Chapter 413 - 207: It Seems You’ve Been Conquered
Chapter 413: Chapter 207: It Seems You’ve Been Conquered
At first, Li Zhi would quietly check the notebook for his mistakes that Shen Yuan kept on the corner of his desk, pointing out that some of his solutions weren’t fully optimized.
Later, as Shen Yuan followed her review pace and strengthened his foundational knowledge, his thinking became increasingly clear.
The notes she left in his notebook gradually dwindled, becoming an occasional, more concise supplementary solution, or sometimes just a simple "Checked."
More often than not, she would do just as she was doing now at the end of the evening study session: pack up her things and then sit quietly beside him, waiting.
Her gaze was no longer impatient, but a quiet, focused stare that rested on Shen Yuan’s side profile, which looked especially serious as he concentrated.
She watched him rapidly scribble calculations on his scratch paper, the tip of his pen making a soft, rustling sound against the page.
At times like these, the corners of Li Zhi’s mouth would unconsciously curve into the faintest of smiles.
It was a smile of undisguised satisfaction.
Ah Jie poked his head over and asked slyly, "Yuan? Not heading home yet?"
Before Shen Yuan could even open his mouth, Li Zhi shot an icy glare in his direction.
"Have you memorized today’s 50 English words? I’m quizzing you on them before the morning study session tomorrow."
Hearing Li Zhi’s words, Ah Jie immediately recoiled and scurried away sheepishly.
As if on cue, Shen Yuan lowered his head and went back to tackling the problem that was giving him a headache.
Of course, if he really couldn’t figure it out, Shen Yuan would just ask Li Zhi.
Li Zhi was very pleased with Shen Yuan’s current attitude.
It wasn’t just the expectation that his score on the next monthly exam would improve, but also a deep sense of gratification at the tangible change in him.
Li Zhi loved the look on his face right now—that quiet Concentration, that drive to give his all for a score of "650," or perhaps for an even greater goal.
This Concentration and effort gave Li Zhi a deeper sense of security and peace than the incense offerings at a thousand temples ever could.
Shen Yuan’s transformation, every ounce of effort he put into moving forward, left a sweet mark on the girl’s heart.
Shen Yuan snapped his notebook shut. A wave of intense fatigue washed over him, mingled with the satisfaction of having just conquered a difficult problem. His temples throbbed faintly.
Still, he let out a long sigh, like he was surfacing from the depths of the ocean.
"Finally..." He rubbed his sore neck and glanced to the side.
At some point, Li Zhi had already packed her bag and was now sitting there quietly, waiting for him.
The bell signaling the end of the evening study session had rung long ago.
The classroom was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the deep December winter night outside.
Tiny beads of condensation clung to the windowpanes, a silent testament to the bitter cold outside.
The girl’s arms were crossed over her chest, her coat wrapped tightly around her. Under the lights, the tips of her nose and her cheeks seemed even paler than usual, and a few strands of her bangs rested neatly on her forehead.
Her clear, bright eyes watched him quietly as he finished the last of his work. Her gaze was full of undisguised approval, and the corners of her lips were curved into a slight smile.
Shen Yuan felt a little embarrassed under her quiet, waiting gaze, but it did manage to dispel some of the exhaustion from his hard work.
’I mean, just think about it. You finish your homework, turn your head, and there’s a beautiful girl sitting quietly beside you, watching you.’
’How amazing is that?’
As Shen Yuan packed his bag, he glanced at the pitch-black sky outside and instinctively hunched his shoulders. "Hsss... feels like it’s gotten even colder, huh?"
"Obviously..."
Li Zhi stood up, burying her small chin in the soft fabric of her coat. "It’s only three or four degrees out. It might even drop below zero by midnight."
Her voice was slightly nasal, and her complaint held a hint of imperceptible concern.
Shen Yuan chuckled and shouldered his bag. "Alright, let’s get going before we freeze solid."
The two of them walked out of the classroom side by side.
The moment they pushed open the heavy classroom door, a bone-chilling, damp wind hit them in the face, jolting them wide awake.
The school hallway was now empty and silent, the fluorescent lights casting a cold, lonely glow.
From the stairwell in the distance, they could faintly hear a few other students stomping their feet as they headed downstairs, their shoulders hunched against the cold.
"So cold!" Shen Yuan shivered dramatically, his teeth chattering.
Li Zhi kept her head down, taking small steps to stay close behind him. She tried to shrink into her coat, her hands unconsciously clenched and hidden inside her sleeves.
Her fingertips were indeed turning red from the cold.
Li Zhi really couldn’t stand the cold.
When they reached a landing in the stairwell, the noisy chatter of other students faded away, leaving only their own soft footsteps to echo in the empty space.
Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on Li Zhi’s reddened hand, which kept peeking out from the cuff of her sleeve.
His steps faltered for a moment. Then, with a completely natural motion and without any warning, he reached out and took hold of Li Zhi’s cool hand!
"Ah!"
Li Zhi let out a startled cry as if she’d been burned, instinctively trying to pull her hand back. Her voice was laced with flustered anger.
"You moron! What are you doing?! We’re at school!"
Li Zhi tugged twice, but Shen Yuan’s grip was firm. His warm palm completely enveloped her cool fingers with a strength that was resolute yet gentle enough not to hurt her.
The warmth instantly spread from his palm to hers.
Far from letting go, Shen Yuan turned his head to face her, a roguish yet self-righteous smile on his face as he spoke with confidence.
"Hang on, let me think of an excuse... hmm... I’m warming up your hand."
As he said this, he gave her palm a little squeeze. He could feel her struggles gradually weakening until only a token resistance remained.
Li Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his "let me think of an excuse." ’This guy can’t even be bothered to come up with a proper lie!’