Extra 8: The Random Kisses

Shen Yu had always thought he was a person who liked routine, someone who appreciated order and predictability. But ever since Lu Zhixuan entered his life, everything had become beautifully unpredictable. It started with a teasing smirk here, a playful remark there, but soon it evolved into something far more intimate. Shen Yu wasn't sure when it happened—when he had gone from denying his feelings to craving every glance, every touch, and especially those spontaneous kisses that seemed to come out of nowhere.

It started innocently enough. One afternoon, as they stood by the classroom door waiting for the bell to ring, Shen Yu had been distracted by the chatter of his classmates. Suddenly, without warning, he felt the soft pressure of Lu Zhixuan's lips against his cheek. His heart lurched, and he whipped his head around to find Lu Zhixuan looking at him with that familiar, mischievous grin.

"Just a quick kiss for good luck," Lu Zhixuan had said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world.

Shen Yu blinked, still stunned. "What... What was that for?"

Lu Zhixuan only raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Do I need a reason to kiss you?" he teased, his voice low enough that it made Shen Yu's stomach flip.

Shen Yu felt his face flush, the heat rising in his cheeks, and for the rest of the day, he couldn't stop replaying the kiss over and over in his mind. It was so simple, yet it had left him with a dizzying sense of wonder. How had he gone from completely denying his feelings for Lu Zhixuan to yearning for those small moments of connection?

But it didn't stop there.

The next time they were walking out of school together, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement, Shen Yu was lost in his thoughts when, without warning, Lu Zhixuan leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. It wasn't passionate or intense—just a sweet, fleeting kiss that lasted only a moment. But it was enough to make Shen Yu's heart race in a way he hadn't anticipated.

"Goodbye, for now," Lu Zhixuan whispered, his lips still close to Shen Yu's, a playful sparkle in his eyes.

Shen Yu stood there for a few seconds, frozen in the aftermath of the kiss. His lips tingled, and his mind was spinning. "You... you can't just do that," he managed, trying to sound exasperated, but his voice was breathless, betraying him completely.

Lu Zhixuan shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? I like kissing you." He gave him a wink, then walked away, leaving Shen Yu standing there, stunned and with a racing heart.

After that, it seemed like those random kisses became a regular thing. Sometimes, they'd be waiting for the teacher to arrive, and Lu Zhixuan would lean over and place a soft kiss on Shen Yu's temple. Other times, he'd catch Shen Yu by surprise with a kiss on the tip of his nose as they walked between classes. Each time, Shen Yu's heart would skip, a mix of delight and confusion washing over him.

One day, after class, they were standing near the lockers when Lu Zhixuan, as if on a whim, cupped Shen Yu's face in his hands and kissed him softly, lingering just enough for Shen Yu to feel the weight of it, the meaning behind it.

Shen Yu's heart pounded in his chest, and when Lu Zhixuan pulled back, he found himself breathless, lips still tingling from the kiss. "Why do you keep doing that?" Shen Yu asked, his voice quieter than he intended.

Lu Zhixuan smiled, a look of tenderness crossing his face. "Because I can't help it. You're mine, Shen Yu, and I want you to know that. In case you forget, I'll remind you." His tone was playful, but there was an undeniable sincerity in his eyes.

Shen Yu's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. He was still adjusting to this new dynamic—one where he didn't have to hide his feelings anymore, where it was okay to embrace them. He never imagined he'd feel so cherished over something as simple as a kiss. But with Lu Zhixuan, it wasn't just the kisses—it was the way he always made Shen Yu feel like the most important person in the world.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lu Zhixuan added softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Shen Yu's forehead. "And neither are you."

Shen Yu could feel the weight of those words, and for the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like he had to fight it. He didn't have to deny the way his heart raced when Lu Zhixuan was near, didn't have to hide the way those random kisses made him feel like he was flying. He was learning to embrace it, to let himself fall into the quiet certainty that, for once, things didn't have to make sense to feel right.

"Fine," Shen Yu said, his voice low and soft. "But just so you know, I'm not going to stop teasing you about all of this." He smirked, trying to play it cool, but the truth was, his heart was racing again.

Lu Zhixuan grinned, pulling him in for another kiss—this time lingering longer, just enough to make Shen Yu lose track of everything except the way their lips fit together so perfectly. "I wouldn't want you to stop," he murmured, his voice just above a whisper.

And in that moment, Shen Yu realized that it wasn't about the kisses or the teasing or even the teasing smirks. It was about the connection they shared—the silent promises made with every kiss, the way they both knew, without saying a word, that this was something worth holding onto. And for the first time in a long time, Shen Yu let himself believe in the beautiful chaos of it all.