Meet at the school gate

Chapter 14

Lin Zhengmo perfectly fit the appearance of a cold beauty. Her eyes were not the Western-style double eyelids, but rather fan-shaped, with a slight curve at the corners, giving her a haughty gaze that seemed to look down on all living things.

But what if such a gaze was paired with that kind of posture?

When Jian Yue saw the photo, she was truly taken aback. She hadn't expected Lin Zhengmo to "return the favor"—Jian Yue had sent her a photo, and Lin Zhengmo had sent one back in kind.

To be precise: an upgraded version.

More provocative.

The strap of her underwear hung loosely over her shoulder, as if deliberately angled. She had claimed to be flat-chested, but she was actually about the same size as Jian Yue. Though the inner details weren't visible, the curve of the fabric hinted at the shape beneath.

She stared into the camera with her usual expressionless face—cold in demeanor, yet her body was incredibly alluring.

Jian Yue stared at the phone screen, speechless, feeling a sudden heat rise in her body. Hooked by the photo, inappropriate images shattered her rationality.

So the saying "lust makes one lose their mind" really did apply to someone you liked. No matter how rational you were, when it came to the person you loved, you had to submit.

"Ah..." Jian Yue let out a soft sigh, her breathing growing heavier.

"Did you see it?" Lin Zhengmo's voice came through the receiver.

"Y-yes... I saw it."

"What do you think?"

What did she think...

It was amazing.

What did she think...

Ms. Lin, you're too good at this.

Jian Yue had a thousand thoughts in her mind, but not a single word came out.

"If you don't speak, does that mean it's not good?"

"No, that's not it." Jian Yue rolled over, wondering if she should change the topic. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Do you know what girls in a relationship do when they get close?"

In other words: Let the screen "burn" completely.

Lin Zhengmo gave a soft laugh, the sound caressing Jian Yue's ear, implying that she knew exactly what was meant.

"Do you want me to say I know or I don't?"

"I don't know." Jian Yue was dizzy from the teasing.

"I haven't been in a relationship with anyone before you," Lin Zhengmo said frankly. "So I'm still stuck in theoretical knowledge."

"Oh."

"So let's go back to the photo. What do you really think of it?"

"It's good," Jian Yue's throat bobbed. "Very beautiful."

"Be specific," Lin Zhengmo guided her. "Tell me how you feel."

How she felt was:

I.

Want.

To.

Be.

Intimate.

With.

You.

But Lin Zhengmo, did you think she'd say that?

Jian Yue didn't think she was that bold. So she took a step back and said:

"I want to hug you."

"Do you want to hug me from the front or the back?"

Jian Yue took a deep breath, her heart thundering. Lin Zhengmo was blatantly seducing her. Jian Yue had tried to steer the conversation toward "innocence," but Lin Zhengmo insisted on leading her astray.

This was exactly how your girlfriend teased you—so obviously.

Jian Yue decided to go all in, tossing a grenade back: "From the back, then press my lips to your ear, kiss your neck as you turn your head, and my hands... definitely wouldn't stay still."

The two 默契地 (tacitly) fell into that state.

The hum of the call.

Clear, melodious voices.

Words bitten out deliberately.

They let each other imagine. What started as just a photo had ignited strange desires.

The internet was a good shield—face-to-face, they would have been too embarrassed.

Lin Zhengmo noticed a new reaction in herself. This was the first time she'd felt such a strong urge for physical intimacy, as if the other person were standing behind her, touching her.

"Can we meet earlier?" Lin Zhengmo blurted out. "I want to officially start our relationship."

Jian Yue snapped out of her trance, suddenly feeling afraid amid the enchantment.

Her voice became clearer: "How much earlier?"

"Listen to two MP3s a day until they're done—can we meet then?"

There were still 40 days left, meaning Lin Zhengmo wanted to meet 20 days earlier.

"Can you give me a little more time? How about a month later?"

Lin Zhengmo's voice cooled: "I've never asked you why before. Can you tell me now?"

Why?

Why could she love someone so unreservedly yet hold back in this way?

The answer was actually in the MP3s.

The earlier heat quickly dissipated, and both calmed down. It seemed that whenever this topic came up, the sweetness couldn't continue.

Lin Zhengmo suddenly realized that Ah Ah Ah (Jian Yue) had been avoiding something all along.

"Tell me why."

All she got was a sigh: "We need time."

"But if we're going to meet, why not sooner?"

The receiver fell silent.

Her silence made Lin Zhengmo wonder if she was being too pushy. Then she thought: she'd already waited three months; what was one more month?

She had just been carried away by the moment, desperate to see her.

"Never mind," the polite and understanding Lin Zhengmo began to reconcile with herself. "Thirty days is fine."

Jian Yue breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay."

"I'm going to sleep." Lin Zhengmo wanted to hang up.

"Rest early. Good night."

"Good night."

The MP3 recordings were mostly trivial.

Lin Zhengmo listened to them as daily stories, as if Ah Ah Ah were speaking to her in person.

The 10th message said:

"Dear Lin Zhengmo, when you hear this, it means we only have thirty-something days left until we meet. Have you kept your promise to listen to only one a day?"

Yes, she had.

Though it was hard to control.

"You must have wondered countless times why we haven't met yet." Here, Ah Ah Ah paused. "I don't know how you view unexpected twists in life—like walking into a lottery shop one day, writing down a few numbers, and winning a huge prize. Completely unplanned, something you never expected."

What did she mean?

"I feel that our meeting was like that. How can I accurately express my current state? Words feel inadequate."

Lin Zhengmo fell into thought. She half-understood that from Ah Ah Ah's monologue, the delay in meeting seemed like a helpless result, and she could hear anxiety in Ah Ah Ah's words.

It sounded like:

Ah Ah Ah wasn't unwilling to meet, but she couldn't.

What was holding her back?

Lin Zhengmo continued listening.

"Falling in love with you is a paradox. If we hadn't fallen in love this way, we could never have been together. But if we love each other like this, I must hide a secret in my heart. I need time to gather the courage to walk toward you with this secret."

Lin Zhengmo felt dazed, unable to fully understand. She wanted to, but couldn't.

"You must think I'm procrastinating, hesitating. But no matter what, I hope that when I stand before you, you won't push me away. Believe that before then, I've prepared myself mentally again and again."

As soon as she finished, the voice in the earphones ended.

The short "Monologue 10" concluded. Lin Zhengmo took off her headphones and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

She couldn't fathom why the other person linked "meeting" with "being pushed away." No matter the scenario, Lin Zhengmo didn't think she would ever push her away.

Ding dong—

A WeChat message popped up.

It was from Director Jian: [Ms. Lin, are you asleep?]

She checked the time: 11:30 PM.

[Not yet, about to sleep. What's up?]

[Don't forget we're working out together tomorrow at 3 PM. Where should I meet you?]

[Meet at the school gate.]

[Okay, Ms. Lin.]

Lin Zhengmo turned off her phone, not planning to reply further. She closed her eyes, ready to sleep, when a bizarre scene played out.

The moment she shut her eyes, she recalled the scene Ah Ah Ah had described during their flirtation: hugging from behind, lips against the ear, kissing the neck as she turned, hands not idle...

It was a warm, loving fantasy.

Lin Zhengmo breathed evenly, her head sinking into the pillow, as if immersed in those lingering words...

Someone was hugging her from behind, being intimate with her. As that person approached, hot lips landed on her neck—she could almost feel the warmth in her imagination. That person...

In her fantasy, Lin Zhengmo turned to look at her.

Suddenly, an image of Director Jian flashed into her mind!

Lin Zhengmo's eyes snapped open, her shock no less than if she'd heard of the apocalypse!!

She sat up abruptly, covered in cold sweat, staring at the dark, empty room, feeling for the first time a sense of loss of control and fear.

This was terrifying!

She had actually substituted Director Jian's face for Ah Ah Ah's in her fantasy!

It was like a bolt of lightning striking her!

It must have been because Director Jian had just messaged her!