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

Chapter 317 I'll Marry You When I Grow Up

The silence didn't last long, but it seemed to be etched into everyone's very bones more deeply than the clamor just moments before.

Finally, someone made a move.

Zhou Shaojie was the first to stand up. Holding his file folder, he walked towards the podium with a clear goal in mind.

The playfulness on his face had vanished, replaced by a rare solemnity.

"Old Zhou!" A-Jie's voice was a little choked, but he tried to raise it higher.

"Um... I have to go! Thanks... really!"

Looking at the student who brought him countless joy and was also his most prized student, Old Zhou's gaze behind his glasses softened considerably.

He reached out and patted A-Jie's shoulder twice, the force heavy, carrying unspoken affection and entrustment.

"Hmm," Old Zhou responded, his voice deep and clear.

"Let's go!"

As if a floodgate had been opened, the students all stood up.

Yang Ze walked to the front of the podium, adjusted his glasses, and bowed deeply to Lao Zhou: "Lao Zhou, I'm leaving."

Old Zhou nodded, a rare gentle smile curving his lips: "Keep up the good work when you get to university."

"Understood, teacher." Yang Ze replied earnestly and turned to leave.

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei walked over hand in hand, their eyes both a little red.

They waved to Old Zhou together: "Goodbye, Teacher Zhou! We'll come back to see you!"

Looking at the two lively and hardworking girls, Old Zhou's expression softened completely. He waved gently and said, "Goodbye. Take care on your journey."

Chen Mingyu walked silently to the front of the classroom, looked at Lao Zhou, pursed his lips, and finally managed to utter only two words: "I'm leaving."

Old Zhou looked at him knowingly and replied just as briefly and firmly, "Yes. Take care."

Shen Yuan and Li Zhiye walked over hand in hand.

"Old Zhou, we're leaving," they said in unison.

Old Zhou's gaze lingered briefly on their clasped hands and the rings on their fingers before finally settling on their young and energetic faces.

He nodded, his eyes filled with relief, blessings, and a touch of emotion.

"Let's go, it's all good." He paused, then added a word of advice.

"Remember to invite me to your wedding next time!"

"Yes!" The two nodded emphatically.

The classroom gradually emptied out.

Every figure heading towards the door almost instinctively turns back just before stepping out of the classroom, glances at the upright figure on the podium, and says goodbye, whether softly or heavily.

Each time, Old Zhou would nod slightly or wave gently, responding in a low voice, "Okay. Goodbye."

Those repeated "goodbyes" were no longer just ordinary farewells, but a farewell song of youth, a final confirmation of the three-year journey.

As the last few figures disappeared through the doorway, the noise in the corridor gradually faded away.

Old Zhou slowly walked to the center of the podium.

He was the only one left in the huge classroom.

Sunlight streamed in obliquely through the window, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air and casting long patches of light on the empty desks and chairs.

A few specks of chalk dust remained on the podium, and the air seemed to still carry the unique scent of sweat and books, characteristic of young people, as well as the lingering warmth of the vibrant youthful energy that had filled the room just moments before.

He leaned on the edge of the podium, his gaze slowly sweeping over the rows of empty seats, over the familiar blackboard, the windowsill... every inch of space carried countless memories.

He stood here for a year, shouted for a year, and guarded for a year.

Now, it's finally empty.

He stood silently for a long time, so long that even the light and shadow outside the window seemed to shift slightly.

Finally, he took a deep breath, a breath that carried a sense of relief that had been put to rest, and a hint of indescribable loneliness.

He took one last look at the classroom that held so many stories, as if he wanted to etch this empty scene into his heart.

Then, he picked up his thin folder from the podium and turned around.

The tall figure walked step by step toward the door, his steps steady and slow.

As he stepped out of the classroom, he naturally closed the door behind him.

A soft "click" sounded.

The story of Class 15 of Senior Three has come to an end.

The corridor outside the door was empty, with only the shadows of the camphor trees swaying in the sunlight outside the window. The cicadas were still chirping loudly, but no longer for anyone.

……

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked out of the classroom hand in hand, with the two heavy file folders on his back.

In the corridor, Zhou Shaojie, Yang Ze, Chen Mingyu, He Zhiyu, Zhuo Peipei and the others did not immediately disperse, as if they were tacitly waiting for someone.

"You're gone?" A-Jie asked, shaking the file folder in his hand as he saw them come out.

"Okay, let's go." Shen Yuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over his companions of three years.

"Shall we walk the last stretch together?" Yang Ze pushed up his glasses and suggested, his gaze drifting to the bright sunshine outside.

“Let’s go!” Zhou Shaojie responded first, his voice filled with relief and ease.

The group walked side by side, joining the sparse flow of people leaving the teaching building.

The sunlight generously poured down, bathing the familiar campus in a dazzling glow.

The leaves of the camphor tree are a bright green, rustling in the breeze and casting dappled, dancing shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of summer plants, and a sense of tranquility and vastness that comes with saying goodbye.

They tacitly slowed their pace, no longer rushing to the cafeteria or classroom as they used to.

My gaze swept over the newly painted white lines on the running track at the edge of the playground, a place that had witnessed their sweat and shouts during physical tests.

Looking through the bright windows of the cafeteria, you can almost smell the aroma of lunch and hear the lively chatter of people laughing and talking around the long tables.

As I passed the bulletin board, the brightly colored honor roll and report cards stood out prominently in the sunlight, but now they have become frozen historical marks.

"Tsk," Zhou Shaojie said, his hands in his pockets, gesturing with his chin towards the honor roll.

"It feels like yesterday we were complaining about who made the list again, and today we have to say goodbye."

"Yes," Chen Mingyu said with a touch of emotion.

"It feels like those three years were a dream, and when I woke up, I was standing at the door."

He Zhiyu took Zhuo Peipei's arm and said softly, "Peipei, if you want to come back and visit in the future, let's make an appointment to go together."

"Yes!" Zhuo Peipei nodded vigorously, her eyes a little red, but she was smiling.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi's hands were tightly clasped together, their rings occasionally flashing in the sunlight.

They listened to their companions' whispers, their gazes sweeping across this land that held so many stories.

Sunlight filtered through the dense camphor leaves, dancing on their young faces and shoulders.

Shen Yuan turned his head to look at Li Zhi, and Li Zhi also looked at him at that moment. The two smiled at each other.

"Li Bao?" Shen Yuan called her softly.

"Hmm?" Li Zhi tilted his head slightly.

"The scenery is nice," Shen Yuan said with a smile.

Li Zhi raised her eyebrows, her smile as bright as the sunshine at that moment. She squeezed his palm: "Yes, I finally have time to take a good look."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Zhou Shaojie shouted exaggeratedly from the side.

"That's enough, you two!"

Yang Ze pushed up his glasses and added expressionlessly, "They were just being affectionate and enjoying the scenery." "Pfft!" He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Just then, Shen Yuan seemed to remember something and looked at his companions walking side by side.

"By the way, have you all decided on your university choices? Li Bao and I have decided to apply to Zhejiang University."

Li Zhi nodded, a clear and expectant smile on her face: "Yes, we've already made up our minds."

"Your goal is clear!" Zhou Shaojie replied almost immediately, his face showing his usual boastfulness.

"I'll probably apply to schools in Hangzhou too! I'll see whichever school my score is high enough for!"

He patted his backpack containing the form-filling guide.

Yang Ze nodded: "I'm too lazy to travel too far, so Hangzhou will do. It'll save me from worrying about not being able to get a ticket home later."

Chen Mingyu's answer was different, but not by much: "Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai."

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei exchanged a smile, and Zhuo Peipei said cheerfully, "We've already discussed it, and our first choice is schools in Hangzhou! They're close to home, the cities are nice, and it'll be convenient for us to visit you guys in the future!"

He Zhiyu added, "Yes, it would be so much better if everyone lived closer together in the future, so we could even get together for meals on weekends!"

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the camphor leaves, casting dappled shadows on the young faces.

Their words expressed a shared hope that this friendship would continue in the future.

Before I knew it, I had stopped in front of the familiar school gate.

The school gate stands silently, like a boundary marker separating the past from the future.

Outside the door are wide roads and noisy traffic; inside are the three years of youth they have just said goodbye to.

Zhou Shaojie stopped and looked at his companions, his face once again displaying that boisterous yet sincere smile:
"Hey, now that we've finished all the important business, how about we get together for lunch today? It's on me!"

His proposal was full of enthusiasm, and his expectant gaze swept across everyone's faces.

However, after a brief silence, Chen Mingyu said somewhat apologetically, "Uh, no thanks. My mom specifically asked us to have dinner together this morning. It's hard to refuse."

He Zhiyu then spoke up, "Yes, my family is too. My parents and grandparents are all waiting. They said they made a reservation so the whole family can have a good meal together."

"Mm." Zhuo Peipei nodded, holding He Zhiyu's hand.

"My family is the same, we're all waiting."

Zhou Shaojie's exaggerated enthusiasm instantly faltered, and his shoulders slumped.

"Huh? No way... What a coincidence? You both have parties at home?"

He looked at Shen Yuan and Li Zhi with some resentment.

Shen Yuan felt his gaze, gently squeezed Li Zhi's hand, and shook his head with a smile: "Thanks, Jie, I appreciate the thought. But we've already told our families that we'll be going home for lunch today."

Li Zhi nodded slightly.

"Alright, alright..." Zhou Shaojie scratched his head, feeling a little disappointed but understanding.

He patted Yang Ze on the shoulder and then addressed everyone.

"Fine then! But it's a promise, we have to make plans once we get our acceptance letters, or when we're free during the summer!"

"Let's have a good get-together! Nobody's going to get away! You hear me? Aze! Ai Muyu! Zhiyu Peipei! And you two too!"

He finally pointed to Shen Yuan and Li Zhi.

"must!"

"no problem!"

Let's make a date then!

"I'll definitely be there!"

The group laughed and echoed each other, their voices sounding relaxed and cheerful in the summer air at the school gate.

"Alright! It's settled then! Let's go!" Zhou Shaojie waved his hand, turned around first, and strode into the sea of ​​people and cars outside the school gate.

"Bye-Bye!"

"Let's get in touch again!"

"Let's connect in the group!"

The sounds of farewell rose and fell.

Yang Ze and Chen Mingyu nodded and then turned to leave.

He Zhiyu and Zhuo Peipei linked arms and walked in another direction, smiling.

At the school gate, only Shen Yuan and Li Zhi remained standing, their fingers intertwined.

They smiled at each other, watching their companions' figures gradually disappear into the sunlight, like streams flowing into rivers, heading in different directions.

The boy tightened his grip on the girl's hand and asked in a low voice, "Shall we go home too?"

Li Zhi looked up, sunlight dancing in her clear eyes, reflecting her endless longing for the future.

"Well, go home."

The two looked back one last time at the campus that held so many memories, then turned around and left the school hand in hand.

The school gate slowly receded into the distance behind us, cutting off the outline of the teaching buildings and the noise of the playground.

The sunlight was a bit hot, and the sunlight falling on the asphalt road created a slight wave of heat.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and the sounds of horns mingled with the city's background noise, creating a stark contrast to the tranquility of the campus, as if they were two different worlds.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi held hands tightly, their fingers intertwined.

They walked slowly along their familiar route home, their pace unhurried and relaxed.

They have walked this road side by side countless times.

The rush to school in the early morning, the leisurely snack of ice cream after lunch, the tranquility of returning home under the starlight after evening self-study, and the countless times of laughter and playful banter.

But today, the meaning is completely different.

"That was fast." Shen Yuan's voice broke the silence, carrying a hint of a sigh that was barely perceptible.

Li Zhi gently scratched his palm with her fingertips, then looked up and replied, "Yeah, that was fast."

The girl suddenly winked mischievously and lowered her voice: "Actually... my mom and Aunt Zhang didn't cook lunch at all today."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her: "I know."

He tightened his grip on her mischievous fingers, a low chuckle escaping his throat: "But if we don't say anything, wouldn't Zhou Shaojie be quite embarrassed?"

The boy gazed at the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees and suddenly sighed softly:

"You see, even lying requires choosing the right moment—is that what growing up is all about?"

Li Zhi abruptly stopped, her watery eyes glancing sideways at him, and she let out a snort from her nose:
"Come on, Shen Yuan! You call this growing up?"

Shen Yuan turned his head to look at her, dappled shadows of the trees brushing past his smiling eyes:
"Then tell me, what does it mean to grow up?"

Li Zhi gently scratched his palm with his fingertips, then looked up at the azure sky cut by the branches and leaves of the camphor tree.

Amidst the cicadas' chirping, the girl's clear voice, carried on the summer breeze, reached his ears:

"I don't know, but being with you makes me feel like I'm still a child."

Shen Yuan stopped and looked at Li Zhi.

A gentle smile spread across the boy's face as he gazed at her.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating tiny, shimmering points of light in his eyes, as if filled with the warmth of the entire summer.

Li Zhi felt her cheeks flush slightly as he looked at her like that, but she couldn't help but smile back at him.

Shen Yuan tightened his grip on her hand: "But I think it's better to grow up."

Under the girl's questioning gaze, the boy paused, his smile deepening.

"Because when I grow up, I can rightfully marry you."

(End of this chapter)