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The maths evening self-study period was going on as usual, but with a sudden “pa”, the electricity tripped for the whole school. The whole class suddenly started shouting.
Song Yu meng was scared of the dark, and with the whole classroom plunged into darkness, she was very scared. She leaned towards Yi Ran and hugged her arm with both hands, her right hand sliding down to hold Yi Ran’s left hand.
“I’m scared

”
Her soft voice was trembling and a major contrast to the excited voices of the rest of the class. This soft, scared Song Yu Meng set off Yi Ran’s protective instincts and her heart started racing.
Blood rushed to her head and she interlocked her fingers with Song Yu Meng’s.
“Don’t be scared, I’m holding onto you.”
Her voice was incredibly warm and gentle, comforting like a warm beam of sun. Song Yu Meng didn’t feel so scared all of a sudden, feeling safe and secure with Yi Ran.
Tang Xiang Ping received the notice to gather in the conference room for a meeting, and instructed the class: “Don’t speak, I’m going for a meeting, I’ll be back in a bit.”
But the students were excited and couldn’t control themselves, discussing loudly if school would be released early.
In the dark, with all that noise, the two of them were sitting peacefully with their fingers tangled together, palms touching. They could feel the warmth from each other, it was incredibly hot and both their hands were sweating.
If the moonlight was just a bit brighter and the class a bit more quiet, they could have seen each other’s blushing faces and smiling lips, and heard each other’s racing heart.
After about 10 minutes, Tang Xiang Ping came back and announced: “There’s a problem with the city’s power grid, that’s the cause for the blackout. Power won’t return so soon, so you guys have been released early.”
The classroom exploded into cheers, and the neighbouring classrooms also started cheering.
Everybody packed up their bags and happily dashed out of the classroom.
When it was a bit more peaceful, Yi Ran looked at Song Yu Meng’s face under the moonlight and gently said: “Let’s go home.”
Under the cover of darkness, Song Yu Meng was incredibly shy, nodding her head obediently and humming softly.
Yi Ran carried her bag and led Song Yu Meng out, from the classroom to outside the school, their fingers interlocked tightly the entire time, as if afraid the other person would let go.
“I’ll send you back, the driver probably hasn’t come for you yet.”
“Mm.” Song Yu Meng nodded with a blush.
At the scooter, Yi Ran took the helmet with her empty hand and was about to put it onto Song Yu Meng when she realised their fingers were still interlocked. It wasn’t easy to put a helmet on with only one hand.
“I’ll help you put on the helmet.”
Song Yu Meng knew what she meant and unwillingly let go of Yi Ran’s hand, with traces of her warmth and perspiration still on her palm. She felt the loss of Yi Ran’s hand acutely, missing it already.
After she had put on the helmet and got on the rear passenger seat, Yi Ran didn’t even need to say anything, Song Yu Meng had already hugged her waist tightly. She didn’t bury her face in Yi Ran’s back this time though, she leaned her head on the crook of Yi Ran’s shoulder.
It made her feel secure, and she wanted to be closer to Yi Ran.
Yi RAn didn’t say anything, silently allowing this intimate gesture, and even liking the feeling of Song Yu Meng relying on her and sticking to her.
Their hearts were bubbling over with sweetness.
The main power grid was the one with the issue. Not just the school, but the neighbourhoods, shops and even street lights were all dark. The entire street was inky black, with only the moon in the sky providing a weak source of light.
Song Yu Meng’s hot breath was continually hitting on Yi Ran’s neck, making her go crazy. Instead of driving as steadily as she usually did, everything was trembling.
The scooter was trembling, her hand was trembling and her heart was trembling.
The two of them didn’t dare say anything on the way back, just basking in the company of the other, afraid that a single word would ruin the atmosphere.
When the scooter stopped outside Song Yu Meng’s house, the two of them stood facing each other, able to see each other thanks to the moonlight.
“Thanks.” Song Yu Meng smiled slightly.
“You’re welcome.” Yi Ran couldn’t bear to leave her. “You

 Is there anything else you want to say?”
Song Yu Meng looked down and shook her head, before raising her eyes to look at Yi Ran again.
The atmosphere was so nice, and the moon was beautiful, she really didn’t want to leave Yi Ran.
After looking at each other for a while, the street lamps turned on, with the lights in each house turning on too.
They really had to leave now.
Yi Ran smiled and asked in a gentle tone: “Anything else you want to say to me?”
“No. I’m going home.”
Song Yu Meng looked back at her longingly, then dragged her feet towards her house. She looked back every few steps she took. It was just a few steps, but she took almost a minute to get to her front door, and she was still looking at Yi Ran the moment before the door closed.
Yi Ran stood there smiling and watching her walk back, right until she closed the door.
When she got home, she received a message from Song Yu Meng.
【There is. Goodnight.】
Yi Ran replied her goodnight before turning off her phone and lying on the bed. In her mind, she was replaying everything that happened with Song Yu Meng that night.
She pressed her left hand against her heart that was still beating fast.
“I’m just afraid I can’t forget it.”
Looking at the ceiling, she laughed, her eyes sparkling like they contained galaxies of stars.
No matter how dumb Yi Ran was, she knew. Her heart had been moved.



It was weird. Ever since the power outage, the atmosphere between the two of them had clearly changed. It was now incredibly intimate.
There was another strange thing. Every day after school, they would wait for each other. It had gone on for quite a few days now, and it had become their unspoken secret.
One day after school, Yi Ran was sending Song Yu Meng home as per usual.
Reaching her gate, Yi Ran said: “How about this? From now on, I’ll always send you home, okay?”
Song Yu Meng smiled sweetly: “I’ll agree if that’s what you want.”
Both of them didn’t want to leave each other, but they were too embarrassed to say it out. They could only look at each other with longing in their eyes.
They could both feel the other person had feelings for them, but they lacked the courage to confirm it.
Song Yu Meng blushed and purposely asked: “Why aren’t you leaving? Is it that you can’t bear to leave me?”
Yi Ran looked at the dark sky and smiled. “Nonsense, who can’t bear to leave you?”
“Alright then, I’m going.”
Song Yu Meng knew Yi Ran was just embarrassed, but she was still disappointed. If only Yi Ran told her not to go.
But Yi Ran didn’t say anything, watching her leave silently with longing in her eyes.
Song Yu Meng slowly walked in and opened her door, then looked back. Yi Ran was still there, looking at her. Suddenly, her face flushed and she quickly squeezed through the door and closed it.
The person she liked had disappeared out of sight, and Yi Ran felt that her heart suddenly felt empty, as if she had lost the most important thing to her.
She looked at the starry sky and smiled. “Mm, I can’t bear to leave you.”
Back at home, Song Yu Meng skipped to Mr Song.
Mr Song saw his daughter in such a good mood and he smiled as he put down the newspaper. “What’s up, Xiao-Yu, what happened to put you in such a good mood?”
“Nothing, Crazy Yi sent me home today.” At the mention of Yi Ran, Song Yu Meng was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling.
Mr Song smiled. “Why did you give her such a nickname?”
“It’s unique, I’m the only one who calls her that.” Song Yu Meng felt that Yi Ran’s name was nice, but everybody in class called her that, so she wanted a different name that only she would call Yi Ran.
Mrs Song smiled and teased: “You troubled Xiao-Yi to send you back again.”
“Mom, she lives right next to us! It’s called on the way, how could you call it trouble? Besides, Crazy Yi insisted on sending me back. She even said that she’ll send me back every night from now on!” Song Yu Meng said proudly. “Daddy, you don’t have to ask Uncle Wang to pick me up anymore, I have Yi shifu!”
Mr Song doted on his daughter, and the two of them returning home together every night would only help to better their relationship, so naturally, he agreed.



– Physical education class –
Yi Ran went to play badminton on the field as usual, and Song Yu Meng pulled Su Xiao Xiao up to the rooftop to see her as usual.
But Yi Ran stood there looking around for a long time, but to no avail. Thinking Song Yu Meng didn’t come, she was a bit disappointed.
But she had a sort of feeling, Song Yu Meng was definitely watching her. So where could she be?
She randomly looked up at the rooftop and saw the very person she had been thinking of.
All the gloominess in her heart immediately disappeared and was replaced with happiness. Yi Ran smiled widely, the racquet in her hand moving more energetically.
She knew it. Song Yu Meng must be watching her, probably from the rooftop the last time too.
Yi Ran’s opponent saw that Yi Ran was suddenly playing like she was a different person and couldn’t figure out what was going on.
Just like Su Xiao Xiao. She couldn’t understand what was up with Song Yu Meng. She was constantly smiling at the field, and when asked what she was looking at, she would lower her head shyly and refuse to speak.
Why did she feel like her good friend was dreaming of spring[1] and the person she was looking at


“Xiao-Yu, you’re looking at Yi Ran, right?” She had observed for so long, it couldn’t be wrong.
At the mention of Yi Ran’s name, Song Yu Meng’s heart beat faster and she shyly lowered her head, unable to hide her smile. She was the exact picture of a shy young lady.
Su Xiao Xiao seemed to have guessed something and asked: “That, Xiao-Yu, do you like Yi Ran?”
“!!!” Song Yu Meng’s eyes filled with surprise, looking at Su Xiao Xiao.
“Ah, ah?” Song Yu Meng was so anxious her voice was trembling. “How did you know I like Yi Ran, is it very obvious?”
Su Xiao Xiao nodded. “It’s really very obvious.”
Song Yu Meng’s face flushed even redder, wanting to escape.
Her good friend was always a simple, naive person who wouldn’t overthink things. If even she could tell that Song Yu Meng liked Yi Ran, then doesn’t that mean that the whole world knew?
She definitely wanted to shout to the world that she liked Yi Ran, but she was also scared of telling other people she liked Yi Ran.
It was very contradictory.
Su Xiao Xiao stroked her chin and looked at the sky, asking: “Yi Ran should like you too, right?”
“Wh-what?!” Song Yu Meng’s eyes showed her excitement and she pulled on Su Xiao Xiao’s arm. “What did you just say? You said Yi Ran likes me too?!”
Su Xiao Xiao never thought her reaction would be so big. “Um

 This is very obvious too, right?”
“Then what should I do now? I really, really, really like Yi Ran!”
Her eyes were gleaming happily when she said she liked Yi Ran.
“Then confess to her.”