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

Chapter 276: Chapter 168: I Want Some of Your Sugar Too

The October evening wind was still blowing, but the two of them, walking side by side, felt none of its chill.

Shen Yuan’s fingertips unconsciously stroked the back of Li Zhi’s hand. The delicate, soft warmth of her skin left him in a daze, yet it all felt incredibly real.

Li Zhi kept her eyes slightly lowered, only occasionally stealing a glance at the figure beside her before quickly looking away. Under the streetlights, the faint blush on her ears never seemed to fade.

As the night deepened, the residential complex grew quieter.

Just moments before, they could still spot the scattered figures of residents returning home late. Now, they were all gone. All that remained were a few steadfast streetlights and the occasional chirp of insects.

Shen Yuan felt Li Zhi gently tickle his palm with her fingertip, and he turned his head to look at her.

"...What is it?"

Li Zhi didn’t say anything. She just slightly raised the hand he was holding, pulling out her phone with her other to glance at the screen.

10:01.

The glow from the screen clearly displayed the time.

Shen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on her hand.

Li Zhi’s voice was soft, with a barely perceptible waver. "We should head back."

Shen Yuan nodded, letting out a silent sigh.

The quiet peace of holding her hand felt like a sweet pebble tossed into the lake of his heart. The gentle ripples were still spreading, yet they were already being forced to subside.

Shen Yuan responded in a low voice, "Mm."

But he didn’t immediately quicken his pace. He just enclosed Li Zhi’s hand more firmly in his own, as if he could prolong this precious time alone for just another moment.

Li Zhi felt her fingertips completely enveloped by his. His grip was steady, conveying a gentle but stubborn refusal to let go.

She said nothing more, simply letting him lead her as she matched his pace, which was now a little faster than before, toward her apartment building.

The last few dozen meters of the path to her building’s entrance seemed to pass in an instant.

As they approached, the motion-activated light in the lobby flickered on, casting a cold, white glow.

Stepping into the somewhat empty elevator bay, the chill of the night and the pronounced indoor silence suddenly enveloped them.

Under the light, their clasped hands seemed starkly exposed.

Li Zhi seemed to be "scalded" by the light, instinctively trying to pull her hand back.

But Shen Yuan’s hand tightened for a brief moment, stopping her instinctive retreat.

He turned to look at her, and their eyes met.

Li Zhi’s gaze met his. The blush that had just started to fade quietly crept back onto her cheeks. She quickly looked away, but this time, she didn’t try to pull her hand free.

The numbers on the display panel showed the elevator was slowly descending from one of the upper floors.

During the brief wait, they stood side by side, neither of them speaking.

Li Zhi could clearly feel the warmth of Shen Yuan’s fingers, the light calluses on them, and the gentle heat emanating from his palm.

With a soft DING, the elevator doors slowly slid open before them.

The sound was like a small but distinct signal.

Shen Yuan reached out and pressed the button for 19A.

As the elevator doors slid shut, the slight hum of its ascent and the overhead light were the only things filling the small space.

The enclosed space seemed to magnify their unspoken feelings and the reluctance to part.

The moment the elevator began to rise, Shen Yuan felt Li Zhi’s hand—the one that had been resting passively in his—give his fingers a gentle, deliberate squeeze.

The pressure was feather-light, yet it carried a distinct warmth, a clear response.

That tiny movement was like a warm current, instantly washing away the indescribable sense of loss and the harsh reality of their separation that had settled in on their way up.

Feeling the warmth transmitted through their fingertips, inside this fleeting vertical space that led to their separate homes, the "time-to-go-home" reluctance was gently soothed by the softness in his palm and her silent response.

What filled the air was no longer the silent understanding from their walk, but the sound of their heartbeats—a little shy, yet so clear they drowned out the faint hum of the elevator.

This brief, ten-second journey to her door felt like a secret, fleeting extension of their time together, a small bubble of existence they were allowed to share.

The elevator came to a smooth stop. As the doors slid open, the cold white light of the hallway flooded in, shattering the brief, insulated world of the elevator car.

Shen Yuan felt her fingers wrapped around his tense for a moment before silently relaxing.

"We’re here."

"Mm."

As if by some unspoken agreement, they both stepped out of the elevator at the same time, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished floor.

The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Li Zhi’s fingers slipped from Shen Yuan’s palm without hesitation. The movement was gentle and natural, completely unforced.

Shen Yuan followed her lead, his palm loosening naturally, his fingertips leaving one last, phantom touch on the back of her hand.

As he took Li Zhi’s backpack from his shoulder, she reached out to take it.

A silent understanding hung in the air between them.

Shen Yuan was the first to speak. "I’m going to go home and study some more."

"Okay," Li Zhi said, looking up at Shen Yuan. "Make sure you get some rest."

Shen Yuan’s eyes instantly lit up at her words, as if he’d just caught an interesting signal.

"I know, I know."

The tender atmosphere from downstairs was instantly replaced by Shen Yuan’s familiar, cheeky demeanor.

He leaned forward slightly, getting a little closer to Li Zhi, that cheeky grin spreading across his face again. "Well, well—Li Bao. Are you... worrying about me?"

Seeing him instantly revert to his usual smug self, Li Zhi shot him an annoyed glare.