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

Chapter 223 Li Zhi: It didn't say I couldn't kiss you.

Perhaps they were a little tired from all the commotion, or maybe the air conditioning and heating had reached a comfortable level.

When Li Zhi nestled in Shen Yuan's arms, she actually felt a little sleepy.

The girl snuggled into Shen Yuan's neck and mumbled in a thick nasal voice, "The air conditioning seems a bit hot."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan looked down at the flushed cheeks of the person in his arms, silently tightened his arms, and reached for the remote control with his other hand, turning the temperature down a bit.

"Tell me if you feel cold."

"I know, I'm not stupid."

As Li Zhi spoke, he nuzzled against Shen Yuan again.

This obedient gesture stirred a fire in Shen Yuan's heart.

However, he soon noticed that the person in his arms was breathing more slowly. Shen Yuan looked down at Li Zhi and asked, "Is she about to fall asleep?"

Li Zhi immediately forced herself to stay awake and retorted in a sleepy voice, "No way! I won't fall asleep..."

She looked up at Shen Yuan, muttering indistinctly, "Wouldn't falling asleep give some Seran an opportunity..."

"Tsk, I hadn't thought of that until you mentioned it. Go to sleep. I'll kiss you when you're asleep."

Shen Yuan chuckled, looking impatient.

Li Zhi rolled her eyes at him: "Get down!"

Despite saying that, Li Zhi was getting sleepier and sleepier.

Her eyelids gradually grew heavy, her head unconsciously slid down to Shen Yuan's shoulder, her fingertips unconsciously gripped the cuff of his sweater, and her breathing became long and even.

In this tranquil moment—

"Click."

Suddenly, the crisp sound of a key turning the lock came from the entryway.

Li Zhi suddenly jolted and sprang up from Shen Yuan's arms!
I woke up the person sleeping on my lap in the middle of the night.

The girl was wide awake, her pupils dilated slightly from the shock, and her voice, still soft and sweet from just waking up, was filled with urgency: "Are your parents back?!"

Shen Yuan was immersed in the warmth and fragrance of the woman when he was startled by the sudden sound of the door lock.

He instinctively pulled Li Zhi into his arms to protect her.

The beautiful girl's wide eyes still held a trace of sleepiness, mixed with panic, making her look like a frightened rabbit.

Shen Yuan quickly reassured them, "It's alright, it's alright, they know you're coming, they won't come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound came from the direction of the living room, as if someone was quietly changing their shoes, followed by deliberately hushed conversation.

Li Zhi's tense body relaxed slightly, but her fingers still gripped Shen Yuan's clothes tightly.

"It's alright." Shen Yuan gently pulled her back into his arms, stroking her back reassuringly with his palm.

Sure enough, the noise in the living room gradually stopped after a while.

The room returned to its previous tranquility, with only the faint sound of the host's voice from the projector.

Li Zhi let out a long sigh of relief, rubbing her forehead against Shen Yuan's shoulder: "You scared me to death..."

"What are you afraid of?" Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi with amusement, lowered his head to smell the peach scent in her hair, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Hey, we're a proper boyfriend and girlfriend now, okay? And the way you looked just now, you looked like a kitten with its fur standing on end."

"You're the one who's getting angry!" Li Zhi looked up and glared at him, but her eyes met his smiling gaze.

Their eyes met, and they both burst out laughing at the same time.

The tension from before completely dissipated, and Li Zhi simply snuggled back into his arms, her fingers unconsciously playing with the loose threads on his sweater.

"Don't unravel my sweater."

"So what if we demolished it? Do you have a problem with that?" Li Zhi looked up and glared at Shen Yuan.

"I was just wearing a sweater."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's fingertips suddenly stopped moving.

She tilted her head slightly, her clear eyes gleaming mischievously in the lamplight, and a meaningful smile curved her lips: "Oh? That's perfect—"

She suddenly tugged at the thread: "You'll freeze to death, Seran!"

"Eh eh eh"

He grabbed her mischievous wrist, but his eyes were filled with amusement: "Why are you just like Sangeng and Naonao?"

"I'm their mother! If they don't resemble me, who do they resemble?"

“Like me,” Shen Yuan said matter-of-factly.

Li Zhi immediately rolled her eyes at him, and her little feet, encased in pantyhose, kicked his shin without hesitation: "Idiot! I don't want to be like you, so clumsy!"

Seeing her like this, Shen Yuan couldn't suppress the smile on his lips and coaxed her repeatedly, "Okay, okay—not like me, but like you, is that alright?"

With that, he used his strength to pull Li Zhi, who had just separated from him, back into his arms easily. He rubbed his chin against the top of her soft hair, and his warm breath brushed against her sensitive earlobe.

"Now you're behaving yourself, aren't you?" Shen Yuan's voice was deep and chuckled, with a hint of playful intimacy. "Now... you're not sleepy anymore, are you?"

Li Zhi shook his head: "I'm not sleepy anymore, I was almost scared to death."

"What are you afraid of?"

"You're not afraid, are you?! Next time, come to my house if you dare! I'll show you what's what!"

Shen Yuan thought for a moment, what if he was in Li Zhi's room, and Uncle Li happened to come home...

"hiss--"

Shen Yuan gasped sharply, as if he could really see Lao Li's death stare. His earlier arrogance was instantly extinguished by ice water, and he even instinctively shrank his shoulders.

He shook his head vigorously, his voice dry and tinged with guilt: "No, no, no! I was wrong!"

The boy shrank back, forcing a fawning and timid smile onto his face.

"Heh." Li Zhi let out a short, cold laugh through his nose and rolled his eyes at him without any politeness.

"Idiot! Now you know you're a coward?"

Shen Yuan nodded repeatedly: "I'm scared, I'm really scared."

Li Zhi gave him a disdainful look, then his gaze was inadvertently drawn to the colorful and ever-changing light and shadow on the wall.

The New Year's Eve gala was playing lively and cheerful song and dance performances, and the host's loud voice came through the projector, completely drowning out the slight noise in the living room.

The vibrant colors danced and reflected in Li Zhi's eyes, which still held a hint of anger but had softened.

"...Silly and silly," she muttered to herself, it was unclear whether she was referring to the performance on TV or something else.

But her body honestly let go of the last bit of tension, resting her head back on Shen Yuan's steady shoulder.

Shen Yuan sensed her relaxation and tightened his arms around her, gently resting his chin on the top of her soft head.

He didn't say anything more, but followed her gaze to the screen where the light and shadow flowed.

The songs and voices became the perfect background music at this moment, gently enveloping this little world.

For a moment, the only sounds in the room were the noise of the television program and the occasional purring of the kitten.

Li Zhi's breathing gradually became steady and long. Her fingers unconsciously twirled the loose thread on Shen Yuan's sweater that she hadn't managed to break earlier, but her eyes became focused, flickering slightly with the rhythm of the program.

Shen Yuan looked down and could see her thick eyelashes casting small fan-shaped shadows in the light and shadow, and the tip of her nose twitching gently with her breath.

The air conditioner breeze ruffled her hair, carrying a faint, sweet peach scent.

This moment was so ordinary, yet so precious.

They remained silent, tacitly absorbing the tranquility and closeness that came with the progress of their relationship.

Outside the window, the winter night was chilly, but inside, it was warm and cozy.

They nestled together like that, neither of them mentioning the time again, letting the digital clock by the bedside remind them of the passing seconds.

Even as the clock approached the moment when they had to part, they were still reluctant to break the enchanting tranquility.

Suddenly, the light and shadow on the wall changed, and the New Year's Eve party venue erupted with a deafening roar.

The hosts' impassioned voices pierced the silence of the room from the projector:
"Dear friends, the New Year is just around the corner!"

Let's count down together and welcome the New Year!

"ten!"

The shouts of the audience at the gala were clearly heard through the projector.

"Nine!"

"..."

"five!"

The sudden noise startled the two people who were snuggling together awake.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi raised their heads at the same time, their sleepiness and languor instantly dispelled by the approaching juncture.

Their eyes were completely drawn to the huge countdown numbers on the screen.

"Four!"

Startled by the sudden noise, Sangeng jumped off Li Zhi's lap, raised his tail, and hid in the corner of the bed.

It's okay, Nao Nao is deaf.

"three!"

Li Zhi subconsciously gripped Shen Yuan's arm, her fingertips exerting a slight force.

She tilted her head up and looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan then took the opportunity to put his arm around her shoulder even tighter.

"two!"

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment, with only the light from the projector flowing, illuminating the tension and anticipation on the two young faces.

"one!"

"Happy New Year!!!!!"

Fireworks burst brilliantly on the screen, and the voices of the host and the audience merged into a torrent.

At the same time, the sound of fireworks exploding could be heard outside the window.

Just as the cheers of the crowd resounded through the heavens, in a warm, small room, at this unique point in time that belonged only to them—

Shen Yuan lowered his head, his gaze fixed intently on Li Zhi's exceptionally bright eyes illuminated by the light and shadow, his voice clearly drowning out the noise from the projector: "Happy New Year, girlfriend!"

A bright, spring-like smile instantly spread across Li Zhi's face, as if the ice on a winter's day had just broken.

She responded just as clearly, her voice filled with barely suppressed joy and a touch of familiar coquettishness: "Happy New Year! You silly boyfriend!"

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi's bright smile so close to him, his clear eyes reflecting the night outside the window and the light of fireworks inside.

The previously deafening cheers of the party seemed to be instantly silenced, and his world was filled only with the curve of her lips and the sweet peach scent emanating from her.

Almost entirely driven by an uncontrollable impulse, Shen Yuan suddenly leaned forward and lowered his head towards that tempting source of sweetness—

Then, Shen Yuan kissed Li Zhi's hand.

The girl reacted with lightning speed. Just as Shen Yuan leaned down to press down, a hand precisely pressed against his mouth.

"You damn Thran!! You just pounced on me like that?!"

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan with disgust: "I could tell you were up to no good just by looking at you like that!"

Shen Yuan grabbed Li Zhi's hand to push him away, his eyes filled with a hint of embarrassment and helplessness, his voice trembling slightly with urgency: "No! Li Bao, listen to me! The atmosphere just now..."

He emphasized, trying to convey the genuine feeling of being overwhelmed by the New Year's atmosphere and overflowing love: "Seeing you smile makes me... I... can't help it!"

"Shut up!"

Li Zhi didn't want to listen to his excuses at all, loudly interrupting his explanation, and even wanted to cover his mouth with her other hand.

She glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed: "Glib talk! Explanations are just cover-ups! Don't give me that! What do you mean 'couldn't help it'? I think you've been planning this for a long time! Thran's true colors are showing!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. The sweet atmosphere from just moments ago had been ruined by this guy's recklessness, leaving only an embarrassingly awkward situation.

"The atmosphere was so good just now, if you had asked me, I might have actually given in! But now..."

The girl's voice suddenly rose, carrying a profound critique of the disrupted atmosphere, and delivered her verdict to Shen Yuan with crystal clarity.

"665 points!! Not a single point less! This is your punishment for sneak attacking!"

Shen Yuan: "???!!!!!"

"Huh? How much?"

Shen Yuan stared at Li Zhi in disbelief, his handsome face instantly turning ashen, and his shoulders slumped.

He spent more than half a month focusing on his studies and finally scored 663 points. Now, Li Zhi has given himself a score of 665.

That was the final exam! It was the joint exam of the best high schools in the entire Kuaiji City!

How could it be easy?!

In an instant, Shen Yuan understood what it meant to make a single mistake that could lead to eternal regret.

Looking at Shen Yuan's gloomy and miserable appearance, Li Zhi's embarrassment and anger at being ambushed by him just now instantly turned into complete smugness.

The girl raised her chin slightly, and the corners of her rosy lips curved into a sly and pleased smile.

"Hmph~" She deliberately dragged out the sound, her bright eyes gleaming with mischievousness. "Regret it now? Serves you right for being so cocky! Serves you right for sneaking up on me!"

Li Zhi swayed her legs gently, her toes scratching comfortably on the soft sheets, her posture languid yet proud.

"Then work hard, Shen."

Li Zhi's voice had a playful, upturned tone, mimicking his usual mannerisms, and he even pointed his little finger at Shen Yuan in a mock manner.

"665 points, boyfriend, you can't go back on your word! I believe in you—"

Before the last syllable of "I'm rooting for you" had even finished, a crisp and abrupt "ding-dong" notification sound rang out!

The sound came from Li Zhi's phone, which was placed to the side.

The smug smile that had instantly bloomed on Li Zhi's face froze abruptly. That playfulness and cunning seemed to have been paused, replaced by an instinctive sense of guilt and nervousness.

She subconsciously looked at Shen Yuan, who was also startled by the sound.

In the warm and cozy room, the lively New Year's Eve party was still playing its noisy closing notes, but between the two of them, the air seemed to freeze instantly.

A shared sense of foreboding quietly spread.

Li Zhi stiffly reached out her small hand and carefully picked up the phone.

The screen lit up with a soft light, illuminating her small face, which had become serious yet slightly flustered.

The sender's name was clearly displayed in the notification bar at the top of the screen: Lao Li.

Old Li: [Go home early.]

Lao Li was already being very restrained by simply sending a message.

Normally, Lao Li would probably have just made a phone call.

Shen Yuan pursed his lips and looked at Li Zhi's face.

Li Zhi also looked away from her phone and at Shen Yuan.

"Waaah—I want to go back."

These words struck Shen Yuan's heart like a gentle hammer.

A strong urge surged to his throat, urging him to say, "Let's stay a little longer? It's only just past the New Year..."

He had already quickly come up with a reason in his mind.

However, the moment the thought crossed his mind, Old Li's impassive face appeared vividly in Shen Yuan's mind.

Shen Yuan felt as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat, and all the words that were about to come out were abruptly choked back.

He wanted to stay.

Having just tasted the sweetness of love, with the warmth of his embrace still lingering and his girlfriend's smiling face and long legs still vivid in his mind's eye, how could he bear to let her leave like this?

But he dared not stay.

If Li Zhizhen doesn't come home at night, Lao Li will definitely have a good talk with Lao Shen the next day.

As for the outcome...

Shen Yuan could roughly foresee this.

Li Zhi watched as Shen Yuan's brows and eyes instantly fell, the warm light reflecting the faint blush on her ears. The girl cleared her throat, her voice soft and gentle, as if coaxing someone:
"It's just for one day, I'll be back the day after tomorrow, won't I?"

Shen Yuan pursed his lips and slumped into the mattress, looking utterly dejected.
"……All right."

Seeing Shen Yuan's dejected look, slumped from his shoulders to his heels, Li Zhi stared at his tightly pursed lips, her eyelashes trembled, and she couldn't help but chuckle.

The beautiful girl raised her sleeve to cover her lips, but couldn't hide the sparkle in her eyes.

"You look so silly!"

Although that's what he said, his undisguised longing was clearly reflected in the girl's eyes at that moment.

She stared intently at Shen Yuan's face, which was filled with disappointment, and lowered her voice even further, like a feather brushing against the warm air, carrying a knowing tone and a hint of barely perceptible sweetness.

"You idiot...you really can't bear to part with me?"

Shen Yuan moved his lips, his Adam's apple bobbing silently.

In the end, he didn't say anything.

He simply fixed his gaze more intently on the face so close to his, unable to conceal the deep reluctance surging in his eyes.

He just couldn't bear to do it.

Looking at him like this, Li Zhi's cheeks were still flushed, but her eyes were filled with a smile.

The girl leaned forward slightly, her clear eyes looking directly at Shen Yuan, a gentle smile curving her lips.

"Alright, Shen Yuan."

Her voice was clear and bright, carrying a hint of knowing laughter and comfort, gently breaking his heavy sense of loss.

"What's wrong? Don't look like the sky is falling."

Li Zhi stretched out her finger, her fingertip gently poking Shen Yuan's arm with a comforting touch: "It's only been a little over a day since we separated, what's the rush? I'll spend more time with you when I get back."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan seemed to recover: "Really?"

Seeing Shen Yuan's expression, Li Zhi poked his head in annoyance.

"Let's get started!"

"I didn't pretend!" Shen Yuan argued. "I really can't bear to part with you."

"That won't do, it's getting late! If you don't go back soon, Lao Li is going to beat you up!"

Shen Yuan pursed his lips.

It's okay to get beaten up occasionally, since you'll probably get beaten up again in the future anyway.

But never mind. "Alright, I'll take you back then."

Li Zhi nodded gently: "Let's go."

Shen Yuan responded and reluctantly released his embrace, watching Li Zhi gracefully get up from the bed.

He stood up and watched as the girl bent down to pick up the long down jacket that had been thrown on the chair.

Li Zhili deftly put on the down jacket, pulling the cold zipper all the way down to below her neck.

With a "rip," the carefully chosen outfit, especially the pair of breathtakingly long legs encased in thick black stockings, was once again completely concealed under the bulky outer shell.

Under the light, Shen Yuan's gaze unconsciously followed the long legs that were completely hidden by the hem of the heavy down jacket, until they disappeared completely under the dark fabric.

A clear and intense sense of regret welled up in his heart, and he even unconsciously swallowed lightly.

Those smooth leg shapes, perfectly outlined under the warm light, and the warm, matte black color were simply hidden away... What a waste!

This sense of loss even briefly overshadowed the reluctance to part ways.

Just as Li Zhiyi finished zipping up her pants, she looked up and met Shen Yuan's gaze, which was practically glued to her legs.

The girl's clear eyes narrowed instantly, flashing with an knowing "I knew it" light and undisguised disdain.

The girl's clear, sharp voice, brimming with utter disdain, shattered his pretense: "Hmph! You idiot Shen Yuan! Look at your eyes! You're not really reluctant to part with me, are you? I think you're just reluctant to part with this leg, aren't you, Seran!"

As Li Zhi spoke, he didn't forget to lower his head and tug at the hem of his down jacket to make sure it was covered up completely.

"I……"

Shen Yuan's face flushed instantly. The panic of having his thoughts exposed made him quickly look away at the ceiling, and his voice became a little weak.

Just as Shen Yuan was embarrassed and didn't know how to defend himself, the disdain on Li Zhi's face suddenly changed like a thin mist blown away by the wind, instantly transforming into another expression.

It was a mixture of cunning, smugness, and a subtle provocation.

The girl stepped up to Shen Yuan, her toes almost touching his slippers.

In the warm air, the girl tilted her head slightly, her eyes clearly reflecting Shen Yuan's awkward face.

The light illuminated the lingering blush on her delicate face, and Li Zhi's lips curled into an almost mischievous smile.

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a feather coated in honey, lightly brushing against Shen Yuan's ear.

"Hey, boyfriend..."

She paused deliberately, watching with satisfaction as Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed violently at her abrupt and affectionate address.

The girl's gaze swept meaningfully over her long, fully covered legs before meeting Shen Yuan's somewhat dazed look again, a sly smile playing on her lips like that of a cunning little fox.

"You want to see it?"

Li Zhi's voice trailed off, carrying a strong sense of coaxing and suggestion.

"That--"

She paused deliberately before slowly uttering the last sentence, a sly glint in her eyes:
"—It depends on your performance~"

Before Shen Yuan could react, she turned around gracefully, the hem of her dark down jacket tracing a clean arc in the air with a soft rustling sound.

With a hint of smug satisfaction at her "great victory," the girl, like a cunning and light butterfly, walked briskly towards the kitten in her slippers.

Boom!
Shen Yuan felt as if a red-hot iron had been thrown into his mind!

Li Zhi's nonchalant "It depends on how you do," accompanied by her sly and slightly seductive smile, exploded in his mind.

A surge of blood energy rushed to the top of his head.

"Watch my performance?...Watch what performance?! Li Bao?!"

Shen Yuan's mind went blank.

He stared blankly at the girl in front of him who was earnestly saying goodbye to the kitten, while his mind uncontrollably began to make logical deductions.

Can you judge a person's legs by their performance?
Performance? What is performance?

For Li Bao, her standard for good performance seems to be linked to her grades!
So... if I perform better, can I touch it?
Holy crap!

A strange current shot from the soles of Shen Yuan's feet straight to the top of his head.

But soon, a complicated expression appeared on Shen Yuan's face.

My adorable, proud, and aloof childhood sweetheart, Li Bao, is galloping headlong down the path of becoming a "bad woman," and there's no stopping her!

This is hardly a sweet romance game.

This is clearly a blatant "performance evaluation"!

This is clearly a meticulously designed, relentlessly pressing scheme to "force him to improve"!
Shen Yuan stood by the bed, the heater blowing hot air, but it couldn't dispel the heat on his face or the turmoil in his heart.

He raised his hand and fiercely wiped his face.

"……hiss!"

Although he was completely outmaneuvered, Shen Yuan had to admit that he liked it very much.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi with a complicated expression.

Li Bao is really good at it!
"It's past midnight, Nao Nao, Mommy's going home! Be a good girl and listen to Daddy at home."

Li Zhi said goodbye to Sangeng and Naonao seriously, and gently patted their little heads with his fingertips.

She straightened up, gestured with her chin to Shen Yuan, indicating that she really should leave.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart and his intense reluctance to part, Shen Yuan took a deep breath and nodded.

He tiptoed to the closed door, but instead of opening it immediately, he pressed his ear against the door and listened intently to the sounds outside.

Outside the door, the living room was completely silent.

After confirming that it was safe outside, Shen Yuan carefully and very slowly turned the doorknob and opened the door just wide enough for him to peek out.

The living room was softly lit and quiet, with only a small nightlight on; the parents were nowhere to be seen.

Clearly, they had already returned to their bedroom and continued their "world for two".

Shen Yuan's anxiety finally subsided.

He turned around, gave Li Zhi, who was standing right behind him, an "OK" sign, and silently mouthed, "Nobody's here, let's go."

Li Zhi nodded, wrapped his long down jacket tighter, making sure he was completely covered up.

Shen Yuan stepped aside to clear the doorway, and Li Zhi nimbly slipped out of the room quickly and silently, like a kitten.

Li Zhi glanced back at Shen Yuan, his eyes urging her to hurry up.

Shen Yuan understood immediately and quickly followed.

The two tiptoed quickly across the quiet living room, taking each step carefully, afraid of disturbing Mr. Shen and Ms. Zhang Yuyan in the bedroom.

At midnight, a small head peeked out from Shen Yuan's room, looking at the two humans acting suspiciously, its big eyes full of confusion.

At this moment, Shen Yuan turned around and glared at Sangeng. Sangeng immediately shrank back, and then Shen Yuan ran back and closed the door.

He didn't want to go out and catch the cat later.

I finally made it to the entrance.

Shen Yuan carefully opened the door, and the cold night wind immediately rushed in.

The two quickly walked out of the house, and only when the door lock made a very slight "click" did they breathe a sigh of relief, their tense shoulders instantly slumping.

The motion-sensor lights in the hallway turned on, casting a cold, white light.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi stood in the common corridor between their two houses, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Recalling the highly tense operation just now, and comparing it with the ease of "surviving a disaster" now, a feeling of absurdity and amusement arises spontaneously.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but chuckle softly, his laughter filled with a self-deprecating helplessness.

He wiped his face, looked at Li Zhi beside him whose cheeks were flushed, raised an eyebrow and smiled:
"Tsk, Li Bao, don't you think the way we were just now... looked like we were doing something thief's?"

He pointed to his own tightly closed door, and then to Li Zhi's equally tightly closed front door.

Upon hearing these words, Li Zhi's lips involuntarily curved upwards.

She pursed her lips, but couldn't suppress her laughter, and burst out laughing.

A bright smile bloomed on her face, tinged with shyness, but also with the same ease and acceptance.

She glared at Shen Yuan reproachfully and gave him a playful kick.

"Pah! You're the one who looks like a thief! A clumsy, sly thief!"

The girl's clear voice rang out in the quiet corridor, lacking her usual fiery temper and instead filled with a soft, amused tone.

"If you dare to 'make any trouble' again, I'll kick you with my high heels!"

"High heels are great! Shall I wear the pair I bought you?"

"Get lost! You idiot Shen Yuan! Are you looking for a beating?!"

The two spoke in hushed tones.

Looking at the gate across the street, Shen Yuan urged gently, "Alright, alright, let's go in quickly, it's cold outside."

He couldn't bear to see her outside in the cold, especially thinking about the scenery that was temporarily hidden by her down jacket...

Sigh, what are you thinking about!

"Hmph, then I'm going back."

Li Zhi hummed in response, turned around, took out his keys from his down jacket pocket, and expertly unlocked his own door.

Just as Li Zhi grasped the doorknob and was about to open the door, her fingers suddenly paused for a moment on the cold metal.

The girl suddenly turned around, her fingertips unconsciously curling into her sleeve to cover half of her hand.

She looked up at Shen Yuan, who was still standing there watching her. The light fell into her eyes, revealing a hint of cunning and shyness.

"Hey, you idiot..."

The girl's voice floated lightly in the winter night's chill: "You're leaving already? Aren't you going to give me a goodbye hug or something?"

Her voice was barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz, and her slightly reddened ear tips looked like half-ripe cherries under the lamplight.

The toes inside the cotton slippers on her feet curled up quietly, drawing almost imperceptible arcs on the cold cement floor.

The hallway suddenly fell silent.

Shen Yuan's breath hitched.

Li Zhi stood under the cold white light at this moment

Her slightly upturned face resembled a night-blooming cereus quietly blooming under the moonlight.

Without hesitation, Shen Yuan strode toward Li Zhi.

The rustling sound of cotton slippers scraping the floor was particularly clear in the quiet stairwell.

One step, two steps...

The boy's outstretched arms, still warm from the heater, and with undeniable strength, pulled the slender figure wrapped in the down jacket into his embrace.

His chin touched the top of her cool hair, and the sweet peach scent instantly enveloped all his senses.

When Shen Yuan pressed his palm against her lower back through the thick down jacket, he could clearly feel the subtle changes in the girl in his arms, from tensing up to relaxing.

Their breaths mingled, and the warm breath from Li Zhi burned the skin on the side of his neck.

The down jacket rustled as it was tightly wrapped around the girl, and beneath the cold fabric was the girl's heart pounding faster.

The chill of the winter night seemed to be kept out by this embrace, and the cold white light in the corridor appeared softer.

Li Zhi was trapped in his burning embrace, unable to move, her face buried in the boy's neck.

"You idiot, you're hugging me too tight, I can't breathe..."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's voice, Shen Yuan slightly loosened his grip.

After a brief silence, Li Zhi slightly raised his head.

Her face, still warm from the previous night, was flushed, and her bright eyes, glistening with moisture under the light, clearly reflected Shen Yuan's features.

The girl's lips parted slightly, her voice carrying the soft, nasal tone characteristic of someone asleep; the sound was gentle, yet it resonated deeply in his heart.
"Okay, I'm going home now... Goodnight, boyfriend."

She pronounced the last term of end a little softly, but the affirmation and intimacy in it were crystal clear.

Li Zhi paused, staring intently at Shen Yuan, and added in a softer yet more determined tone:
"Shen Yuan, I like you."

Shen Yuan gazed at her, his eyes overflowing with tenderness and joy.

The boy's lips curled up, and without the slightest hesitation, he replied clearly, "Li Zhi, I like you too."

The silence of the winter night in the stairwell enveloped the two people embracing. Their warm embrace shielded them from the chill, as if time itself was willing to pause for a moment for this young couple experiencing their first stirrings of love.

Feeling the warmth in his arms, Shen Yuan finally reluctantly let go of his embrace.

He gazed intently at Li Zhi's face, which shone brightly under the lamplight, and said in a low, gentle voice, "Goodnight, girlfriend."

"Night……"

As Li Zhi began to softly say "Goodnight," a glint of cunning and courage flashed in the girl's eyes the instant Shen Yuan's gaze was fixed intently on her.

Taking advantage of Shen Yuan's unpreparedness, Li Zhi suddenly tiptoed and her soft, warm lips, like a feather, swiftly and accurately pressed lightly onto Shen Yuan's cheek!
That touch, as light as a drop of water, seemed to carry a tiny electric current, exploding in Shen Yuan's sensory world!
He froze completely, his pupils dilated instantly, his mind went blank, and he stood frozen in place as if he had been cast a spell.

"You idiot! Goodnight!"

After completing this audacious sneak attack, Li Zhi's cheeks were already burning red as if they were on fire.

She didn't even dare to look at Shen Yuan's expression at that moment, and quickly dropped that familiar yet shy address.

She was like a startled but triumphant little rabbit, flustered and embarrassed, when she suddenly turned the doorknob, dodged to the side, and slammed the door shut behind her!
In the cold stairwell, the motion-sensor lights cast a cold, white light.

Shen Yuan was left standing there, petrified. He could even clearly hear his own heart pounding wildly in his chest, like a drumbeat.

The soft touch from just now seemed to still linger on his face, and the burning sensation spread clearly, making his ears and neck turn bright red.

Shen Yuan touched his face blankly, his fingertips unconsciously brushing against the spot where she had kissed him, where the soft warmth of her lips still seemed to linger.

The cold winter air blew on my face, but it did nothing to extinguish the flames that suddenly rose on my face, nor could it calm the surging emotions and unbelievable ecstasy in my heart.

"..."

The boy's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and finally, a silent whisper echoed in the quiet stairwell, carrying a mixture of intense sweetness and bewilderment:

"Depend on……"

"I was ambushed?"

After entering the house, Li Zhi quickly ran into his room.

Li Zhi did not turn on the lights.

In the darkness, her rapid breathing could be clearly heard; her down jacket wrapped around her burning body, and her cheeks were so hot they seemed to be bleeding.

Unconsciously, her fingers brushed across her forehead, which had been warmed by Shen Yuan's body heat, where the scent of his embrace still lingered.

"Li Zhi! Are you crazy?!"

The girl screamed inwardly, her fingertips trembling as she touched her numb lips.

Just now, right here, she dared to press her cheek against his! In the darkness, she suddenly curled her fingers up as if they were burned.

Why did you kiss him?!

Li Zhi's memories surged uncontrollably.

Shen Yuan's frozen, stunned expression; the disheveled state of his fleeing in the cold light of the stairwell; and the tingling, weak-kneedling sensation when his lips touched Shen Yuan's skin...

"It's all Shen Yuan's fault, that idiot!"

She angrily kicked off her slippers and buried her burning face in the cool collar of her down jacket, the fabric seemingly still carrying his refreshing soap scent.

"Fool……"

The girl curled up in the shadows of the room, her soft murmurs damp with moisture.

"...Who told you to say you like it so many times?"

But just then, Li Zhi's phone rang.

Li Zhi took out his phone and saw Shen Yuan's message.

Shen Yuan: "You ambushed me?!"

Li Zhi touched her burning cheeks, couldn't help but chuckle, and quickly replied.

Li Zhi: "You have a problem with that?"

Shen Yuan stared at the words on the screen and smiled helplessly in the room.

Shen Yuan: "Didn't you say I had to get 665 points before I could kiss you?"

Li Zhi: "I only said you weren't allowed to kiss me, I didn't say I couldn't kiss you!"

"Hey--!"

Upon seeing Li Zhi's reply, Shen Yuan suddenly sat up straight on the bed.

That arrogance...

Quite cute.

Shen Yuan shook his head and sent a message to Li Zhi.

"Just you wait, next time I'll kiss you back openly and honestly. But it's late now, you should rest, goodnight."

Upon receiving the message, Li Zhi puffed out her cheeks and quickly replied to Shen Yuan.

Goodnight, Nao Nao's dad.

Shen Yuan's reply came quickly.

Goodnight, Nao Nao's mom.

Looking at Shen Yuan's message, Li Zhi smiled with satisfaction.

The pretty girl glanced at the time and realized it was indeed time to go to sleep.

Otherwise, I might not be able to get up tomorrow morning.

The two put down their phones as instructed, and the room fell silent again.

Shen Yuan lay on the bed, staring at the familiar ceiling, but couldn't help but smile.

The kiss mark Li Zhi had secretly left on his cheek still seemed to carry a slight warmth; the softness of her slender body pressed against his when they embraced; the faint fragrance in her hair; and the words she whispered in his arms, "I like you"...

Every detail replays in my mind, so sweet it's almost overflowing.

He rolled over, buried his face in the pillow, and silently cried out in his heart, "I can't sleep! I just can't sleep at all!"

The same situation was playing out in the room just a wall away.

The girl covered her head with the blanket, but it couldn't stop the joy in her heart and the surging memories.

As soon as she closes her eyes, she can picture herself ambushing Shen Yuan, and the emotions that surged within her when she heard Shen Yuan confess his feelings.

"Waaah—why am I crying! Why did you kiss me!"

On the first winter night of the new year, in a quiet room, two young hearts, separated by the wall, were unable to fall asleep for a long time because of the same fluttering heart.

(End of this chapter)