Chapter 524: Lotus Pond Moonlight

Lu Cheng said it with a smiling face, not serious at all, while Yang Yin pursed her lips.

"You like it just because I give you two boxes of cigarettes, you're way too easy to bribe! Tomorrow someone gives you two bottles of wine, the day after someone treats you to a meal, do you fall for them again? Then how many girls will you like!"

Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow; he admired Yang Yin's temperament, very clear about what he wanted, especially in love.

Leaning in, Lu Cheng whispered by Yang Yin's ear: "I only like stealing things for my girl."

Yang Yin felt her ear tickle: "So you like thieves then."

Lu Cheng had already gotten on the bike, Yang Yin called out: "Hey, I haven't gotten on yet."

"Run up."

"I'm wearing a skirt!"

Lu Cheng had to stop, waiting for Yang Yin to sit sideways properly and tidy her skirt.

"Alright, let's go…"

Lu Cheng pedaled the bike again.

The early‑summer breeze, lively, fluttered the girl's skirt.

The boy wore a white shirt, sleeves rolled up to his arms, the bike rode along a tree‑shaded path, with the girl on the back, inevitably drawing other classmates' eyes.

When they reached a State-run Hotel at the school gate, they ordered two bowls of fragrant Spring noodles; each time the girl took a small bite, she would pause and watch the boy across from her devour his noodles.

Until Lu Cheng's bowl was empty, Yang Yin pushed her own bowl over to him.

Lu Cheng glanced, "What, you haven't finished a bowl yet?"

Yang Yin rested her forearms on the table, propped her chin, eyes crescent‑shaped: "I've waited so long for you, I might be starving."

Lu Cheng shook his head, pulled the bowl forward, and ate big mouthfuls again, soon emptying it; Yang Yin raised her hand.

"Uncle, another bowl of noodles."

Lu Cheng waved his hand quickly, "I'm about done; there are still two bowls of soup."

"I want to eat it."

Lu Cheng set down his chopsticks, tone slightly stern, "Aren't you not hungry?"

"Now I'm hungry again."

Lu Cheng helplessly waited for another serving of Spring noodles; Yang Yin scooped out half and shared it with Lu Cheng.

"You said you were hungry, why share with me again?"

"Then I can't eat that much either."

Yang Yin wanted to experience the feeling of someone eating the leftovers of her rice; she found it romantic.

Seeing Lu Cheng unmoved, Yang Yin urged, "Eat quickly; when I'm at home, any leftover rice is eaten by my dad."

Lu Cheng laughed, "Then why don't you call me dad, and I'll eat it for you."

"Get lost, you—just a couple of words and you lose all decorum!"

Yang Yin tapped the noodles in the bowl with her chopsticks, as if it were Lu Cheng, tapping it in half before stopping.

After finishing the noodles, they ordered two bottles of soda; Lu Cheng drank half, and because he needed to ride the bike, handed the bottle to Yang Yin.

"Really, call me dad, and the remaining half‑bottle is yours to drink, sss, hurts…"

Lu Cheng massaged his waist, "What's wrong, always twisting people?"

"Serves you right! It'll hurt you to death!"

……

Qingbei University is huge; we wandered around the campus all afternoon, seeing different scenery.

When we grew tired of walking, it was already evening; Lu Cheng sat by the lake, watching the pond full of blooming lotus flowers.

Yang Yin tied up her green skirt, also sat beside him, one hand supporting her chin, gazing at the lotus pond in quiet.

After a long while, Yang Yin finally asked, "Lu San'er, do you think there will be a moon tonight?"

"It should be there."

"What if there isn't?"

"Hmm? If not, we'll wait for the next moon and watch together."

"Can we do it tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Then I hope there's no moon tonight! Because then you can accompany me twice."

Lu Cheng glanced; the sunset painted the girl's profile, tranquil and pure.

Tonight the weather was uncooperative; although the moon rose, it was dim, shrouded in a hazy glow.

Even so, many classmates still came to the lotus pond to admire, because the lotus had been in full bloom these days.

Although the moonlight wasn't ideal tonight, the atmosphere was clearly enough; some classmates came especially to stand by the lake under the moon, before the pond of lotus, and recite Zhu Ziqing's essay 'Lotus Pond Moonlight.'

That voice, full of deep feeling, earned enthusiastic applause.

Yang Yin also clapped, "His recitation was really good."

Lu Cheng didn't deny it; the academic atmosphere at the university is already strong, which is why Lu Cheng likes to come here after work, feeling both body and mind relax.

At first the lakeside was lively, everyone chatting and laughing, discussing daytime studies, literature and poetry, and the pond full of lotus…

As evening deepened, people gradually thinned out, but not all left; some even arrived.

These newcomers were all young men and women walking side by side, as if deliberately waiting for the lotus‑viewing crowd to leave before strolling here.

Clearly they were on dates; in such a university campus, sharing common topics and ideals in youthful years, feelings naturally arose.

Lu Cheng stood, patted his butt, "It's getting late, let's go, give them some free time."

Yang Yin didn't want to leave: "No, you sit down quickly, something exciting will happen soon."

"Exciting?"

"Mmm, you sit down quickly, don't make any sound."

Seeing Yang Yin's sly expression, Lu Cheng became curious for a moment.

What kind of good show could possibly happen?

Half an hour later, the moon slipped behind the clouds, as if afraid of disturbing the current tranquility; the few couples by the lake stopped talking, snuggled together, and quietly watched the lotus flowers.

Lu Cheng waited for a long time without seeing any good show, and was about to speak when Yang Yin raised a finger: "Shh, look over there…"

Lu Cheng looked over and saw, on the other side of the Lotus Pond, through the protruding lotus stems, a man and a woman kissing.

Lu Cheng turned his head and found Yang Yin staring with wide eyes, unblinking.

Lu Cheng found it funny: "Isn't this the good show you were talking about?"

Yang Yin nodded: "Mm, isn't this a good show? It's far more entertaining than a movie."

Whether it's better than a movie is unknown, but it's definitely bolder than movies; today's films are still very conservative—showing a bare chest or thighs is still unacceptable.

If such a kissing scene actually appeared, it would definitely explode across the nation.

So it's no wonder Yang Yin is curious; compared to the scenes that are commonplace on future streets, seeing such a moment in this era is truly novel.

Yang Yin kept staring: "Don't you think it's romantic?"

Lu Cheng just stared at Yang Yin; because Yang Yin wanted a clearer view, they probably didn't notice that their upper body was already almost lying in Lu Cheng's embrace.

"It's fine, I guess. If it were me, I'd kiss more passionately."

The couple, perhaps nervous or inexperienced, only shared a shallow kiss.

Hearing Lu Cheng's words, Yang Yin finally came to herself, slowly turned her profile, and met the boy's burning eyes.