Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 47

Xu Zhizhi braved the biting cold wind, running halfway across the campus to the dance studio of the College of Arts.

“Cheng Xiaoxin, let’s work together.”

Xu Zhizhi lowered her head, her hand resting on the door handle, pausing mid-motion as she was about to push it open.

It was Shen Yu’s voice.

Cheng Xiaoxin leaned against the wall, slightly raising her chin as she looked at Shen Yu, who was exhaling smoke. “Work together? Us?”

“Yes.” Shen Yu flicked the ash off his cigarette. “I know you like Zhou Xuci.”

Cheng Xiaoxin’s expression darkened, about to deny it outright.

“Don’t lie to me.” Shen Yu cut off all her escape routes with one sentence. “I’ve seen the love letter you wrote to Zhou Xuci.”

That letter had been accidentally picked up by Hu Chen.

Shen Yu watched as Cheng Xiaoxin’s face paled, curling his lips smugly. “Do you need me to remind you of the contents of that letter?”

“Shen Yu, what exactly do you want?” Cheng Xiaoxin clenched her fists, her crystal nails digging into her palms.

It hurt a little.

But she was also panicking.

“To work together.” Shen Yu stubbed out his cigarette, narrowing his eyes with a meaningful smile. “I’ll give Zhou Xuci to you, and you bring Xu Zhizhi back to me. A win-win.”

“Hah.” Cheng Xiaoxin let out a cold laugh. “Shen Yu, who the hell do you think you are?”

Shen Yu frowned. “Not interested in cooperating?”

Cheng Xiaoxin didn’t even spare him a glance. “Get lost. Don’t disgust me.”

She strode toward the exit.

Shen Yu raised his voice. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll give the love letter you wrote to Zhou Xuci to Xu Zhizhi?”

Her footsteps halted. Cheng Xiaoxin stopped.

“Cheng Xiaoxin, I know you and Xu Zhizhi are very close.” Shen Yu stepped toward her one by one, posing a thought-provoking question. “But how long do you think Zhou Xuci will like her?”

“Guys like Zhou Xuci, rich, spoiled young masters, are a dime a dozen around me. They’re all scum. At this reckless, indulgent age, they’re just playing around. Once they’re bored, they toss people aside.”

“Rather than waiting for her to get hurt, abandoned, or broken, wouldn’t it be better for you to help her avoid that risk early? That’s what truly looking out for her means.”

“Shen Yu, you’re just another piece of scum.” Cheng Xiaoxin wasn’t buying it, her words sharp. “Aren’t you just playing around too? Why pretend to be the devoted lover?”

Shen Yu took a deep breath, solemnly declaring, “No matter what happens, I’ll marry her in the end. That’s my promise, and I’ll keep it!”

Cheng Xiaoxin shook her head. “Shen Yu, you’re truly absurd.”

She turned and continued walking away.

“Cheng Xiaoxin!” Shen Yu called after her. “Xu Zhizhi’s feelings for Zhou Xuci are probably fake. She chased after me for so many years, how could she not like me anymore?”

“She’s just using Zhou Xuci to get back at me. Once Zhou Xuci’s served his purpose, he’ll be discarded. You like Zhou Xuci so much, are you really going to stand by and watch him get used?”

Seeing Cheng Xiaoxin remain unmoved, Shen Yu resorted to provocation. “You’re the Cheng family’s heiress. Do you think you’re inferior to Xu Zhizhi? Are you just going to admit defeat?”

Cheng Xiaoxin stopped in her tracks, turned around, and walked back with firm, decisive steps, her voice resolute.

“Shen Yu, you’re so full of yourself. What makes you think I would blindly and unscrupulously fight for a man who doesn’t even like me? Do you think I’m some kind of desperate fool?”

She had her own pride and dignity.

She had once fallen into the dust and knew the pain of living without self-respect.

“What makes you think I would abandon a sister who’s been by my side for ten years, all for a man? Yes, I like Zhou Xuci. So what? He doesn’t like me back. If I have to beg or fight for him, then he’s not worth it.”

A forced relationship is like holding sand in your hands.

If it’s destined to slip away, then let it go with grace.

“Please don’t slander any woman. I don’t think I’m lacking, it’s just bad timing. I believe there’s someone out there who will cross the crowd to find me at the right time.”

Love should be open and honest.

Fighting and competing over it? That’s just petty.

“Besides, there’s no rivalry between Zhizhi and me, no winners or losers. She’s outstanding. She’s the flower of our dorm, a top scholarship winner, her photo displayed on our department’s honor board. It’s no surprise Zhou Xuci likes her.”

Zhou Xuci liking Xu Zhizhi, saying she wasn’t jealous would be a lie.

She was heartbroken, as if she’d swallowed a mouthful of bitter coptis. But after the bitterness came a clean, honest envy.

Like Song Jia and Ling Shuang said, If I can’t have the man, but my sister does, that’s still a win.

She just hadn’t adjusted her mindset fast enough, and that led to this outcome.

That love letter, she had written it long ago.

Back then, she hadn’t known Zhou Xuci liked Xu Zhizhi. Who would’ve thought that the unsent letter would come back like a boomerang to strike her instead?

“Cheng Xiaoxin, stop pretending to be noble,” Shen Yu sneered.

“It’s you who’s narrow-minded and vile,” Cheng Xiaoxin said coldly, her gaze steady. “Let me tell you something, if Zhizhi were in my position today, and if Zhou Xuci liked me instead, she would make the same choice I did.”

Because they had always believed in each other unconditionally.

Even if ten thousand choices were laid before her, she would still choose Zhizhi without hesitation.

Just like how Zhizhi had once chosen her, steadfastly, when she was trapped in darkness.

Her words rang out, firm and clear, echoing in the quiet training room.

“Shen Yu, don’t judge the world through your shallow perspective. You’re trash, but Zhou Xuci isn’t.”

“Zhizhi is doing just fine now. As long as you stay away, she’ll do even better. Your so-called ‘deep feelings’ are fake. Go back to being the scumbag you are.”

With that, Cheng Xiaoxin finally felt at ease.

She strode toward the exit but paused to add, “Smoking is prohibited in the training room. Violators face a 5,000-word self-criticism and a 10,000-yuan fine. Don’t worry, I’ll report you personally.”

“Cheng Xiaoxin! Impossible!” Shen Yu completely lost his composure, shouting after her, “She’s too stubborn to give up on me so easily! She must still like me! Everything she’s doing now is just to spite me!”

He was trapped in his own twisted logic, unwilling to accept that Xu Zhizhi had truly moved on.

“Hah, you’re pathetic.”

As Cheng Xiaoxin pulled open the training room door, she was met with the sight of Xu Zhizhi, her eyes brimming with tears.

The moment their gazes met, Xu Zhizhi’s tears spilled over. Choking back a sob, she whispered, “Xinxin, I-”

Cheng Xiaoxin’s eyes instantly reddened, her nose tingling as she fought back tears with all her might.

She reached up, wiping the tears from Xu Zhizhi’s face, then took her hand and quickly walked away.

The two arrived at the grove behind the teaching building, standing face to face, their eyes locked, tears welling up in their gazes.

Cheng Xiaoxin lowered her head. “I’m sorry, but I like Zhou Xuci.”

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m sorry too… I like him as well.”

…