A Daring Kiss on a Quiet Street

Each lost in their own thoughts, the two suddenly fell into silence.

They walked from the bustling city center until they reached a quiet street.

By then, the bright moon hung high in the sky, accompanied by countless twinkling stars.

Not a single other pedestrian passed by in their surroundings.

“Hmm… by my reckoning, it should be about time.”

Bai Muxue had been staring intently at her phone since they left, her thoughts a mystery even to herself.

Beside her, Qin Xiyao’s mind was consumed by the ‘plan’ she was about to execute, her cheeks steadily flushing with color.

To be fair, Qin Xiyao felt immensely satisfied that she had managed to have some intimate contact with Bai Muxue, whom she had longed for, just as she had hoped.

Their relationship even seemed to have made some groundbreaking progress.

However, it wasn’t enough; it was far from enough.

Today’s ‘date’ was drawing to a close, and Qin Xiyao wondered if they would ever again share such intimate moments, just like today.

Qin Xiyao was truly reluctant to part with the time she spent with Bai Muxue, and thus, the small desire nestled deep within the young girl’s heart began to swell uncontrollably.

Therefore, she craved more—not merely the simplicity of holding hands.

She yearned for a scenario where even if she were to make a slightly bolder, more intimate move, Xiaoxue would not object.

“Um, Xiaoxue…”

After a long hesitation, Qin Xiyao finally spoke, her voice cautious, breaking the silence that had settled between them.

“Hmm? Is something wrong?”

Bai Muxue lowered her phone, turning her head to gaze at the young girl who stood before her, her head slightly bowed.

Qin Xiyao lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with a trace of seriousness.

“Have you ever gone shopping like this with that friend of yours?”

Silently, Bai Muxue’s gaze drifted to their gently clasped hands.

She paused for a moment, then subtly shook her head.

“No.”

How long had it been since she last went shopping with Xingwan, hand in hand?

Was she ten? Or perhaps nine?

As for now, after becoming the eldest daughter of the Bai family, such outings were entirely out of the question.

Thus, Bai Muxue’s response to Qin Xiyao was entirely truthful.

“Then, what about Xiaoxue’s tutor? Did you go with them?”

This time, Qin Xiyao’s tone was considerably lighter.

“That’s even more impossible!”

Bai Muxue continued to shake her head.

“No, not even with them.”

“I see…”

Apparently satisfied with the answer, Qin Xiyao nodded meaningfully.

‘In that case, am I the first person to do something like this with Xiaoxue?’

This thought inevitably surfaced in her mind, yet Qin Xiyao did not voice it.

Instead, she lowered her head, suppressing a faint smile, as the unease that had previously clouded her eyes completely dissipated.

Bai Muxue’s assessment of Qin Xiyao was indeed accurate; she was, undeniably, a girl who lacked a sense of security and thus felt compelled to seek repeated reassurance.

Even though Bai Muxue had previously stated that she was a very important person to her, Qin Xiyao still, consciously or unconsciously, engaged in small tests, much like this one.

Despite her deep-seated insecurity, she stubbornly refused to vocalize her true feelings, preferring instead to project an image of gentleness.

This might have been influenced by her family background: her mother favored an obedient and sensible daughter, and Qin Xiyao believed Xiaoxue would similarly dislike a girl who was unreasonable or troublesome.

Yet, Qin Xiyao was, after all, merely a teenage girl.

How could she completely shed the awkwardness and minor whims inherent to a young woman’s heart?

‘She knew, for instance, that her previous question was rather foolish, and might even make Bai Muxue think she was irrational, always needing to “win” even in normal interactions between friends.’

But she simply couldn’t help it; she couldn’t suppress that inner impulse and unease.

That was precisely why she wished to alleviate this anxiety through a more significant step.

As these thoughts consumed her, a resolute glint appeared in her eyes.

Qin Xiyao deliberately released Bai Muxue’s hand, then swiftly stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the other girl, her hands clasped behind her back.

“Xiaoxue, I’m truly delighted you invited me out today…”

Her slender eyes curved into crescent moons, yet her smile held a hint of mischievousness.

“So, I thought I’d express my gratitude to my Xiaoxue.”

“Gratitude?”

Bai Muxue froze at the words, a thought flashing through her mind: ‘If this girl intends to give me a gift, why didn’t she do it back at the mall? Or did she secretly buy something when I wasn’t looking?’

For a moment, Bai Muxue’s thoughts drifted, so much so that she failed to notice anything unusual in Qin Xiyao’s gaze.

“It’s just that…”

In the very instant Bai Muxue was lost in thought, Qin Xiyao swiftly closed the distance between them.

Under the other girl’s slightly astonished gaze, she leaned in slightly.

“Xiyao??”

Before Bai Muxue could even register her surprise, Qin Xiyao’s soft lips gently touched her cheek.

Eh…?

For a moment, Bai Muxue found herself utterly incapable of thought.

It was as if even the bright moon in the sky had shyly hidden itself away.

She felt as though the entire world had receded, leaving only Qin Xiyao’s scent and the soft, warm sensation on her cheek.

The kiss was fleeting, so brief that by the time Bai Muxue regained her senses, Qin Xiyao had already pulled back, turning her head away with a bashful expression.

‘She had boldly initiated the contact with Bai Muxue, yet her shyness had only allowed her to leave a fleeting, gentle kiss on the girl’s cheek.’

“X-X-X-Xiyao???”

Bai Muxue remained frozen in stunned silence for a long, long time before finally snapping back to reality.

With a look of utter disbelief, as if her linguistic abilities had utterly deserted her, she stammered, covering her flushed cheeks.

Having overcome her inner hesitation and completed this incredibly daring act, Qin Xiyao’s cheeks were also flushed crimson, and her heart began to pound fiercely.

As a sensitive and delicate literary girl, one who would hesitate for ages even before holding hands, such a simple gesture nearly made her explode with shyness.

Striving to calm her trembling voice, Qin Xiyao took a deep breath, then offered Bai Muxue a poised and generous smile.

“Eh, Xiaoxue, why that expression?”

“It’s perfectly normal for good friends to show a little affection now and then, isn’t it?”

This was the excuse she had prepared in advance, for after all, a kiss on the cheek wasn’t considered a particularly significant matter among some girls.

Of course, for those girls, it was purely an intimate gesture between best friends.

As for the true intentions lurking in Qin Xiyao’s own heart, only she held the answer.

“Ahem, ahem,” she feigned a light cough, then spoke with an air of casualness.

“It’s simply because my overflowing joy compelled me to express my gratitude, that’s all.”

“As the saying goes, ‘The spring breeze caresses the face, like an old friend bidding farewell’… Xiaoxue, don’t overthink it.”

Naturally, these were just words; she desperately wished for a certain someone to overthink it.

Qin Xiyao had no idea of Bai Muxue’s current mental state, yet she knew with absolute certainty that after today, she would no longer be able to evade her true feelings.

As for what she would do next, perhaps even she herself remained unsure.

“Ah, the car I called has arrived.

Xiaoxue, you don’t need to see me off; I’ll be going now…”

“I was truly happy today.

I, we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

Unsure of what to say, and feeling her inner shyness swell even further, Qin Xiyao could only snatch the bag Bai Muxue was holding and hastily run off into the distance.

Ultimately, only Bai Muxue’s slender figure remained standing by the roadside.