Don't Kiss Me

● A sweet childhood-friends campus romance

● A short-to-medium-length story

Jiang Yan had a childhood friend everyone envied.

Her childhood friend was a top student and handsome, walked to and from school with her every day, and ate with her all the time.

Growing up, Jiang Yan heard countless people gush with envy:

"Jiang Yan, is Pei Suizhi your boyfriend?"

"Jiang Yan, Pei Suizhi is so handsome."

"Jiang Yan, Pei Suizhi treats you so well."

But Jiang Yan could only manage a dry smile and say nothing.

Only she knew how devious her childhood friend could be.

Devious Deed No. 1:

Pei Suizhi claimed he was going to tutor Jiang Yan, but instead dragged her to an internet cafe, where she had to sit there miserably watching him play games. For some reason, he even liked making her play along.

(Though in the end, Jiang Yan got him to play Gold Miner with her.)

Devious Deed No. 2:

Jiang Yan never dared to spend all her pocket money. She had to save some to pay tribute to Pei Suizhi, her royal highness.

If she did badly on a test, she had to pay Pei Suizhi hush money, or her parents would find out she had failed. If she made an excuse to her parents to go out, she had to pay Pei Suizhi hush money and take him along, or she was afraid he'd snitch.

(Though whenever they went out together, he usually paid.)

Devious Deed No. 3:

Because of Pei Suizhi, when the guy who seemed like everyone's dream senior confessed to Jiang Yan, she didn't even get to hear him out before Pei Suizhi called her away.

He just said, "I'm going home to sleep. If you don't come, I'll tell your parents you're dating in secret."

(Though he was obviously jealous, even though he knew Jiang Yan didn't like the senior.)

And so on and so forth. Jiang Yan was fed up. Who needed a childhood friend like this?

But after starting university, Jiang Yan ate her words every day. She admitted that she and Pei Suizhi had grown up together, and their bond was different. They were already used to having each other around.

She couldn't help messaging him every day:

"What are we having for lunch?"

"What are we having for dinner?"

"What are you doing?"

Jiang Yan was a light sleeper, and her roommate snored so loudly that she could barely sleep. She had no choice but to rent a place off campus, and naturally Pei Suizhi came along. Jiang Yan thought her friendship with Pei Suizhi was as pure as could be, until one time, after getting drunk, she realized there was something strange about her childhood friend.

Her best friend kept telling her there was something ambiguous between them.

Taking her friend's words to heart, Jiang Yan started paying closer attention to Pei Suizhi's behavior.

She saw how, before they ate out, Pei Suizhi would instinctively rinse her bowl and chopsticks with hot water first.

She saw how, when she had cramps, Pei Suizhi stayed by her side even while being sharp-tongued.

She saw how Pei Suizhi's face turned terrifyingly dark whenever someone confessed to her...

Later, Pei Suizhi kissed Jiang Yan until her lips were red and swollen every day. She pushed against his chest and pouted, "Pei Suizhi, stop kissing me."

Pei Suizhi gave her a roguish smile. Instead of stopping, he leaned in and bit the corner of her lip. His voice was husky as he said, "Jiang Yan, you'd better behave, or I'll tell your mom you've been secretly dating."

Jiang Yan: "???"

"When did I ever?"

Pei Suizhi: "We'll see whether your mom believes you or me."

Jiang Yan: "..."

Mom! You trust the wrong person!!!

Blurb written on: 2022.11.20

Theme: Growing up together and getting married