Chapter 499 - 224: Reward for Good Performance (4)

Chapter 499: Chapter 224: Reward for Good Performance (4)

Of course, she knew what "reward" Shen Yuan was talking about.

The beautiful girl looked at Shen Yuan, let out a soft huff, and said, "That’ll have to wait until I get back!"

During their video call, Li Zhi feigned a serious tone as she reminded him about his study schedule, and Shen Yuan agreed with a smile.

Li Zhi also told Shen Yuan about her visit to her grandfather’s place, though she spent most of the time complaining about her cousins there.

As they chatted, Li Zhi’s voice began to trail off. She covered her mouth with her hand and let out a small yawn, her eyelids growing heavy.

Shen Yuan noticed at once and gently urged her, "Go get some sleep. Don’t you have to go to your grandfather’s for lunch tomorrow?"

Li Zhi nodded. "Mhm, I’ll head back right after lunch. You get some rest, too."

"Got it. Good night, babe."

"Good night."

After the screen went dark, Shen Yuan carefully gathered the scattered exam papers on his desk and stacked them neatly.

...

The next afternoon, the house was exceptionally quiet.

Shen Yuan sat at his desk but couldn’t focus the way he had yesterday. He kept glancing out the window, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the tabletop like a child waiting for a gift.

The three o’clock sun slanted into the room, its warmth tinged with a hint of restlessness.

Naonao and San Geng were curled up and dozing off to the side, seemingly having picked up on Shen Yuan’s mood, and were less boisterous than usual.

A message from Li Zhi was waiting in the chat window on Shen Yuan’s phone screen.

"Just got off the highway. I’ll be home in about 15 minutes."

The corners of Shen Yuan’s mouth turned up involuntarily as he read the message, and his heart leaped with joy.

Thinking of Li Zhi’s smile from their video call last night, Shen Yuan was filled with anticipation.

Li Zhi getting off the highway meant their time apart was ending and their reunion was just moments away.

Shen Yuan got up and began to pace, planning how to welcome his girlfriend. His mind was already racing, trying to decide where to take her for a celebratory dinner.

But he quickly abandoned that idea.

Old Li most likely wouldn’t approve.

’Trying to whisk his daughter away on New Year’s Day, and for dinner, no less.’

’Would Old Li really agree to that?’

’Are your intentions really just about dinner? Or to be more blunt, who’s the real dinner here?’

He could already imagine the look Old Li would give him.

Shen Yuan shuddered at the thought.

Just as his imagination was running wild, his phone chimed again.

It was a message from Li Zhi.

Li Zhi: "Boyfriend! I’m home! Get ready for me to come over and check your homework!"

Shen Yuan was jolted out of his reverie when he saw Li Zhi’s message.

He immediately ran a hand through his slightly messy hair and smoothed out the wrinkles in his sweater, making sure he looked presentable.

After doing all that, Shen Yuan turned up the thermostat a bit to warm up the room.

’This definitely wasn’t to create a warm environment just so Li Zhi would take off her down jacket.’

’Everyone takes off their down jacket when they come into a heated room in the winter!’

’Shen Yuan was just thinking that if his Li Bao was wearing the same kind of outfit as before, this would keep her a little warmer.’

Before long, Shen Yuan got a message from Li Zhi telling him to open the door.

Shen Yuan immediately left his room. Under his mom’s watchful eye, he walked to the front door, and then, feeling her knowing gaze on him, he opened it.

The moment he opened the door, Shen Yuan saw the beautiful girl bundled up in a creamy-white down jacket.

Li Zhi had her schoolbag in hand; it seemed her excuse for coming over was to do homework.

The moment their eyes met, a smile bloomed in hers, but it vanished when she saw Zhang Yuyan peeking out from behind Shen Yuan. She immediately straightened her back and put on a prim expression.

"Aunt Zhang, I came over to do homework with Shen Yuan." Li Zhi’s voice was clear, but the tips of her ears were tinged with pink.

Zhang Yuyan nodded with a warm smile. "Hurry and get inside, it’s cold out."

Hearing this, Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a glare and whispered, "Move, you idiot!"

"Oh, oh!"

The moment Shen Yuan stepped aside, Li Zhi slipped into the house, only to be met by Zhang Yuyan’s knowing stare.

The beautiful girl quickly lowered her head and made a beeline for Shen Yuan’s bedroom.

Shen Yuan glanced at his mom and shook his head in exasperation.

Zhang Yuyan watched Shen Yuan go back to his room, unable to suppress the broad smile on her face.

Back in his room, Shen Yuan looked at the girl before him and eagerly pulled her into an embrace.

Li Zhi’s body tensed for a moment before she relaxed, chuckling as she poked his shoulder with a fingertip. "Hasn’t even been a full day and you’re already this clingy?"

"A day apart feels like three years," Shen Yuan said, tightening his arms and gently nuzzling her long hair.

Hearing his words, Li Zhi wrapped her arms around him in return.

After they’d embraced for a moment, Li Zhi suddenly looked up. "Where are the exam papers? I need to check them."

"Now?" Shen Yuan was still holding her, unwilling to let go. "Can’t I recharge for a little longer?"

Before she could answer, Shen Yuan buried his face deeper into her long hair.

His warm breath tickled her ear. "Isn’t helping your boyfriend recharge part of a girlfriend’s duties?"

Hearing Shen Yuan’s coaxing words, Li Zhi let out a soft huff next to his ear.

"Alright, I’ll let you hug me for a little while longer~"

A smile on his face, Shen Yuan hugged Li Zhi a little tighter.

Soon enough, however, Li Zhi started to protest.

"It’s too hot, you idiot! I’m burning up!"

Shen Yuan quickly let her go, then watched as Li Zhi took off her down jacket.

To his disappointment, Li Zhi wasn’t wearing *that* outfit today.

Underneath the thick down jacket, she was just wearing a casual, loose-fitting turtleneck sweater and an ordinary pair of thick, fleece-lined pants—typical warm clothes for winter.

The simple, modest outfit completely hid the lines of her slender figure, creating a stark contrast to the stunning visual she had presented in her carefully chosen New Year’s Eve outfit the night before.