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

Chapter 229 This is the second time I've kissed you! (Bonus chapter combining three chapters)

"Uh……"

Shen Yuan immediately let out a choked sound, his mind went blank, and his previous determined and affectionate gaze instantly turned into a panicked and blank stare.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if this sudden "life-or-death question" had blocked his entire language system, leaving only his dry Adam's apple moving laboriously a few times.

"No! No!"

Finally, Shen Yuan, like a broken record, managed to squeeze out a few fragmented syllables, his voice even sounding somewhat distorted.

He tried to explain, hurriedly adding, "I mean...you look good! You've always...you've always been exceptionally beautiful!"

Shen Yuan's voice was dry and strained, filled with embarrassment and helplessness.

Shen Yuan felt like he was doomed.

Seeing the boy's appearance, who had just fallen into a mud pit after his heartfelt confession, he was so embarrassed that he was practically steaming on the spot.

Li Zhina's sweet smile, which she had been trying to suppress but was already overflowing, finally burst forth like spring water breaking through a dam.

“Puchi—hahahahaha!”

A crisp, melodious laugh instantly echoed through the cold winter night, filled with joy and the smug satisfaction of a successful prank.

The beautiful girl smiled, her eyes crinkling, her shoulders trembling slightly, and her long hair swaying happily.

"Hmph~ You're so stupid!"

She gave a playful scolding with a broad smile, and gently scratched the back of his frozen hand with her fingertips.

"Let's go! It's freezing! Time to go home, take a shower, and go to bed!"

Perhaps the cold wind found an opening during the laughter, because Li Zhigang subconsciously shivered slightly as soon as he finished speaking.

Almost instinctively, the petite figure, whose smile had not yet completely faded, leaned lightly to the side and nestled into Shen Yuan's warm and broad embrace.

Shen Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Although they had hugged many times, Shen Yuan always felt a flutter in his heart whenever Li Zhichao snuggled into his arms.

Looking at the girl in his arms, Shen Yuan raised his arm very naturally, passed through the soft hair and winter clothes behind her back, and gently wrapped it around her arm, pulling her closer into his warm embrace.

Li Zhi rubbed her cheek against the thick fabric of his chest, feeling that solid support and the gradually accelerating heartbeat.

The mischievous smile from before quietly settled, transforming into a sweet, contented smile on her lips.

She didn't speak, but simply moved closer.

"Yeah, I'm home." Shen Yuan replied softly, his voice slightly hoarse.

He didn't let go; instead, he embraced that softness and warmth even more securely.

The campus paths were quiet and deserted on a winter night, and the lamplight cast long shadows of the students.

The two of them nestled together, their steps carrying an indescribable tacit understanding and harmony.

Shen Yuan's arm naturally wrapped around Li Zhi, and Li Zhi obediently and quietly leaned against him.

They nestled together, using their body heat to ward off the chill, their figures overlapping in the dim light to form a warm and harmonious silhouette.

Step by step, they walked steadily toward the school gate together.

The dim glow of the streetlights gently elongated the shadows of the two people nestled together, casting a warm silhouette in the chilly winter night.

Li Zhi gently nuzzled her head against Shen Yuan's chest, finding a more comfortable position.

The girl's sly smile, still lingering from her successful prank, quietly settled into a serious look tinged with curiosity deep in her eyes.

Her voice came through the thick collar.

"Hey, Shen Yuan."

"Ok?"

Feeling the movement in his arms and the earnestness in the voice, Shen Yuan lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on her upturned face.

Li Zhi blinked her eyes, which were illuminated by the lamplight, and slowed her pace as she leaned against him.

"The final exams are coming up soon..."

She paused for a moment, seemingly considering her words, but the concern and expectation in her eyes flowed out without any attempt to hide them.

"Do you... have confidence?"

Thanks to the focused effort on skills, two weeks of the New Year's holiday have already passed by in the blink of an eye.

Next Friday is January 21st.

A cold wind swept through the bare branches, making a soft whistling sound, and ruffled a few strands of soft hair on the girl's cheek.

Li Zhi knew, of course, how much effort he had put into this exam, but it was precisely because she knew that she was even more concerned about his condition.

Shen Yuan tightened his arms around her, enveloping that familiar warmth even more tightly.

Her question seemed to awaken the passion in the boy's chest, causing it to boil instantly.

The light from the streetlamp fell into his eyes, leaping with a bright and resolute flame—a certainty that had been forged and refined through countless trials.

"Of course!"

Shen Yuan's answer was without the slightest hesitation, resolute and clear enough to penetrate the surrounding cold air, filled with unshakable confidence.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely get 665 points!"

Li Zhi lifted her delicate chin, pulled herself out of his warm embrace slightly, and turned her face to look at him.

The light from the streetlights danced in her eyes.

The girl's pink lips pursed slightly, and she let out a soft hum that carried a hint of warning.

"Humph~"

The girl's voice rose slightly at the end, like a little devil's tail swaying gently.

"It's a deal, 665 points! What if you don't get it..."

Li Zhi paused deliberately, her bright eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.
"Then... I won't be kissing you during the rest of winter break, until the first mock exam!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she deliberately winked, giving off a "you figure it out yourself" look.

Shen Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then caught a smile in her extremely serious threat.

Seeing the beautiful girl's feigned seriousness yet undeniable teasing thoughts, the solemn sense of commitment he had felt was instantly replaced by a warm, sweet, and rebellious feeling.

The boy almost immediately couldn't help but complain, his deep voice full of helpless laughter.

"Hey! Li Bao... isn't this threat a bit unreasonable?"

Shen Yuan gently squeezed Li Zhi's arm: "...Besides, you've only kissed me once so far! Just once!"

Under the halo of the streetlights, a deeper blush seemed to flash across Li Zhi's cheeks, but it was quickly suppressed by her carefully maintained "serious" expression.

She quickly looked away and muttered under her breath, "...One time isn't too few, okay! Humph!"

The girl's shy yet smug expression, mixed with a hint of pride, resembled a sweet candy bean in the chilly winter night.

She buried her head back in his arms, but her slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the smile she was trying to suppress.

Soon, the outline of the residential area appeared before their eyes.

The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful on a winter night, with only a few sparse lamps casting a warm yellow glow through the window frames.

"Ding--"

The elevator doors slid open slowly to both sides, revealing the cold, white light of the corridor reflected in the cold metal panels.

The warmth in Shen Yuan's arms seemed to be diluted by the chill in the hallway the moment the door opened.

Li Zhi lifted her head from Shen Yuan's warm embrace, gently shifted her body, and gestured for him to let go.

Although Shen Yuanhuan was somewhat reluctant to let go of the arm around her shoulder, he still obediently loosened his grip, instantly creating a slight distance between them.

"Look, we're home."

Li Zhi's voice carried a hint of languor and barely perceptible satisfaction after completing the "migration," his gaze sweeping towards the door of his home, which was just a stone's throw away.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath of the cool air in the hallway, which was mixed with the sweet scent of her hair, looked down at her, and nodded gently.

"Ah."

His voice was a little muffled, carrying a hint of reluctance in his farewell. His arm had already fallen to his side, but his body was still very close.

Just then, Li Zhi, who was about to turn around to get the keys, suddenly stopped.

She didn't open the door immediately, but instead looked up at Shen Yuan, her small nose wrinkling almost imperceptibly.

The girl's voice rang out, no longer sweet and cheerful, but carrying a soft yet clear... grievance.

“Hey… you idiot Shen Yuan…” She drew out the last syllable slightly, as if it had a little hook.

"You're just going to... just give me an 'uh-huh' and that's it?"

Li Zhi tilted her head slightly, her eyes, which were particularly bright under the corridor lights, fixed on him without blinking. She pursed her lips, and when she spoke again, the accusatory tone in her aggrieved expression was even stronger.

"They've only been dating for a short time?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "You were saying such heartwarming things on the way home, but now that we're at the door, it's like you've just completed a task?"

She raised her hand, not to open the door, but to gently poke the fabric of Shen Yuan's down jacket with her fingertips.

The girl expressed her dissatisfaction.

"You dropped me off at home and then just said 'hmm'? You're getting colder and colder, aren't you?"

Shen Yuan was taken aback by the question, staring at the small face filled with accusation clearly reflected in the light.

The lingering reluctance of saying goodbye and the awkwardness of the elevator space were instantly dispelled.

A surge of emotion welled up within him, a desire to defend himself mixed with intense longing. He instinctively grabbed Li Zhi's hand, which she hadn't had time to retract, his fingertips warmed by his body heat beneath his own.

Shen Yuan's cheeks were visibly flushed under the cold hallway lights, his eyes held a hint of urgency, and his voice was slightly strained: "I'm not being cold! I'm just a little reluctant to let go!"

The boy blurted it out, his tone revealing an undisguised honesty.

Li Zhi was caught off guard by his straightforward, somewhat clumsy, reluctance.

The feigned dissatisfaction crumbled instantly, a soft spot in her heart softened, and then a small sense of pride and sweetness took over.

Looking at Shen Yuan's flushed face and his hand gripping her fingers tightly, she felt an urge to laugh that she could barely suppress.

The girl blinked her beautiful eyes, deliberately put on a stern face, raised her chin slightly, and let out a clear yet slightly spoiled "Hmph!"

This "humph" was like a nimble claw, gently scratching at Shen Yuan's heart.

There was no blame, but it was full of a girlfriend's coquettishness and teasing as if she could see right through him.

"Fool!"

She muttered something else, her voice already brimming with barely concealed amusement.

Looking at Li Zhi's adorable feigned anger, Shen Yuan felt a surge of pride and sweetness that made her glow with vitality.

He leaned down slightly, his gaze level with hers, the intensity in his eyes almost piercing through the playful atmosphere just moments before.

“Li Bao,” his voice was deep and clear, each word carrying an undeniable firmness, as if to etch this promise into the air at this moment.

"665 points."

It's not a question, it's an absolute declaration.

A look of surprise flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, which was quickly replaced by anticipation and encouragement.

Shen Yuan gazed into her eyes, each word spoken with unwavering conviction: "Wait for me, I'll prove you wrong." It wasn't a discussion, nor a prediction; it was a promise that would surely be fulfilled.

Li Zhi looked into Shen Yuan's eyes, which shone brightly because of his promise, and the fire within them seemed to ignite the chill of the entire winter night.

That almost reckless yet sincerely burning confidence made her heart feel as soft and sweet as if it were wrapped in honey-soaked cotton.

A sudden impulse flashed in the girl's eyes, like a kitten stealing fish in the dark.

Her pink lips, which had been pursed, subtly curved into a sweet, irresistible smile in an instant, unnoticed by anyone.

There was no warning.

Before the last syllable of Shen Yuan's resounding "Wait for me, I'll show you!" had even faded—

Li Zhi was as light as a butterfly fluttering its wings, tiptoeing and leaping slightly upwards.

Her slightly moist lips were pressed against Shen Yuan's cheek, which was a little tense from speaking.

The touch is soft and warm, but the warmth is fleeting.

"Chirp—"

An extremely faint sound was amplified infinitely in the narrow space between the two people.

Shen Yuan felt a buzzing sound in his head, as if fireworks were exploding inside his skull.

His once resolute expression froze instantly, as if the pause button had been pressed on his entire body.

"call……"

Li Zhi's breath brushed against his sensitive earlobe, carrying a hint of smugness and an irrepressible smile.

The beautiful girl quickly took a half step back, her blush spreading all the way to the tips of her small ears, shining brightly under the cold white lights of the corridor.

She raised her small face and looked at the stunned expression that went from shock to turning bright red like a boiled shrimp.

Li Zhi's lips curled up like a little fox, filled with the joy of a successful prank.

The voice, word by word, clearly struck Shen Yuan's buzzing ears:
"Humph~"

"This is the second time!"

"Fool!"

The girl's clear, crisp voice trailed off with a hook, like a small hammer striking Shen Yuan's stunned heart once more.

Before Shen Yuan could react, Li Zhi quickly turned around and unlocked the latch of his security door.

"Click!"

After a soft sound, warm light shone through the crack in the door.

The figure that had delivered the nuclear-level sweet shock slipped through the crack in the door like a startled rabbit.

Only at the very last moment, just before the door was about to close completely, did she quickly peek out a small part of her incredibly red cheek and wink at him forcefully and rapidly.

In the cold stairwell, only Shen Yuan remained, standing there like a statue, his burning cheeks still seemingly imprinted with the soft, slightly cool touch, and that declaration that seemed to echo deep within his soul—

This is the second time!

The second time!

She took the initiative!

Another sneak attack!

Shen Yuan stood there, stunned.

Unbelievable! Incredible!
No, how dare she?!
Just as he finished uttering that bold statement!
The immense impact left Shen Yuan momentarily stunned.

A few seconds later, the massive storm of shock subsided slightly.

Shen Yuan felt a strong rebellious emotion surge through his mind like a wildfire!
No!

We can't let her get away with this all the time!
I can't always stand here like a frozen idiot, stupidly getting kissed!
I want to kiss him back too!
This thought, bursting forth with an almost overwhelming determination, suddenly exploded within me.

He wants to seize the initiative!
He wanted her to experience the shock of having her mind go blank!

And it has to be even more extreme! Not just on the cheeks! It has to be truly...

This inexplicable determination to seek revenge instantly ignited the blood in his veins.

“Li Zhi…”

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi's front door and a smile appeared on his lips.

"You wait! I'm definitely going to kiss you back!"

This intense thought burned like wildfire, making his whole body feel hot.

He took one last, deep look at the closed door, as if to carve his declaration of challenge upon it.

Then, he suddenly turned around and walked towards his own front door.

Damn it, I've made up my mind, I'm staying up until 2 a.m. today!
Just do it and it’s done!
……

The next morning, as dawn broke, the classroom of Class 15 was filled with the languid atmosphere typical of the period before morning self-study.

Some people were yawning, while others were chatting quietly and catching up on the homework they hadn't finished copying yesterday. The air was filled with chalk dust and the smell of breakfast buns.

In the middle of the classroom, Shen Yuan was already sitting at the table.

In stark contrast to the laziness around him, Shen Yuan was currently hunched over his desk, facing a set of mock exam papers and a notebook of wrong answers with slightly curled corners.

The pen tip glides across the paper, producing a dense and steady hissing sound at an astonishing speed.

He was completely immersed in the world constructed by the questions, as if all the noise around him was irrelevant.

As is his custom, homeroom teacher Lao Zhou would stroll into the classroom a few minutes before the start of morning self-study to patrol, his gaze habitually sweeping over the entire class.

His gaze, which always exuded a teacher's shrewdness and meticulousness, suddenly paused when it swept over Shen Yuan's corner.

A clear look of surprise flashed across his eyes, but that surprise was quickly replaced by strong affirmation and heartfelt appreciation.

Old Zhou subtly moved two steps closer in that direction so that he could see more clearly.

He saw that the scroll spread out in front of Shen Yuan was already mostly filled with writing, the ink marks clear.

Seeing the almost tangible focus in the boy's eyes, Old Zhou couldn't help but let a deep smile spread across his face.

This is the kind of gratified smile that educators show when they see their students "truly on their way".

He didn't make a sound to disturb them, but simply stood silently for a few seconds outside that little world of focused concentration and the scratching of pens.

Actually, the budding feelings of youth in the classroom, especially the sweet atmosphere between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi that almost permeated the corridor lately, were quite intense.

Having been a homeroom teacher for over a decade, Lao Zhou had long since pieced together the outline from various signs and snippets of conversation from his students.

Even without searching for any clues, Old Zhou knew just from his older cousin's every word.

Moreover, these two are quite different from other couples in some ways; they openly hold hands.

At first, he hesitated whether he should point it out or intervene, since puppy love is ultimately a red line in terms of rules and regulations.

But at this moment, seeing Shen Yuan's almost "obsessive" state of study and his fierce determination to achieve his goal, Old Zhou's worries dissipated.

What's so bad about discouraging puppy love?
This kind of early romance should be encouraged!

This is the true power of love in Lao Zhou's eyes!

This natural stirring of youth, as long as it doesn't affect the right path or cross the proper boundaries, why should the homeroom teacher forcibly cut it off?

Old Zhou's gaze swept over Shen Yuan's absorbed figure and Li Zhi, who was quietly reading a book beside him.

Old Zhou shook his head almost imperceptibly, but his eyes held a hint of barely perceptible tolerance.

Never mind, let them be.

Old Zhou strolled slowly out of the back door of Class 15, his hands behind his back. The faint sounds of students reading aloud from other classes could already be heard in the hallway.

He returned to his spacious office on the same floor, and as soon as he sat down in his chair, he let out a long sigh of relief.

I looked up and saw Yang Yishui getting ready to go to her morning reading session.

Old Zhou instantly pictured Shen Yuan's focused figure, almost welded to the exam paper.

"Xiao Yang, Shen Yuan has been studying really hard lately."

Yang Yishui turned to look at Lao Zhou, her face full of helplessness as she thought of Shen Yuan diligently working on science problems during English class.

However, the older cousin still approves of Shen Yuan's attitude towards learning.

“My aunt, oh, that is, his mother, called me a few days ago to ask if I had too much homework in my senior year of high school. Shen Yuan has been staying up until one or two o'clock every day recently.”

Thinking of Shen Yuan's energetic appearance that day, the older cousin sighed, "Young people can really endure it. I'm too old to do that anymore."

As soon as my older cousin finished speaking, the morning reading bell rang in the hallway.

"Class is in session! Ugh! Why did I choose English in the first place?!"

Old Zhou watched her figure disappear through the door, chuckled, leaned back in his chair, and leisurely picked up his teacup.

"Oh, alright, alright, I should go eat breakfast too."

……

"Hey, is there anything to eat?"

Shen Yuan's pen suddenly stopped, and he looked up blankly, meeting his older cousin's tightly furrowed brows.

"no……"

"Hurry, hurry! I'm starving!" My older cousin looked at Shen Yuan pitifully. "I fell asleep yesterday and didn't eat dinner..."

"I am searching."

Shen Yuan sighed, then looked down at his schoolbag.

In order to make better use of his time for studying, Shen Yuan always carried dry rations with him.

Before long, Shen Yuan pulled out two small bread rolls and a can of milk from his schoolbag.

"Savior!" Yang Yishui's eyes lit up, and she grabbed the bread roll and milk without hesitation.

She tore open the packaging and popped a piece into her mouth, mumbling indistinctly, "Thank my aunt for me later... Hmm, I'm alive again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Yishui saw Shen Yuan open his hands.

Yang Yishui: ?

"This is my evening supply. I've eaten it now, and I need to go replenish it."

Shen Yuan spoke with a serious expression.

Yang Yishui patted Shen Yuan on the shoulder: "Hey! With your sister here, do you think you can eat this? Just wait! We'll send you supplies at noon."

Hearing Yang Yishui's words, Zhou Shaojie leaned over and asked, "Sister Shui, can I have some supplies too? I'm working hard studying."

Yang Yishui looked at Zhou Shaojie: "Come to the office for a dictation test during evening self-study. If you pass, I'll bring you a copy tomorrow."

"Sister Shui, you're being too polite. Why would I let you treat me to a meal?!"

Zhou Shaojie gave an embarrassed smile, trying to salvage the situation.

But it's too late.

The older cousin patted A-Jie on the shoulder: "It's okay, it's settled then. I'll wait for you during evening self-study."

　20 chapters still owed

　　
　
(End of this chapter)