How Do You Even Go on a Date?
Lin Mo didn’t get it either. She was just a naive teenage girl—her whole life spent buried in books, spare moments split between part-time jobs and daydreaming about Leng Shuang, the girl she’d met back in middle school.
Yeah, she’d been daydreaming all the way to high school graduation.
So her dating plan followed the classic clichés: amusement park, park, cinema, shopping…
Walking side by side along a garden path, Leng Shuang—tall for a girl—still came up half a head shorter than Lin Mo.
Silence hung between them. A trace of awkwardness and shyness colored their faces. They wanted to speak, but first-date nerves left their thoughts tangled. Glances stolen, then quickly darted away like startled fawns the moment eyes met.
Their hands hovered close. Just a tiny reach would let fingers touch, intertwine.
Yet both hesitated.
Sometimes drifting nearer, then trembling back.
Youthful shyness and fluttering anxiety wove the tender fabric of this moment.
Nearby, a group of boys fed koi fish, laughing and having a blast. One spotted the pair.
“Hey, hey, hey! Isn’t that Leng Shuang and Lin Mo?”
“Whoa, it really is! What’re they doing here?”
“Duh—obviously hooking up… oops, I mean *dating*!”
“No wonder Yu Mo didn’t drag Leng Shuang out earlier. Mystery solved.”
Whispers spread. Smirks full of implication bloomed on their faces.
“Ugh, how long till they hold hands? Look—Lin Mo reaches, then pulls back. C’mon, be bolder!”
“Heard this is Leng Shuang’s first time too. Think Lin Mo’ll get that first kiss?”
“First kiss? Pfft. At this rate, holding hands’ll take a month. First kiss? Dream on~”
The boys scoffed at Lin Mo’s hesitation. They’d all wondered who’d finally win over Sakura High’s untouched school flower—Leng Shuang, swarmed by admirers yet still pure. Seeing her “claimed” held undeniable appeal.
“Time to speed things up~”
Yu Mo stroked his chin, pulled out his phone, and called.
“My phone’s ringing.”
Leng Shuang gave Lin Mo an apologetic smile and answered.
“Hey! Leng Shuang, what’re you up to?”
“I… I’m out.”
“Duh, I *see* you. Well… *we* do~”
“Huh?!”
Panic flashed across Leng Shuang’s face. She glanced around—and spotted the boys by the river, waving with knowing grins.
Her cheeks burned crimson.
*First date ever… and classmates saw everything? The blushing, the shy glances, the failed hand-hold…*
*Ahhh, so embarrassing!*
She wished the ground would swallow her whole.
“What’s wrong?”
Lin Mo followed her gaze, spotted their male classmates smirking. She blinked, scratched her head awkwardly, and waved a stiff hello.
“Enough blushing! We’ve watched you forever—wanting to hold hands but chickening out. When’s the hotel visit?”
“H-h-h-hotel?!”
Leng Shuang stammered, mind racing to scandalous images. Her fair face flushed like a steaming teapot, radiating heat.
“Yu Mo! What’re you saying? No one moves that fast! If I did that, Lin Mo’d think I’m… loose!”
“You’re already kinda… *cough cough*.”
“What were you gonna say?!”
“Nothing! Just—youth is bold. Like her? Show it. She likes you too. Stop overthinking. Hold her hand. Feel it. *Go!*”
The call ended. Yu Mo clenched a fist, flashing a pumped-up “you got this!” gesture.
How could Leng Shuang relax with classmates watching?
She tucked her phone away, deliberately ignoring Yu Mo’s chuunibyou crew.
Just then, Lin Mo’s screen lit up with a DM:
*Lin Mo. Straight up: Leng Shuang says she likes you.*
*If you’re a woman, stop hesitating. Just go.*
*Miss this chance? Might never come again.*
Lin Mo froze—then a soft glow of joy lit her eyes.
She’d feared Leng Shuang’s feelings were just casual. But hearing it from her closest friend? Courage swelled.
Love needs one person to step forward. Not always the girl—but best if she does.
*Her responsibility. She’ll start this.*
“Um… let’s go somewhere else,” Leng Shuang murmured, glancing at their classmates, voice dipped in shy hesitation.
“Okay.”
First dates demanded privacy. Lin Mo longed to escape those watching eyes too.
Like deserters fleeing battle, they vanished in a flash.
“They ran! Chase?”
“Nah. We wingmanned. Stare longer? They’ll curse us out.”
Yu Mo pocketed his phone, gaze lingering where Leng Shuang disappeared—thoughtful, unreadable.
“Too bad. Missed seeing her get won over. Her lips… so glossy, pink, dewy. Makes you wonder what they taste like.”
“Whoa! My best friend’s *gay*?!”
“No way—gay guy right beside me?!”
The group recoiled dramatically, feigning shock.
Laughter erupted by the riverside, drawing curious glances from passing women.
Then Yu Mo’s smile faded.
A familiar figure in sakura pink had appeared…
