Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 85

At the end of June, Jing University was enveloped in a sweltering heat, yet even the blazing sun couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of alumni returning for the 120th anniversary celebration. The entire campus had been adorned for the occasion.

Shen Yu pushed Sun Xiuya to the West Lake beside the art gallery. At this hour, the area was sparsely populated.

Sun Xiuya lifted her head, gazing at the scorching sun, and memories of the past surfaced in her eyes. In those days, she would dance by the lake in a flowing dress.

“Let’s talk,” Shen Yu said, pulling Sun Xiuya back to reality.

Sun Xiuya replied, “Go ahead.”

Shen Yu stood by her side and spoke calmly, “Mom, let yourself go.”

Sun Xiuya looked up, studying Shen Yu’s face, and couldn’t help but laugh. “A-Yu, you’ve become so unfamiliar. In the past, no matter what, you would always stand by my side without hesitation.”

“Do you remember? When you were little, you told me, ‘Mom, if you can’t walk, I’ll be your legs. I’ll carry you for the rest of my life.'” Sun Xiuya’s eyes reddened. “I was so moved back then. You were my only reason to keep living when I faced paralysis. For your sake, I couldn’t give up.”

“Yes, I have changed,” Shen Yu met her gaze. “I used to be the child others praised, the one who excelled. Now, I’m drifting aimlessly, a complete mess.”

“When I was six, I thought my mom was the best in the world. She was the renowned top socialite of Nancheng, a lady of noble upbringing, the gentlest and most caring mother anyone could ask for.”

“My mother was a ballet dancer. She would often dance gracefully in the courtyard, and she looked so beautiful. Every day when I went to school, I would tell all the other children that my mom was the best in the world.”

Sun Xiuya remained motionless, staring at Shen Yu’s profile, lost in thought as tears welled up in her eyes. No matter how unhinged she had become, deep down, she still loved Shen Yu. He was the only one connected to her by blood.

Shen Yu’s nose tingled with emotion. “I always believed my mother loved me deeply, so deeply that I never doubted it. Until one summer night, when she was in a severe car accident that left her permanently disabled.”

They had both been trapped in that summer rainstorm.

For twelve long years.

“When the accident happened, I was only six. I cried and threw a tantrum, staying at the hospital for over twenty hours. The sheer terror of that time is something I still remember. I thought… I was going to lose my mother. I loved her so much, I couldn’t bear to lose her.”

“That day, I cried for what felt like an eternity. I cried until I was exhausted, fell asleep, and then woke up crying again. Those twenty-something hours felt like the longest time of my life.”

Shen Yu lowered his head, tears pooling in his eyes. “The surgery was successful, and my mother survived, but she could never stand again. I would never see her dancing gracefully in the courtyard. I cried again, so hard I couldn’t even open my eyes.”

“But as long as Mom was alive, I felt that was all that mattered. I made a silent vow to myself: I would take care of her for the rest of my life. I would be her legs and accompany her to see all the beautiful sights in the world.”

Sun Xiuya turned her head away, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. She raised her hand and wiped them away silently.

“But my mother is ill, her mental state is unstable, and she often loses control of her emotions. When that happens, she becomes irritable and smashes things frantically, even the birthday gifts she gave me, she destroyed them all.”

Shen Yu gave a bitter, helpless smile. “After Mom got sick, it seemed like she stopped loving me. She was trapped in the agony of her paralysis, tormenting herself over and over. I tried my hardest to be the best, just so she would love me again.”

“Dad is always busy with the company, so it’s just Mom and me at home day and night. I did everything I could to please her, hoping to make her happy and stop her from hurting herself. When her mental state was stable, she would show me a little affection, and that made me so happy.”

“But it was only fleeting. When it was time for her to lose control, she still would.” Shen Yu shook his head gently. “She doesn’t realize it, but she’s in pain, and I’m suffering just as much.”

“A-Yu…” Sun Xiuya’s tears streamed down uncontrollably as she grasped Shen Yu’s hand. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I just couldn’t control myself back then… I had no way to stop it. I was in too much pain.”

“Mom, there’s no need to apologize. I’ve done plenty of awful things too. Just hear me out first.”

Shen Yu seemed like a different person, the former flippancy and arrogance were completely gone.

“I thought I would live in this pain alone, but then one day, Dad suddenly brought home a girl my age named Xu Zhizhi.”

Mentioning Xu Zhizhi, Shen Yu’s expression softened. “Xu Zhizhi was very timid and cried easily. At the slightest difficulty, she would burst into tears. I didn’t actually dislike her because I was too lonely living by myself, I needed a playmate.”

“I really wanted to play with her, but I found that my mother didn’t like Xu Zhizhi. Every time I got close to her, Mom would have an episode and frantically whip her.”

Sun Xiuya’s gaze turned sharp, and she gritted her teeth, saying coldly, “She deserved it!”

Shen Yu felt heartbroken and whispered, “I was so useless. I was afraid of being whipped too, and even more afraid of disappointing Mom. So, I started bullying Xu Zhizhi, learning to dislike her, mocking her like the other young masters did. Mom was pleased with my behavior and whipped her less often.”

Standing under the blazing sun, sweat beaded on Shen Yu’s forehead. “Xu Zhizhi and I grew up like that, under the constant shadow of my mother’s sudden, manic episodes.”

“As we grew older, I entered the most turbulent phase of adolescence. I became more sensitive to everything around me, and more importantly, I thought Xu Zhizhi was really beautiful, so sweet when she smiled.”

“I started secretly following her from time to time. Once, she came home late from painting and was attacked in an alley. I rescued her without hesitation. She cried so bitterly, but I bought her milk tea to comfort her, and she smiled again. I thought she was absolutely stunning.”

“I had already fallen for her by the time I was sixteen, but Mom discovered my secret. She forbade me from getting close to Xu Zhizhi, or else she would whip her again…”

Sun Xiuya couldn’t take it anymore and snapped in a low voice, “Shen Yu! That’s enough!”

“You keep mentioning Xu Zhizhi over and over, what place do I, your mother, hold in your heart?” she demanded loudly.

Sun Xiuya’s eyes brimmed with tears as she gently shook her head at Shen Yu, her voice trembling. “A-Yu, I’ve raised you for eighteen whole years. In the end, can I really not compare to a single Xu Zhizhi?”

“I’ve said it before, anyone but her!” Shen Yu declared firmly. “But I just happen to love her!”

…