Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 11

The snow had been falling softly for over a week, transforming the campus into a world of silver and white.

The lingering wind and snow whispered against the windows of the art studio, producing a faint, rhythmic tapping.

The sketching class had assigned a major project, portrait sketches and the studio was filled with the soft, continuous sound of pencils scratching against paper.

Xu Zhizhi, exhausted from drawing and feeling an ache in her shoulders and neck, stood by the window to take in the view.

Outside, a group of lively young boys and girls, bundled up in puffy down jackets that made them look like little penguins, were playing wildly in the snow.

Inside, the heating was stiflingly warm, and Xu Zhizhi stood there in just a thin shirt.

She had never liked cold weather.

Whenever winter came, her knees would throb faintly with pain, a lingering effect of frostbite from the past.

Her constitution had always been weak, frail and delicate, something others often scorned.

Her phone, tucked in her pocket, had been buzzing incessantly. Xu Zhizhi didn’t want to answer, but she also didn’t have the courage to ignore it.

It was Sun Xiuya.

Shen Yu’s mother.

By the fifteenth call, Xu Zhizhi finally picked up.

She pushed open the door, and a sharp, icy wind sliced against her face like a dull blade.

“Hello,” Xu Zhizhi greeted politely.

“Xu Zhizhi, what have you been busy with?” Sun Xiuya’s voice was cold. “Ignoring my calls for so long, have you grown wings or something?”

Her tone was piercing, clinging to Xu Zhizhi like a nightmare.

“I was sketching,” Xu Zhizhi explained softly. “My phone was on silent. I’m sorry I didn’t hear it.”

Sun Xiuya scoffed, her tone imperious. “Did you receive the new dress I sent?”

Xu Zhizhi gave a quiet “Mm.”

“You’re free on Saturday, right?” Without giving her a chance to respond, Sun Xiuya laid out her plans. “I’ve arranged for you to go out for dinner. Wear the new dress, dress up nicely. I’ll have the driver pick you up.”

“But I-”

Sun Xiuya cut her off sharply. “What I say goes. The driver will be waiting at the west gate of your school at six on Saturday. Xu Zhizhi, if you dare to be late, you’ll face the consequences.”

In her eyes, Xu Zhizhi’s only redeeming quality was obedience.

Xu Zhizhi didn’t respond, and the call ended abruptly.

A suffocating sense of dread wrapped around her, making it hard to breathe. Her chest felt heavy, as if she might choke.

Just like in her past life, the terrifying Sun Xiuya was starting to arrange blind dates for her.

But she was only eighteen.

So eager to push her out of the house.

Sun Xiuya’s attitude toward Xu Zhizhi was a façade, gentle in public, cold and cruel in private.

The three years of darkness Xu Zhizhi had endured, each second feeling like an eternity, had all been inflicted by Sun Xiuya.

In Sun Xiuya’s mind, the lowly adopted daughter Xu Zhizhi was unworthy of her golden son, Shen Yu.

That was why, the moment Xu Zhizhi turned eighteen, Sun Xiuya had begun dressing her up like a doll, forcing her to attend high-society banquets and secretly setting her up on blind dates.

Xu Zhizhi remembered how, in her past life, when Sun Xiuya found out that Shen Yu and Xu Zhizhi were dating, she had erupted into hysterical laughter, tears, and rage before shutting herself away completely.

The Shen family later claimed that Sun Xiuya had developed severe manic episodes with violent tendencies and had been sent to a private hospital for treatment.

After hanging up, Xu Zhizhi stuffed her phone back into her pocket and returned to the studio to finish her assignment.

…

“Zhou Xuci, if you’re being blackmailed or bribed, blink twice.”

A loud voice filled with disbelief drifted out from the luxurious apartment.

Lu Huaibei leaned in close to Zhou Xuci, eyeing him warily. “Demon, I don’t care what kind of monster you are, get out of my brother’s body right now!”

He’d rather believe Zhou Xuci had been possessed than accept that Zhou Xuci might suddenly have a change of heart!

Zhou Xuci gave Lu Huaibei a casual glance. “Bro, stop being dramatic. You’re a grown man pushing two hundred pounds, can’t you act a little more mature?”

They were biological brothers.

Lu Huaibei took their father’s surname, while Zhou Xuci took their mother’s.

“Bullshit! You’re the one who’s two hundred pounds, your whole damn family, ugh!” Lu Huaibei grabbed Zhou Xuci by the collar, scrutinizing him. “Since when are you so nice as to help me with a blind date?”

Help. Me. With. A. Blind. Date!

God, what a niche phrase!

I’d sooner believe he got struck by lightning than think he’d suddenly turn this kind!

Zhou Xuci let out a light hum. “Mm.”

“No way. Absolutely no way.” Lu Huaibei pressed a hand to Zhou Xuci’s forehead. “You must be cursed. This needs treatment, I’ll book you an appointment with Dr. Lin from psychiatry.”

Zhou Xuci swatted his hand away. “Lu Huaibei, cut the theatrics. Do you want my help or not? Just say the word.”

Lu Huaibei: “Of course I do!”

But the next second, he was back to worrying about Zhou Xuci’s well-being. “You’re not terminally ill or something, trying to rack up good karma before you kick it, are you?”

Zhou Xuci rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll come back as a vengeful ghost and haunt you every night.”

Lu Huaibei scoffed. “Please. With that mouth of yours, even the King of Hell wouldn’t dare take you.”

Zhou Xuci replied calmly, “Thanks for the compliment.”

Lu Huaibei spread his hands. “Don’t thank me, just wire me the cash.”

Zhou Xuci chuckled and ignored him, scrolling through his phone for updates but no matter how much he refreshed, he couldn’t find the one he was looking for.

Xu Zhizhi rarely posted.

She preferred to lose herself in her own world, so Zhou Xuci never saw any updates about her.

…

Before long, Saturday arrived, and Xu Zhizhi obediently changed into her new dress.

Ling Shuang and Song Jia circled around her, their eyes sparkling with admiration as they took in the sight of Xu Zhizhi in her elegant gown.

“Oh my god, Xu Zhizhi, you look stunning!” Song Jia gushed.

“No wonder you’re the little flower of our art school!” Ling Shuang threw an arm around Xu Zhizhi’s shoulders. “You’re absolutely gorgeous!”

Truly a well-bred young lady from the Shen family, just a little touch of refinement, and her noble elegance shone through!

Cheng Xiaoxin rummaged through the closet and pulled out a thick coat, busily sticking heat packs inside.

Once done, she handed it to Xu Zhizhi.

“Where are you going?” Cheng Xiaoxin asked with concern.

Xu Zhizhi looked at the coat lined with heat packs and felt warmth spread through her chest. She hugged Cheng Xiaoxin tightly. “Just dinner. I’ll be back soon.”

Cheng Xiaoxin still seemed worried. “Do you want me to come with you?”

Dressing up like this, ninety-nine percent chance it was a setup.

Xu Zhizhi smiled at her. “No need.”

She could handle it.

Dressed to impress, Xu Zhizhi was driven to an upscale Western restaurant.

Sun Xiuya called.

“Xu Zhizhi, are you there yet?”

“I’m here.”

“The other party is a distinguished young gentleman with status and reputation. Be on your best behavior, don’t disgrace the Shen family.” Sun Xiuya coldly warned. “You know your background. The fact that you even have a chance to climb into the arms of a wealthy heir is already a tremendous blessing from your ancestors. Do you understand?”

Her existence was nothing more than a slightly valuable commodity.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her gaze obediently and replied meekly, “I understand.”

Her experience as an adopted child had molded her into a submissive personality, conditioned to endure whatever came her way. She had to be docile, like a puppet on strings, manipulated by the Shen family.

So much so that even when Shen Yu bullied and humiliated her, she never dared to resist.

When Sun Xiuya pushed her toward various wealthy heirs, she could only comply without protest.

After all, she was living under someone else’s roof, wasn’t it only right for her to live humbly and obediently?

In her past life, Xu Zhizhi had never awakened to self-awareness. She had devoted her entire heart to the Shen family, all to repay their so-called kindness in raising her. But in this life, she wanted to try living with a little more confidence…

Xu Zhizhi’s emotions were tangled.

She felt like a duck being forced onto the chopping block, there was no choice but to brace herself and get it over with quickly.

Standing outside the private room door, she took several deep breaths, gripped the handle, and pushed her way inside.

“Hello.”

The man standing by the floor-to-ceiling window turned at the sound of her voice, his deep-set eyes locking onto Xu Zhizhi.

It was Zhou Xuci.

…