I'm a senior in high school, and the system says I'm going on a blind date with my childho

Chapter 169 I Want to Eat Your Candy Too

The October evening breeze was still blowing, but the two walking side by side did not feel the chill at all.

Shen Yuan's fingertips unconsciously caressed the back of Li Zhi's hand. The smooth and soft touch made him feel a little dazed, yet incredibly real.

Li Zhize kept his eyes slightly lowered, only occasionally glancing up to steal a glance at the figure beside him before quickly looking away. The faint blush on his ears seemed to have never faded under the streetlights.

The deeper the night, the quieter the neighborhood became.

Just moments ago, there were still a few scattered residents returning home late, but now they have vanished without a trace, leaving only a few streetlights standing guard and the occasional chirping of insects.

Shen Yuan felt Li Zhi gently tickle his palm with her fingertips, and he turned his head to look at her.

"……What's wrong?"

Li Zhi didn't speak, but slightly raised the hand that was being held by him, and took out his phone with his other hand to look at the screen.

10: 01.

The screen's brightness clearly reflected the time.

Shen Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on his hand.

Li Zhi's voice was soft, with an almost imperceptible elusive quality: "It's time to go back."

Shen Yuan nodded, letting out a silent sigh.

The tranquility and peace of holding hands just now was like a sweet pebble thrown into a lake of the heart; the ripples that were just spreading had not yet subsided, but had to be gathered back.

Shen Yuan responded softly, "Mm."

Instead of immediately increasing her speed, she tightened her grip on Li Zhi's hand, as if this could prolong this precious time alone.

Li Zhi felt her fingertips completely enveloped by Shen Yuan, the strength was steady, with a stubbornness that was unwilling to let go.

She didn't say anything more, but just let him lead her, following his slightly faster pace than when they arrived, towards her apartment building.

The path, just a few dozen meters from the entrance of the building, felt unusually short.

The motion-sensor lights in the hallway turned on with a cold white light as the two approached.

Stepping into the somewhat empty elevator lobby, they were immediately enveloped by the chill of the night and the distinct quietness of the interior.

Under the lights, the way the two held hands became quite obvious.

Li Zhi seemed to be "burned" by the light and subconsciously tried to pull his hand back.

Shen Yuan tightened his grip slightly for a moment, preventing her from instinctively backing down.

He turned his head to look at her, and their eyes met.

Li Zhi's gaze met his, and the blush that had just faded from her face quietly crept back up. She looked away evasively, but ultimately did not try to break free.

The numbers on the elevator panel show that the elevator is slowly descending from the upper floor.

During the brief wait, the two stood side by side, neither of them speaking.

Li Zhi could clearly feel the temperature of Shen Yuan's fingers and the texture of the calluses, as well as the slight warmth emanating from his palm.

With a soft "ding," the elevator doors slowly opened in front of them.

The sound was like a tiny yet clear signal.

Shen Yuan reached out and pressed the button for Building 19A.

As the elevator doors slowly closed, the elevator's soft hum and the light from the overhead lamp became the only background noise in the cramped space.

The feeling of being confined amplified the unspeakable emotions and reluctance to part.

The instant the elevator began to ascend, Shen Yuan felt Li Zhi's hand, the hand that had been passively lying in his palm, actively and gently squeeze his fingers.

The force was very light, like a feather brushing past, yet it carried a clear warmth and response.

This subtle gesture was like a warm current, instantly dispelling the indescribable sense of loss and the reality of having to part ways that I felt when I went upstairs.

Feel the warmth transmitted through my fingertips.

In this brief vertical space leading to each other's homes, the reluctance to "have to go home" that time has fostered seems to be gently soothed by the warmth in the palm of the hand and this silent response.

The air was no longer filled with the unspoken understanding of their previous walk, but with the shy yet incredibly clear sound of heartbeats, so clear that it drowned out the faint noise of the elevator running.

The short journey of those ten seconds before arriving at my doorstep felt like a secret space-time that was allowed to exist for a brief period of time.

The elevator came to a smooth stop, and as the doors slid open, the cool white light from the corridor poured in, shattering the brief sense of confinement in the elevator lobby.

Shen Yuan could feel the temperature between his fingers tighten slightly, then relax silently.

"arrive."

"Ah."

As if by prior arrangement, the two stepped out of the elevator at the same time, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Li Zhi's fingers slid gently from Shen Yuan's palm without hesitation, the movement as light as a fallen leaf returning to its roots, without a trace of coercion.

Shen Yuan followed the rhythm, his palm naturally loosening, his fingertips leaving a faint touch on the back of her hand.

Just as Li Zhi took his schoolbag off his shoulder, the beautiful girl reached out and took it from him.

A silent understanding resonated between the two.

Shen Yuan said, "I'll go back and do some more problems."

“Okay,” Li Zhi looked up at Shen Yuan and said, “Take care and get some rest.”

Shen Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard this, as if he had caught some interesting signal.

"I know."

The warm atmosphere downstairs in the apartment complex was instantly replaced by Shen Yuan's familiar, slightly cheeky demeanor.

The boy leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Li Zhi, and a sly smile spread across his face: "Oh—Li Bao, are you... concerned about me?"

Seeing him instantly revert to his "old smug" demeanor, Li Zhi glared at him irritably.

"Go do your test paper! If you're going to do it, at least do half of it and show it to me tomorrow morning."

With the soft click of the door closing, Li Zhi's slightly cold voice was shut out.

Shen Yuan stood there, stroked his chin, chuckled to himself at the closed door, and then turned around and walked home, satisfied.

Upon returning home, Shen Yuan was met with a questioning gaze from his mother.

"I chatted with Li Zhi about some topics at school."

Upon hearing Shen Yuan's words, Ms. Zhang Yuyan immediately withdrew her gaze.

"Go and get some rest."

Shen Yuan nodded: "Got it, hiccup~"

The moment the voice rang out, Ms. Zhang's sharp gaze fell upon her again.

"Did you sneak a drink of Coke?"

Shen Yuan quickly replied, "I'll make up for it, I'll make up for all the drinks at home!"

Zhang Yuyan snorted coldly: "Do you need to supplement me? Besides carbonated drinks, what else can you stuff in your mouth?"

"Iced... iced tea?" Shen Yuan asked tentatively.

"roll!"

"okay!"

Having received his mother's decree, Shen Yuan returned to his room with a sigh of relief.

However, as soon as Shen Yuan entered the room, he smelled the stench of feces.

They went outside again at midnight.

Beating the cat won't work; the only solution is to clean the litter box and change the litter.

Sandy Kitten is a bit of a clean freak.

If possible, it would even prefer to separate wet and dry products.

After tidying up the kitten, Shen Yuan took out his test paper and started doing practice questions.

The next morning at 5:10.

At this time of year in late October, the sky outside the window remains gloomy.

Li Zhi was wrapped in the quilt, fast asleep, her smooth black hair draped messily over the pillow, and her cheeks still bearing faint red marks from the pillowcase.

The phone on the bedside table buzzed and lit up, its sudden ringtone breaking the silence of the room.

The beautiful girl frowned and let out a muffled whimper, groggily reaching out to grope around on the pillow.

Li Zhi's eyes weren't fully open, her long eyelashes trembling. She finally managed to reach her phone, and her fingers clumsily swiped across the screen several times before she finally answered.

The screen lit up, and Shen Yuan's energetic face immediately appeared.

Li Zhi's face was so close that only half of her sleeping face could be seen in the camera lens.

The girl's eyes were half-closed, her gaze hazy as if covered by a thin mist, as she stared blankly at the screen.

"Good morning, Li Bao,"

Shen Yuan leaned against the bed and said in a light voice, "It's time to get up."

Li Zhi was stunned for a while, then blinked slowly.

The light from the screen reflected in her pupils, flickering and revealing a touch of natural naiveté.

"...Hmm?...Um...I understand."

Every word felt soft and yielding, as if it had been retrieved from a dream.

Immediately, Shen Yuan saw Li Zhi crawl out of bed. The slightly chilly morning air made the beautiful girl shiver and wake her up.

The unfocused gaze suddenly focused, and Li Zhi immediately saw clearly Shen Yuan's smiling face on the screen, watching with great interest.

Li Zhi's pupils dilated slightly, and the last traces of sleepiness and confusion vanished instantly.

A short, embarrassed "Ah!" escaped her lips.

Li Zhi suddenly turned the phone screen down and covered it with the still-warm blanket!
The movement was so fast that it left only a sudden darkness on Shen Yuan's screen.

"Hey! Is it really necessary, Li Bao?! Don't hide it! I didn't take a screenshot!"

Shen Yuan had barely finished speaking when a soft "smack" came from the blanket. Li Zhi's angry voice rang out from the phone.

"You pervert! You're dead if you dare take a screenshot!"

Hearing Li Zhi's words, Shen Yuan couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The scene he had just witnessed was still vividly playing in his mind. Thinking of Li Zhi's panicked attempt to cover his phone, Shen Yuan still found it quite adorable.

"Tsk," he couldn't help but click his tongue, his voice tinged with lingering laughter, "Li Bao is so cute..."

"Shen Yuan! You're dead!"

With Li Zhi's "blessing" in mind, Shen Yuan pushed open the door to his home just as the time was about right.

After putting on his shoes, Shen Yuan walked to Li Zhi's door as usual.

Almost at the same moment, the door to Li Zhi's house clicked open.

Pushing open the door, Li Zhi saw Shen Yuan.

The scene from the phone call just now seems to be right before my eyes, and that cheeky laughter still seems to echo in my ears.

Li Zhi, with a tense little face, didn't say a word and delivered a solid, decisive kick to his calf.

"hiss--"

Caught off guard, Shen Yuan was kicked and winced, gasping for breath. His hand holding the schoolbag even wobbled.

"Hey, hey, hey, I at least woke you up!"

Li Zhi chuckled: "One thing at a time."

After saying that, Li Zhi put the schoolbag in Shen Yuan's hands: "I'm going to put on my shoes."

Watching the beautiful girl slip her white sock-clad feet into her shoes, Shen Yuan clenched his fist.

As the elevator doors opened on the first floor, the boy and girl walked out of the building side by side.

The cool morning air carries the fresh scent of plants.

In stark contrast to the tranquility of last night, the neighborhood gradually came alive with the sounds of people: elderly people exercising early in the morning, and parents rushing to take their children to school.

The clear chirping of birds replaced the insects' chorus from last night.

Shen Yuan naturally lagged half a step behind Li Zhi, his gaze falling on her ponytail swaying gently with her steps, and the corners of his mouth curved up.

Although Li Zhi did not turn around, he could clearly feel the gaze behind him, which brushed against the back of his neck like a feather, making it feel slightly hot.

She pursed her lips, then suddenly slowed her pace, allowing Shen Yuan to naturally follow and walk alongside her.

Shen Yuan asked, "What's for breakfast?"

"Whatever, I'm fine with anything. Even..."

Li Zhi thought of the late-night snack from last night, and the nausea in her stomach seemed to return.

The pretty girl said reluctantly, her face falling, "I can't even eat much."

"You can't skip meals, how about some rattan soup?"

"Whatever you say." After saying that, the beautiful girl glanced at Shen Yuan, "You treat me."

"no problem."

……

Wednesday was just another ordinary day.

However, Shen Yuan keenly noticed that Zhuo Peipei's condition seemed a bit off these past two days.

She seemed to be deliberately keeping a certain distance from A-Jie.

I don't know if it's because she genuinely doesn't want anything to do with Ah Jie, or if there's something else going on.

Shen Yuan couldn't say for sure, nor could he give a definitive answer.

We can only leave it to fate.

However, if Ah-Jie really likes Zhuo Pei-Pei, that would be quite comical.

After all, ever since Shen Yuan met Zhuo Peipei, A-Jie and she have been on opposing sides.

Will two mortal enemies become lovers?

Then I became interested.

However, although Shen Yuan thought so, the two people involved both remained silent about the matter.

Even the way the two interacted returned to its previous state.

It was as if the whole thing had never happened.

But things took a turn for the better on Thursday.

During Thursday's long break, just after the second period ended, when everyone was getting ready to go for morning exercises, Zhuo Peipei remained seated, showing no intention of standing up.

Shen Yuan may have already noticed that something was wrong with Zhuo Peipei, but Zhou Shaojie did not.

"Hey Peipei, time for morning exercises," Zhou Shaojie said softly, standing in front of Zhuo Peipei's desk.

However, Zhuo Peipei seemed not to hear her, remaining slumped over the table without even lifting her head.

Seeing this, Zhou Shaojie was puzzled, so he raised his voice again: "Zhuo Peipei, time for morning exercises!"

This time, Zhuo Peipei finally slowly raised her head, but her eyes looked somewhat tired.

Zhuo Peipei looked at Zhou Shaojie with a strange expression, her eyes seemingly containing some kind of implication.

Zhou Shaojie felt a little uneasy under her gaze and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you looking at me? You still want to run away? Hey, believe it or not, I'll tell on you, Old Zhou!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Shaojie suddenly felt as if someone had gently patted his shoulder.

He turned around abruptly and saw Shen Yuan standing behind him.

“Jay, if I’m not mistaken, she can’t escape.”

"Why? She..." Zhou Shaojie was about to say something when he suddenly seemed to realize something and froze.

Under Shen Yuan's gaze, A-Jie's entire face began to turn visibly red.

Shen Yuan nodded, then nudged A-Jie.

"Hurry up, Li Bao has already left. What are you still dawdling about? You're keeping me from spending time with Li Bao. I'll pet you when I get back!"

Ah-Jie seemed to wake from a dream and nodded quickly.

"Ah! Right, right, right! I should go do my morning exercises!"

Ah Jie quickly stepped out of his seat and ran out of the classroom without looking back.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on Zhuo Peipei, and he deliberately asked, "When can I get to see some sweet moments with Peipei?"

Zhuo Peipei glared at Shen Yuan, annoyed.

"Get lost! What are you dreaming about!"

Shen Yuan chuckled and stepped out of his seat to go for a run.

Once Shen Yuan caught up with the main group, he immediately ran to Li Zhi's side.

As soon as Shen Yuan stood down beside the line, he met Li Zhi's glance.

"Oh, Young Master Shen, did you break your leg? Why are you only catching up now?"

Shen Yuan remained calm and composed: "I ate some melon, want some?"

Li Zhi's eyes lit up: "What melon?"

Upon hearing Li Zhi's voice, Shen Yuan chuckled and waved to her.

"Come here."

Seeing this, Li Zhi curiously moved closer to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan deliberately lowered his voice, subtly tilting his body slightly towards Li Zhi, his gaze seemingly casually drifting towards A Jie, who was lagging behind in the group.

"Our great president of the Keke Association has suddenly become 'inconvenient to move around' during this long break."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's eyes widened.

Li Zhi naturally understood what Shen Yuan was saying.

Seeing Shen Yuan's gaze, Li Zhi also turned his head to look, and then his gaze also fell on A-Jie.

Walking at the back of the group, Ah Jie saw the gazes of his childhood sweethearts fixed on him, and his face immediately turned helpless.

As for why Ah-Jie was so sure his childhood sweetheart was watching him...

He wasn't blind; he knew exactly who was outside Cafeteria No. 1 back then.

Without a doubt, Shen Yuan definitely went to talk to Li Zhi about Zhuo Peipei.

That's it, now I'm really in deep trouble.

Li Zhi withdrew her gaze and looked at Shen Yuan in astonishment: "He really guessed right?"

Shen Yuan nodded: "Is this even real, baby?"

Li Zhi rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan, but her curiosity quickly took over.

"Could he really like Pepe?"

"It's hard to say," Shen Yuan smiled slightly, "Anyway, I'm prepared to be a bystander, or rather, a spectator."

"I let Peipei enjoy our sweet moments every day, now I'm going to find a chance to enjoy hers too!"

Li Zhi slapped Shen Yuan in dissatisfaction: "What do you mean by 'our candy'? Who gave you candy! Humph!"

"So, are you going to take it or not?"

"How could the two of them be together now? Besides, it might really be a misunderstanding. Don't try to force things between them."

As she spoke, the beautiful girl gently tugged at Shen Yuan: "Listen to me, be good."

Seeing the beautiful girl holding his hand, Shen Yuan nodded obediently: "Mmm, good boy."

　If I can write it today, I'll add an extra chapter today; if I can't write it today, I'll add an extra chapter tomorrow.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)