Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 45

A snowstorm was forecast for tonight, and Xu Zhizhi had the night shift.

The weather was terrible, leaving Zhou Xuci as the only customer in the café.

Seated in his usual spot, Zhou Xuci ordered his regular latte, meticulously reviewing the final draft of his project proposal.

Finally, it was time to clock out.

Xu Zhizhi walked toward Zhou Xuci, only to find him slumped over the table, fast asleep.

Exhausted.

Her gaze softened as she studied his peaceful sleeping face, the warm lighting casting a gentle glow over his features.

She had always loved his tender eyes, the depths of which always seemed to shimmer with quiet affection.

Perhaps it was the strain of working five consecutive days on the project, but a faint weariness lingered in his expression, causing his brows to furrow slightly.

Unable to resist, Xu Zhizhi reached out, her fingertips lightly tracing the contours of his face before pausing at the sharp, flawless line of his jaw.

“Zhou Xuci.”

She whispered his name.

He didn’t stir.

Bending down, she leaned closer, her eyes lingering on his sleeping face.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, snow swirled in the wind, while the café’s romantic melody played softly in the background. Before her was the one who held her heart.

The moment was serene, the atmosphere perfect.

Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings as, overcome with emotion, she slowly leaned in and pressed a featherlight kiss.

Right at the corner of his lips.

Just the briefest touch.

On this snowy, romantic night, she had stolen a kiss.

The secret longing in her heart burst like fireworks at this moment, her pulse racing wildly.

Xu Zhizhi could even feel the nervous thumping of her heart, thump, thump, thump, growing faster and faster.

This was a feeling she had never experienced before.

In her past life, she had once been infatuated with Shen Yu, chasing after him meekly and tirelessly across the country, always just an unnoticed admirer.

But she had never felt such an intense, burning attraction as she did now.

Zhou Xuci was different.

Perhaps what she felt for him wasn’t just mere liking.

Like a chick pecking at rice, Xu Zhizhi had intended only to steal the tiniest kiss.

But after succeeding, guilt immediately set in, and she quickly prepared to retreat.

When suddenly, she felt a hand close around her wrist.

She froze.

Busted!

Heat rushed to her face, staining her cheeks and ears crimson. Wide-eyed with shock, she met Zhou Xuci’s slightly dazed gaze.

Her brain short-circuited for a full three seconds, turning into complete mush.

“Um…”

Quick, think of an excuse!

But before she could utter a word, Zhou Xuci tightened his grip and pulled her toward him.

The distance between them vanished in an instant.

A wave of tension crashed over her.

Xu Zhizhi’s breath hitched, her words stumbling. “You-”

Before she could explain, Zhou Xuci closed his eyes, tilted his head up slightly, and kissed her.

Passionately.

Reason and restraint crumbled in an instant.

Sealed with a kiss.

Xu Zhizhi blinked, stunned, rooted to the spot as her heart hammered violently in her chest.

He…

But the kiss was fleeting.

Zhou Xuci released her wrist.

Not giving him a chance to speak, Xu Zhizhi, her face burning red, staggered back like a startled kitten, her entire body trembling. Without a second thought, she turned and bolted.

She fled through the back door!

Without even signing the time-off sheet!

She was going to lose 50 bucks from her paycheck! T-T

Truly, crime doesn’t pay!

Watching Xu Zhizhi flee in panic, Zhou Xuci rubbed his temples with a sigh, muttering in frustration,

“…That was too reckless.”

He had scared her off.

That makes it even harder to chase.

Xu Zhizhi rushed back to her dorm, her nervousness refusing to subside.

She touched her lips in a classic case of “protesting too much,” pacing back and forth in the dorm room.

Round and round she went.

Xu Zhizhi spun like a little top, as if determined to walk ten thousand steps within the confines of the dorm.

Ding-ding-ding, her phone began to vibrate.

It was a WeChat message.

The group chat exploded.

[Jianianhua: Zhizhi, the geniuses on the forum are gossiping about you and Zhou Xuci!]

[Suspected Ground Frost: I saw it too! There’s photo evidence!]

[Suspected Ground Frost: @Zhi]

[Jianianhua: @Zhi @Zhi @Zhi]

All the messages were tagging her. Before the person in question could even figure out how to defend herself, Ling Shuang directly dropped a link with a shocking title.

[Has the Unattainable Flower Zhou Xuci Been Plucked? And the Plucker Is Actually Her!]

Immediately followed by another.

[My Xuci! The Way You Look at Her Is Anything But Innocent!]

Xu Zhizhi was momentarily speechless at these sensational headlines. Nervously, she clicked on them.

The featured photo showed Zhou Xuci and Xu Zhizhi walking side by side in the snow, with him carrying her suitcase.

The photo was perfectly captured, full of atmosphere.

Coincidentally, it froze the moment Zhou Xuci gazed at Xu Zhizhi with a gentle, smiling expression.

The comments section was buzzing.

[Big Yellow Duck Head: Let me see which little enchantress has lured Zhou Xuci away? Damn! She’s so sweet!!!]

[Daily Focus on Hair Growth: I absolutely do not approve of this marriage!!!]

[All Talk: This girl has a bad reputation, though. Has Zhou Xuci been tricked?]

[Liked Zhou Xuci for 100 Days: Love-struck fools die fast. Zhou Xuci, I advise you to break up!]

[Yellow Is My Protective Color: The comments are so bitter. I think they look great together~ The girl is pure and sweet, not some flashy flirt. Zhou’s taste is impeccable~]

[.: I only have one request, Xu Zhizhi, can you lend me Zhou Xuci for a bite? He looks delicious!]

[AAA Building Materials King: Don’t believe the rumors. I’m from the art school, and our little campus belle is amazing! Beautiful, great personality, top-tier skills, she’s our best!]

Opinions were divided, with plenty of wild comments mixed in.

The WeChat group messages kept pouring in.

[Jianianhua: AHHHHHH! Xu Zhizhi! Is this for real? Did my bestie just bag my crush? Is he tasty? Is he? Is he?]

Even through the screen, Xu Zhizhi could picture Song Jia transforming into a screaming chicken.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Zhizhi replied with one word.

[Zhi: Tasty.]

Is he tasty?

Hell yes!

Just a little nibble, and she was already in heaven!

[Jianianhua: ?????????]

[Suspected Ground Frost: HOLY SH*T!!!!!! XU ZHIZHI, YOU!!!!]

[Jianianhua: Details! Give me all the details!]

[Suspected Ground Frost: Xu Zhizhi! Don’t you dare run!]

Who would’ve thought Xu Zhizhi would actually grab the gossip and bolt? Hahaha.

The dorm group chat was in chaos.

But Cheng Xiaoxin didn’t respond at all.

She stared down at the heated messages, her gaze lingering on the one Xu Zhizhi had sent.

The wind and snow blurred her vision.

Cheng Xiaoxin stood in the biting cold, the empty campus path feeling even more desolate.

She went to the café.

The café glowed with warm lighting, its floor-to-ceiling windows casting a cozy yellow light into the endless snowy night, creating a romantic and dreamy scene.

In the snow, she stood alone, dazed amidst the howling cold wind.

She had returned to school today.

Cheng Xiaoxin, seeing the heavy snowstorm, had come specifically to pick up Xu Zhizhi.

She had wanted to surprise Xu Zhizhi, but instead, she witnessed such a romantic kiss.

The umbrella in Cheng Xiaoxin’s hand fell to the ground, swept away by a gust of wind into the boundless darkness of the night.

Facing the wind, drenched in snow, she reached out, trying to grasp the storm, only to find it futile.

She couldn’t hold onto anything.

Cheng Xiaoxin tilted her head up, watching the snowflakes flutter like pear blossoms, her eyes slowly losing focus as she slipped into a dazed state.

The cold wind pierced like needles, stabbing at her relentlessly.

Cheng Xiaoxin didn’t feel the cold, instead, a crushing sense of emptiness surged over her like a red tide, drowning her, leaving her breathless.

So, this was how much it hurt to love someone.

Xu Zhizhi saw Cheng Xiaoxin’s suitcase in the dorm, but by 11:30 at night, there was still no sign of her.

She began to worry.

She tried calling Cheng Xiaoxin, but the call didn’t go through.

Xu Zhizhi changed into a thick down jacket, ready to go out and ask the security guard.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Cheng Xiaoxin walking toward her.

“Xinxin!”

Cheng Xiaoxin looked a little disheveled, covered in snow, with clumps of it clinging to her head and shoulders, even her eyebrows frozen.

“What happened?” Xu Zhizhi immediately stuffed a hot water bottle into Cheng Xiaoxin’s arms and gently brushed the snow off her.

Cheng Xiaoxin smiled at Xu Zhizhi. “It’s nothing. I forgot my umbrella when I went out today.”

“In such heavy snow, you should’ve let me pick you up.” Xu Zhizhi wrapped a thick blanket around Cheng Xiaoxin, who was shivering all over.

“My phone froze and wouldn’t turn on,” Cheng Xiaoxin explained, her gaze fixed on Xu Zhizhi as she brewed hot ginger tea to warm her up.

That busy figure was deeply imprinted in Cheng Xiaoxin’s eyes.

Xu Zhizhi handed her the steaming ginger tea. “Still cold?”

Cheng Xiaoxin took the cup with one hand and touched Xu Zhizhi’s head with the other. “Not anymore.”

Xu Zhizhi leaned against Cheng Xiaoxin and hugged her. “It’s been so long. I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too,” Cheng Xiaoxin replied, returning the embrace. “Zhizhi, I’m still cold.”

She was afraid of the cold, terrified of it.

They had grown up as best friends, different in personality but similar in taste.

Cheng Xiaoxin lowered her head, her eyes filled with endless loneliness.

Perhaps falling for the same person was an inescapable fate for them.

…