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

Chapter 208 You seem to have been captured (1 views)

The exaggerated accusations from A-Jie and Chen Mingyu, along with the noise from the corridor, were kept outside the classroom door.

Soon after, Shen Yuan's joyful cry of pain rang out.

After being teased by his brothers, Shen Yuan returned to his seat with a grumble, the smugness on his lips long gone.

All that remained was the glaringly obvious score of 638 on the phone screen, and Li Zhi's final, meaningful, and haunting voice: "Go and get 650 in your dreams."

He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress the restlessness and resentment in his chest.

No, I absolutely have to improve my grades!
Thinking of this, Shen Yuan thought of his latest skill.

[Focus (Beginner): Enters a focused state more quickly; efficiency improves during a focused state. After prolonged periods of focused concentration, fatigue increases significantly upon exiting the focused state.]

What he needs now is to improve his focus and efficiency.

As for the fatigue that comes from focusing on a skill...

Shen Yuan also has a skill called being full of energy.

"Then I'll focus on studying and see," Shen Yuan thought to himself.

As Shen Yuan entered a state of focused concentration, a wondrous change occurred.

The discussions that were taking place in the classroom and the noise from the next class seemed to be separated by an invisible film, becoming blurred and distant, no longer having the penetrating power to bother people.

The scene before him became exceptionally clear, not just physically clear.

The desk was piled high with lecture notes, the test papers were covered with dense characters, and Li Zhi's neat handwriting was spread out on the nearly perfect test paper...

Every detail seemed to be focused by a high-powered magnifying glass, entering his field of vision with an unprecedented "purposefulness".

With his mind racing, Shen Yuan's goal was crystal clear.

Go through all the wrong questions on the joint exam paper again!
Especially fucking math!

Shen Yuan took out the math joint exam paper almost without hesitation.

At this moment, with the support of [Focus (Beginner)], Shen Yuan began to quickly look at the questions he had answered incorrectly and carefully copied them into his error notebook.

Recalling the problem-solving strategies that Lao Zhou had explained in class, Shen Yuan did not look at the copied answers, but continued to solve the problems based on his new understanding.

With focused concentration, the intricate lines and various possibilities of the auxiliary lines seem to be automatically and quickly filtered in the mind.

Inspiration is no longer a fleeting shooting star, but has become a stream that can be chased.

He worked rapidly on the draft paper, the pen tip making a sharp, rustling sound as it rubbed against the paper, completely immersed in the labyrinth of numbers and symbols, oblivious to everything around him.

Li Zhi, who was sitting to the side, was pondering another solution to a multiple-choice question on his nearly perfect science exam paper.

Her pen unconsciously tapped the exam paper, but out of the corner of her eye, she keenly noticed the changes in the people around her.

This guy... changed his personality?

Li Zhi raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly.

Shen Yuan was indeed quite diligent in his studies, but compared to his current appearance, there was still a difference.

The beautiful girl stopped writing and turned her head to examine it carefully.

Shen Yuan leaned forward slightly, his shoulders tense from the effort, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the pen turned slightly white from the strain.

Shen Yuan's brows were furrowed, but it wasn't the anxiety he usually felt when he couldn't solve a problem; it was more like the focused concentration of someone trying to overcome a difficult hurdle at high speed.

The writing speed was fast and steady, and the newly added calculation steps on the draft paper were clear and highly purposeful, sweeping away the mess and correction marks of the previous exam on this question.

Of course, the most crucial thing here is that the low mood of frustration that had been surrounding him since he first saw the results has now been replaced by a calm thirst for knowledge.

Li Zhi's lips curved upwards in an almost imperceptible arc.

The sharp scrutiny in those beautiful eyes faded, replaced by a sense of satisfaction.

Yes, I'm satisfied.

It made her feel even more comfortable and satisfied than if she had gotten a perfect score.

Shen Yuan, that idiot, is finally starting to use his brain.

Wouldn't it have been better to do this from the beginning?
Well... if that's the case, then let's reluctantly lower the difficulty to 649 points.

The lunch break passed quickly, and Shen Yuan's concentration was interrupted by the school bell.

However, Shen Yuan soon discovered that this state of focus could also be applied to teaching.

Focused listening to lectures greatly improves efficiency.

In physics class, the teacher was analyzing the last big question on the physics test, and Shen Yuan found that he understood it very quickly.

To this, Shen Yuan could only say that he was invincible.

He was already capable of studying for 12 hours straight. Although it's unclear how much focus could actually improve his performance, it still meant he would have more time to study than others!

Moreover, Shen Yuan discovered that this state of focus could be turned off and then on again, which meant that he could learn half of it, then exit the state of focus, and then re-enter the state of focus.

What does this mean?

The skill description for focusing states that prolonged periods of focused concentration can increase fatigue, although it is unclear whether this prolonged period refers to a continuous state or a cumulative state.

But if it's the former, then it means Shen Yuan has encountered another system bug.

By intermittently activating the focus state, he can avoid triggering the debuff that increases fatigue over a long period of time.

Exploiting bugs is quite fun.

Especially the bugs in the system.

Shen Yuan remained focused until the end of evening self-study.

Unlike before, Shen Yuan didn't get up and leave after the evening self-study bell rang. Instead, he reluctantly closed his notebook and packed his schoolbag after working through a physics problem he had gotten wrong.

"Are you willing to leave?" Li Zhi's tone was indifferent, but the light in her eyes had already betrayed her feelings.

Shen Yuan chuckled.

As I packed my schoolbag, I felt a strong sense of exhaustion as I pulled away from my highly focused state. My mind was a little numb, and my temples throbbed.

The bugs are impossible to fix; the time spent focusing is calculated cumulatively.

But thinking about it, how many people can focus on studying all day long?
The college entrance examination is not only a mental challenge, but also a physical one!
People with abundant energy can naturally learn for longer. Given equal abilities, if you learn for longer, it means you can be better than others.

But Shen Yuan didn't care about any of that. He just looked at Li Zhi and said in a tone that was a mixture of exhaustion and accomplishment, "Let's go, Li Bao. The last question on this test is a bit tricky. Can you take a look at it for me on the way?"

Li Zhi snorted and turned to walk out of the classroom first, but his voice clearly drifted back: "Take the error notebook and the steps with you."

……

This is just the beginning, but it is an extremely important and solid step.

From that day on, Shen Yuan seemed to be completely wound up.

The "Focus (Beginner)" skill he gained from "revisiting the library" became the most powerful oar in his first round of review in his senior year of high school.

The poplar leaves outside the classroom window, urged on by the autumn sun, quickly turned golden, and then fell one after another in several bleak autumn rains, leaving only the strong branches pointing to the cold sky.

Inside the classroom, a countdown clock for the college entrance examination hangs high, its bright red numbers relentlessly jumping and decreasing.

Time seemed to have been sped up.

At dawn, as the first rays of light pierced the sky, Shen Yuan was already sitting at his desk, his "Focus" mode activated. The pronunciation and meaning of English words were clearly imprinted in his mind, replacing any lingering sleepiness.

Although Shen Yuan's English is very good, that doesn't mean he doesn't need to look at vocabulary.

Remembering is one thing, consolidating is another.

Moreover, with the help of focused skills, Shen Yuan's consolidation period for English words was extended, which meant that he would spend less time consolidating English words.

This allows for more time to focus on other subjects.

lunch time.

He deliberately avoided the noisy cafeteria and the frolicking crowd.

Holding his lunchbox, he ate the simple meal specially prepared by Ms. Zhang Yuyan while his eyes were fixed on the physics formulas or chemical equations he had repeatedly confused in his error notebook when the classroom was empty.

The classroom was brightly lit at dusk, like a front-line command post during a fierce battle.

All around were the soft scratching of pens on paper, the crisp sound of pages turning, and the hushed whispers of people discussing the topics.

Shen Yuan buried himself behind a tall pile of books and documents, with a series of exam papers spread out in front of him, some new and some old.

In the realm of "focus," he can more quickly dispel the fog of questions, grasp the core of the problem, and efficiently mobilize and combine knowledge points that he has learned but has not yet mastered deep in his mind.

My thinking gradually became clearer and more coherent, the problem-solving steps were organized more systematically, and the error rate I wrote down decreased slowly and steadily.

When he occasionally encounters a bottleneck, he can calm down more quickly and return to the basic definitions and formulas, instead of getting lost in frustration as before.

He also truly felt the cost of this ability. Every time he exited after using "Focus" for a long time, it felt like running an extreme marathon for his brain.

That heavy, exhausted feeling of having one's spirit instantly drained, sluggish thinking, and a splitting headache.

However, even when waves of fatigue wash over him after he finishes focusing each day, he can still briefly sort out the chaos when his skills take effect.

Sometimes the pain was so intense that Shen Yuan would lie down on the table and rest for ten minutes when he couldn't bear it anymore.

Moreover, with his skill of being full of energy, Shen Yuan was often able to continue studying the next day with great enthusiasm.

Li Zhi noticed all these subtle changes.

At the same time, the way the beautiful girl supervises Shen Yuan also changes.

She no longer needed to use various words to berate him as frequently as before; that anxious frustration of seeing him fail her was replaced by a more composed sense of peace.

When Shen Yuan was engrossed in a complex derivative problem, his brow furrowed in a way that revealed his struggles.

Li Zhihui gently placed a cup of warm water next to his slightly messy but efficiently working pile of books, without making the slightest noise.

The girl would sit quietly to the side, no longer trying to interrupt his train of thought with words.

Instead, they spread out their books or exam papers and immerse themselves in quiet study, creating a shared learning space that requires no words but is full of cohesion.

Occasionally, when Shen Yuan gets stuck at a certain bottleneck, biting his pen and pausing, his focus briefly replaced by confusion, Li Zhi will turn his head away.

The girl's gaze fell on his struggling steps, and she could always pinpoint the error in the formula with precision, or concisely remind him of a hidden condition that had been overlooked, in a voice that could be heard only by the two of them.

Moreover, Li Zhi's guidance was no longer a critique of "How could you not have thought of this?", but rather a tacit reminder when exploring a difficult problem together.

At first, Li Zhi would quietly check Shen Yuan's error notebook on the corner of the table and point out that some of Shen Yuan's solutions were not optimized enough.

Later, as Shen Yuan followed the pace of his review and supplemented his basic knowledge, his thinking became increasingly clear.

The girl's annotations on her error notebook gradually decreased, turning into occasional additions of a more concise supplementary solution, or simply a "read".

More often than not, she would do what she did right now, at the end of evening self-study: pack up her things and then sit quietly to the side and wait.

Her gaze was no longer urging, but rather a quiet and focused stare, landing on Shen Yuan's profile, which appeared exceptionally serious due to his concentrated thinking.

Watching him quickly calculate on the draft paper, the pen tip making a soft, rustling sound as it scratched across the paper.

Li Zhi's lips would always unconsciously curve into a tiny arc.

That curve revealed undisguised satisfaction.

Ah Jie peeked over and asked slyly, "Yuan? Why aren't you home yet?"

Before Shen Yuan could speak, Li Zhi shot him a cold, sharp glare.

"Have you memorized today's 50 English words? Write them down for me before morning self-study tomorrow."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, A-Jie immediately shrank back and sheepishly slipped away.

Shen Yuan lowered his head tacitly and continued to deal with the problem that was giving him a headache.

Of course, if he really couldn't solve it, Shen Yuan would ask Li Zhi.

Li Zhi was very satisfied with Shen Yuan's current state.

This is not only an expectation that Shen Yuan's grades will improve in the next monthly exam, but also a sense of relief at the clearly visible changes in him.

Li Zhi liked his expression at that moment, that calm focus, that energy to give his all for a "650 points" or an even bigger goal.

This focus and effort gave Li Zhi a greater sense of peace and security than the incense offerings of a thousand temples.

Shen Yuan's changes and every effort he made to move forward left a sweet mark on the girl's heart.

Shen Yuan slammed his laptop shut, a wave of exhaustion washing over him along with the achievement of overcoming the difficult problem he had just solved, and his temples throbbed slightly.

However, he still let out a long sigh of relief, as if he were surfacing from the deep sea.

"Finally..." He rubbed his sore neck and turned his head to look to the side.

Li Zhi had already packed his schoolbag and was sitting quietly waiting for him.

The bell for the end of evening self-study had already rung.

The classroom was brightly lit, reflecting the deep winter night of December outside the window.

Tiny water droplets condensed on the windowpane, silently testifying to the bitter cold outside.

The girl crossed her arms in front of her chest, her coat covering her completely. Her nose and cheeks appeared even whiter than usual under the light, and a few strands of bangs hung obediently in front of her forehead.

Those clear eyes watched him quietly as he finished the last stroke, their gaze filled with undisguised approval, and the corners of their lips curved slightly upward.

Shen Yuan felt a little embarrassed by her quiet waiting and watching gaze, but the fatigue from studying hard was indeed dispelled somewhat at this moment.

Imagine this: you've just finished your homework, and when you turn around, you see a beautiful girl sitting quietly beside you, watching you.

This feeling was indescribably wonderful.

As Shen Yuan packed his schoolbag, he looked out at the dark night sky and subconsciously shrank his neck: "Hiss...it seems even colder?"

"nonsense……"

Li Zhi stood up, burying her delicate chin in her soft clothing: "It's only three or four degrees at night, but it might drop below zero by midnight."

The girl's voice had a slightly nasal quality, and her complaints concealed a barely perceptible concern.

Shen Yuan chuckled and slung his backpack over his shoulder: "Let's go, let's go, we're all frozen stiff."

The two walked out of the classroom side by side.

As soon as you push open the heavy classroom door, a biting cold wind carrying moisture immediately hits you, instantly waking you up.

The corridors of the teaching building were now empty and quiet, the light from the incandescent bulbs somewhat cold.

In the distance, the faint sounds of two or three students shrugging their necks and stomping their feet could be heard coming from the stairwell.

"It's so cold!" Shen Yuan shivered dramatically, his teeth chattering.

Li Zhi lowered her head and followed him closely with small steps, trying to shrink herself into her coat, her hands hanging at her sides unconsciously curled up and hidden in her sleeves.

Her fingertips were indeed a little red from the cold.

Li Zhi is quite afraid of the cold.

As they reached the corner of the stairs, the noisy voices faded away, leaving only the soft sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty space.

Shen Yuan's peripheral vision kept falling on the slightly red hand that was faintly visible through Li Zhi's sleeve.

His steps faltered slightly, and then he reached out and, without any warning, grasped Li Zhi's slightly cool hand!
"ah!"

Li Zhi gasped as if he had been burned, and almost reflexively tried to pull his hand back, his voice filled with embarrassment and annoyance.

"You idiot! What are you doing! This is a school!"

Li Zhi tried to pull away twice, but Shen Yuan's hand was held tightly, his warm palm completely enveloping her slightly cool fingers, his strength firm yet not enough to hurt her.

The warmth instantly spread from the skin that was touching.

Shen Yuan not only refused to let go, but turned his face to the side, looking at her with a slightly smug yet self-righteous smile, and said confidently.

"Wait for me to come up with an excuse, um... this is to warm your hands."

As he spoke, Shen Yuan squeezed her palm and felt her struggle gradually weaken, leaving only a symbolic shell of resistance.

Li Zhi was amused by his "make an excuse" comment; this guy didn't even bother to cover it up!

The girl tried to glare at him with a stern face, but her cheeks uncontrollably began to heat up.

It wasn't obvious in the dim light, but only she knew how intense the heat was.

"Who...who asked you to warm me up! Seran! Let go!"

Shen Yuan chuckled and gripped her hand even tighter, his fingertips even gently rubbing against the back of her hand, feeling the slight coolness quickly dissipate in his palm.

"Let's go."

Shen Yuan pulled Li Zhi along, walking briskly down the street, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

The sense of accomplishment from solving a world-class problem just now couldn't compare to the satisfaction of holding this slightly cool little hand right now.

Li Zhi was ultimately unable to pull her hand away and could only be held tightly as they walked on.

The biting wind still swept through the stairwell, ruffling their clothes.

The girl lowered her head slightly, looking at her hand that was completely enveloped in Shen Yuan's warm large hand.

The stiffness in my fingertips was indeed melting away quickly.

Shen Yuan's hands were indeed very hot.

The 18-year-old boy had a frighteningly strong temper.

She eventually stopped struggling.

The bottom line is getting lower and lower.

From the residential area to the road across the street.

After the trip to Hangzhou, she and Shen Yuan spent more and more time holding hands on their way to and from school each day.

I walked little by little from the road opposite the residential area to the night market stall, and then to the corner at the school gate.

Now they simply hold hands right there at school.

Li Zhi simply buried his face even deeper into his clothes to hide his already out-of-control heartbeat and the corners of his lips that were quietly curving upwards.

The pretty girl stole a glance at Shen Yuan's profile and muttered in a low voice, almost inaudible to herself, "...idiot."

The voice was soft and lacked any intimidation.

In the dimly lit stairwell, only two hands clasped tightly together warded off the cold outside, conveying a warmth that belonged only to the two of them.

The two walked out of the teaching building side by side.

The sudden chill made Li Zhi instinctively hunch his shoulders, and the tip of his nose instantly turned slightly red from the cold.

Shen Yuan gripped her hand even tighter, his burning palm like a small furnace, firmly enveloping her slightly cool fingertips.

"Why don't you hide behind me?"

Li Zhi shook her head: "No, this little bit of cold is nothing."

She's quite stubborn.

Shen Yuan shook his head: "Wear something warmer tomorrow."

"I know, I know."

Li Zhi glared at Shen Yuan: "You're so long-winded, like an old woman."

Shen Yuan smiled, took Li Zhi's hand, and put it into the pocket of his coat.

In this way, Li Zhi is closer to him.

The campus paths were quiet and deserted on a winter night, with only a few streetlights casting dim yellow halos in the cold mist overhead.

Shen Yuan held Li Zhi's hand, and they walked toward the school gate in perfect unison.

The lights were on in the guardhouse, and the old guard, wrapped in his coat, was dozing behind the window, only raising his eyelids slightly at the young couple holding hands.

He had seen many "unlucky couples" who stayed up late during their senior year of high school.

"Old Zhang!" The gatekeeper looked up at Shen Yuan when he heard his name called.

"So late?"

Shen Yuan smiled slightly: "Do the problems."

Old Zhang shrank back: "Be careful on your way back, don't catch a cold."

"understood."

Not long after I stepped out of the school gate, a gust of wind carrying the aroma of burnt oil and the pungent smell of cumin swept over me.

The smell of the night market stalls remains the same.

Li Zhi's pace naturally slowed down, and his gaze drifted toward the oden stall.

The girl's throat bobbed involuntarily as she smelled the food.

"Are you hungry?" Shen Yuan asked Li Zhi, looking down at him.

Li Zhi's gaze lingered on the oden for a moment, he gently inhaled its enticing aroma, and finally shook his head.

"No."

After Li Zhi finished speaking, he added, "I don't want any of them, I'm going back."

After saying that, Li Zhi tugged at Shen Yuan's hand.

Shen Yuan naturally understood what Li Zhi meant.

A knowing smile almost spilled from Shen Yuan's lips.

He squeezed Li Zhi's hand, and the two walked briskly forward without looking at each other.

In the cold wind, their clasped hands became the only stable source of heat.

At some point, their regular late-night snack routine had changed to holding hands.

This childlike tacit understanding of "preferring to go hungry rather than let go" is comforting.

The winter night was bleak, but these two figures, standing close together, were like two intertwined warm currents, flowing silently along the cold road home.

Passing through the lively atmosphere of the night market stalls, the two entered their familiar neighborhood.

The light from the streetlights was cut into even finer fragments by the branches and leaves of the tall trees, casting shadows that nestled together on the empty roads of the residential area.

The biting cold seemed even more intense than outside, and the wind whipping up in the open space went straight into the collar.

Shen Yuan held Li Zhi's hand tightly without letting go.

Li Zhi, walking beside him, almost subconsciously leaned half of his body towards him, trying to avoid the cold wind.

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, released their hands that were clasped together, and then, under Li Zhi's puzzled gaze, raised them up very naturally.

The warm hand moved up her arm, across her back, and around to her other side.

Then, with undeniable force, it landed on Li Zhi's other slender arm.

This movement completed a natural embrace of his arms around her.

Li Zhi's body tensed instantly, like a startled cat: "You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Yuan tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer to him.

The two of them leaned gently against each other through a layer of winter clothing.

The warmth emanating from Shen Yuan was like a giant protective net, instantly enveloping Li Zhi completely.

The firm, burning heat of his body in her arms penetrated precisely through her coat, fiercely dispelling the biting chill that surrounded her.

The "What are you doing?" that Li Zhi was about to say was abruptly stuck in his throat, as if it had been melted by the sudden warmth.

The thought of struggling flashed by in an instant, only to be completely overwhelmed by the indescribable feeling of comfort.

The cold seemed to be quickly driven away, and my whole body felt warm as if I were soaking in lukewarm water. Even the last bit of icy coldness on my fingertips was quickly warmed up.

So this is what body temperature feels like...comfortable.

Her frozen body twitched slightly, but she didn't break free; she even forgot to make a symbolic struggle.

She simply turned slightly to make herself more comfortable and nestled into this brief but tight embrace.

I could feel the steady, powerful beating of his chest through several layers of fabric on my cheek.

Shen Yuan's face seemed to unconsciously brush against the top of her head, the movement so quick it was as if it were just a gust of wind.

He spoke softly, his voice a little hoarse than usual, but it reached her ear clearly: "...Closer, to shield you from the wind."

This time, Li Zhi did not refute.

The girl silently tightened her grip on Shen Yuan's hand, which was hidden in his pocket, as if she were acquiescing, or perhaps... accepting it.

The warmth and comfort she craved on that early winter night caused the girl's slightly furrowed brows to quietly relax in the dim light.

Shen Yuan held Li Zhi close, and the two of them stood quietly for a while in the cold winter night, as if savoring the warmth of the moment.

Finally, Li Zhi struggled slightly, his voice low and almost a whisper, with a barely perceptible nasal tone: "...Time to go home, you idiot."

"Mm." Shen Yuan responded, putting his arm around Li Zhi and slowly walking towards the apartment building.

The bright motion-sensor lights downstairs in the apartment building turned on in response, dispelling the darkness at the entrance.

The two stepped into the elevator car, and the metal doors closed silently, completely shutting out the cold outside.

In the cramped space, only the soft hum of the elevator and the undeniable warmth and heartbeats between the two close bodies could be heard.

The feeling of cuddling together on a winter night seemed amplified in the sealed space, enveloping Li Zhi with a sense of security that was hard to resist.

Through the soft fabric of her clothes, she could almost feel the burning pulse of Shen Yuan's chest against her cheek.

The weight of his arm, which was loosely wrapped around her back, was not heavy, but at that moment it felt like the most reliable anchor point in this cold winter night.

After the familiar ascent time had passed, a soft "ding" sounded, and the elevator arrived at the familiar 19A building.

The lighting is stable.

Shen Yuan's hand slid down naturally, releasing his arms from her embrace.

In an instant, it felt as if a warm film had been abruptly pulled away.

The cold air, carrying the scent of the hallway that rushed in when the elevator doors opened, unexpectedly licked Li Zhi's shoulders, neck, and back, which had just been warmed by the iron.

Li Zhi paused for half a second, his steps unconsciously.

She didn't even turn her head to look at Shen Yuan behind her; she only felt the aura and body temperature that had been surrounding her rapidly receding, as resolutely as the receding tide.

A subtle yet distinct sense of loss swept through my heart without warning.

It was a strange sense of emptiness, like a tiny ice cube brushing against the tip of your heart, a chill mixed with dissatisfaction.

The power that had just filled her limbs and made her feel at ease in the winter night suddenly dissipated, leaving only a trace of warmth remaining in her body's memory.

The feeling came quickly and subtly.

Li Zhi pursed her lips, not letting any more emotion show.

"They're leaving."

Shen Yuan's voice rang in her ears, and Li Zhi nodded gently.

Good luck on your exam tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan turned to look at Li Zhi.

Looking into the girl's eyes, Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he was putting all the energy he had been building up for the past half month into this moment.

"650! I'm sure I'll get a high score on tomorrow's exam!"

Shen Yuan spoke with absolute certainty, each word landing like a nail on the floor.

After he finished speaking, the hallway fell silent for a brief moment.

Shen Yuan's expression was more serious than ever before, even somewhat stubborn, as if he were making an unquestionable promise.

This is no longer a defiant declaration, but a confidence forged from every calculation and every focused morning.

Li Zhixian was taken aback.

Looking at his confident demeanor, it seemed as if getting a perfect score of 750 on tomorrow's exam was a piece of cake.

Immediately, an emotion that Shen Yuan was all too familiar with surged in the girl's beautiful eyes.

It wasn't speechless, nor was it a joke; there wasn't even the usual disdain.

Just as Shen Yuan's heart was racing from the unusual silence, Li Zhi slightly raised her delicate chin.

Her lips curved slightly.

Immediately afterwards, Li Zhi made a move that almost petrified Shen Yuan on the spot.

The girl nodded very naturally.

"Ah."

The sound was very soft, yet so clear.

The signal was like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, striking Shen Yuan's heart with perfect precision and instantly igniting his nerves!

Shen Yuan naturally understood what this "certainty" meant.

Just as Shen Yuan's brain completely shut down due to this unprecedented response, Li Zhi had already deftly turned to the side and taken out the key from his pocket.

"Good night."

Li Zhi opened the door and went inside.

As Shen Yuan watched Li Zhi's figure disappear from sight, he stood alone at the door, holding the cold key in his hand. His heart, pounding wildly in his chest, felt as if a burning ember had been thrown into it, scorching hot.

The sound of the key turning in the lock was exceptionally clear. The door opened, and a wave of warmth rushed in.

Only a floor lamp was lit in the living room, dispelling the darkness of the entryway.

Shen Yuan quietly closed the door, afraid of disturbing his parents.

He's been coming home later these days because he's been focused on his work.

Of course, the reason Ms. Zhang Yuyan slipped back to her room early was not because Shen Yuan returned late.

It was simply because it was too cold that I went to bed early.

As soon as Shen Yuan returned to his room, two furry figures leaped gracefully down from the cat tree in the corner.

Nao Nao quickly ran to Shen Yuan's feet and meowed.

Shen Yuan picked it up in one go.

After being spayed/neutered, Nao Nao finally had the amount of fur of a lion cat, with an amazing amount of hair.

The only downside might be that this guy sheds a lot of fur.

Of course, this is not much different when it comes to the third watch.

Although the hair in the third watch looks short, it has a lot of downy hair!

"The third watch of the night."

Sangeng looked at Shen Yuan, flicked his tail, and then strolled away.

Looking at the two kittens, Shen Yuan felt as if the flame of wild joy in his heart had found an outlet.

He went over and scooped up the two kittens in the water, then carried them to the bed.

"Hey, you two..."

A smile appeared on Shen Yuan's face. He looked at the three blue and one yellow eyes in front of him, and his mouth stretched even wider.

"I have something important to tell you," Shen Yuan said, leaning closer to the two cats. His voice carried a hint of nervousness, like a thief, yet it was also filled with unprecedented pride and satisfaction.

"Your mom... seems to have agreed to your dad's request today!"

He stretched out his finger, mimicking the precious scene in the hallway just now, and solemnly nodded to the air, imitating Li Zhi's expression.

"Just now, when I swore I would definitely get 650 on the test, she nodded! She just said 'Mmm!' 'Mmm!' Did you hear that? Even though it was just one word, it meant she agreed!"

Shen Yuan spoke with great enthusiasm, as if he wanted to etch every detail into the minds of the two kittens.

"Your mom, that stubborn tsundere, nodded! She didn't hesitate at all, she just nodded!"

Shen Yuan rubbed Nao Nao's head, and just as he was about to rub against San Geng, San Geng raised his paw and pressed it against his face, looking completely rejected.

Shen Yuan chuckled, ignoring Sangeng's slight disdain, and with a wave of his hand, scooped both cats into his arms, rubbing his chin against their warm fur.

"Do you know what that means? Hmm?"

Shen Yuan looked down at the two hand warmers in his arms, the smile on his face lingering for a long time.

The casual "hmm" in the hallway magnified infinitely in his mind at this moment, transforming into a warm sun that could illuminate the entire cold winter.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the clean, warm scent of the cats.

"After the exams are over in the next day or two, and the results come out, then..."

Shen Yuan didn't say anything more, but his smile became even brighter.

Shen Yuan laid himself flat on the bed.

He muttered to himself, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light, as if he had pierced through time and seen a certain future.

In the next room.

After taking a shower, Li Zhi lay in bed, feeling the warmth of the blankets. Naturally, she thought of that moment in the neighborhood.

The firm strength and heat of Shen Yuan's large hand enveloping her.

It's crazy.

Li Zhi shrank his head under the covers.

She's savoring the memory!
How could... how could I have such a strong craving for this level of closeness?

The moment the elevator doors opened and the cold air from the hallway rushed in, his arm was pulled away.

The sudden surge of immense loss felt like a bone had been removed from her body, making her steps falter.

Li Zhi knew perfectly well what was going on.

The warmth brought a comforting feeling that went far beyond the physical realm, a sense of security that made her subconsciously want to immerse herself in it.

This is a dangerous sign.

Getting used to holding hands is one thing, but being attached to his body temperature is another.

And then... that "um".

After hearing Shen Yuan's words in the stairwell, she almost unconsciously slipped out with a simple "hmm," without even being able to stop herself immediately.

Why did she... nod?
Li Zhi shrank back into the blankets.

She thought of how diligently Shen Yuan had been studying for the past two weeks.

Actually, if the difficulty of tomorrow's monthly exam were slightly reduced, Shen Yuan would definitely be able to get 650.

Was my nod really just a simple affirmation of his change in attitude towards learning?

Li Zhi, Li Zhi, it seems you've been charmed by Shen Yuan, that idiot.

Strategy guide my ass!

Li Zhi blushed.

distinct……

It's obvious that I've won him over!

Thinking of this, the beautiful girl had already completely tucked her head into the blankets.

Sand coin Shen Yuan!

If you don't get 645 on tomorrow's exam, you're doomed!

Ok……

For more than half a month, the bottom line of 650 has been retreating again and again, just like the bottom line of holding hands.

However, if Shen Yuan really can't even get a score of 645, then he really deserves to die.

The following morning, the cold air gripped the entire city like an invisible hand.

The poor kids still have to get up in the morning to go to school.

It's 6 o'clock, and it's still not dawn!

Shen Yuan slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and pushed open the door, filled with an indescribable joy.

Almost simultaneously, the door opposite also opened with a "click".

Li Zhi's figure appeared in the porch.

The thick winter air enveloped her; it was still a bit chilly at this time of morning.

As soon as Li Zhi stepped out of the house, he gasped.

Shen Yuan's gaze lingered on her for two seconds.

He subconsciously raised the corners of his mouth, just about to say something, when Li Zhi looked up at him, his eyes clear and bright, with a hint of the coolness unique to the morning.

"Morning."

Upon hearing Shen Yuan's voice, Li Zhi nodded.

I'm too cold to talk.

Shen Yuan reached out and pressed the elevator button, and the two waited for the elevator to ascend.

While waiting, Li Zhi saw a hand fall in front of him.

Shen Yuan's slender fingers twitched, as if making an invitation.

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan's hand, then took out his left hand and placed it in Shen Yuan's hand.

The pretty girl gave a soft hum.

Shen Yuan immediately grasped Li Zhi's hand.

Just then, Li Zhi's door suddenly opened.

Before the two could separate their hands, Lao Li appeared at the door with two cans of milk.

The two jerked their hands back as if electrocuted! Their movements were perfectly synchronized!
Seeing their guilty expressions, Lao Li handed the milk in his hand to Li Zhi: "Take this, it'll keep your hands warm on the way."

"Oh."

Li Zhi pursed her lips and gave Old Li a disgruntled look.

Seeing his daughter's expression, Lao Li knew he had been misunderstood.

Heaven and earth can bear witness, he really did come out to deliver milk to the two children.

As for Shen Yuan...

He feels very guilty now.

　Let me mention the bonus chapter for last month's monthly votes: 18 chapters.

　　Including the previous ones, that makes 32 chapters. I'll try to finish them this month.

　　After that, it became 300 votes for one update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)