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

Chapter 274 Should I reward you with the second mock exam?

Li Zhi buried her face even deeper into Shen Yuan's warm neck, her hot breath spraying onto his skin, her small nose brushing against his slightly protruding Adam's apple, as if she wanted to curl up into a ball.

She could clearly feel the vibration from his chest; it was the lingering sound of his low laughter mixed with a slightly rapid heartbeat that synchronized with her own.

Shen Yuan tightened his arms around her back and waist, gently rubbing his chin against the top of her soft hair, as if comforting a frightened little animal.

He realized that the joke had gone a bit too far, and he could clearly feel her momentary panic and helplessness.

Although his heart was aroused even more by her bold proposal, he was even more reluctant to see her fall into a state of embarrassment and awkwardness.

"Zhizhi..." He deliberately softened his voice, with a low and gentle coaxing tone, his voice like a feather gently brushing against her nerve endings.

The girl buried her face in the crook of his neck let out a soft, mosquito-like whimper, without looking up, as if she wanted to isolate herself from the world.

Shen Yuan chuckled softly, his voice full of doting affection. He tilted his head slightly, his warm lips almost touching her red, bleeding earlobe.

His voice was softer and lower, as if he were sharing a secret that only they understood.

"Sweetie, if you're really scared, then forget it."

Shen Yuan understood that she needed a way out and needed to ease the tension caused by her embarrassment.

For Li Zhi, using his hands might be more of a skill?

He quietly felt the gentle embrace and enjoyed this tender moment.

A moment later, the little head buried in the crook of his neck made a slight movement.

Li Zhi slowly raised his head.

What came into Shen Yuan's view was a face that was almost completely ripe.

The blush not only covered her cheeks, but even her small earlobes were as red as ripe pomegranate seeds.

Her eyelashes were still damp with tiny drops of moisture, and her gaze wandered, never daring to meet Shen Yuan's burning, probing gaze directly.

Deep within those misty, watery eyes lay shyness, panic, and a hint of... a resolute determination to go all out.

Shen Yuan's heart began to race, and he held his breath.

Li Zhiwei pursed her lips and took a barely perceptible breath.

She seemed to have used all her strength, and her beautiful eyes, which were filled with a little grievance and even more shyness, finally timidly lifted, meeting Shen Yuan's deep and focused gaze.

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

Then, under Shen Yuan's almost frozen gaze, Li Zhi nodded very slightly.

"...Um, it's nothing."

The voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, with a slightly damp tremor, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples in Shen Yuan's heart.

Shen Yuan's breath hitched slightly as he felt the girl in his arms tremble slightly.

He slowly withdrew his hands from her waist and hips.

The aggressive pressing disappeared, replaced by a cautious retreat, a moment of silence before the surging tide, and low pressure at the eye of the storm.

He didn't speak, but his body no longer completely covered her.

Shen Yuan got up and drew the curtains, then returned to the bedside and leaned against the headboard.

But those eyes, burning with fire, remained fixed on the girl so close to him, with a chilling focus and a silent urging.

Light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a deep shadow on his taut jawline.

Li Zhi felt the restraints loosen, as if he had finally gained a moment to catch his breath.

But Shen Yuan's burning, undisguised gaze created another kind of suffocating, invisible cage.

Her cheeks were still burning red, and her heart was pounding in her chest as if it would shatter.

Her long, slightly upturned eyelashes trembled violently, and she dared not lift her head to truly meet his gaze.

The courage I had just mustered to nod seemed to vanish in an instant, and a wave of shame surged back upon me.

She instinctively wanted to curl up, to escape, to bury her face in his neck again for a moment of darkness.

But... that answer had already been uttered, like water spilled on the ground.

She could sense that Shen Yuan was waiting.

That quiet waiting itself is filled with immense pressure and unspoken...longing.

"...Woo..."

A broken sob escaped her throat, and Li Zhi's slender fingers unconsciously clenched the soft down comforter beneath her.

The girl didn't look up at Shen Yuan, but took a deep, deep breath, as if trying to suppress her chaotic heartbeat.

Her small nostrils twitched, revealing a desperate yet fragile resolve.

Then, under Shen Yuan's focused gaze, the small hand lifted off the bed sheet beside her.

It didn't immediately reach its destination, but hovered in the air just inches between the two of them.

Sunlight fell on the back of her hand, making the pale blue veins under her skin clearly visible.

Every slight tremor was like a drumbeat striking the taut strings of their hearts.

Finally, after another wave of uncontrollable trembling, it seemed to have found its direction.

inch by inch...

They peered over.

Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and all the muscles in his body tensed up instantly, almost as if they were about to jump off his bones.

When her fingertips hovered over the edge of the elastic band of her sweatpants, Li Zhi's heart pounded so hard it hurt her eardrums.

The burning memories of being in bed in the darkness suddenly scalded my heart.

Every image made her fingertips go numb.

"...It's not the first time..."

She suddenly said this to herself, her voice trembling but carrying a sense of desperation.

This thought, like a fine needle, punctured the balloon of shame that had been swelling.

When the icy fingertips actually touched the warm edge of the waistband, Li Zhi's hand strangely steadied itself.

Self-comfort acts like a thin layer of armor, covering my wildly beating heart.

She took a breath, hooked her index finger on the rough seam inside the elastic band, and tentatively pressed her other fingers against the taut skin on Shen Yuan's waist—the muscles there immediately twitched violently.

"Um……"

Shen Yuan let out a suppressed groan, his waist and abdomen arching slightly, silently urging him on.

Li Zhi closed his eyes and exerted force with his fingertips.

She could even hear the rustling of the fabric and the soft clicking of her own teeth...

……

Li Zhi practically fled into the bathroom.

As she closed the door behind her, the cold metal lock made her fingertips twitch again.

“…Wu…”

A broken sob escaped from his throat.

She suddenly turned on the tap, and the icy water jets crashed into the porcelain white pool, splashing fine droplets onto her face.

The chill made her shiver, and she almost impatiently shoved her hand into the running water.

The lukewarm liquid washed over her burning skin as she squeezed out a large pump of hand soap.

She gasped for breath, bracing her hands on the edge of the cold sink, trembling as she scooped up a handful of water, as if trying to extinguish the shame burning within her.

The moment the water entered her mouth, she almost frantically swung her cheeks to rinse, letting the cold water surge between her tongue and teeth, trying to wash away the lingering taste.

The smell, mixed with my own saliva and water, swirled in my mouth.

"Pfft—" She suddenly bent over and spat out water droplets, which left mottled marks on the pool wall.

The misty water vapor condensed on the mirror, vaguely reflecting her disheveled, flushed face.

The astringent feeling after rinsing with cold water is like a bone-deep infection.

My gaze swept hastily across the washbasin, glancing at the two toothbrushes stuck side by side in the mouthwash cup.

Li Zhifei quickly picked up his toothbrush and squeezed the mint-flavored toothpaste hard onto the brush head, with so much white paste that it even overflowed the edges.

Without even looking at it, she gripped the cold, rough brush handle tightly in her palm, put it in her mouth, and began brushing.

Her eyes were closed, her brows furrowed, and her brush strokes were rapid and heavy, as if she wanted to scrape away and crush all the remaining traces of life.

White foam quickly filled her lips and slid down her chin.

Hidden beneath the foam, a few muffled, angry murmurs escaped her lips, thick with nasal tones and a hint of grievance.

"Waaah... Shen Yuan... you bad dog... you liar..."

While brushing, she angrily poked Shen Yuan's toothbrush hard with her wet fingertips.

"You jerk..."

After fussing around for a while, until Li Zhi took out Shen Yuan's mouthwash and filled her mouth with the refreshing and invigorating coolness of mint, she finally stopped brushing her teeth.

She scooped up some cold water and splashed it hard on her burning cheeks. The icy water droplets slid down her neck and into her collar, making her shiver slightly.

The person in the mirror had wet hair that clung messily to their forehead, water droplets dripping from their chin, and red eyes with an indelible blush at the corners.

She took several deep breaths, trying to suppress the lingering shame in her heart.

Finally mustering her courage, Li Zhi turned the bathroom doorknob.

The light streamed in from outside the door frame, but was mostly blocked by a tall figure at the threshold.

Shen Yuan had quietly leaned against the wall outside the door at some point.

He had changed into clean lounge pants, but his upper body was still wearing the slightly damp T-shirt. His slightly messy black hair was still damp, with a few strands hanging down in front of his full forehead.

He was in a relaxed and casual posture, his back lightly against the door frame, one long leg bent and slightly leaning against the wall on the other side.

He stood there blocking the doorway, like a silent barrier.

His deep eyes pierced through the lingering moisture and precisely locked onto the girl who had just escaped from inside the door.

The burning desire that had been burning in his eyes had faded, and now they were filled with a more complex and profound satisfaction and tender smile, so focused that it was heart-stopping.

The light from the ceiling above the entryway shone down, casting a sharp shadow on his angular profile.

Li Zhi was caught off guard by such a gaze, and his heart skipped a beat as if he had suddenly lost his balance.

Before she could react, Shen Yuan's arm, which had been bent and supporting him on the door frame, moved.

He silently opened his palm towards her, palm facing up, and beckoned very slightly towards himself.

“...Li Bao”.

His deep, hoarse voice rang out almost at the same moment, soft and slow, clearly penetrating the brief distance between the two.

Li Zhi was struck by the sudden invitation and the soft call, which pierced the lingering grievances and shame in her throat, causing her to choke up instantly.

The familiar scent seemed to waft back from my freshly rinsed lips and tongue.

But as if bewitched by that outstretched palm, her toes, which were trying to escape, inexplicably went weak.

The girl lowered her head in a huff, her little head almost bumping into Shen Yuan's half-open arms as she walked towards him.

It wasn't a snuggling, but more like an enraged little beast with nowhere to run, full of brute force and recklessness.

The embrace, carrying that familiar scent, firmly accepted her reckless charge.

Shen Yuan's body did not move at all, only a barely audible groan escaped from his throat.

The hand that had lured her over immediately wrapped around her shoulder and back, while the other hand steadily supported her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace.

The girl's soft hair brushed against his chin, and her warm breath and the sweet scent of shampoo instantly enveloped him.

Shen Yuan lowered his head and gently rested his chin on the top of her head, feeling the slight trembling of the slender body in his arms.

This collision seemed to have opened the floodgates of Li Zhi's grievances.

The next second, the little head buried in the crook of his neck nudged him restlessly, its muffled voice, thick with the dampness, bursting out as a accusation.

"Waaah... It's all your fault... you idiot..." The girl's voice was urgent and angry, with a sob of extreme grievance. Her slender white fingers unconsciously gripped the fabric of his waist, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Li Zhi seemed to want to repay him for all the "sins" she had just suffered.

The lingering tears and grievances seeped in with each word.

Shen Yuan chuckled softly, his chest vibrating slightly, his chin rubbing against the top of her head, making a hoarse, breathy sound.

"Um...it was my fault..."

His voice carried a relaxed tone of satisfaction, and his large hands, wrapped around her back, gently soothed her.

"Li Bao, you've worked hard."

The words were an admission of wrongdoing, but the tone lacked any sincerity; instead, it was permeated with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

He tightened his grip, holding her even closer.

He even turned his head slightly, brushed his nose against her soft, cool hair, smelled the lingering scent of embarrassment and annoyance, and added in a low voice.

"I can't help it, my Zhizhi... is just too sweet..."

Li Zhi was so angry at his absurd logic that she retaliated again, her small sobs becoming more urgent.

The girl twisted and struggled with the hand that was clutching his clothes, but this only elicited a more pleasant chuckle from above and a gentler pat from the large hand on her back.

Shen Yuan's low chuckle still carried lingering satisfaction, and the hand he gently patted on her back was full of comforting meaning.

However, the girl, still sulking about what had just happened, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and with a hint of vengeful arrogance, muttered something in this tenderness.

"Hmph! You're not getting your reward."

Shen Yuan subconsciously responded, and didn't even stop rubbing his chin against the top of her head.

"Ok?"

But the next second, his hand, which was patting Li Zhi's back, suddenly froze.

He seemed to only understand the meaning of her words a beat too late, or perhaps he was stunned by this sudden "bad news".

My brain, which was still immersed in satisfaction and warmth, seemed to have been put on pause.

The hand that was tightly gripping her unconsciously loosened its grip a little.

"……what?"

A short, clear breath escaped his throat, utterly unexpected and incredulous.

He lowered his head slightly, trying to see Li Zhi's expression in his arms and discern whether it was just a momentary outburst of anger from the girl.

Li Zhi sensed the stiffness in his body and the stagnation in his hands.

The slight resentment she felt from spending so much time washing herself because of the "sticky" mess, mixed with the small, vengeful pleasure of "letting you take an inch and then a mile," was momentarily balanced.

She finally lifted her head up a little from the crook of his neck, her beautiful eyes, still damp with moisture, glancing sideways at Shen Yuan.

The girl's delicate nostrils twitched slightly, revealing a hint of obvious pride and coquettishness.

"Hmph! There aren't any left!"

"there is none left--"

She deliberately dragged out those three words, each word like a small hammer striking Shen Yuan's now awake heart.

A brief moment of surprise flashed across the boy's eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper sense of helplessness and doting affection.

He gazed at Li Zhi's slightly raised chin, a result of her small act of revenge, her face, though sullen, still possessed an indescribable beauty, so close to his.

He tightened his arms, which had been slightly loose, holding the girl more tightly in his embrace. His other hand stroked her cool nape, his fingertips gently caressing the soft skin on her neck.

Shen Yuan lowered his head, his slightly warm breath brushing against her smooth forehead, bringing a slight shiver.

Li Zhi instinctively tried to shrink back, but his palm firmly held the back of her neck.

Just before Li Zhi's slightly parted lips were about to protest again, his warm lips gently pressed against her brow.

It was a fleeting touch, yet it was filled with a sense of reassurance and surrender, carrying his unique scent.

Instantly separate.

Shen Yuan stepped back slightly, allowing them to see each other's eyes clearly.

A helpless yet indulgent smile curved his lips, his voice low and indistinct, carrying a lingering smile and deep affection.

"...If it's not there, it's not there."

The voice was very soft, and the last syllable almost melted into the very close air between the two people.

It wasn't so much a rebuttal as it was a willingness to accept her willfulness and punishment, and a resigned acceptance of the "future reward" that had been taken away from her.

Shen Yuan's fingers continued to gently stroke the back of Li Zhi's neck, as if soothing a cat with its fur standing on end.

His lowered eyelashes concealed the cunning glint in his eyes. Suddenly, he pressed his lips to her burning red earlobe, his breath, carrying a tantalizing huskiness, penetrating her eardrums: "...Okay."

He paused deliberately for a moment, feeling her shoulders tense instantly, before slowly continuing the second half of his sentence, each word clear as if rolling between his teeth: "Then... shall I reward you?"

Li Zhi suddenly looked up and met his unfathomable smiling eyes.

The boy's pupils reflected her suddenly widened astonishment.

There was no compromise in those eyes, only a wildfire of defiance that burned her heart.

Shen Yuan's hand gripped her chin, his thumb brushing against her wet lower lip. His voice was even lower, mixed with minty notes and the lingering heat of desire: "...Take whatever you want."

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, cleaving the air and pinning the girl's trembling embarrassment in her eyes and the triumphant curve of the boy's lips together in the warm, golden silence.

Li Zhi was blown away by the blatantly lewd logic hidden in his three words, "reward you"!
"Shen——Yuan!!"

The girl's cheeks, which had just begun to flush slightly, were instantly flushed again, and even the tips of her small ears were so red they looked like they could bleed.

Before she could finish her low cry of extreme embarrassment and anger, her tightly clenched fists pounded against his hard chest.

The sound of the pounding was muffled, lacking strength, more like an urgent and childish outburst.

"You big bad guy! You're such a moron!!"

As Li Zhi pounded on the ground, he angrily and anxiously voiced his accusations, his voice trembling violently with immense shame.

"This isn't a reward for me!... You... you're clearly... you're..."

She simply couldn't find the right words to describe this utterly wicked guy. After holding back for a few seconds, she finally blurted out the most direct and essential conclusion in a fit of anger.

"—Isn't that a reward for you?!"

After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted the last bit of strength she had left. Her fist froze in mid-air, and she was overwhelmed by immense shame and indignation, wanting nothing more than to hide herself away.

Those eyes, wide with anger and resentment, reflected Shen Yuan's face, which was both utterly detestable and yet brimming with a satisfied smile.

The beautiful girl's fingers kept poking Shen Yuan's firm chest, trembling slightly, her fingertips turning white from the force.

Those beautiful eyes widened, glistening with tears, a mixture of annoyance at being exposed and resentment at being infuriated by Shen Yuan's shamelessness.

"no!"

The girl's voice carried a resolute tone, attempting to suppress the overwhelming shyness with her imposing manner.

"I disagree!!"

"Excessive!"

Li Zhi, filled with indignation, seemed to have finally found a target for retaliation.

"You just...you just act like a scoundrel! Taking advantage of me! And...you still want to fool me!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her erratic breathing.

The girl's gaze suddenly sharpened, and an idea carrying a sense of "punishment" instantly lit up her eyes.

The girl raised her delicate chin, with an unprecedented seriousness, perhaps mixed with a little bit of revenge, and announced clearly, word by word.

"You need to be punished! To teach you a lesson!"

Li Zhi raised the finger that was poking Shen Yuan and spoke seriously.

"You! Now! Right now! Do a test paper!"

"Finish it! Do it right now!"

Her voice was clear and firm, with a hint of smug satisfaction.

Shen Yuan looked at the exceptionally vivid and lively face in front of him, and the eyes that reflected the water were staring at him without blinking.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he suppressed a laugh that was about to spill out.

The helplessness of being ordered to study was strangely overwhelmed by the softness that filled my chest.

"……it is good."

Shen Yuan's voice was deep and gentle.

He simply lowered his eyelashes, his gaze lingering gently on her tense little face for a few seconds.

Immediately, Shen Yuan turned around and walked towards the study.

He deftly pulled a blank math test paper from a stack of papers and laid it out neatly in the center of the table.

The room fell silent.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, dappled patterns on the floor and casting a faint silhouette of Shen Yuan as he hunched over his desk.

He lowered his head slightly, his slender fingers already holding the pen, and the only sound in the room was the scratching of the pen tip across the paper.

The voice was faint, yet it carried a strange, calming power, as if it instantly replaced all the previous enchantment and silliness, re-anchoring this Sunday afternoon.

Li Zhili stood at the door of the study, not leaving immediately.

She watched the figure hunched over the desk, his broad shoulders slightly hunched, the wisps of hair on his forehead swaying gently as he occasionally pondered.

The boy who had been teasing her earlier had now lost all his playful expression, and his profile looked focused and serious in the slanted light.

Only when encountering a difficult step would the fingers holding the pen pause briefly, and the brow would unconsciously furrow slightly.

The continuous scratching sound of the pen tip, like a fine, soft net, slowly covered the remaining shame and dissatisfaction in Li Zhixin's heart.

The afternoon warmth, mixed with the unique tranquility of a young man writing, gradually spread through her chest, creating a strange sense of peace.

She leaned against the door frame, her gaze falling on the exam paper he was writing on. The small piece of paper held all his seriousness at that moment, making her earlier, seemingly defiant, punishment seem to carry a touch of gentle weight.

Just as that tender feeling in her heart was beginning to linger and was about to spread, an alarm bell rang in Li Zhi's heart!

"……no!"

She shook her head vigorously in her heart, as if trying to shake off the budding softness in her heart.

"I almost fell for his innocent act again!"

The girl bit her lower lip and clenched her small fist as if to encourage herself.

"That big bad wolf, I just managed to fool him... I can't be soft-hearted! I absolutely, absolutely can't be soft-hearted!"

The sunlight remained gentle, and the soft scratching of the pen continued through the quiet afternoon.

As for the reward, Li Zhi truly kept his word and gave nothing.

Even though Shen Yuan's score remained above 670, Li Zhi did not mention anything about rewards.

As for Shen Yuan, he didn't care that much.

As April arrives, the days grow longer, and the evening breeze begins to carry a touch of warmth.

It was another afternoon after school.

The setting sun turned the clouds into a magnificent orange-red, bathing the campus in a gentle golden glow.

The area in front of the teaching building was exceptionally quiet after dinner.

Shen Yuan raised his phone and pointed the camera at the countdown banner.

Shen Yuan held up his iced tea to the camera and, as usual, shouted, "Go for it!"

Before she could finish speaking, Li Zhi's ice cream cup clashed with hers.

"come on!"

The two voices, one clear and one calm, still overlapped in perfect harmony.

(End of this chapter)