Chapter 415 - 207: You Seem to Have Been Conquered
Chapter 415: Chapter 207: You Seem to Have Been Conquered
The firm, searing warmth of his body cut right through her coat, fiercely driving away the bone-chilling cold that coiled around her.
The "What are you doing?" forming deep in Li Zhi’s throat caught, as if melted away by the sudden rush of warmth.
The thought of struggling flashed through her mind for only an instant before being completely submerged by an indescribable sense of comfort.
The cold seemed to be driven out in an instant. Her entire body felt toasty, as if she were soaking in a warm bath, and even the lingering chill in her fingertips was quickly smoothed away by the heat.
’So a person’s body heat can be this... comfortable.’
Her stiff body shifted slightly. She didn’t pull away; she forgot to even put up a token struggle.
Instead, she shifted slightly to nestle more comfortably into the brief, tight embrace.
Through the layers of fabric, she could almost feel the steady, powerful thrum of his heartbeat against her cheek.
Shen Yuan seemed to unconsciously brush his cheek against the top of her head, a movement so quick it might have just been the wind.
He spoke in a low voice, a bit hoarser than usual, his words landing clearly by her ear. "...A little closer. I’ll block the wind for you."
This time, Li Zhi didn’t object.
The young woman silently tightened her hand, still tucked inside Shen Yuan’s pocket. It was a silent agreement, or perhaps... an acceptance.
The warmth and security she craved on this early winter night caused the slight furrow in her brow to quietly smooth out in the dim light.
Shen Yuan held Li Zhi, and the two of them stood huddled together in the cold winter night, silent for a short while as if savoring the warmth of the moment.
Finally, Li Zhi gave a slight squirm. With a faint, almost imperceptible nasal tone, her voice was as low as a murmur. "...We should head home, moron."
"Mm," Shen Yuan agreed, slowly walking toward the apartment building with his arm still around Li Zhi.
The bright motion-sensor light at the base of the building flashed on, dispelling the gloom at the entrance.
The two of them stepped into the elevator. The metal doors slid silently shut, completely sealing out the cold from outside.
In the small space, all that remained was the soft hum of the elevator and the undeniable warmth and heartbeats passing between their close bodies.
That feeling of huddling together in the winter night seemed magnified in the sealed space, enveloping Li Zhi in a much-craved sense of security.
Through the soft fabric of his clothes, her cheek could still feel the fiery throb of his heartbeat.
His arm was only resting lightly around her back, but its weight felt like the most reliable anchor on this cold winter night.
After the familiar ascent, a soft DING announced their arrival at Floor 19A.
The lights were steady.
Shen Yuan’s arm naturally slid away, and he let go of her.
In that instant, it was as if a warm layer had been abruptly stripped away.
The cold air, carrying the scent of the hallway as it rushed in through the opening elevator doors, licked at Li Zhi’s neck, shoulders, and back, which had just been warmed through.
Li Zhi instinctively paused for half a second.
She didn’t even turn to look at Shen Yuan behind her. She just felt the presence and warmth that had been enveloping her recede as swiftly and decisively as an ebbing tide.
A subtle but distinct pang of loss shot through her heart without warning.
It was a strange, hollow feeling, as if a tiny shard of ice had grazed her heart, leaving a cool ache of longing.
The strength that had filled her, making her feel content on this winter night, suddenly dissipated, leaving nothing but the lingering echo of warmth in her body’s memory.
The feeling came on quickly and was very subtle.
Li Zhi pressed her lips together, not letting any more of her emotions show.
"I’m off, then."
Shen Yuan’s voice sounded beside her, and Li Zhi gave a small nod.
"Good luck on the exam tomorrow."
At this, Shen Yuan turned to look at Li Zhi.
Looking into her eyes, Shen Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. It was as if he was about to stake all the effort he’d been pouring in for the last half a month on this very moment.
"650! I swear I’ll get that score on the exam tomorrow!"
Shen Yuan’s declaration was absolute, each word landing with the force of a hammer striking a nail.
As his voice faded, the hallway fell silent for a moment.
Shen Yuan’s expression was more serious than ever before, almost stubborn, as if he were making an undeniable vow.
This was no longer one of his old, petulant declarations. This was a confidence forged from every calculation his pen made, from every morning spent in deep Concentration.
Li Zhi was taken aback.
He looked so dead certain, as if a perfect score of 750 on tomorrow’s exam was already in the bag.
Then, an emotion Shen Yuan knew all too well surged into her beautiful eyes.
It wasn’t speechlessness, nor was it teasing. There wasn’t even her usual disdain.
Just as Shen Yuan’s heart began to pound in response to this strange silence, Li Zhi tilted her delicate chin up slightly.
The corners of her lips curved up in the barest hint of a smile.
Then, Li Zhi did something that nearly turned Shen Yuan to stone on the spot.
With the most natural of gestures, she nodded.
"Mm."
Her voice was soft, yet perfectly clear.
That signal of affirmation was like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, striking him right in the heart and setting his entire nervous system ablaze.
Shen Yuan, of course, understood what her affirmation meant.
Just as Shen Yuan’s brain completely shut down from this unprecedented response, Li Zhi had already turned smoothly and taken the keys out of her pocket.
"Good night."
Li Zhi unlocked her door and went inside.
Shen Yuan watched her figure disappear from view. He stood alone at the door, a cold key in his hand, but his wildly pounding heart felt as if a burning coal had been tossed into his chest, searing and white-hot.