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

Chapter 175 Can I... hug you?

Shen Yuan skillfully picked up the pure white cotton sock that belonged to Li Zhi again, his movements even gentler and more careful than before.

Long, slender fingers spread open the soft sock top, carefully and meticulously pulling the sock up to the toes, then the instep, and finally neatly covering the slender ankle with the sock top.

As Shen Yuan carefully adjusted the edge of her socks, Li Zhi's gaze was intently focused on the movements of his hands.

The girl lowered her eyelashes, slowly raised her gaze, past Shen Yuan's lowered head, past his gentle hand, and finally—directly, with complex emotions, looked into his eyes.

Just then, Shen Yuan completed the final step, his fingertips habitually smoothing out a barely perceptible crease on the side of her ankle.

At this moment, Shen Yuan raised his head.

Their eyes met suddenly in the silent air.

The moment Shen Yuan looked up, he clearly saw Li Zhi's face reflected in his eyes.

The focused tenderness that the girl hadn't yet fully concealed in the depths of her eyes froze instantly when she looked into Shen Yuan's eyes.

Shen Yuan's eyes held a focus that was unsettling and a hint of emotion that he couldn't hide.

His gaze was so deep and intense, it seemed to want to draw her in.

Li Zhi's heart felt as if it had been gently gripped by something, then suddenly pounded, producing a dull echo.

The blush she had just managed to suppress spread like wildfire, instantly engulfing her entire pretty face, even tinging her fair neck with crimson, which then spread all the way to her ears, almost as if it were on fire.

Under such intense gaze, Li Zhi felt an overwhelming sense of shyness that almost burst from her chest.

The girl abruptly turned her face away, but couldn't help glancing back, only to meet Shen Yuan's unwavering gaze.

Finally, the girl could no longer bear the weight of this ambiguity, and her lips trembled slightly.

"What...what are you looking at?!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan's lips curled up slightly, and he chuckled softly.

"Looking at—Li Bao blushing shyly."

Shen Yuan did not move, but maintained his original posture, letting that burning gaze lock her in like an invisible net.

"Shy my foot!"

Li Zhi kicked Shen Yuan again.

Shen Yuan's eyes held a smile, having anticipated Li Zhi's light kick.

The instant Li Zhi lifted her foot, Shen Yuan's hand swiftly grasped the ankle wrapped in a pure white cotton sock, the force of his five fingers conveying an inescapable sense of control.

"Never learn your lesson?"

Shen Yuan's fingertips dangerously traced the soles of her feet, lightly touching her sensitive spots twice through her cotton socks, his tone mischievous.

"You kicked me as soon as I put on my socks? Do you want to experience being tickled again?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi suddenly remembered the feeling of losing control when the soles of his feet were being repeatedly tickled.

A short whimper escaped the girl's throat, and her clenched toes trembled violently.

The next second, tears welled up in Li Zhi's eyes.

She suddenly lost all her strength, letting her ankle sink softly into Shen Yuan's palm.

The girl curled her fingertips and gently tugged at his sleeve.

"Don't dare..."

A faint sob lingered in the trembling final note.

Shen Yuan suddenly felt his knee being bumped, and his gaze fell on the blanket next to his knee.

As if in response to Shen Yuan's gaze, the toes hidden under the blanket gently tapped the knee again.

Shen Yuan naturally knew that Li Zhi was faking it.

Before he could say anything, Li Zhi tightened his grip on his sleeve, his voice barely audible.

"Brother...brother...was wrong..."

The beautiful girl bit her lower lip, her eyes tinged with a shimmering blush.

The moment the address slipped from his lips in a soft, tearful voice, Shen Yuan's pupils constricted sharply.

Li Bao suddenly unleashed his attack, directly shattering all of Shen Yuan's defenses.

The boy's fingers slowly released their pressure, and instead pinched her tense ankle.

"This will not be repeated."

After saying that, Shen Yuan released his hand.

Her ankles, wrapped in pure white cotton socks, suddenly withdrew like startled butterfly wings, quickly retreating into the warm depths of the quilt.

The foot that was just held in the palm of the hand is now curled into a small arc, its taut outline faintly visible through the blanket.

Li Zhi lowered her head, not daring to look at Shen Yuan, as if she wanted to hide the lingering burning sensation and the soft, sweet address that had broken down her defenses.

The air suddenly fell silent.

Shen Yuan's palm fell empty, but the intense emotions that had surged in his eyes just now had not faded.

Shen Yuan remained in the same position, his gaze fixed on the slightly raised blanket, as if he could see through the fabric to the still trembling ankle.

Looking at Shen Yuan's appearance, Li Zhi buried her face even deeper to the other side, leaving only her burning red ear tips exposed to the air.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on Li Zhi's blushing ear tips. The burning passion in the air had not yet dissipated, flowing silently and drawing his mind.

Under Shen Yuan's watchful gaze, Li Zhi gradually buried herself in the blankets.

It looked like a small animal curling itself up.

This clumsy attempt to dodge, along with that unexpected, soft "brother" from just now, is like an invisible vine, quietly tightening around Shen Yuan's heart, leaving behind lines that are warm and numb to the touch.

Moreover, there is a crucial factor that both of them had previously overlooked—

This is Shen Yuan's quilt.

Li Zhi wrapped himself in Shen Yuan's blanket and sat on Shen Yuan's bed.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, and the surging emotions in his chest suddenly burst through some invisible gate.

I really want to... hug her.

This thought was not expressed in clear language, but rather a pure and intense desire that suddenly burst forth from within the body.

It wasn't a simple joke, nor was it a comforting touch; it was simply a desire to pull her soft, warm body into his arms, to create a small space just for the two of them.

To completely block out that awkward shyness and the silent ambiguity in the air.

That slender, snow-white neck was just inches away, tempting Shen Yuan to lower his head and convey all his emotions and heartbeats directly to the distance that Li Zhi could perceive.

“Li Zhi…”

The boy's gaze was fixed on the blanket that had hidden him, and the dryness in his throat prevented him from speaking.

Perhaps it was due to nervousness, or perhaps it was due to fear.

But soon, the impulse in my heart suddenly tore away all my concerns.

Shen Yuan opened his mouth, his voice slightly hoarse.

"Can I... hug you?"

The tightly wrapped blanket suddenly stiffened, and the only exposed part, the already red earlobe, trembled violently.

All the previous silence has now solidified because of this direct request, and has taken on the form of a roaring wave.

The lingering shyness from that "brother" was still there, and now this even more intimate request swept over her, overwhelming her with a wave of shyness.

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, almost shattering my ribs.

Li Zhi felt that she had tinnitus.

She seemed to want to melt into the blanket, yet also wanted to jump up and escape this suffocating atmosphere.

There was no response from under the covers for a long time.

Li Zhi seemed to shrink himself even smaller, as if he wanted to curl up completely into this safe core.

Shen Yuan's gaze, the memories in his palm, the blanket lingering with his scent, and this yearning that reaches straight to the heart...

All the emotions intertwined and swirled, creating a storm in her little world.

Li Zhi wanted to escape, but a secret longing was quietly taking root deep in her heart.

After asking the question, Shen Yuan's gaze never left Li Zhi.

The figure wrapped entirely in the blanket did not lift up, nor did it utter a sound of refusal or agreement. It was a silent response woven from astonishment, shyness, and hesitation to give an easy answer.

Just when Shen Yuan thought she would respond with silence—

The girl in front of him completely hid herself under the covers, and then a muffled whimper suddenly escaped from within the blankets, as faint as a crumpled feather:

"...Just hold me like this."

The voice, filtered through the cotton wool, was soft and sticky, yet it was like a spark suddenly igniting the stagnant air.

Although it was only four words, Li Zhi's meaning was very clear.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on the slightly trembling blanket on the bed, the girl's curled-up body casting a small arc under the light.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his outstretched arm paused in the air for half a second, and finally, with unwavering force, slowly retracted.

His fingertips first touched the warm blanket, and then his entire palm pressed against her arched back through the soft fabric.

The ankle that had been tucked under the covers brushed against his leg unconsciously, sending a slight shiver through the fabric.

When his palm completely covered the taut shoulder blades beneath him, he clearly felt the curled-up body suddenly shudder, then, as if all its strength had been drained, it silently sank into his arms.

Li Zhi buried his face even deeper into Shen Yuan's blanket, his hot breath rising and swirling in the small space between them.

The moment Shen Yuan closed his arms, all the emotions that had nowhere to go in the darkness collapsed and finally fell heavily into this embrace that tightened even their breath.

Time flowed silently amidst the close proximity of the temperature and the disordered heartbeat.

Li Zhi's initially tense body gradually softened under the warmth of Shen Yuan's embrace and the reassuring yet unsettling feeling of confinement.

The initial torrent of shyness, which was almost about to explode, seemed to be tamed into tiny ripples by this continuous envelopment, uneasily patting the inside of the chest.

This excessively long and intense physical entanglement caused the heat rising in the confined space to continue to climb, and the burning sensation on her cheeks not only did not subside, but instead seeped even deeper into her bones.

It felt like an eternity had passed, or perhaps only a few dozen seconds.

The awkwardness caused by shyness ultimately overwhelmed the sense of security that had just been gained.

Finally, amidst the suffocating heat, Li Zhi couldn't help but let out a faint, sticky, tearful question through the gaps in the blanket.

"...Is it...okay?"

It was as if she couldn't bear any more, or as if she was yearning for permission to temporarily free her from this sweetness.

Shen Yuan's arms around her remained motionless, and even tightened their grip the moment the muffled question reached her ears.

"No." The boy's voice, almost hoarse with stubbornness, struck her burning earlobe clearly.

These two words seemed to bear a burning brand, clearly imprinted on Li Zhiben's already burning reason.

The last bit of courage I had managed to muster was instantly shattered, replaced by an even stronger surge of shame, anger, and resentment.

Through the blanket, the beautiful girl nudged Shen Yuan's head against his chest with an extremely weak yet angry gesture.

Filled with the fluster of being teased and an overwhelming sense of embarrassment, her voice trembled as she tried to raise it: "Let go, you idiot! It's hot in there!"

This playful scolding, tinged with annoyance, was like a tiny flash of lightning, instantly shattering the ambiguous warmth between the two.

Shen Yuan's chest trembled slightly, and he let out a low, indulgent chuckle.

He couldn't bear to see her so bored.

The arms that were wrapped around Li Zhi slowly loosened their grip.

Feeling the release of the restraints, I heard only a slight rustling sound.

The next second, a small head emerged from the gap in the blanket as if it had finally broken free of the water.

Li Zhi's hair looked a little messy, with a few strands playfully sticking to her forehead and flushed cheeks.

The girl's face was flushed, a burning blush spreading from her cheekbones to the tips of her ears, even her small nose and slightly parted, panting lips were tinged with this vibrant color.

Tiny beads of sweat even seeped from her forehead and temples, and a few strands of sweaty hair clung to her flushed temples and neck, adding to her allure.

Those moist, watery eyes hastily lifted, quickly glancing at Shen Yuan who was so close.

Li Zhi breathed in the fresh air rapidly, his slightly parted lips moving quickly, as if he had just woken up from an overly intense dream.

Even so, she could still find time to curse Shen Yuan.

"You idiot! You almost suffocated me!"

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, a doting smile suddenly appeared on Shen Yuan's face.

Shen Yuan's gaze fell on her face, which was shockingly red, as if she was about to faint at any moment, and his Adam's apple bobbed silently.

The girl's face, so beautiful it looked as if it had been steamed, did not cool the burning desire in his eyes; instead, it deepened into a darker hue.

He simply watched her quietly, observing her adjusting her breathing with unease due to the "heat."

That blush was so vibrant, so captivating.

“...Li Bao”.

Upon hearing Shen Yuan's words, Li Zhi looked up and saw the boy smiling gently but firmly saying, "You are very handsome."

Li Zhi's breath hitched, as if he had been burned by these blunt words.

Although Shen Yuan had said this many times, Li Zhi felt a little shy, perhaps because of the atmosphere at the moment.

The girl suddenly turned her face to one side, but her chin unconsciously lifted slightly, and her sweaty temples could not hide the sudden surge of pride.

A muttered sound, with an unmistakable rising intonation, escaped from his throat: "What nonsense are you spouting, you idiot Shen Yuan?"

"I said you're good-looking!" Shen Yuan repeated.

Seeing Shen Yuan's reaction, Li Zhi looked up and gave him a loud "humph".

"You don't need to tell me!"

Shen Yuan shook his head, his tone firm: "Then I'll have to say."

"what ever!"

The air fell silent again for a brief moment, with only Li Zhi's slightly panting breath remaining.

She raised her hand to wipe away the fine beads of sweat that had seeped from her forehead and temples. The wet strands of hair clung tightly to her flushed cheeks, the sensation of which was particularly clear.

The stuffy heat emanating from under the covers now felt even more sticky and unbearable.

The girl felt her underwear slightly damp with sweat, and subconsciously sniffed it with her small nose, as if she could smell the warm, cozy scent from under the covers on her skin.

The lingering sensation of that suffocating and heart-pounding embrace had not yet faded, but it was now partially replaced by a sticky and uncomfortable feeling.

Li Zhi frowned, her delicate eyebrows furrowing, her already flushed face appearing even more irritated with impatience.

She abruptly pulled back a corner of the blanket covering her legs, her movements conveying a sense of urgency and disdain:
"You stinking Shen Yuan, it's all your fault!"

"It's so hot! I'm sweating all over under the covers, it's so sticky and uncomfortable!"

"It still stinks! How long has it been since you aired out your blankets?!"

The girl's voice carried a hint of complaint, mixed with the lingering softness and nasal tone, which made Shen Yuan's smile deepen.

As Li Zhi spoke, she braced herself against the bed to break free, escaping this ambiguous cage that made her heart race and her body feel hot and sweaty.

"I'm going home!"

She spoke very quickly, as if she had found a perfect excuse.

"I feel so uncomfortable, I need to take a shower."

Before the words were even finished, those feet, wrapped in pure white cotton socks, had already swiftly pulled themselves out of the still-warm blanket, their toes eagerly reaching for the slippers under the bed.

Shen Yuan's gaze followed her movements closely, noticing that the sweaty strands of hair on her forehead were still stuck to her flushed cheeks.

The boy propped himself up on his knees, his voice still hoarse: "Yeah, I should take a shower."

Shen Yuan escorted Li Zhi to her doorstep. During the short journey, neither of them spoke a word.

Just two steps out of Shen Yuan's house, the girl's voice suddenly stopped.

"Hey……"

Li Zhi didn't turn around, her muffled voice melting into Shen Yuan's heart, "...Remember to come for dinner later."

Shen Yuan responded.

　Task: 1w/1w (Completed)

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　　Something came up tonight and I'm a bit late. Also, there won't be an extra update today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)