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

Chapter 277: Chapter 168: I Want Your Sugar, Too (2)

"Hurry up and do your practice test! Since you’re going to do it, just finish half the sheet. Show it to me tomorrow morning."

With a soft click, the door closed, cutting off Li Zhi’s slightly chilly voice.

Shen Yuan stood in place and rubbed his chin. He chuckled to himself at the closed door before turning, satisfied, and heading toward his own home.

Back home, Shen Yuan was met by his mom’s questioning gaze.

"I was talking about some problems with Li Zhi at school."

Hearing Shen Yuan’s words, Ms. Zhang immediately retracted her gaze.

"Get some rest."

Shen Yuan nodded. "Got it. BURP."

The moment the sound escaped, Ms. Zhang’s sharp gaze fell on him again.

"Were you sneaking a Coke?"

Shen Yuan quickly said, "I’ll replace it! I’ll restock the drinks at home!"

Zhang Yuyan snorted. "Like I need *you* to restock? Besides soda, what else would you possibly stock it with, huh?"

"Iced... iced tea?" Shen Yuan ventured.

"Get lost!"

"You got it!"

Having received the royal decree from Her Majesty his mother, Shen Yuan returned to his room, greatly relieved.

The moment he entered his room, however, Shen Yuan smelled poop.

San Geng had pooped outside the litter box again.

Punishing him didn’t work. The only solution was to wash the litter box and change the litter.

The silly cat was a bit of a clean freak.

If he could, he’d even want separate wet and dry areas for his business.

After cleaning up the cat’s mess, Shen Yuan pulled out the test sheet and started grinding through the problems.

「The next morning, at 5:10 AM.」

At this time of day in late October, the sky outside was still dark.

Li Zhi was bundled up in her comforter, fast asleep. Her soft black hair was splayed messily across the pillow, and her cheek bore the faint red imprint of the fabric.

The phone on her nightstand buzzed to life, its screen lighting up as a sudden ringtone shattered the quiet of the room.

The pretty girl frowned and let out a muffled whimper, her hand fumbling blindly beside the pillow.

Li Zhi’s eyes weren’t even fully open, her long lashes trembling. When she finally found the phone, her fingers swiped clumsily at the screen a few times before she managed to answer the call.

The screen lit up, and Shen Yuan’s chipper, wide-awake face immediately appeared.

Li Zhi’s face was close to the phone, so the camera only captured half of her sleepy expression.

Her eyes were half-lidded, her gaze as hazy as if veiled in mist, and she stared blankly at the screen.

"Morning, Li Bao,"

Shen Yuan, leaning against his own bed, said cheerfully, "Time to get up."

Li Zhi remained dazed for a long moment before blinking slowly.

The light from the screen reflected in her pupils, flickering and revealing a sort of natural, adorable daze.

"...Hm? ...Mmm... Okay."

Each word sounded as if it were being pulled from a dream, soft and mumbled.

Shen Yuan then watched as Li Zhi emerged from under her comforter. The cool morning air made the girl shiver, which seemed to wake her up.

Her unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened, and Li Zhi could now clearly see Shen Yuan’s face on the screen, grinning from ear to ear as he watched her with great amusement.

Li Zhi’s pupils dilated slightly. The last vestiges of sleepiness and confusion were instantly blown away.

A short, mortified cry of "Ah!" escaped her lips.

Li Zhi violently slammed the phone screen-down onto her still-warm comforter!

The movement was so fast that all Shen Yuan saw was his screen abruptly plunging into darkness.

"Hey, hey! Was that really necessary, Li Bao?! Don’t hide! It’s not like I took a screenshot!"

The moment he finished speaking, he heard a soft SMACK from the direction of the comforter.

Li Zhi’s indignant voice came through the phone.

"Pervert! If you took a screenshot, you’re so dead!"

Hearing Li Zhi’s threat, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

The image replayed clearly in his mind. Thinking of how Li Zhi had frantically slammed the phone down, Shen Yuan found it incredibly cute.

"Tsk," he clicked his tongue, unable to keep the smile out of his voice. "Li Bao really is cute..."

"Shen Yuan! You’re dead meat!"

Carrying Li Zhi’s "blessing" with him, Shen Yuan opened his front door a short while later.

After putting on his shoes, Shen Yuan walked over to Li Zhi’s front door, just like always.

At almost the exact same moment, Li Zhi’s door clicked open.

Pushing the door open, Li Zhi saw Shen Yuan.

The scene from the video call was still fresh in her mind, his smug laughter still seemingly ringing in her ears.

Li Zhi’s face was a stony mask. Without a word, she delivered a solid, clean kick right to his shin.

"Hiss—"

Caught completely off guard, Shen Yuan sucked in a sharp breath and grimaced in pain. Even the hand holding his backpack trembled.

"Hey, hey, hey! I did wake you up, you know!"

Li Zhi let out a dry laugh. "That’s a separate issue."

With that, Li Zhi placed her backpack in Shen Yuan’s hands. "I need to put my shoes on."

Watching the pretty girl slip her white-socked foot into her shoe, Shen Yuan clenched his fist.

When the elevator doors opened on the first floor, the boy and girl walked out of the building entrance side by side.

The cool morning air, carrying the distinct, fresh scent of plants, washed over them.

In stark contrast to the tranquility of the previous night, the neighborhood was gradually filling with the sounds of life: elderly people on their morning exercises and parents hurrying their children to school.

The crisp chirping of birds had replaced the insect song of the night before.

Shen Yuan naturally fell half a step behind Li Zhi. His gaze rested on her ponytail as it swayed gently with her steps, and the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

Though Li Zhi didn’t look back, she could clearly feel his gaze on her, like a feather brushing against the nape of her neck, making it feel warm.

She pursed her lips, then suddenly slowed her pace just enough for Shen Yuan to naturally fall into step beside her.

Shen Yuan asked, "What should we get for breakfast?"

"Whatever. I’m fine with anything. In fact..."

Li Zhi thought of last night’s late-night snack, and the heavy feeling in her stomach seemed to return.