Chapter 37: A Kiss That Wasn't Supposed to Happen

Shen Yu had a plan: stay away from Lu Zhixuan, focus on surviving in this world, and absolutely not get involved in anything romantic.

That plan failed spectacularly.

It started with an innocent school event—a festival night filled with food stalls, games, and way too many nosy classmates. Somewhere along the way, Shen Yu had been roped into a gathering around a bonfire. And before he knew it, things had spiraled into a game of dares.

"I dare Lu Zhixuan to kiss someone," Lin Jian declared with a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Excited murmurs broke out around the circle. Shen Yu, already half-regretting agreeing to play, felt a sense of dread creep up his spine.

"Make it interesting," Bai Xue teased. "Let him choose someone from this group!"

Shen Yu relaxed slightly. Good. There are plenty of people here. He wouldn't—

"I pick Zhao Rui," Lu Zhixuan said lazily.

The entire group erupted.

"Oh my god!"

"Finally!"

"This is so worth it!"

Shen Yu, meanwhile, felt like he had been struck by lightning. "NO. Absolutely not."

Lu Zhixuan smirked, tilting his head. "Scared?"

"Of you? Hardly." Shen Yu huffed, crossing his arms. "I just don't want to waste my first—"

He didn't even get to finish the sentence.

Because before he could process what was happening, Lu Zhixuan had leaned in.

A soft press of lips. Barely a second. A whisper of warmth.

But it was enough.

Shen Yu's entire body locked up. His breath caught, his mind blanked, and the world around him ceased to exist.

By the time Lu Zhixuan pulled back, his smirk had softened into something unreadable. He leaned in just slightly, voice barely above a murmur.

"Now you can't say it was wasted."

The bonfire crackled. The group exploded in cheers, whistles, and teasing shouts.

"Did that really just happen?"

"Shen Yu, are you still breathing?"

"You so didn't hate that!"

Shen Yu barely heard any of it.

His heart was racing, his hands trembling, his face burning. And worst of all—

He really didn't hate it.

He was definitely in trouble now.