The elation of the exam ending and the heaviness of saying goodbye to the classroom had faded from her tone; what remained was a sense of bewilderment brought about by the passage of time, as if she were walking on soft clouds.

"It feels like I just started school yesterday, and today the college entrance exam is already over."

Shen Yuanzheng gazed at the familiar alleyway ahead, and upon hearing this, his heart was also struck by that tender melancholy. His fingertips unconsciously caressed the delicate skin of her hand, his deep voice carrying the same sentiment: "Yes, it's so fast..."

He turned his head slightly to look at her side, the light illuminating the delicate lines of her profile: "It's like a dream."

However, with the last syllable of "dream" still lingering in the night, Li Zhi suddenly stopped and turned her head.

Her clear, bright eyes, however, seemed to have finally found an outlet for long-suppressed emotions, and she glared at him fiercely with deliberately amplified grievances.

His gaze, like a small hook, precisely captured the bewilderment in Shen Yuan's eyes.

"Hurry?!" Li Zhi's small nostrils twitched slightly, and her voice suddenly rose a little, trembling with dissatisfaction.

"It must have been fast for Shen, right? The whole semester of his junior year, I don't know who it was, teaching English to the girls in his class! They completely ignored me, and even when I was at home, they wouldn't even look at me, pretending I wasn't there!"

She forcefully pulled her hand away from Shen Yuan's grip, her fingertips pointing unceremoniously at his chest, as if trying to pierce through the boy from a bygone era.

"Time didn't pass quickly back then, it was so slow it was infuriating!"

Shen Yuan was stunned by her sudden "bringing up old grievances".

That past experience is a dark chapter in his history that he finds too painful to recall.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously raised his hand to grab her again, but Li Zhiling deftly dodged him.

"cough……"

Shen Yuan cleared his throat, trying to regain the rhythm that had been disrupted by the accusations.

Looking into her angry yet mischievous eyes, his deep gaze dispelled his guilt, leaving only a pool of stirred tenderness.

He gently tucked a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek due to her excitement behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her slightly warm earlobe. His voice lowered, carrying a mischievous smile and an undeniable intimacy.

"Oh my, why do I smell aged vinegar? So Li Bao was already jealous back then?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Li Zhi's cheeks flushed instantly, and her previous fierce accusation was immediately exposed. She subconsciously wanted to refute, but she choked when she met his deep eyes, which were full of smiles and intense focus.

The girl snorted and turned around in a huff, but instead of taking big steps forward, she took small, slow steps, as if she were dawdling in place waiting for him.

Shen Yuan chuckled and strode forward, naturally wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

The boy's voice sounded deep and resolute in the twilight: "That was just youthful ignorance. Now I understand—"

He paused, then turned his head and placed a light kiss-like touch on the top of her head, his breath brushing against her hair.

"Li Zhi, I love you. We will go through many, many more three-year periods together."

Li Zhi's tightly pursed lips softened into a gentle curve. She hummed and didn't struggle anymore, but the blush on her earlobes deepened and quietly spread down her neck.

The corners of their schoolbags clinked gently as they walked, making a soft "tap-tap" sound, like two small knapsacks filled with youth, accompanying them as they walked home, bidding farewell to the gradually fading stories of time behind them.

(End of this chapter)