Chapter 37

Lin Li and Tong Yao put the workbooks away and watched Tong Yao sit back down. Suddenly, Lin Li remembered that he was still wearing Tong Yao's coat.

"Oh right, I'll return your coat first, otherwise I'll forget again." He had a sudden thought and reached for his coat zipper.

What are you doing?

Tong Yao had just hung her schoolbag on the table when she saw Lin Li about to take off her clothes. She immediately spoke up to stop her.

"I'll return it to you first. I have my clothes on my seat, and I'm afraid I'll forget them later."

As she spoke, Lin Li began to continue undressing.

Tong Yao was too lazy to explain to Lin Li, so she pulled Lin Li out.

As she passed Lin Li's seat, she picked up his clothes and took them with her.

Until I stood still at the entrance to the men's restroom.

"Go inside and change!" She shoved the clothes into his arms, her tone resolute.

Before Lin Li could fully react, he was already standing in front of the sink. He casually placed his own clothes on the dry countertop before taking off Tong Yao's coat completely.

The next second, he looked up at the mirror and froze instantly—the collar of his sweater was completely distorted and hung loosely, revealing the outline of his chest and abdominal muscles in the mirror.

Lin Li: "..."

He hadn't even noticed before Tong Yao covered it up.

I initially thought it was just the neckline that was pulled a little too wide, forgetting that wool sweaters are prone to deformation. So, pulling it forcefully would definitely—

Lin Li frowned and complained, "The neckline is completely pulled off, how can I still wear this?"

Wait a minute, Tong Yao covered it up first?

Doesn't that mean...?

The moment this thought crossed Lin Li's mind, a mischievous smile crept onto her lips.

He quickly changed into his own coat, deliberately leaving the zipper undone, and walked out with his coat open. Pointing to his deformed collar, he complained to Tong Yao, who was waiting at the door, "Tong Yao, look, I can't even wear this anymore."

Tong Yao turned her head at the sound.

The boy emerged from the men's restroom, carrying her coat and looking disheveled. The coat was draped loosely over his shoulders, revealing his defined collarbone and the faint outline of his full pectoral muscles beneath the loose wool collar. A small, bright red mole stood out prominently in the center of his collarbone. Her gaze involuntarily drifted downwards, where several well-defined abdominal muscles came into view.

This was the first time she had clearly seen Lin Li after her workout – broad shoulders, narrow waist, and smooth muscle lines, a stark contrast to her slender appearance a few months ago.

Lin Li noticed her momentary daze, quietly leaned closer, and asked in a low voice, "Does it look good?"

Tong Yao snapped back to reality, abruptly turning her face away, her ears burning slightly: "...Pervert!"

A triumphant smile rolled in his throat, and his tone carried a hint of coaxing: "Then... do you want to touch it? I've practiced it especially for you."

Tong Yao had fully realized what he was doing and knew he was deliberately teasing her. She turned back and replied with a forced smile:

"OK!"

Lin Li hadn't expected her to agree so readily, and instead felt awkward and shy, her eyes starting to dart around:

"Never mind, I was just kidding..." he said, lowering his head and frantically trying to zip up the zipper, but the more he tried, the less he could zip it up.

Just then, a slightly cool hand touched my hand.

The cold touch sent shivers down Lin Li's spine, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

"you--"

However, the next second—

"ah--!"

A piercing scream instantly echoed throughout the entire corridor.

Tong Yao nimbly pulled her hand back, snatched her coat from Lin Li's hand, turned and left, her steps crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.

Lin Li clutched her side, which had been brutally attacked, and tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.

She actually pinched the soft flesh on his waist!

They not only pinched it, but they also twisted it really hard!

Lin Li put on her clothes with tears welling up in her eyes; tomorrow this place would definitely be covered in bruises.

The scream drew the attention of students from other classes who were having morning self-study, who all peeked out from the doorway to see what was happening.

Lin Li's face instantly turned bright red!

Ignoring the pain in his waist, he lifted his leg and ran.

How did Tong Yao know that pinching this spot would hurt the most?!

Lin Li returned to the classroom and slumped over her desk, filled with frustration.

I should have known better than to act like a jerk!

_

Afternoon break.

Looking at the playing cards made from the homework paper in her hand, Lin Li finally couldn't help but complain, "These are so rudimentary!"

Tang Yue glanced at it: "It's good enough that there's something to play with!"

Wang Hao: "How about we go play basketball instead?"

Zhou Yuan secretly stepped on Wang Hao's foot: "I think he's lost too much and wants to cheat!"

Lin Li lifted the paper curtain in front of her and glanced at Wang Hao, whose face was covered by a mask.

They've covered themselves in stickers and haven't even said anything yet!

In the afternoon, Tong Yao ignored him, and he didn't dare to provoke her. When he was bored, Zhou Yuan dragged Wang Hao, who had run out to play ball as soon as get out of class ended, to their classroom.

As soon as Zhou Yuan came in, she greeted Lin Li and, fearing that Lin Li might misunderstand, explained, "I came to visit Wang Hao."

Lin Li said "Oh," as if to say, "What does this have to do with me?"

Then Tong Yao stood up and walked out of the classroom.

Lin Li wanted to follow, but he didn't dare.

Just as Zhou Yuan was about to lie down on the table to sleep, she found herself chatting with Tang Yue.

Then they all called on Lin Li to play cards.

Upon hearing that it was playing cards, Lin Li became interested!

They happily moved the two tables together.

Then he stared blankly at the playing cards made from the homework paper in his hand.

Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly and quickly nudged Wang Hao.

Wang Hao explained, "Playing this in the classroom with real cards is too risky."

Lin Li temporarily accepted this explanation and played along for a while, forcing herself to stay.

Then nine out of ten times you'll lose.

He watched in disbelief as they stuck stickers on his face.

Finally, I couldn't help but complain: "This is way too rudimentary!"

He's a pretty good card player; he was planning to crush them, but he didn't win a single game!

After making his rant, Lin Li continued playing his cards.

Suddenly he realized: "Hey, I won!"

Lin Li excitedly slammed her hand on the table and stood up!

It's finally my turn to get my revenge!

He first put the sticker on Tang Yue, who was sitting next to him, and then on Wang Hao, who was sitting next to him.

One last glance at Zhou Yuan sitting across from me.

"Stand up!"

You're sitting so steadily, do you expect me to run over there to stick it on?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan stood up.

Lin Li grabbed the note and prepared to stick it on Zhou Yuan's forehead.

Zhou Yuan closed her eyes shyly, but Lin Li didn't notice because his gaze was drawn to Tong Yao, who walked in with a bottle of yogurt.

He casually stuck it on, then moved his desk back.

"I'm not playing anymore, I'm not playing anymore."

He remembered that Tong Yao had said this morning that she would give him a reward!

Rewards, rewards!

Ignoring the note on his face, he approached Tong Yao, who was sitting and reading by the front door.

"Where's my reward?"

Tong Yao couldn't help but laugh when she saw Lin Li's face covered in notes.

"Pfft—"

Hearing Tong Yao laugh, Lin Li's eyes brightened even more, which meant that she was no longer angry about what happened this morning!

He was thinking of plopping down on Tong Yao's table.

"You said you'd give me a reward this morning!"

"I'm not leaving until you give it to me!"

Tong Yao stood up and raised her hand to approach Lin Li's face.

Lin Li closed her eyes in fear.

Is the reward a slap?

What's going on? Why is he both scared and excited?

However, Tong Yao only helped Lin Li remove the note from her face.

Seeing Lin Li's eyes closed and her eyelashes trembling, she couldn't help but pinch the soft flesh on Lin Li's face.

Hmm, it feels good.

The slap never came, and Lin Li opened her eyes in disappointment.

The next second, my face was pinched by something cold.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Li's slurred complaints.

Seeing this, Tong Yao let go of her hand and calmly sat back down.

"award?"

As she spoke, Tong Yao glanced at Lin Li and saw his expectant look. She smiled slightly and gestured for Lin Li to come closer.

Lin Li bent down solicitously, and Tong Yao whispered in his ear.

"I was going to give you a kiss as encouragement, but you were naughty this morning—"

"So, there's no reward."

As if anticipating Lin Li's antics, her face suddenly turned cold, and she shoved Lin Li away, coldly saying, "Go back."

Lin Li, who was still frozen in place, was dispelled by this shout.

He jumped off the table in frustration.

My gaze fell on the yogurt drink on Tong Yao's table.

He snatched it away: "Then...then I want this one!"

After saying that, Lin Li grabbed the yogurt and ran off.

He returned to his seat and happily tore open the straw packaging.

They started drinking.

_

Zhou Yuan, who hadn't had time to leave yet, naturally took in this whole scene.

Wang Hao smugly retorted to Zhou Yuan.

"I told you, you had no chance."

After Lin Li left, Tang Yue stopped playing, moved the table back, looked at the empty desk in front of her, and saw her deskmate, Li Jiahao, sleeping like a log, and complained:

"Why did Chen Yan take so long to go to the toilet?"

_

Zhou Yuan didn't respond, but stared blankly at the yogurt in Lin Li's hand.

"So that's what he likes to drink!"

With that, she waved goodbye to Wang Hao, saying, "I'm leaving."

Wang Hao was speechless; no one was even listening to him.

_

Tong Yao sat in the front row, glancing at Lin Li every now and then as he drank yogurt.

I couldn't help but smile.

Pure milk? His favorite drink is apple-flavored yogurt, of course.

Thinking about it, he glanced at Lin Li again.

The boy sat by the door, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

A cute thought flashed through my mind.

The image of Lin Li approaching with his arms open that morning resurfaced in my mind.

Tong Yao's expression froze instantly. She quickly turned around and began to study.

The hand that was turning the page paused—that's not cute at all!

-

After school.

"We've arrived at the center of the times," the bus announcement rang out.

Tong Yao pushed away Lin Li, who was leaning against her.

"You've arrived."

Lin Li glanced out the window and shook her head. "I'll take you home."

"Nonsense, hurry up and leave, the door is about to close."

Lin Li stubbornly shook her head.

Tong Yao turned to look out the window helplessly: "Whatever."

Upon hearing this, Lin Li happily prepared to lean on Tong Yao again.

But a hand pushed his head to stop him.

"roll."

Lin Li had no choice but to sit down obediently.

A few minutes later.

"Tong Yao".

"Hmm?" After gaining her freedom, Tong Yao took out her vocabulary cards and started memorizing words. When Lin Li called out to her, she simply responded with a flat "hmm".

"Why don't you call me Li Bala anymore?"

"I actually quite liked the nickname you gave me the first time." It was clearly much gentler than "roll back."

Tong Yao mechanically flipped through a page of vocabulary cards and replied, "I didn't notice at the time that Li Bala's ending was not good."

Then, she raised her head seriously and said, "In the end, she was hit by a car and died. I don't like that."

"So I won't call you that nickname anymore."

After saying that, Tong Yao put the vocabulary cards into her bag and stood up.

"I have arrived."

Lin Li stood blankly in the aisle and let Tong Yao come out.

Tong Yao walked to the door and glanced at the stunned Lin Li.

"Let's go?"

Lin Li then came to her senses and followed.

The two walked one after the other for a while, and then Lin Li suddenly took her right hand.

May I hold your hand?

"You've already taken their hands."

Lin Li shook Tong Yao's hand.

"May I hold your arm?"

"allow."

Lin Li happily hugged Tong Yao's hand and nuzzled her head against Tong Yao.

"Are you a dog?" Tong Yao felt a little itchy from Lin Li rubbing against her.

Lin Li, however, still felt it wasn't enough.

"Can I kiss you?"

Upon hearing this, Tong Yao withdrew her hand and quickly walked forward.

Lin Li smiled; he knew it...

Then he quickly ran to Tong Yao's side.

"How about a hug?"

Tong Yao didn't make a move, so that means it's okay.

Lin Li pulled Tong Yao into her arms.

He buried his head in Tong Yao's neck.

His arms tightened involuntarily, as if he wanted to meld Tong Yao into his very bones.

Tong Yao frowned and tried to push Lin Li away.

The next second, Lin Li's breath was close to her left ear.

"I like you."

Tong Yao lowered her raised hand.

“I know,” she said.

What? Lin Li was surprised and let go of Tong Yao.

"How did you know?" I clearly never said that!

Am I an idiot?

Tong Yao reached out and pinched the soft flesh on Lin Li's face.

After pinching her, Tong Yao let go and left. Crossing the road, she arrived at the entrance of the residential area.

Lin Li followed, refusing to believe it, and pressed for an answer.

"Do you know why I whispered 'I like you' into your left ear?"

"Know."

Tong Yao turned around and leaned close to Lin Li's left ear.

"Because sweet words should be whispered in the left ear!"

Lin Li stood there, watching Tong Yao's departing figure, her face flushed.

How did she get so good at it?