Chapter 282 - 170: Li Zhi: I Have Someone I Like
When he got home, the living room lights were still on. Zhang Yuyan and Old Shen were leaning against the sofa, each holding a game controller and playing a game.
Seeing Shen Yuan return, Ms. Zhang glanced up at her son, then without asking a single question, went right back to focusing on the game.
Seeing this, the corner of Shen Yuan’s mouth twitched.
Without even putting down his backpack, Shen Yuan sat right down next to his mom, his eyes glinting with mischief and anticipation. "Mom, your birthday is this Saturday. Have you thought about what gift you want?"
Zhang Yuyan didn’t even turn her head. "Go away right now."
With that, Zhang Yuyan quickly shouted, "Shen Guohao! Go chop your own vegetables! What are you doing running over to my side!"
Shen Yuan glanced at the TV screen.
’Well, would you look at that. Overcooked.’
It wasn’t that Shen Yuan hadn’t played this game with Li Zhi before. Although they had already beaten it, the entire process, let’s just say, was not exactly a friendly one.
If Shen Yuan hadn’t been in his own room, Li Zhi would have probably beaten him up on the spot.
Of course, it’s not like Li Zhi herself was much better.
Shen Yuan didn’t leave. He just leaned against the side of the sofa, quietly watching his parents frantically complete a pile of hamburger orders on the screen.
Finally, the level ended. A "Victory!" message popped up on the TV. Shen Guohao let out a long sigh of relief, while Zhang Yuyan put down her controller and smugly rubbed her wrists.
Shen Yuan seized the opportunity to scoot closer, his eyes twinkling as he smiled. "So, Mom, have you decided what you want for your birthday on Saturday? You’ve got to give me some ideas. Like jewelry or something?"
Hearing Shen Yuan’s words, Zhang Yuyan instantly gave him a look of disdain.
"How cliché is that? Seriously? Can’t you think of anything else to give as a gift? Is it always just jewelry and perfume? That’s for tricking little girls. Your mother is not a young lady anymore, and it’s not like I don’t have any."
The corner of Shen Yuan’s mouth twitched.
’Just great. She shot down the gift I prepared right from the get-go.’
’That’s my mom for you, Ms. Zhang Yuyan.’
"Then what do you want, Mom?"
Zhang Yuyan turned to look at Shen Yuan. "I want to go skydiving."
Shen Yuan: ?
’As expected, I can’t use conventional logic to understand Ms. Zhang Yuyan’s way of thinking.’
’It really was a bit much to expect to hear things like "As long as your grades are good," or "Just study hard," from my mom.’
"What’s with that look? Is there a problem with your mother wanting to go skydiving?"
Shen Yuan shook his head repeatedly. "No problem, not a problem at all. You’re right, Mom. You should get out and do more while you’re young. You won’t have the energy for it when you’re older."
"So, are you going to give it to me as my gift?" Zhang Yuyan asked.
Shen Yuan pointed at Shen Guohao. "Have Old Shen get it for you."
Zhang Yuyan nodded. "Your dad said he’s taking me to Qinghai for the weekend."
Shen Yuan: ?
’Forget it. No time to be confused.’
Shen Yuan shot to his feet, his voice filled with disbelief.
"You’re not taking me?!"
"Why would we take you? Don’t you have school?"
Zhang Yuyan looked up, her tone stating the obvious. "Besides, your dad and I took our annual leave. We’re not just going for the weekend. We won’t be home at all next week."
"Then what am I supposed to do for food?" Shen Yuan was dumbfounded.
"Oh," Zhang Yuyan said, as if she’d just remembered, casually waving the controller in her hand. "You can eat at Li Zhi’s place next door. It’s settled. Now don’t bother us, we’re trying to beat this level!"
Shen Yuan stared, dumbfounded, as his parents instantly dove back into the tense "vegetable-chopping" battle. He sat on the sofa for a few seconds before finally, resignedly, picking up his backpack.
’He had wanted to arrange a surprise for his mom, but it turned out he was the one who got completely ’arranged’ for.’
"Hey, by the way, when are you guys leaving for the trip?"
"The flight is Saturday morning."
Shen Yuan nodded. "Got it."
’I’ll give it to her after school tomorrow, then.’
Back in his room, Shen Yuan gave the cat its customary petting session before sitting down at his desk.
Shen Yuan took his math corrections notebook out of his backpack and laid it on the desk.
Looking at the math problems on the page, he habitually stroked his chin. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind—’Why not video call her and ask?’
Taking out his phone, Shen Yuan deftly tapped Li Zhi’s profile picture and sent a video call request.
The ringing tone sounded a few times before the screen lit up, revealing Li Zhi’s face.
She seemed to have just stopped what she was doing. The ends of her hair were slightly messy, and her face still held a look of lingering Concentration, along with a trace of impatience at being interrupted. "What is it?"
Shen Yuan turned the camera toward the test paper on his desk and said with a cheeky grin, "I’m painfully stuck on these two stupid problems. Care to enlighten me?"
Li Zhi frowned, glancing at the test paper on the screen with disdain. "...Can’t you use that rusty brain of yours? Didn’t Old Zhou go over this?"
But despite her words, she didn’t hang up right away.
"Come on, Li Bao, help me out."
Li Zhi sighed at the ceiling, finally relenting as if resigned to her fate. "Tsk. Which one?"
Her tone was still full of disdain, but her eyes were already focused on the problem Shen Yuan was showing her.
Time slipped by quietly, filled with the sounds of Li Zhi’s disdainful commentary and Shen Yuan’s silent thinking.
Just as Shen Yuan finally understood the solution and breathed a sigh of relief, Li Zhi, on the other end of the call, picked up her water cup, glanced at the time, and stood up.
"It’s almost eleven o’clock."
She stretched her slightly stiff shoulders. "Alright, now that you’ve figured it out, go digest it on your own."
"Yeah, thank—" Before Shen Yuan could finish his thanks, Li Zhi’s cool voice cut him off again.
"I’m going to take a shower."
She concisely announced her plans and then ended the video call without the slightest hesitation.
The screen instantly went black, leaving only the words "Call Ended" and a room that was suddenly very quiet.