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

Chapter 206 Li Zhi, I... (1 words)

At seven o'clock in the morning, the faint light of dawn streamed into the hotel's second-floor breakfast restaurant through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

The air was filled with the steam from the steamer and the aroma of rice porridge. The food service area was neatly arranged with white porridge, fried dough sticks, soup dumplings, and several plates of refreshing pickles, making it a typical Chinese breakfast.

Li Zhi carried a plate piled high with steamed buns and half a fried dough stick, and walked straight to the square table by the window.

Shen Yuan was already sitting there, with a bowl of salty soy milk with finely chopped scallions floating in front of him.

He was peeling a tea egg, his movements nimble and efficient.

Seeing Li Zhi sit down, Shen Yuan placed a peeled tea egg into Li Zhi's bowl.

"Thanks."

"You're pretty slow," Shen Yuan remarked, commenting on Li Zhi's pace.

"Hey! I'm a girl! Unlike you, I don't just do things so casually!"

"Eat yours!"

Shen Yuan picked up a small steamed bun and held it to Li Zhi's mouth. Li Zhi subconsciously opened his mouth and ate it, then realized that Shen Yuan was using his chopsticks.

"You idiot Shen Yuan! Those are your chopsticks?!"

Shen Yuan belatedly looked down at the "tool of the crime" in his hand.

"Huh? What's wrong with mine? It looks perfectly clean... I haven't even eaten it yet!"

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi and said matter-of-factly, "Didn't you use my spoon when you ate ice cream?"

"Ice cream is ice cream!"

Seeing Li Zhi's disgusted expression, Shen Yuan shrugged helplessly and muttered under his breath, "So particular..."

Li Zhi glared at him fiercely.

After having breakfast, the two packed their things and went back to their room. After a quick tidy-up, they met at the door.

"Have you taken everything?"

"Hmm." Li Zhi checked his schoolbag and nodded.

The two went to the front desk in the lobby, took out their room cards, and checked out.

After handing the room key to the front desk, Shen Yuan led Li Zhi out of the hotel.

Now only the temple at the last stop remains.

Stepping out of the hotel, the slightly cool morning air greeted me, the mist from West Lake mingling with the scent of the city awakening.

Shen Yuan took out his phone and opened a ride-hailing app: "I'll call a car to Faxi Temple."

Li Zhi was subconsciously startled for a moment.

Faxi Temple?
She had always thought that she was going to Lingyin Temple today.

Li Zhi stopped and turned to look at Shen Yuan, his eyebrows furrowing habitually: "Wait, you idiot Shen Yuan, going to Faxi Temple? Isn't it Lingyin Temple?"

Shen Yuanzheng was looking down at his phone, and without looking up, he replied casually, "It's all the same, it's a temple no matter which one you go to. The main thing is that Lingyin Temple will be even more crowded, it'll be like a swarm of porridge."

He looked up and raised an eyebrow at Li Zhi. "Faxi Temple is quieter and has more incense offerings. Aren't they all just as devout?"

Looking at Shen Yuan's earnest and "devout" manner, Li Zhi felt that something was amiss.

She didn't argue further, but with a hint of suspicion, she quietly took out her phone from her pocket.

The screen lit up, and her fair fingertips quickly typed the three characters "Faxi Temple" into the search bar.

She lowered her head slightly, her gaze intently scanning the information summary that popped up on the screen.

As the text on the screen scrolled by line by line, her expression, which had initially been slightly suspicious, gradually froze.

His clear pupils suddenly dilated, as if he had seen something unbelievable, and even his breath seemed to freeze for a moment.

The frequently appearing phrases like "seeking marriage," "holy place for couples to pray for blessings," and "especially effective" were like tiny needles, piercing her cognition unexpectedly.

Her cheeks flushed a thin layer of red at a visible speed, spreading all the way to her ears.

The girl suddenly raised her head, her eyes, filled with surprise and a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment, shooting straight at Shen Yuan, who had already called a car and was waiting beside her, like a startled fawn.

Almost reflexively, she shoved the phone screen, which was still displaying search results, right in front of Shen Yuan's eyes!
The text on the screen was clearly visible in the morning light.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, whose gaze was full of questioning.

"Uh……!"

Shen Yuan was startled by her sudden movement, and his gaze involuntarily fell on the phone screen that was so close to him.

When he saw the keywords "marriage" and "couples" on the screen, his feigned relaxed expression instantly froze.

A fleeting sense of embarrassment at being caught and a flustered feeling born from an inexplicable expectation quickly passed through her.

Shen Yuan swallowed subconsciously, his gaze starting to wander.

The air seemed to be compressed and stagnant once again, with only the morning mist from West Lake floating silently outside the window.

Li Zhi's cheeks burned. She abruptly pulled back her phone, took a deep breath, and stared intently at Shen Yuan: "You idiot Shen Yuan! What... what do you mean?!"

Yuan was startled by the sudden question, but he immediately straightened his neck, quickly organized his thoughts, and tried to appear confident while his eyes darted around.

"Wh...what do you mean! What's wrong with Faxi Temple? Aren't all temples the same? Lingyin Temple is packed with people, like dumplings being dropped into a pot."

Shen Yuan spoke faster, trying to hide his unease with speed and volume: "Look, Faxi Temple is peaceful! The environment is good! The air is fresh! It's more conducive to concentrating and making sincere wishes, understand?"

Shen Yuan felt increasingly convinced of his point as he spoke, even nodding to reinforce his argument: "Besides, sincerity is key! Buddha and Bodhisattvas don't care which temple you go to; it's all about your attitude! I'm... I'm creating the best environment for you to pray for blessings! Understand?"

Seeing that Li Zhi's gaze was becoming increasingly sharp, and that the word "idiot" was already brewing on his lips, Shen Yuan gritted his teeth and decided to try anything, trying to steer the conversation toward the reason for the "accuracy".

"Uh...and also!"

He suddenly raised his voice, as if grasping at a straw, "What 'sacred place for marriage' and 'especially effective for couples'? That's all just hearsay! Do you know that?"

Shen Yuan shrugged and gave a "you know what I mean" look.

"To put it bluntly, it's just because there are so many young couples going there! With so many people going, the base is large, and then a few couples who happen to get together spread the word and create a buzz."

"Hey! That's why it seems so effective! It really has little to do with the temple itself! It's just survivor bias!"

"Perhaps...perhaps the reason why Faxi Temple is so accurate is because you two, a man and a woman, went to pray there?"

As Shen Yuan spoke, he observed Li Zhi's expression. Seeing that although she still had a tense face, she didn't seem to be cursing immediately, so he became a little bolder and muttered tentatively.

“Look…we…although we’re not quite like those lovey-dovey young couples…but…but…”

Shen Yuan gritted his teeth and practically uttered the words with his eyes closed.

"Our relationship... for over ten years... uh... childhood sweethearts... can't it be considered... a special relationship? This... this definitely falls into... that... 'quasi' range, right? Huh?"

Li Zhi's cheeks were already flushed red as she listened to Shen Yuan's increasingly absurd and illogical arguments.
Especially the line "childhood sweethearts can also be considered a special relationship," a surge of anger mixed with immense shame and "this idiot is hopeless" rushed straight to my head!

"You idiot Shen Yuan!!! What nonsense are you thinking?! Who said we have a special relationship?! I think you're asking for a beating!!!"

The girl's angry shouts echoed at the hotel entrance, attracting curious glances from several passersby.

She felt her blood pressure spike and wished she could immediately send this bastard to his grave!
In fact, that's exactly what Li Zhi did.

Honestly, Li Zhi felt he wouldn't be at peace without giving him a good beating.

When your thoughts are not clear, you will feel unhappy.

If you are in a bad mood, you may develop nodules.

If there are nodules, then Shen Yuan deserves to die.

Seeing the look in Li Zhi's eyes, Shen Yuan immediately explained, "I just said I wanted to go to a temple! I didn't mean anything else, Li Bao! I just wanted some peace and quiet!"

"Quiet my foot! I think your head is full of filthy thoughts!"

Li Zhi ignored all explanations and reached out to place his hand directly on the soft flesh of Shen Yuan's waist.

This is Li Zhi's "ultimate move" that he has practiced countless times since he was a child.

“Ouch——!!!”

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Please have mercy, Li Bao!"

Shen Yuan immediately twisted in pain.

"It's going to hurt you to death!"

Li Zhi showed no mercy, increasing the force of his blows instead of decreasing it, and his other hand was also busy, delivering a series of punches to his shoulder.

"You went to Faxi Temple to pray for a marriage partner, right? You made a sincere wish, right? You have a special relationship, right?!"

Each sentence was accompanied by a punch or pinch.

"Thump!" "Hiss—!" "Awooo—!"

Shen Yuan staged a spectacular scene of fleeing in panic at the hotel entrance.

Just as the two were locked in a fierce battle, a clean and tidy white ride-hailing car smoothly pulled up in the drop-off area of ​​the hotel entrance.

Shen Yuan and Li Zhi's movements also came to an abrupt halt due to the sudden appearance of the vehicle.

"Let's go, let's get on the bus."

The ride-hailing car smoothly navigated through the somewhat bustling city streets, and the scenery outside the window gradually became lush and green, with verdant mountains and forests taking center stage.

About half an hour later, the vehicle slowly slowed down, turned onto a relatively quiet uphill road, and finally stopped at the edge of a parking lot that indicated the entrance to Faxi Temple.

After getting off the bus, a breath of air completely different from that in the city instantly filled my nostrils.

The unique temple atmosphere, a blend of incense, pine needles, and the faint scent of earth, silently announces that we have arrived at our destination.

Shen Yuan stepped out of the car, his feet landing on the ground. He instinctively reached out and rubbed his waist and shoulders, which had just been "brutally assaulted," making a silent expression of pain.

He looked up, his gaze passing through several stone steps, towards the temple gate and its flying eaves, hidden among the lush trees.

Li Zhi followed closely behind and got off the bus from the other side.

The cool breeze from the mountains in the early morning, carrying a hint of moisture, dissipated much of the heat brought by the earlier commotion.

The girl subtly adjusted the hem of her clothes, her gaze not immediately turning to the temple or Shen Yuan.

Instead, he looked around at the parking lot and the walkway ahead with a deliberate, focused gaze, as if inspecting his surroundings.

The blush on her cheeks, which had been symbolically ignited by Faxi Temple at the hotel entrance, had not yet completely faded. Now, against the backdrop of the verdant mountains, it appeared even more delicately rosy, yet it was concealed by her carefully maintained cold expression.

They got off the bus outside the parking lot of Faxi Temple, not at the main entrance of the temple.

You need to walk along a short, wide stone staircase.

The stone steps are lined with lush ancient trees, and sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

The air was so still it was almost sacred; you could clearly hear the rustling of leaves in the wind, occasionally punctuated by the faint, melodious chimes of distant bells.

After massaging his shoulders, Shen Yuan seemed to have regained some energy.

He cleared his throat, trying to break the slightly tense atmosphere that had just ended after getting off the bus, and pointed to the stone steps above in a deliberately relaxed tone.

"Ahem... Li Bao, you've gone upstairs?" The "Li Bao" was spoken with a hint of caution, as if afraid of touching a sensitive nerve in the girl again.

Li Zhi finally turned his gaze back to Shen Yuan.

"You idiot, don't give me that grin. We're not done settling scores yet."

Shen Yuan seemed not to hear her threat, or rather, selectively ignored the declaration of "settling accounts".

He took a step forward, getting closer to Li Zhi.

The starting point of the stone steps is just a stone's throw away.

Shen Yuan, with a hint of trepidation, reached out and grabbed Li Zhi's hand, which was hanging by his side.

"Let's go."

Shen Yuan's voice carried a hint of nervousness, but he subconsciously tightened his grip on the girl's fingers, almost instantly enveloping her cool fingers in his palm.

Li Zhi felt the power in Shen Yuan's palm. The sudden warmth and enveloping sensation made her want to pull her hand back as if she had been electrocuted, but the force was very stubborn.

"you……!"

The girl glanced at Shen Yuan helplessly, but did not let go of his hand.

Li Zhi's hand lay obediently and quietly in Shen Yuan's palm.

The girl turned her face away, no longer looking at that annoying profile.

Shen Yuan felt the gentle movement in his palm, and the tension in his heart suddenly eased a little. A hint of triumph and indescribable joy quietly crept into the corner of his eyes.

He didn't dare to look at Li Zhi's expression, but instead gripped her hand even tighter, his steps becoming lighter and more firm as he steadily held her hand.

Stepping on the stone steps swept clean by the mountain wind, we ascended towards the ancient temple nestled among lush ancient trees.

The quiet stone steps soon came to an end, where the ancient and solemn mountain gate came into view. The three characters "Faxi Temple" on the lintel appeared serene and dignified in the morning light.

Stepping through the mountain gate, the hustle and bustle seems to be shut out.

The crisp scent of sandalwood in the air grew stronger, blending with the unique smoky aroma of incense, creating a distinctive and calming atmosphere.

The rustling of the wind through the treetops filled my ears, and the distant chanting of monks echoed in my mind, melodious and lingering, intertwining with the lingering sounds of the bell and drum towers, striking a chord in my heart.

The temple courtyard is spacious, paved with bluestone slabs, so clean that you can almost see your reflection in it.

The tall, ancient trees with their gnarled branches cast deep shadows, filtering out dappled patches of sunlight.

It was still early, and there weren't many people around. A few scattered pilgrims walked slowly and looked peaceful, just as Shen Yuan had described—it was truly serene.

Shen Yuan subconsciously slowed his pace and loosened his grip on Li Zhi's hand, making it a more natural pull.

They walked quietly toward the main hall in front of them.

The massive pillars support the entire space and exude a calming woody fragrance.

The hall was brightly lit by candles, illuminating the solemn and dignified statues of the Three Buddhas, whose eyes were lowered as if they were compassionately watching over the joys and sorrows of all living beings in the mortal world.

Shen Yuan subconsciously stepped forward.

The crisp scent of sandalwood and the deep chanting of sutras made the secret expectation in his heart even clearer.

This efficacious temple, these hands clasped together... perhaps...

He had just taken half a step forward when his wrist suddenly tightened.

It is Li Zhi.

She had released her grip on his hand without him noticing, and instead grabbed his wrist tightly.

The force was a bit sudden and heavy.

Caught off guard, Shen Yuan turned around to look at the girl beside him with a mix of confusion and surprise.

Li Zhi didn't even look at him; her gaze quickly swept over the majestic Buddha statue.

My gaze swept over the few worshippers kneeling and praying around me, finally settling on the lush tree shadows outside the temple gate and the bright sunlight streaming through the cracks in the gate.

Her cheeks seemed even redder than when she came in, her brows were furrowed, and her lips were pressed tightly together.

"gone."

Li Zhi's tone was short and quick, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness, and even a hint of barely perceptible panic.

Before she finished speaking, she tightened her grip on Shen Yuan's wrist, pulled him around, and headed out of the hall.

She walked quickly and hurriedly, without any of the slightly hesitant and docile feeling she had when Shen Yuan led her into the hall. Instead, it was as if she was trying to escape some flood, beast, or suffocating space.

Shen Yuan was pulled so hard that he stumbled, and all the plans and ideas in his mind instantly shattered into dust.

He was forced to follow her in a daze, and couldn't help but look back at the increasingly distant depths of the Buddhist temple.

what happened?
Why did you stop praying?

Wasn't it fine just now?
Is it... shyness?

still is……

A series of questions arose in Shen Yuan's mind.

The girl's strength was irresistible, and Shen Yuan could only be pulled out of the main hall by her.

The sunlight hit my face, carrying the unique coolness of a mountain morning and the fresh scent of grass and trees, instantly dispelling the incense and candle smells and the heavy religious atmosphere that enveloped me.

Almost at the same moment he stepped out of the palace gate, the grip on his wrist loosened, and the owner of that hand quickly withdrew his hand as if he had been burned.

Li Zhi continued walking without stopping, even with a hint of venting his anger, and headed faster down the mountain, leaving the supposedly extremely efficacious Buddhist temple behind.

Shen Yuan rubbed his wrist, which had been gripped so tightly that it was red, and jogged a few steps to catch up.

He lagged half a step behind Li Zhi, looking at the girl's taut profile. He tried to hold back, but finally couldn't, his voice filled with deep confusion:
"Hey... Li Bao, aren't you going to pray anymore?"

Li Zhi suddenly stopped and turned around abruptly!
Shen Yuan braked instantly, almost crashing into it.

The girl's bright eyes were fixed on him, her cheeks still flushed, and her brows and eyes held a frosty and embarrassed expression that said, "Try talking nonsense again."

"What are you worshipping for! Do you think your IQ is beyond saving and needs Buddha to bless you, you idiot?!"

Her voice was crisp and sharp, like a whip cracking on the stone steps leading down the mountain.

Shen Yuan shrank back: "...No, I just...was asking..."

"What are you asking! Are we coming or not?!" Li Zhi's eyes widened even more.

"...Let's go, let's go!"

Resigned to his fate, Shen Yuan quickened his pace and walked to a position next to Li Zhi, not daring to look at Faxi Temple behind him again.

The two descended the stone steps they had come from.

A mountain breeze rustled the leaves, and the distant sound of bells seemed to fade into the distance.

When Li Zhi reached a slightly open platform in the middle of the stone steps, he suddenly stopped.

She didn't turn around or explain; she just stood there stiffly, facing the lush forest below.

Shen Yuan stopped as well, his heart skipped a beat, and he looked at her tense profile with confusion.

A mountain breeze swept across the platform, bringing with it the crisp scent of the vegetation below, and also ruffling a few strands of hair at her temples.

The girl seemed to be trying to calm something down.

A moment later, Li Zhi's shoulders seemed to relax a little.

Shen Yuan watched her sudden silence on the platform where the mountain breeze was blowing, and swallowed back the question he was about to ask.

He suddenly realized that this momentary pause might also be a kind of silent expression.

Just then, Li Zhi turned to look at Shen Yuan.

The girl's clear eyes held no trace of her previous embarrassment or evasion, only an undeniable frankness.

Li Zhi took a half step forward, his voice low and very calm.

"Shen Yuan, answer me now, what's your purpose in bringing me here? Don't lie."

Shen Yuan subconsciously took half a step back, his heel hitting the edge of the stone steps, almost losing his balance.

Shen Yuan's throat tightened, and he felt as if his figure was being forced to reveal itself by the girl's eyes that were fixed on him.

"I……"

Shen Yuan tried to force a relaxed smile.

Just as he was about to speak out in his habitual evasive manner, Shen Yuan saw Li Zhi's eyes.

Those were eyes that didn't flinch in the slightest. There was no shy hiding, no awkward avoidance, and certainly no disdain or mockery as often seen.

Li Zhi's gaze was fixed openly on his face, as if trying to completely strip away all pretense.

She wasn't waiting for an explanation; she was demanding the most honest and direct answer, and she was prepared to face it head-on.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and finally forced himself to look up, meeting Li Zhi's open and direct gaze.

In those crystal-clear eyes, he clearly saw his own reflection and understood the undeniable question.

All explanations and all cover-ups have lost their meaning.

There's no room for maneuver anymore.

Shen Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief.

"because……"

Shen Yuan's lips were a little dry, and his voice was slightly hoarse from nervousness.

"...They say online...this place is especially effective..."

He paused, as if those words weighed a ton.

The air seemed to freeze.

Everything on the mountain became a blurry background noise at that moment.

Shen Yuan's gaze was fixed on Li Zhi, laying bare his selfish motives before her without reservation, with a do-or-die courage.

"I...I just want to...give it a try with you."

Li Zhi knew perfectly well what Shen Yuan wanted to test.

She knew it clearly from the moment she found out about Faxi Temple at the hotel entrance.

Why didn't you object at the time?

Why are you opposing it now?

A stronger conviction suddenly took hold as she entered the temple and saw the men and women there.

Why are you here?
When Li Zhi looked at the Buddha statue, what came to mind was not the so-called holy place for prayer.

But -

It was that idiot who was lying on the table listening to his explanation of physics problems.

It was that idiot who panicked and ran to the door during the inspection.

It's that silly, clueless guy sitting by the bed, staring at me blankly.

It was that childhood sweetheart, the one she'd grown up with, the one who went to and from school with her, the one who did homework with her, the one who laughed and did silly things with her, the one who was now standing right in front of her, her breathing a little erratic, the one who had mustered all her courage just to say "I want to give it a try"...

Those countless days and nights spent together, those familiar laughs and scoldings, that tacit understanding and companionship under the nicknames "idiot" and "Young Master Li".

These vivid, concrete, and down-to-earth scenes, like a warm tide, instantly dispel the unfamiliar solemnity and hazy sense of prayer brought by the temple's incense.

The aura bestowed upon the "miraculous holy site" vanished before my eyes.

Do he and she need such a place to pray for something?

No.

Li Zhi's heart was clear and bright.

The answers we need are never found before incense-scented Bodhisattvas, nor in ethereal fortune slips.

The days and nights they spent together, the joys and sorrows they shared.

That in itself is a silent confirmation, a natural occurrence that requires no divine intervention.

What will the future hold?
Where will that "give it a try" ultimately lead?

Li Zhi did not have a clear answer at this moment.

She doesn't need to prostrate herself before the shrine to seek some kind of blessing right now.

That girlish shyness hadn't completely disappeared; it still lingered like a thin blush on her cheeks.

But this shyness is no longer a reason for resistance and escape.

Li Zhi firmly believes in something more tangible and reliable.

This unwavering conviction, like a rock, suppressed the shy waves.

No prayer is needed.

No blessing is needed.

Their life trajectories do not need to rely on the bells of this ancient temple deep in the mountains for guidance.

Li Zhi's lips curved into an almost imperceptible arc, not a smile, but a calm and resolute expression of knowing what was going on.

She met Shen Yuan's gaze, which awaited judgment, without anger or rebuke, only with a clear calmness and openness, perhaps containing a warmth that even she herself was unaware of.

"Shen Yuan..."

"Hmm?" Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi.

"What we have between us doesn't need any divine intervention."

These words were like a silent thunderclap, exploding precisely in Shen Yuan's mind!

He felt as if his spine had been suddenly removed, or as if he had been slammed to the spot by an invisible hammer.

The expression on Shen Yuan's face instantly shifted from tense anticipation of trial to utter shock that he could not handle.

Those eyes, which had been filled with trepidation and anticipation, were now wide open, as if a silent tsunami was raging deep within their pupils.

His mouth was slightly open, his lips unconsciously opening and closing, as if he wanted to inhale, or as if he wanted to confirm whether what he heard was real.

All the carefully crafted words were torn to shreds by Li Zhi's words, turning into a meaningless blank.

"..."

Shen Yuan felt speechless.

He can't even pronounce the simplest syllable.

Shen Yuan's senses and consciousness were all fixed on the clear and open eyes of the girl in front of him, and on the enormous impact of those words.

He could clearly hear his heart, after a brief pause, frantically restarting like a drum, the violent pounding hitting his eardrums.

He looked at her, and simply looked at her.

Shen Yuan had no idea what he should do.

He had no idea how to react: should he rush over and hug her? Should he laugh out loud? Or should he excitedly grab her shoulders?

All thoughts and actions were swirling chaotically in the brain, while the body remained frozen in place like a rusty machine.

He stood there, motionless, almost petrified, his pupils reflecting the girl's calm and resolute figure.

After the initial shock came pure joy.

Li Zhi calmly waited for Shen Yuan to recover from that earth-shattering shock, his gaze remaining composed.

This certainty and composure were as solid as a rock; once they arose in her heart, they remained undisturbed.

Her choice to face and confirm this is to choose to believe in this naturalness that has been precipitated by time, which is better than any vague and illusory prayer.

However, when her gaze met Shen Yuan's wide-open eyes, and she saw the pure joy that almost overflowed after the initial shock subsided.

Li Zhina, whose once calm lake surface was as solid as a rock, finally had a pebble thrown in.

It wasn't that she wavered in her declaration.

But... this idiot's reaction is just too... glaring.

He stood there like a fool, his mouth slightly open, seemingly forgetting even to breathe.

His eyes shone as brightly as if two lamps had been lit, and the undisguised ecstatic light pierced straight through.

"...idiot!"

Li Zhi cursed under his breath, as if burned by that overly intense gaze, and subconsciously wanted to turn his face away.

A barely perceptible unease finally crept into that openness.

What's there to be so surprised about?
She was just saying... well, stating a fact?

An obvious truth?

Li Zhi's ears were getting warmer.

The crimson hue that had been so painstakingly suppressed seemed poised to make a comeback.

She pursed her lips slightly, forcibly maintaining a calm demeanor, but her eyes remained fixed on Shen Yuan's face, which was filled with surprise.

A strange emotion crept in.

Li Zhi wanted to glare at him again to tell him to stop acting stupid, but when the words came out, she felt that anything she said would be superfluous.

In the end, Li Zhi only moved his lips, but didn't utter a single word.

Forget it, let him stay that way.

Just then, Li Zhi suddenly heard Shen Yuan's voice in his ear.

"I……"

Shen Yuan's voice was dry, like sandpaper rubbing, with a slight tremor after a huge shock.

Looking into Li Zhi's clear, penetrating eyes, he felt a mixture of frank annoyance and awkward smile.

"...Actually, I rehearsed it in my mind many times just now..."

He subconsciously raised his hand and scratched the back of his head: "I was thinking of praying earnestly, begging Buddha and Bodhisattva to bless me..."

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, met Li Zhi's gaze, and clumsily revealed the naive yet earnest plan that he had been holding back for a long time.

"Then... after you've finished praying, you'll definitely ask me what I asked for. At that time, I'll pretend to be very serious and say..."

He paused, seemingly trying to mimic the affected, serious tone he had imagined, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled upwards.

Shen Yuan's voice also took on a sincere smile and a slight embarrassment: "...I said I came to ask for a marriage match."

Li Zhi calmly watched him stumble and confess the plan he had rehearsed in his heart.

"What are you begging for..."

Li Zhi's voice was not loud, and even carried a hint of his usual disdain.

But the girl's tone softened strangely, as if she disregarded his little schemes, or as if she were stating a given fact with certainty.

“Bodhisattva cannot understand the words of a sand coin.”

"Yes Yes!"

Shen Yuan nodded, looking calmly at Li Zhi.

Her cheeks seemed to be flushed with the morning light in the mountains and the conversation they had just had, her eyes bright, and she looked back at him with openness.

Shen Yuan licked his lips, his mind filled with the rapid and powerful drumbeats in his chest.

Looking at the girl so close to him, his long-suppressed plan surged forth like a surging tide, bursting forth from its dam.

“Li Zhi…”

Shen Yuan took a deep breath; the air was crisp and clear, but it couldn't cool his burning blood.

The voice trembled noticeably.

Shen Yuan stared into her eyes, as if trying to etch this moment into the depths of his soul.

"……I……"

That word, which had been brewing for so long and was heavier than all the formulas combined, was about to emerge.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement and nervousness, and her fingertips curled up unconsciously.

The world around them seemed to consist only of the person in front of them and the key phrase about to be uttered, confirming their future together.

However, just as that word was about to be uttered—

A soft, slightly cool hand suddenly rose like lightning, covering Shen Yuan's mouth with just the right amount of force!
"Huh...?!"

Shen Yuan's remaining words were stuck in his throat, and he only let out a short, surprised groan.

His eyes suddenly widened, all the emotions he was about to unleash froze instantly, leaving only bewilderment and surprise.

He could clearly feel the delicate touch and slight coolness of the girl's palm, as well as a thin layer of sweat from nervousness, pressed tightly against his lips, carrying an undeniable sense of blocking.

His gaze shifted upwards and met Li Zhi's eyes.

Where was the expected shyness or emotion?

Instead, he wore an expression that Shen Yuan was extremely familiar with—a slightly disdainful yet forcedly composed look.

Her cheeks were still flushed, even more so than before, spreading from her ears all the way down to her neck, like a bright red plum blossom blooming in the snow.

But the look in his eyes that was staring at him was so familiar.

—He's become a total tsundere.

Shen Yuan's brain instantly shut down.

He couldn't understand this sudden "gag order" at all.

Haven't we already talked it out?

Isn't it an unspoken understanding?

Didn't she just say frankly that she "doesn't need the Buddha's blessing"?

Why is this the reaction now?!
The air seemed to freeze between the girl's palm and his lips.

Li Zhifei quickly glanced around to make sure no one else was paying attention to their little incident before letting out a slight sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted.

But the hand covering Shen Yuan's mouth showed no sign of loosening.

Looking at Shen Yuan's dazed expression, which instantly shifted from tender affection to "Who am I? Where am I?"

Li Zhi finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Or rather, she found an perfectly logical reason to break this bizarre situation.

At the same time, she tried to hide her own heart pounding like a drum and the blush that was about to burn on her face.

The girl cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound normal.

"What are you looking at?"

She deliberately raised her voice a little: "Have you finished your homework? Since you're not going to pray to Buddha, then let's go back!"

Shen Yuan: "...?!!!"

Hey! What are you standing there for?!

Li Zhi deliberately raised his voice, using a slightly fierce tone to cover up his unease: "Why did you forget to go back to school tomorrow?"

Shen Yuan was still in a daze, and subconsciously followed her train of thought: "Huh? Go back to school? Copy homework?"

Li Zhi rolled her eyes at him, her gaze no different from looking at a paramecium: "Idiot! The joint entrance exam results! They'll be out tomorrow!"

Shen Yuan was now pulled back to reality from the previous atmosphere.

"Oh... grades..."

He responded, his mind still replaying the unfinished confession.

This dilapidated temple...it's completely useless!
Just then, a sly glint appeared in Li Zhi's eyes, as if he was looking forward to what he was about to say.

"Hey, Shen Yuan, you idiot!"

She paused, meeting Shen Yuan's still bewildered yet hopeful gaze, and asked, "Do you think you can get 650 points in this joint exam?"

Shen Yuan frowned slightly, then shook his head: "Mathematics is too difficult. After I finished, I feel like I don't even have a chance of getting 640."

"Oh--"

Li Zhi drew out his words, then said to Shen Yuan in a very serious tone, "Do you remember something I said before?"

"what?"

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi.

There was a familiar mockery in those eyes, but it also seemed to contain a deep...reminder?
It's like a silent reminder: Think carefully before you answer.

Shen Yuan blinked, and a fragment from the depths of his memory was instantly illuminated.

That was a long time ago, after my older cousin told me that she and Li Zhi were dating, and that's what Li Zhi blurted out.

"I can't possibly date a stray dog! Even if I were to date someone, I'd at least find someone who can score 650 on a test!"

This number suddenly came up, and she asked about it with a hint of something more...

Before Shen Yuan could think further, he thought of his joint entrance examination results.

Ok……

This is what happens if you don't study hard.

A mountain breeze swept by, ruffling the stray hairs at their temples. After a brief silence, Li Zhi seemed to think it was rather silly to continue "discussing grades" while standing there.

She frowned slightly, as was her habit: "Let's go."

The girl naturally turned around first and started walking down the mountain.

One step, two steps.

Just as Shen Yuan subconsciously lifted his foot to follow, he saw the girl in front of him suddenly stop.

Li Zhiwei turned slightly to look at him and raised the hand that had covered his mouth not long ago.

With fingers outstretched and palm facing him, it hovered in mid-air.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting tiny, shimmering spots of light on her slender, fair fingers.

—This is a silent yet crystal clear indication.

He stared blankly at the hand suspended in mid-air, nothing needed to be said.

Shen Yuan instinctively reached out and covered it with his own hand, tightly enveloping the slightly cool fingertips.

Their fingers fit together perfectly, and the warmth of their palms instantly mingled.

The moment Li Zhi's fingers were grasped, they twitched very slightly, then quieted down and were obediently enveloped in his palm.

She gently shook their clasped hands, as if urging them on.

"He's gone, you idiot. Going home."

"Um……"

　As I was writing, I came up with this version and then deleted and rewrote it.

　　Personally, I prefer this version. The original version is the one that the idiot Shen Yuan was talking about.

　　I hope you like it.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)