Another First Kiss

"All right, tell me. What did you want to talk to me about?" Zheng Mo seemed to be walking out of the library. Her voice gradually grew louder, clear and pleasant.

"Actually, it's nothing much. I just wanted to ask about that basketball game you mentioned. Maybe I can help!" Su Ke leaned back on the living room sofa, settling into a comfortable position.

"You? Ha! Don't make me laugh!" Zheng Mo laughed, leaving Su Ke feeling helpless. She clearly didn't think much of him.

"Hey! I'm a living Lei Feng, okay?"

"Fine! You're Lei Feng, all right? Thanks for caring!" Zheng Mo walked along the campus path with her phone. When she spotted a bench by the road, she stopped and looked up at the moonlight spilling across the sky. The streetlamps cast dappled light over the trees on either side.

"What? You're saying that guy couldn't win you over, so he took his anger out on your class? And said he'd beat you all so badly you'd wish you were dead?" Su Ke's voice rose despite himself. He sounded as if he were sharing her outrage.

"Yeah! Exactly! Do you think I've dragged our whole class into this? The guys in my class are all pretty good dancers, and they can jump well enough, but basketball is another matter! And he's really close with the Physical Education Department. He's not only hired outside players, he's also put the word out that nobody else is allowed to help our class!" Zheng Mo grew angrier as she spoke, gritting her teeth. Su Ke could hear her fury from the other end.

"I'll help you!" Su Ke thought it over. He had no idea how good his Street Basketball Mastery (Intermediate) really was, but he believed that anything the Flower Picking System offered would be extraordinary.

"You? Can you handle it?" Thinking of Su Ke's delicate features, skinny build, and height of just over 1.7 meters, Zheng Mo couldn't help losing heart a little.

"Hey, sis, you don't have to be that harsh! I'm a living Lei Feng, remember?" Su Ke had relaxed considerably by now. He was getting more comfortable talking with Zheng Mo, his nerves gradually fading and his words becoming less guarded.

"I'm not trying to put you down, but with that skinny frame of yours, I really am a little worried. I appreciate the offer!" Zheng Mo knew the action on a basketball court could get rough, and a careless moment could leave someone bleeding on the court. Picturing Su Ke, she shook her head and turned him down.

"Come on, if I lead your class to victory, how are you going to thank me?" After Zheng Mo had dismissed him again and again, Su Ke's stubborn streak kicked in. He stuck out his chin and asked.

"How am I going to thank you? You tell me. Should I give myself to you?" Zheng Mo leaned against the back of the bench and gazed at the moon. She held her phone in one hand, while the other rested across her chest, supporting her arm. Her long legs were crossed, one swinging above the other. She looked perfectly at ease.

"Uh!" Su Ke was beaten again. The moment Zheng Mo mentioned giving herself to him, he was struck speechless. He couldn't help sighing up at the sky. Why was he so pure by nature? Whenever the conversation turned to this, his mind just shut down!

He took a deep breath and looked at the phone in his hand, almost as if he could see Zheng Mo covering her mouth and giggling on the other end. Before he knew it, he blurted out, "You don't have to give yourself to me. How about a kiss?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the other end of the call suddenly went silent. The silence left Su Ke thinking he had scared Zheng Mo. Just as he was about to say something, her voice came through again.

"What kind of kiss? Mouth to mouth?"

"Uh! I guess so!" Su Ke felt as if she'd teased him back. He paused, then nodded firmly as he answered.

"Then what if you lose?" Zheng Mo seemed intrigued and asked without thinking.

"You can decide what happens!" Su Ke threw caution to the wind. He couldn't let a woman look down on him like this. Besides, even if it was only to complete the mission, he had to agree to that condition!

Just then, a mission alert sounded in his mind again. As soon as the mechanical voice rang out, he reacted instinctively and entered the Flower Picking System's space. A new mission appeared on the electronic screen.

"Mission: Obtain Zheng Mo's first kiss; reward: Piano Mastery (Intermediate)."

"That mission came up fast!" Su Ke muttered to himself. Seven missions had appeared just today, bringing his total to twenty-one. It looked like he'd soon be able to unlock the system's assistance option. But honestly, this mission's reward wasn't all that tempting.

"Hey! Hey! Little pervert, you're not backing out, are you? Your big sister here already said it was a deal!" Zheng Mo's voice came through again, jolting Su Ke back to reality.

"Of course not! Just you wait. Don't try to wriggle out of it later!" Seeing how quickly the mission would be completed, Su Ke was in a great mood. He crossed one leg over the other, grinning as he spoke into the phone.

After all, with Street Basketball Mastery (Intermediate), he might not be completely sure of victory, but he had at least a sixty- or seventy-percent chance.

As they were talking, the front door opened and Su Youfu and Zhang Xue walked in together. Seeing Su Ke on the phone, they deliberately softened their steps. They pretended to busy themselves with this and that while straining their ears to listen.

When Su Ke saw his mother's expression, his face turned red as if he'd been caught doing something wrong. He stumbled over his words, and the hand holding the phone grew sweaty. After chatting with Zheng Mo for a few more minutes, he quickly arranged a time and place to meet and hung up.

"Hehe, Su Ke, tell Mom. Who was that girl you were talking to?" Zhang Xue saw Su Ke put down the phone and immediately sat on the sofa opposite him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Su Ke thought, This is bad. Mom's curiosity is already burning out of control. He wanted to get out of there right away, so he gave an awkward grin and started to stand.

"Don't run! I heard that girl's voice just now. She sounds like a beauty. Bring her home for Mom to meet sometime!" Zhang Xue smiled so broadly her eyes narrowed, making the crow's-feet at their corners even more obvious.

"Mom!" Su Ke looked at his mother helplessly, his face burning red. He had no choice but to resort to pleading. Sitting down beside Zhang Xue, he took her hand. "Mom, she's just a friend. Don't make things up. I'm not dating anyone!"

Just then, Su Youfu poked his head out of the dining room. "Come on, dinner's ready! Su Ke, don't say I never warned you: when the time comes, you should date. But you're in your senior year of high school, and it's a crucial time, so be careful not to let it get in the way. Once you're in college, your mom and I won't interfere!"

Su Ke lowered his head and followed his mother to the dining table. He was too embarrassed to look up throughout dinner. All he could do was listen to Su Youfu tell stories about his youth. It turned out that his parents had gotten together back in high school, too.

Apparently, showing off his math skills last time had given his parents a lot of confidence that he could get into college. Still, having his parents encourage him to date was far too awkward, and it left Su Ke unable to enjoy his dinner.