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

Chapter 199 Will we have to spend the night outside again?
Shen Yuan stopped in his tracks, these words seeping into his heart like the early autumn sunshine.

He looked down at their elongated shadows overlapping on the fallen leaves, and the lump in his throat suddenly dissipated, his voice becoming lighter: "What do you want to eat? It's my treat."

"Whatever." Li Zhi twirled her long hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, her eyelashes gleaming pale gold in the rosy light.

"You decide."

"How about we go eat hot pot?"

After Shen Yuan made his decision, Li Zhi nodded slightly: "Okay, that's fine."

The restaurant wasn't far from the neighborhood.

There is a commercial street in front of the residential area, and two shopping malls are behind the commercial street.

The restaurants are located on the first floor of the mall.

As we entered the commercial street, the sky was already gradually darkening.

As the neon lights begin to illuminate the scene, the aroma of food mingles with the cool air, and the shop lights elongate the shadows of pedestrians as they move about.

Shen Yuan was discussing the flavors of the casserole with Li Zhi when a familiar yet boisterous voice suddenly boomed from the crowd behind him: "Shen Yuan! Sister Li!!"

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stopped and turned around at the same time.

Zhou Shaojie was seen waving at Yang Ze and Chen Mingyu from between them.

Yang Ze and Chen Mingyu stood beside A Jie, looking at Shen Yuan with a slightly mocking smile.

"What a coincidence! You're out for dinner too?"

"Yeah, we were just about to go over there for hot pot," Shen Yuan replied, glancing at the three of them. "What about you three? Looking for food as a group?"

“Yes!” A-Jie nodded vigorously, “After eating, we’ll go online and then go home.”

Like Shen Yuan and Li Zhi, A-Jie and his friends all live in the city and can go home at night.

"Want to come together?" A-Jie looked at Shen Yuan expectantly.

"There are five of us, that makes five rows!"

"Stop, stop, stop!" Shen Yuan immediately raised his hand to interrupt, looking disgusted. "Who said I'd play five-player with you? I'm not going to an internet cafe. If you want to go online, why don't you just eat at a Shaxian snack bar? You won't even have a seat if you're late!"

Upon hearing Shen Yuan's words, the three of them gasped in shock.

"Hiss—that makes sense!"

After saying that, the three of them turned to look at Shen Yuan.

"There's no time to explain, we're leaving now!"

Watching the three figures disappear from sight, Shen Yuan curled his lip.

"You used to go to internet cafes quite often."

Li Zhi's calm voice rang out from the side.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow: "That was in the past. I haven't been there for a long time now, okay?"

Li Zhi nodded slightly, her tone puzzled: "Why? We already have a computer at home, why do you still go to an internet cafe?"

"It's about the fun of going out with friends, and playing games offline actually provides a better experience than playing online."

Li Zhi blinked: "Why?"

Shen Yuan looked at her: "It's easy to explain. You said we'd play games together, but would you prefer to play together, or would you prefer me at my place and you at yours?"

Li Zhi felt that he understood something.

"Ok."

Shen Yuan smiled and continued, "It's like traveling. I can go alone, but the feeling of being alone is definitely different from that of being with someone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yuan turned his head and met Li Zhi's clear eyes.

At this moment, the corners of the girl's lips were curving into a smile that was clearly mocking.

That smile, like the light dancing on the water at an early autumn evening, slyly flickered in her eyes.

Li Zhi tilted his head slightly, asking with a hint of knowing the answer already.

"Oh? Then tell me, what exactly is different?"

Li Zhi's voice rose slightly at the end, his gaze fixed on Shen Yuan, as if to say, "I'm waiting to hear your explanation." He was clearly trying to expose the vague and ambiguous meaning in Shen Yuan's words.

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, Shen Yuan's face lit up with a carefree smile, meeting Li Zhi's cunning and inquisitive gaze directly.

"What's the difference?"

Shen Yuan asked Li Zhi a question in return, his voice carrying a hint of self-righteous excitement.

“For example, right now—” He raised his chin and pointed to the bustling commercial street and crowds behind him, where the lights were gradually coming on.

She gently nudged Li Zhi's arm with her elbow, her tone filled with pure joy: "I feel especially looking forward to having dinner with you. I feel like the food at that restaurant will taste even better."

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi with bright eyes, his smile undisguised.

Li Zhi was slightly taken aback, then her eyes lit up with curiosity: "Oh? Really? Will it really taste good?"

The girl tilted her head, blinking her eyes. Her expression was a mixture of serious inquiry and childlike anticipation, as if she were questioning a huge secret.

Shen Yuan nodded: "Of course."

Li Zhi suddenly raised her chin and let out a soft snort: "Hey, let me tell you, don't just try to fool me with nice words. If I don't think it tastes good..."

She paused, raised her small fist in front of Shen Yuan, and her tone suddenly changed, revealing a subtle threat in her words.

"Then the weekend plans are hard to say~"

The moment Li Zhi finished speaking, Shen Yuan's eyes, which had been smiling, suddenly lit up, like stars that had been suddenly illuminated.

"real?!"

Shen Yuan blurted it out almost without thinking, his tone filled with unbelievable surprise.

Seeing Li Zhi's playful expression, which carried a hint of threat yet also contained a touch of smugness, Shen Yuan's joy exploded like fireworks.

That faint smile instantly blossomed on her face, transforming into a joy ignited by immense anticipation.

"Guaranteed delicious! Absolutely delicious! I've had my eye on this place for a while now, the taste is absolutely amazing!"

Shen Yuan patted his chest and spoke with certainty.

His gaze was fixed on Li Zhi, as if he wanted to confirm from her eyes that the subtle promise was not just empty words.

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan and urged him with a slightly relaxed tone, "Then why aren't we leaving? I'm starving."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, immense joy surged through his body like an electric current.

Shen Yuan didn't even have time to reply before his body reacted before his mouth.

He instinctively reached out and grabbed Li Zhi's wrist tightly, his excitement barely concealed as he pulled her along quickly toward the mall.

Caught off guard, Li Zhi's hand was grabbed by Shen Yuan, who felt the burning heat and firm strength of the boy's palm on her wrist.

She instinctively tried to break free, but her steps faltered slightly due to the sudden pull.

A touch of embarrassment and annoyance rose in my heart.

This guy is getting bolder and bolder!

But just as Li Zhi was about to continue struggling, her gaze swept over Shen Yuan's unusually bright smile, which was filled with joy.

The neon lights in the commercial street highlighted his bright eyebrows and the genuine smile on his lips, making him appear exceptionally vivid and lively.

Seeing Shen Yuan like this, Li Zhi's struggling movements unconsciously stopped.

The force of the struggle to break free quietly receded.

A hint of helplessness mixed with a touch of indulgence ultimately overcame the subtle sense of offense.

She sighed softly to herself.

Forget it.

Li Zhi finally stopped struggling and let Shen Yuan hold her hand tightly.

Following his quickened pace, the two arrived at the casserole restaurant that Shen Yuan had mentioned.

Although the casserole shop that Shen Yuanxuan chose had a small storefront, it was quite clean and tidy inside, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of bone broth.

They each ordered a small portion of hot pot vermicelli, and the steaming hot pot was soon served.

The casserole was bubbling away, releasing a wonderful aroma.

The broth is clear and delicious, with a perfectly balanced richness.

The cooking time was just right, ensuring the ingredients were cooked through without becoming too soft or mushy. The overall flavor was mild and pleasant, neither bland nor greasy, making it a very comfortable meal.

Shen Yuan couldn't wait to take a bite, and his eyes immediately lit up: "See? I didn't lie to you, did I?"

He blew on the steaming hot food while a smug smile appeared on his face, clearly genuinely enjoying it and happy that he had successfully recommended it.

Li Zhi scooped up a spoonful of soup, gently blew on it to cool it down, and tasted it. He squinted his eyes slightly, savoring the perfect umami flavor spreading on his tongue.

The rising steam blurred her expression, but the joy in her bright eyes was clear.

Li Zhi nodded slightly: "Yes, the soup does taste quite good."

Shen Yuan chuckled: "That's a must."

"Then I'll see how the other flavors are."

As Li Zhi spoke, he used his chopsticks to pick up some vermicelli, placed it in a spoon, blew on it a few times, and then put it in his mouth.

The girl's eyes lit up, clearly indicating that she approved of the flavor.

"not bad."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, Shen Yuan's lips curled into a wide smile.

After dinner, night had completely fallen, and the neon lights on the commercial street shone even brighter, creating a dazzling spectacle.

The shop lights danced like stars in the cool air, and the shadows of pedestrians stretched long on the ground where light and shadow intertwined.

The two did not rush, but slowly walked towards the residential area.

Shen Yuan walked briskly, a smile unconsciously playing on her lips. Li Zhi walked silently to the side; as the afterglow faded, her face appeared soft and serene under the streetlights.

After walking down a street, when we were only a few dozen meters away from the entrance of the residential area.

"Hey! You idiot Shen Yuan!"

Li Zhi's voice suddenly rang out in the night, tinged with a deliberate complaint: "Why didn't you mention going out to play? Weren't you quite excited just now? Now you've become a silent gourd?"

The girl's voice rose slightly at the end, as if reminding him of the enthusiastic promise she made when she said "I guarantee it will be delicious."

The implication is clear: you owe me a concrete weekend plan.

Shen Yuan suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Zhi.

The girl's eyes were exceptionally bright, and there was an obvious expectation in them.

"Yes, yes, I almost forgot."

Shen Yuan spoke almost immediately, his voice filled with urgency and barely suppressed excitement, his hand already swiftly reaching into his pocket.

"I've already finalized the plan; I'm just waiting for your word."

Before he finished speaking, he had already pulled out his phone, unlocking the screen with exaggerated speed.

He swiped his slightly warm fingertips across the screen twice, found the specially created memo, and then, with a hint of barely concealed smugness and nervousness, practically shoved it right under Li Zhi's nose.

"Here!" Shen Yuan handed the screen to Li Zhi, his tone full of enthusiastic anticipation.

"The strategy guide is here, please take a look!"

The boy's knuckles turned white from gripping the edge of the phone so tightly, as if he were handing her not just an electronic document, but his heart eager to share the joy of the next two days with her.

Li Zhi took the phone and his gaze fell on the travel guide.

Shen Yuan's gaze was fixed on Li Zhi's face, anticipating any subtle change in her expression.

Li Zhi lightly touched the screen with her fingertips, carefully flipping through the itinerary plan in the memo.

The document begins with a clear listing of the itinerary.

We set off in the morning and took the high-speed train to Hangzhou. Our first stop was Zhejiang University. After exploring the university, we had lunch at the university cafeteria. In the afternoon, we took the subway to West Lake and then went to our pre-booked hotel to drop off our luggage.

and many more?

hotel?

Li Zhi's gaze fell on the word "hotel" on the screen, and her focused expression as she browsed the itinerary momentarily twitched.

The pretty girl pursed her lips, looked up, shifted her gaze from her phone screen to Shen Yuan beside her, frowned slightly, and asked, "...Are we going to spend the night out again?"

Shen Yuan nodded without hesitation, a matter-of-fact smile on his face, his voice light and certain: "Yes, it's rare to have such a long holiday, of course we should play for a while! Otherwise, just a day trip wouldn't be enough."

He paused for a moment, as if afraid that Li Zhi would worry, and immediately added, "Don't worry, I'll book the hotel, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Li Zhi listened to Shen Yuan's words and agreed with the word "not enough".

Seeing Shen Yuan's confident expression, her gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she reminded him clearly and deliberately, "Um... remember to get two rooms."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's deliberately emphasized reminder, Shen Yuan's smile froze for a moment before thawing, transforming into a mischievous and playful expression.

He tilted his head slightly as if he had heard something extremely unexpected and somewhat amusing.

Shen Yuan's eyes held an obvious mockery as he retorted with a rising tone, "Huh? What else?"

Before he finished speaking, Li Zhi's clear eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Shen Yuan——"

Li Zhi drew out his words, indicating his dissatisfaction.

Before Shen Yuan could say anything, Li Zhi raised his foot and kicked Shen Yuan hard in the shin.

"You are looking for death!"

"Ow!"

Before Li Zhi could finish speaking, Shen Yuan's scream rang out.

The girl pulled her legs back, crossed her arms, and gave a cold look that carried an undeniable warning.

"Keep being cheeky! You'll have to plan your own weekend activities!"

"No, no, no, it's wrong, it's wrong."

Shen Yuan immediately changed to a pathetic, begging-for-forgiveness expression.

Looking at his expression, Li Zhi snorted softly, "It had better be that way."

After saying that, Li Zhi asked again, "Hey, have you bought the high-speed rail tickets?"

"How about I buy a ticket now for 8:30 tomorrow morning?"

Shen Yuan took the phone from Li Zhi and immediately started booking tickets.

Li Zhi nodded: "Okay, since you've made all the arrangements, then I'll reluctantly accompany you on this trip."

"Thank you for the honor, Young Master Li!"

After Shen Yuan finished speaking, he said to Li Zhi, "Well, let's verify your identity."

Shen Yuan knew Li Zhi's ID number.

ID numbers are actually very easy to remember.

Since their ID cards start with the same digit, they should be able to remember Li Zhi's birthday, so all they need to remember is the last four digits.

It's so easy.

Here, the verification code.

Li Zhi showed Shen Yuan the verification code, and after Shen Yuan entered it, he bought the train ticket.

Then Shen Yuan also helped Li Zhi apply for a pass to Zhejiang University.

By the time Shen Yuan finished operating the system, the two had already entered the residential area.

Shen Yuan put his phone back in his pocket, and as soon as his hand came out of the fabric, it slid through the air very naturally and gently grasped Li Zhi's hand.

Unlike the sudden grip on my wrist on the bustling street just now, this touch was warm and reassuring, as if it were just a normal continuation of everyday life.

Li Zhi's fingers twitched slightly, letting her hand be enveloped in his warm palm.

The neighborhood roads were quiet under the cover of night, with only the dim streetlights casting long shadows of the two people on the ground, occasionally broken by the branches and leaves of passing trees.

The sound of footsteps broke the silence, carrying a unique intimacy of the night.

“Speaking of which…” Shen Yuan’s voice broke the silence, carrying a thoughtful tone.

Li Zhi turned her head to look at him, and the light from the streetlamp fell on his profile, outlining a clear silhouette.

"Hmm?" Li Zhi responded softly, waiting for him to continue.

"This time, it's just the two of us going out..." Shen Yuan paused, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible smugness, yet also a serious, consultative tone, "How should we tell Mom and Dad?"

Shen Yuan turned his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Li Zhi with a questioning gaze.

He knew that his parents on both sides couldn't completely ignore his going out alone, especially if he was going to stay overnight, even if they had booked two rooms.

Li Zhi gazed at the path illuminated by the lights ahead, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing lightly against the edge of Shen Yuan's palm, as if pondering her words.

"Let's say...we're going to Hangzhou for a couple of days."

Li Zhi's voice was clear and calm in the night: "Anyway, they... uh, we..."

Li Zhi paused, unsure of what to say.

The girl finally declared in a defiant manner, "Anyway, I can handle things with my parents! You'll have to figure out what to do with your uncle and aunt!"

Seeing Li Zhi's appearance, Shen Yuan smiled.

He naturally knew what Li Zhi wanted to say, so he tightened his grip on her hand and gently bumped his shoulder against hers.

"My mom will definitely be at ease. With you by my side, she'll only tell me to take good care of you on the road. As for my dad..."

Shen Yuan pursed his lips: "To be honest, we're just going to Zhejiang University for a visit, and then stroll around West Lake. Just to emphasize, we'll ensure safety."

"At most, if they're worried about the two of us, they can come with us."

As Shen Yuan finished speaking, a faint hint of embarrassment and amusement lingered in the air.

As for why I'm not at ease, that's probably obvious.

Hearing this, Li Zhi felt a surge of shame.

The girl instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Shen Yuan tightened his fingers slightly, preventing her from succeeding.

Li Zhi rolled his eyes helplessly.

"Alright, alright, let's leave it at that for now."

Shen Yuan straightened his back, his tone full of confidence: "No problem, leave it to me. I'll contact you on WeChat when it's all sorted out."

"Ah."

Li Zhi nodded, then, as if remembering something, reminded Shen Yuan, "Remember to pack your things tonight."

"Don't worry," Shen Yuan said, leaning close to Li Zhi's ear and whispering, "Li Bao, dress up nicely tomorrow."

"roll!"

"okay!"

Shen Yuan tightened his grip on Li Zhi's hand, and the two walked hand in hand towards home in perfect unison.

The evening breeze rustled through the treetops, dispelling the last trace of awkwardness in the air.

A sense of anticipation rose in both of their hearts as the plan was about to come to fruition.

The little troubles of discussing how to "deal with" parents have now become a small episode that the two of them need to solve together as they walk side by side, but it is not so urgent.

However, why do I always have this feeling that I'm doing something bad behind my parents' backs?

　Task: 1w/1w (Completed)

　　Reward: Subscribe aggressively (Completed)
　　More updates tomorrow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)