Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 56

Zhou Xuci had left to attend a conference.

Originally planned for three days, an unexpected super rainstorm paralyzed the entire city, forcing a two-day extension.

Five days apart.

Xu Zhizhi finally understood the agony of longing, where every second felt like a year. Even though they kept in constant contact through WeChat, she missed him desperately.

Whenever she thought of Zhou Xuci, Xu Zhizhi would immerse herself in painting.

Unconsciously, Zhou Xuci had gradually become her source of creative inspiration.

On the fifth day, Zhou Xuci said he was coming back, his flight was in the evening.

Xu Zhizhi deliberately left the school art studio early, just to see Zhou Xuci sooner.

In the darkness, she hurried along the long campus path.

Suddenly, a girl approached and thrust a rose into Xu Zhizhi’s hand.

“?” Xu Zhizhi looked puzzled. “Classmate…”

Before she could ask any questions, the girl turned and ran off.

Finding it strange but in a hurry, Xu Zhizhi paid it no mind and continued on her way.

Then she received a second rose.

The same routine.

A third.

A fourth…

All the way to the eleventh.

Xu Zhizhi: “…”

The meaning of eleven roses: wholehearted love.

As she walked on, Xu Zhizhi caught sight of the scene ahead under the streetlights and abruptly stopped. She immediately turned around, intending to leave.

But she couldn’t escape.

Ahead was a romantic setup, flowers, heart-shaped candles, macaron balloons… a confession.

The person being confessed to was Xu Zhizhi.

Boys from the Sports Academy rushed over and surrounded her.

Hu Chen stepped in front of Xu Zhizhi. “Xu Zhizhi, Brother Yu has something to say to you.”

Xu Zhizhi’s expression was indifferent. “I don’t want to see him…”

Before she could finish, Shen Yu’s voice cut through the crowd, coming from behind her.

“Xu Zhizhi, I want to tell you that I like you more than anyone else.”

Xu Zhizhi turned her head and coldly looked at Shen Yu.

She paused. Shen Yu was wearing his high school uniform, as if he had transformed back into the bright, radiant boy from her memories.

Back then, when Xu Zhizhi was at her most isolated and helpless, it was Shen Yu in that same uniform who had saved her from the darkness.

Suddenly, a wave of teasing erupted around them, the boys from the Sports Academy were there to hype up the atmosphere.

“I want to tell you in front of the whole world that I like you.” Shen Yu walked up to Xu Zhizhi, his expression focused and resolute. “Zhizhi, I admit I’ve done many things that disappointed you before, but from this moment on, I swear I will only like you from now on…”

“Sorry.” Xu Zhizhi cut him off decisively. “I have a boyfriend.”

The cheers around them suddenly ceased, as if someone had hit the pause button, plunging everything into silence.

Everyone froze.

Hu Chen broke the stalemate, speaking as if joking, “Why not break up? Out with the old, in with the new. What’s so great about Zhou Xuci? He’s just a pretentious guy. Brother Yu is definitely better than him.”

Enraged, Xu Zhizhi turned to Hu Chen and hurled the rose in her hand straight at his face, her gaze icy. “Hu Chen, I’m not that patient. Don’t push me to slap you.”

It was the first time the well-behaved girl had shown such defiance.

She had always been meek and mild-tempered.

But this time, she bared her thorns like a hedgehog, sharp and unyielding.

She had claws, and she could bite.

Not to be trifled with.

Zhou Xuci was the trigger that made Xu Zhizhi bite.

She was protecting Zhou Xuci.

Hu Chen, who had been hit, felt humiliated. After a moment of shock, he immediately threw a tantrum like a spoiled young master. “Xu Zhizhi, how dare you!”

Before he could finish, Xu Zhizhi raised her voice to cut him off. “Hu Chen, why wouldn’t I dare?”

A direct confrontation!

“Before you slander others, take a look at yourself in the mirror. Are you even worthy?” Xu Zhizhi’s words were sharp and forceful. “In my heart, no one compares to him.”

This was the first time Hu Chen had seen Xu Zhizhi like this, and for a moment, he was actually intimidated by her.

The boys from the sports academy, worried that the situation might escalate, quickly pulled Hu Chen back.

Seeing this, Shen Yu’s expression gradually darkened. “Zhizhi, don’t go too far.”

The way she was protecting Zhou Xuci felt like a knife twisting in his heart.

This was Xu Zhizhi, the top-tier, well-behaved girl the Shen family had spent ten years molding.

She shouldn’t have fangs.

But for Zhou Xuci…

Why?

Suddenly, a cold, low voice came from behind.

“Stealing someone else’s girlfriend, is it fun?”

Xu Zhizhi turned at the sound and saw Zhou Xuci walking toward them step by step, his face icy.

His gaze was cold as it swept over the boys from the sports academy before finally settling on Shen Yu.

A heavy, oppressive atmosphere began to spread.

The air grew tense.

The sports academy boys exchanged uneasy glances and took a few steps back.

Zhou Xuci walked to Xu Zhizhi’s side and gently patted her head. “I’m late.”

When Xu Zhizhi saw Zhou Xuci, her eyes reddened slightly, and she shook her head.

She wasn’t alone and helpless.

Sensing Zhou Xuci’s anger, Xu Zhizhi clasped his clenched fist and shook her head at him, urging him not to act impulsively.

Zhou Xuci calmed down, took her hand, and glared coldly at Hu Chen with a warning. “Watch your words, or next time, it won’t be flowers hitting your face.”

Knowing he was in the wrong, Hu Chen fell silent.

Shen Yu met Zhou Xuci’s gaze with a hint of provocation. “Zhou Xuci, do you really think you’ll win?”

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Xuci’s lips. “Shen Yu, you’re just a sore loser, a coward.”

With that, he took Xu Zhizhi’s hand and turned to leave.

As he walked away, he crushed the rose on the ground under his foot.

Shattering Shen Yu’s feelings along with it.

“Fine,” Shen Yu called out, watching their retreating figures. “Life is long. I’ll wait for you two to break up!”

Their steps faltered for a moment. Xu Zhizhi looked up at Zhou Xuci’s profile.

Zhou Xuci tightened his grip on her hand and replied indifferently, “Don’t worry. When we get married, we’ll be sure to invite all of you to the ceremony.”

What a powerful retort!

With those final words, Zhou Xuci led Xu Zhizhi away without looking back.

And so, this grand farce finally came to an end.

Fortunately, it was dark, and Xu Zhizhi had taken a shortcut to meet Zhou Xuci quickly, so there weren’t many people on the campus path.

A few passersby glanced over but assumed it was just some club holding a nighttime event.

Walking side by side in the evening breeze, neither of them spoke.

Xu Zhizhi was the first to stop. She looked up at Zhou Xuci and said softly, “Zhou Xuci, you’re angry.”

His face was cold.

Unapproachable.

Intimidating.

Zhou Xuci let out a quiet “Mm” in response.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her head and explained, “I didn’t know he would pull such a stunt. I wanted to leave, but they surrounded me…”

Before she could finish, Zhou Xuci enveloped her in an embrace, his palm gently cradling the back of her head as he said with heartfelt pain, “I’m angry at myself for letting you get trapped in such a situation.”

“Zhizhi, being liked is never your fault.”

“It’s his fault.”

…