Chapter 382 - 199: I Will Take Good Care of Li Zhi
Chapter 382: Chapter 199: I Will Take Good Care of Li Zhi
Shen Yuan tried to start a conversation a few times, but he’d open his mouth only to close it again. In the end, he decided to just keep quiet.
This "thoughtfulness" from Old Li was, in itself, a silent warning.
The car finally came to a smooth stop at the curbside of the departures level in front of Jiyang Railway Station.
"We’re here," Old Li’s voice broke the silence in the car.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Thanks, Uncle Li!" Shen Yuan replied almost instantly.
As Shen Yuan was gathering his things, Old Li turned from the driver’s seat to look at him.
Their eyes met, and Shen Yuan heard Old Li speak.
"Shen Yuan, I’m entrusting Li Zhi to your care for the next two days."
Old Li’s tone was gentle, yet it carried an undeniable weight and a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.
In that seemingly drawn-out moment, Shen Yuan felt his heart lurch as if it had been struck.
This wasn’t just some casual request.
Those few short words went beyond the usual instructions from an elder to a junior. It was more like a father handing a silent test to a young man—a conversation between men about trust, responsibility, protection, and boundaries.
Shen Yuan felt the heavy weight hanging in the air.
Shen Yuan took a deep breath, setting aside any frivolous or playful thoughts, and straightened his spine.
He lifted his head, his gaze no longer evasive. From across the car, he met Old Li’s eyes with unwavering resolve.
For the first time in front of Li Zhi’s father, his young face showed a solemnity that was almost severe.
"Uncle, you can rest easy." His voice wasn’t loud, but his enunciation was crisp. Each syllable seemed forged with all his focus, carrying the heavy weight of a promise.
"I understand. I’ll take good care of Li Zhi."
The simple reply, devoid of any flowery language, landed with exceptional clarity in the car.
Li Zhi seemed to notice the strange, silent tension that passed between the two men, and she glanced sideways at Shen Yuan.
Then, the girl slapped his hand. "Like I need you to take care of me!"
Shen Yuan lifted his chin. "It’s called being a gentleman!"
"Gentleman, my ass! You’re such a dumbass. With a brain like yours, it’s not even clear who’ll be taking care of whom!"
Just as the two were about to continue their bickering, Old Li’s voice cut in.
"Alright now. Have fun, and be safe."
Old Li’s voice was as gentle as ever. His gaze swept meaningfully between the two of them before finally settling on Li Zhi.
Li Zhi nodded. "I know."
With that, the girl grabbed her schoolbag and deftly hopped out of the car.
After watching the two of them get out, Old Li looked away and drove off.
Watching Old Li’s car drive away, Shen Yuan quietly let out a long sigh of relief.
Just then, Li Zhi gently bumped his arm. "Real impressive."
Shen Yuan chuckled sheepishly.
"You wouldn’t understand that kind of pressure."
Li Zhi shot him an annoyed glare, then jerked her chin toward the station. "Enough nonsense. Let’s go, we need to get inside!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
After passing through security, the two of them made their way to the high-speed rail ticket gate on the second floor.
Shen Yuan had timed their trip perfectly. They arrived with about ten minutes to spare before boarding was scheduled to begin.
They wouldn’t have to wait long before they could get on the train.
"Attention passengers, boarding for train G7344 will now begin. Passengers traveling on..."
Shen Yuan heard the announcement but didn’t move right away.
"Let’s wait a bit. We can go through after the line thins out. There’s plenty of time."
Li Zhi rolled her eyes at him. "You dumbass, Shen Yuan, look at the gate! There’s barely anyone there!"
Shen Yuan looked at the handful of people trickling through the gate, his face a mask of embarrassment.
A quick scan of her ID card and the gate slid open.
Li Zhi slipped through, then stopped on the other side, turning to wait for him quietly.
Shen Yuan scanned his own ID and followed her through.
"Platform 6, this way."
The corridor to the platform was brightly lit, flanked by tall billboards and indicator screens that cast a cool glow.
They walked shoulder to shoulder, maintaining a comfortable distance.
Shen Yuan snuck a sideways glance at Li Zhi. The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and the knot of tension in his chest seemed to dissolve.
Finally, Shen Yuan nonchalantly reached out and gently took hold of Li Zhi’s hand as it swung by her side.
Li Zhi froze for a second, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She stopped and turned to look at Shen Yuan.
Her beautiful eyes held a trace of flustered annoyance. She lowered her voice and whispered harshly, "What are you doing! We’re not in Hang City yet!"
With that, she quickly pulled her hand away from his, turned, and strode briskly toward the platform.
Shen Yuan watched her back disappear around a corner. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together, savoring the warmth she’d left on his skin.
A grin suddenly spread across his face, and a low murmur escaped his lips. ’So that means I can hold her hand once we’re in Hang City, huh.’
Walking past the train cars that gleamed with a metallic sheen in the cool morning air, Shen Yuan found their seats.
He had bought first-class tickets. They were 20 yuan more than second-class, but at least it wouldn’t be as crowded.
Li Zhi had been a little surprised when she saw he’d bought first-class tickets, but she didn’t say anything.
Once they were on the train, Shen Yuan deftly offered the window seat to Li Zhi. Only after she was settled in did he plop down into the aisle seat.
As the high-speed train began to move, Li Zhi looked down at her phone, her fingers swiping across the screen. It looked like she was messaging her family.
Shen Yuan rested his elbow on the armrest. His gaze swept over her profile, the morning light catching the fine, golden hairs on her cheek, before finally settling on her fingertips, which rested on the tray table.
He cleared his throat, about to speak, but Li Zhi suddenly turned to him. "What are you staring at? Get to work on your test papers!"
"But it’s only a twenty-minute ride..."
Shen Yuan tried to argue, but he ultimately relented under Li Zhi’s stare.
Seeing Shen Yuan helplessly pull out his test papers, the corner of Li Zhi’s mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.
The girl’s gaze returned to the window.
The scenery blurred into streaks of color outside, but the glass reflected the pained expression on the boy’s face as he stared down at his test.
Li Zhi watched Shen Yuan’s reflection in the glass, a pleased smile gracing her lips.
The twenty-odd minutes of the trip passed quietly as he worked.
Shen Yuan saw the platform outside the window and started packing his bag.
...
The high-speed train glided to a stop at the Hang City station platform, and a soft female voice on the intercom announced their arrival.
"Let’s go, Li Bao."
Standing in the aisle, Shen Yuan reached out and took Li Zhi’s hand.
"It’s crowded. Stay close."
Shen Yuan’s voice wasn’t loud, and it mingled with the surrounding noise, but his words reached Li Zhi’s ears clearly, tinged with an undeniable protectiveness.
"Be careful not to get separated."
"Hmph!"
Li Zhi let out a soft huff but didn’t pull her hand away from his.
Her "hmph" was less a protest and more a habitual, contrary response.
As Shen Yuan held her hand, the girl’s cheeks grew slightly warm.
’Now I’m really getting into trouble behind my parents’ backs.’