"no."

Zhou Yushen almost immediately reverted to his cold demeanor.

He had only just met her, yet he was already inexplicably moved.

Leaving her around will only make things worse.

He looked up, his fingertips curling slightly.

Fragmented thoughts rolled through my mind.

He thought.

She was just a neighbor girl I grew up with.

Simple-minded.

They were completely unguarded against him.

The familiar way she acts now is probably because she's continued the habit from when she was little, treating him like a trustworthy older brother.

She shouldn't become the object of his amusement in his dreams.

She has to go back to her own home.

Stay away from him.

“I will call a locksmith tomorrow.” His tone left no room for argument.

It was almost cold and harsh.

Shen Zhiyi's face immediately fell.

He looked listless.

"That……"

She scrutinized his expression; his sharp brows and eyes held a faint indifference, as if he might shut her out at any moment.

She mustered her courage and hesitated before asking, "Can I have dinner with you?"

"Just these few days while my parents are away..."

He didn't say anything.

Shen Zhiyi quickly tried to make amends.

"I'll come over around dinner time. I eat lunch by myself at school."

She clasped her hands together and looked at him pleadingly.

Please.

"Brother Yu Shen".

Zhou Yushen's brow twitched.

Somewhat abruptly, I looked away, avoiding her gaze.

My gaze swept to the second floor.

He suddenly remembered that the balconies of their two bedrooms faced each other.

It's only a jump away.

The rain has stopped now.

He could have simply climbed over it; he wouldn't even have needed to find a locksmith.

But……

He lowered his eyes, his long, raven-feather-like eyelashes concealing the deepest thoughts within them.

He thought.

Bad weather and slippery balconies are a concern. It's not worth the risk.

He turned his head and looked at Shen Zhiyi.

"Come to the lab to see me tomorrow at noon."

"Let's have dinner together."

He would call her Aunt Zhao and prepare a nutritious meal for her.

She is too thin.

Her slender arms and neck resembled delicate butterfly wings, so fragile they would break at the slightest touch.

"That's great!" Shen Zhiyi clapped her hands, her eyes curving into a sweet smile. "I knew it, Brother Yu Shen is the best to me."

Zhou Yushen stared intently at her with his dark eyes, then suddenly stood up.

"It's getting late, let's go back to sleep."

He neatly cleared away the dishes and chopsticks, and before entering the kitchen, he paused, as if suddenly remembering something.

He lowered his eyes.

His gaze drifted to the side and behind.

As if unintentionally, yet as if reminding someone, she said, "You don't need to wash the clothes."

"Just leave it in the laundry room tomorrow."

He went into the kitchen.

Shen Zhiyi's "okay" echoed behind him.

*

The next day.

Shen Zhiyi got up very early.

She changed into her own dried clothes and put Zhou Yushen's black T-shirt in the laundry basket.

As I went downstairs, I ran into Zhao Xiangyu, who had just come over to cook.

"Aunt Zhao, it's been a long time."

She smiled sweetly and greeted them politely.

When Zhao Xiangyu saw Shen Zhiyi's face clearly, her eyes widened in surprise.

He let go.

Two plastic bags full of vegetables fell to the ground with a "thud".

Good heavens!

Where did this girl come from? She's so beautiful!

Are celestial maidens descending to earth so early in the morning?

"Aunt Zhao?"

Shen Zhiyi spread her five fingers and waved them in front of her.

"You don't recognize me?"

Zhao Xiangyu then came to her senses.

"You are... Miss Shen from next door!"

"It's me."

Shen Zhiyi said with a smile.

"Oh my!" Zhao Xiangyu picked up the bag and exclaimed, "In the blink of an eye, Miss Shen has grown into such a beautiful young lady!"

"I wonder which brat will end up getting the good deal!"

She almost bit her tongue after she finished speaking.

I vaguely realized it.

Isn't this right here at the Zhou family's house?!

Zhao Xiangyu's face instantly displayed a variety of expressions.

"You and Xiao Shen..."

"Look at me!" She suddenly clapped her hands, her face crinkling into a wide smile. "I told you two should be a couple!"

"Isn't this the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, a match made in heaven?"

She said that Xiao Shen suddenly messaged her last night, asking her to buy enough groceries for two people today.

It turns out it was prepared for Miss Shen.

The way she looked at Shen Zhiyi became ambiguous.

Shen Zhiyi blushed.

"Aunt Zhao, you've misunderstood."

"I just accidentally lost my house key and am staying here for one night."

"My relationship with Brother Yu Shen isn't what you're thinking..."

"Oh, I understand, I understand everything!" Zhao Xiangyu waved her hand and laughed, "You young people have so many tricks up your sleeves!"

Don't worry.

"I'll pretend I never saw you today."

She made faces for a while.

It's as if they're saying, "I'll help you cover it up."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

"Hehehe, why isn't Brother Yu Shen coming down yet..." She looked upstairs awkwardly.

"Xiao Shen?" Zhao Xiangyu carried the groceries into the kitchen. "Xiao Shen would have been at school long ago at this time."

"They do research, and it's hard work."

"I leave home before dawn every day."

They've left?

Shen Zhiyi was slightly surprised.

Following Zhao Xiangyu into the kitchen, I saw her taking out the vegetables from the plastic bag one by one and placing them on the island counter.

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