Chapter 434 - 211: Shen Yuan’s Monthly Exam Scores Are Ideal

Chapter 434: Chapter 211: Shen Yuan’s Monthly Exam Scores Are Ideal

He tilted his head, his cheek gently brushing against Li Zhi’s long hair. His voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet night, carrying a hint of excitement he couldn’t hold back.

"Li Bao..."

Shen Yuan paused. His hand, resting on Li Zhi’s arm, gave it a gentle squeeze.

"This monthly exam... I feel like... it’s in the bag."

He took a deep breath, as if to let out all his pent-up confidence. "650! I’m absolutely certain I’ll get it!"

The lamplight outlined his arched brows and the dancing light in his eyes. It was a confidence forged from countless sessions of focused effort and late-night struggles.

Li Zhi’s steps faltered for a moment at his sudden declaration.

Her head dipped even lower, nearly burying itself in her collar, and the arm Shen Yuan was holding remained still.

Li Zhi didn’t look at him. Only a soft, muffled voice emerged from her collar, still low, as if carrying the chill of the wind along with a hint of impatience.

"Dumbass Shen Yuan... The scores aren’t even out yet. Don’t be so cocky."

As she spoke, Li Zhi pulled up her hood, as if trying to hide herself even deeper.

"Let’s hurry home. I’m freezing to death."

Her tone was flat. There was no surprise, no excitement, not even her usual level of sarcasm.

Those brief words were perhaps a tacit acknowledgment of the impending result.

The smug look on Shen Yuan’s face subsided a little, but the light in his eyes didn’t dim in the slightest.

Back home, Li Zhi closed her bedroom door and casually tossed her schoolbag and doll beside her desk.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, silent and still.

The image of Shen Yuan’s triumphant face involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

’His solemn vow to score 650 this time felt like he was making some grand promise.’

Li Zhi leaned against the window, her fingertips lightly tapping the cold glass as her thoughts drifted.

’That rule about not dating anyone who scores below 650... she’d just blurted it out to Shen Yuan back when she was angry.’

’Now it had become the very thing forcing him to study like crazy.’

’At the thought, a sliver of warmth spread through her chest, mingled with a hint of flustered annoyance.’

’That guy, Shen Yuan... he can’t possibly think that just getting the score will make things a done deal, can he?’

She pursed her lips, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously, but then she deliberately affected a cool tone, lowering her voice as if to convince herself.

"I only said I wouldn’t date someone who scores under 650. That doesn’t mean I *have* to date him if he does."

The moment the words left her mouth, even she felt they were a poor attempt to hide her true feelings. She quickly shook her head as a blush crept up her cheeks and hurriedly turned towards her desk, afraid that another second of thought would leave her trapped by Shen Yuan’s determined smile.

’After all, she could talk tough, but she couldn’t lie to herself about the anticipation in her heart.’

...

Early the next morning, just as his alarm passed 5:40 a.m., Shen Yuan shot up in bed.

It was still pitch-black outside, but the winter chill was kept at bay by the heater in his room.

Shen Yuan’s heart was just as warm, like a newly kindled flame.

’The scores!’

’The exam scores were being released today!’

’Yesterday he’d talked a big game about how scoring 650 was "in the bag," but after Li Zhi’s warning not to be so cocky, he was on pins and needles.’

He was both certain and a little apprehensive.

Shen Yuan’s gaze fell on the kittens on his bed. The two little critters were still asleep.

"Still sleeping, you piggy kitty? Wake up!"

Shen Yuan gently nudged Naonao’s belly. The cat let out a disgruntled "MROWL" and flicked its tail.

San Geng, however, was more alert and opened its heterochromatic eyes to look at him.

Shen Yuan looked at the two little ones, lowering his voice, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

"Let me tell you guys, today’s a big day! The exam scores are coming out!"

"650 points! Your old man has this in the bag!"

He said this while rubbing Naonao’s head. The little fella, seeming to catch his excitement, stretched out and rubbed against his palm.

San Geng, on the other hand, tilted its head as if listening intently.

Shen Yuan was amused by this sight, and his anxiety faded a little. "If I really get the score, I’ll treat you guys to a feast! And then I’ll have your mom come over sooner to experience the joy of fighting you for the blankets."

He quickly threw on his clothes, all sleepiness gone.

As he shuffled to the bathroom in his slippers to wash up, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upwards, and he even started humming a song.

’The thought of those 650 points swirled in his mind, as if it could become reality at any second.’

’After all, he was just so confident.’

’He was perfectly capable of getting 650; the last joint exam was just ridiculously hard.’

After washing up, Shen Yuan walked out of the bathroom and over to the window.

He pulled open the curtains. The sky outside was still dark, and the winter morning was unusually quiet.

Naonao watched Shen Yuan, seeming to sense the young man’s high spirits.

As for San Geng, it had stealthily gotten off the bed and gone to the side of the litter box, where it began to paw at the floor.

"Hey!"

Shen Yuan turned his head to stare at San Geng, and its pawing immediately stopped.

"Go in the box!"

San Geng looked at Shen Yuan, then glanced at the litter box.

"Meeeow~"

It was an aggrieved cry, as if protesting against Shen Yuan.

’What the hell, just look at how filthy this box is!’

The little neat-freak cat couldn’t tolerate even a single dropping in the box that wasn’t its own.

But under the threat of Shen Yuan’s glare, it still climbed in. Then, it stood with one paw in the litter while the other three rested on the edge of the box.

Shen Yuan watched this "Golden Rooster Standing on One Leg" pooping style and found it hard to keep a straight face.

He immediately took a picture and sent it to Li Zhi.

’One must learn to share the good things in life.’

...

Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a helpless look. "You should find some time to wash the box. Look how disgusted San Geng is."

"He poops outside even when it’s clean. The only time he’ll go inside properly is right after I’ve washed it and put in new litter."