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

Chapter 222 I like you, saying it once isn't enough?
The moment Shen Yuan heard the word "boyfriend," she seemed to freeze in place.

The boy's ears turned red at a visible speed, and a thin layer of red spread across his neck as well.

A strong urge made him want to immediately pull her into his arms and hear that beautiful name a thousand times over.

He was almost holding his breath; every blood vessel in his body seemed to be cheering and clamoring for those three words.

With a mix of silly joy and bewilderment, Shen Yuan blankly replied, "Oh...oh!"

Li Zhi held the ice cream between her fingers, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Shen Yuan.

Under the girl's gaze, Shen Yuan carefully sat down in the spot where Li Zhi had just taken a picture.

The mattress sank with his weight.

Just as Li Zhi thought Shen Yuan was about to sit down, she saw a wet wipe appear in his hand.

"All you ever do is eat ice cream." Shen Yuan's voice was slightly hoarse, but his eyes were full of teasing laughter.

He looked at the girl in front of him who was still taking small bites of ice cream, and raised the damp tissue slightly between his fingers.

"Your face is all covered in tears, and you don't even realize it?"

Li Zhi paused, biting the wooden spoon of ice cream, and blinked her still slightly damp eyelashes, clearly unaware of her description of herself as a "cat."

She gave a vague reply: "Hmm? Is that so?"

"Of course not!"

Shen Yuan leaned closer, his fingers, holding the wet wipe, curled slightly, and with careful pressure, gently touched her cheek, which still bore obvious traces of tears.

"Look here...and here..."

The damp wipe under his fingers was cool, but his movements were very gentle, as if he were wiping a piece of precious porcelain, carefully removing the dried, salty residue.

The girl instinctively shrank her neck, turning her head to avoid it: "...Cool! You idiot Shen Yuan! I can do it myself..."

"Don't move." Shen Yuan's tone became even gentler, his fingertips tracing the exceptionally damp skin beneath her eyes under the wet wipe.

"Tsk, she's crying quite earnestly, there are tear stains everywhere..."

The coolness of the wet wipes and the heat transmitted through the thin fibers by his fingertips created a wonderful contrast, making Li Zhi's ears start to burn uncontrollably again.

"It's all your fault!" Li Zhi raised her small face and glared at him, making a vague accusation.

"Who told you to scare me!"

After saying that, he took another big bite of the ice cream in retaliation, his cheeks puffing out slightly from wiping them.

Shen Yuan smiled and changed the angle, using the clean corner of the wet wipe to gently and slowly wipe her other cheek as well.

Until the last trace of tears disappeared under the wet wipe and fingertips, Shen Yuan's gaze fell heavily on her face, which had finally regained its smooth and flawless appearance.

The dried skin shone with a healthy, rosy glow under the light.

Tsk, I want to give you a kiss.

“Alright,” he said softly, his fingertips lightly brushing the tip of her pert nose, his eyes brimming with laughter. “At least you’re not a cat anymore.”

"Humph!"

The girl glared at him, then raised her hand and slapped away his hand that had just left the tip of her nose.

Shen Yuan wasn't annoyed at all; instead, he was even more amused by her puffed-up little face.

With a slight twitch of his fingers, he casually and precisely tossed the now-warm, damp towel into the nearby trash can.

After making this small movement, he finally stopped standing and naturally sank down, sitting completely in the spot where Li Zhi had taken the picture.

The soft mattress faithfully bore the weight once again, emitting a soft groan.

The distance between the two instantly shortened because of this action.

The boy's broad shoulders slumped slightly, and his warm body temperature radiated through his sweater, clearly conveying his clean and refreshing scent to Li Zhi's senses once again.

He turned his head and gazed closely at the girl beside him. In his eyes, besides the lingering doting smile, there was something else deeper and more profound.

Shen Yuan's fingers unconsciously caressed the fine fuzz on the bed sheet, his gaze falling on her as she ate her ice cream in small bites.

A cool, sweet scent filled the warm room.

"Is it sweet?"

Li Zhi licked her lips, which were still speckled with ice cream, nodded, and handed him the wooden spoon naturally: "Here, have a taste?"

Shen Yuan's Adam's apple bobbed again.

He didn't take the spoon, but leaned slightly closer to her hand holding the ice cream spoon, and gently licked the tip of the spoon, which was slightly covered in ice cream.

Shen Yuan moved extremely quickly, with a hint of a sneak attack.

Her tongue touched the coolness and sweetness, but what was even more scorching was the intertwining of their breaths as they suddenly closed in, and the gaze he was giving her as he stared straight into her eyes.

Li Zhi's hand hovered in mid-air, her fingertips trembling as the warm breath brushed against them.

She pulled her hand back as if she'd been electrocuted, and her other leg, encased in thick black stockings, reflexively kicked at him.

The girl snapped angrily, "You idiot! If you want some, take it yourself! Who...who told you to taste it like this..."

Shen Yuan chuckled: "Want to look at something else? They're getting a little tired of looking at those two, it's our turn."

Li Zhi looked at the two kittens that had already run onto the bed; the things on the projector no longer attracted them.

The two humans in bed are probably more interesting.

Especially at midnight, it had already moved close to Li Zhi's legs.

The thick black stockings and the white cat created a striking contrast.

Shen Yuanchao pointed at the ice cream in Li Zhi's hand, a mischievous smile in his eyes: "Gengzi wants to eat your ice cream."

Li Zhizheng put a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, paused upon hearing this, and subconsciously followed Shen Yuan's gaze to Sangeng, who was squatting beside her.

The fluffy little creature's big, wet eyes seemed to speak in the halo of light, clear and sparkling with curiosity.

But Li Zhi quickly denied it.

"No! How can a kitten eat ice cream!"

Seemingly sensing Li Zhi's movement of raising the ice cream, San Geng immediately raised its paw and stepped on Li Zhi's thigh, then climbed the whole cat onto Li Zhi.

The fluffy little body provides a clear sense of weight and a soft touch.

"Holy crap, how come it's so heavy?"

As soon as Li Zhi finished speaking, he moved San Geng towards the ice cream in her hand, placed his two front paws on the girl's lower abdomen, and leaned his upper body forward.

"Hey! You can't eat this!"

Li Zhi held the ice cream even tighter, looking determined to defend her position.

But the kitten didn't care at all, and instead stretched out its soft paw pads to reach for the ice cream.

Li Zhifei quickly raised the ice cream, and Sangeng immediately stood up as well.

One of its front paws is raised high, relentlessly reaching for the ice cream that is both so close and yet so far away.

The fluffy little creature stretched its body with effort.

Li Zhi, clutching the ice cream, exclaimed in alarm, "Shen Yuan! Do something about it!"

Shen Yuan smiled as he looked at the person and the cat beside him.

Under the light, Sangeng's two little paws were placed on Li Zhi's thighs, the warm and soft paw pads clearly imprinted on the girl's soft thigh flesh through the stockings.

Those pure white little paws contrasted sharply with the deep matte black stockings on her legs under the warm light.

One of the kitten's paws rested in front of her, its tiny paw pad sinking into the soft sweater for support.

What a beautiful scene of "mother and daughter" interaction.

"Hey! You idiot! What are you spacing out for!" Li Zhixiu urged in a slightly trembling voice.

This rebuke finally brought Shen Yuan back to his senses.

He suddenly leaned forward, his large hand precisely gripping the back of Sangeng's neck, and lifted the petty thief away from that alluring forbidden area.

"little bastard!"

Shen Yuan held the Third Watch up in front of him and said sternly, "What are you doing, you pervert!"

At midnight, looking at Shen Yuan, I heard him talking on the plane.

Seeing this, Li Zhi said with some reluctance, "Alright, you've scared your ears so much they're like airplane ears."

"Just spoil it!"

Shen Yuan tossed the Third Watch aside and then complained, "You have no idea, this kid stomps on me every night, it's so hard it's killing me."

"Deserve it!"

Li Zhi snorted, carefully protecting the ice cream, and then took small bites, but her eyes and brows held an undisguised smile.

Shen Yuan shook his head helplessly, his gaze sweeping over Nao Nao, who was licking its fur, and San Geng, who had run back to lie down next to Li Zhi's legs.

This little incident made the previously overly sweet and clingy atmosphere a bit more relaxed and natural.

His gaze swept over the projected image on the wall, which was still playing the animated cartoon of a moving ball teasing a cat. He then reached over, grabbed the projector remote from the foot of the bed, tapped the buttons twice, and deftly exited the now monotonous animation.

Suddenly, the flowing light and shadow in the room vanished for a moment.

Let's watch the New Year's Eve gala.

"Mm." Li Zhi nodded gently.

A moment later, the image on the projector reappeared on the wall, showing the bustling New Year's Eve party scene.

Lively songs and dances replaced the previous silence and childlike animated melodies, officially bringing the festive atmosphere outside into this warm little world for two.

The lively and cheerful background noise of the party immediately filled the room.

Warm-colored lights intertwined with the changing light and shadow effects on the walls.

Shen Yuan turned his head and looked at Li Zhi's serene profile as she sipped her ice cream.

The light danced on her long eyelashes, outlining her delicate features, and her face still had a satisfied blush from just crying and eating ice cream.

She curled up slightly, her long legs, encased in thick black stockings, relaxed and crossed on the bed.

In this private and intimate atmosphere, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

Just as Shen Yuan's gaze fell on Li Zhi's face, Li Zhi's voice rang in his ears.

"Does it look good?"

The girl's voice, tinged with a knowing slyness, broke the brief silence.

She didn't turn to look at him immediately, but only glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Shen Yuan replied almost without hesitation: "It looks good."

Upon hearing Shen Yuan's answer, Li Zhi finally turned her head to face his focused and intense gaze.

The blush on the girl's face deepened instantly, but her clear eyes suddenly burst with sparkling light.

It was pure smugness, tinged with the cunning of someone who had successfully pulled off a little trick, like a little fox that had just stolen some honey.

"Humph……"

Li Zhi's lips curled up into a beautiful arc, revealing a small dimple.

This sense of pride seemed to have exhausted her strength to maintain the pose, or perhaps she was melted by the simple yet powerful "good-looking" and the overflowing emotions in the boy's eyes.

Li Zhi gently adjusted his posture.

Her originally straight back relaxed slightly, like a bird returning to its nest with its wings folded.

Then, the fluffy head, with a hint of tentativeness, rested steadily on Shen Yuan's sturdy shoulder.

Li Zhi didn't speak, but rubbed her head against his shoulder slightly, as if trying to find the most comfortable position.

Feeling the weight on his shoulders, Shen Yuan subconsciously adjusted his posture to make his shoulders more comfortable to support her leaning against him.

After Li Zhi found a comfortable position, Shen Yuan also tilted his head and rested it on the girl's head.

The lights bathed the entire room, casting colorful shadows of the New Year's Eve party on the walls.

The two sat side by side in the center of the soft bed, their legs naturally stretched out and relaxed.

Li Zhi's long legs were crossed and leaned against the bed sheet. Thick, soft black pantyhose wrapped around her smooth leg lines and shone with a delicate and soft matte finish in the warm light.

Shen Yuan's legs were slightly moved to the side, lying casually flat.

Sangeng quietly lay on the other side of Li Zhi's leg, its pure white fur contrasting sharply with the black on her legs, its tail resting on the girl's ankle.

Further away, Nao Nao's gaze fell on the scene of the gala, her eyes filled with curiosity.

The thrill of first love, coupled with the familiarity that comes with years of growing up together, makes the two of them cherish this moment immensely.

But this picture was soon shattered.

"You idiot, how am I supposed to eat ice cream when you're pressing down on my head?!"

"Give it to me, and I'll demonstrate it to you."

"Get lost! Don't even think about eating my ice cream!"

Li Zhi reached out and pushed Shen Yuan's head away from him.

"Okay, okay, I won't eat!"

Shen Yuan moved his head away and said in a slightly disdainful tone, "It's not like there's nothing in the fridge. I can take it whenever I want."

Just then, Li Zhi suddenly raised her small face, her bright eyes filled with an undeniable expression, and forcefully "humphed" at Shen Yuan.

"You're not allowed to eat it! It's all mine!"

Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh as he looked at her serious yet adorable domineering demeanor.

He deliberately leaned forward, getting closer to Li Zhi's pretty face, and asked in a drawn-out tone, "Oh? Why?"

The blush that had just faded on Li Zhi's face started to return as he stared at her, but she raised her chin even higher.

The girl stared intently at Shen Yuan and declared clearly and loudly, "What do you mean 'why'?! Anyway, everything you bought is mine! It's all mine!"

Shen Yuan looked at her arrogant "it should all belong to me" attitude and let out a low chuckle.

The laughter made Shen Yuan's shoulders tremble slightly, and the warmth in his chest almost overflowed.

He reached out and gently stroked the tip of her upturned nose with his fingertips, the gesture filled with familiar intimacy and indulgence. His voice, deep and soft, mingled with the faint noise of the party.

"Sure, they're all yours."

He turned to the side, his gaze lingering on her.

A faint blush crept onto the boy's ears, but his voice remained crystal clear, carrying an undeniable seriousness:
"The ice cream is yours, the refrigerator is yours..."

His fingertips slid down and naturally and gently covered the back of her hand, their fingers interlocking.

“I am yours too, Li Bao.”

Shen Yuan's fingertips were still entwined around her fingers, and his warm breath brushed against her nose.

Li Zhi could clearly feel his ears burning hot, and the little deer in his chest was throbbing wildly.

She abruptly turned her head away to avoid that scorching gaze.

The words "I am yours too" were like molten lava poured into her ears, so hot that she couldn't even breathe for a moment.

"...idiot!"

Li Zhi abruptly pulled her fingers away from his grip, her calves, encased in pantyhose, straightened taut, and she stomped her heels against the soft mattress as if trying to bury the blush that was almost spreading across her face into the plush fabric.

She curled up her knees and huddled into a ball, deliberately widening the distance between herself and his body heat, which seemed to melt her away.

The girl pursed her lips, trying to suppress the uncontrollable curve of her lips, but in the end she could only utter a question that sounded aggressive but lacked any real confidence.

"Saying such cheesy things...aren't you disgusting!"

The clear, resonant tone drifted in the warm air, carrying a slight tremor that she herself couldn't suppress.

Shen Yuan's heart softened at her appearance, and a few low laughs escaped his throat.

He looked at Li Zhi with eyes full of indulgence.

"Isn't it disgusting?"

Shen Yuan deliberately dragged out his words, leaning closer to her, his warm breath almost brushing against her slightly reddened earlobe.

The boy's shoulders trembled slightly as he suppressed a laugh. Under Li Zhi's angry glare, he spoke slowly.

"Li Bao, is this considered cheesy? I have even cheesier ones out there. And you definitely won't be able to refuse. Do you want to hear them?"

Li Zhifei quickly turned to look at her, his bright eyes flashing with anger and embarrassment, his cheeks burning hot.

She gripped the half-full ice cream cup tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force, while her other hand was loosely clenched into a fist, as if ready to strike at any moment.

"You...you dare!"

Her ears were as red as if they were about to bleed, but her voice rose even higher, carrying a threat that was all bark and no bite.
"You dare say that?! Believe me, I'll beat you up right now! You idiot!"

This stern warning, which was actually quite weak, not only lacked any deterrent effect, but instead served as a silent invitation, igniting a mischievous smile in Shen Yuan's eyes.

"Oh?"

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, but instead of backing down, he moved closer to the bluffing threat.

The boy's warm body, with its undeniable presence, instantly invaded Li Zhiqian's pitiful private space.

"Then I'll tell you."

Shen Yuan didn't give Li Zhi any time to react, and the words he had said earlier came out again.

"I like you."

After Shen Yuan finished speaking, he looked at her quietly, his breath brushing lightly against her temples.

It was as if the room had been silenced.

One second, two seconds...

When Li Zhi finally regained a sliver of consciousness from those brief words, a blush instantly spread across her cheeks and ears, like a fiery sunset, from her neck to her collarbone, which was hidden by her sweater.

She quickly lowered her head, her fingertips unconsciously gripping the edge of the nearly empty ice cream cup, her little finger slightly curled, trembling with a mixture of immense shyness and sweetness.

The woman bit her lower lip, finally unable to hold back, and let out a soft "woof," the breathy sound like steam rising from the warmth: "...idiot Shen Yuan..."

Her voice was as soft as a feather, carrying a hint of bewilderment and a weak protest as she was hit by another direct shot.

"You...you just...you just confessed your feelings?!"

Li Zhi didn't dare to look up at Shen Yuan.

The beautiful girl lowered her head, revealing only her red earlobes and a slender neck trembling slightly in the warm light under Shen Yuan's gaze.

Seeing her adorable attempt to hide herself, Shen Yuan couldn't help but move closer again.

His lips almost touched her burning red earlobe, his warm breath carrying the heat unique to young men and an undisguised frankness.

"Yes, I have already confessed my feelings."

His voice carried a hint of laughter, yet was incredibly earnest and resolute, as if he were stating an eternal truth.

"But Li Bao—"

"I can't say 'I like you' once, can I?"

This direct, even somewhat cheeky, question and declaration, like a sweet cotton candy, instantly enveloped all of Li Zhi's shyness and struggle that she was trying to hide, making even her fingertips slightly numb.

The girl wanted to curse again, but her throat felt like it was stuck with hot honey, and she couldn't utter a single syllable.

She could only bury her face deeper into her bent knees in vain, trying to use the fluffy sleeves of her sweater to block the heat that was almost burning her eardrums. Shen Yuan looked at her extremely shy and adorable reaction, turned his head slightly, and saw the girl's exposed, bright red cheeks even more clearly.

Seeing Li Zhi's ostrich-like demeanor, Shen Yuan asked with feigned enticement, "Hmm? Why aren't you saying anything, you idiot Li Bao?"

Shen Yuan leaned closer to her face, which she was trying to conceal, and asked clearly, "And what about you, Li Bao? Do you... like me?"

Hearing Shen Yuan's question, which he already knew the answer to, Li Zhi was speechless, choked by his shameless questioning.

The burning shame that had just been forcefully suppressed surged back up, accompanied by a heart pounding wildly out of control.

"Woo..."

A soft sob escaped from the girl's throat once more.

"Idiot...no, didn't I already answer you?"

These words were as light as a feather, carrying a hint of protest and immense shyness.

Looking at the girl who was almost curled up in a ball, Shen Yuan's heart softened completely, but he mischievously moved even closer.

His hot breath brushed against her sensitive skin: "That... was the previous answer, Li Bao."

He paused, then clearly stated the most crucial point: "I'm asking about now. Now, do you like me?"

Shen Yuan felt like a scoundrel trying to seduce a young girl.

If Lao Li knew about this conversation, Shen Yuan figured he'd need to rest his legs for a while.

Li Zhi could feel that Shen Yuan was very close to him.

The persistence in her words and the almost intimate feeling instantly broke down Li Zhi's last line of defense.

Just when Shen Yuan thought she was going to resist to the end with silence, and was considering whether he should add fuel to the fire at the right time.

The furry head finally moved.

Li Zhi slowly raised his head, and then a response even softer than a mosquito's buzz rang out.

"I like you too."

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi and gently pulled her into his arms.

The girl obediently followed the gentle force, leaning her body slightly forward and gently pressing her cheek against Shen Yuan's chest.

His gentle embrace, warmed by his body, shielded her from all shyness.

Soft strands of hair obediently brushed against his chin, carrying a faint sweet fragrance.

All the shyness from before strangely settled down at this moment, turning into a warm and reassuring current that flowed quietly in the instant they were pressed together.

She could even clearly hear the slightly rapid heartbeat coming from his chest.

Li Zhi then realized that Shen Yuan was actually a little nervous as well.

The girl relaxed her legs slightly, resting her knees on Shen Yuan's legs, silently accepting the sense of security that the hug brought.

The last bit of thorn that had stood erect out of shyness melted away completely in his warm embrace.

Li Zhi leaned against Shen Yuan's warm embrace, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat.

The initial restlessness caused by shyness gradually subsided, transforming into a calm and peaceful state.

The winter night was quiet outside the window, but the room was warm and cozy. She suddenly thought of her parents at home.

Why does Mom always say "I love you" to Lao Li?

At that moment, Li Zhi seemed to understand something.

Because when you're facing someone you truly love, saying "I love you" once is far from enough.

Thinking of this, she subconsciously reached out and hugged Shen Yuan.

After a brief moment of snuggling, Li Zhi suddenly moved slightly and lifted her head from Shen Yuan's chest.

Her cheeks were still flushed, but her eyes held an unprecedented determination.

Li Zhi stared intently into his clear eyes.

The girl's soft lips parted and closed, her voice much softer than usual, yet it clearly reached this quiet corner where only the two of them could hear it.

"Shen Yuan, I like you."

These four words, spoken softly yet firmly, were like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples in Shen Yuan's heart that were clearer and more impactful than the first time.

This wasn't a shy response after he asked her; it was her initiative!

Shen Yuan clearly saw the bright, unadulterated light in the girl's eyes.

She tilted her head slightly, the blush on her porcelain-white cheeks like the morning glow of spring, her long eyelashes trembling slightly with her soft breaths, and her lips, which had just uttered sweet words, glistening with moisture, full and soft.

too close.

He was so close that he could smell the sweet peach scent in her breath, so close that all his thoughts and attention were firmly drawn to her face so close to his.

Shen Yuan felt his breathing suddenly become heavy, and his Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

All his senses were captivated by the girl's expression and her slightly parted lips in his arms.

Shen Yuanhuan unconsciously tightened his arm around her from behind.

With a longing that almost burst from his chest, Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi.

"Li Bao, I... can I... can I kiss you?"

Li Zhi's eyes widened instantly, like a frightened kitten with its fur standing on end.

The overly direct and explicit request made her blood rush to her head!
She almost reflexively jerked away from Shen Yuan's embrace, instinctively raising one hand to cover her chest.

"You, you, you, you...!!"

Li Zhi's cheeks burned like fire; the tenderness she had shown when she leaned against him and confessed her love for him was replaced by a bristling embarrassment and anger.

"Selan!!! Shen Yuan!! Big Selan!!!"

The girl's angry voice suddenly rose, filled with a sharp, offended tone and immense panic.

"You filthy scoundrel!! What are you thinking, you idiot Shen Yuan!!!"

Li Zhi quickly grabbed a cushion from the side and threw it at Shen Yuan's face without a second thought, the force carrying all her shame and anger.

"We've only been together for a short time! What kind of dirty thoughts are you having?! You want a beating?!"

The pillow hit Shen Yuan's face with a light blow, but it was enough to express her intense emotions.

Seeing Li Zhi's ashamed and indignant expression, Shen Yuan's fervent anticipation froze, replaced by immense disappointment and embarrassment.

"I...I'm not...I just..."

Shen Yuan was somewhat incoherent.

Looking at Shen Yuan, who had just been so high-spirited and even went too far, Li Zhi felt a small hole punched in the fire of shame and anger in her chest, and her anger deflated slightly.

The girl pursed her lips, looking at him like this, and her heart inexplicably twisted, a feeling of tenderness welling up in her heart that she couldn't quite explain.

Was my reaction a bit...too much?

But that request came so suddenly!

How could she possibly agree to that!

After a long, unbearable silence.

Li Zhi took a deep breath, trying to suppress the pounding in her heart, and turned her gaze away from him, feigning composure.

But just when Shen Yuan thought Li Zhizhen was angry, he heard her voice in his ear.

"...Let's wait until you can consistently get 650 points by the end of this semester!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up with disbelief!
That listless expression vanished without a trace, like dark clouds dispersed by the sunlight.

"That's it???"

The boy leaned closer, his eyes shining brightly, staring directly into Li Zhi's eyes, which were avoiding his gaze out of shyness.

"Li Bao! You'd better keep your word!"

He almost couldn't wait to announce it to her loudly.

"Don't even mention 650! I'll get you 660!"

Every word was resounding, filled with unwavering determination and boundless aspirations for the future.

"Then let's go with 660."

Upon hearing Li Zhi's words, Shen Yuan suddenly coughed heavily.

"no……"

Just as Shen Yuan was about to retort, he saw Li Zhiwei's eyes widen slightly.

His clear pupils reflected his slightly guilty face as he tried to bargain.

The girl's gaze swept over him, carrying a familiar, silent threat.

Shen Yuan was very familiar with that look.

It was the look she gave A-Jie when she was about to ask him to recite something from memory; it was the look in her eyes that she knew would shut him up in the next second.

At the critical moment! The instinct for survival instantly overwhelmed his grievances and resentment at "660 is much higher than 650".

Shen Yuan immediately straightened his back.

His gaze shifted from an attempt to argue to unwavering sincerity in a split second, as fast as a well-trained face-changing act, and at the same time, he wisely shut his mouth, which was about to start haggling.

Then, without hesitation, he admitted defeat: "Fine! 660 it is!"

Shen Yuan looked into Li Zhi's eyes, grinned with unwavering confidence, patted his chest with a loud thud, and exclaimed, "Li Bao! Just watch, I'm definitely getting 660!"

It's just a matter of points, right? I'll give it my all!

Li Zhi was taken aback by his posture.

A hint of a smile flickered in the girl's eyes, which quickly turned into a soft snort tinged with disdain.

"Hmph, anyone can talk big."

The girl's voice was clear and crisp, with her usual sharpness and scrutiny.

"You really are... just for..."

Li Zhi paused, the blush that had just faded from her ears seemed to creep back in, and her voice unconsciously lowered a few decibels.

"...Such a small thing, and it gets you all fired up? You're so ambitious!"

The two of them knew perfectly well what this "matter" referred to.

Shen Yuan chuckled dryly, touched his feverish neck, and immediately got the urge to tactically change the subject.

“That… Li Bao,”

Shen Yuan cleared his throat, his tone deliberately light.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Day, do you have any plans?"

As he spoke, Shen Yuan's eyes involuntarily glanced at Li Zhi's long legs draped over the bed sheet, but remembering his "660-point declaration" just now, he quickly looked away and back at the party scene on the wall.

Li Zhi keenly caught his fleeting glance and his heart skipped a beat.

She curled her toes, which were hidden in her pantyhose, and tried to remain calm as she continued his sentence: "...Well, I was supposed to be studying. But my parents said they're going to my grandparents' house tomorrow and won't be back until the day after tomorrow."

The moment the words left his mouth, the smile on Shen Yuan's face froze.

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head. The fighting spirit that had been burning brightly for the "660-point reward" was completely extinguished by the words "I can only come back the day after tomorrow".

It’s over.

My wonderful study plan has been completely ruined!

Shen Yuan was just thinking about what excuse he could find on New Year's Day to lure Li Zhi to his house so he could focus on doing practice problems all day.

After all, their relationship has just started, and studying together might double their efficiency.

Maybe I can even use the excuse of explaining a problem to say "You're so amazing, baby!" a few times to praise you...

But now things are different?
Li Zhi went straight out!
Do we have to endure separation right after the relationship is established?
"...The day after tomorrow?"

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan's face, which instantly crumbled, and his eyes, filled with sorrow.

The beautiful girl blinked her pretty eyes, and a sly smile almost imperceptibly appeared on her lips, but she deliberately put on a serious face.

"Hmm, the day after tomorrow. As for the study plan... you can figure it out yourself, I'm leaving tomorrow anyway!"

Shen Yuan opened his mouth, feeling uncomfortable.

However, Shen Yuan recovered quickly.

Shen Yuan turned his head and glanced at the New Year's Eve gala that was still playing.

"Li Bao, how late can you stay today? With your aunt and uncle?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhi's slightly smug smile instantly drooped.

Her eyes, which had been sparkling just moments before, were now tinged with a superficial regret and helplessness.

The pretty girl sighed affectedly, and her little hand tugged at the hem of her sweater, drawing out the sound.

"Ah—speaking of which."

Li Zhi's voice sounded a little listless.

"Old Li told me not to stay too late and to go home early."

After she finished speaking, she tilted her head slightly, and her clear eyes swept over Shen Yuan's face.

As expected, Shen Yuan immediately became dejected after hearing these words.

Shen Yuan glanced at the time; it was already past 9 o'clock.

So you should stay a little longer and then go back, right?
Thinking of this, the boy's shoulders slumped, his eyes clearly showing reluctance and disappointment.

Seeing his dejected appearance, Li Zhi's feigned regret instantly crumbled.

A sly glint appeared in the girl's eyes, and then she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The laughter was crisp and short, with a triumphant tremor, like a spring breeze shattering winter ice.

Shen Yuan was taken aback by her sudden laughter and turned his head to look at her in confusion.

The deep disappointment on the boy's face hadn't yet faded before it was replaced by a hint of doubt.

"What...are you laughing at?"

Seeing Shen Yuan's reaction, the cunning glint in Li Zhi's eyes intensified.

She cleared her throat, trying her best to put on a serious expression, but the smile that she couldn't suppress completely betrayed her.

“I wasn’t laughing at anything,” Li Zhi said slowly, his voice clearly tinged with amusement. “It’s just… I suddenly remembered that Old Li did tell me to go back soon.”

"Oh……"

Shen Yuan's voice lowered even further, and he seemed even more disappointed.

Seeing Shen Yuan's drooping head, Li Zhi could no longer hold back.

The girl leaned closer to Shen Yuan, her expression a mix of smugness and the coquettish charm of someone whose little secret had been revealed, and spoke clearly.

"But his suggestion to go back early came after I told him I was coming to spend New Year's Eve with you. You idiot!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Shen Yuan abruptly raised his head, his dark pupils clearly reflecting Li Zhi's smiling face so close to his.

Eyes facing each other.

Shen Yuan immediately realized that he had been tricked by Li Zhi.

That dejected expression vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of mischievous scheming after being tricked.

"Li Zhi!"

Shen Yuan dragged out the last syllable, his voice filled with the gritted teeth of someone who had just realized something, yet he couldn't suppress the upward curve of his lips.

Shen Yuan suddenly leaned forward, with an almost predatory air about him.

His arm swiftly wrapped around her back, and before she could react and try to back away, he firmly held her in front of him.

Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat at his sudden action and the instantaneous change in his aura.

His arms, which were wrapped around her back, were warm and strong, with an irresistible force. The distance between them instantly shrank to the point where they could hear each other's breaths.

"You idiot Shen Yuan! Let go... let go!" Li Zhi instinctively pushed against his chest with his hands, his cheeks burning again from the smugness he had just felt and the closeness he was in now.

"release?"

Shen Yuan grinned mischievously at Li Zhi: "You think you can just run away after playing me? You made me so upset... Shouldn't you give me some compensation?"

"Who, who wants to compensate you! You're just being self-righteous!"

Li Zhi looked away from his burning gaze, but her slightly reddened earlobes and accelerated heartbeat betrayed her inner turmoil.

Before Shen Yuan could explain what the compensation would be, Li Zhi loudly called for help to the kitten beside him.

"It's midnight! Nao Nao! Help me! Daddy's bullying me!"

"Hmph! Go ahead and shout! Nao Nao is deaf! It can't hear you!"

After saying that, Shen Yuan continued to pull Li Zhichao into his arms.

Just as Li Zhi was about to struggle, she heard Shen Yuan's voice in her ear.

"Let me hold you a little longer."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zhi stopped pushing against his chest.

She struggled symbolically for a moment, then her hands, which had been pushing away, fell limply to her sides, no longer exerting any force.

The girl's burning cheeks pressed tightly against his warm neck, her breath filled with his refreshing and familiar scent.

"idiot..."

That soft hum carried a barely perceptible hint of compromise, but it also showed no sign of struggling.

She could clearly feel the arms wrapped around her waist, strong and secure, carrying an undeniable yet reassuring power.

Like a punctured balloon, all the previous puff of air deflated instantly.

Li Zhi's body completely relaxed, and she even snuggled closer to him, finding a more comfortable position.

Shen Yuan felt the gentleness of the person in his arms, and the mischievous smirk in his heart silently turned into tender satisfaction.

He lowered his head slightly, his chin gently resting against the soft top of Li Zhi's hair, holding her even tighter.

The two of them nestled together like that.

Nao Nao tilted her head, her big eyes gazing curiously at the two embracing.

Sangeng also came over at some unknown time, and then raised its paw to step on Li Zhi's ankle, which was resting on Shen Yuan's leg.

The kitten gracefully stepped onto Li Zhi's lap.

Shen Yuan looked at Sangeng, who had naturally slumped down, and said, "Clearly, Sangeng knows exactly where he's most comfortable lying down."

"Hmph! Don't even think about it!" Li Zhi lightly punched Shen Yuan.

"Then I'm going to start being jealous."

　I wrote too much yesterday, and my mind is a bit foggy at work today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)