Chapter 19: Confession

Very quiet.
Breaths—her own, and Zhou Sheng’s—right beside her.
“What did you say?” Lin Sitian asked slowly.
Already confessed, Zhou Sheng didn’t hesitate. “I want to date you.”
“With who?”
“You.”
“What with me?”
“Date.”
“Who wants to date me?”
“…Are you Ma Dongmei?” Zhou Sheng asked, defeated.
The mood broken, Lin Sitian couldn’t help hitting him. “Zhou Sheng!”
Her soft fist was caught, held in his palm.
“I like you.” Zhou Sheng stepped back, looking into her eyes.
His eyes held light—sincere, a gentle firmness in the dark pupils, beautiful and captivating.
Heart racing, she couldn’t escape.
“…Okay.” Lin Sitian lowered her head.
Zhou Sheng squeezed her hand, nervous, bending to meet her gaze. “You talk…”
“Talk what?”
“What’s your answer?” Zhou Sheng solved countless problems, but now craved this answer.
“You still ask? Wasn’t my performance obvious?” She pouted, glaring. “Even Meng Qiaoyu saw it. Rumors spread in the language class. What girl who likes you would stay this close!”
A barrage of accusations hit Zhou Sheng.
“I’m not casual—you left me hanging…made me cry over you. I almost gave up last night!”
Scolding, but her face reddened. Zhou Sheng, scolded, also reddened, a hint of panic.
He whispered, “I didn’t leave you hanging, Lin Sitian.”
He feared it was all one – sided.
If he’d been braver, confessed earlier, she wouldn’t have suffered.
It was his fault.
From “I’m not wrong” to “I want to date you”—Zhou Sheng never imagined this path. But so what? Now, he was content—more than solving limits with L’Hospital’s Rule.
His life held something more exciting, more unknown, than problems.
Danqing Mountain, a developed scenic spot in South China, famous for its temple (said to be very effective). Though far from the city, tourists and locals visited often.
Lin Sitian initially didn’t refuse hiking—she remembered the cable car. But it was under maintenance—no shortcuts. Too embarrassed to stay, she joined the group.
Side note: Meng Qiaoyu’s class took a different route—only their group hiked.
Maybe an illusion, but Lin Sitian thought Zhou Sheng looked extra handsome.
Probably dressed up—he wore a T – shirt and pants. Fair skin, short hair fluttering in the wind, clear eyes—like a mountain spring after snow, refreshing.
No trace of last night’s fatigue, she thought.
Wang Yue and others chatted with Zhou Sheng, boys ahead; Lin Sitian lagged, with Xuelin and others.
“Confess and you’ll be forgiven.” Yang Xuelin suddenly said.
These words made Lin Sitian nervous, frowning.
Yang Xuelin and Cui Qian flanked her, like cops—no escape.
“Resist and face consequences.” Cui Qian joined.
Lin Sitian’s face reddened. “Confess what? What are you saying?”
Yang Xuelin looked past her. “Qianqian.”
Cui Qian: “Okie.”
“What—stop it——” Lin Sitian panicked, twisting like a pretzel. “Hahaha—don’t tickle, haha—I’ll say, I’ll say——”
Held in the middle, Yang Xuelin and Cui Qian tickled her—an all – out attack.
Girls laughed, drawing boys’ attention.
Late spring, early summer—sunshine filtered through trees, casting golden dust.
Morning light perfect. Girls walked, shadows shifting—like a painted scene.
Zhou Sheng’s gaze fixed on Lin Sitian’s bright smile, stunned, unable to look away.
He rarely noticed looks—useless for grades.
But Lin Sitian was beautiful—one look, and his mood lifted.
——Useless for grades, indeed.
Lin Sitian, unaware of his thoughts, confessed under siege—
“Fine! Zhou Sheng and I are together!”
Expected, but Yang Xuelin and Cui Qian feigned shock.
Shocked, Yang Xuelin excitedly gossiped. “Together overnight? You said you were heartbroken yesterday—what happened?”
“Yes! How? Did you confess or did he?” Cui Qian pressed.
“H…he confessed.” Lin Sitian bit her lip, smiling. “He was jealous of Meng Qiaoyu, confessed, then at the hotel…” She saw Zhou Sheng ahead, trailing off, embarrassed.
“Spit it out!” Yang Xuelin jumped.
“Said he wanted to date me!”
“Wow——” Girls squealed. Yang Xuelin, knowing Zhou Sheng, gaped. “Monitor said that? He told you he wants to date?——My god——my god!”
Lin Sitian covered her mouth. “Quiet!”
Only meters from Zhou Sheng—she didn’t want him to hear.
After Yang Xuelin calmed, Lin Sitian lowered her hand. Yang Xuelin shook her head. “I thought you’d chase him—never guessed he’d confess! Is this the strict, study – only monitor?”
“I…didn’t expect it either.” Lin Sitian still felt dazed, like a dream.
Zhou Sheng seemed to wait for her—Wang Yue and Li Hailiang had left.
Yang Xuelin saw Zhou Sheng, checked him out, smiling slyly. “Mr. Zhou, nice move—yesterday you said no to girls like Lin Sitian, today you stole her!”
“Xuelin!” Lin Sitian panicked—Zhou Sheng, usually reserved, blushed talking about this.
Zhou Sheng froze, then composed himself, fist to lips, coughing.
“I said no to girls like Lin Sitian.” He looked at Lin Sitian, smiling. “Not that I don’t like her.”
Words dropped—three girls gaped. No one expected such honesty.
Heard before, but hearing him admit to classmates—Lin Sitian’s heart raced, breathless, afraid to meet his eyes (fear of embarrassment).
When did he become braver than her?
Hiking continued—Zhou Sheng stayed behind with them.
Yang Xuelin and Cui Qian teased; Lin Sitian, now with backup, retorted. Zhou Sheng said little, sticking by her, helping with steep steps—model boyfriend.
Yang Xuelin felt like a third wheel, pulling Cui Qian ahead.
” No need to be so obvious.” Lin Sitian said after they left. “If Li Hailiang finds out, the whole school will know next week.”
Zhou Sheng: “Why can’t they know?”
“Because it’s puppy love! Puppy love with the top student—teachers will call parents! Get it?”
Zhou Sheng thought, nodding. “Got it.”
He was cute, half – understanding. Lin Sitian resisted pinching his face.
“Still clueless about dating.” Zhou Sheng glanced. “Aren’t you first – timer too?”
Lin Sitian was speechless.
Zhou Sheng: “Confidence.” Then, “Want a piggyback?”
Lin Sitian froze. “Wha—what?”
Zhou Sheng pointed to her slow steps. “You can’t walk—piggyback?”
Lin Sitian, blushing, pushed him. “Annoying.”
Same words—different feelings.
“Come.” Zhou Sheng didn’t wait, squatting at the platform. “Get on.”
“No.” Lin Sitian pouted. “I can walk.”
Embarrassed if seen—nervous to ride.
“Good girl, Tian Tian—get on.” He shook his hand behind his back.
Like coaxing a child.
Reluctantly, Lin Sitian climbed on.
He stood easily, steadying her.
Heightened view—Lin Sitian panicked.
Zhou Sheng was tall—always last in line; she was front row. Opposites, now together.
Lin Sitian, on his back, thought random things.
Didn’t know before—his back was broad, safe.
His white T, warmed by sun, smelled clean. His warmth seeped through, making his shoulders cozy. She relaxed.
If her heart slowed, she could nap. She thought.