Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 44

Good news had recently arrived, two more of Xu Zhizhi’s paintings had been selected for an exhibition at the gallery.

One of them had even been sold.

Her little savings account had grown by +1!

Xu Zhizhi had carefully calculated that, at this rate, she should be able to repay the debt she owed to the Shen family within three years.

Only when it was fully repaid would she truly be free.

Xu Zhizhi had returned to working part-time at the café.

Zhou Xuci, meanwhile, was buried in a project, pulling three all-nighters in a row, he was swamped.

It had been three days since Xu Zhizhi last saw Zhou Xuci, and she couldn’t help but feel a little empty inside. She missed him so much.

It even made her lose her usual energy at work.

She didn’t want to disturb him during this busy time, so she settled for sending him WeChat messages, though she didn’t dare send too many, afraid of taking up too much of his time.

As for Zhou Xuci, no matter how busy he was, he always made sure to reply to every single one.

While washing glass cups, Xu Zhizhi heard a warm voice behind her, “Hello, I’d like a latte.”

When she turned around, she met Zhou Xuci’s smiling gaze.

Xu Zhizhi immediately put on a polite smile, adopting her professional service attitude. “Hello, any preferences for the latte? Sugar level? Or…?”

Zhou Xuci: “Whatever you make is fine. I’m not picky.”

Xu Zhizhi gave an ‘okay’ sign and then asked, “For here or to go?”

“For here.”

“Got it. Please wait a moment.”

Zhou Xuci watched the well-behaved Xu Zhizhi and curled his lips. “Hey, what’s your employee number?”

Xu Zhizhi paused, confused. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” Zhou Xuci tapped his long fingers rhythmically on the counter, teasing her. “Just thought your service was excellent. Wanted to ask your boss for a raise for you.”

“…” Xu Zhizhi handed him the order slip and shot him a playful glare. “Zhou Xuci, go find yourself a seat.”

Zhou Xuci’s eyes brimmed with unconcealed fondness as he obediently replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

Xu Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh before turning back to prepare his latte, even taking extra care to craft an intricate foam design.

Zhou Xuci settled into a relatively quiet corner, pulled out his laptop, and resumed typing away at his code.

Xu Zhizhi brought over the hot latte and placed it beside him.

“Still not done with the project?”

“Nope.” Zhou Xuci shifted his gaze to her and explained, “It’s in the final stages now. Just a bit of data left to tweak.”

Xu Zhizhi asked, “Why not stay in the lab?”

The computer science lab was at least a thirty-minute walk from the café.

And it was freezing outside.

Zhou Xuci kept a straight face, lying through his teeth. “Too exhausted today. Needed coffee to stay alive.”

What he really needed was to see her.

She was his lifeline.

Xu Zhizhi smiled. “Drink it while it’s hot.”

“Will do.”

Xu Zhizhi returned to her workstation. The café wasn’t crowded, only a handful of customers.

Winter break wasn’t over yet, and the cold weather kept most people indoors.

With some free time, Xu Zhizhi perched on a high stool, resting her chin on one hand as she secretly watched Zhou Xuci in the corner.

Zhou Xuci was completely focused, his deep eyes sharp and intent on the screen, his long fingers lightly dancing across the keyboard.

Even his hair seemed to glow.

No wonder he had topped Jing University’s “Unattainable Crush” rankings for three years straight!

He alone had created a legend at Jing University.

Zhou Xuci had been adjusting project data until Xu Zhizhi finished work. Only then did he close his laptop and accompany her to dinner.

By half past six in the evening, night had already fallen.

Suddenly, it began to snow.

Zhou Xuci raised an umbrella, tilting it toward Xu Zhizhi’s side to shield her from the wind and snow. “Where do you want to eat?”

Xu Zhizhi opted for convenience. “The East District cafeteria?”

“Alright.”

The winter break left the streets quiet, with only a handful of pedestrians hurrying against the wind.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, Zhou Xuci ran into some seniors from the electronics and information department. Two of them waved at him from a distance.

They had collaborated on programming projects before and had a good rapport.

“A-Ci! Over here, over here! Let’s eat together!” A senior in a plaid shirt called out warmly.

Another senior wearing glasses lit up the moment he saw Xu Zhizhi. “Holy crap! We’re saved! It’s the sweet little junior!”

Zhou Xuci glanced at Xu Zhizhi, silently asking for her opinion.

“Let’s join them,” she said.

She wasn’t as socially anxious anymore.

More importantly, she wanted to learn more about Zhou Xuci.

Zhou Xuci and Xu Zhizhi sat across from the two seniors.

A silent battle of stares ensued.

The bespectacled senior, unable to resist his inner gossip-monger, blinked at Xu Zhizhi and asked bluntly, “So, what’s your relationship?”

This was Zhou Xuci they were talking about!

The ascetic monk of the computer science department!

Xu Zhizhi, who had just taken a sip of soup, choked at the question and started coughing, her face turning red.

Zhou Xuci reached out, gently patting her back as he frowned at the senior across from them. “Senior, don’t tease her,” he said protectively.

The bespectacled senior immediately understood. “Fine, I’ll just go with my own interpretation.”

Tsk.

So protective.

Maximum boyfriend energy!

Xu Zhizhi tried to explain, her eyes wide. “It’s not what you think.”

The bespectacled senior waved her off. “Nope, nope, nope. It’s exactly what I think.”

My ship, my rules.

These two sitting together were just too perfect!

No wonder ancient emperors loved arranging marriages, I’ve never wanted to officiate a wedding more than I do right now!

Get married already!

Xu Zhizhi: “…”

The plaid-shirt senior elbowed his unruly companion and muttered, “Alright, shut up now.”

“Fine.”

Dinner passed harmoniously. The seniors were social butterflies, keeping the conversation flowing without leaving Xu Zhizhi out.

At one point, Zhou Xuci’s clothes got splashed with oil.

While he stepped away to clean up in the restroom, the bespectacled senior excitedly pulled Xu Zhizhi aside for a whispered conversation.

“Listen, junior. I’ve known A-Ci for three years, and his entire circle is male. Not a single girl in sight.”

“Actually, scratch that, there isn’t a single female presence around him. Even the dogs that pass by him are male.”

“Seriously, with a face like his, you’d think he’d have some worldly desires, but no! I was starting to suspect he was into guys! But you… you’re different. The way he looks at you is anything but innocent!”

You two! Get married! Now!

The plaid-shirt senior couldn’t take it anymore. Grabbing his friend by the collar, he yanked him back. “Dude, rein in your shipping brain. You’re scaring the poor girl. Since when do grown men obsess over couples like this?”

From a distance, seeing Zhou Xuci approaching, the senior in the plaid shirt quickly bid farewell to Xu Zhizhi, “Junior, we’re gonna make ourselves scarce now. See you next time.”

Xu Zhizhi nodded politely, “Goodbye.”

The bespectacled senior, being dragged away, couldn’t help but chatter, “Wow, I never thought Zhou Xuci would be into this type. But his girlfriend is just too sweet.”

Plaid-shirt senior retorted, “Stop talking nonsense.”

“I’m not! The way he looks at her is practically oozing affection!”

“Maybe he just ate too much lotus root.”

“Huh?”

“You know, ‘eating lotus root makes it stringy’!”

This conversation had Xu Zhizhi blushing and laughing at the same time.

Zhou Xuci walked over, noticing Xu Zhizhi’s reddened ears, and asked, “Did they bully you?”

Xu Zhizhi shook her head quickly, “No.”

“What did they say?”

“They said,” Xu Zhizhi paused deliberately, teasing Zhou Xuci, “they suspect you like men.”

Out of that entire lengthy exchange, she purposely picked those few words.

After saying this, Xu Zhizhi skipped away with light steps, leaving Zhou Xuci thunderstruck and rooted to the spot: “…………”

Who started this rumor?

When this goes to court, bring your rumor-mongering mouth with you!

…