Chapter 417 - 208: Under the Desk, Two People’s Hands
Chapter 417: Chapter 208: Under the Desk, Two People’s Hands
The elevator doors slid open without a sound, and cold, white light poured out, illuminating the hallway of the 19A floor.
Li Zhi was the first to step into the elevator, her head slightly lowered. A faint blush from being caught remained on her cheeks, but it was mostly hidden by the cold expression she forced onto her face.
She tightly gripped the two cans of hot milk her father had handed her.
The sensation at her fingertips vividly reminded her of the warmth in the stairwell that had been so abruptly snatched away—and the mortification of her father catching her in that secret moment of indulgence.
Shen Yuan followed closely behind her, his steps slightly unsteady.
He hardly dared to look at Li Zhi, his gaze drifting over the elevator’s bright metal walls. He felt like he was being roasted over a fire.
Old Li’s all-knowing, see-it-all-but-say-nothing smile was like a physical brand on his back, making him uncomfortable all over.
The doors slowly closed behind them with a soft sound, shutting out the hallway light and...
Old Li’s almost tangible gaze.
In the small, enclosed space, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Only the faint humming of the elevator and their somewhat ragged breathing remained.
The metal doors sealed shut.
Almost at the same time, a "death ray" of shame and anger shot fiercely toward Shen Yuan!
Li Zhi spun around abruptly. Her beautiful eyes were now glaring hotly at Shen Yuan, filled with clear anger and a hint of imperceptible, lingering fear.
The mortification of her own dad catching them holding hands finally erupted the moment the elevator doors closed.
"Shen Yuan!!!"
Li Zhi’s voice was laced with a teeth-gritting force, like a thin whip. "Why were you in such a hurry to grab my hand just now?! Huh?!"
’She remembered his sudden approach in the stairwell, the strength of his grip, and her own momentary failure to resist...’
’And of all things, Dad had to catch us red-handed right at my own front door!’
’It was all this idiot’s fault!’
Shen Yuan was stunned by the sudden accusation and instinctively flinched.
He looked back at Li Zhi’s fiery almond eyes. The anxiety of being caught mixed with the grievance of being blamed by his "accomplice" welled up inside him, and without thinking, he subconsciously muttered:
"Well... you went along with it, too..."
His words rang out with exceptional clarity in the silent elevator.
Shen Yuan’s voice wasn’t loud, but in the enclosed space and under Li Zhi’s intense focus, every word struck her nerves with perfect clarity, like a pebble hitting still water.
Li Zhi’s face instantly flushed crimson!
"You idiot! How dare you say that!!!"
Her mortified shriek erupted in tandem with her actions!
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Li Zhi bristled. Her body reacted faster than her brain as she raised her foot and kicked viciously at Shen Yuan’s shin!
The motion was clean and sharp, packed with power—a signature move she had practiced countless times.
"OW!!!"
Shen Yuan cried out as a sharp pang shot up his shin. Grimacing, he quickly pulled his leg back, his back hitting the cold metal wall of the elevator.
"Ow, ow, ow! Li Bao! Stop, stop, stop!!"
As if she would let him off that easy. She glared at him, still fuming, and landed another kick.
"It’d serve you right if I broke it! Maybe then you’d stop being such an ass all the time!!"
Shen Yuan grimaced, putting on a pained expression as he pitifully protested.
"Stop, stop, we have an exam today! If you break my leg, I won’t be able to take it!"
It seemed his ploy had worked, for now.
Li Zhi’s raised foot froze in mid-air.
She coldly watched the idiot before her, who was putting on a pained face while trying to guilt-trip her.
The sharp anger in her bright eyes subsided a little, but in its place, her lips curved into an icy smile.
When Shen Yuan saw that smile, his heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding instantly washed over him.
Li Zhi didn’t kick him again. Instead, she lowered her foot and watched him, crossing her arms in a relaxed posture.
The girl fiddled with the two cans of hot milk in her hands, leisurely watching Shen Yuan’s whole "it’s for the sake of the exam" act as she said with a smile,
"Perfect."
That single word, crystal clear, floated lightly into the quiet elevator, yet it exploded in Shen Yuan’s mind.
’Perfect?’
’Perfect for what?’
’Does she mean...’
’Perfect, so she can "break" my leg and I won’t be able to get a 650?’
’Perfect...’
’...and perfect, so that casual "uh-huh" she gave me in the stairwell can be taken back as if it never happened?!’
Li Zhi watched his expression freeze. Satisfied, she raised her delicate chin slightly, the icy smile on her lips spreading into a deeper curve.
"DING—"
The first floor.
The elevator doors slid open silently again, and the cold morning air from outside rushed in eagerly.
Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a glare, then walked out first with a light gait, not looking back.
Shen Yuan: "..."
He stood frozen on the spot, as if he could hear the sound of his own heart breaking, along with a faint, elusive chill.
’I can’t live like this!’
Shen Yuan shook his head and sighed, then started walking to catch up to Li Zhi.
Outside on the residential complex’s road, the early morning air was biting.
Li Zhi had her back to Shen Yuan, walking with quick, hurried steps. The hood of her jacket swayed gently with her pace.
Shen Yuan trailed after her, his hands in his pockets.
Silence spread between them. Only the rustling of their footsteps on dry leaves was starkly clear in the cold winter air.
They walked stiffly like this for a short distance. Just as they were nearing the complex’s main gate, Li Zhi, who was walking ahead, paused almost imperceptibly.
The girl turned her head, looking at Shen Yuan with an angry expression.
Seeing the beautiful girl’s furious expression, Shen Yuan instinctively smiled.
"What the hell are you smiling at!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Zhi took out a can of hot milk from the pocket on the side closer to Shen Yuan.