Chapter 529: Both need to calm down

As their eyes met, Shen Ci's expression was one of surprise mixed with shock, while Shi Ye's expression was nervous yet filled with anticipation.

The next second, Shen Ci lowered her eyes slightly to look at Shi Ye's lower half and tilted her chin: "Come on, take off your pants and let me see."

"Huh?"

This time it was Shi Ye's turn to be shocked: "H-here?"

Seeing his panicked yet earnest expression, Shen Ci couldn't help but laugh: "Are you crazy or am I? I tell you to take them off and you'd actually dare to do it here?"

Her laughter made Shi Ye instantly heave a sigh of relief.

Shen Ci looked at him, her expression somewhat speechless: "What's going on in your head? Have you gone stupid from studying?"

"No..." Shi Ye felt a bit aggrieved; even the cold air from the air conditioner directly above couldn't dissipate the blush on his cheeks: "Didn't you say you wanted to 'inspect the goods' before confirming the relationship? I... I was thinking that once you were satisfied, I could then confess."

Watching him say these words with such a straight face, Shen Ci didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

In the end, she only gave a bitter smile; he really did respect her.

"I was just saying that, you don't have to take it so seriously," Shen Ci said softly.

This left Shi Ye bewildered. He blinked and asked uncertainly: "Then... is that an inspection or not? I don't really know what I should do."

Shen Ci was caught between laughter and tears, helplessly saying: "Things like this don't just happen on command, right? Are we supposed to go open a hotel room in a little while? That would be too awkward. Even if something were to happen, shouldn't it occur naturally in a specific environment and at the right moment?"

"Did you really take this as an inspection of goods?"

Shi Ye nodded, then shook his head, looking completely at a loss.

Shen Ci looked at the expression on his handsome face and couldn't help but sigh inwardly that this boyish, green quality was sometimes truly endearing.

Then, the next second, Shi Ye suddenly whispered: "I'm just quite confident in my own strength and wanted to get your affirmation as soon as possible."

Shen Ci: "..."

Fortunately, at this moment, a waiter walked up and asked with a smile: "Would the two of you like to order now?"

"Yes." Shen Ci nodded quickly; she felt that if this topic continued, Shi Ye would sink into it and be unable to extricate himself.

Shi Ye realized what was happening, his face turning even redder, and he said to the waiter: "Give me a glass of ice water first, thank you."

He needed to calm down.

"I'll have one too," Shen Ci said.

She needed to calm down too; why was she feeling a bit of anticipation after hearing Shi Ye's words?

"Shi Ye!"

Just then, a woman with a stern demeanor suddenly appeared behind Shi Ye. Shen Ci, sitting opposite, saw her immediately upon raising her eyes.

Although the woman called Shi Ye's name, her vigilant, scrutinizing gaze landed on Shen Ci the very first moment.

Shen Ci was slightly surprised and turned to look at Shi Ye.

Shi Ye turned his head back and was instantly startled: "Mom?"

At his words, Shen Ci's expression shifted slightly, but she still took the initiative to stand up and greet her: "Hello, Auntie."

Shi Mu was dignified and cold. Shen Ci could clearly feel the woman's wariness toward her, but after Shen Ci greeted her, the woman nodded expressionlessly as a response.

At the very least, she was a person of breeding.

"Mom, why are you here?" Shi Ye was very surprised. He looked left and right, thinking his mother had also come to eat and it was a chance encounter, but he discovered his mother was alone.

Shi Mu looked at Shi Ye, her aura receding by three parts. She furrowed her brows and gave him a look that meant "we'll talk outside," then turned and walked out first.

Seeing this, Shen Ci couldn't help but blink silently.

"A-Ci, I'm sorry. I'll be right back," Shi Ye said to her with an apologetic face.

Shen Ci naturally wouldn't stop a mother and son from talking; she nodded and sat back down in her seat.

In the shade outside the restaurant, as soon as Shi Ye came out, he saw his mother's back, which was faintly tinged with anger. He sighed slightly and walked up: "Mom, are you following me?"

Shi Mu turned around: "What do you mean following you? You're driving my car, of course I know where you are!"

Shi Ye was speechless and looked uneasily through the glass at Shen Ci inside.

Seeing this, Shi Mu's gaze turned cold: "Who is this girl?"

"A friend."

"A friend?" Shi Mu clearly didn't believe it: "What kind of friend? Isn't Zhou Qian the only female friend you have?"

Shi Ye sighed deeply and speechlessly: "That's because she's the only one you want to acknowledge, because she's excellent in every way. Shen Ci is also excellent; you just don't understand her."

"She's just pretty, right!" Shi Mu snorted coldly: "If she's so excellent, why haven't I heard of such a person at school?"

"She's not from Longda; she's from Keda."

"Keda?" Shi Mu sneered immediately, then shook her head: "I don't care which university she's from. You remember that your top priority is the postgraduate entrance exam; nothing can delay your exam!"

"Haven't I been reviewing properly the whole time? Mom, it's the National Day holiday now. Is it not even allowed for me to go out and have a meal with a girl I like?"

"You admit you like her?"

"Why wouldn't I admit it?" Shi Ye furrowed his brows: "Liking her isn't something shameful."

"Do you know that dating will distract you? Do you really think the postgraduate entrance exam for Qingda is that easy to pass?"

"I'm not dating!" Shi Ye explained: "She hasn't even agreed to me yet."

"Then it's even easier for you to get distracted. Chasing girls is the most mentally draining thing. If you're thinking about how to chase her every day, what heart will you have left for studying?" Shi Mu said righteously: "It's good that you aren't dating. Cut your losses in time. You are not allowed to waste any more time on this kind of thing. If you want to date, wait until you've passed your postgraduate exam."

"Mom!" Shi Ye was extremely speechless: "And you're a teacher! Is there anyone as authoritarian and controlling as you, interfering in your son's freedom to date?"

"I'm doing this for your own good. Did I ever manage you when you were dating in your freshman or sophomore year? What period is this now? Can you distinguish between what's important and what's urgent?"

Without waiting for Shi Ye to say anything more, Shi Mu waved her hand: "I don't want to argue with you here. The girl is still waiting inside. Come home immediately after you finish eating!"

Shi Ye opened his mouth, but his mother had already walked away without looking back.

He sighed in frustration. He didn't rush back in, but instead sorted out his mood outside before returning to the restaurant.

Even so, Shen Ci could still see the gloom beneath his brows.

But she didn't ask further; matters between a mother and son were considered private. If Shi Ye didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't ask.

Thinking about it, she knew that since he had a mobile phone to contact people, the fact that she chased him to the restaurant meant she had clearly followed his location to find him.

"A-Ci, I'm sorry," Shi Ye said, apologizing.

Shen Ci shook her head gently: "It's fine as long as you're okay. Let's order; this meal is on me."

"My mom is a teacher at Longda. She has always attached great importance to my postgraduate exam, so..." Shi Ye tried to explain something, but found he didn't quite know how to say it.

Seeing this, Shen Ci smiled slightly: "It's okay, you don't need to specifically explain these things to me."

Shi Ye looked at Shen Ci, then nodded: "Okay." ===== CHAPTER 530 =====