I'm in Senior Year, and the System Says I'm Going on a Blind Date with My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 210: Chapter 145: Childhood Sweethearts of 99.99% Purity (Part 2)

Shen Yuan was already used to automatically preparing a dipping sauce for his Eldest Female Cousin whenever they had hot pot.

"Here, eat up."

After cooking a portion of beef, Shen Yuan took the initiative to pass it over.

Just as Yang Yishui habitually reached out to take it, she saw Shen Yuan place the beef into the bowl of Li Zhi, who was sitting opposite them.

"Huh?"

His Eldest Female Cousin froze. The fingers holding her chopsticks curled slightly, and her motion of leaning forward to accept the bowl came to an abrupt halt.

"Yours is next!" Shen Yuan placated her perfunctorily.

Through the white steam rising from the hot pot, his Eldest Female Cousin suddenly relaxed her chopsticks to cup her chin. Her face showed no sign of displeasure; instead, she looked thoroughly intrigued.

Yang Yishui’s gaze darted back and forth between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi, the corners of her mouth lifting into a knowing smirk.

A moment later, Shen Yuan finished cooking another portion of beef. He picked it up, placed it in Yang Yishui’s bowl, and said with a smile, "Here, Sis. It’s ready."

Yang Yishui looked at the beef in her bowl, a playful smile on her face.

Eldest Female Cousin slowly raised her head, looked Shen Yuan straight in the eye, and said softly, "Shen Yuan."

Hearing Yang Yishui call his name, Shen Yuan immediately grew wary. "What’s up?" he asked nervously.

The smile on Yang Yishui’s lips widened. With an ambiguous half-smile, she said, "You’ve gotten quite good at this."

Shen Yuan gave an awkward laugh. "It’s all because you taught me so well, Sis."

Yang Yishui snorted in disdain, then leaned in and whispered in Shen Yuan’s ear, "When did this happen?"

Hearing this, Shen Yuan frantically waved his hands, then picked up his phone and typed out a reply.

"Nothing’s going on. We’re just childhood friends, 99.99% pure!"

Seeing his response, Eldest Female Cousin snorted coldly.

’99.99%? Yeah, right! As if I’d believe you!’

However, seeing that Shen Yuan was unwilling to talk, Yang Yishui didn’t press the matter. Instead, she tapped her bowl.

Shen Yuan nodded repeatedly.

Just then, a pair of chopsticks appeared at the edge of Shen Yuan’s bowl.

CLINK—

The crisp sound of bamboo chopsticks against the porcelain bowl broke the tense silence.

Li Zhi lowered her gaze, placing a piece of tender beef covered in cilantro into Shen Yuan’s bowl. Strands of her hair swayed gently in the steam from the hot pot. "I overcooked it. It’s a little tough."

The two cousins glanced at the beef that had just appeared in Shen Yuan’s bowl, then turned in unison to look at Li Zhi, who had already straightened up in her seat.

Shen Yuan was a little surprised, while Yang Yishui felt like she had just been force-fed a dose of PDA.

’Damn it! I can’t believe I’m getting subjected to PDA from this little brat, Shen Yuan!’

Yang Yishui shot Shen Yuan a stunned look, her eyes filled with questioning.

’So *this* is what you call ’99.99% pure’ childhood friends?’

Shen Yuan laughed awkwardly, unconsciously scratching his head, unsure of how to explain the situation.

But when he picked up the beef Li Zhi had given him, he instantly understood why she said it was a little tough.

’A little tough? This is as tough as it gets! If it weren’t for how thin the beef was cut, it would be completely unchewable!’

After dinner, just as she had promised, Yang Yishui called a car for Shen Yuan and Li Zhi to take them back to school.

After she returned to the hot pot restaurant, Yang Yishui’s cousin, Yang Liu, came to find her.

"Was that your younger maternal uncle’s son just now?" Yang Liu asked curiously.

Yang Yishui nodded. "Yeah, that was him."

"What about the girl with him?" Yang Liu pressed on. "It’s my first time seeing her. She’s really pretty. Are they dating?"

Hearing this, a tired smile appeared on Yang Yishui’s face. She replied helplessly, "Those two? They’re childhood friends. I just never thought... I can’t believe I ended up getting a faceful of Shen Yuan’s PDA. I really..."

Yang Yishui felt a wave of irritation.

Seeing this, Yang Liu burst out laughing. "If it’s really bothering you that much, how about I introduce you to a few guys?"

Yang Yishui quickly waved her hands in dismissal. "No, thanks. Men are too much trouble. Dealing with that group of kids all day is already annoying enough. I’m not looking to add to my problems."

"I’d rather be single forever."

「...」

"Why did you suddenly decide to give me that piece of meat?"

Shen Yuan asked, voicing the question on his mind as they walked through the school campus.

"I overcooked it."

Li Zhi stated seriously, "It didn’t taste good anymore."

Seeing the serious expression on the beautiful girl’s face, Shen Yuan suddenly let out a laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You’re actually quite bold, you know."

Li Zhi’s steps faltered. In the twilight, a faint blush spread across her porcelain-white ear tips.

She turned her head away, biting her lower lip. Her long eyelashes fluttered rapidly, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her school uniform, but her voice was deliberately cool.

"I already told you. The meat was overcooked and didn’t taste good, so I gave it to you."

Shen Yuan chuckled, naturally recognizing the girl’s feigned indifference.

’Yeah, right.’

Although Shen Yuan had never tasted Li Zhi’s cooking, how could she possibly mess up something as simple as cooking a slice of beef in hot pot?

Shen Yuan tilted his head toward Li Zhi and asked probingly with a smile, "Actually, were you wondering what secret Sister Shui and I were talking about?"

She suddenly spun around to glare at him, her ponytail tracing a defiant arc in the air. "Who cares what you and Sister Shui were talking about!"

Shen Yuan said with a smile, "I told Sister Shui we are childhood friends, 99.99% pure."

At that exact moment, the streetlights flickered on, casting a warm yellow halo over the girl’s slightly dazed face. Li Zhi’s fingers suddenly clenched the hem of her uniform.

She pursed her lips, now cool from the night breeze, and suddenly looked up to meet Shen Yuan’s eyes. "Why not 100%?"

The tips of her porcelain-white ears blushed red in the twilight, but her voice remained taut and cool. "Who stole the remaining 0.01%?"