Chapter 379 - 199: I Will Take Good Care of Li Zhi
Chapter 379: Chapter 199: I Will Take Good Care of Li Zhi
The moment the words left her mouth, it was as if Li Zhi had been scalded by her own astonishing statement.
Her crimson cheeks instantly grew hot enough to boil an egg as blood rushed to the very tips of her ears.
She didn’t even dare to look at Old Li’s expression, feeling only an immense wave of shame washing over her.
Like an ostrich, she quickly buried her scalding face in her arms, wishing she could disappear on the spot or find a hole to crawl into so she would never have to face this incredibly awkward situation again.
Silence.
Old Li was momentarily stunned.
He looked at his daughter, who was practically trying to shrink her entire self into the crook of her arm.
Her unconcealed, intense reaction, so full of a young girl’s innocent shyness, and the way she was so desperate to explain herself...
These words, this demeanor—it all struck Old Li’s heart like a sudden reminder.
His stern expression softened, his furrowed brow relaxed, and the heavy, scrutinizing gaze in his eyes faded.
He gazed quietly for a few seconds at her head, buried in her arms.
Old Li let out a long breath.
In his eyes, Li Zhi would always be the daughter he needed to protect, but her current nervousness, her awareness of certain boundaries—it all pointed to one undeniable fact.
Li Zhi had, in fact, already grown up.
The worry that had been weighing on his mind was, in that moment, considerably soothed by his daughter’s genuine and intense reaction.
Old Li’s tense shoulders relaxed as well. He raised his hand and gently stroked Li Zhi’s head.
Then, Old Li stood up. His voice was gentle, its initial gravity replaced by warmth.
"I understand."
The words were brief, but they rang out clearly in the silent study like a soothing incantation.
After saying this, he didn’t linger, nor did he ask any more questions about the trip’s details or about Shen Yuan.
He simply let his complicated gaze rest for a moment on his daughter’s still-curled-up figure, then silently turned, gently pulled the door open, and walked out.
Old Li walked out of the study. The low light of the living room was wrapped in a waiting silence.
The light at the entryway was soft, and Li Zhi’s schoolbag was sitting on a corner of the sofa.
Xu Chan’s gaze immediately shifted from the muted television screen, silently meeting her husband’s eyes.
She was still leaning on the sofa, her posture elegant yet tinged with tension, her eyes a mixture of inquiry and faint worry.
Old Li walked to the side of the sofa, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. The smile was tired yet relieved, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
He said nothing, just gave his wife a slight shake of his head, his eyes conveying reassurance.
Xu Chan’s brow silently smoothed out, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile bloomed on her lips, a silent acknowledgment of their mutual understanding.
Then, Old Li subconsciously reached for his pocket.
He then quietly placed a Possession Talisman into Li Zhi’s schoolbag.
Even though Li Zhi had spoken up, it didn’t mean Old Li was completely at ease.
Xu Chan’s gaze followed his to the schoolbag. She just gave a slight nod; everything was understood without a word.
Old Li sat back down on the sofa, his body sinking into the soft cushions. He raised a hand to rub his temples, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
Seeing him like this, Xu Chan tilted her head, a gentle curve forming on her lips. "Since you were so worried, why didn’t you just refuse her outright a moment ago?"
Old Li didn’t answer immediately. After a long moment, he spoke in a low voice, his tone laced with a sense of resigned helplessness, "It was bound to happen sooner or later... This day was always going to come."
Before the words had even faded, Shen Yuan’s face uncontrollably flashed through his mind.
The moment he thought about that punk luring his precious little cabbage—whom he had painstakingly raised—into wanting to spend the night out, Old Li felt an unfamiliar anger rising in his heart.
"Tsk, right now... I really want to beat the crap out of that Shen Yuan kid."
Hearing this, Xu Chan just raised an eyebrow. The knowing smile on her face deepened, but she didn’t say anything more.
At that moment, Shen Yuan, who was already in his room, suddenly let out two sneezes.
According to Jiyang tradition, one sneeze means someone is thinking of you, and two means someone is cursing you.
Shen Yuan ducked his head. He didn’t need to guess who was cursing him right now.
Shen Yuan pulled out his phone. His finger hovered over Li Zhi’s profile picture. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally sent her a message.
He sent the message and began to wait.
Time ticked by, second by second.
On the other end, Li Zhi’s profile picture remained still and quiet, with no sign of activity.
Just as Shen Yuan was waiting anxiously, his phone suddenly rang!
Li Zhi hadn’t messaged him back—it was a direct video call request!
Shen Yuan’s heart leaped. He quickly sat up straight, his finger pausing for a beat before he hit accept.
The next second, Li Zhi’s face appeared clearly on the screen.
Her exquisite face was flushed with a mixture of shame and indignation. Her beautiful eyes were wide, as if burning with tiny flames.
Her delicate eyebrows were knitted tightly together.
"Shen Yuan!"
The girl on the screen practically spat his name out through clenched teeth. Even through the screen, he could feel the fire of her combined shame and anger.
Shen Yuan immediately braced himself for a scolding.
Li Zhi’s cheeks were as red as a sunset. The blush spread from the base of her ears down to her neck, and her breathing was slightly ragged.
She pressed her lips together tightly, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the edge of her phone, her knuckles turning white.