Chapter 245: Chapter 157: How About I Sleep at Your Place?
The food was devoured, bit by bit.
By the time they both felt mostly full, all the takeout was gone.
"It’s past ten."
The moment Shen Yuan mentioned the time, Li Zhi’s fingers, which were folding the takeout containers, suddenly froze.
In the cool light of the projector, her curled toes unconsciously pressed into the carpet’s fluff, smoothing over the indentations she’d made in her earlier embarrassment.
Her pupils trembled slightly beneath her lashes. The lingering aroma of grilled eggplant mixed with the cool air from the AC, creating an indescribable poignancy.
"Oh."
The single syllable she squeezed out had an almost imperceptible drawl. Li Zhi tossed the items into the takeout bag one by one.
After clearing the table, Shen Yuan started tidying up the study.
"Just sit. I’ll take care of it."
Li Zhi nodded, watching Shen Yuan put one item after another back in its proper place.
A feeling of loneliness began to well up inside Li Zhi.
They both knew, with perfect clarity, that their time together, which had stretched from after school until now, was over.
Shen Yuan had to go home and rest, and so did Li Zhi.
But Li Zhi was home alone today.
While Shen Yuan tidied up, Li Zhi curled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms.
After a short while, Shen Yuan’s voice sounded by her ear.
"I’m all done."
Shen Yuan’s shadow, cast from his spot by the sofa, stretched long, perfectly covering her toes where they curled into the couch cushions.
Shen Yuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyelashes casting a delicate shadow beneath his eyes as he watched Li Zhi bury her face in a throw pillow, then slowly lift it.
A strand of her hair, blown by the AC vent, stuck to the tip of her nose.
"Oh." Li Zhi picked up the remote and turned off the projector.
The projector’s cool light vanished, plunging the room into a dim, amber-hued darkness.
Li Zhi’s fingertips, clutching the remote, unconsciously brushed over the textured surface of the buttons. Amidst the soft, scraping sound, she suddenly raised her hand toward Shen Yuan.
Her palm, as smooth as white jade, hovered in front of Shen Yuan. Her voice, tinged with the lingering sweetness of cola, trembled in the air. "...A handshake."
Shen Yuan’s breath caught.
As his gaze fell upon her face, Shen Yuan’s throat suddenly felt dry.
Shen Yuan reached out. The moment his fingertips touched her palm, the coolness seeping from between Li Zhi’s fingers felt like molten lava.
Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan and said softly, "Pull me up."
Shen Yuan applied a little force, pulling Li Zhi up from the sofa.
Just as Li Zhi was about to pull her hand back, Shen Yuan suddenly twisted his wrist, lacing his fingers between hers.
The instant their fingers intertwined, the soft fleece of his sweatshirt cuff brushed against her skin. The fine hairs on the back of Li Zhi’s neck stood on end as if from an electric shock.
"You..."
Li Zhi’s voice held a hint of resignation.
Shen Yuan looked at her, now so close, a brilliant smile spreading across his face.
Just as Li Zhi was wondering how to react, Shen Yuan was already leading her by the hand out of the study.
The scorching heat from Shen Yuan’s palm transferred to Li Zhi’s hand, making her ears burn.
They walked side by side, their shadows stretched long by the wall sconces. The overlapping silhouettes rose and fell with the rhythm of their steps.
Li Zhi’s lounge pants rustled as she walked. Her toes curled restlessly inside her fuzzy slippers, her heels tapping lightly against the backs of the shoes with each step.
The pale blue veins on the back of her hand were gently caressed by the thin calluses on Shen Yuan’s—formed from holding a pen.
It wasn’t until the entryway’s motion-sensor light suddenly turned on that Li Zhi realized they had reached the front door.
Her hand suddenly squeezed gently, as if she were trying to pull him back.
Feeling the pressure from her hand, Shen Yuan turned to look at Li Zhi and said with a smile, "What’s this? Can’t bear for me to leave, Li Bao?"
Hearing this, Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a glare of angry embarrassment. "Who said you can’t leave! Hurry up and go home!"
With that, Li Zhi tried to wrench her hand free.
But Shen Yuan’s fingers suddenly tightened, pulling her slightly forward. Before he could lean in, Li Zhi’s palm landed flat on his chest.
She looked up at Shen Yuan, her face flushed with angry embarrassment. "Don’t push your luck!"
A short, soft laugh escaped Shen Yuan’s throat. "In that case, Li Bao, I’ll come again tomorrow."
Hearing this, Li Zhi froze for a second.
Normally, she would have probably rejected him by now.
But now...
Li Zhi nodded lightly. "Mm, I... you can wake me up."
The moment the words left her mouth, Li Zhi’s toes curled up inside her fuzzy slippers, and a faint blush crept up her ears, spreading along the wisps of her hair.
Shen Yuan replied softly, "What do you want for breakfast tomorrow, then?"
"Anything is fine, as long as it’s not sweet."
Before she even finished speaking, Shen Yuan’s warm breath, tinged with the sweetness of cola, ghosted over her burning ear. "I’m this sweet. Don’t you want a taste, Li Bao?"
Shen Yuan’s provocative act earned him the kick he was asking for.
"Drop dead, you pervert! Don’t ruin my mood for breakfast!"
Shen Yuan chuckled, then his gaze fell on the door.
"I’ll head back now, then?"
As Shen Yuan finished speaking, Li Zhi nodded lightly.
"Mm."
Shen Yuan opened the door with his other hand.
As the door to Li Zhi’s home slowly opened, Shen Yuan saw the hallway outside and the door to his own home directly opposite.
Shen Yuan suddenly didn’t feel like going back.
He turned to look at Li Zhi. "How about I sleep at your place? You can take the bed; I’ll sleep on the floor."
The moment he said it, Li Zhi wrenched her hand free from his demonic grasp.
"Get lost, you damn pervert!"
She hurriedly pushed Shen Yuan out of her home.
Looking at Shen Yuan standing in the hallway, Li Zhi scolded, "In your dreams! Go home and sleep! Wake me up tomorrow morning!"
"I know, I know, I’m going," Shen Yuan quickly replied, then turned and walked toward his own door.
Just as Shen Yuan took out his keys to open the door, his steps suddenly halted for some reason.
He turned his head again, looked at Li Zhi standing in her doorway, and said, "If you get scared sleeping alone, you can come over to my place. My room is pretty lively. Naonao and San Geng can keep you company."
"Get outta here! I’m not a kid anymore! Why would I be afraid of sleeping alone?!" Li Zhi’s indignant voice rang out again.
Shen Yuan shrugged. "Alright then. Good night!"
Li Zhi nodded and replied softly, "Good night."
With that, Shen Yuan opened his door and went home, while Li Zhi closed the door to hers.
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