Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 62

Puppy love?

Xu Zhizhi froze, her mind instantly going blank, stuck for a long moment.

She remembered Zhou Xuci saying he had no exes.

A sour, astringent feeling welled up in Xu Zhizhi’s heart, tinged with a hint of jealousy.

“Perhaps it was more like unrequited love,” Zhou Xin said with a worried expression. “For quite a long time, he was so dispirited that I couldn’t sleep well for a week and even developed crow’s feet.”

“Unrequited love?” Xu Zhizhi repeated.

“Yes, unrequited love,” Zhou Xin said helplessly. “It seemed the girl didn’t like him back.”

Xu Zhizhi was puzzled. “But he’s Zhou Xuci. How could anyone not like him?”

Zhou Xin reached out and patted Xu Zhizhi’s head. “You’d have to ask yourself that.”

Turning to the next page, Xu Zhizhi was stunned, unable to utter a single word in her shock.

It was her ID photo… the way she looked at sixteen, identical to the one posted on the honor roll at Nancheng No. 1 High School.

Xu Zhizhi remembered losing a photo like this once.

She never expected it to mysteriously appear in Zhou Xuci’s childhood photo album!

There was also a letter tucked inside the album, addressed to Xu Zhizhi, in Zhou Xuci’s handwriting. The envelope was even frayed at the edges, clearly having some history to it.

Zhou Xin pulled out the letter and handed it to Xu Zhizhi, explaining, “I never opened it. A-Ci threw it away, but I picked it up and kept it hidden.”

A young person’s feelings are the most afraid of being exposed, yet also the most precious. She had secretly treasured Zhou Xuci’s youthful infatuation and affection all this time.

“A-Ci has always been rational since he was little, never crossing any boundaries, always staying within the lines. He had a clear life plan and knew exactly what to do at every stage.”

“The feelings of adolescence are the most heart-fluttering and unforgettable. Falling for you seemed like a beautiful accident in his otherwise orderly life.”

Zhou Xin looked up with a smile and took Xu Zhizhi’s hand. “Zhizhi, I never thought I’d actually get to meet you.”

“After A-Ci threw the letter away, he stopped being so dispirited, as if he’d made some kind of resolution. He returned to his old self, still driven, still outstanding. But I felt he had changed, becoming a bit more silent than before.”

“I thought his youthful crush might have been a fleeting impulse, that time would fade it all away. But throughout his three years of university, A-Ci didn’t seem to change much.”

“A while ago, Grandpa called me and said A-Ci had a girlfriend.” Zhou Xin’s eyes sparkled as she smiled. “When I saw your photo and realized it was you, I was so overjoyed. After three whole years, he finally caught up with the girl in the photo.”

Three years… over a thousand days and nights.

The girl he liked in his youth, he had finally gotten his wish.

But what Zhou Xin didn’t know was that it wasn’t just three years.

In his previous life, Zhou Xuci had walked this long road for a full eight years!

Xu Zhizhi’s heart raced violently, her hand trembling slightly as she held the love letter.

But in her sixteenth year, she had never met Zhou Xuci!

They were in different school districts; their only connection was their ID photos briefly meeting on the honor roll.

How could this be?

If Zhou Xuci had truly liked the sixteen-year-old Xu Zhizhi, then… was their encounter on that stormy night in their previous life a coincidence? Or a deliberate reunion?

Xu Zhizhi found it hard to believe, and she began to realize that she seemed to have missed a very important moment.

…

On the other end, Zhou Xuci accompanied Lu Huainan for a walk in the small garden downstairs.

“When are you leaving?” Zhou Xuci asked.

Lu Huainan glanced at him. “You little rascal, I just got here, and you’re already trying to kick me out?”

“No, that’s not it,” Zhou Xuci quickly explained. “I’ve been busy lately preparing for the studio with my seniors, and I might not have much time. I wanted to make sure I’m free to see you off.”

“It depends on your mom’s mood,” Lu Huainan said with clear self-awareness. “I’m just a porter.”

His job was to help carry the luggage.

He had no say in the matter.

“You really think I came back to see you?” Lu Huainan grumbled resentfully. “I just retired and finally got to go on a world tour, but you ruined my plans. According to the original schedule, I should be relaxing and sunbathing in Bali right now.”

Zhou Xuci couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, you were a CEO! Can you stop being so petty?”

“Former CEO!” Lu Huainan quickly corrected. “Seriously, being a CEO is worse than being a dog!”

Working 24/7 without a break!

How miserable!

Zhou Xuci cleverly remarked, “Luckily, there’s a dog taking over for you now.”

Lu Huainan felt satisfied and nodded. “I’m not exaggerating, but ever since A-Bei took over as CEO, his eyes don’t have the same clarity they used to.”

Truly, no one can escape the suffering of work!

Not even a CEO!

At that very moment, Lu Huaibei, who was still working overtime at 9:30 p.m., suddenly sneezed and felt a chill run down his spine.

Holding a pen, Lu Huaibei swiftly signed the documents in front of him.

After finishing, he sighed bitterly. “Tsk, it must be that little rascal Zhou Xuci talking about me behind my back again.”

Secretary Su wiped his forehead. “President Lu, it might just be the change of season. You might be catching a cold.”

Blaming the second young master for a single sneeze? That’s a bit much!

Lu Huaibei patted the stack of project documents, which stood 20 centimeters high. “If I really have a cold, can I skip working on these?”

Secretary Su paused for a moment before offering a constructive suggestion. “You could get an IV drip with your left hand and sign documents with your right. That way, you won’t miss a beat.”

“…” Lu Huaibei stared resentfully at the project files and sighed. “If you don’t work hard when you’re young, you’ll end up as a CEO when you’re old.”

Secretary Su: “…President Lu, maybe you should go back and rest for a bit? You could even take a shower.”

Lu Huaibei pursed his lips. “If I rest now, does that mean I don’t have to work tomorrow?”

“No,” Secretary Su replied calmly. “It’s just that you have a strong ‘work aura.’ A shower might freshen you up.”

Lu Huaibei couldn’t take it anymore. “Your mouth is a bit too sharp. I suggest you change it.”

Secretary Su: “…”

Before he could finish his overtime work, Lu Huaibei received a WeChat video call from Zhou Xuci.

He answered instantly.

Lu Huainan cut straight to the point. “See? I told you work is miserable. Look at his dazed eyes, he looks like he hasn’t showered in three days.”

Lu Huaibei: “…”

Great.

His dog of a father and dog of a brother were ganging up on him.

“You two better have a good reason for this!” Lu Huaibei gritted his teeth.

“Nothing much, really,” Lu Huainan said smugly.

“I just made a bet with this little rascal Zhou Xuci. I bet you were still working, but he refused to believe me.”

Lu Huainan patted Zhou Xuci on the shoulder. “Well, I won. You’re doing the dishes for a week.”

Zhou Xuci shook his head at Lu Huaibei. “Bro, just go work at a factory. Regular nine-to-five hours, clocking out on time.”

Lu Huaibei: “…”

Sure enough, compared to his own miserable fate, other people’s success made him even more upset!

After hanging up, the father and son laughed heartily in perfect sync, leaving Lu Huaibei utterly defeated.

Their dynamic had always been like this, playful bickering and teasing, making their everyday lives full of joy.

Lu Huainan spotted Xu Zhizhi’s figure from afar, walking toward them.

He turned to Zhou Xuci and said, “Don’t bully the young lady.”

Zhou Xuci replied with a smile, “I couldn’t bear to bully her.”

Lu Huainan tactfully made himself scarce.

Xu Zhizhi hurried over to Zhou Xuci and threw herself into his arms.

The impact made Zhou Xuci take a step back, but he steadied himself, reached out to gently stroke the back of her head, and asked softly, “Baby, what’s wrong?”

…