Chapter 57 Now It’s Like This; Imagine When They Go to College

Chapter 57 Now It's Like This; Imagine When They Go to College

"Wow, Shi Nian, Lin Yao, take a look at this. Have you seen this girl in the photo?"

Xiao Kai snatched Jiang Na's phone and shoved the photo right in front of Shi Nian and Lin Yao.

The suddenly enlarged phone screen filled Lin Yao's vision.

Before she could even prepare herself mentally, Lin Yao saw Shi Yu, who usually looked cold and indifferent, with his deep, dark eyes lowered. He was lifting a slender girl, whose face was hidden by her school uniform, onto the sink behind him.

His gaze was inexplicably intense and even had a hint of desire.

Lin Yao's breath caught for a few seconds...

She never knew that when Shi Yu looked down at her while holding her, he had such an expression.

"This girl is...?" Shi Nian stared at the phone screen for a few seconds before suddenly turning to look at Lin Yao.

Lin Yao: "Wh-what?"

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Shi Nian: "She looks familiar, doesn't she? Do you feel the same way?"

Lin Yao: "..."

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, almost scared by Shi Nian's sudden question.

Fortunately, Shi Nian didn't recognize her.

With her head covered by the school uniform, it would be strange if anyone did.

Lin Yao: "Um... yeah, a little."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the boy sitting opposite them let out a low, barely audible laugh.

Lin Yao secretly glared at him.

If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be so embarrassed now. How dare he laugh.

Xiao Kai: "Sister Nian, look, it's our school uniform. We must have seen her at school, which is why she looks familiar."

Gu Hui also leaned over to examine: "Sis, Brother Yu kept this from you too. You really don't know who she is?"

Shi Nian shook her head, a bit worried, and whispered to Lin Yao: "My brother seems to be quite skilled at messing with girls, doesn't he?"

"Yes, yes." Lin Yao bit her lip.

Her face felt so hot. She couldn't tell Shi Nian that the girl almost messed with by Shi Yu was herself.

Luckily, someone came in and interrupted this little episode.

It was Zhou Yang, the yellow-haired student from No. 5 Middle School, having a meal with classmates next door.

They were celebrating their graduation and had already had several rounds, even shedding tears.

Hearing that Qi Yanye and Shi Yu were nearby, Zhou Yang came over with a bottle of alcohol.

"No matter what, we have to drink one together... My Brother Shen went to the flood-stricken areas in the south and then to the west for disaster relief. He didn't even tell us before flying abroad... Brother Yan, Brother Yu, I only have you guys left. If you don't drink this cup, I won't leave tonight."

Zhou Yang cried genuinely and was indeed quite drunk.

Shi Yu looked disdainfully, and Qi Yanye was impatient, but they still supported the nearly stumbling Zhou Yang and drank the alcohol.

Lin Yao only realized later that she hadn't seen Shen Chaowen for a long time.

Turns out he had gone abroad.

...

...

In the following days, before the college entrance exam results were announced, it was the most indulgent and joyful time.

Lin Yao, who was used to waking up at 5 AM every day, chose to completely relax after the exam.

She felt like someone who desperately needed sleep, changing from jumping out of bed with closed eyes at the sound of the alarm at 5 AM to not being woken up even by multiple alarms at 11 AM.

Xia Tingnan kept teasing her about becoming a lazy bug, saying her mother would hit her.

Fortunately, Shi Yu and Shi Nian spoke up for her, saying she had studied too hard and needed to catch up on sleep during her growing years.

Xia Tingnan, initially angry, softened upon hearing this and said, "Just for this summer," temporarily not scolding Lin Yao.

Thus,

Lin Yao's daily life became waking up leisurely around 11 AM, going to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, and unexpectedly meeting Shi Yu there.

"Good morning. There are 15 days until the exam results come out."

"...10 days."

"...5 days."

"...3 days."

Lin Yao's hand holding the toothbrush trembled: ...

The young man had already taken a shower that morning and was leaning against the door frame in a simple solid-colored T-shirt. His black hair hung slightly, and his clear, deep gaze followed her from behind his short hair, with a dark, somber look in his eyes.

The depth hidden within those eyes was almost overflowing.

There was no need for him to be so meticulous and considerate, reminding her of every little detail.

But Shi Yu clearly didn't think so.

Not only did he insist on reminding her of the time every morning without fail, but he would also occasionally surprise her at home in unpredictable ways.

Just like this day, Xia Tingnan asked Lin Yao to prepare lunch for the whole family.

It wasn't about ordering Lin Yao around; she just worried that if her daughter went to college far away, she needed to have some basic self-care skills.

Lin Yao was so delicate. If she didn't learn now while at home, it would be even harder for them to take care of her if she went far away for college.

So in the kitchen, Lin Yao watched cooking videos while washing vegetables somewhat clumsily, her cheeks puffed as she glanced at Shi Yu beside her.

"Why do I have to cook for you... Can't you tell my mom you're eating out today?"

The girl felt very wronged. Preparing meals for one person was hard enough, let alone for five.

If Shi Yu said he was eating out, she could reduce the number by one.

She didn't realize that wearing the light blue apron Xia Tingnan bought specifically for her, pouting and muttering with a face full of grievance, made her look both obedient and soft, tempting him to bite.

Shi Yu's teeth were itching.

"It is quite unfair," Shi Yu said softly, picking up a juicy red tomato from the countertop.

The tomato was round and plump, looking ripe and juicy, with water droplets still on its skin, much like the girl beside him, who seemed so ripe that a gentle squeeze would make her overflow with juice.

"Otherwise, I can help you."

"Really?" Lin Yao looked at him half-believingly, her aggrieved expression finally turning into a smile: "Then help me secretly, don't let my parents know."

Lin Yao even peeked outside, seeing her parents watching TV in the living room and Shi Nian probably in the room. She quickly tugged at Shi Yu's sleeve, asking for his help.

She knew Shi Yu was an excellent cook, which led her mother to constantly nag her about not being as good as him in the kitchen. This made her even more determined to learn cooking.

His deep, unfathomable eyes looked at her innocent expression. "Let's see what you plan to bribe me with."

Bribe?

Lin Yao's mind was slow to catch up, still not understanding the meaning behind Shi Yu's words when suddenly, her waist tightened as he lifted her and placed her on the countertop.

Her face turned bright red, and she even let out a soft 'ah.'

Fortunately, she reacted quickly, remembering her parents and Shi Nian were outside, and quickly covered her trembling lips with her small hands.

"What... What are you doing..." Her heart was pounding, and she pushed against him, "My parents are still outside, and there's Shi Nian..."

"So if you want to bribe me, hurry up," Shi Yu teased, his voice close to her ear. "Otherwise, if your future in-laws see us..."

His voice near her ear sent shivers down her spine.

Lin Yao's ears softened, and her ear tips turned red as she turned her head to avoid him.

But the special, refreshing woody scent lingered around her, enveloping her senses.

She thought Shi Yu was inhuman, talking about future in-laws.

They had agreed... it wasn't time yet.

"I... I don't need your help anymore, I'll do it myself..."

The girl wanted to escape.

But Shi Yu's large hands held her tightly by the waist.

"Too late."

Shi Yu's voice was low and hoarse, his eyes darkening.

He lifted the girl, burying his head in her slender neck.

In that moment, his breathing became heavy.

Lin Yao: "..."

She didn't realize that wearing the light blue apron and being held in his arms made her look like a sweet, soft summer dessert, irresistible and continuously emitting an alluring aroma.

Someone had been longing for this moment, ready to claim their promised reward early. For Shi Yu, it was not a conflict.

Moreover... this was just a small exchange for helping her cook.

Lin Yao bit her lip, her eyelashes fluttering, listening to Shi Yu's increasingly heavy breathing.

Her small hands, which had been pushing against his shoulders, gradually relaxed and clung to him.

The girl felt both anxious and embarrassed.

Her parents and Shi Nian were outside, yet they were like this...

After a while, Shi Yu finally released the girl in his arms, who had become compliant and helpless.

Her lips trembled from biting them so tightly, turning a tender shade of red.

Her moist, deer-like eyes were filled with tears, blinking dazedly at him when she heard his voice.

"Can you stand?"

Shi Yu lifted her down from the kitchen counter and helped straighten her rumpled light blue apron.

Lin Yao nodded blankly, her head lowered, without saying a word.

Shi Yu thought the young girl was shy, so he smiled and pinched her soft earlobe gently before taking a yogurt from the fridge, inserting a straw, and having her hold it while he cooked.

But he didn't know.

In fact, Lin Yao had suddenly thought of something that scared her.

She hadn't even been admitted to Capital University yet, and Shi Yu was already like this.

If she really got into Capital University, then... what would Shi Yu be like?

Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at the boy who was already chopping vegetables, suddenly not daring to think further.

...

Later, Shi Yu made the dishes and placed them on the table.

Because Shi Yu's skills were truly exceptional, even though Lin Yao insisted that she had followed a video tutorial, her parents remained skeptical.

That evening, Xia Tingnan directly supervised Lin Yao in the kitchen as she prepared dinner.

This time, without Shi Yu's help, by dinnertime, the dishes Lin Yao brought out could only be described as incomplete.

She had been pampered all her life; how could she cook?

Especially the portion for Shi Yu—whether it was intentional retaliation for the events of the day or some other reason, it was a blackened mess, the ugliest dish.

Xia Tingnan picked at the blackened pot, "Hmph, I said it. When Shi Yu came in to watch you cook, he brought out a grand lunch. But when I supervise you, this is what you give me?"

Lin Yao, frightened, hid behind Shi Nian, pretending to sob, "It's all because I'm clumsy and can't even cook."

Shi Nian comforted her, "It's not your fault; blame Shi Yu. He learns everything quickly. It's his fault for being too good, making you look bad intentionally."

Xia Tingnan nearly laughed in anger, "Oh, so you can't cook, and it's Shi Yu's fault?"

The boy sitting beside them quietly agreed, "Aunt Xia, Shi Nian is right. As long as one person in the family can cook, it's enough. From now on, I'll do it."

Thus, during that summer vacation, Lin Yao never entered the kitchen.

She ate meals prepared by Shi Yu all summer long.

However, Xia Tingnan never understood why she felt Shi Yu's words made sense but also seemed strange.

Years later, watching her precious daughter bring Shi Yu home to meet the family, she finally understood.

It turned out the boy had been playing a long game from the start.

*

Days without school always passed quickly.

At 10 PM that night, it was finally time to check the college entrance exam results.

Lin Yao, accompanied by Shi Yu, Xia Tingnan, and Lin Xiong, sat in the living room with her phone, logging in to check.

When Lin Yao and Shi Nian simultaneously refreshed their screens, they were stunned by the message that popped up.

—"Your college entrance exam scores have been shielded."