It wasn't planned.
That was the important part.
Because if it had been planned, Jiang Chen would have thought about it too much.
And if he thought too much, he wouldn't have done it at all.
---
Another Late Evening
It was another long study day.
Midterms were getting closer again, and the library was slowly becoming their second home.
Zhao Ming had already complained at least seven times.
Lin Yue had finished two chapters ahead of everyone.
Su Ran was reviewing notes.
Jiang Chen was solving problems quietly.
When the library finally closed, the four of them walked out together.
"I cannot feel my brain anymore," Zhao Ming said.
"That's normal for you," Lin Yue replied.
"This is emotional damage," he said.
Su Ran laughed, then stretched her arms.
"I'm tired too."
"I'll walk you back," Jiang Chen said.
Zhao Ming immediately said,
"We'll go ahead."
"You don't have to—" Su Ran started.
"We insist," Zhao Ming said, already pulling Lin Yue away.
Lin Yue looked back once and said,
"He's doing it on purpose."
"I know," Su Ran said.
---
Just the Two of Them
The campus was quiet at night.
Soft lights.
Cool air.
A few students walking in the distance.
Su Ran and Jiang Chen walked slowly side by side.
Their hands found each other naturally.
No hesitation.
No thinking.
Just habit.
"Today was tiring," she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"But studying with you is still better than studying alone," she added.
He looked at her.
"Same," he said.
They stopped near her dorm building.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
It was one of those quiet moments where no one wanted to leave first.
---
The Almost Moment
Su Ran looked at him.
"You've been… different lately," she said.
"How?" he asked.
"You talk more. You smile more."
He thought for a moment.
"Maybe I just feel more comfortable now."
"With what?" she asked.
"With you," he said.
Her heart skipped slightly.
She smiled.
Then neither of them spoke again.
But the silence didn't feel awkward.
It felt… close.
---
The Kiss
Jiang Chen looked at her for a second longer than usual.
Then, before he could overthink it,
he stepped a little closer and gently kissed her.
It wasn't long.
It wasn't dramatic.
Just soft. Careful. A little nervous.
But real.
When he pulled back, both of them were quiet.
Su Ran blinked once, clearly surprised.
Then she smiled.
"You didn't even warn me," she said softly.
"I would have stopped myself if I warned you," he replied.
She laughed a little.
"That's true."
---
The Worst Timing
From behind a nearby tree—
"Yes," Zhao Ming whispered.
Lin Yue covered his mouth immediately.
"Stop talking," she whispered.
But it was too late.
Zhao Ming had already seen everything.
His eyes were wide like he had just witnessed the most important event of the century.
"They kissed," he whispered dramatically.
"I can see that," Lin Yue said.
"We just witnessed history," Zhao Ming continued.
"You are being very loud for someone hiding behind a tree," she said.
---
The Discovery
Su Ran suddenly heard something.
She turned slightly.
"…Did you hear that?"
Jiang Chen looked around.
Zhao Ming accidentally stepped on a dry leaf.
crunch
Silence.
Then Zhao Ming slowly stood up from behind the tree like nothing happened.
"Hello," he said.
Su Ran stared at him.
"…Why are you behind a tree?"
"I like nature," Zhao Ming replied.
Lin Yue walked out behind him and said,
"He dragged me here."
Zhao Ming pointed at them dramatically.
"YOU KISSED."
"Be quiet!" Su Ran said immediately.
"I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN SOMEDAY," Zhao Ming continued.
Jiang Chen sighed.
"You were spying."
"I was observing," Zhao Ming corrected.
---
The Teasing Begins
The next day at lunch, Zhao Ming couldn't stop.
"So," he said, leaning forward,
"how was it?"
"No one is answering that," Jiang Chen said.
Lin Yue smiled slightly.
"I didn't expect you to be the type to kiss first," she said to Jiang Chen.
"Neither did I," Su Ran added.
Zhao Ming held his head dramatically.
"I cannot believe this. First dating, now kissing. This story is progressing too fast."
"It's not fast," Su Ran said.
"It is very fast for me," Zhao Ming replied.
"You are not part of the relationship," Jiang Chen said.
"I am emotionally involved," Zhao Ming said.
Lin Yue shook her head.
"You're impossible," she said.
"But you still sit with me," Zhao Ming replied.
She didn't respond, but she didn't deny it either.
---
A Small Change
After that day, something shifted again.
Not in a big way.
Just slightly.
When they walked together, their hands stayed linked a little longer.
When they said goodbye, they didn't rush away as quickly.
And sometimes, when no one was looking—
They stood a little closer.
Smiled a little softer.
And remembered that moment.
---
Zhao Ming's Final Words
Before leaving that day, Zhao Ming pointed at Jiang Chen seriously.
"You have crossed into a new stage of life," he said.
"What stage?" Jiang Chen asked.
"Main character stage," Zhao Ming replied.
"This is not a drama," Jiang Chen said.
"It is absolutely a drama," Zhao Ming said.
Su Ran laughed.
Lin Yue smiled.
And Jiang Chen, for once,
didn't argue.
Because for the first time,
he didn't mind if it felt a little like one.