Chapter 485 - 221: I Like You; Saying It Once Is Not Enough
Chapter 485: Chapter 221: I Like You; Saying It Once Is Not Enough
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. The fighting spirit that had been burning so fiercely for the "660-point reward" was utterly doused by the words "the day after tomorrow."
It was over.
His grand study plan had gone completely down the drain!
’Just a moment ago, Shen Yuan had been scheming, trying to cook up an excuse for New Year’s Day to lure Li Zhi over to his house for a full day of grinding through practice questions.’
’After all, they had just made their relationship official. Studying together could even double their efficiency.’
’Maybe he could even use the pretense of explaining problems to praise her a few times... ’You’re amazing, babe...’’
’But now? So much for that.’
’Li Zhi was going out!’
’Did they have to endure separation right after making things official?’
"...The... the day after tomorrow?"
Li Zhi watched as Shen Yuan’s expression instantly fell, his eyes brimming with sadness.
The beautiful girl’s eyes blinked. The corners of her mouth lifted in an almost imperceptible, sly curve, but she deliberately kept her expression stern.
"Mhm, the day after tomorrow. As for the study plan... you’re on your own. In any case, I’m going out tomorrow!"
Shen Yuan’s mouth fell open. He was crestfallen.
But he recovered quickly.
Shen Yuan turned his head and glanced at the New Year’s Eve gala still playing on TV.
"Then, Li Bao, how late can you stay today? What about your parents?"
At his words, the slight, smug curve of Li Zhi’s lips instantly drooped.
Her sparkling eyes were now tinged with a veneer of regret and helplessness.
The beautiful girl sighed dramatically, her small hand tugging at the hem of her sweater as she drew out her words.
"Ahhh—speaking of that."
Li Zhi’s voice sounded a bit deflated.
"Old Li told me not to stay too late and to go back early."
When she was done, she tilted her face up slightly, her clear, bright eyes scanning Shen Yuan’s.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Shen Yuan immediately deflated.
Shen Yuan glanced at the time. It was already past 9:00 PM.
’So she’ll have to leave in a little while, won’t she?’
At this thought, the boy’s shoulders slumped, his reluctance and disappointment plain to see in his eyes.
Seeing his dejected state, the regret Li Zhi had deliberately feigned instantly crumbled.
A sly gleam sparkled in her eyes, and a moment later, unable to hold back, she let out a snort of laughter.
The sound was crisp and short, carrying a triumphant tremor, like a spring breeze shattering winter ice.
Stunned by her sudden laughter, Shen Yuan turned his head to look at her in confusion.
The profound disappointment on the boy’s face hadn’t yet faded before it was replaced by a hint of confusion.
"What... are you laughing at?"
Seeing Shen Yuan’s reaction, the sly glint in Li Zhi’s eyes intensified.
She cleared her throat and tried her best to put on a serious expression, but the curve of her lips, which she was desperately trying to suppress, completely gave her away.
"Not laughing at anything," Li Zhi said, her voice thick with amusement as she deliberately drew out her words. "It’s just... I suddenly remembered that Old Li did tell me to come home early."
"Oh..."
Shen Yuan’s voice dropped, and he sounded even more dejected.
Seeing Shen Yuan’s head hang low, Li Zhi couldn’t hold it in any longer.
The girl leaned closer to Shen Yuan. With a hint of smugness and the charming air of someone about to reveal a secret, she spoke clearly.
"But he only said that *after* I told him I was spending New Year’s Eve with you. You dork!"
The moment her words fell, Shen Yuan snapped his head up, Li Zhi’s smiling face, just inches away, clearly reflected in his dark pupils.
Their eyes met.
Shen Yuan instantly realized that Li Zhi had been messing with him.
His dejected expression vanished like a receding tide, replaced by the playfully scheming look of someone who’s just been teased.
"Li Zhi!"
Shen Yuan drew out her name, his voice a mock-ferocious growl of someone who had just caught on, but he couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from curving into a smile.
Shen Yuan’s body suddenly leaned forward with an almost predatory aura.
His arm shot around her back, and before she could react and try to struggle free, he had her firmly encircled in front of him.
Li Zhi’s heart skipped a beat at his sudden action and the instantaneous shift in his aura.
The arm clasped around her back was warm and strong, holding her with an irresistible force. The distance between them instantly shrank until they were close enough to feel each other’s breath.
"You idiot, Shen Yuan! Let... let me go!" Li Zhi instinctively pushed against his chest, her cheeks, which had been smug a moment before, now burning from their current proximity.
"Let you go?"
Shen Yuan grinned mischievously at Li Zhi. "You think you can run away after messing with me? You made me so upset... shouldn’t there be some compensation?"
"Who... who’s gonna compensate you! It’s your own fault for getting upset!"
Li Zhi averted her eyes, not daring to look at his burning gaze, but the slight blush on her ear tips and her accelerating heartbeat betrayed her inner turmoil.
Before Shen Yuan could say what the compensation was, Li Zhi shouted for help from the nearby cats.
"San Geng! Naonao! Save me! Dad is bullying me!"
"Hmph! Yell all you want! Naonao is deaf! He can’t hear you!"
With that, Shen Yuan pulled Li Zhi even closer into his arms.
Just as Li Zhi was about to struggle again, she heard Shen Yuan’s voice by her ear.
"Just let me hold you for a little longer."
At his words, Li Zhi’s hands, which had been pushing against his chest, gradually stilled.
She gave a token struggle, then the hands pushing him away went limp, no longer resisting.
The girl’s burning cheek pressed tightly against the warm crook of his neck, her nose filled with his fresh and familiar scent.
"Idiot..."
The soft mutter held an almost imperceptible note of surrender, and all intention to struggle had vanished.
She could clearly feel the arm around her waist was firm and steady, possessing a power that was both undeniable and reassuring.
Like a punctured balloon, all the huffy energy she’d had a moment ago deflated completely.
Li Zhi’s body completely relaxed, and she even actively snuggled further into his embrace, finding a more comfortable position.
Feeling the girl in his arms grow pliant, the mischievous smirk in Shen Yuan’s heart silently melted into gentle contentment.
He lowered his head slightly, resting his chin gently on the crown of Li Zhi’s soft hair as he gathered her even closer.
The two of them stayed like that, nestled together.
Naonao tilted his head, his big eyes watching the embracing pair with curiosity.
At some point, San Geng padded over, raising a paw to step on Li Zhi’s ankle where it rested on Shen Yuan’s leg.
The little cat padded gracefully onto Li Zhi’s lap.
Shen Yuan watched as San Geng settled down comfortably. "Obviously, San Geng knows exactly where the most comfortable spot is."
"Hmph! Don’t you even think about it!" Li Zhi gave Shen Yuan a light punch.
"In that case, I’m starting to get jealous."