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

Chapter 200 I will take good care of Li Zhi (1 words)

"Ding!"

The elevator stopped at 19A, and Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stepped out.

Shen Yuan naturally released Li Zhi's hand, his face beaming with his usual confident smile, and assured her with certainty, "Don't worry, Li Bao, I'll take care of my parents!"

Li Zhi turned to the side, took out his keys to open the door, but a subtle, amused smile appeared on his lips.

She glanced at Shen Yuan sideways, her tone slightly teasing as she reminded him, "Hmm... who knows, you might have to deal with my parents later, you know?"

Shen Yuan's smile froze instantly. As if he had choked on something, his smugness deflated with a "pop" like a punctured balloon.

His lips twitched, and his whole body visibly stiffened for half a second, only managing to utter a muffled, weak monosyllable.

"what?"

Seeing his sudden loss of confidence, Li Zhi finally couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The pretty girl clenched her fists and made a cheering gesture, with a slightly teasing expression on her face.

"Come on~"

The soft click of the key turning in the lock seemed to provide the final sound effect for this little pleasure that belonged only to the two of them.

The door was pushed open, and warm light poured into the living room. Shen Yuan's face still showed the awkwardness brought on by Li Zhi's words of "good luck," and he was thinking about how to appease Ms. Zhang Yuyan.

As for Lao Shen, Zhongdeng, just give me a lot of gold coins!

Shen Yuan looked up and his heart skipped a beat.

On the sofa, Ms. Zhang Yuyan and Mr. Shen sat side by side, their eyes fixed on the flickering television screen, quietly watching the TV series.

Shen Yuan paused in the entryway, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He took a deep breath, and the last trace of stiffness on his face was instantly replaced by an overly deliberate radiance.

He walked a few steps to the sofa, turning to face Zhang Yuyan, and grinned, revealing a smile that was both obedient and ingratiating.

Zhang Yuyan lifted her eyelids and lazily shifted her gaze from the TV screen to her son's exceptionally bright smile.

She sized up Shen Yuan for two seconds, her worldly-wise eyes narrowing slightly.

She didn't directly acknowledge Shen Yuan. Instead, she gently nudged Old Shen, who was engrossed in watching the news, with her elbow. She tilted her chin towards Shen Yuan, her voice low but carrying a knowing smile and a hint of disdain:
"Look at him. This kid's all smiles, it can't be anything good!"

Shen Yuan was caught red-handed by these words, but he didn't back down at all. Instead, he stubbornly moved closer to Zhang Yuyan and shamelessly grabbed her hand.

Shen Yuan nuzzled his head against Zhang Yuyan's shoulder, whining sweetly:

"Oh dear, Mom! What are you saying?!"

Ms. Zhang Yuyan immediately got goosebumps all over her body.

Without any hesitation, she slapped away his fawning hands with a force as if she were shaking off a piece of plaster covered in dog hair.

Zhang Yuyan moved away in disgust, straightened her clothes, and raised her voice impatiently, "Stop with the act! Hurry up and say what you want, don't leave me feeling disgusted!"

Shen Yuan grunted, and his playful smile vanished instantly.

He opened his mouth dryly, cleared his throat, and his voice suddenly became slightly weaker, but he revealed the truth:
"Well... Mom, the joint entrance exam is over, and I'm planning to go out with Li Zhi."

Zhang Yuyan frowned, her disdainful gaze piercing Shen Yuan like an arrow: "That's it? That's all? What's wrong with going out for some fun? You just want to relax after the exams, do you really need to make such a fuss?"

She waved her hand, as if shooing away annoying flies: "Go ask your dad for money."

After saying that, Lao Shen picked up his phone, looking like he was about to transfer money.

Seeing his parents' expressions, Shen Yuan smiled awkwardly and said, "Well... I'm planning to play all day. We'll go tomorrow and come back the day after."

Zhang Yuyan's gaze, which had just shifted away, instantly returned to Shen Yuan's face.

"Well, Li Zhi agreed!" Shen Yuan quickly added.

Zhang Yuyan narrowed her eyes slightly, revealing a dangerous glint in her eyes: "You're going to spend the night outside?"

Shen Yuan nodded, then quickly said, "Um, Mom, no! No! It's not the kind of overnight stay you're thinking of!!"

Which one is it?

"that is……"

Shen Yuan gestured awkwardly with his hands: "It's... well, it's not what you think!"

After saying this, Shen Yuan's face turned red, and he wished he could disappear into the ground.

Zhang Yuyan lazily lifted her eyelids, her gaze like a hook, mockingly fixed on Shen Yuan's flushed face.

She let out a soft snort, her fingertips tapping the sofa absentmindedly, her voice trailing off slowly: "Oh—you've been arguing with me for so long..."

Zhang Yuyan looked at Shen Yuan and asked, "Then tell me, did Li Zhi's parents agree? If Li Zhi's parents agree, then your father and I agree."

……

Li Zhi gently closed her front door, shutting out the light in the hallway, changed into slippers, and walked lightly towards the living room.

Under the warm light, similar to yet different from Shen Yuan's home, Lao Li and Xu Chan sat on the sofa. Xu Chan leaned on Lao Li's shoulder, her gaze fixed on the TV series in front of her, while Lao Li looked at his phone.

Compared to the casual way Shen Yuan watched TV dramas, the atmosphere at the Li family's house seemed much quieter.

Hearing the noise from the entrance, Lao Li and Xu Chan both turned their gazes to Li Zhi.

Meeting her parents' calm gaze, Li Zhi's heart suddenly jumped.

The girl paused for a moment, and the relaxed smile on her face faded slightly.

She walked to the other side of the sofa, not rushing over like Shen Yuan, but sitting down on the other side of the sofa under her parents' watchful eyes.

Lao Li and Xu Chan exchanged a glance. Like Zhang Yuyan, the couple could tell at a glance that their daughter had something to tell them.

Xu Chan picked up the remote and turned the TV volume down a few notches.

Their gazes naturally fell on Li Zhi.

The living room suddenly became much quieter, and Li Zhi immediately became the focus of attention.

This atmosphere, where silence speaks louder than words, made Li Zhi sit up a little straighter.

Three pairs of eyes looked at each other. A subtle feeling filled the air—a tacit understanding that no one dared to voice first.

Finally, Li Zhi took a breath and mustered the courage to break the silence.

Her voice wasn't as clear as usual; instead, it carried a tentative softness as she cautiously began, "Um, the exam is over."

"Hmm." Old Li nodded, his gaze gentle, as if waiting for Li Zhi to continue.

Under her parents' gaze, a faint blush crept onto Li Zhi's face.

She swallowed, her voice lowered, tinged with a timid, tentative tone.

"Um—I, Shen Yuan and I are planning to go to Hangzhou tomorrow, and then, maybe, perhaps we'll stay out overnight, um..."

Li Zhi's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost a mosquito's hum as she timidly squeezed out the most crucial question: "Is...is it okay?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air in the living room seemed to freeze for a moment. Upon hearing this, both Lao Li and Xu Chan frowned slightly, the subtle curves of their brows particularly noticeable under the lamplight.

The two exchanged a brief glance, a mixture of worry and understanding in it.

A moment of silence stretched through the living room, with only the low hum of the television providing background noise.

Li Zhi clenched the hem of her clothes, about to explain something more, when she met her parents' gaze.

Finally, Old Li cleared his throat. His voice wasn't loud, but it broke the silence, carrying a fatherly caution: "Did Shen Yuan contact you?"

Li Zhixin jumped up suddenly and shook her head quickly.

"No, Dad...yes, we discussed it together!"

Li Zhi lied.

She didn't know why she said that, or why she lied for Shen Yuan; she just said it subconsciously.

Seeing her daughter like this, Xu Chan didn't say anything, but leaned deeper into the sofa, her eyes sweeping over Li Zhi's feigned calm face with a half-smile, as if she had seen through a clumsy performance.

Li Zhi felt uncomfortable being stared at and quietly shrank his shoulders.

Old Li turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting to Xu Chan beside him, his eyes filled with a hint of probing, as if silently asking, "What should we do?"

Xu Chan met her husband's gaze and gave him a barely perceptible nudge to the elbow. The movement was so subtle that it was almost imperceptible, but the meaning conveyed by her eyes was very clear: let him do as he sees fit.

Old Li nodded helplessly.

Looking at his daughter, a complex feeling swept through Old Li's heart.

My own carefully nurtured little cabbage has started to think about running out on its own.

Although he had a thousand worries in his heart and a thousand instructions welled up on his lips, they finally turned into a solemn question: "Zhizhi, have you... thought this through yourself?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly echoed in the quiet living room, carrying the deep and scrutinizing quality unique to a father.

Li Zhi lowered his eyelashes and nodded gently when he heard his father's question, replying, "...Mm."

Old Li gave her a deep look, then said nothing more. He simply looked away and said casually, "Alright, then go to the study and wait for me for a while."

Li Zhiyi stood up as instructed and then walked towards the study.

Behind them, only the extremely low background noise of the television and the silent exchange of glances between Lao Li and Xu Chan remained in the living room.

The lamp in the study was bright yet soft. Li Zhi sat down in his chair, placed his hands on his knees, and unconsciously curled his fingers slightly.

Time flowed exceptionally slowly in the stillness.

Li Zhi's gaze drifted unconsciously across the desk and bookshelves, trying to distract himself, but his mind couldn't help but wonder what his father was going to say next.

Was it to remind her of important points? Or to confirm the details of her and Shen Yuan's arrangements? Or perhaps...?

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open.

Old Li walked in, carrying nothing in his hands, but Li Zhi could almost immediately sense a serious aura about him that was different from usual.

He closed the door behind him, walked to the chair opposite the desk and sat down. His movements were slow, as if he was considering how to start the conversation.

The father and daughter exchanged a glance. Old Li's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out for the time being.

The old father frowned slightly, as if he was organizing his words in a way that would not put pressure on his daughter.

In that brief silence, Li Zhi suddenly realized what Lao Li was about to say.

It wasn't just a simple reminder about travel safety, nor was it an interrogation about the itinerary.

It was a father's worry and unease, a worry that went on to a deeper level.

The thought struck Li Zhi like lightning, and with a bang, blood instantly rushed to her cheeks.

Realizing what her father might specifically want to talk about, a wave of immense embarrassment and helplessness washed over her, causing her face to flush bright red.

Just as Lao Li had carefully chosen his words and was about to speak,

"dad!!!"

Li Zhi suddenly raised her head, her voice sounding somewhat high-pitched due to panic, and she almost blurted out incoherently.
"No, no, no! You, you, you've misunderstood! Things, things aren't what you think! Shen Yuan and I, we, we haven't reached that... that point! No, Shen Yuan and I have nothing at all! Nothing! Really nothing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi felt as if he had been burned by the shocking words he had uttered.

Her flushed cheeks instantly became so hot they could boil an egg, and blood rushed wildly to the tips of her ears.

She didn't even dare to look at Lao Li's expression at that moment, only feeling an overwhelming sense of shame wash over her.

The girl buried her burning face in her arms like an ostrich, wishing she could disappear on the spot or find a crack in the ground to crawl into so she would never have to face this extremely embarrassing situation again.

Silence.

Old Li was slightly taken aback.

He looked at his daughter, who was practically shrinking into his arms.

That undisguised, intense reaction, tinged with a girl's innocent shyness, and her eagerness to defend herself.

These words and this expression were like a reminder, suddenly striking into Lao Li's heart.

The seriousness on his face and the furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed, and the heavy scrutiny in his eyes quietly faded away.

He stared silently for a few seconds at the head that had hidden itself.

Old Li let out a long breath.

Although in his eyes, Li Zhi will always be a daughter who needs to be protected, her current tension and her awareness of certain boundaries already reveal a fact.

Li Zhi has actually grown up.

The worry that had been weighing on my mind was silently soothed by my daughter's genuine and strong reaction.

Old Li's tense shoulders gradually relaxed, and he raised his hand to gently pat Li Zhi's head.

Then, Lao Li stood up, his voice calm and gentle, the initial heaviness gone, replaced by a soothing tone.

"Dad knows."

The words were brief, yet like a soothing incantation, echoing clearly in the quiet study.

After saying this, he did not linger, nor did he ask any further questions about the details of the trip or about Shen Yuan.

He lingered for a moment, his gaze complex, on his daughter's still curled-up figure, then silently turned around, gently opened the door, and walked out.

Old Li walked out of the study, and the dim lighting in the living room created a sense of quiet anticipation.

The lighting in the entryway was soft, but Li Zhi's schoolbag was placed in the corner of the sofa.

Xu Chan immediately looked away from the television screen, which had its volume turned down, and silently met her husband's eyes.

She remained leaning back on the sofa, her posture elegant yet slightly tense, her eyes filled with a mixture of inquiry and vague worry.

Old Li walked to the sofa, a slight smile playing on his lips, a smile that was both weary and relieved, as if he had unloaded a burden.

He didn't say anything, but simply shook his head gently at his wife, his eyes conveying reassurance.

Xu Chan's brows relaxed slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, as if she were silently responding to her husband's understanding.

Immediately, Lao Li subconsciously touched his pocket.

Then he secretly placed a spirit charm into Li Zhi's schoolbag.

Although Li Zhi said it, it doesn't mean that Lao Li can be completely at ease.

Xu Chan's gaze followed the backpack, and she nodded slightly, everything understood without saying a word.

Old Li sat back down on the sofa, sinking into the soft cushions. He raised his hand to rub his temples and let out a heavy sigh.

Seeing his expression, Xu Chan smiled gently and said, "Since you're so worried, why didn't you just refuse her directly in front of her?"

Old Li didn't answer immediately. After a long while, he spoke in a low voice, his tone containing a hint of helpless relief: "It was just a matter of time... There will always be such a day."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Yuan's face flashed uncontrollably into his mind.

The thought that this kid had tricked his beloved daughter into wanting to spend the night away from home made Old Li feel an inexplicable anger rising in his heart.

"Tsk, right now... I really want to beat up that kid Shen Yuan."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chan raised only one eyebrow, her knowing smile deepening, but she didn't reply.

At this moment, Shen Yuan, who was already in his room, suddenly sneezed twice.

According to Jiyang tradition, one must utter two curses in one thought.

One sneeze means someone is thinking of you; two sneezes mean someone is cursing you.

Shen Yuan shrank back, knowing without a doubt who was cursing him.

Shen Yuan took out his phone, hovered his finger over Li Zhi's profile picture, hesitated for a moment, and finally sent Li Zhi a message.

After sending the message, Shen Yuan began to wait.

Time passed by minute by minute.

On the other side of the screen, Li Zhi's profile picture remained silent, without any movement.

Just as Shen Yuan was waiting anxiously, his phone suddenly rang!

Li Zhi didn't send a message; he immediately requested a video call!

Shen Yuan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly sat up straight, paused for a moment, and then pressed the call button.

The next second, Li Zhi's face was clearly reflected on the screen.

Her delicate and beautiful face was flushed with extreme shame and indignation, and her beautiful eyes were wide open, as if burning with two small flames.

The girl's delicate eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

"Shen Yuan!"

The girl in the video practically forced out his name through gritted teeth; her voice, even through the screen, conveyed a burning mix of shame and anger.

Shen Yuan immediately prepared himself to be scolded.

Li Zhi's cheeks were flushed as if by the sunset, the blush spreading from her ears to her neck, and her breathing became slightly rapid.

She pursed her lips tightly, her fingertips unconsciously digging into the edge of her phone until her knuckles turned white.

"Do you know what my dad just did... I..."

Li Zhi only managed to utter half a sentence before glaring fiercely at Shen Yuan: "Ah!! No way! Open the door for me! I'm going to beat you up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi abruptly hung up the video call.

The phone screen suddenly went black.

Shen Yuan stared blankly at the darkened screen, the words "open the door" still seeming to echo in his ears.

Shaking his head helplessly, Shen Yuan got up and left the room.

Then, under the questioning gazes of his parents, he opened the front door of his house.

The next second, a salted fish doll landed swiftly on Shen Yuan's face.

Caught off guard, Shen Yuan retreated repeatedly, but Li Zhi, who was standing aggressively outside the door, didn't give him the chance.

The girl was like a small cannonball rushing into a fortress, her delicate face still flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.

"Shen Yuan!!! It's all your fault!!"

Li Zhi's voice was a mixture of shame and anger, but her hands moved even faster than her voice.

Grabbing the salted fish doll by the tail, Li Zhifei quickly unleashed a series of combos at Shen Yuan.

"It's all your fault! It's all your fault! It's all your fault!"

"Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell!!"

Each time Li Zhi smashed something, it was accompanied by a scathing and indignant accusation.

The salted fish doll's soft belly, carried by the wind, rained down on Shen Yuan's shoulders, back, and arms with a "puff puff puff" and "bang bang bang" sound.

Although the plush toy couldn't hurt anyone, the force it used was definitely not light, carrying the resolute spirit of a girl who wanted nothing more than to flatten it.

Shen Yuan dared not retaliate, and awkwardly raised his arm to protect his head, hunching over and dodging left and right.

"Ouch! Gently! Young Master Li, spare my life! I was wrong! I was really wrong!!"

"Mom! Save me!"

Shen Yuan tried to find help from outside the field, but Zhang Yuyan silently took out her phone and quickly snapped a picture.

At this moment, Li Zhi seemed to transform into a violent, lazy warrior, chasing after Shen Yuan and beating him up.

"You idiot Shen Yuan! You dare to hide! Try hiding again and see what happens!"

Li Zhixiu's angry rebukes and the dull, continuous "bang bang" of the salted fish doll rose and fell.

Normally, Li Zhi wouldn't act like this when he sees Shen Yuan's parents.

But given the current situation...

Since he had already "died" in front of Lao Li, Li Zhi didn't care about "died" in front of Shen Yuan's parents.

All she wants now is to kill Shen Yuan.

Under the cold white light, this "physical communication" that belonged only to the two of them seemed both noisy and subtle. Li Zhi chased Shen Yuan all the way into the bedroom.

"Shen Yuan, you idiot!"

Li Zhi, carrying the salted fish doll, glared angrily at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, who had finally stopped, and tentatively asked, "Um, what... what's going on? What... what did Uncle Li say to you?"

Asking that question would have been better left unasked; it was like throwing another match into a powder keg.

Li Zhi's anger, which had been somewhat subsiding, suddenly flared up again.

The blush that had just faded from the girl's face instantly spread back to her cheeks and earlobes, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, the flames within them almost bursting out.

"Aaaaah! You dare ask that! You dare ask that!"

Li Zhi screamed, and the salted fish doll that had just been dangling in her hand transformed once again into a weapon of revenge.

"Thump! Thump! Bang!"

This time the target was precise, aimed directly at Shen Yuan's face, which was filled with innocence and curiosity, and at his arm that was trying to block.

"Serves you right for being so talkative! Serves you right for asking around! Serves you right for getting me...serves me..."

When Li Zhi roared to the most crucial point, he couldn't bring himself to say the embarrassing "misunderstanding," and could only resort to even more ferocious physical attacks.

Seeing Li Zhi's appearance, Shen Yuan probably knew what had happened to Li Zhi.

He simply lay down and let the beautiful girl vent her frustrations on him.

Another round of hammering followed.

Li Zhi finally got tired of fighting.

She threw the salted fish doll at Shen Yuan in a fit of anger, then plopped down in a chair.

Li Zhi was panting, her chest heaving.

"Ha! It really is..."

Shen Yuan sat up in bed, shoved the salted fish doll covering his face, and smiled ingratiatingly at Li Zhi.

"Calm down, calm down~ We're just having a simple conversation, it's all these adults' fault for misinterpreting things!"

Li Zhiyuan was glaring at him angrily, but upon hearing this, the blush on her face faded slightly.

Those beautiful eyes blinked, a hint of curiosity mixed with inquiry: "Did your parents... ask them too?"

Shen Yuan nodded, wearing a bitter expression, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at his appearance, Li Zhi recalled Old Li's meaningful gaze.

She stared at Shen Yuan for a few seconds, then finally clicked her tongue in annoyance: "Fine, we're even!"

The room quieted down, the previous commotion still seemed to leave a faint buzzing echo, but with a subtle calm.

After sitting for a while, Li Zhi kicked Shen Yuan's thigh: "Hey, don't forget to pack your things."

"I know, don't worry," Shen Yuan said, and then Li Zhi's voice rang out again.

"Oh, and remember to bring some homework! Do some if you have time tonight."

Shen Yuan's smile froze instantly, as if he had heard something utterly absurd.

The boy's pupils dilated violently.

"What...what?! Homework?! You want me to bring homework when we go out to play?!"

Seeing Shen Yuan's thunderstruck expression, Li Zhi kicked him again in annoyance.

"Tsk, what are you yelling about!"

The girl glared at him and said in a somewhat matter-of-fact tone, "What? I saw that your travel plans only run until 9 pm, so what's wrong with giving you two extra hours of homework time?"

"Is it a problem to play all day and then do two hours of homework? Or is it...?"

Li Zhi grinned mischievously, "Don't you want to help me with my homework?"

Shen Yuan immediately got out of bed, his face instantly displaying an extremely exaggerated and resolute expression, and he even patted his chest forcefully.

"How could I not be happy?! I absolutely love doing homework! Doing homework is so much fun! I wish I could take out three or five sets of test papers and do them on the way there, on the high-speed train!"

Li Zhi chuckled at his "righteous and awe-inspiring" appearance.

The girl rested her chin on her hand, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "The high-speed train only takes half an hour. If you can do three or five sets of test papers, I'll be impressed."

Shen Yuan chuckled: "Isn't this just using an exaggeration technique?"

Li Zhi rolled his eyes at Shen Yuan, then stood up.

"Alright, I should go back now. It's still early, remember to do one or two practice tests."

Shen Yuan nodded: "I'll take you."

"Ah."

Watching the beautiful girl's figure disappear behind his door, Shen Yuan gently closed the door.

Shen Yuan closed the door and turned around to meet the gazes of Zhang Yuyan and Lao Shen in the living room.

"It seems that Li Zhi's parents have agreed."

Zhang Yuyan looked at Shen Yuan's smiling face and let out a soft snort.

"Mm." She finally responded with a soft "Mm," her voice trailing off slowly. "Then let's go."

Before Shen Yuan could even feel a surge of smugness, Zhang Yuyan's gaze sharpened considerably.

"but--"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight, each word like a hammer blow: "Shen Yuan, you little brat, listen to me carefully."

Her gaze was fixed on her son, her tone unusually serious: "When you go out to play, you must know your limits! You absolutely cannot do anything out of line!"

She spoke the last few words slowly and clearly, her eyes conveying a stark warning.

Shen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine and nodded vigorously, "I understand! Absolutely! Don't worry, Mom!"

Shen Yuan had barely finished speaking when his phone chimed softly.

He took out his phone and saw that Lao Shen had transferred 1000 yuan to him.

"Since you're going out to have fun, then have a good time. It's okay if you're staying in a cramped place, but the girls are staying in nicer ones."

"I know, I know."

Shen Yuan happily ran back to his room.

After tidying up, Shen Yuan took out a test paper from his schoolbag.

"Do your homework, do your homework."

……

The morning light was faint, carrying the crisp, cool air characteristic of early autumn.

When the agreed time to leave arrived, Shen Yuan walked out of the house carrying a not-too-large backpack.

He had just closed the door when he looked up and stopped in his tracks.

A few steps away, under the porch, Li Zhi was already waiting.

The girl was wearing a pair of soft, loose-fitting black wide-leg sweatpants, a simple base layer top, and a khaki short workwear jacket on top.

The design is stylish and neat, and the lapel design makes the inner layer appear and disappear. The zipper is not fully zipped up and is left open.

Li Zhi also had a backpack slung across his shoulder, slightly smaller than Shen Yuan's.

That was actually her schoolbag.

Her long, smooth hair was tied into a high ponytail, and the ends swayed lightly as she turned her head to open the door for Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan's gaze lingered on her cool, refreshing outfit that made her legs look incredibly long.

I silently agreed with what Lao Shen said last night: "It makes a lot of sense that girls live in nicer places."

After all, even the outfit this person wears when going out has a high-end filter.

As for Shen Yuan himself, he was much more casual.

He wore an oversized gray sweatshirt over a short-sleeved shirt, matching gray sweatpants, and white sneakers.

simple.

"Morning."

As soon as Shen Yuan finished speaking, he saw a familiar figure walk out of Li Zhi's house.

It was Lao Li.

Good morning, Shen Yuan.

Old Li smiled kindly, and Shen Yuan's smile froze on his face.

"Good morning, Uncle Li."

The greeting lacked any confidence.

Shen Yuan instinctively turned his head sharply to look at Li Zhi, his eyes filled with an unexpected cry for help.

Li Zhi felt Shen Yuan's gaze, but simply shrugged as if nothing was wrong and explained, "My dad was afraid we would dawdle and waste time, so he got up early and personally took us to the train station."

The pretty girl spoke so casually, as if she were simply telling people about today's weather.

Shen Yuan gasped, instantly understanding Lao Li's thoughts.

Damn it, adults' hearts are so dirty! He and Li Zhi were so simple, there was nothing between them!

However, although Shen Yuan thought this way, a bright smile appeared on his face.

"Uncle Li, you've worked hard. Look at my dad, he doesn't care at all."

As Shen Yuan spoke, he even stepped on Old Shen's foot.

Old Li's kind smile seemed to widen a bit more as he waved his hand and said, "It's alright, it's not hard work. It saves you the trouble of taking a taxi."

After saying that, Lao Li's gaze lingered on Shen Yuan for two seconds. His gaze seemed to have weight, making Shen Yuan's back inexplicably tense up.

Old Li turned to Li Zhi, his tone still gentle: "Zhi Zhi, let's go."

The three quickly arrived at the underground parking garage.

After getting in the car, it drove smoothly out of the residential area.

Old Li stared intently at the road ahead, occasionally glancing at the back seat through the center console mirror.

Shen Yuan sat upright, his back ramrod straight, his eyes fixed intently ahead, not daring to glance around.

Li Zhi, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, tilting his head slightly towards the window to watch the familiar street scenes flash by, though a slight smile remained on his lips.

Speechless all the way.

Silence enveloped the carriage like a thin veil, with only the low rumble of the engine and the sound of the wind outside the window serving as background noise.

Shen Yuan tried several times to start a conversation, opening his mouth only to close it again, eventually choosing to remain silent.

The delivery of Lao Li's "thoughtful" message was itself a silent warning.

The car finally came to a smooth stop on the roadside at the departure level in front of Jiyang Railway Station.

"We've arrived." Old Li's voice broke the silence inside the car.

"Thanks dad."

"Thank you, Uncle Li!" Shen Yuan responded almost immediately.

Just as Shen Yuan was packing his things, Lao Li turned around and looked over from the driver's seat.

Their eyes met, and Shen Yuan heard Lao Li's voice.

"Shen Yuan, I'm entrusting Li Zhi to your care these next two days."

Old Li spoke gently, yet his words carried an undeniable weight and a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny.

In that seemingly prolonged moment, Shen Yuan's heart felt as if it had been struck heavily by something.

This is more than just an ordinary request.

These brief words transcend the ordinary instructions from fathers to their children; they are more like a silent test from a father to a young man, a conversation between men about trust and entrustment, about protection and boundaries.

Shen Yuan could feel the heavy weight in the air.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing all his joking or frivolous thoughts, and straightened his back.

He raised his eyes, his gaze no longer darting away, and met Lao Li's gaze firmly across the space of the carriage.

For the first time, that young face revealed an almost solemn seriousness in front of Li Zhi's father.

"Uncle, don't worry." His voice wasn't loud, but his words were clear, each syllable seemed to have been carefully crafted, carrying a heavy sense of promise.

"I understand, I will take good care of Li Zhi."

This simple response, devoid of any fancy words, resonated exceptionally clearly within the train carriage.

Li Zhi seemed to sense the strange atmosphere that was silently passing between the two men, and glanced at Shen Yuan beside him.

Then the pretty girl slapped Shen Yuan's hand: "Do I need you to take care of me?!"

Shen Yuan raised his chin: "That's called being a gentleman!"

"Gentleman, you idiot! With a brain like yours, it wouldn't matter who takes care of whom anyway!"

Just as the two were about to continue arguing, Lao Li's voice rang out from inside the car.

"Okay, have fun, and be careful."

Old Li's voice remained gentle as ever, his gaze sweeping meaningfully between the two before finally settling on Li Zhi's face.

Li Zhi nodded: "I understand."

After saying that, the girl picked up her schoolbag and quickly got off the bus.

After watching the two get out of the car, Lao Li looked away and drove away.

Watching Lao Li's car drive away, Shen Yuan quietly let out a long sigh.

At this moment, Li Zhi gently nudged his arm: "You've got guts."

Shen Yuan chuckled.

"You don't understand that kind of tension."

Li Zhi glared at Shen Yuan, then raised her chin and said, "Enough with the nonsense, hurry up and get into the station!"

"I know."

After passing through security, the two arrived at the high-speed rail ticket gate on the second floor of the train station.

Shen Yuan's travel time was well planned; from home to the train station, there were exactly 10 minutes left before the boarding time began.

You won't have to wait too long to get on the bus.

"Attention passengers, boarding for train G7344 is about to begin. Please board..."

Shen Yuan listened to the broadcast but did not set off immediately.

"Wait a little while, we can check tickets after most people have left."

After hearing this, Li Zhi rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan: "You idiot Shen Yuan, look how many people are at the ticket gate!"

Shen Yuan looked at the sparse crowd at the ticket gate, his face full of embarrassment.

With a simple scan of your ID card, the gate opens automatically.

Li Zhi stepped aside, walked to the other side of the gate, stopped, turned around, and waited quietly.

Shen Yuan also swiped his ID card to complete the ticket check.

"Platform 6, it's inside."

The passageway leading to the platform was brightly lit, with tall billboards and cold-looking indicator screens on both sides.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, neither too close nor too far apart.

Shen Yuan glanced at Li Zhi discreetly. The boy's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and the tension in his heart seemed to melt away.

Finally, Shen Yuan calmly reached out and gently grasped Li Zhi's hand, which was hanging by his side.

Li Zhi was slightly taken aback, and a faint blush suddenly appeared on her cheeks. She stopped and turned to look at Shen Yuan.

A hint of embarrassment and annoyance flickered in her beautiful eyes. The girl lowered her voice and gently scolded, "What are you doing! We haven't even arrived in Hangzhou yet!"

After saying that, she quickly shook off Shen Yuan's hand, turned around and walked briskly towards the platform.

Shen Yuan watched the girl's figure disappear around the corner, the lingering warmth on his fingertips making him rub his fingertips together.

He suddenly smirked, a low murmur escaping his throat: "So you're letting us hold hands once we get to Hangzhou, huh?"

Passing through the cool morning breeze and the cold metallic gleam of the car body, Shen Yuan found his seat.

He bought a first-class seat, which cost 20 yuan more than a second-class seat, but at least it wouldn't be as crowded.

Li Zhi was slightly surprised when he learned that Shen Yuan had bought a first-class seat, but he didn't say anything.

After getting on the bus, Shen Yuan promptly gave up the window seat to Li Zhi, and only after Li Zhi sat down comfortably by the window did he plop down in the outer seat.

As the high-speed train slowly started moving, Li Zhi lowered his eyelashes and swiped his phone screen, as if he were sending a message home.

Shen Yuan rested his elbow on the armrest, his gaze sweeping over the girl's profile, which was bathed in the light of the morning sun, and finally landing on her fingertips resting on the seat.

He cleared his throat as if to speak, but Li Zhi suddenly turned his face: "What are you looking at! Hurry up and do your test!"

"It only took about 20 minutes..."

Shen Yuan tried to struggle, but under Li Zhi's gaze, he finally gave in.

Seeing Shen Yuan helplessly pull out the test paper, Li Zhi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

The girl turned her gaze back to the window.

The rushing scenery stretched into flowing blocks of color in her eyes, and in the reflection of the glass, she saw the pained expression on the face of the boy beside her as he looked at his exam paper.

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan in the glass, a pleased smile curving his lips.

More than 20 minutes passed quietly while I was doing the questions.

Shen Yuan looked at the platform outside the window and then began to pack his schoolbag.

……

The high-speed train slowly glided into the Hangzhou Station platform, and a soft female voice announced the arrival information over the train's public address system.

"Let's go, Li Bao."

Shen Yuan stood in the corridor and reached out to grasp Li Zhi's hand.

"There are a lot of people, so stay close."

Shen Yuan's voice wasn't loud, and although it was mixed in with the surrounding noise, it clearly reached Li Zhi's ears, carrying an undeniable sense of protection.

"Be careful not to get separated."

"Humph!"

Li Zhi gave a soft hum, but did not break free from Shen Yuan's grasp.

This "humph" was less of a protest and more of a habitual act of saying one thing and meaning another.

Seeing Shen Yuan holding her hand, the girl's cheeks flushed slightly.

Now, they really are doing something bad behind their parents' backs.

　There will be an extra chapter tonight.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)