Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

Chapter 28: Bury it!

Just as I was listening intently, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Li Chen took it out and glanced at it through the cover of the book.

[Xi]: Go home tonight, don't wait for me.

It's a very simple sentence, without even an emoji.

Li Chen paused for a moment.

Come back home?

Yan Zhen, that old man, lives in Ziyun Villa, which is quite far from the school.

Going back at this time is probably because of the lobster incident last night, or maybe Liu Xu has done something strange again and gone to complain.

He recalled Yan Zhen's hands, which were used to handle walnuts, and the phrase, "As long as she's happy."

Li Chen didn't ask any further questions.

When it comes to dating, the smartest thing to do is to pry and ask too many questions.

Especially with Yan Xi's personality, she will speak if she wants to, and it's pointless to ask her if she doesn't want to.

[Li Chen]: Received. Please give my regards to my uncle, and also ask if there are any lobsters left; I didn't have enough last night.

Two seconds after I sent it, they replied.

[曦]: Get lost.

There was only one word, but Li Chen could almost see Yan Xi rolling her eyes.

Then another one came in.

[Xi]: Eat your food properly and don't go fooling around at the barbecue stall. I'll bring you a gift when I come back tomorrow.

Gift?

A faint smile appeared on Li Chen's lips.

Is this... meant to soothe a child?

But being coaxed by my senior sister felt really good.

[Li Chen]: Okay.

After putting down his phone, Li Chen was in a great mood.

Old Liu on the podium was explaining binary conversion, and his dry voice sounded as pleasant as a symphony to his ears.

"He's laughing like a complete idiot."

Zhao Zixuan, who was standing next to him, glanced at him and handed him his phone. "Look, you have a new post on the forum again."

Li Chen glanced at it.

The title is: "Shocking! The aloof senior's cute boyfriend is actually paying attention in class! Is this a distortion of human nature or a decline in morality?"

The accompanying picture shows his profile as he was taking notes.

The comment section below was filled with lamentations.

"Oh no, he's handsome, and he's hardworking too! How are we supposed to live?"

"I heard it's because Senior Yan Xi likes a top student; she's going all out for love!"

"I'm totally shipping them! I'm totally shipping this couple!"

Li Chen pushed the phone back and smiled.

"boring."

He said he was bored, but his pen was spinning rapidly.

The day went by quickly.

Without Yan Xi by his side, Li Chen's life returned to its previous monotonous routine.

Go to class, eat, and go back to the dormitory to listen to Wang Qiang brag.

Although I feel free, I always feel like something is missing.

It feels like there's a void in my heart.

Dinner was eaten in the cafeteria.

Without Yan Xi snatching his meal card, Li Chen looked at the campus card with a full balance in his hand and actually missed the feeling of being "kept".

"This is late-stage Stockholm syndrome."

While gnawing on a rib, Chen Mo commented, "It's hopeless, just bury it."

Li Chen didn't refute, and picked the carrots out of the plate.

When Yan Xi was around, she would always force him to eat vegetables, saying it was for a balanced diet.

Now that no one is watching, he finds it hard to bring himself to eat these carrots.

After hesitating for two seconds, he stuffed the carrot into his mouth again and chewed it with a crunching sound.

Fine, I'll just have to listen to you.

If she comes back for a check-up tomorrow and finds out she's lost weight, she'll probably scold me again.

……

Ziyun Mountain Villa.

Yan Xi's car was parked in front of the villa.

The family's nanny was already waiting. Seeing her return, she quickly came to greet her: "Miss, you're back. The master is waiting for you in the study."

Yan Xi nodded and handed over the car keys.

As she entered the living room, Luo Yun was sitting on the sofa watching TV. Her eyes lit up when she saw her come in.

"Xixi! Come here quickly and let Mom take a look!"

Luo Yun took her hand and looked her up and down. "You've lost weight. Is it because the school cafeteria food isn't good?"

"Mom, I've only been away from home for a short time."

Yan Xi sighed helplessly, "I'm not going to flee famine."

"That's different."

Luo Yun smiled meaningfully, "I heard... you're in a relationship?"

Yan Xi paused.

really.

Old Yan has such a big mouth, he can't keep anything to himself.

"Where's Dad?"

Yan Xi didn't respond to the question, but asked directly.

"In his study, he's playing with those two broken walnuts, trying to look profound."

Luo Yun pointed upstairs, "Go ahead, talk to your dad nicely, but don't argue."

Yan Xi changed her shoes and went straight upstairs.

The study door was not closed.

Yan Zhen sat behind the large mahogany desk, a Go game in the air in front of him, a black stone in his hand, deep in thought with a furrowed brow.

He didn't look up when he heard footsteps.

"You're back?"

"Um."

Yan Xi walked in, sat down opposite him, and without any ceremony, grabbed a handful of white pieces from the chess jar and played with them in her hand.

The rustling sound was particularly clear in the quiet study.

"I heard from Lao Zhang that you took that kid to the pedestrian street?"

Yan Zhen placed a piece, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Um."

"You also had a cup of milk tea?"

"Um."

"You even bought him clothes?"

"Um."

Yan Zhen suddenly raised his head, threw the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard, and disrupted the game he had just come up with.

"Couldn't you have said just one more word?!"

Yan Zhen glared at him, "I'm your father, not an interrogator!"

Yan Xi looked at her furious father and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"What do you want to hear?"

"I want to hear what's so great about that kid!"

Yan Zhen slammed his fist on the table. "Besides being handsome and good at making connections, what else do you have?"

"He has no money, no power, and you even have to pay him!"

"I like."

Yan Xi said calmly.

That's enough.

Yan Zhen choked.

"and……"

Yan Xi put down the chess piece in her hand, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly into Yan Zhen's eyes.

"He dared to challenge you for my sake."

Yan Zhen was stunned.

He recalled Li Chen's composed demeanor at the teahouse yesterday, and his words, "If I wrong her, I'll break my own legs."

The study remained silent for a long time.

Yan Zhen sighed, leaned back, and his imposing aura instantly crumbled by half.

"Alright."

He opened the drawer, took out an exquisite long box, and threw it on the table.

"Take it."

Yan Xi took the box and opened it.

Inside is a men's watch.

Vacheron Constantin's Overseas, with its blue dial, is understated yet luxurious.

"For that kid."

Yan Zhen turned his face away and mumbled, "Don't say you bought it, just say... say someone gave it to me, and I didn't like wearing it, so I gave it to them as a gift."

Yan Xi looked at the watch, a smile spreading across her eyes.

This old man will never change his stubbornness and soft-heartedness.

"Thank you, Dad."

Yan Xi put away the box and stood up.

"Oh, right."

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

"His name is Li Chen."

"I know! You don't need to remind me!"

Yan Zhen waved his hand impatiently, "Hurry up and leave, I get annoyed just hearing that kid's name."

Yan Xi smiled and closed the door.

Holding the box in my hand, the cool metallic texture traveled through my palm.

tomorrow.