I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

At eight o'clock, I changed my clothes and went out. I bought a rice noodle roll and a bottle of hot milk from a roadside vendor and headed to the apartment across the street. I pressed the button for the top floor, the 36th floor, in the elevator.

Shen Xi had been reading late into the night, and now the girl was walking out of her room in a semi-sleepwalking state, intending to go to the bathroom to wash up.

A cool, aloof girl with long, dark hair wore light-colored pajamas and looked sleepy.

A familiar young man suddenly appeared in front of her, embraced her slender body, stroked her head and said softly, "Good morning, my princess, you are the cutest person in the world today."

It took Shen Xi a full second to realize that what was happening before her eyes was not a dream, but reality.

Her eyes snapped back to reality, her gaze sharpening instantly.

"Cheng Fei! What are you doing?" The trembling girl kicked him with all her might and broke free from his embrace.

"Didn't you ask me to go out with you this morning?" the boy asked seriously.

"That's no excuse for you to barge in without a word and try to take advantage of me!" The girl was almost furious with embarrassment.

"How did I do anything inappropriate to you? Are you still asleep? I'm standing right here and I didn't do anything." The boy's face was exaggeratedly confused, as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.

"You shameless and despicable scoundrel, you'll be brought to justice sooner or later!" Shen Xi took a deep breath, glared at him fiercely, as if she could already see the day the boy would be handcuffed, strode into the bathroom, slammed the door shut, and locked it with a click.

Cheng Fei shook his head, put his hands in his pockets, and walked towards the girl's bedroom...

After washing up, Shen Xi opened the door with a cold and wary expression and found the boy on the sofa in the living room.

"Teacher Shen, you actually turned the morning glory I gave you into a pendant?" Cheng Fei said without turning his head, fiddling with something.

"You came into my bedroom?" Shen Xi's eyes sharpened, and she quickly stepped forward.

"I was just browsing around and happened to see this on the bedside table." The boy turned around and showed the item in his hand.

It was an exquisitely crafted, transparent teardrop-shaped pendant. Inside the teardrop was an inconspicuous little white flower with four petals and a golden stamen.

"You just casually walked into my bedroom?" The girl stared intently at him, her pure eyes seeming to hold a storm brewing within them.

"Is this made of resin? It's quite pretty." The boy examined the pendant, ignoring her question.

……

172. On the Importance of Smiles

"Cheng Fei, don't make me angry." Shen Xi narrowed her eyes, her voice turning cold.

"Teacher Shen, I'm sorry. I was so disrespectful to you. I won't do it again." Cheng Fei's expression changed.

"Give it back to me." Facing the honest-looking boy, Shen Xi gritted her teeth and tried to snatch back the pendant, but he nimbly dodged her.

"Don't move, I'll put it on for you." Cheng Fei stood in front of her, quickly brushed aside her long hair with both hands, and put them around the back of her neck.

The two were so close that their heads almost touched.

Shen Xi remained expressionless and motionless, her eyes flickering, as if she were enduring something.

"Alright, beautiful." Cheng Fei withdrew his hand, stroked his chin, and carefully examined the pendant on the girl's chest.

Then he was met with a fierce, angry blow from the girl's fluffy slippers.

"This is getting more and more outrageous," Shen Xi said, squinting her eyes and suppressing her anger.

"Teacher Shen, although kicking to express happiness is cute, I still suggest you just say it out loud."

"Nobody here wants to express their happiness to you."

"You've treasured the gift I gave you so carefully, yet you're still being stubborn." The boy shook his head and sighed.

"That's ridiculous. I'm focused on the flower itself, and it has nothing to do with you. Please don't flatter yourself." The girl sneered.

"I brought you breakfast, eat it while it's hot." Cheng Fei changed the subject and held the bag in front of her.

Shen Xi paused for a moment, then said, "I don't like eating takeout."

"Is what I brought you also considered takeout?"

"I don't like eating food that comes in plastic containers."

"You can actually repeat what you said last time?" Cheng Fei asked in surprise. "Hurry up and eat, Teacher Shen, so we can get going."

The boy's choice of words made her hesitate, and she reluctantly took the bag and sat down at the table.

The boy sat down in front of her, resting his chin on his hand and observing her face with a smile.

Shen Xi lowered her eyes and ate a few bites, then frowned and looked up, "Please stop staring at me with that disgusting look."

"What's disgusting about it? I was just watching my pet darling eat breakfast."

"I can't eat anymore." The girl put down her chopsticks and stood up with disgust.

"Don't be like that, Ms. Shen. Never mind what I said. You eat slowly, I'm going to the balcony to get some fresh air." Cheng Fei was faster than her.

The girl then reluctantly sat back down.

After breakfast, Shen Xi went back to her room, locked the door, and changed her clothes. Then the boy and girl went out together.

The two took a taxi to Xueyuan Polytechnic, located in the city.

The full name of Academy Science is Academy City Institute of Technology. It is one of the most famous private research universities in Academy City, with world-class physics, engineering and computer science programs.

Stepping into the quiet campus, Cheng Fei surveyed his surroundings, considering whether he should apply here three years from now.

"Teacher Shen, what are we doing here?"

"Take the things." The girl said expressionlessly.

"what?"

"You don't need to know, just be a good laborer." Shen Xi raised her chin.

"I wouldn't do this for just anyone, but I'm happy to help you if it's you." The young man admired her beautiful and delicate profile.

"It's what a servant is supposed to do," the girl scoffed.

"Does someone from the Shen family work here?" Cheng Fei asked, unconcerned by her words.

"It's none of your business."

"If you're going to meet my parents, at least give me a heads-up first, okay? Don't be like Lin Xuanqi, who suddenly made me meet her mother."

"I told you it's none of your business," the girl said impatiently.

“Teacher Shen, the length of your skirt is just right today.” The boy’s gaze then fell on her legs.

The gray-white plaid skirt reached her knees, just enough to reveal her slender calves.

"Shut up." Shen Xi's expression changed.

"Are they pantyhose or over-the-knee socks today? I bet they're over-the-knee socks," the boy pondered.

"Shut up."

"Please tell me, Teacher Shen, this is really important to me."

"What do you want?" The girl looked disgusted and distanced herself from him.

"I won't lift your skirt to confirm, don't worry."

"..." The girl glanced at him with a fearful expression, then quickened her pace.

"Teacher Shen, can't we have a date that's fun and relaxing, even just once?" the boy asked, following behind her at a leisurely pace.

“First, no one here is going on a date with you. Second, you’ve been saying the most infuriating and vulgar things the whole time.” Shen Xi continued walking.

"Okay, then let's not talk about what you're wearing, just stop running around, okay?" Cheng Fei raised his hands in surrender.

The girl then slowed her pace, her brow furrowed.

"Ms. Shen, may I put my arm around your waist?"

"That's enough! Old habits die hard." The girl was annoyed and quickened her pace again.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, Teacher Shen, I was really wrong this time."

Cheng Fei quickly followed her and spent a lot of time coaxing the girl.

"Teacher Shen, there's something I've always been curious about." The boy stroked his chin, looking very serious.

"What disgusting and filthy remarks have you made this time?" Shen Xi looked at him with a wary gaze.

“This time it’s not like that, really.” Cheng Fei looked into her eyes. “I just want to ask, Ms. Shen, have you never been able to smile since you were little?”

"As expected, it's just more nonsensical nonsense." Shen Xi looked utterly disappointed and turned her gaze forward.

"Isn't that right? You've never smiled once in the months we've known each other," Cheng Fei recalled. "Or is it that you just never smile at me? Surely not?"

"As expected, it's an aquatic mammal with a pitifully weak memory." Shen Xi sneered, looking at him with a hint of pity.

“Teacher Shen, you don’t think you’re smiling, do you? That’s just a forced smile. I’m talking about a genuine smile when you’re happy.” Cheng Fei used his index finger and thumb to push the corners of his mouth upwards.

"So what if I don't have it?" the girl said indifferently.

"Don't you ever have happy moments? You yourself have said that smiles are important, haven't you?" Cheng Fei was shocked.

"Happiness and laughter are not necessarily related. Besides, I've said before that I'm an exception; I have absolutely no interest in this kind of thing."

"How could we not be in touch? Everyone laughs when they're happy. I laugh, Nana laughs, Ye Shuang laughs, even Lin Xuanqi laughs, although her laugh is a bit sickly."

"So all you've been saying is that you're dissatisfied with me? Enough already. I have no obligation to satisfy your pathetic and ugly desires. If you like seeing girls laugh, go ahead and look at them." Shen Xi snorted heavily, then narrowed her eyes and said slowly and deliberately, "Especially your classmate Nana, she always has the brightest smile."

“Teacher Shen, what do you mean by ‘my Nana’? She’s clearly your Nana. Wasn’t she your good friend from the beginning? And recently she’s been slowly making up with you.” Cheng Fei said calmly.

"This is utterly absurd! Which eye of yours saw me and her make up? Are you Cheng Feiyu who traveled from another parallel dimension?"

“You saw through me. Cheng Fei, who used to like you, is actually dead. I’m his substitute.” The boy straightened his expression.

“…” Shen Xi glanced at him but didn’t say anything.

"Do you suddenly feel a sense of unease, regretting that you weren't honest with me back then?" Cheng Fei asked, not without a hint of smugness.

"Mental illness." The girl said coldly, refusing to look at him.

……

173. Teacher Shen

"Speaking of which, Ms. Shen, I must emphasize one point: I have no complaints about you. Don't get me wrong and go back to tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. In my heart, every expression of yours is adorable. I'm just curious and want to chat with you. After all, a smile is usually very important." Cheng Fei shrugged.

"Again? Stop with your disgusting talk. You can't possibly affect my sleep quality." The girl's eyes were sharp. "Besides, I don't think the smile is that important."

"A smile can exude friendliness, which makes others dare to approach you. Teacher Shen, have you noticed that while you are the most beautiful, Nana is the most popular?"

"Heh, first of all, I don't need anyone to get close to me. It's best if no one gets close to me. Secondly, you really do like her. I saw through it long ago. You and she are birds of a feather." Shen Xi took a deep breath and stared ahead.

"Teacher Shen, so there's probably no one else in the world besides me who would be so inseparable from you every day. Also, you're starting to get jealous of Nana again. I was just using her as an example. If you don't like her, you can use Ye Shuang instead. Ye Shuang is also very cheerful and popular."

"I almost forgot something." Shen Xi suddenly frowned and stopped walking.

"What is it?" Cheng Fei looked at her in confusion.

"Don't think I can't see it. You've been getting close to Ye Shuang lately." The girl raised her head and stared coldly into the boy's eyes.

"Huh?" Cheng Fei scratched his head. "Really?"

"Pretending again." Shen Xi sneered.

"Teacher Shen, you're being too sensitive. I just wanted to get along with her. After all, she's Lin Xuanqi's number one henchman, and I was just thinking about my safety." The boy said nonchalantly.

"As expected, I'm not surprised at all by your fickleness." The girl turned her head and walked forward with a cold expression, her slender legs, encased in black over-the-knee stockings, moving swiftly.

“My dear Ms. Shen, you’re so jealous!” Cheng Fei followed her.

"..." The girl remained silent.

"Teacher Shen?"

"..." Still no response.

"You forced me to do this."