Chapter 522 - 228: This Is the Second Time I’ve Kissed You

Chapter 522: Chapter 228: This Is the Second Time I’ve Kissed You

He didn’t even need to search for subtle clues. The way Eldest Female Cousin was already gossiping told Old Zhou everything he needed to know.

Besides, the two of them were completely different from other couples. They held hands openly.

At first, he’d hesitated about whether to call them out or intervene. After all, puppy love was a firm red line according to school regulations.

But now, watching Shen Yuan’s almost fanatical state of concentration and the fierce drive with which he was charging toward his goal, the last of Old Zhou’s worries dissipated.

’Damn it, what’s there to crack down on with this kind of puppy love?’

’This is the kind of puppy love that should be encouraged!’

’This was what Old Zhou considered the true power of love!’

’This was the most natural flutter of youthful hearts. As long as it didn’t affect their studies or cross any lines, why should he, their homeroom teacher, be the one to forcibly snuff it out?’

Old Zhou’s gaze once again swept over Shen Yuan’s absorbed figure and Li Zhi, who was reading quietly beside him.

Old Zhou gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, but his eyes held a hint of subtle indulgence.

’Forget it. Just let them be.’ 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

With his hands clasped behind his back, Old Zhou ambled out the back door of Class 15. The sparse sounds of morning reading had already begun to echo from other classrooms in the hallway.

He returned to the spacious faculty office on the same floor and had just settled into his chair when he let out a long sigh.

He glanced up just in time to see Yang Yishui getting ready to head to the morning reading session.

An image of Shen Yuan, so focused he seemed welded to his test paper, flashed through Old Zhou’s mind.

"Xiaoyang, Shen Yuan has been studying quite diligently lately, hasn’t he?"

Yang Yishui turned to look at Old Zhou. The image of Shen Yuan diligently working on his science composite problems during her English class filled her with a sense of helplessness.

Still, Eldest Female Cousin had to approve of Shen Yuan’s attitude toward his studies.

"My aunt—oh, that’s his mom—called me a few days ago to ask if the third-year homework load was too heavy. She said Shen Yuan has been staying up until one or two in the morning every day."

Eldest Female Cousin thought of how energetic Shen Yuan still managed to look every day and sighed. "Youths really can burn the candle at both ends. At my age, I can’t pull all-nighters like that anymore."

As soon as Eldest Female Cousin finished speaking, the bell for the morning reading session rang through the hallway.

"Time for class, time for class! Argh! Why did I have to choose English!"

Old Zhou watched her back disappear through the doorway and chuckled. He leaned back in his chair again, leisurely picking up his teacup.

"Well now," he mused, "I suppose I should go get some breakfast."

...

"Hey, got anything to eat?"

The tip of Shen Yuan’s pen came to a sudden halt. He looked up, confused, to meet the furrowed brow of his Eldest Female Cousin.

"But..."

"Hurry, hurry! I’m starving!" Eldest Female Cousin looked at Shen Yuan pitifully. "I fell asleep yesterday and missed dinner..."

"Let me look."

Shen Yuan sighed and ducked his head to look in his backpack.

To use his study time more efficiently, Shen Yuan had started keeping snacks on hand.

A moment later, Shen Yuan pulled two small bread rolls and a carton of milk from his backpack.

"My hero!" Yang Yishui’s eyes lit up as she snatched the bread rolls and milk without a hint of ceremony.

She tore open the packaging, stuffed a piece into her mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, "Thank my aunt for me later... Mmph, I’m alive again!"

The words had barely left her mouth when she saw Shen Yuan holding out his hand.

Yang Yishui: ?

"That was my supply for tonight. Since it’s been eaten, it needs to be replenished."

Shen Yuan said with a perfectly straight face.

Yang Yishui clapped Shen Yuan on the shoulder. "Hey! With your cousin here, you think I’d let you eat this stuff? Just you wait! I’ll get you a supply drop at noon."

Hearing Yang Yishui’s promise, a nearby Zhou Shaojie poked his head over. "Sister Shui, can I get a supply drop too? Studying is really hard work for me, you know."

Yang Yishui looked at Zhou Shaojie. "Come to the office during evening self-study for a dictation quiz. If you pass, I’ll bring you something tomorrow."

"Sister Shui, now you’re just being formal! How could I possibly ask you to buy me food?!"

Zhou Shaojie said with an awkward laugh, trying to salvage the situation.

But it was too late.

Eldest Female Cousin patted Ah Jie’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, it’s settled. I’ll be waiting for you during evening self-study."