Chapter 383 - 200: The Li Zhi of This Moment, His Li Zhi
Chapter 383: Chapter 200: The Li Zhi of This Moment, His Li Zhi
Shen Yuan took Li Zhi’s hand as they stepped onto the escalator, which slowly ascended.
His gaze crossed the river in front of them and landed steadily on the imposing complex of buildings on the other side.
The red brick walls appeared solid and solemn under the sun, while the modern glass curtain walls exuded vitality.
Sunlight sprinkled over the vast lawns and tree-lined avenues of the campus, creating a dappled pattern of light and shadow.
Students came and went in twos and threes, backpacks slung over their shoulders, while the massive silhouette of a distant academic building stretched clearly against the blue sky.
Looking at the familiar scene across the way, Shen Yuan’s eyes lit up with a hint of subtle anticipation and... a certain self-assuredness that came from being prepared.
Li Zhi followed his gaze and, naturally, also saw the vast campus on the other side, so sprawling that she couldn’t see its end.
Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, her pupils reflecting the seemingly endless red brick buildings and lush green fields.
After a moment, she turned her head. Seeing the unconscious smile playing on Shen Yuan’s lips, she let out an exasperated "tsk."
"Hey, Shen Yuan, are you an idiot?"
Li Zhi raised a hand, gently poking Shen Yuan’s firm arm with a single finger. Her tone was a mix of exasperation and her usual lighthearted complaints.
"Isn’t there a problem with your plan? Among the other university campuses in Hang City, isn’t the one at Hua Family Pool closer? It took us almost an hour on the subway to get here!! Have you lost your mind?!"
Shen Yuan finally retracted his gaze, looking at the playfully pouting girl beside him.
He raised a hand to rub the back of his neck and chuckled. "It’s a bit closer, yeah... but I don’t know that area! This is the only place I know well!"
As he spoke, he once again gestured with his thumb toward the magnificent gates of Zhejiang University’s Zijingang, his expression utterly unabashed.
"Come on, come on. I’m taking you to soak up some of the academic atmosphere."
"You’re the moron who needs to soak it up!"
Shen Yuan chuckled again, then took Li Zhi’s hand and started walking toward the main gate.
On the newly built main gate, the university’s name, written in powerful, vigorous red characters on a white background, was particularly eye-catching.
Many people were on the large lawns on either side, taking photos to mark their visit.
Shen Yuan suddenly stopped. Looking at the crowd on the lawn, he grinned at Li Zhi. "Li Bao, want to go take a picture?"
Li Zhi shot him a sidelong glance, rolled her eyes, and huffed. "Take a picture of what? Why suggest something so boring? Let’s go!"
After speaking, she took Shen Yuan’s hand and walked straight through the campus gate.
And just like that, the two of them walked onto the Zhejiang University campus.
Light and shadow danced among the lush green grass.
Shen Yuan and Li Zhi strolled hand-in-hand along a tree-lined avenue.
Tall trees lined both sides, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze and casting dappled shadows.
Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, and an idea suddenly popped into his head.
"Come on, come on, I’ll take you somewhere."
With that, Shen Yuan pulled Li Zhi over to where the share bikes were parked.
Li Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Hey, where are we going? So mysterious. Don’t tell me we’re going to another photo spot or something!"
Shen Yuan stopped in front of a bike and turned around with a grin. "The library!"
"Huh?" Li Zhi was taken aback. She blinked in confusion, her voice tinged with bewilderment. "What for? Why the library?"
Shen Yuan reached out and patted the share bike next to him. "Isn’t this to help you soak up the atmosphere? Plus, I can show you the path I took when I first came to Zhejiang University."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan.
But the pretty girl’s body told a more honest story. She immediately pulled out her phone, scanned the code, and unlocked a share bike.
Then, the two of them started riding their bikes, slowly making their way through the Zhejiang University campus.
Shen Yuan watched Li Zhi leisurely pedaling beside him, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile.
His goal was actually very simple.
Shen Yuan held Li Zhi’s hand as they walked quietly through the enormous library study hall.
Morning sunlight poured in through the glass windows. The air was filled with the scent of ink from the books and the quiet sound of pens scratching on paper.
Shen Yuan had a clear goal, leading her straight toward the area by the windows.
The seats in the third row were still empty. Shen Yuan marveled at his good luck.
The two of them stopped beside the table by the window.
Shen Yuan leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe, his voice lowered to a whisper.
"You sit over there."
The seat Shen Yuan pointed to was the exact same one where Li Zhi had been sitting in his memory fragments.
Li Zhi was a little dazed by his sudden intimacy and out-of-the-blue command.
She blinked, and after confirming that Shen Yuan was indeed pointing to the seat by the window, she couldn’t help but whisper back, her tone teasing.
"What for? Shen Yuan, did you bring me all the way to the library just to make me do my homework here?"
Shen Yuan nodded and said softly, "That’s right. Just sit here for a little while, Li Bao."
Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan’s earnest and insistent gaze with some confusion, but in the end, she complied with his wish, gently pulling out the wooden chair in the third row by the window and sitting down.
The clear morning sunlight spilled over the windowsill, gently splashing across the tabletop.
Li Zhi’s long hair was casually tied back, with a few loose strands falling beside her neck, gilded by the sun with a faint golden shimmer.
And at that moment, Shen Yuan, sitting opposite her, found his gaze frozen.
The instant he sank into the chair opposite Li Zhi, the time and space before his eyes seemed to suddenly warp and fold.
The morning light blurred and bled outward, transforming into the rich, slanting rays of a setting sun.
The image of the bright, vibrant Li Zhi before him began to flicker and fade.
In an instant, another familiar silhouette superimposed itself upon her—the silhouette of the college student Li Zhi, an image long since frozen in the river of time.
He felt as if he could see that other Li Zhi again, her eyes no longer holding their current confusion and liveliness, but rather a loneliness that was almost a sigh, and the lost gaze of someone staring into the distance.