Chapter 486 - 222: Li Zhi: No one said I can’t kiss you
Chapter 486: Chapter 222: Li Zhi: No one said I can’t kiss you
Perhaps it was the exhaustion from their earlier horseplay, or maybe it was the cozy warmth from the heater.
As Li Zhi snuggled in Shen Yuan’s embrace, she actually started to feel a little sleepy.
She nuzzled into the crook of Shen Yuan’s neck and mumbled, her voice thick and nasal, "I think it’s a little hot."
At her words, Shen Yuan glanced down at her flushed cheeks. He tightened his arms around her silently, his other hand fumbling for the remote to turn the temperature down a notch.
"Let me know if you get cold."
"I know. I’m not an idiot."
As she spoke, Li Zhi nuzzled against him again.
The sweet gesture sent a wave of heat through Shen Yuan.
But soon, he noticed her breathing slowing. Shen Yuan looked down at Li Zhi. "Are you about to fall asleep?"
Li Zhi immediately forced herself to stay awake, retorting in a drowsy voice, "No way! I’m not falling asleep..."
She lifted her head to look at Shen Yuan, her voice trailing off as she mumbled, "If I fall asleep... wouldn’t that just give a certain Selaan an opportunity..."
"Tsk, I hadn’t even thought of that until you brought it up. Go on, fall asleep. The moment you do, I’ll kiss you."
Shen Yuan chuckled mischievously, looking like he could hardly wait.
Li Zhi rolled her eyes at him. "Pervert!"
But despite her words, Li Zhi was still getting sleepier and sleepier.
Her eyelids grew heavy, and her head unconsciously drooped onto Shen Yuan’s shoulder. Her fingertips mindlessly clutched the cuff of his sweater as her breathing became deep and even.
Just then, in the quiet moment—
CLICK.
The crisp sound of a key turning in the lock suddenly came from the entryway.
Li Zhi jolted, instantly shooting up from Shen Yuan’s arms!
Her sudden movement woke San Geng, who had been sleeping on her lap.
All her sleepiness vanished. Her pupils were slightly dilated from the sudden awakening, and though her voice was still soft and groggy, it was laced with urgency. "Is that your parents?! Are they back?!"
Shen Yuan, who had been lost in her sweet, warm embrace, froze at the sudden sound of the lock.
He instinctively pulled Li Zhi closer, shielding her in his arms.
Her wide eyes, still drowsy, were now filled with panic, making her look just like a frightened rabbit.
Shen Yuan quickly comforted her. "It’s okay, it’s okay. They knew you were coming. They won’t come in here."
The words had barely left his mouth when a rustling sound came from the living room, like someone quietly changing their shoes, followed by deliberately hushed voices.
Li Zhi’s tense body relaxed a little, but her fingers still gripped the hem of Shen Yuan’s sweater.
"It’s okay," Shen Yuan said, taking the chance to pull her back into his arms, his palm rubbing her back soothingly.
Sure enough, a moment later, the noises from the living room died down.
The room returned to its previous quiet, with only the faint voices of the gala hosts from the projector drifting through the air.
Li Zhi let out a long sigh of relief, pressing her forehead against Shen Yuan’s shoulder and nuzzling him. "That scared me to death..."
"What are you so scared of?" Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi, amused. He lowered his head, sniffing the peachy scent of her hair, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Hey, hey, we’re an official couple now, you know. Besides, the way you looked just now... you were like a little kitten with all its fur standing on end."
"You’re the one whose fur is standing on end!" Li Zhi looked up to glare at him, only to meet his smiling eyes.
Their eyes met, and they both burst out laughing.
The last bit of tension vanished completely. Li Zhi settled back into his embrace, her fingers beginning to unconsciously toy with a loose thread on his sweater.
"Don’t unravel my sweater."
"So what if I do? Got a problem with it?" Li Zhi shot a glare up at Shen Yuan.
"This is the only sweater I’m wearing."
At his words, the movement of Li Zhi’s fingertips paused abruptly.
She tilted her face up slightly. In the light, her clear eyes shone with a mischievous glint, and the corners of her lips curved into a meaningful smile. "Oh? In that case—"
She suddenly gave the thread a hard tug. "Then freeze to death, you Selaan!"
"Hey, hey, hey—"
He grabbed her troublemaking wrist, but his eyes were filled with amusement. "Why are you just like San Geng and Naonao?"
"I’m their mother! Who are they supposed to take after if not me?"
"Me," Shen Yuan said confidently.
Li Zhi immediately shot him a huge eye-roll, and her small, stockinged foot landed an unceremonious kick on his shin. "Idiot! I don’t want them to be like you, you big dummy!"
Seeing her like this, Shen Yuan couldn’t hold back his smile. He quickly placated her, "Okay, okay, okay—they’re not like me, they’re like you. Happy now?"
Then, he tightened his grip, effortlessly pulling Li Zhi—who had scooted a little away—back into his embrace. He nuzzled his chin against the soft crown of her head, his warm breath tickling her sensitive ear.
"Behaving now?" Shen Yuan’s voice was low and amused, tinged with intimate teasing. "And now... you’re not sleepy anymore, are you?"
Li Zhi shook her head. "Not sleepy now. I was nearly scared to death."
"What was there to be afraid of?"
"Easy for you to say! If you’re so brave, why don’t you come over to my place next time! Then you’ll see how it feels!"
Shen Yuan imagined the scene: him, in Li Zhi’s room, and Uncle Li happening to walk in...
He sucked in a sharp, cold breath, as if he could already feel Old Li’s death glare on him. All his earlier teasing bravado was instantly doused with ice water, and he instinctively hunched his shoulders.
He immediately shook his head frantically, his voice dry and tinged with guilt. "Nope, nope, nope! I take it back!"
The young man shrank back, forcing a fawning, cowardly smile onto his face.
"Heh." Li Zhi let out a short, cold snort and unceremoniously rolled her eyes at him again.
"Idiot! Scared now, are you?"
Shen Yuan nodded profusely. "Yep, I’m chicken. Totally chicken now."
Li Zhi gave him another disdainful look, then her gaze was drawn to the colorful, shifting light and shadows playing across the wall.