Chapter 327 - 183: What Are You Up To, Sneaking Around
At the edge of the frame, Shen Yuan was looking at her sideways, his gaze incredibly focused. The faint smile at the corner of his mouth was cast in sharp relief by the light and shadow.
Li Zhi instinctively bit her lower lip, her fingertip swiping fiercely to the next picture.
It was the exact moment she had woken up and her eyes had met the camera lens.
Although both of them were looking at the phone screen, for some reason, Li Zhi felt like they were actually looking at each other.
’Delete it right now!’
She was practically ordering herself.
But as her index finger hovered over the red delete button, Li Zhi’s gaze couldn’t help but fall back on the photo where they seemed to be looking at each other through the screen.
Li Zhi’s fingertip curled and uncurled on the cold screen. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to press the glaring red delete button.
After exiting the photo app, Li Zhi quickly opened WeChat on Shen Yuan’s phone and tapped on her own profile.
"What are you doing?" Shen Yuan watched her, completely baffled.
Li Zhi didn’t look up, her fingers flying across the screen.
"Hmph! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! If you delete them, there’d be no evidence, would there?"
"Huh? Wh-What evidence?" Shen Yuan didn’t quite catch on at first.
Li Zhi quickly sent the two photos to her own phone.
"The evidence, you dumbass!"
The girl snapped her head up, the blush on her cheeks deepening, her eyes feigning fierceness.
"Th-These two photos are your ’criminal evidence’! They’re ironclad proof that you took pictures of me without permission! Of course *I* have to be the one to keep them! If you make me mad, I can use them to... to expose you at any time!"
A DING-DONG notification chimed from her pocket, confirming the photos had been sent successfully. Only then did Li Zhi shove the phone back at Shen Yuan like it was a hot potato.
Having done all this, she immediately averted her gaze, not daring to look at Shen Yuan’s face, which she was sure was now covered in a teasing smile.
The girl did her best to keep a straight face and act righteous, but her eyes were glued to her own dark phone screen. "Y-You’re not allowed to delete my evidence! You hear me!"
Shen Yuan could no longer suppress the smile on his lips.
He looked down at the phone back in his hand, then at Li Zhi, who was clearly so nervous her eyelashes were trembling, yet was still trying to maintain a "with this evidence in hand, the world is mine" posture.
Shen Yuan didn’t call her out on her tsundere declaration. He just played along, nodding, his voice filled with an unconcealable, gentle smile.
"Alright, alright. The evidence will be kept safe and sound, ready for Li Bao’s inspection at any time."
Hearing his words, Li Zhi felt both shy and embarrassed, her face feeling like it was about to burn up again.
She wanted to say something else to maintain her stern facade, but found herself at a loss for words.
The girl let out a heavy "Hmph!" Stiffening her neck, she unlocked her phone. After confirming the photos had arrived safely, half of her forced bravado instantly deflated, leaving only the frantic drumming of her heart.
Li Zhi looked at the two photos she had just received on her phone, her fingertip gently zooming in and out on the screen. Suddenly, she turned and glared at Shen Yuan.
"Dumbass Shen Yuan, your photography skills are terrible."
"What?" Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow at her.
The girl’s fingertip jabbed forcefully at her own image on the screen. "I’m this good-looking, but in the picture you took, you dumbass, I don’t even look half as good!"
With that, Li Zhi turned her head away and muttered, "You dumbass, go practice how to take photos!"
Shen Yuan was stunned for a moment. Seeing the faint blush on the tips of her ears and her unconsciously trembling eyelashes, he suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"What are you laughing at?" Li Zhi demanded, a little displeased.
Hearing her question, Shen Yuan leaned in a little closer, his warm breath ghosting over the shell of her ear.
"Where am I supposed to practice? Li Bao, you make it sound so simple. If I go out on the street and start taking pictures of random people, won’t I get arrested for being a pervert?"
Li Zhi recoiled slightly. "Y-You already are a pervert!"
With unconcealed mischievousness and amusement, Shen Yuan moved closer still. "Then to keep me from getting arrested, would Li Bao be willing to be my exclusive model?"
"Who wants to be your exclusive model! You dumbass!"
Li Zhi shot Shen Yuan a quick glare, the blush that had just started to fade from her face swiftly returning.
The girl tensed her face and shook her small fist in front of Shen Yuan. "I’m warning you, dumbass Shen Yuan! If... if I catch you secretly taking pictures of me again..."
She paused there, as if searching for the right words to add more weight to her threat.
"...Hmph! I’ll definitely make you pay! You hear me?"
Seeing Li Zhi’s forced-serious expression, Shen Yuan immediately nodded. "Loud and clear. You’ve given the order, so I definitely won’t dare to secretly take pictures anymore."
"Hmph! It’s good that you know!"
Li Zhi immediately turned her head away, her gaze fixed on her phone screen.
Shen Yuan tilted his head, secretly observing Li Zhi while quietly plotting what kind of beautiful photo he should take of the lovely girl next time.
’Shen Yuan’s photography skills might be average, but that couldn’t overcome Li Zhi’s natural good looks.’
’Besides, they’re in their third year of high school right now. It’s the perfect time to document their youth.’
’Yeah, senior year is a time well worth remembering.’
This idea, like a seed, quietly took root in Shen Yuan’s heart.
***
Night fell and the city lights began to glow. The time quietly slipped past six in the evening.
CREAK... The main door of the pet hospital downstairs was gently pushed open, followed by the sound of familiar voices.
Hearing this, Shen Yuan reminded her softly, "Li Bao, time to get ready to eat."
Hearing Shen Yuan’s words, Li Zhi immediately sat up straight.
Almost at the same time, Zhang Yuyan and Old Shen appeared on the second-floor landing.
The moment he saw his mom, Shen Yuan spoke up. "Mom, you finally decided to come back. Any later and I would’ve had to ask the hospital for some dog food."
Zhang Yuyan shot him an exasperated look. "Enough with the smart mouth! Just eat your food."
Old Shen placed the KFC and milk tea he was holding onto the table.
"Hurry up and eat."
"Time to eat, time to eat."
Shen Yuan quickly pulled out fries and a burger from the takeout bag.
"Li Bao, time to eat."
Li Zhi rolled her eyes at Shen Yuan before taking the dinner from his hand.
Watching the two kids eat, Zhang Yuyan’s gaze couldn’t help but soften.