Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 51

After the last snowfall in Kyoto, the temperature rose, and the snow began to melt slowly.

During the coldest hours, the usually aloof young master of the Shen family actually deigned to stand in the snow for over an hour, waiting for Xu Zhizhi.

In her past life, it was Xu Zhizhi who had done such foolish things.

She had once stood in the melting snow, queuing for two and a half hours just to buy a limited-edition jersey for Shen Yu.

The cold of the melting snow was like rusted nails, piercing her knees one by one, leaving her in such pain that she couldn’t sleep all night and had to take painkillers for over a week.

Later, that limited-edition jersey ended up on one of Shen Yu’s girlfriends.

And later still, Xu Zhizhi never saw that jersey again, perhaps it had been thrown away, or maybe used to wipe feet or mop the floor.

It was a pity that back then, she had never awakened. Her affection for Shen Yu had been like a moth drawn to a flame, a duty-bound self-destruction, even if it meant being shattered to pieces.

Fortunately, she had finally woken up completely.

This belated affection from Shen Yu felt like a heavy burden to Xu Zhizhi.

She merely glanced at Shen Yu indifferently before turning her attention back to adjusting the colors for the children.

A little girl with pigtails, soft-hearted, whispered, “Sister Zhizhi, that brother has been standing outside for a long time.”

Xu Zhizhi remained composed. “Oh?”

“Yeah, when I first arrived, I saw him lurking around,” the girl said worriedly. “The snow’s melting, it’s really cold out there.”

Xu Zhizhi added a stroke to the girl’s painting. “If he’s cold, he’ll leave on his own.”

A young master like Shen Yu wouldn’t endure hardship for long.

The little girl didn’t press further, refocusing on her drawing.

Xu Zhizhi hadn’t expected Shen Yu to be so persistent, he waited until she finished work.

He had smoked quite a bit, the scent of tobacco thick around him.

When Xu Zhizhi stepped out, Shen Yu approached her with a bouquet in hand.

She rarely saw such fervent emotion in Shen Yu’s eyes. His expression was complex, but when he looked at her, it was filled with joy and warmth.

Xu Zhizhi had once dreamed countless times that the reckless Shen Yu would turn over a new leaf and walk toward her, step by step.

Now that such a scene had unfolded before her, she felt nothing.

No affection, no hatred, just the calmness of having moved on.

“Zhizhi!”

Shen Yu offered her the flowers.

Xu Zhizhi took a few steps back, widening the distance between them. She didn’t take the bouquet, her refusal clear.

Yet the young master wasn’t angered. He cradled the flowers in his arms and asked eagerly, “Are you hungry? Let me take you to dinner. There’s a new Cantonese restaurant near the east gate of the school, I heard it’s good.”

Xu Zhizhi walked ahead, replying softly, “I’m not hungry.”

“Not hungry?” Shen Yu quickly switched tactics. “Then let me buy you milk tea. Don’t you love brown sugar pearl milk tea the most?”

His gaze was hopeful as he looked at her.

Xu Zhizhi turned to face him. “No need.”

It had been a long time since she’d drunk brown sugar pearl milk tea.

She had always found the taste of brown sugar strange. Back then, she only drank it because Shen Yu had bought it to comfort her after she was bullied by three thugs.

She should have realized sooner, forcing herself to drink brown sugar pearl milk tea was like eating undercooked, dry rice.

It was suffering for no reason.

Despite her cold demeanor, Shen Yu displayed unprecedented patience and tolerance. “If you don’t want it, then let’s go…”

Xu Zhizhi spoke up, interrupting him. “Shen Yu, you don’t need to go out of your way to please me.”

Shen Yu’s expression faltered for a few seconds before he regained his easygoing demeanor.

He had expected her cold words, but he hadn’t anticipated how much they would still hurt.

But then again, considering the awful things he had done in the past…

Xu Zhizhi stood at the crosswalk, watching the red light glow. “In life, there are many crossroads. Some people walk side by side, only to part ways at an intersection, drifting further and further apart until they become nothing more than passing figures in each other’s lives.”

They had once been intertwined, but they had chosen different paths.

In her past life, she had stubbornly insisted on following Shen Yu’s path, only to end up battered and bruised.

In this life, she would walk in the opposite direction. Even if there were no flowers to send her off, she was willing to cut through thorns and forge her own path.

“But we won’t be passing figures,” Shen Yu said.

They had grown up together, bound by ties that couldn’t be severed.

His grip on the bouquet tightened slightly as he gazed earnestly at Xu Zhizhi. “Zhizhi, in the past, it was always you chasing after me. This time, let me be the one to chase you.”

Just like you once did, running toward me without hesitation.

“Shen Yu, you know this,” Xu Zhizhi lifted her eyes, her gaze resolute. “I like Zhou Xuci. More than I’ve ever liked anyone before.”

Far more than I ever liked you.

“Xu Zhizhi, don’t do this to me.” Shen Yu’s heart felt as if it had been carved out with a knife. His voice was laced with regret as he looked at her distant expression. “I was wrong before, but I’ve changed. I’ve been keeping to myself lately, I haven’t gotten close to any other women.”

In the past, he had been reckless and unfaithful, but he would never be that kind of scoundrel again.

“You don’t need to change anything,” Xu Zhizhi said, her knees aching faintly from the cold. Her rejection was firm. “I can apologize again for blindly clinging to you before. Between us, it was just a-”

“Xu Zhizhi!” Shen Yu didn’t want to hear such painful words. He raised his voice, emphasizing, “Zhou Xuci will be the passing figure in your life.”

He had no intention of giving up. “I was the one who grew up with you. You came to my house when you were eight, we spent every day together. I… I used to treat you well too. Have you forgotten all of that?”

“That time you were almost assaulted by those three thugs, I was the one who protected you. I bought you milk tea to cheer you up. I…” His words were sincere. “Zhizhi, I know you’re not the kind of person who forgets where she came from.”

The wind tousled Xu Zhizhi’s hair, but her expression remained unreadable. “I haven’t forgotten.”

It was precisely because of that act of protection that Xu Zhizhi had fallen hopelessly in love with Shen Yu.

At first, the Shen Yu she had loved was a bright, radiant boy, always haloed in righteousness.

But later, as adolescence brought rebellion and arrogance, he had somehow changed overnight, rotting bit by bit until he became the heartless playboy he was now.

Xu Zhizhi had remained trapped in the memories of her sixteen-year-old self, wasting eight years of her youth in vain.

The price she had paid was far too steep.

“I was a scoundrel before, but…” Shen Yu lowered his head, his voice quiet and sorrowful. “I just lost my way for a while. Don’t I deserve even a little bit of your forgiveness?”

Xu Zhizhi remained unmoved. “Shen Yu, there’s no chance for us anymore.”

Shen Yu, I’ve already forgiven you countless times.

This time, I won’t forgive again.

The traffic light turned green, and Xu Zhizhi stepped forward, walking ahead.

“You and Zhou Xuci are absolutely impossible,” Shen Yu shouted at Xu Zhizhi’s retreating figure. “Xu Zhizhi, the world’s top-ranked electronic information research institute has sent Zhou Xuci an invitation. He’s going abroad for further studies next year.”

…