Chapter 507 - 226: Li Zhi: What’s Sweeter, the Strawberries or Me?

Chapter 507: Chapter 226: Li Zhi: What’s Sweeter, the Strawberries or Me?

Shen Yuan watched as Li Zhi hastily packed her schoolbag and put on her down jacket.

With looks of reluctance and helplessness, the two said their goodbyes and parted ways.

After seeing her to the door, Shen Yuan walked back to his own empty bedroom, his steps feeling a little heavy.

Ms. Zhang Yuyan had already tactfully retreated to her own room, leaving the living room quiet.

Shen Yuan closed his bedroom door. The warmth from the heater seemed to instantly fade.

The air still seemed to hold the faint, sweet scent from Li Zhi, along with the smell of the leftover durian pizza.

Shen Yuan ambled over to the side of his bed, slipped off his slippers, and then threw himself backward, sinking into the soft mattress.

"Sigh—"

A long, heavy sigh, thick with frustration, escaped his lips.

Shen Yuan stared at the ceiling, his gaze unfocused.

The warm sensation of caressing Li Zhi’s calf through her thick, black pantyhose was still a vivid memory.

So delicate, so warm...

And that charged atmosphere, the feeling of a racing heart...

All gone!

Interrupted!

Cut short by a single message from Old Li!

The thought of Li Zhi’s adorable expression of helpless resignation made Shen Yuan’s heart feel like it was being scratched by a kitten’s paw—itchy and a little stifled.

He rolled over and buried his face in his pillow.

"Dammit..."

His muffled voice emerged from the pillow, filled with utter grievance and unwillingness to accept it.

This feeling of being forcefully interrupted by "parental authority" at such a critical moment was more vexing than being stuck on a difficult math problem.

"A camera... Old Li definitely installed a camera, didn’t he..."

He couldn’t help but mumble again, like a pouting child who’d just had his candy snatched away.

Unbidden, images flashed through his mind: Li Zhi’s slightly flushed cheeks, her look of wanting to refuse yet welcoming his advances, and the tips of her feet, wrapped in thick black pantyhose, gently resting and swaying on his leg...

Shen Yuan abruptly lifted his face from the pillow and let out a heavy breath, as if trying to exhale all his frustration.

He sat up and glanced around the quiet bedroom.

The space that had just been filled with their soft whispers and the charged atmosphere now held only him. Naonao and San Geng had wandered off somewhere, and not even the sound of a cat’s purr could be heard.

That intense feeling of loss was like the chill from outside the window on a winter night, seeping in bit by bit.

He raised a hand and rubbed his face, trying to rub away both the amorous memory and the frustration of being interrupted.

But it didn’t seem to be working.

"Forget it, forget it..."

He muttered to himself, as if trying to talk himself down. Although his tone was still tinged with annoyance, a hint of self-reassuring cheerfulness was already audible.

’What’s the point of being so bummed out...’

He let out a long breath and gave his reflection in the mirror-like windowpane a smile, though it still looked a bit forced.

"New Year’s Day isn’t over yet! There’s still tomorrow! What’s the rush?"

Shen Yuan psyched himself up again, his fingers unconsciously tapping the mattress. It was as if new hope was quietly rising with the single word "tomorrow."

The thought was like a spark, instantly dispelling the gloom in his heart. Shen Yuan sat up in bed with a carp-like flip, his face once again radiant.

"Time for a shower and bed!"

Shen Yuan couldn’t wait for tomorrow to arrive.

The next morning, Shen Yuan almost couldn’t stop himself from messaging Li Zhi.

Shen Yuan: "Li Bao! Are you up? [sun emoji]"

Shen Yuan: "Want to come over to my place to do homework again today? I have a ton of practice tests waiting to be graded by Li Bao!"

After sending the messages, Shen Yuan stared at his screen in high anticipation. His mind was already conjuring an image of Li Zhi appearing in his study again, wearing that captivating pantyhose outfit he couldn’t take his eyes off of.

He even fantasized that today, perhaps... they could take things a step further.

The corners of his mouth lifted. He felt like he was back in the game.

However, the wait for a reply was a little longer than he’d expected. Just as he was starting to grumble, Li Zhi’s reply finally popped up on the screen.

Li Zhi: "..."

Li Zhi: "Selaan!"

Li Zhi: "Come to your place? You’re dreaming, you dumbass Shen Yuan."

Shen Yuan’s heart tightened at the word, which was slang for "I’m screwed." His smile froze on his face.

Just as Shen Yuan was about to ask what was wrong, another message came in.

Li Zhi: "My dad called a family meeting this morning."

Li Zhi: "Comrade Old Li gave me a stern lecture!! Said I’m never home during the New Year’s holiday! Always running around outside every single day!"

Li Zhi: "He said I have to stay home and keep them company today! [crying cat head.jpg]"

The texts were filled with Li Zhi’s exaggerated complaints, mimicking Old Li’s tone, as well as her own sense of grievance.

Shen Yuan instantly felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head.

’Comrade Old Li! Did you install a camera in my house or something?! How could you land a precision strike the moment I had an idea!’

Shen Yuan: "[cracking apart.jpg]"

Shen Yuan: "Then... then what do we do?"

Shen Yuan: "My homework needs your holy blessing, Li Bao!"

Shen Yuan: "How am I supposed to study if I can’t see you? [rolling around frantically.gif]"

After a brief silence, there was a new message from Li Zhi’s side. A line of text with a hint of slyness popped up on the screen.

Li Zhi: "My dad only said I couldn’t go out... He didn’t say other people couldn’t come over!"

Li Zhi: "So! You dumbass Shen Yuan! You! Get! Over! Here!"

Li Zhi: "Hurry up and grab your test papers and error-correction notebook!"

Li Zhi: "This Young Master will reluctantly deign to supervise you at my home today!" ℴ

Staring at the words on his phone screen, Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

He wouldn’t be able to relax like he could in his own study, nor could he... ahem, receive any sweet rewards. The physical distance between them would probably have to be much greater, too.

Besides, the mere thought of Comrade Old Li’s scrutinizing gaze made Shen Yuan feel an invisible sense of restraint already closing in around him.