Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 8

The Esports club organized a welcome party to celebrate the new members.

Socially anxious Xu Zhizhi was practically dragged there by Ling Shuang and Song Jia.

Unable to resist their relentless persuasion, she decided to throw caution to the wind and accompany them!

On the day of the party, Ling Shuang and Song Jia were busy picking outfits and doing their makeup, chattering nonstop, their conversation inevitably revolving around Zhou Xuci.

“Zhou Xuci is the vice president, right? He should be coming, shouldn’t he?” Ling Shuang said eagerly.

“He attended the recruitment event, so he definitely won’t miss the welcome party!” Song Jia patted her face with a powder puff. “It’s rare to see Zhou Xuci, I have to dress to impress and stun everyone!”

They genuinely adored Zhou Xuci.

Or rather, it was more like admiration born from a reverence for excellence.

“Xinxin, can I wear your purple dress?” Ling Shuang called out.

Cheng Xiaoxin was practicing her splits. She glanced over and smiled. “Sure, go ahead.”

Their friendship had grown so close that they now shared clothes without hesitation.

“Ling Shuang, it’s late autumn, aren’t you afraid of freezing in such a thin dress?” Song Jia warned. “If you get sick, you’ll regret it!”

“Cold? Who cares about the cold? I want style, not warmth, looking good is what matters!” Ling Shuang declared confidently.

“Exactly! The weather forecast said there might be the first snow today. Maybe we’ll even get to see it with Zhou Xuci!” Song Jia’s eyes sparkled with hearts. “Watching the first snow together, so romantic!”

Cheng Xiaoxin watched the busy Ling Shuang and Song Jia before turning to Xu Zhizhi, who was leisurely reading a book nearby.

“Zhizhi, aren’t you going to get ready?” Cheng Xiaoxin asked.

Xu Zhizhi was naturally beautiful. Since she worked part-time at a café, she usually wore light makeup, which only enhanced her delicate charm.

She didn’t need much effort to stand out effortlessly.

Xu Zhizhi smiled. “I’m going to eat. They’re going to chase after their idol. Different purposes.”

“Xu Zhizhi, I can’t believe you’re such a killjoy! That’s Zhou Xuci we’re talking about, the walking embodiment of top-tier charisma on campus! Even ants crawling on the ground would stop to look at him twice!” Ling Shuang lamented, exasperated.

Xu Zhizhi, however, remained solemn and serious. “Comrade Ling Shuang, as successors of the new era, our primary task at this stage is to work hard, study diligently, and strive to become outstanding successors.”

“Tsk, romance affects academics,” Xu Zhizhi declared. “I’m not interested.”

Cheng Xiaoxin burst out laughing and chimed in, “Well, if you’re not interested, then neither am I.”

Song Jia and Ling Shuang rolled their eyes in perfect sync at the two beauties from the art school. “What a waste of those stunning faces!”

Xu Zhizhi and Cheng Xiaoxin exchanged glances and couldn’t help but laugh.

After all their efforts, Ling Shuang and Song Jia received the latest update.

Zhou Xuci had a project meeting today and couldn’t make it.

Ugh, all that work for nothing!

When Xu Zhizhi heard the news, for some reason, she suddenly felt a little disappointed.

The club’s party featured barbecue and karaoke.

Fang Cheng, the Esports club president, was a social butterfly who kept the atmosphere lively as he organized everyone to eat, drink, and have fun.

Seated in a quiet corner, Xu Zhizhi kept her head down and focused on eating, listening to the conversations around her. She was used to maintaining absolute silence in crowds.

From childhood, Xu Zhizhi had always liked sticking close to Shen Yu, but she was constantly excluded by his little clique. A country bumpkin like her simply couldn’t blend into the circle of young masters and misses.

So, she learned to stay silent, like an inconspicuous vase, quietly standing by, utterly devoid of presence.

Even though Xu Zhizhi remained silent, her sweet appearance caught the attention of several boys from the club, who came over to chat her up and ask for her WeChat.

Not knowing how to refuse, Xu Zhizhi made an excuse and slipped out into the courtyard for some fresh air.

Perhaps it was the greasy food, suddenly, she felt a wave of nausea and rushed quickly to the restroom.

Her stomach had been ruined by hunger when she was young.

Xu Zhizhi’s stomach began to churn, unable to tolerate the greasy smell of barbecue, so she stood in the drafty corridor, letting the cold wind blow over her.

She rummaged through her bag but only found an empty pill bottle.

Her stomach medicine was all gone.

Sitting on the bench in the corridor, one hand pressed against her stomach, she texted Ling Shuang with the other, saying she was heading back to the dorm first and that they should enjoy themselves.

Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Zhizhi turned her head and saw Zhou Xuci walking slowly toward her. He stopped in front of her, blocking the wind.

The temperature had dropped sharply recently, and the late autumn nights were growing colder.

Zhou Xuci stood in the light, wearing a trench coat. The warm-toned corridor light illuminated his face—his smooth jawline paired with deep, captivating eyes.

Handsome people, even the light seemed to favor them.

So good-looking it was hard to look away.

Zhou Xuci’s gentle refinement was innate, his every movement exuding an air of nobility.

A cold gust of wind blew past, snapping Xu Zhizhi out of her daze. She quickly averted her gaze from Zhou Xuci and said softly, “It’s nothing, just a bit of a stomachache.”

Zhou Xuci lowered his eyes, looking at Xu Zhizhi’s slightly pale face. “What kind of medicine do you usually take?”

Xu Zhizhi opened her palm, showing him the empty pill bottle.

“Wait for me a moment.”

“Huh?”

Before Xu Zhizhi could respond, Zhou Xuci had already turned and left.

Not long after, he returned, carrying the chill of late autumn with him, holding medicine and a cup of warm water.

The warm water had been requested from a shopkeeper.

Zhou Xuci handed the stomach medicine and the warm water to Xu Zhizhi. “Take some medicine.”

Xu Zhizhi looked at him with gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you, Senior.”

After taking the medicine, Zhou Xuci sat down beside her, shielding her from the howling cold wind.

They sat shoulder to shoulder.

The medicine made Xu Zhizhi a little drowsy.

“Sleepy?” Zhou Xuci asked.

“The medicine has some side effects,” Xu Zhizhi replied.

“Can you still walk?” Zhou Xuci asked again. “Do you need help?”

“No, thank you,” Xu Zhizhi said with a faint smile.

With that, she stood up, a thin layer of cold sweat forming on her forehead from the pain, but she pretended as if nothing was wrong.

Obedient.

Shy.

Distant.

Zhou Xuci walked Xu Zhizhi back to her dorm, deliberately slowing his pace. Her steps were heavy, and several times he almost reached out to steady her, but restrained himself.

From somewhere in the distance, someone shouted, “It’s snowing!” followed by excited cheers.

The first snow arrived unexpectedly, snowflakes drifting down one by one, sparse at first, then growing denser, carried by the cold wind right before Xu Zhizhi’s eyes.

Xu Zhizhi looked up, her eyes softening with a gentle smile, the faint dimple at the corner of her lips appearing as she reached out to catch the drifting snowflakes. “So beautiful,” she murmured.

Zhou Xuci stood behind her, his gaze deep and intense, fixed on her figure amidst the swirling snow. “Beautiful,” he whispered softly.

She was watching the snow.

He was watching her.

…