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

Chapter 250 Parents Actually Know Everything
In the warm bed, Li Zhi's fingertips still lingered on the distinct texture of the skin, as if studying some novel object.

Her cheeks were still burning, but the curiosity in her eyes overcame her initial shyness.

The firm yet warm touch was completely different from what she had imagined, carrying a vibrant vitality.

Just then, the little head buried in Shen Yuan's neck suddenly lifted up.

Those misty eyes shone brightly in the morning light, piercing straight into his smiling gaze.

"Shen Yuan..."

Her voice was soft and gentle, tinged with the warmth of the steam, yet it also carried a resolute determination to go all out.

"Hmm?" the boy responded softly.

Li Zhi took a deep breath, as if to encourage himself, and gently tapped his abs with his slender white fingertips, then announced in a confident little voice.

"You're always thinking about touching my legs, so I... I'm going to touch them back!"

She paused, seemingly feeling that she hadn't explained herself clearly enough, and then blushed as she added, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of his thermal underwear.

"This...this is called fairness!"

She looked up at him with her little face upturned, clearly ashamed, yet she insisted on putting on a spoiled "you have to do as I say" act, just like a little kitten that was bluffing but made people's hearts melt.

Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, then a deep and pleasant laugh burst from his chest.

"Pfft..."

He tightened his arms around her, lowered his head and affectionately rubbed his nose against her smooth forehead, his eyes almost overflowing with laughter, filled with playful indulgence.

"Okay, okay... touch, you can touch."

His voice was low and magnetic, with a morning husky quality.

"Our Li Bao is the one who calls the shots..."

The boy's strong arms relaxed slightly, and he pushed his firm abdomen closer to her, looking as if he were ready to be taken. The mischievousness and tenderness in his eyes were almost enough to drown her.

"Here, it's all for you..."

He paused, brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead with his fingertips, his gaze fixed on her increasingly radiant and beautiful blushing face, and lowered his voice.

"...You can 'reinforce the knowledge points' however you like."

"—Waaaaah! Shen Yuan!!!"

Those five deliberately emphasized words were like a spark, instantly igniting the blush that had just faded from Li Zhi's face.

"You...you...idiot! Serves you right for saying that! Serves you right for laughing at me!"

The beautiful girl, filled with extreme shame and indignation, was like a cat with its fur standing on end. Her clenched fists, brimming with venting anger, rained down on his chest and shoulders with a painless, indifferent force.

"Bad guy! Thran! Big bad guy!!!"

Shen Yuan smiled and let the harmless "retaliation" fall on him.

"...Okay, okay, I'm Thran, I'm the bad guy..."

He smiled, resignedly accepting her shame and anger, his chin brushing against the top of her soft hair, his voice filled with tender affection.

"Then...our precious little darling..."

His large hand covered her still-vibrating little fist, gently enveloping it, and then guided it back onto his warm abdomen.

"...Are you going to touch me or not?"

Li Zhi was speechless, utterly choked by his "begging for mercy" which was laced with boundless indulgence.

"……touch!"

The girl's muffled voice came from his arms, thick with nasal tone and defiant.

In the gap between his large hand and her fingertips, she pressed down hard on his abs again in a retaliatory gesture, as if to prove her determination.

"...Shut up! You idiot! You bad guy!"

The vibrations in Shen Yuan's chest became more pronounced.

He let out a satisfied hum and pressed his cheek against the top of her fragrant hair.

In bed, the girl's slightly cool fingertips finally began to cautiously, curiously, and shyly explore this new territory once again.

My fingertips lingered on the firm abdominal muscles for a long time, repeatedly tracing that warm hardness into a brand on my heart.

It wasn't until the morning light completely flooded the windowpane, making their embracing shadows even clearer, that Li Zhicai dazedly looked up from this tranquil tenderness.

"Shen Yuan..." Her voice was soft and contented as she brushed her cheek against the fabric of his thermal undershirt, "...What time is it?"

Shen Yuan lifted his half-closed eyelashes and reached over her shoulder to grab the phone from the bedside table.

"9:34."

The person in his arms froze instantly.

"Ugh—!" A short whimper escaped from her throat, and Li Zhi suddenly propped herself up, her messy hair falling over her shoulders.

"It's so late?! I need to get up quickly... You idiot! Let go!"

The arm around her waist didn't move at all; instead, it tightened its grip, pressing her back against his comforting chest.

Shen Yuan lowered his head and bit her reddened earlobe, his muffled laughter sending shivers down their spines as their skin pressed together: "What's the rush? Didn't you say you weren't going to do your homework?"

"Well, you can't stay up until noon!" She punched him with her fist, but her legs honestly curled back into the depths of the quilt.

"And...and what if my parents wake up..."

“If she wakes up,” Shen Yuan interrupted her, cupping her hand against his chest in his palm, his fingertips slipping between her fingers to clasp them tightly, “Aunt Xu will only praise you for your hard work.”

He suddenly turned his head and kissed her lips as she tried to argue, turning her unfinished words into a muffled nasal sound.

"...Just five more minutes."

Li Zhi's tense back finally softened, her long eyelashes trembled and drooped, and a soft groan of compromise escaped between their tightly pressed lips.

……

Shen Yuan has always only kept half of his promises.

As Li Zhi curled up in his arms, half-asleep, and finished counting the fifth five-minute interval, the sunlight outside the window had already crossed the gap in the blinds, leaving a bright band of light on the light-colored sheets.

“Liar…” she mumbled indistinctly, her nose pressing against his collarbone in protest.

Shen Yuan smoothed the stray hairs on the top of her head with his fingertips, and then slid his palm into the hollow of her lower back to knead it, causing a small shiver to run through her.

The moment the soft flesh around her waist was precisely grasped, Li Zhi suddenly opened her wet eyes wide: "Ugh! You said you'd get up!"

"I'll get up now."

Shen Yuan let out a low laugh, but his arms still held her close, his fingertips rubbing against the slightly protruding joints of her spine through the thin, soft knitted fabric of her dress.

"How about another kiss from Li Bao to motivate me to get out of bed?"

"Think beautifully!"

The pretty girl angrily bent her knee and bumped it against Shen Yuan's leg.

While Shen Yuan was being pulled, Li Zhi took the opportunity to sit up, the knitted dress ribbon slipping off her shoulder and revealing half of her white jade-like collarbone.

Shen Yuan's gaze suddenly deepened.

He propped himself up and grabbed the girl's ankle as she tried to escape. His warm palm slid up her slender calf and rested comfortably on her slightly sunken knee: "Why are you running?"

Li Zhi snapped her legs together as if electrocuted, her face flushed as she tried to pry his fingers off: "Idiot! All you ever do is touch my legs!"

She gasped and fell backward, but Shen Yuan reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"What's the rush?" He chuckled, nuzzling her neck with his chin, and picked up Li Zhi's phone.

"Aunt Xu sent a message."

The phone screen was brightly lit with a dialog box:
Xu Chan: "Remember to come back for lunch (^▽^)!"

Li Zhi stared at the smiley face symbol, then punched his chest in embarrassment and anger: "It's all your fault! You made me a laughingstock in front of Mom!"

Shen Yuan grasped her mischievous fist and kissed her fingertips: "Yes, yes, it's all my fault."

“Thran…” she muttered under the covers, “bring me the pantyhose!”

As Shen Yuan leaned down, his hot breath burned against her ear: "Beg me?"

"You idiot! Please, my foot!"

She punched him in the chest with her small fist, and Shen Yuan got up from the bed with a smile, then took out Li Zhi's pantyhose from the closet.

He held the fluffy, soft cable-knit pantyhose in his palm; their pure white color appeared exceptionally pristine under the light.

"Here."

Shen Yuan handed it over, his fingertips still carrying the warmth of the hand he had deliberately brushed against.

"Hmph!" Li Zhi grabbed him, glared at him, the blush on her cheeks not yet completely faded, "Turn around! Don't look!"

"Yes, yes, as you command." Shen Yuan replied, but his eyes were full of smiles and undisguised anticipation as he slowly turned around.

Li Zhi sat on the bed, the blanket slipping down to her waist.

She looked down at the delicate cotton pantyhose in her hand, the familiar cable knit pattern feeling soft to the touch under her fingertips.

The girl took a deep breath and carefully touched the edge of her sock with her slender toes.

She knelt down, her slender fingers gripping her pantyhose, and slowly slipped her toes inside.

The cotton texture offered a slight resistance, gently enveloping the rounded and delicate jade feet.

As she moved, the light outlined the girl's slightly hunched, graceful back and her trembling eyelashes.

She slightly tensed her calves, her fingertips smoothing the pantyhose upwards along the smooth curve of her calves.

The stockings clung to her smooth, slightly cool skin, the friction of the cottony fabric creating a subtle, static-like sensation.

When the edge of the stocking was finally hooked up, gliding over the rounded curve of her knee and up to the middle of her thigh, that dazzling white skin was completely wrapped in the pure white fabric, tightly and neatly.

A soft rustling sound echoed on the bed, and the fabric stretched out shallow swirls on the shapely thighs.

Shen Yuan had quietly turned halfway to the side without anyone noticing.

His gaze was fixed intently on the legs tightly encased in pantyhose, watching the rounded thighs peeking out above the stockings, forming a distinct and alluring boundary with the edge of the stocking material.

His Adam's apple bobbed silently, and a dark fire burned in his eyes.

Li Zhi did not look up, but she could still clearly feel the scorching gaze behind her that was almost tangible.

She pursed her lips, and the blush that had just faded from her earlobes crept back up to her neck.

The girl took a deep breath and pinched the smooth edge of the other pantyhose with her slender white fingertips.

Her still-bare jade feet curled her crystal-clear toes slightly, with a barely perceptible tremor, as she carefully touched the top of her pure white socks.

The pause lasted only a brief moment.

With a slight effort, Li Zhi slowly inserted her delicate, pink toes.

The tube gently envelops the small toes, and the soft, wrapping sensation spreads upwards along the smooth ankles.

Her feet were slightly arched, with her heels pressed against the back of her socks, pulling the smooth bindings to conform to the soft curves of her feet.

Shen Yuan's breathing paused almost imperceptibly for a moment.

His gaze was fixed on her slightly bent calves, watching as her slender fingers deftly pinched the cotton edge of her pantyhose and began to slowly pull it upwards.

The dense, braided texture of the fabric rubbed against her delicate, alabaster-like skin, producing a barely audible rustling sound that could be clearly heard in the quiet air between them.

As the pantyhose were lifted inch by inch, the girl's slender, smooth lines were outlined more and more clearly by the pure white fabric—

Slender ankles, beautifully curved calves, smooth and rounded knees...

Under the light, her long legs tensed and relaxed slightly with the pulling motion, and her skin glowed with an alluring, warm, jade-like sheen against the pure white fabric.

In a daze, Shen Yuan recalled hearing someone say that a girl's action of putting on socks is very sexy.

At that moment, he finally understood the weight of those words.

Beneath the finely textured braided pattern, the slightly sunken flesh of her legs, and the rounded root of her thigh peeking out above the stockings, exuded a forbidden allure in the morning light that was even more pronounced than when she was naked.

When the edge of the sock was finally hooked up, gliding past the rounded curve of her knee and up to the middle of her thigh, Li Zhi suddenly stopped.

"You idiot... Don't look anymore!" she suddenly hissed, biting her lip, and knelt up, supporting herself on the mattress.

The hem of the knitted skirt bunched up at the top of her legs as she stood up, barely covering the glittering skin above the top of her stockings.

"Turn around!"

Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he obediently turned his head away.

The girl stood on the carpet beside the bed, her waist tensed, her toes touching the ground to steady herself.

Her slender fingers tucked into the sides of the sock waistband and pulled it up!
The stockings suddenly tightened, wrapping around the legs and creating a full, bouncy curve. The top of the stockings snapped shut into the deepest part of the waist, leaving two crescent-shaped marks below the flat abdomen.

The tight stockings sank half an inch into her skin, outlining her waist and hip curves breathtakingly.

"Okay, okay..."

Her voice trembled, and her fingertips frantically pulled down her skirt.

Shen Yuan slowly turned around upon hearing the sound.

His gaze swept over the legs tightly bound by pure white pantyhose.

The toes point upwards along the smooth curve of the calf, eventually landing below the hem of the skirt.

"Don't move," he said in a hoarse voice, then suddenly knelt down on one knee.

Li Zhi was so startled that she took a half step back, her heel hitting the edge of the bed: "What are you doing..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Yuan's burning hot fingertips were already pressed against the back of her knee.

He lowered his head and stared at a fine crease on the stocking, his fingertips tracing upwards along his thigh, the full muscles beneath the braided texture slightly sinking as his knuckles moved.

"It's crooked here."

His Adam's apple bobbed rapidly, and suddenly he lifted her legs up with his palm!
Li Zhi was caught off guard and grabbed his shoulder, his bare feet suddenly dangling in the air.

The boy slowly and methodically smoothed out every inch of the fabric.

The sensation of the cotton fibers sinking deep into her thighs was amplified infinitely, and his scorching breath penetrated her thin socks, burning her toes so much that they curled up fiercely inside her forgotten slippers.

Li Zhi lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the top of Shen Yuan's head, which was bowed in concentration.

The boy's broad shoulders were slightly tense from his squatting posture. His long, strong fingers gently and patiently traced the unsightly creases on his calves.

Pressing my fingertips against the sensitive skin on my side of my leg, I felt a tingling, slightly itchy sensation that shot straight to my heart.

The comfort brought by that focus was like warm honey flowing into her limbs and bones, making her heart melt completely.

Even though she knew he was using the situation as an excuse, the cherished intimacy still made her chest feel sweet and bubbly.

However, the moment my gaze fell upon the top of his hair, which was almost touching my legs, and the breath I could feel from the back of my knees...

"Alright..." Shen Yuan's voice had barely rang out when his palm had not yet completely left the soft flesh behind her thigh.

Li Zhi then abruptly pulled his leg back like a startled rabbit!

She glanced at him quickly, her cheeks burning red as if on fire, so hot that her vision blurred, and she forced a fierce look to maintain her composure as she gave the order.

"Um, you... now! Go to the bathroom! I'm changing!! Don't come out until I call you! Hurry up!!!"

As she spoke, Li Zhi gently nudged Shen Yuan's shoulder.

Seeing the girl's appearance, Shen Yuan immediately knew what Li Zhi was about to do.

With a soft "click" sound, Shen Yuan locked himself in the bathroom.

Li Zhi let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

She was left alone in the room. She subconsciously raised her hand to cover her cheek, and felt the burning heat under her fingertips.

Without a moment's hesitation, she immediately turned around and went to the wardrobe.

She crouched down in front of the wardrobe and easily found the place where she had hidden things before.

Slender fingers probed deep into the clothing, and the fingertips quickly touched a small piece of soft and elastic fabric.

She pinched one corner and quickly took it out.

Under the light, it was a pure cotton bra that matched the one she was wearing.

The delicate fabric texture is clearly visible under the light, and the shoulder straps have a certain soft curve, which is the result of being tightened after wearing.

It lay in the girl's slightly cool palm, so pure it was almost dazzling, and it also silently reminded her of her current situation.

Li Zhi's gaze fell on the underwear in her hand, her eyes flickered with a complex emotion, as if a hint of shyness had crossed them.

She glanced quickly at the closed bathroom door, and only after confirming that Shen Yuan was still obediently inside did she seem to make up her mind.

She tilted her head back slightly and took a deep breath.

The next second, the girl's movements became extremely swift.

Her slender hands gripped the hem of her off-white knitted mini-skirt and lifted it up without hesitation!

The soft knitted fabric obediently curls and folds.

A large expanse of smooth, jade-like skin on her waist and abdomen was exposed to the cool air.

Her lines were smooth and graceful, and her flat and firm abdomen revealed a youthful glow without any concealment. Her skin was so delicate that not a single blemish could be seen.

Above that graceful waistline are the beautifully curved silhouettes of the ribs, casting soft shadows under the gentle overhead light.

What's even more unsettling is that the girl didn't stop; instead, she took off her skirt.

The knitted dress that had been taken off was left on the bed.

The warm yet slightly cool air clung to her skin without any obstruction, unexpectedly exposing the girl's shoulders, collarbones, and even the full, exquisite curves of her chest to the indoor light.

The sudden loss of cover sent a jolt of unease through my body like a tiny electric current.

Li Zhi let out a barely audible gasp.

A blush, like rouge, suddenly spread from her cheeks, rapidly engulfing her neck and eventually climbing onto her rounded shoulders and the beautifully undulating skin of her chest that had just been exposed to the air, turning it into a breathtaking crimson.

The slight rise and fall of his chest conveyed the owner's restless heartbeat.

There was no pause, as if even a second longer would freeze this suffocating embarrassment in the air.

She quickly, even somewhat frantically, put on the underwear she was holding.

Her slender fingers fumbled around to fasten the buckle at the back and adjust the position of the shoulder strap.

Only when the shoulder straps fell smoothly back onto her rounded, smooth shoulders, gently enveloping and outlining her full, youthful curves once again, did she seem to regain a sense of security.

After doing all this, Li Zhi took another deep breath.

She quickly put on her skirt and smoothed it out.

Li Zhi's gaze fell on the closed bathroom door. He took a deep breath, his voice trying to be calm but still carrying a slight, barely perceptible tremor.

"Hey... you idiot, come out now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the bathroom door lock clicked softly.

Shen Yuan walked out of the bathroom, his gaze lingering for a moment on her cheeks, which were slightly flushed from her haste, before sliding down to her chest.

There, the soft, flowing fabric of the knitted dress outlined a clear and rounded silhouette, subtly different from the view seen from outside the locked bathroom.

With an extra layer of fabric providing gentle support and concealment, the lines are perfectly defined, exuding a subtle yet vibrant youthful energy.

Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly, and the smile in his chest almost burst through his defenses.

He certainly knew what had happened in those few minutes.

His tongue silently licked across her teeth, and an urge to tease her surged to his head.

However, when his gaze fell upon Li Zhi's eyes, which, though trying to remain calm, already showed signs of anger...

Alarm bells rang in Shen Yuan's heart!

Can’t ask!
If I actually asked that question...

Forget about any further flirtatious advances; this girlfriend, whose shyness can be as fiery as a wildcat's fur, will likely relegate him to the "air" level of treatment for the entire winter break.

Let alone holding hands, she probably wouldn't even spare him a glance.

Shen Yuan almost immediately swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He turned around and went back into the bathroom with complete ease. "I'm brushing my teeth and washing my face."

No sooner had the words left her lips than the beautiful girl's voice rang in her ear: "Get ready and come out to get dressed!"

"understood!"

Shen Yuan turned on the faucet in the bathroom, and the cold water splashed on his face, trying to extinguish some of the churning laughter and the fluttering in his heart.

The person in the mirror had a slight upturn at the corners of their mouth.

Outside the door, Li Zhi listened to the rushing water inside, her fingertips brushing against the folds of the skirt she had just put on, lost in thought.

Her toiletries were on the sink, his coat was casually draped beside the bed, and her clothes and socks were in the closet...

The air was filled with the scents of the two of them.

The thought struck Shen Yuan, who was washing up, like a bolt of lightning, without warning.

The tranquility of this moment is exceptionally clear.

The room was filled with the faint steam from their morning washing and changing, and a tacit understanding between them.

All the movements were natural and fluid, as if they were repeating the same script every day.

"Like...a fragment of life living together."

This thought, carrying a strange warmth and a slight sense of embarrassment, almost simultaneously entered the hearts of Shen Yuan and Li Zhi.

Inside and outside the mirror, inside and outside the door, a slight, dazed smile quietly crept onto the corners of their lips.

The initial tension and unease while changing clothes subsided, replaced by a clumsy yet comforting sense of warmth.

Li Zhi's thoughts were pulled back by the sunlight and shadows that climbed onto the window frame.

For the rest of the time, Shen Yuan and Li Zhi's attention shifted to the kitten.

After cuddling with the kitten for a while, Li Zhi prepared to go home.

"So early?"

Shen Yuan glanced at the time; it was only 10:40.

Li Zhi nodded: "I need to take a shower. I sweated yesterday and feel sticky all over, and... I can't help but smell your scent."

She frowned slightly, her voice low, tinged with a hint of awkward shyness.

Shen Yuan blinked; it was indeed time to go back soon.

"Okay, then I'll see you off."

Li Zhi stood up and picked up her down jacket.

Shen Yuan pulled the jacket draped over the back of the chair and put it on, his movements casual yet displaying the unique efficiency of a young man.

The room door was gently pulled open.

"Click."

The subtle click of the latch rebounding sounded exceptionally clear in the suddenly open space.

The hallway was much brighter than the room.

"Aha--"

A lazy yawn came out of nowhere from the doorway of the master bedroom across the street!

Li Zhi and Shen Yuan froze on the spot almost simultaneously.

The master bedroom door was ajar. Ms. Zhang Yuyan was wearing a soft and comfortable coral fleece loungewear set. Her hair was fluffy and slightly messy from sleeping. She let out a long sigh of relief, the kind of comfort one should have around noon.

They had obviously just gotten up.

Time seemed to freeze for half a second at that moment.

The three of them suddenly met eyes!

Li Zhi's beautiful almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly, and Zhang's slightly dazed face and her instantly focused gaze were clearly reflected in her pupils.

The girl's ear tips instantly turned bright red, and her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.

The blush was deeper than any blush that appeared during the passion of last night!
Ms. Zhang Yuyan's movements also froze in mid-air, her waist still half-stretched, but her gaze had already switched from half-closed laziness to complete clarity and an indescribable playfulness.

Her gaze first fell on her son's face, then quickly slid to Li Zhi's face.

His gaze swept over Li Zhi's flushed face, over her white knuckles as she unconsciously gripped Shen Yuan's sleeve, and over the knitted dress she was wearing...

Ms. Zhang Yuyan recalled that the message she had just seen on her phone must have been for homework.
Do your homework...

Zhang Yuyan smiled and said, "You two top students finished your homework so early?"

Li Zhi blushed, and then everything went black before her eyes, and she felt dizzy.

That damn excuse!!!

What the hell is the difference between this homework and what Shen Yuan said about consolidating knowledge points?!

She was like a boiled shrimp, suddenly lowering her head, wishing she could bury her face in Shen Yuan's clothes and never see anyone again.

Shen Yuan felt the small stove in his arms suddenly stiffen and become scalding hot, and the force on his arm suddenly increase. He quickly took half a step forward, smiling helplessly to block his mother's increasingly malicious gaze.

"Mom—" Her tone was pleading, yet also protective.

Shen Yuan said, "Alright, I'm going to take Li Bao home now. Aunt Xu is still waiting."

Zhang Yuyan chuckled, a knowing look mixed with amusement at the spectacle.

"go Go!"

She waved her hand, her gaze passing over Shen Yuan's shoulder and precisely landing on Li Zhi's flushed nape.

"Zhizhi—"

Her voice softened a bit, but that mischievous smile turned into a tangible little hook, scratching at the heartstrings.

"Studying hard is a good thing, but you also need to pay attention to the balance between work and rest! Don't overwork yourself!"

The final "hard work" was incredibly pointed.

"Woo..."

A very faint sob escaped Li Zhi's throat.

"Goodbye, Auntie!"

She didn't even dare to lift her head, and almost entirely escaped the living room by being pulled and hugged by Shen Yuan.

Zhang Yuyan watched the two leave her house and couldn't help but sigh.

"Kids these days...tsk, they must have a lot of homework..."

Her tone was full of knowing, sarcastic remarks from someone who had been there all along.

The door closed gently, shutting out the lewd teasing that made one's toes dig into the ground.

The hallway fell silent.

Shen Yuan looked down at the little ostrich in his arms, who was blushing so much she was about to explode, and reached out to smooth her slightly messy hair.

"Okay, okay...it's alright now..."

Li Zhi suddenly raised her tearful little face and glared at him fiercely.

The next second, her clenched fist slammed mercilessly onto his shoulder.

"—You idiot Shen Yuan!!! I'm never staying overnight at your house again! Humph!"

……

Shen Yuan had no idea what happened after Li Zhi returned home, or how the beautiful girl managed to stand up to her mother-in-law and father-in-law.

But from his mother's teasing gaze, Shen Yuan realized that it was best for him to speak less.

Too much talk leads to mistakes; saying nothing is the best course of action.

However... just because Shen Yuan didn't say anything doesn't mean Ms. Zhang Yuyan wouldn't ask.

Just as Shen Yuan was about to return to his room, he heard a cough.

Shen Yuan turned his head and saw that the joke on his mother's face had completely disappeared, replaced by an expression of inquiry and seriousness.

"Shen Yuan, tell your mother the truth, what happened between you two last night... that..."

She carefully chose her words, her gaze fixed on Shen Yuan's expression: "...Are you careful?"

The air in the living room seemed to freeze for a moment.

Shen Yuan's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

But then, he turned around very naturally, his face showing complete innocence and just the right amount of bewilderment, his handsome eyebrows furrowing slightly in confusion.

"Huh? Safe? What's safe?"

He seemed completely oblivious to the deeper meaning of his mother's question, his eyes as pure as those of a newborn lamb.

"Mom, what did you say?"

Zhang Yuyan: "..."

Looking at her son's open yet slightly silly expression, she almost choked on her breath.

Zhang Yuyan crossed her arms, her gaze lingering on Shen Yuan's face, which was brimming with "innocence," for two seconds before finally rolling her eyes in exasperation.

This kid is actually quite good at playing dumb with her!
"Pretending! Trying to act tough with me, huh? Get out! Get out of here now!"

Shen Yuan watched his mother's retreating figure as she gave up asking questions, let out a soft breath, and with a flick of his toes, slipped back to his room.

"boom."

The door was quickly closed.

Zhang Yuyan was amused and exasperated by her son's actions, and shook her head helplessly.

Looking at the tightly closed door, a mix of amusement and annoyance spread through my heart.

This kid really thinks they didn't know anything when their parents came home last night?

Li Zhi's shoes from this morning were in the shoe cabinet, and Shen Yuan's were there too!

what does this mean?
Their owners all spent New Year's Eve in this house, in this room.

Okay, even if there's one possibility, Shen Yuan and Li Zhi actually went home, changed their shoes, and then really did go out to play with their older cousin.

But is there another possibility that...?

The air conditioner in the room is a bit too loud.
Oh dear, that's strange.

Why is the air conditioner on even though no one is home?
Zhang Yuyan pursed her lips, her eyes revealing a meaningful "I've seen through you all along, but I'm too lazy to expose you" sentiment.

She muttered something under her breath, as if talking to herself, yet also as if she were pointing out the unspoken tension in the air: "Tch... why bother making up homework?"

She turned and walked toward the kitchen, muttering to herself as she went, her voice carrying a hint of tolerance for the children's little bit of cunning and a subtle sense of relief that the children seemed to have finally grown up a little.

"Little brat... can't even hide properly."

……

The sound of running water was still coming from the bathroom, and the rising steam blurred the frosted glass door.

In the living room, Xu Chan's gaze fell on the door to Li Zhi's room.

On her phone, Li Zhina's message was still displayed on the screen, sent nearly an hour and a half ago, followed by a reply she herself had sent.

Xu Chan's gaze lingered between the two messages for a moment, a knowing yet helpless smile curving her lips.

She could almost see her daughter pretending to be relaxed while typing with a blush on her face, and her little face that looked like it was about to bleed when she came home this morning.

That blush was clearly not something that could be explained by a simple early morning blush; it carried an unusual shyness imbued with some kind of aura, even the tips of her hair seemed unusual.

Xu Chan tapped her phone case lightly with her fingertips, smiled silently, and shook her head with a slightly wider arc.

She looked up at the closed bathroom door and listened to the slightly rapid sound of water flowing inside. She could almost see her precious daughter standing under the shower, vigorously rubbing her skin.

That was probably a panicked look, as if trying to wash away the "smell" left by some brat and some "knowledge points" deeply imprinted in the body's memory.

“…This child,” Xu Chan murmured softly, her tone complex.

It's a sense of helplessness, a bit of teasing, and also a touch of the sentiment that "daughters grow up and leave home."

In the end, she simply sighed softly, shook her head, and her eyes were full of understanding without saying a word.

Xu Chan's gaze drifted to the window, where the warm winter sun shone in, and the air on the first day of the Lunar New Year seemed to still carry the scent of last night's fireworks.

Just then, a soft, crisp "clang" came from the direction of the kitchen, interrupting Xu Chan's thoughts.

The kitchen door was pushed open.

Old Li walked out with a heavy gait, carrying a glass of water.

He was wearing gray loungewear, and his usually gentle face was now clouded with worry, his brows furrowed so tightly they were almost knotted together.

His gaze swept around the living room before finally settling on the tightly closed door.

His face looked ugly.

It was a mixture of helplessness, worry, and the obvious unhappiness of an old father suppressing his anger.

His lips were pressed into a hard, straight line, as if he was trying to hold back something he hadn't said.

His eyes were heavy, revealing a sense of anxiety and...heartache.

My own tender, fresh cabbage, that little darling I cherished so dearly, didn't come home all night on New Year's Eve...

Although I knew it was most likely with the kid next door, and although I rationally understood that it was a matter of mutual consent between young people, and he shouldn't interfere so much.

And by the time they got home it was already past 2 a.m. If anything had really happened, it would have happened long ago!
Exposing it at that time would only embarrass myself and the children.

Old Li kept comforting himself last night.

But listening to the sound of her showering so early in the morning, I wondered where she spent the night and how she spent it last night…

That nameless anger and the frustration of being a father surged up.

Xu Chan keenly sensed the oppressive atmosphere emanating from her husband.

She turned her head and saw Lao Li's furrowed brows. She was taken aback at first, then sighed knowingly.

Xu Chan's lips even curled into a smile that was somewhere between amused and helpless.

She gently shook her head, her gaze sweeping between Lao Li and the bathroom door. She said nothing, but the silent exchange of glances conveyed a thousand words.

"Okay, got it."

"You know your daughter well."

"Don't give the girl that look."

When Lao Li received a look from his wife, his brows furrowed even more.

He snorted irritably, tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of water, his Adam's apple bobbing forcefully as if he were swallowing some indescribable frustration.

He placed the water glass on the low cabinet next to him with a muffled thud, then stood there with his arms crossed, like a sulking doorman.

Xu Chan looked at Lao Li and said softly, "When Zhizhi comes out later, I'll talk to her. You can step aside."

Old Li took a deep breath and finally nodded helplessly.

The sound of water in the bathroom had stopped completely sometime ago.

Old Li stopped when he heard the noise and turned to walk towards the study.

A moment later, the door to Li Zhi's room was gently opened.

The girl had changed into a soft, light-colored loungewear set, with a beige turtleneck sweater underneath. The neckline was neatly folded up, completely protecting her slender neck and covering her jawline.

Slightly damp black hair was casually draped over her shoulders.

Li Zhi's face still had a slight flush and a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment. Her gaze swept across the living room, quickly passing in the direction where her father was standing.

Xu Chan's gaze accurately caught her the moment she opened the door.

She leaned back on the sofa, her gaze sweeping over her daughter.

Especially when she saw the sweater that covered her neck completely, Xu Chan's understanding became even stronger.

“Zhizhi,” Xu Chan said, her voice gentle, but the last syllable of her voice rose slightly, carrying a special teasing tone that only the mother and daughter understood.

"Are you done washing up? Come, sit here for a while and chat with your mother."

She gestured with her gaze towards the sofa next to her.

Li Zhi felt like a primary school student being called on; his heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to remain calm and replied, "...Mm."

His voice was muffled and a little dry.

She endured her mother's gaze and moved forward step by step.

The slippers on my feet made a very slight pattering sound as they stepped on the floor.

Old Li stood at the door of the study, looking at his daughter who was wrapped up tightly and looked guilty.

The thought of that brat who had completely lured his precious little darling home for the New Year made the old father's pent-up anger surge up again.

He hugged his arms even tighter.

Li Zhi walked to the sofa her mother indicated and sat down with a slightly stiff movement.

The soft sofa sank into her, and she instinctively leaned closer to her mother, as if seeking some safe shelter.

As soon as she sat down, she instinctively twisted the soft fabric of the sweater hem with her knuckles.

Xu Chan's smile deepened as she looked at her daughter.

She didn't rush to speak, but simply raised her hand and naturally tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against her still burning earlobe.

Just when Li Zhi thought her mother would tease her as usual, Xu Chan gently grasped the back of her cool hand with a gentle yet solemn touch.

Her gaze lingered on the collar of Li Zhi's turtleneck sweater, her voice low, like a gentle stream seeping into the earth as spring snow melts:

“Zhizhi… Mom doesn’t object to you being close to Shen Yuan. But you two…”

"No! There's really nothing there!!"

Before Xu Chan could finish speaking, a rapid, distorted tremolo suddenly exploded out, like a taut string snapping!

On the sofa, Li Zhi felt as if he had been completely scalded by the impending second half of the sentence!

Her already rosy face was now completely red, almost as if it were about to bleed.

"Mom! Don't...don't overthink it!! Nothing really happened!!!"

She waved her little hands excitedly, trying to extinguish the curiosity in her mother's eyes with incoherent words.

"Well... it was too late last night, so... we were chatting on his sofa... and then... and then I accidentally fell asleep!"

She tried to explain in a panic, her logic was incoherent and her words were unclear; she just wanted to desperately prove her "innocence".

"We just...we just slept together for one night! Really! We just slept! Nothing else! I swear!! Waaah..."

In the end, the forced explanations finally collapsed completely, turning into a sob of shame and indignation.

Xu Chan looked at her daughter, who was extremely embarrassed, and gently shook her head.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around her daughter, pulling her halfway into her embrace, and gently patted her back soothingly.

Xu Chan turned to look at Old Li at the door of the study, giving him a look that said, "Are you relieved now?"

The couple knew their daughter very well.

Although Li Zhi might tell a few small lies, what he said in the present situation was mostly true.

They definitely didn't cross the line yesterday.

Xu Chan's voice became even softer and slower.

"Alright, alright... I know you young people have a good relationship. I'm just reminding you... you must always protect yourselves and be responsible for yourselves."

She patted Li Zhi's head: "Alright, what does my little darling want for lunch today? Let Daddy show off his skills for you?"

The deliberately changed topic, like a glimmer of light, finally opened a crack in this awkward space.

(End of this chapter)