Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 30

After New Year’s Day, Jing University entered its most intense exam week. Once the exams were over, winter vacation would begin.

While her roommates were busy planning where to go for fun during the break, the financially strapped Xu Zhizhi had no such luxury. She continued to immerse herself in the world of painting.

Recently, the art gallery staff contacted Xu Zhizhi again.

“Zhizhi, your family is from Nancheng, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well, there’s a Mr. Lu who saw your work at the art exhibition and greatly admires your creative style. He’s also from Nancheng and is looking for a tutor during the winter break, apparently to teach his grandfather how to paint. Would you be interested?”

Xu Zhizhi paused. “Huh? Grandfather?”

“He’s a very kind old man who wants to dabble in art in his free time. Mr. Lu comes from a scholarly family and has sponsored our art exhibitions many times. He’s very steady and reliable, completely trustworthy.”

“That’s good, then. I’m fine with it,” Xu Zhizhi agreed readily.

Earning extra money would help ease her financial burden.

Originally, Xu Zhizhi hadn’t planned to return to Nancheng for the winter break. She didn’t want to see Shen Yu, and she especially didn’t want to see Sun Xiuya. But Shen Yaoxin had already called her five times, asking when she’d be coming home.

Uncle Shen genuinely treated her as part of the family, showering her with care and concern. Despite her reluctance, she couldn’t bring herself to respond coldly to his kindness.

No matter how much Xu Zhizhi despised the Shen family, she could never forget that it was Uncle Shen who had pulled her out of the dark orphanage.

Uncle Shen had always carried guilt toward her, which drove him to treat her with relentless, meticulous kindness.

Yet, there was a barrier in Xu Zhizhi’s heart. She knew all too well that her father had died for Uncle Shen even if it had been an act of heroism.

Countless times, Xu Zhizhi had fantasized: What if, on that utterly ordinary afternoon, her father hadn’t passed that intersection? What if he hadn’t encountered Shen Yaoxin being held at knifepoint by a robber? What if he hadn’t stepped forward to intervene?

Would everything have turned out differently?

But there were no what-ifs.

In the first month after her father’s death, everyone told Xu Zhizhi that her father was a brave hero, a man who had sacrificed himself to save another in the face of danger.

His courage, his selflessness, they were qualities worth learning from, worth celebrating.

Yet after singing praises of her father’s heroism, those same people coldly abandoned his orphaned daughter in a merciless orphanage.

Xu Zhizhi painted her father’s portrait over and over, pleading silently in her heart,

If he had been so brave, why couldn’t he have saved her just once from her own suffering?

It was all fate. Shen Yaoxin, held hostage by the criminal, was innocent. Her father, who had fallen under the robber’s blade, was innocent too.

But the most innocent of all was seven-year-old Xu Zhizhi!

Shen Yaoxin’s appearance had been the first glimmer of light in her dark world, and so the helpless little girl had clung tightly to that sole source of warmth.

She had been too young back then, desperate for someone strong to rely on.

Fortunately, Shen Yaoxin had always treated her with sincerity.

After finishing her exams, Xu Zhizhi contacted Mr. Lu about the tutoring job. They discussed the teaching content, schedule, location, and payment.

Mr. Lu was generous, offering a rate well above the market price.

Xu Zhizhi felt undeserving.

But Mr. Lu simply told her: “Art is priceless.”

From the phone call, Xu Zhizhi sensed that Mr. Lu was an extremely well-mannered person, which made her feel even more at ease about accepting the tutoring job.

Xu Zhizhi was returning to Nancheng but didn’t want to stay with the Shen family anymore, so she rented a small apartment in advance.

Cheng Xiaoxin had flown straight abroad for a New Year’s vacation on an island this winter break and wouldn’t be returning to Nancheng.

“Don’t let those Shen family jerks bully you,” Cheng Xiaoxin said, patting Xu Zhizhi’s head. “If they do, just fly over to me. I’ll take care of you.”

She had money, lots of it.

But Xu Zhizhi was stubborn and refused to become a freeloader.

Xu Zhizhi was amused, her eyes turning red as she hugged Cheng Xiaoxin back. “I’ve grown up now. No one can bully me anymore.”

Her wings were slowly strengthening, and eventually, she would fly far away from the Shen family.

Cheng Xiaoxin smiled brightly. “What do you want as a gift? I’ll bring it back for you.”

“Nothing,” Xu Zhizhi said softly. “Xinxin, I just want you to be safe and sound.”

In her past life, Cheng Xiaoxin had died in a plane crash. The trauma had left Xu Zhizhi with PTSD, making her somewhat neurotic and overly anxious.

Cheng Xiaoxin saw Xu Zhizhi off at the train station, thoughtfully buying her a bag of her favorite snacks and reminding her to stay safe.

As Xu Zhizhi dragged her luggage into the station, Cheng Xiaoxin stood in place, waving goodbye until her figure slowly disappeared into the crowd.

Cheng Xiaoxin lowered her head and took out her phone, spotting a message from Song Jia.

Song Jia had run into Zhou Xuci at the airport.

Rumor had it that Zhou Xuci was also returning to Nancheng.

Nancheng, their hometown.

Suddenly, Cheng Xiaoxin remembered the first time she had seen Zhou Xuci’s photo on the bulletin board. It had felt like a strike to the heart.

That feeling of being utterly captivated by someone, as if they had illuminated an entire era, she had felt it so clearly.

The fluttering heartbeat of youth was the most unforgettable.

But…

Cheng Xiaoxin scrolled through her chat history and clicked on a forum link shared in the class group.

Back then, the New Year’s Eve party had sparked heated discussions on the campus forum.

Zhou Xuci had topped the trending list.

Cheng Xiaoxin had ranked second.

“Zhou Xuci,” Cheng Xiaoxin murmured, staring at the trending list on the campus forum, “this must be the closest I’ll ever get to you.”

I know you like Zhizhi.

Zhou Xuci was indeed returning to Nancheng, relentlessly summoned by Lu Huaibei’s incessant calls.

While waiting at the airport, Zhou Xuci received another call from Lu Huaibei and couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “Lu Huaibei, listen to yourself. Is this something a human being would say?”

Lu Huaibei, utterly shameless, repeated firmly, “I signed Grandpa up for a hobby class this winter break. You’re going as his study companion.”

How was that unreasonable?

“No.” Zhou Xuci frowned, utterly baffled. “Grandpa in a hobby class? If you’re up to no good, go scam Grandpa, don’t drag me into it.”

Lu Huaibei scoffed dismissively. “One question: yes or no?”

“Obviously no.” Zhou Xuci rolled his eyes, refusing to fall for it.

Lu Huaibei couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Zhou Xuci, you better not come crying to me later. Don’t even think about calling me ‘bro’ by then, even calling me ‘Dad’ won’t save you!”

Zhou Xuci chuckled arrogantly. “Bye!”

The moment Lu Huaibei hung up, Old Master Lu whacked him with his cane,

“You little brat, mistreating your elders like this? At my age, my hands shake just holding chopsticks, and you sign me up for a painting class? Are you trying to get back at me for arranging nine tutors for you before?” Old Man Lu grumbled angrily.

What a vicious revenge!

Lu Huaibei yelped in pain and jumped up, darting behind the sofa to hide. “What shaky hands? You hit me with so much force, you’re terrifyingly strong!”

“Lu Huaibei, you little rascal, don’t you dare run! Stand still! If you don’t explain yourself today, I’ll break your legs. I’ve never seen someone shameless enough to sell out their own grandfather like this!”

Lu Huaibei quickly grabbed the cane and immediately played his trump card. “Grandpa, the one teaching you to paint is your future granddaughter-in-law!”

Old Man Lu: “Huh?????”

Now that’s interesting!

…