Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 69

Xu Zhizhi let out a drunken hiccup, her gaze hazy as she looked at Zhou Xuci. “Rather than past and present lives, I feel more like I’ve crossed between two parallel universes.”

“I died in the previous universe, and suddenly woke up in this one.”

“Zhou Xuci.” Xu Zhizhi stared fixedly at him. “Do you believe parallel universes exist?”

Zhou Xuci reached out and gently wiped the traces of alcohol from the corner of her mouth. “If you say they exist, then I believe.”

Xu Zhizhi’s nose tingled with emotion. “In that other universe, we didn’t know each other. We met so, so late.”

“I remember, you were wearing a sharp suit back then, the very picture of a successful elite.”

“It was during a heavy rain just like this that you found me in that corner. I was crying so bitterly, and you held an umbrella over me.”

“I looked up, watching the torrential rain soak your shoulders, the fine droplets splashing onto my face. I couldn’t see the entire dark world around me… all I could see clearly was your face.”

Xu Zhizhi gazed deeply at Zhou Xuci, her voice trembling slightly. “A-Ci, it all feels so unreal to me.”

Her hands gently cradled Zhou Xuci’s face, tears glistening in her eyes. “Sometimes I’m even afraid to sleep. I’m terrified that when I open my eyes, I’ll be torn away from this universe.”

“I don’t know where I’d be swept away to. I was already someone without a home to begin with, but… I love this universe so much. I love you, and I love all the wonderful people around me.”

“I’m so afraid that all this beauty is just an empty dream that will vanish when I wake up, that I’m the creator of this dream, and everything is just my imagination.”

Zhou Xuci cupped Xu Zhizhi’s face and leaned in for a gentle kiss.

His lips met hers.

“Zhizhi, everything is real.” Zhou Xuci whispered comforting words to her. “Everything you see, everything you touch… it all truly exists in reality.”

Supernatural phenomena beyond scientific explanation, he couldn’t account for them.

But he knew with certainty that none of this was a dream.

Slightly drunk, Xu Zhizhi’s vision was blurry. “When people fear loss, they fall into endless terror. I’m trapped in this fear, I’m afraid of losing Xinxin, and I’m afraid of losing you…”

Zhou Xuci took Xu Zhizhi’s hand, gazing at her with devotion. “You won’t lose me.”

“I believe what you say about parallel universes.”

“Zhizhi, I’ve crossed countless parallel universes just to meet you.”

Or rather, to meet you sooner.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes were red-rimmed. “You don’t think I’m talking nonsense?”

Zhou Xuci gently wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye, his heart aching as he shook his head slightly. “I will always believe you unconditionally.”

All of Xu Zhizhi’s composure shattered instantly. She burst into loud sobs. “Zhou Xuci, I don’t know what to do, wuuu wuuu…”

She cried uncontrollably, completely broken.

“Xinxin is going abroad for her second year of university. In the other universe, she went abroad at exactly this time and… there was a plane crash.”

“The International Arts Troupe is Xinxin’s dream. She longs to shine on that stage… I don’t dare gamble with this. I want to beg her not to go, but my reason is too absurd.”

“Tell me, what should I do? How do I even begin to tell her that I don’t want to lose her? That I can’t bear to lose her…”

Zhou Xuci held Xu Zhizhi in his arms, gently stroking her head as he whispered soothingly, “Zhizhi, don’t be afraid.”

In front of Zhou Xuci, Xu Zhizhi could shed all her pretenses. He was her support and her safe harbor, where she could freely reveal her vulnerability and confusion.

After pouring out all her emotions, Xu Zhizhi felt completely unburdened. She cried for a while before falling asleep in Zhou Xuci’s embrace.

She hadn’t slept properly for three whole days, drifting in and out of restless slumber, haunted repeatedly by the horrific scene of a plane crash.

Zhou Xuci wiped away the tear stains on Xu Zhizhi’s face, pressed a kiss to her forehead, and murmured, “Zhizhi, none of this is absurd.”

“Because, just like you, I come from another timeline.”

As for Cheng Xiaoxin… in that other timeline, her life was far from good. For her in that reality, perhaps death was a form of release.

Zhou Xuci lowered his gaze, staring deeply at Xu Zhizhi. “This time, you won’t lose her again.”

“Trust me.”

Because Cheng Xiaoxin is the one in this world, besides me, who loves you the most.

The night deepened.

…

1:30 a.m.

Zhou Xuci brought Xu Zhizhi back to the small apartment in his studio. His seniors had rented four small apartments for their startup, and Zhou Xuci was allotted a modest one-bedroom unit.

He carried Xu Zhizhi into the room, gently laid her on the bed, and carefully tucked her in.

Just as he was about to stand up after settling her, Xu Zhizhi suddenly opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Did I wake you?” Zhou Xuci asked softly.

She had always been a light sleeper. The traumatic experiences of her childhood had left her with neurasthenia.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes were red from crying. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and murmured, “I’m a little cold.”

It was a rainy April night, humid, with a chill in the air.

Zhou Xuci said considerately, “I’ll get you another blanket.”

Xu Zhizhi shook her head, a hint of coquettishness in her tone. “Zhou Xuci, I want you to hold me.”

“Alright.” Zhou Xuci obediently embraced her.

Xu Zhizhi curled up in his arms like a kitten. “You’re so warm.”

“Warm the bed for me,” she mumbled drowsily.

Zhou Xuci stiffened slightly, pausing for a moment. “Zhizhi, do you know what you’re saying?”

Xu Zhizhi had drunk a little and was at her most vulnerable. She nuzzled against his neck and pleaded, “Warm me up, please?”

She was being coquettish again.

It was utterly disarming.

Zhou Xuci was like this, completely defenseless against Xu Zhizhi. “Alright, alright.”

He humored her.

It was unclear how sober Xu Zhizhi was as she shifted further into the bed, patting the empty space beside her. “Here.”

As soon as Zhou Xuci lay down, Xu Zhizhi snuggled into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her face against his shoulder to seek warmth and sleep.

Her body temperature was low, carrying a chill, and she softly complained of being cold.

Zhou Xuci pulled the blanket tighter, wrapping her securely in his arms, and whispered by her ear, “Sleep well.”

Xu Zhizhi let out a soft “Mm.”

Half an hour later, Zhou Xuci was on the verge of losing his mind.

In the darkness, his voice grew low and husky.

“Xu Zhizhi.”

“Stop moving.”

“Be good and sleep!”

She kept squirming in his arms, stirring a restless heat within him.

Gently, Zhou Xuci untangled her arms from around his waist and put a safe distance between them.

In the long, endless night, only the sound of Zhou Xuci’s deep, controlled breaths could be heard. Despite his usually gentle temper, his voice carried a mix of helplessness and restraint as he said, “Zhizhi, my self-control isn’t as strong as you think…”

What to do?

Just deal with it!

…