Damn it, I'm surrounded by childhood sweethearts

Corner of the experiment building.

"Haha~ Stop hitting me, it's just a joke, stop hitting me, stop hitting me."

Xiao Ruawen's punches rained down on him like raindrops while Xu Qingfan defended himself and pleaded for mercy.

"What do you want to do, I'll let you do it, let you do it!"

Xiao Ruawen not only had no intention of stopping but became even more aggressive.

While skillfully defending himself, Xu Qingfan responded with a tone that could drive someone mad: "Alright!"

"?"

"I'm going to beat you to death!"

"Brother Chou Fan!"

"Ouch!"

"You're so mean, haha, stop hitting me, Ruan Wen, I truly know I'm wrong."

"You know nothing, I'll beat you to death!"

"..."

...

After a while, exhausted from "fighting," they squatted on the floor to rest, staring at each other with frustrated eyes.

"Why did you bring me here!"

"Brother, let me tell you, don't think you can hug me again, it's impossible!"

Xiao Ruawen moved like a crab, staying at least a meter away from him.

Xu Qingfan beckoned with his finger, seeing Xiao Ruawen unwilling to come back, and even moving another few centimeters away. He had to get up and walk to the girl's side.

Xiao Ruawen wanted to leave again, but Xu Qingfan grabbed her arm, so she couldn't.

"If you have something to say, just say it, no touching." Xiao Ruawen stood up, deliberately avoiding looking at him.

Xu Qingfan touched the wall, which was protected by an eave, so it didn't get wet when it rained earlier.

After leaning against it, he looked at the side of the girl's face and asked, "Shouldn't it be you saying something to me?"

Xiao Ruawen's heart skipped a beat, realizing that Brother Fan was talking about the final exams, which indeed was the case.

"I, what should I say to you... Boring, I'm going back to class."

Xiao Ruawen kept her head down and tried to slip away, but Xu Qingfan, having caught the opportunity, wouldn't let her go back so easily.

"Ah!" When Xiao Ruawen looked up, she realized Brother Chou Fan was somehow standing in front of her, "What are you doing~"

"Someone!"

"Whe..."

Before Xiao Ruawen finished her sentence, she was pinned against the wall by Xu Qingfan.

Because she heard someone, the girl didn't dare to move, worried that their meeting at the experiment building would be photographed and posted online.

Although Xiao Ruawen thought her relationship with Brother Chou Fan was innocent, rumors could spread like wildfire.

Turns out Xu Qingfan wasn't just playing tricks; soon, Xiao Ruawen heard "tap tap tap" footsteps.

But their hiding spot was secluded enough. Unless someone was up to their own sneaky business, a normal person wouldn't likely come here.

As expected, the footsteps gradually faded away, indicating that the person had left.

"The... the person's gone." Xiao Ruawen pushed at Brother Chou Fan, indicating he could move now.

But having gotten here through his own means, how could he so easily let go?

To prevent Xiao Ruawen from escaping by force, Xu Qingfan hugged the girl even tighter.

In this locked position, unless she used the "Monkey Reaching for the Moon" or the "infertility kick," escape was almost impossible.

Of course, Xiao Ruawen wasn't willing to go that far; she just obediently let Brother Chou Fan do what he wanted.

Xu Qingfan was wearing a mere summer school uniform, while Xiao Ruawen had on an additional school jacket, but its zipper wasn't pulled.

As he hugged her, he immediately felt the previously missing softness.

Desiring to say but holding back, he just thought what a wonderful spring it was, indeed, spring is the best!

Xu Qingfan suddenly didn't want to speak anymore.

...

After waiting a few minutes, seeing Brother Chou Fan just holding her silently, Xiao Ruawen couldn't help it.

"Why... why aren't you speaking?" she asked in a small voice.

Xu Qingfan still didn't speak, closing his eyes and pretending to be a master.

After waiting another minute or two, seeing his impervious manner, Xiao Ruawen felt both angry and helpless.

"Brother, you're such a scoundrel!" she gritted her teeth and said.

"Why did you deliberately mark the answer sheet wrong?" Xu Qingfan reopened his eyes and suddenly asked.

"Ah... I, I didn't, it was on purpose... no, it was not accidentally wrong!" Xiao Ruawen was caught off guard, almost slipping her tongue.

"Not accidentally, double negative, so it was on purpose, huh." Xu Qingfan knew that wasn't what the girl meant, but he couldn't resist teasing her.

"Not on purpose, it was an accident!" Xiao Ruawen said angrily, really wanting to bite his fair neck.

"Either way, I'm assuming it was on purpose." Xu Qingfan irritably said.

"If you say so, then it is!" Xiao Ruawen wisely chose not to engage in such meaningless disputes.

Of course, there was a reason it indeed was on purpose.

The reason Xu Qingfan brought her over wasn't entirely to discuss this; there was something else.

Reluctantly, he released Xiao Ruawen from his embrace and said, "You know about 'The Voice of America,' right? This year it's being introduced domestically, possibly named 'The Voice of Huaxia,' or 'The Good Voice of Huaxia.'

"Huh? What?"

Xiao Ruawen was momentarily puzzled, partly because Brother Chou Fan so easily "let her go," and also because of what he said.

"So what?" She looked at Xu Qingfan in confusion, blinking her eyes.

"We're planning to be the title sponsor of the show, meaning we are the program's biggest backer, and can potentially decide who wins." Xu Qingfan blinked back, smiling as he responded.

"So?" Xiao Ruawen still didn't understand the implication of his words, guessing a bit, she asked, "Brother, are you suggesting I participate and then you sneak me... cough cough... secure me the win?"

"Something like that, if you don't want me to sneak you in, then not securing the win is fine too." Xu Qingfan replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.