Chapter 45: A Moment Too Close

Shen Yu had spent the entire day avoiding Lu Zhixuan—again.

He had gone so far as to take the longest possible route between classes, skip lunch in the cafeteria, and even pretend to be deeply engrossed in a textbook whenever Lu Zhixuan was nearby.

It was a terrible plan.

Because, no matter what he did, Lu Zhixuan always found him.

Shen Yu was running late to class when he turned a corner too fast—only to collide headfirst into a firm chest.

A familiar scent surrounded him—clean, crisp, and utterly Lu Zhixuan. Before he could stumble back, strong hands gripped his arms, steadying him.

Shen Yu looked up and immediately regretted it.

Lu Zhixuan was staring down at him, expression unreadable, his dark eyes holding something intense—something Shen Yu wasn't ready to face.

"Running from me again?" Lu Zhixuan asked, voice low.

Shen Yu's pulse went haywire. "I—I was just—"

Before he could finish, Lu Zhixuan stepped forward, closing the distance. Shen Yu instinctively moved back—until his shoulders hit the wall.

Trapped.

Lu Zhixuan's arms came up, palms resting on the wall beside Shen Yu's head, caging him in. His body wasn't touching Shen Yu's, but the heat between them was suffocating.

"You can't keep running," Lu Zhixuan murmured.

Shen Yu swallowed hard, feeling utterly cornered. "Who says I'm running?"

Lu Zhixuan tilted his head slightly, gaze flickering over Shen Yu's face. "Then prove it."

Shen Yu opened his mouth—to say what, he didn't know—but before he could think, before he could panic, Lu Zhixuan leaned in.

Soft. Lingering.

His lips pressed against Shen Yu's, stealing the breath from his lungs.

Shen Yu's mind blanked.

This time, he didn't push Lu Zhixuan away.

This time, his hands curled into the front of Lu Zhixuan's shirt.

And this time—

He kissed back.