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

Chapter 263 Shen Yuan: I Need to Be Saved

Amidst the deafening shouts of the crowd, Shen Yuan's gaze, which had been fixed straight ahead, suddenly shifted.

He turned his head and his gaze fell on Li Zhi beside him.

The boy's arrogance was ignited by the intense atmosphere of the oath, and it landed on her slightly reddened earlobe.

Li Zhi seemed to sense something, and his lips paused as he shouted the slogan along with the crowd.

She subconsciously turned her face and met Shen Yuan's gaze.

Amidst the boisterous vows, the girl's clear eyes reflected Shen Yuan's figure.

The palm of his hand, which was tightly holding hers, was burning hot, and his undisguised, intense gaze caused the girl's cheeks to flush with an even deeper rosy hue.

Li Zhi did not look away, but stared at him even more firmly.

The two men clasped their hands even tighter under the cuffs of their blue and white school uniforms, their knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

The deafening slogans became background noise. This moment of eye contact was brief yet lingering, like the tacit gathering of strength before a 100-meter sprint, or like the mutual recognition that could only be seen among thousands of troops.

A few meters away, Yang Yishui's gaze swept over the two figures locked in a stalemate in the crowd.

My older cousin's eyes suddenly lit up!
She quickly pulled her phone out of her pocket, unlocked it, raised it, aimed it—and lightly tapped the screen with her fingertip.

"Crack!"

A barely audible shutter click was drowned out by the deafening slogans.

Looking at the frozen image on the screen, Yang Yishui subconsciously held her breath for half a second.

In the photo, the boisterous vows and the fluttering bright red banners are blurred into the background, but the moment itself is captured.

Shen Yuan's broad back occupies most of the picture, and his profile with his head turned down stands out so clearly in the crowd. The passion and tenderness between his deep eyebrows and eyes almost penetrate the screen.

That gaze, like the warm sun of early spring, was intense and focused solely on the one person beside him.

Li Zhi, who was being gazed at, looked up at her small face. The blush on her fair cheeks had not yet faded. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her clear eyes were filled with water, clearly reflecting the boy's burning gaze.

The corners of the girl's lips curled up slightly, a hint of emotion she couldn't hide.

The sunlight slanted down, casting trembling shadows beneath the girl's long, thick eyelashes, and also giving her soft hair and the alluring blush on her ears a faint golden glow.

The two people in the picture seem to be the most unique existence in this sea of ​​identical school uniforms.

The visuals cleverly captured that moment of utter silence, as if the torrent of vows was merely an accompaniment to the drumbeats that quickened their heartbeats.

The blurred outlines of the crowd and the colorful flags fluttering in the wind, along with the glaring words "100 days" on the banner, were all blurred into flowing blocks of light and shadow, softly surrounding the childhood sweethearts in the center.

Yang Yishui gently stroked the cool screen with her thumb, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

This photo is really well taken.

She quickly turned off the screen, clutched her phone tightly in her hand, and then subconsciously looked up again in the direction of the two figures. Her smile deepened, filled with a sense of satisfaction, as if she had grasped something most precious.

"Fight for your dreams, and reach for the heavens!"

The last four words exploded like thunder, carrying the full spirit and determination of the young man, echoing for a long time in the air above the playground.

The deafening roar seemed to have exhausted all its accumulated power, and in the lingering echo, a brief sense of exhaustion and a strange silence instantly spread.

Everyone's chest heaved slightly, their cheeks flushed from shouting, and the cool early spring air, carrying a hint of spiciness, filled their lungs.

The intense heat that had just gathered receded like a tide, leaving behind an indescribable emptiness, followed by the cold pressure of reality.

The countdown of just 100 days felt like a soaked quilt, weighing heavily on everyone's shoulders.

The student representative on stage put down the microphone and bowed deeply to the audience.

The director of the Political Education Department walked back to the microphone, his voice sounding somewhat calm in the echo of the loudspeaker: "...Very good! This oath is your battle cry!"

He looked around the room, as if trying to imprint every young face in his mind.

"I hope all students will remember today's pledge and meet life's challenges with unwavering confidence and relentless effort! This meeting is now adjourned. Please return to your classrooms in order to prepare for this afternoon's classes!"

"Each class should organize its students to leave the venue in an orderly manner!"

The broadcast added another sentence.

As the leaders on the podium stood up, the extremely tense atmosphere on the playground suddenly relaxed.

"Phew—it's finally over! I got goosebumps listening to it!"

"My voice is hoarse from shouting..."

"I'm exhausted, it's more tiring than doing ten practice tests..."

A sigh of relief erupted from the crowd.

The excitement faded, leaving behind a weariness of things settling down and a resigned acceptance of the heavier workload that lay ahead.

"Damn, my voice is really hoarse..."

Ah Jie cleared his throat. His earlier refusal to shout had been drowned out by the crowd. He might not have been the loudest one, but his complaining tone remained unchanged.

He instinctively reached out to put his arm around Yang Ze's shoulder, only to find that the other man had already started pushing the dejected Chen Mingyu forward.

"Hey! Don't forget the iced tea! Two bottles!"

Yang Ze turned around and said with a grin, "Only dogs bark."

"Yang Ze! Die!"

Hearing the commotion behind him, Shen Yuan still held Li Zhi's hand, the heat from his palm not diminishing at all even after the ceremony ended.

He looked at Li Zhi; the girl's face was still delicate in the crowd, with a thin layer of pink on her cheeks.

The united shouts just now rekindled Shen Yuan's burning faith in his heart.

Li Zhi felt his gaze, looked up at him, and pursed her lips: "If you do poorly on the test, you're finished!"

Shen Yuan gripped her hand tighter, his face still bearing the sharp edge he hadn't completely lost during the oath, along with a unique tenderness for her.

"Then Teacher Li will have to keep me on my toes at all times."

"Humph!"

Li Zhi snorted softly, turned her head away from him, but the corners of her lips curved almost imperceptibly.

The girl let him hold her fingers tightly as she walked towards her classroom with the slowly moving crowd.

The colorful flags at the edge of the playground were still fluttering in the cold wind, and the huge banner with red background and gold lettering seemed even more glaring than before.

The bustling crowd, discussing their slight uncertainty about the future, dispersed like receding tides, orderly yet impatient, quickly leaving the space that had just been ignited by vows and surging back into the teaching building.

The clamor of the crowd surged from the playground into the corridor of the teaching building, and the sounds of footsteps and discussions collided and echoed between the cold walls.

The collective excitement ignited by the shouts of a thousand people vanished the moment I stepped onto the cold, hard tiles of the classroom door, as if an invisible hand had instantly pressed me back to reality.

"Hurry up, everyone back to your seats!"

Old Zhou's voice rang out at the door, dispelling the last vestiges of collective enthusiasm.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked into the classroom hand in hand. Their intimacy, which seemed reasonable in the noisy crowd, suddenly became extremely conspicuous when they returned to the small space of the classroom.

The eyes of several students in the front row swept over, and Li Zhi's ears burned slightly. She tightened her grip on Shen Yuan's hand.

Feeling the force in her hand, Shen Yuan turned his head and winked at her quickly.

The two laughed and sat back down in their seats.

Shen Yuan slowly pulled out a chair, his gaze sweeping over the speaker.

It was empty, but the air was already filled with the familiar smell of exam papers and chalk dust.

Shortly after the two sat down.

Ah Jie slammed himself into the chair, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"Dry!"

Yang Ze smiled and looked at A-Jie: "Hey, where did you say that only dogs bark?"

"Get lost!" Ah Jie pretended to pounce on him. "That's called the atmosphere being right, okay!"

"Two bottles of iced tea," Chen Mingyu said succinctly.

"Okay, okay, I'll buy the three-pack, it's cheaper with the three-pack!" Ah Jie smiled smugly.

"Then you might as well buy mine too."

Ah Jie gave Yang Ze, who had spoken up, a cold look: "Buy it yourself! I'll drink it myself!"

"Fine! Fine! There's no brotherhood left!"

Just then, the crisp sound of high heels clicking on the ground grew louder as it approached, instantly drowning out the lingering noise of the break.

The classroom fell silent instantly, with only the faint rustling sounds of people searching for books and test papers.

Yang Yishui walked into the classroom carrying a stack of snow-white test papers. Her face was calm, as if the earth-shaking vows made on the playground had never existed.

"Alright, calm down." My older cousin's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

"Let's calm down and get back to class now."

She placed the exam paper on the podium, adjusted her glasses, and glanced at the young faces below, their faces still flushed but now showing either focus or confusion.

“Bring out the test paper from last time,” she said, picking up a paper. “Let’s continue…”

As soon as the words were spoken, the clear sounds of "whoosh" and "swish" as papers turned instantly replaced the lingering excitement.

Chalk dust fell in a flurry, landing on the dark green blackboard.

A huge "100" is still conspicuously nailed to the center of the countdown board for the college entrance examination next to the blackboard.

But for some reason, when my gaze shifted away from it and returned to the exam paper on the table, densely covered with letters, the number "100" seemed to be shrouded in a veil of illusion.

The resounding vows echoing across the playground, the fluttering colorful flags, the warmth and shouts of thousands gathered together, all quickly faded away amidst the scratching of pens on paper and my older cousin's steady explanation.

Shen Yuan subconsciously turned his head and saw that Li Zhi next to him was already buried in the test paper.

The girl's fair fingertips were rapidly gliding across the text, the faint blush that had appeared when he held her hand on the playground replaced by a calm, thoughtful expression.

Shen Yuan lowered his head, flipped through the paper, and focused his gaze on the questions.

A sense of focus returned to my heart.

A 100-day countdown rally?

It's like a fleeting dream of release, or perhaps just a large-scale emotional warm-up.

As the exam papers are laid out and challenging questions are presented, the weight of the future once again rests on everyone's shoulders.

The 100-day countdown has already begun silently.

What just happened was merely a slightly more solemn collective deep breath.

The real battles always take place in this classroom, which is filled with the smell of chalk.

The tip of the pen in your hand, and the calmness in your heart at this moment.

The corridor of the teaching building felt unusually empty and deserted after dinner.

The remaining daylight outlined the desolate silhouettes of the campus trees.

The dim corridor lights gradually illuminated, casting overlapping shadows of two people on the bricks.

The tense atmosphere unique to senior year seemed to be concentrated in this space. Occasionally, students would walk by in a hurry, carrying books or test papers in their arms, their steps carrying a heavy sense of urgency.

Li Zhi held a yogurt she had just brought from the supermarket in her hand and sipped it slowly.

She habitually walked along the inside of the corridor, while Shen Yuan acted as a solid barrier, walking on the outside near the empty corridor window, protecting her from the chill of the evening breeze and the possibility of collisions with passing classmates.

In the quiet after the noise subsided, Li Zhi turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on Shen Yuan's well-defined jawline.

The memory of that intense eye contact at the rally hadn't completely faded, and now, looking at the boy's calm profile, his focused expression tinged with barely concealed fatigue, she felt a gentle pang in her heart.

“Hey,” Li Zhi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear in the quiet corridor, breaking the silence between the two.

She nudged Shen Yuan's arm lightly with her elbow.

Shen Yuan turned his head, looked down at her, and asked with a questioning smile: "Hmm?"

“The mock exam is in three days,” the girl paused, her gaze like a searchlight, carefully scanning every subtle expression on his face.

"ready or Not?"

Her voice was soft, but each word sounded like a hammer striking the timeline.

The countdown to the mock exam suddenly accelerated without anyone noticing.

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Shen Yuan moved a little closer.

Unlike his usual jovial self, his answer was brief and resolute, a spark rekindled in his eyes by her question.

"Mmm," he responded softly, then took the hand that had just poked him in his own, his fingertips threading through hers, and they clasped tightly together again.

"Ready."

Li Zhi's fingertips twitched slightly from his sudden movement and the strength of his grip, but she did not break free.

The evening breeze rushed in through the open window, carrying a chilly edge, but it couldn't dispel the burning warmth emanating from their clasped hands or the heavy weight in his voice.

The tips of the girl's ears were subtly tinged with a deeper pink in the dim light.

She didn't say anything more, but squeezed his hand tightly in return, her fingertips unconsciously hooking in his warm palm, as if in silent response and encouragement.

Just as they were about to walk back to the classroom, the view suddenly opened up around the corner. A huge, bright red countdown banner hanging in the spacious atrium of the teaching building instantly caught their attention.

The huge "100" hangs in the air like a red-hot iron.

Shen Yuan paused slightly, squinting at the huge red banner, especially the glaring number "100". He pursed his lips and muttered to Li Zhi beside him.

"Tsk, this banner is just a number '100' that can be replaced, right? We can tear it down and replace it with '99', and we can use it again tomorrow... The school leaders are really not sincere in trying to save money."

The tension and warmth that had been lingering in Li Zhi's heart were instantly dispelled by Shen Yuan's jarring remark, and she glared at him in annoyance.

The girl puffed out her cheeks slightly, her tone tinged with coquettishness: "You idiot! You talk too much!"

As she spoke, she lightly pinched Shen Yuan's hand, which was tightly holding hers.

Despite the complaints, the bright red numbers were like a pebble thrown into Shen Yuan's heart lake, stirring up a heavy ripple.

Looking at the countdown timer and glancing at the girl beside him who had just been scolded by him, Shen Yuan seemed to suddenly realize something.

He stopped and deftly pulled his phone out of his pocket.

"What are you doing?" Li Zhi asked, looking at his actions with a hint of confusion.

Shen Yuan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he opened the camera, switched to video mode, and steadily raised the lens to aim at the "100" countdown banner hanging high in front of him.

The bright red numbers on the screen remained clearly visible even in the dim light of the corridor.

He was silent for a few seconds, then raised their intertwined hands high!
He lowered the phone camera slightly to ensure that the tightly clasped hands could be framed within the viewfinder.

The boy looked at his hands in the camera lens and spoke into the microphone in a soft but clear voice.

"come on!"

This sudden action and declaration startled Li Zhi.

She looked at the hands reflected in the phone screen.

A helpless smile crept onto the girl's lips.

She took a deep breath facing the countdown banner, and clearly repeated the number "100".

"come on!"

The cold wind in the corridor seemed to pause for a moment.

Shen Yuan grinned with satisfaction, quickly tapped the stop button, stuffed his phone back into his pocket, and casually lowered his raised hand.

"Let's go back and do our homework."

He chuckled softly, with the ease of completing a small ritual and an even stronger sense of motivation.

……

The hands of time do not pause for any ceremony, but coldly keep moving forward.

The bright red numbers on the countdown clock jumped from "100" to "98".

As soon as the bell rang for the fourth period in the morning, Lao Zhou stepped into classroom 305 of the experimental building with slightly heavy steps and went straight to the podium.

On the second day after the pep rally, all the senior students moved all their books to the laboratory in the afternoon.

In the classroom, not a single gaze rose to meet his. All heads hung low, absorbed in their own workbooks or test papers.

The sound of turning pages and the scratching of pens on paper blended into a continuous and focused background noise.

The entire classroom was so quiet that only this subtle yet powerful sound could be heard.

Old Zhou stood still, his gaze slowly sweeping across the audience.

The sight before him made him pause slightly.

Unlike the usual slight restlessness and waiting after the bell rang, the students of Class 15 seemed to have automatically switched to battle mode.

Those heads hung low, buried in the battlefield constructed by paper and pen.

A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction flickered in Old Zhou's eyes, and he nodded silently.

This dedication, this self-discipline that automatically enters a learning state without verbal reminders, is exactly what he hopes to see as the mock exam approaches.

He did not disturb the focused tranquility.

Old Zhou put his hands behind his back, walked slowly down the corridor with light steps.

The sound of the sneakers hitting the ground was kept extremely low, almost drowned out by the rustling of the pen tip against the paper.

He walked past Yang Ze, who was quickly checking a math problem without even looking up.

As for A-Jie, who came after Yang Ze, it was impossible for him to be studying math. Old Zhou simply ignored him.

Shen Yuan, standing to the side, was intently looking at his error notebook.

Aside from his romantic relationships, Lao Zhou was very at ease with Shen Yuan, as all the teachers could see Shen Yuan's excellent attitude towards learning.

As for Li Zhi, who was standing to the side, Lao Zhou was very at ease about him, except for his relationship, since all the teachers could see that Li Zhi's academic performance was excellent.

Just as Lao Zhou walked to the middle of the classroom, a student hesitated and raised his hand, moving very quietly, as if afraid of disturbing others.

Seeing that Old Zhou was looking over, the student pointed to a big question on the math test paper spread out in front of him.

“Teacher Zhou…” Her voice was low and uncertain, “This is a problem that combines vectors and solid geometry. I’ve added the auxiliary lines like this, but I still can’t seem to get the answer. Could you take a look and see if my approach is correct?”

Old Zhou stopped, bent down slightly, and looked at the test paper and draft paper.

He quickly scanned the question and the steps the student had written, then pondered for a few seconds.

“Hmm,” he picked up his pen and tapped twice on the key spot, his voice low but clear.

"You've added the auxiliary line in the right direction, but you've chosen the wrong starting point. Here, draw a perpendicular line from this vertex..."

The rustling sound of writing seemed to pause for a moment, then resumed even more intensely, like an unending tide.

Li Zhi shifted his gaze from his own exam paper and habitually looked at Shen Yuan beside him.

The boy was engrossed in his notebook of incorrect problems, his eyes focused intently on the areas circled in red pen, his fingertips pressing against the paper, his other hand holding a pen, occasionally making a few quick calculations on the draft paper, producing a soft scratching sound.

With focused attention, the boy's features appeared somewhat serious, the playful smile he usually showed when facing her gone, leaving only a stubborn earnestness.

Seeing how engrossed he was, Li Zhi's gaze softened involuntarily.

The bright classroom lights shone on Shen Yuan's lowered eyelashes, clearly reflecting the unwavering focus between his brows.

On the desk, the corners of the pages of the error notebook were slightly curled, and dense red and blue ink marks intertwined, recording each lesson and reflection.

His pen moved swiftly across the draft paper, sometimes adding notes to the error notebook, his movements efficient and his thinking agile.

The only sounds in the air were the soft rustling of writing and turning pages, mixed with the gentle footsteps of Old Zhou as he slowly paced down the corridor.

The girl's gaze lingered for a moment on his taut jawline.

Shen Yuan seemed completely immersed in the world constructed by the questions, oblivious to everything around him, not even noticing Li Zhi's gaze.

Only the rhythmic scratching of the pen tip on the paper seemed to silently convey his determination to give it his all.

This is the Shen Yuan that Li Zhi wanted to see.

Seeing the boy giving it his all, a smile appeared on Li Zhi's face.

She nodded slightly, then looked away and refocused on her practice.

"Jingle Bell--!"

The sharp, slightly weary school bell rang abruptly, piercing the silence of the classroom like an order to abruptly halt its operation.

Almost simultaneously, Shen Yuan's back suddenly relaxed, and he leaned against the table behind him.

His focus, which had lasted almost the entire day, dissipated, replaced by an obvious and immense fatigue.

Once the focus wore off, the suppressed fatigue surged up instantly, and Shen Yuan felt numb.

The light in his eyes seemed to have been suddenly drawn away, appearing somewhat unfocused, and his brow, which had been tense with thought, was now tinged with deep weariness.

The boy's arm rested heavily on the edge of the table piled with test papers and books, his knuckles pressing hard against his somewhat numb temples.

He was like a precision instrument that had finally been allowed to shut down, exuding a heavy feeling of being hollowed out by high-intensity operation.

"call……"

A long, exhausted sigh escaped from his lips.

Just then, a hand gently poked his elbow.

Shen Yuan barely managed to lift his eyes and saw Li Zhi had finished packing his pencil case and was tilting his head to look at him.

The girl's clear eyes held no trace of her usual reproach, but instead clearly reflected his exhausted state, carrying a hint of barely perceptible heartache.

"Hey, boyfriend," she said softly, her voice barely audible in the noisy classroom that had just finished evening self-study.

"Are you still alive?"

Looking at the face so close to his, Shen Yuan felt a soft concern in those beautiful eyes, which made his heavy heart feel as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, a little itchy, yet bringing a touch of indescribable comfort.

He forced a smile, but the curve was laced with a weary, hoarse voice: "Um... I won't die for now. It's just a feeling..."

He casually rested his head on his arm draped over the table, his voice muffled, carrying a hint of roguishness and a desire to take advantage.

"...We need Li Bao's urgent assistance."

Li Zhi's heart softened at his actions and hoarse voice, and her fingertips unconsciously curled around his arm: "...How can I save him?"

Shen Yuan raised his eyes, his deep eyes looking at her through his thick eyelashes.

At this moment, the sharpness of the day had faded from his eyes, leaving only the utter dependence of a small animal after exhaustion and a hint of cunning that he could not hide.

The boy's voice was unusually low due to exhaustion, like it was covered with sandpaper, yet it carried an undisguised intimacy and playfulness.

"Just one kiss is enough. A kiss can restore your health..."

He even pouted slightly, his voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the noise of the classroom, but his gaze was fixed intently on her.

Looking at his lazy and arrogant attitude, Li Zhi felt a burning sensation in her ears and unceremoniously poked his forehead with her index finger.

The girl's voice was extremely low, yet each word was clear and crisp, filled with strong disdain: "All you think about all day long! Have too much energy, huh? Want me to give you two more sets of practice questions to refresh yourself?!"

The force with which she poked him with her fingertips carried a hint of reproach, but the smile in her eyes remained even after she saw Shen Yuan being poked.

The girl couldn't help but smile slightly, then quickly turned her face away to hide the blush.

"I'm leaving," Li Zhi said, quickly packing his pencil case and neatly stuffing it into the side pocket of his backpack. He then bent down and picked up the water cup hanging on the table with fluid movements.
"Go home."

She stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, the canvas bag pressing down on the girl's shoulder in a distinct arc.

"Hmm," he responded, his voice still carrying an unyielding weariness.

Shen Yuan then slowly straightened up, supporting himself on the table, trying to calm his fatigue.

He slowly began stuffing the test papers and error notebooks scattered on the table into his schoolbag.

The weariness that follows focused concentration feels like a heavy, sticky paste filling every joint.

Li Zhi stood in her seat. Most of the students in the classroom had already left. The pale light from the overhead lamp outlined a fuzzy halo around her.

She looked at Shen Yuan, who was still slowly packing up his things, and a hint of tenderness appeared deep in her eyes.

Shen Yuan finally zipped up his backpack and slung it over one shoulder.

He walked up to Li Zhi and reached out his hand to her.

"Give me the schoolbag."

Seeing the deep weariness that Shen Yuan couldn't hide between his brows, Li Zhi didn't hand him the schoolbag as usual, but shook her head.

The girl turned slightly to the side and pulled the canvas bag, which was shaped like a curve on her shoulder, behind her back.

She looked up, her gaze falling on Shen Yuan's tired face, and her voice reached his ears clearly.

"No need for today."

She paused, her clear eyes reflecting the stark white light of the classroom ceiling, clearly showing Shen Yuan's current state.

"Look how tired you are... I'll carry my own backpack."

Shen Yuan's outstretched hand stopped in mid-air, his fingertips curling slightly.

He looked at Li Zhi, and the girl's eyes only showed heartache for his current exhaustion.

The boy nodded silently and did not insist further.

He lowered his arm, his fingertips lightly touching the cuff of Li Zhi's school uniform, his voice low but carrying a hint of warmth from being understood.

"Ah."

Li Zhi felt the warmth of his fingertips, and her heart softened.

She didn't say anything more, but turned around and walked towards the classroom door.

Shen Yuan silently followed beside her, and the two habitually held hands, their shoulders gently brushing against each other, blending into the light and shadow of the teaching building corridor as they walked towards the outside of the school.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi walked side by side through the school gate.

The streetlights on both sides of the street cast a dim, yellowish glow on the wet, cold ground.

The two walked hand in hand down the road, their shadows stretched long and briefly overlapping.

Occasionally, classmates who had just finished evening self-study would walk by quickly, heads down, hurrying into the night.

Li Zhi seemed to remember something, and reached into his pocket with his free hand to take out his phone.

The screen's light stood out starkly in the night, instantly illuminating her downcast face.

Her fingers flew across the screen, her lips slightly pursed, her expression focused, oblivious to the gaze of the boy beside her.

Shen Yuan turned his head to look at the girl beside him. The light from the street lamp outlined her drooping neck and long eyelashes.

He gently squeezed her hand, his voice slightly hoarse from studying late into the night, with a hint of curiosity: "What are you looking at? Why are you so focused?"

He tried to tilt his head to look at her lit screen: "Who are you talking to?"

Li Zhi seemed to be startled awake by his voice, and his fingers subconsciously turned the screen away from him, quickly turning off the light source.

She put her phone back in her pocket, looked up and glared at Shen Yuan, her cheeks seemingly flushed slightly in the dim light.

The girl's tone was habitually fierce, yet it seemed as if she was trying to hide something. She turned her head away and quickened her pace.

"I'm not telling you! You idiot! Get out of here!"

The girl's clear voice echoed softly in the quiet street, carrying a hint of annoyance feigned out of shyness.

Shen Yuan looked at her slightly reddened earlobes and quickened pace, and chuckled softly.

He let her lead him, or rather, let her drag him, and followed her with light steps, his deep laughter blending into the cold night wind.

Ahead, the warm lights of the residential area illuminate the night, like small harbors waiting for people to return home.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi's figures were stretched and shortened as they walked through the gate at the entrance of the residential area, bathed in the glow of the streetlights.

The cold wind seemed to be mostly blocked by the neat buildings, leaving only the unique silence of the night.

The two walked silently toward the building they knew best.

In front of the unit door, the motion-sensor light automatically turned on as they approached, dispelling the small patch of darkness at the entrance of the lobby.

The elevator happened to stop on the first floor.

The two walked in one after the other, shutting out the last trace of chill and noise from the outside world through the slowly closing metal door.

Inside the cramped carriage, the overhead lights cast a soft glow, and the mirror reflected the two figures standing side by side.

Li Zhi raised his hand and pressed the "19A" button.

The air quieted down, leaving only the low hum of the elevator and the warmth of their intertwined fingers.

Shen Yuan turned slightly to the side, his gaze falling on the girl's lowered eyes beside him. The day's fatigue seemed to have found a gentle haven in this small space and quiet companionship.

As the elevator ascended smoothly, the distance between the two reflections in the mirror silently drew closer.

"Ding--"

A crisp beep sounded, announcing arrival at 19A.

The smooth metal doors slid open silently to both sides, letting in the warm yellow light of the corridor.

Shen Yuan let out a slight sigh of relief; the day's fatigue seemed to intensify upon reaching the familiar floor.

He turned his head to look at Li Zhi; their hands were still clasped together.

He moved his lips slightly: "Li Bao, then I'll go first..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Zhi had already stepped out of the elevator.

She didn't stop walking, but she didn't turn towards her own front door. Instead, she walked straight towards Shen Yuan's front door.

The hallway motion-sensor lights softly illuminated the girl's familiar silhouette, as well as the tips of her slightly reddened ears.

She stopped in front of Shen Yuan's house, stood sideways beside the access control, and quietly waited for him to come closer and unlock the door.

Shen Yuan walked to the door, his gaze falling on Li Zhi's face, asking in a questioning tone, "Li Bao? Why are you... standing here? Aren't you going home?"

He subconsciously assumed that Li Zhi just wanted to stay a little longer.

Li Zhi looked up at him, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.

Instead of answering directly, she flicked her fingertips and magically pulled her phone out of her pocket, waving it gently in front of him.

The girl slightly raised her chin, her voice clear and pleasant in the quiet hallway, carrying a hint of pride in successfully solving a difficult problem.

"Look, I've already informed Lao Li."

Her gaze fell on Shen Yuan's slightly confused face, and a sweet smile curved her lips.

"Dad—Dad—has he agreed that I can study at your house until 11:30 before going home?"

She dragged out the word "Dad," as if to emphasize that Lao Li had approved the decision.

The girl's tone carried a hint of relief after completing a complex task, along with a touch of playfulness as she invited him to share the good news.

The surprise on Shen Yuan's face froze instantly, then was overwhelmed by immense astonishment and the surge of ecstasy that followed.

His eyes widened suddenly, as if he hadn't expected this outcome at all, and he even subconsciously exclaimed "Huh?"

His expression was as if he had just received some explosive good news, and his fatigue was completely dispelled by this sudden turn of events.

He stared intently into Li Zhiliang's bright eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing before he finally found his voice: "Really...really?! Uncle Li agreed? At 11:30?"

The keychain tucked into her pocket trembled slightly from the surprise and almost fell off.

Li Zhi's gaze fell on his fingers, which seemed to freeze in shock.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the boy who was still immersed in disbelief, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

The soft, motion-sensor-lit hallway illuminated the mischievous smile and barely perceptible urging in her eyes.

“Idiot,” Li Zhi’s voice rang out crisply, with a hint of self-righteous hum, the last syllable rising slightly, “What are you still standing there for?”

She raised her hand and poked Shen Yuan's wrist, which was holding the keys and not moving, with her slender index finger.

The girl tilted her chin toward the closed security door, her mischievous smile deepening in her eyes.

"Open the door now! Do you want to stay outside until 11:30?"

His eyes clearly said: The permits are all sorted out, why are you still standing here wasting your time? Idiot!
Shen Yuan suddenly realized what was happening.

The casual question, "Want to stay outside until 11:30?" acted like a small hook, instantly pulling his wandering soul back to reality.

"Oh! Oh!" he hurriedly responded, his voice cracking with excitement, as he frantically pulled his keychain from his pocket.

The key, which usually goes into the lock smoothly and precisely, now seemed to be coated with oil. It slid a few times between his trembling fingertips, making a rapid, crisp tinkling sound that was particularly clear in the quiet stairwell.

"Click——"

The key was finally inserted, and I twisted it hard with my wrist!
With a soft click as the latch snapped open, Shen Yuan practically pushed open the heavy security door with his shoulder, instinctively making way for Li Zhi behind the door and gesturing urgently with his eyes for him to go inside.

Warm, bright lights and the familiar atmosphere of home instantly filled the air.

The foyer wasn't large, and the door opened at a angle that allowed the shadows of people on the living room sofa to look over.

Ms. Zhang Yuyan was clearly attracted by the unusual commotion at the door. She was holding a game controller in her hand and looked at the entrance with obvious surprise and great curiosity.

"Oh? You're back?"

Zhang Yuyan's voice was as gentle as usual, but she stopped abruptly when she saw the slender figure following closely behind Shen Yuan as he stepped into the house.

Her eyes widened instantly, her gaze sweeping over Shen Yuan's back before settling steadily on Li Zhi's face.

"Oh? Zhizhi is here too?" Zhang Yuyan's voice immediately carried a surprised smile, along with a gossipy tone typical of elders.

"What's going on today...?"

As Li Zhi stepped into the bright and warm entryway, she was caught off guard by Aunt Zhang's inquisitive and eager gaze, and the girl's fair cheeks flushed instantly.

She quickly lowered her head slightly and greeted her softly, "Aunt Zhang..."

Shen Yuan subtly blocked Li Zhi and Zhang Yuyan's interested gazes.

"Mom, Uncle Li agreed to let Li Bao come! He said it's... for studying!"

He emphasized the word "review" and repeated it as if to stress it out.

"Yes, let's review! The mock exam is tomorrow, let's do a practice test together."

Shen Yuan added naturally, "At 11:30... uh, Uncle Li said she'll go home at 11:30."

Since their parents already know about their relationship, Shen Yuan has become incredibly shameless.

Zhang Yuyan raised an eyebrow, looking at her son's attempt to appear serious but unable to hide the upturn at the corners of his mouth, and then at Li Zhi, who was still looking down beside her.

"Oh—studying!"

Zhang Yuyan dragged out the melody, deliberately raising the final note high.

"Okay! Alright, alright, let's review! You guys study hard, do you need some fruit or snacks?"

"No need, Mom! We're going to study!"

Shen Yuan responded repeatedly, feeling as if his back was being scorched by his mother's meaningful gaze.

(End of this chapter)