Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 12

When Xu Zhizhi saw Zhou Xuci, her mind blanked for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, “Sorry, I must have walked into the wrong room.”

She stepped back outside to double-check the private room number.

She hadn’t made a mistake.

When Xu Zhizhi pushed the door open again, Zhou Xuci was already walking toward her.

Zhou Xuci was dressed far more meticulously than usual, a well-tailored white shirt paired with a navy-blue vest, making him appear even taller and more handsome.

His proportions were impeccable, the kind of figure that could make any outfit look good, and his steps carried an effortless grace as he approached her.

Bathed in the warm light, every movement exuded the elegance and refinement of a scion from an aristocratic family.

If there was ever a perfect embodiment of a noble young master, it would be Zhou Xuci.

Xu Zhizhi stood frozen in place, slightly flustered, and politely said, “Senior, what a coincidence.”

She glanced around the room and realized Zhou Xuci was the only one there.

According to Sun Xiuya, her blind date was supposed to be surnamed Lu.

Zhou Xuci’s deep gaze settled on Xu Zhizhi, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Looking for someone, junior?”

Xu Zhizhi nodded obediently. “Yes.”

“Who?” Zhou Xuci asked.

“I only know his surname is Lu,” Xu Zhizhi replied.

Zhou Xuci studied Xu Zhizhi, who was dressed in an exquisite gown. She was naturally beautiful, and with a little extra effort, she looked even more radiant.

She should have been a star shining brightly in the night sky, dazzling without restraint.

But fate had placed her in the Shen family, where more often than not, she was treated like a commodity with a price tag.

“Looking for someone surnamed Lu for something important?” Zhou Xuci inquired.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her head humbly. “…A blind date.”

Zhou Xuci shrugged. “Then you might be disappointed.”

Xu Zhizhi looked up at him, slightly puzzled. “What?”

“He bailed,” Zhou Xuci said nonchalantly.

Xu Zhizhi seemed to exhale in relief before curiosity took over. She asked, “How do you know he bailed, Senior? And… why are you here?”

He was dressed very formally.

“Stand-in for the blind date,” Zhou Xuci replied without batting an eye, lying through his teeth. “My brother’s being unreasonable, forcing me to take his place.”

“So… Mr. Lu is your brother?” Xu Zhizhi guessed.

“Older brother. I took my mother’s surname,” Zhou Xuci said.

“Oh, I see.”

Xu Zhizhi stood there awkwardly, sensing Zhou Xuci’s displeasure at being roped into the blind date. The atmosphere grew tense, and she didn’t know what to say.

Zhou Xuci had already turned to walk further inside, noticing Xu Zhizhi hadn’t moved.

He pulled out a chair for her with gentlemanly grace, then turned to gaze at her intently. “The food’s already ordered. Might as well not let it go to waste.”

Xu Zhizhi nodded. “Alright.”

Once seated, the waitstaff began serving the dishes.

As the courses were brought out one by one, Xu Zhizhi realized every single dish was something she loved, not a single miss.

She knew this dinner had been carefully arranged by Sun Xiuya.

But since when had Sun Xiuya paid such close attention to her preferences?

While Xu Zhizhi was lost in thought, Zhou Xuci slid a plate of neatly cut steak in front of her.

“Xu Zhizhi,” Zhou Xuci said softly, his eyes filled with warmth. “Eat well.”

A gentleman.

Full of grace.

Xu Zhizhi smiled at him, her faint dimples appearing at the corners of her lips. “Thank you, Senior.”

Zhou Xuci’s gaze darkened slightly as he studied her for a long moment before lifting his wine glass and taking a slow sip.

Her smile was downright lethal.

Xu Zhizhi had expected it to be a tense and awkward dinner, but surprisingly, she felt unusually relaxed.

In Zhou Xuci’s presence, Xu Zhizhi didn’t need to be overly reserved. She ate and drank freely, occasionally engaging in light conversation.

Zhou Xuci had impeccable manners. Though he spoke little, he responded thoughtfully to everything.

After dinner, a waiter presented a bouquet of red roses.

Xu Zhizhi knew this was likely Sun Xiuya’s deliberate arrangement, and she felt a bit awkward.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xuci took the roses from the waiter and handed them to Xu Zhizhi, his focused gaze shimmering with sincerity as he offered her the flowers.

Xu Zhizhi thanked him, accepted the bouquet, and lowered her head to inhale its fragrance, a satisfied smile blooming in her eyes.

After dinner, Xu Zhizhi bid Zhou Xuci farewell and was picked up by the Shen family’s driver, who took her back to school.

The university didn’t allow outside vehicles to enter freely, so Xu Zhizhi thanked the driver and got out at the west gate.

The snowstorm continued that night, with feather-like flakes swirling in the wind.

Shivering from the cold, Xu Zhizhi tightened her thick coat when suddenly, a shadow fell over her.

It was a black umbrella.

Holding the bouquet in her arms, Xu Zhizhi turned in surprise and met Zhou Xuci’s gentle gaze.

“The snow is too heavy. Let me walk you back,” he said.

Xu Zhizhi wasn’t used to troubling others and was about to politely decline when she suddenly heard a familiar conversation,

“Brother Yu, leaving the department’s little beauty crying by the roadside in this blizzard, you really are heartless,” Hu Chen joked through chattering teeth. “Breaking it off just like that, what a scumbag move.”

“What do you know?” Shen Yu’s voice dripped with disdain. “All that crying is just annoying.”

“Oh, come on. Just a few days ago, you were calling her ‘baby,’ and now she’s annoying?” Hu Chen teased, clearly enjoying the drama.

“Shut up,” Shen Yu snapped irritably. “It was just a fling. No need to take it so seriously.”

Their voices grew closer, and Zhou Xuci subtly tilted the umbrella to shield Xu Zhizhi from view.

His grip on the handle tightened slightly, faint veins appearing on the back of his hand.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her gaze as two figures passed by her side.

Just a fling.

How ironic.

Rumors said Shen Yu had grown tired of Zhang Shuqing, the department’s beauty, and dumped her after just a week.

Zhang Shuqing had wept in the snow, begging him to stay, only to be coldly abandoned.

In such freezing weather, amid such heavy snowfall, only someone as heartless as Shen Yu could do something so callous.

Xu Zhizhi’s gaze lingered on Shen Yu’s retreating figure, her mind drifting.

She wondered when Shen Yu had become this ugly version of himself.

She couldn’t remember.

Zhou Xuci’s eyes rested on Xu Zhizhi’s distracted expression. Noticing her daze, he said softly, “Let’s go, junior.”

Xu Zhizhi snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. “Mm.”

The entire way back, Xu Zhizhi was lost in her thoughts, stepping into snowdrifts several times until her shoes and socks were soaked, leaving her shivering from the cold.

Zhou Xuci wrapped his dark scarf around her to keep her warm.

This time, she didn’t refuse or perhaps her mind was too preoccupied to react.

Lowering her head, Xu Zhizhi could clearly catch a faint scent, one that belonged to Zhou Xuci.

The weather was freezing, but her heart felt a little warmer.

She glanced up, noticing how the umbrella was tilted toward her, while a small mound of snow had already gathered on Zhou Xuci’s shoulder.

Xu Zhizhi suddenly remembered that stormy night in her past life when Zhou Xuci had done the same, tilting the umbrella toward her, even as the downpour soaked his shoulders, shielding her from the torrential rain.

But then again, Zhou Xuci would probably tilt his umbrella toward anyone.

Because he was a gentleman with impeccable manners.

When they reached the dormitory building, Zhou Xuci stood at the entrance, watching until Xu Zhizhi had gone inside before turning to leave.

Suddenly, Xu Zhizhi’s voice called out from behind,

“Zhou Xuci.”

He turned back and met her sparkling eyes. His chin lifted slightly. “Hm?”

Xu Zhizhi smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and called out brightly, “Goodnight.”

With that, she hugged the bouquet of flowers and walked inside.

Zhou Xuci, dusted with snowflakes, stood where he was, watching the girl’s retreating figure before murmuring softly, “Goodnight.”

…