Chapter 126: I Reluctantly Offer Myself for Your Use

“...”

Seeing her remain still, Yan Yang clicked his tongue softly. “This chance only comes once. I’m usually hard to persuade, so you’d better hurry up.”

Tang Yu deliberately coaxed him. Passersby occasionally strolled by on the street, and she actually felt a bit embarrassed.

But since words were actions, she had no choice but to steel herself.

“...Then get ready.”

Yan Yang: “Hmm?”

Tang Yu cleared her throat twice, feigning calm, “I’m going to kiss you. Prepare yourself mentally.”

Yan Yang’s eyes half-lidded, amused. Then he cooperated, bending down, casually bringing his face close.

Their noses nearly touched, and a playful, mischievous smile seemed to say, “I’m ready. My face and lips are right here. Let’s see how you kiss.”

Tang Yu’s eyelashes fluttered gently, her breath light.

She glanced around out of the corner of her eye; no one was watching. Then, holding onto his arm with both hands, she gathered courage and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

Soft lips, slightly cool.

A fleeting touch, more heart-tugging than a fiery, deep kiss.

Yan Yang pressed his lips together, eyes darkening as he looked at the young girl who had stepped back a pace.

His Adam’s apple moved slightly. Still holding the same posture, his voice lowered a few tones, “What does this mean?”

Is it over?

Tang Yu’s cheeks flushed lightly, nodding calmly, “Exhibition complete.”

“You made such a big show of it, but I feel like I bought a counterfeit product,” Yan Yang squinted, pulling her hand to tug her closer. “So fast... I didn’t even have time to react.”

Tang Yu stammered, “I’ll slowly upgrade and improve.”

Yan Yang laughed angrily, “Fine then.”

He had originally wanted to teach her personally but noticed her palms were sweaty, so he restrained himself.

Such progress, learning to take initiative, was already a pleasant surprise.

“How long will this upgrade take?” He freed one hand to pinch her cheek.

She was finally gaining some flesh; the feel was incredibly soft.

Lately, Yan Yang loved pinching her.

Tang Yu felt her face being squeezed round and patted his hand, “That’s confidential information. No comment.”

Yan Yang laughed and withdrew his hand, then took hers as they walked back.

“Fine, I’ve got plenty of time anyway.”

He was genuinely curious how far she could upgrade and improve.

Along the way, they talked casually. Yan Yang enjoyed her chatter and actively guided her to share daily stories.

“Did you have fun today?”

“Yes.”

“Did you buy anything?”

“A lipstick.” She took it out from her bag to show him. It was her first makeup purchase, and she couldn’t wait to display it. “Wang Qing said this color suits me.”

She said, “It looks good on you!”

So she bought a similar shade at another store, spending a bit more money, but money could be earned back. She wanted to look better—for him!

Yan Yang looked at the corner of her lips, nodded casually, then quickly looked away, “Looks good.”

Tang Yu lightly raised the corners of her mouth, quietly pleased.

She heard him say softly again, “If it’s so pretty, maybe you should record it.”

Before she could respond, he pulled out his phone and opened the camera.

Last time they took a video together, she hadn’t been ready, but this time Tang Yu looked at the camera, eyes curved, smiling especially sweetly.

At the moment he pressed the shutter, her lips gave the same fleeting kiss as before.

The image froze, and she looked stunned again, adorably so.

Yan Yang was quite satisfied, tapping around on his phone, setting the photo as his new wallpaper, moving those cluttering apps to the side of her face.

Tang Yu puffed her cheeks, voice soft with protest, “Take another one. I wasn’t ready just now.”

Yan Yang lifted his chin slightly, glancing at her, “If you want to kiss me, just say so. No need for such a clumsy excuse.”

“...” She had no such intention!

Tang Yu exhaled, “Fine then, send me the photo too.”

“Nope.” He put away his phone, locking the screen lazily. “I took it, so I own the rights.”

Then, eyes full of endless amusement, he suggested, “If you want it, you can take your own.”

Leaning close, “I’m reluctantly lending myself to you for free.”

Tang Yu: “...”

Why was he like this?

“Are you going to kiss me or not? If not, forget it.” He straightened up a bit, playing with his phone in his palm, a subtle smirk curling his lips.

“After all, I’m quite reserved. After this opportunity’s gone, you won’t get another chance.”

Unnoticed, the streetlights flickered on, one by one, stretching to the horizon.

The camphor trees glowed faintly, cicadas chirped intermittently.

The endless summer flowers on the roadside gave off their fragrance.

Unknown insects fluttered about.

Under the streetlights, the girl’s angry face puffed out, tinted by the warm glow.

Breaking free from his hand, she walked quickly. Her hair swayed like a silent protest.

The youth, relying on his height and long legs, followed slowly behind, a mischievous, roguish smile playing on his face—both wicked and teasing.

Her plan to take the initiative ended in failure once again...

Tang Yu was so frustrated.

—

In the days before the results were released, Tang Yu stayed in Xiaotang Village.

After moving back, Yan Yang came by once a day, each time bringing ingredients to showcase his cooking skills.

He even exchanged cooking tips with her grandfather.

Gradually, her grandparents grew very fond of him. Whenever Yan Yang was a little late, they would eagerly ask Tang Yu:

“Is that boy coming today? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Usually, the house was never empty—her grandfather stayed home to care for her grandmother. Most young people in the village had gone to work elsewhere, and only elderly visitors came by occasionally to chat.

Since Yan Yang arrived, the whole courtyard seemed infused with vibrant life.

He and Tang Yu taught the elders how to use smartphones.

Her grandfather taught him how to cook, weed, and grow vegetables. His spirits noticeably improved.

On the day the college entrance exam scores came out, Wang Qing called Tang Yu to say the results were available.

Tang Yu said she wasn’t nervous—though she actually was.

Yan Yang entered her exam number and password into his laptop, but the result showed only asterisks.

Tang Yu was stunned, thinking something was wrong with his computer.

“What’s going on? Why no scores? Wang Qing and Xu Xinyan already got theirs.”

Yan Yang’s gaze rested on the screen, his brow raised slightly. “Every year, the top ten scorers in each province are blocked from viewing their results by the system. Only the Education Bureau and Municipal Education Committee can see them.”

That meant Tang Yu’s results were confidential—even she couldn’t check them herself.

—

She felt both happy and somewhat speechless. “...Then how do I find out my score?”

“Someone will come to tell you in the next day or two.”

Yan Yang pondered briefly, then stood up. “I just remembered, a friend asked me to help with something. I’ll be out for two days. Can you manage on your own here?”

Tang Yu looked up at him. “Where are you going?” Then pointed at the computer. “You haven’t checked your own score yet.”

“I know my score. No need to check.”

Yan Yang smiled slightly.

Tang Yu hesitated, “Did you check in advance?”

Yan Yang raised an eyebrow, “No.”

“Just guessing?”

“Mm.” He sounded quite proud.

“Then tell me, what did you get?”

A breeze rustled the leaves, slightly messing his hair. Yan Yang spoke slowly, “601.”

Tang Yu didn’t quite believe it. She put his laptop on her lap and asked for his account and password.

After entering them, the screen indeed showed 601.

He scored about 400 in the mock exam, only did multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, and had 520 in the second and third mocks.

But on the actual exam, he got 601.

Tang Yu carefully examined his subject scores. He had full marks in math and science, 125 in English, but only 26 in Chinese?

Yan Yang’s English was so good, it couldn’t be just 125 points; and no matter how he wrote Chinese, it couldn’t be just 26.

If she remembered correctly, the English essay was worth 25 points this year, and the total for all the Chinese multiple-choice questions was exactly 26...

She stared at the scores on the screen for a long time, then thought about his plans to study abroad, and a vague suspicion stirred in her heart.

When she looked up, Yan Yang was already gone.

“Grandpa, where’s Yan Yang?”

She searched around but couldn’t find him.

Her grandfather was weeding in the vegetable garden. Without stopping, he looked up and said, “He just left.”

“Oh, and he said very confidently that he wouldn’t go back on his word.”

Grandpa curiously asked, “What promise? Xiaoyu, what did he promise you?”

Tang Yu was momentarily at a loss for words. It was the 600 points in Echo Valley.

But he scored 601, proving he kept his word.

Yet, someone who could get full marks in math and science on the entrance exam still clung to her to explain problems...

There were several questions she explained multiple times, but Yan Yang still acted like he didn’t understand and asked her to continue.

Tang Yu also recalled that a few days ago, many answer keys were circulating online, and even she felt tempted to check them, but Yan Yang showed no interest. After the exam, he acted like he hadn’t taken one—either studying recipes or trying to get her to eat more, or lazing on the couch playing games.

And now, he hadn’t even checked his score, yet could guess it so precisely...

This year’s exam wasn’t hard, but scoring full marks was definitely no easy feat.

If he didn’t have exceptional confidence in himself, how else could he control his score so tightly?

Standing under the sun, Tang Yu felt a little disoriented and confused.

What else about him did she not know...

And who exactly was Yan Yang...