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

Chapter 304 It's because of our fate
The laughter and chatter at the dinner table gradually subsided, and the food in the bowls and plates was almost gone.

Xu Chan put down her chopsticks, looked at Shen Yuan and Li Zhi who were about to get up to help clean up, and waved her hand with a smile: "Don't move, don't move. You two are the main characters today, you don't need to get involved in this."

Zhang Yuyan had already started clearing away the empty plates efficiently, and winked at Li Zhi: "Take Xiao Yuan to rest, we'll take care of things here."

Li Zhi didn't insist. She raised her delicate chin and gave Shen Yuan a look: "Did you hear me? Let's go!"

As she spoke, the pretty girl grabbed Shen Yuan's wrist and pulled him toward the living room.

As she passed through the porch, instead of turning towards the sofa, she beckoned with her finger, leading Shen Yuan to easily push open the door to her bedroom.

The door closed silently behind them.

The room still held her faint fragrance, mixed with the unique scent of a young girl's room.

The noise from the living room and dining room outside, and the clanging of dishes as parents cleared the table, were almost entirely filtered out by the thick door, leaving only a faint buzzing background sound.

Li Zhi let go of Shen Yuan's hand and wanted to walk to the window to draw the curtains tighter, but when she turned around, she unexpectedly bumped into his firm and warm embrace.

Shen Yuan's movements were swift and decisive. His powerful arms tightened instantly, as if premeditated, firmly encircling that slender, soft body against his chest.

Through the thin summer clothes, they could clearly feel each other's comforting warmth and the sound of their young, energetic heartbeats.

Li Zhi only had time to let out a short gasp before he was completely enveloped by a familiar aura.

She instinctively raised her hand to his chest and struggled slightly, but his arms tightened around her and she didn't move an inch.

"What are you doing!" She looked up, and in the warm light, a blush quickly spread across her fair cheeks. Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with obvious embarrassment and accusation.

"Mom and Dad are still outside!"

The girl puffed out her cheeks and angrily accused, "You wanted to do something bad as soon as you entered the room! You bad guy! All you do is try to take advantage of others!"

As she spoke, she symbolically punched Shen Yuan's chest twice with her little fist, without causing any real pain or itchiness.

Shen Yuan lowered his head, looking at the proud and shy girl in his arms, and a low, pleasant laugh escaped his chest.

He didn't rush to deny it, but gently rubbed his chin against her slightly hot temple, his breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, his voice carrying a satisfied sigh and a hint of mischief.

"Hmm... a bad guy is a bad guy."

He tightened his arms around her, holding her even closer, greedily savoring the tenderness of their time alone.

"Who can blame me when my Li Bao is so comfortable to hold?"

Li Zhi leaned against him, listening to his steady heartbeat and feeling the sense of security that belonged only to him.

The room lights cast small shadows on her long eyelashes.

She suddenly looked up, her clear eyes fixed on him, a hint of curiosity mixed with a subtle concern in her gaze. Her voice was very soft:

"Hey... Shen Yuan, how do you feel about your exam?"

Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to suddenly ask this question after their tender moment.

He looked down at his reflection in the girl's eyes, a knowing yet slightly amused smile curving his lips. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why are you only asking now? Why didn't you ask me during the exam?"

Li Zhi snorted softly, turned her face away, but her fingertips unconsciously picked at his school uniform.

Her voice came through muffledly, carrying a childlike stubbornness and a carefully considered tenderness: "During the exam... of course you can't ask. What if... what if you feel you didn't do well on the exam, and my questions put even more pressure on you?"

She paused, as if to hide her excessive concern, then quickly added in a low voice, "I don't care how many points you got on the test!"

As Shen Yuan watched her awkwardly reveal her inner thoughts, the turbulent waves in his heart stirred up by the system task seemed to be gently soothed by a soft hand.

The forced, teasing smile faded from his face, and a warm, gentle tenderness welled up deep in his eyes.

He tightened his arms around her, rested his chin on the top of her soft hair, and sighed softly, his voice overflowing with tenderness: "Don't worry."

He stepped back slightly, his long, slender fingers gently pinching Li Zhi's cheek. His deep, mellow voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet room: "Zhejiang University."

When the boy uttered those two words, his Adam's apple bobbed, and each syllable carried a resolute force.

"I will definitely pass the exam."

Shen Yuan's eyes were incredibly serious, as if he wanted to convey all his determination to her through them.

He gently stroked her flushed cheeks with his fingertips, his voice deep yet exceptionally clear, carrying an undeniable strength: "You can rest assured, it's a sure thing. I won't let you down, and I certainly won't..."

He paused for a moment, a smile playing on his lips, a smile that was a mixture of determination and slight bitterness.

"...give my father-in-law a chance to make things difficult for me."

"You, you, you...you're going to die, Shen Yuan!!!"

Li Zhi's fair cheeks flushed bright red in an instant, and even her delicate earlobes and neck were tinged with a scorching blush.

Her beautiful eyes widened, and she raised her small fist, a mixture of embarrassment and anger, and punched Shen Yuan's shoulder with a light but firm blow: "What nonsense are you talking about! If you keep yelling like that... if you keep yelling like that I'll..."

The girl was so embarrassed that she couldn't speak coherently, but her eyes, which were staring at him, clearly reflected Shen Yuan's mischievous yet meaningful smile in the shimmering water.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, her pounding fists softened, and she grabbed Shen Yuan's shirt at the chest, pulling him down slightly.

"Shen Yuan!" Her voice was even lower, almost squeezed out through gritted teeth.

The girl's gaze was fixed on the depths of his pupils, and she spoke each word clearly and distinctly: "I'm telling you... you'd better actually get into Zhejiang University!"

She paused, then said, "You absolutely—must pass the exam! Otherwise…otherwise…you're really doomed!"

The last three words, spoken slowly and heavily, carried her unique arrogance and the determination of a small animal guarding its food, striking Shen Yuan's heart clearly.

"Hmm." The response came from deep within his chest, like a boulder falling into a lake, carrying an undeniable weight.

"must."

He loosened his embrace slightly, but did not let go of her hand. Instead, he naturally took Li Zhi's slender wrist and led her to the bed covered with light-colored floral sheets.

The two sat side by side on the soft edge of the bed. The boy's warm, broad palm still enveloped her hand, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the delicate skin on the back of her hand.

Shen Yuan turned his head and looked at the beautiful girl beside him who had quieted down. Her fair cheeks still had a faint blush from the excitement, and her long eyelashes drooped down like two small fans.

“Li Bao,” he began, his voice unusually deep and gentle in the quiet.

"So... when it comes to going out for fun, is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go?"

Shen Yuan thought for a moment and then added, "I mean, besides Qiandao Lake, or somewhere a bit further away? We can make some plans."

Hearing this, Li Zhi slowly turned his face to the side.

Her clear, bright eyes shone exceptionally bright in the dim light, as if they contained tiny, scattered stars.

She didn't answer immediately, but quietly looked at Shen Yuan's focused face, at his deep eyes that always held her reflection.

A moment later, the girl's soft lips curved into a serene and beautiful arc, her voice soft and carrying an undisguised sweetness:

"actually……"

She paused, as if considering the most precise expression, and finally, her eyes, reflecting his image, curved into crescents as she clearly said:

"As long as I'm with you..."

"...Anywhere is fine with me."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a feather brushing against his heart, stirring up a silent tidal wave in his soul!

The heartstrings that had been stirred by her unconditional following trembled violently!
A strong throbbing sensation, like a fine electric current, instantly spread from the base of my ears, stirring up a burning, tingling feeling wherever it passed, even causing my breath to catch in my throat for a moment.

Shen Yuan gazed at the smiling girl before him, seeing the pure affection and trust in her eyes, and felt his heart pounding rapidly in his chest. He subconsciously tightened his grip on her hand, his fingertips applying slight pressure, as if trying to meld this feeling into his very bones.

The two sat quietly on the edge of the bed, the warm yellow light shining on them, their intertwined shadows casting intimate silhouettes on the wall behind them.

Shen Yuan stared deeply into Li Zhi's clear eyes, as if trying to extract more from them, his Adam's apple bobbing silently.

Li Zhi felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, and the tips of her ears turned pink again, but she did not look away. The smile on her lips was still faint, carrying a sense of security from complete surrender.

The warm yellow light in the room cast a fuzzy halo around her, and the air was so quiet that only the distant car horns outside the window and his clearly audible heartbeat could be heard.

The heartbeat was like a drumbeat, striking against the frozen moment.

A wave of emotion surged within me, stirred by the phrase "anywhere is fine."

A slight tremor came from the fingertips that were tightly gripping hers, as if an electric current had pierced the last dam called "restraint".

“Li Zhi…”

His voice was incredibly low and hoarse, with a rough, sandpaper-like quality, and brimming with intense emotions that seemed about to overflow.

Before he finished speaking, he was no longer satisfied with merely exchanging glances.

The boy tilted his head slightly, his expression a mixture of undeniable gentleness and strength, as he precisely captured her soft lips.

No temptation, no hesitation.

The girl took the initiative to go to him.

Her arm no longer rested lightly against his chest, but instead, as if following her heart, quietly climbed up his neck, her slender fingertips trembling almost imperceptibly, and slipped into the slightly stiff short hair at the back of his head.

Her body felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she nestled softly against his firm chest, every soft, undulating line fitting perfectly with the boy's sturdy frame.

Shen Yuan's large hand slid down from her waist, instinctively tightening. Through the thin fabric, his burning body heat penetrated the material, almost melting her.

His other hand protected the back of her head, preventing her from leaning back slightly due to the intense kiss.

The warm yellow light blurred the surrounding boundaries, clipping the intertwined figures of the two into a silent yet intensely moving picture.

Time seemed to stand still.

The low murmur of the city outside the window, the faint clinking of cutlery in the living room, and even the boisterous jubilation after the exam were all shut out by the passionate kisses in this small space.

The air was filled with their intertwined, scorching breaths, carrying the sweet scent unique to the girl's lips and the clean, familiar smell of him, weaving a tight, impenetrable net that enveloped their two violently beating hearts, drawing them into this deep sea that belonged only to them.

Their lips parted, their breaths slightly disordered.

Under the warm yellow light, their eyes remained locked, as if they were still immersed in the tenderness they had just shared.

Shen Yuan gently pressed his forehead against Li Zhi's forehead, his nose brushing against her small nose. Looking at the beautiful girl with flushed cheeks, the throbbing in his chest had not yet subsided, and the aftertaste lingered.

Li Zhi's long eyelashes trembled slightly a few times.

The girl's fair cheeks were as if they were adorned with the finest rouge, more beautiful than a ripe camellia.

Her lips were slightly parted, her chest still rising and falling from the deep kiss, her clear eyes filled with a shy, dreamy look, yet she stubbornly refused to look away, bravely gazing back at him.

A silent warmth flowed between the two, more powerful than a thousand words.

Several seconds later, the moisture in Li Zhi's eyes finally dissipated, transforming into soft, scattered light.

Her delicate nostrils twitched, and she suddenly chuckled softly, a warm, wistful sound tinged with reminiscence: "Hey, Shen Yuan..."

Her voice was softer than usual, with a slight hoarseness from the kiss.

"Ok?"

Shen Yuan responded with a soft sound, his fingertips unconsciously stroking her lower back gently, his gaze still calmly fixed on her vivid expression.

Li Zhi seemed to have imagined a particularly interesting scene; the curve of her lips deepened, and a mischievous glint sparkled in her beautiful eyes.
"Do you remember your seat at the beginning of senior year?"

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Of course I remember."

Li Zhi leaned back slightly, creating a distance of less than a fist's width, but their clasped hands and locked gazes remained firmly in place.

With her free hand, she lightly tapped his chest with her fingertips, mimicking the scene from back then, her voice carrying a hint of past pride and a sweet, coquettish tone as she looked back.

“It was right after the start of the semester, and the seats hadn’t been assigned yet. You were the only one from our class who had been promoted, so everyone else knew you.”

Li Zhi's eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint in the dim light, and her fingertips gently traced a circle along his heart:

"You, Shen Yuan!"

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, letting out a soft hum through her nose, a sound that was both reproachful and amused:

"He Zhiyu was just about to sit next to me, but you just stepped over there, threw your schoolbag on the table with a 'bang,' and said something like, 'Hey, the view is better here, I can see the blackboard clearly! The second to last row, I can see the blackboard clearly!'"

A clear, accusatory tinge tinged her voice, while a blush crept across her cheeks.

"Tell me, was it intentional?"

Shen Yuan looked down at the cunning in her eyes and the reddened earlobes by the light, his Adam's apple bobbing silently, as if he were reliving the scene.

The smile in his eyes deepened, carrying a knowing look and a hint of mischievous slyness.

"Tsk,"

The boy tightened his grip on her waist, and whispered in her ear, "I did it on purpose... And what about you?"

His gaze was fixed on her beautiful eyes, which widened instantly, and his voice was full of self-righteousness: "...You didn't refuse back then."

"Shen Yuan!!!"

As if her innermost secret had been precisely exposed, Li Zhi's cheeks flushed bright red, even more radiant than the sunset.

The girl glared at him with her bright eyes, both embarrassed and annoyed: "Stop talking nonsense! That...that's because you're too shameless! How can you be so shameless?!"

Her voice was soft and slightly annoyed, and she almost buried her head in his chest.

Seeing the smug and mischievous smile on Shen Yuan's face, Li Zhi suddenly seemed to remember something, and abruptly raised her head, her beautiful eyes narrowing dangerously, like a little fox that had discovered a flaw in its prey.

"and many more!"

Her slender fingers pinched Shen Yuan's chin, forcing him to meet her probing gaze.

"And then what happened? When the seating arrangement was changed, why was Old Zhou still able to put you next to me? Tell me the truth—"

The girl's voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a strong sense of suspicion and a coquettish question: "Did you, you rascal, secretly pull some tricks? Did you bribe Old Zhou? Or did you conspire with someone?"

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and she wrinkled her little nose slightly: "I knew it! How could I possibly be so lucky every time!"

Shen Yuan was taken aback by the question, looking at the shrewd glint in Li Zhi's eyes and his earnest expression of seeking confirmation.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes at first, but that surprise quickly turned into a helpless feeling of being both amused and exasperated.

Shen Yuan let out a soft sigh that sounded extremely innocent and a little wronged: "I'm innocent, Li Bao!"

His deep eyes were filled with a sincere smile as he looked into Li Zhi's eyes and said, word by word, with absolute clarity, "There really isn't one!"

He paused, tightened his arm around her waist, leaned forward slightly, and his nose almost brushed against hers.

His voice was lowered, like a whispered sympathy between lovers, yet with a touch of resigned acceptance:

"The reason I was able to stay by your side later... was purely because of fate!"

(End of this chapter)