Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Childhood Sweethearts Under the Moonlight

Li Zhi peeked her head out from behind her bedroom door.

The childhood friends stared at each other.

Shen Yuan spoke first. "So? What’s the verdict?"

Li Zhi watched him warily and said, "Get in."

"Huh?"

Shen Yuan was stunned.

On the surface, Shen Yuan was a picture of calm. But in reality?

He was panicking.

This was a beautiful girl’s bedroom!

This was the private sanctuary Li Zhi guarded so fiercely, a place she’d sworn Shen Yuan would never set foot in!

Shen Yuan swallowed hard.

To be honest, Shen Yuan hadn’t been in Li Zhi’s room since high school.

Usually, it was Young Master Li who invaded his study. At this point, Young Master Li treated his study like it was her own home.

Which was why Shen Yuan never dared to get too carried away on a normal day, terrified that Young Master Li would launch a surprise attack and he’d never be able to get carried away again.

But he was getting sidetracked. Shen Yuan pulled his thoughts back, looked at Li Zhi, and asked softly, "Are you sure?"

Li Zhi rolled her eyes. "Do you want to see or not? This is your only chance."

Shen Yuan nodded eagerly, then realized—hell, he’d earned this!

’I have every right to see it!’

And so, Shen Yuan straightened his back and strode into Li Zhi’s room.

Li Zhi had been hiding behind the door when she opened it for him.

’She’s got quite a few tricks up her sleeve,’ Shen Yuan thought.

But soon enough, Shen Yuan learned what "tricks" really meant.

The moment he stepped inside, Li Zhi shut off the lights.

In an instant, the entire room was plunged into pitch-black darkness, so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Shen Yuan turned his head in surprise, trying to find Li Zhi’s silhouette in the dark.

But he could see nothing but darkness.

Regret immediately washed over Shen Yuan. He realized the dress he’d bought was black. In this darkness, he wouldn’t be able to see what she looked like at all.

"You never specified *under what conditions* you had to see it. Seeing it in the pitch-dark still counts as seeing it!" Li Zhi’s voice rang out from the darkness, full of righteous confidence, as if she couldn’t care less about his complaints.

Shen Yuan laughed in exasperation.

"Fine! See if I care if you don’t turn on the lights! I’m staying right here today."

He retorted, not showing any weakness, and then strode deeper into the room.

During this time, Shen Yuan’s eyes had gradually adjusted to the dark.

Though things were still blurry, he could now make out the rough outlines of the furniture in the room.

Besides, since their rooms were right next to each other, Shen Yuan was no stranger to its layout.

He navigated the darkness with ease, heading straight for the window.

When he reached it, he couldn’t help but mutter.

"You really went all out, didn’t you? Even drew the curtains!"

Just then, Li Zhi’s anxious voice came from behind him.

"Hey! Don’t move!"

Before her words had even faded, Shen Yuan had already yanked the curtains open.

Moonlight spilled into the room, instantly brightening the space.

"What were you planning to do in the pitch-dark?"

Shen Yuan turned around and saw Li Zhi standing there, a breathtaking sight.

Perhaps the heavens were on his side. From the height of the 18th floor, moonlight poured down like water, outlining the girl’s slender shoulders and neck.

The black, satin halter-neck dress clung to her figure, cinching at the waist before cascading like a waterfall to her ankles, making her seem as tall and elegant as an orchid under the moon.

Her dark hair was strewn messily over her shoulders, the tips gilded with a soft glow from the silvery light. Her eyes, usually full of mischief, were now downcast, her lashes casting trembling shadows on her cheeks.

It was a look that was clearly meticulously crafted, yet she had chosen to hide it in the darkness, revealing a rare shyness only when forced into the light.

Shen Yuan’s hand, still holding the curtain, suddenly froze. His Adam’s apple bobbed silently.

The usual witty banter was stuck in his throat, leaving only the deafening thumping of his heart in his chest.

The moonlight imprinted Li Zhi’s silhouette onto his retinas. That black dress seemed to swallow all the noise in the world, leaving him momentarily speechless.

It wasn’t until he caught sight of the beautiful girl’s flustered expression that Shen Yuan snapped back to his senses. He let out a scoff, a poor attempt to cover up his reaction. "Hiding so well... Were you hoping it wouldn’t hold up in the light?"

Shen Yuan failed to notice that his own voice was a few degrees deeper and raspier than usual, nor did he remember how annoyed he’d been about the darkness just moments ago.

Hearing Shen Yuan’s voice, Li Zhi snapped back to reality and took a step back.

The hem of her dress rippled with her hasty retreat, revealing a hint of her ankle.

Unfortunately, Li Zhi was wearing stockings, so Shen Yuan couldn’t see the pale, pearlescent skin underneath the moonlight.

"I-I’ll go turn on the lights!"

The beautiful girl’s usually calm tone was now filled with panic.

Just as Li Zhi turned, Shen Yuan grabbed her by the wrist.

"Don’t."

Shen Yuan could feel Li Zhi’s body go rigid.

Likewise, Li Zhi could feel Shen Yuan’s nervousness.

The light sweat from his fingertips felt sticky against the skin of her forearm. When Li Zhi felt the warmth of Shen Yuan’s hand, she jumped.

The sound of her high heels stepping back shattered the stagnant night.

"You jerk, l-let go!" The end of Li Zhi’s sentence trembled as she tugged her arm, trying to break free from his grip.

Shen Yuan suddenly realized he was still clutching the girl’s slender wrist and quickly loosened his grip.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Zhi snatched her arm back.

The normally assertive girl had completely lost her usual composure; she was unbelievably flustered.

A subtle silence flowed between them in the moonlight.

Li Zhi took half a step back, leaning against the edge of her desk, her fingertips unconsciously tracing its surface.

Shen Yuan, for his part, turned to look out the window.

In the hazy atmosphere, the hazy feelings of adolescence felt surprisingly clear.

"Hey, about that Tong girl... there’s really nothing going on between us anymore."

"Like I give a damn!"

Though that’s what Li Zhi said, the tension in her shoulders quietly eased.

Shen Yuan suddenly smiled.

"What are you smiling at?" Li Zhi frowned.

"I just realized, you’re quite the tsundere."

"Wh-who’s a tsundere!"

Shen Yuan looked at Li Zhi’s flustered expression in the moonlight and said with a laugh, "You know, being a tsundere is kind of outdated."

"Hmph!"

Li Zhi turned her head away, refusing to look at Shen Yuan.

The next second, Shen Yuan’s voice sounded by her ear.

"That dress looks really good on you."

Li Zhi’s face instantly turned red.

But thankfully, the moonlight concealed it, so Shen Yuan couldn’t see anything amiss.

"Y-you, get out!"

Li Zhi grabbed a random doll and threw it at Shen Yuan.

"Hey, hey, hey! I won that doll for you!"

"You’re lucky I’m not throwing a book at you! Get out!"

Li Zhi held up the doll, threatening to throw it again.

Shen Yuan protested, "This is my prize for winning! You can’t do this!"

"You’ve already seen it! Now you can get out!"

"What do you mean I’ve seen it? It was pitch-dark! I’m not an owl!"

"You did see it! You even said I looked good!"

Li Zhi grabbed a long cabbage dog plushie from who-knows-where and started whacking Shen Yuan with it.

"Out! Out! You’ve seen it, so get out!"

"What the hell? I get kicked out even when I say you look good?!"

Shen Yuan complained as he was beaten all the way to the door.

But Li Zhi paid him no mind, pointing a finger at the door. "Open it and get out yourself."

"Hmph! Fine, I’m leaving!"

With that, Shen Yuan opened the door.

The light from outside flooded into the room.

Shen Yuan, who was just about to step out, paused.

Shen Yuan was certain that if he turned back now, he would absolutely be able to see what Li Zhi looked like.

"I’m heading back. Same time tomorrow?"

Li Zhi looked at Shen Yuan’s back and nodded. "5:50, by the door."

"Okay. Good night."

"Good night."

With that, Shen Yuan left the room, pulling the door closed behind him.

Hearing Shen Yuan leave, Li Zhi let out a long sigh of relief in her room.

The girl placed a hand over her heart, feeling it race.