Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 89

Zhou Xuci ordered flowers for the cemetery.

It was his first time meeting Xu Zhizhi’s parents, so he took great care in his appearance, looking clean, handsome, and full of energy.

Her parents were buried together.

It was Uncle Shen who had arranged it this way.

Xu Zhizhi placed the fresh flowers in front of the tombstone, her fingertips gently brushing the couple’s photo on it.

It was a picture taken from their marriage certificate.

“Dad, Mom, long time no see. Have you been doing well lately?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve been doing great lately and have learned a lot in my studies.”

“Life at Jing University is so busy. Besides attending classes, there are so many campus activities every day.”

“I was the lead designer for the Time Art Gallery at Jing University’s anniversary celebration. I worked on it for three whole months, and the pressure was immense. Thankfully, I didn’t mess up.”

“I want to tell you, I’m actually quite outstanding. Many people like my paintings, and professors often use me as an example. I’m really doing well, and things will only get better in the future.”

Whenever she felt sad or lost, Xu Zhizhi would come to the cemetery, sit in front of her parents’ tombstone, and whisper to them.

She always felt as though she had been abandoned in this world.

The morning sunlight fell on Xu Zhizhi’s shoulders, adding a dreamy filter to the scene.

Zhou Xuci stood quietly to the side, patiently listening to her murmurs to her parents.

His heart ached for her.

But in Xu Zhizhi’s expression, there was a sense of acceptance of the past and hope for the future.

At this moment, for her, it felt as though a light boat had passed through ten thousand mountains.

“And,” Xu Zhizhi lowered her head slightly, her eyes brimming with unconcealed joy, “I have a boyfriend now. He’s super, super, super amazing.”

“His name is Zhou Xuci. He’s my senior, two years ahead of me, and he’s incredibly caring.” Xu Zhizhi lowered her voice a little shyly, “I like him so much. You have to like him too, okay?”

Zhou Xuci smiled, the corners of his lips lifting slightly, and he bowed solemnly to the tombstone. “Hello, Uncle and Auntie. I’m Zhou Xuci, Zhizhi’s boyfriend.”

Xu Zhizhi said playfully, “See? Isn’t he handsome?”

Zhou Xuci affectionately ruffled Xu Zhizhi’s hair, his deep eyes filled entirely with her radiant, smiling face.

“My boyfriend is the campus heartthrob, you know.” Xu Zhizhi blinked mischievously and said proudly, “I’m pretty impressive too, managing to snag someone this handsome.”

“Not at all,” Zhou Xuci corrected politely, “I was the one who pursued you.”

Xu Zhizhi rested her head on Zhou Xuci’s shoulder, smiling as her adorable dimples appeared.

“Uncle, Auntie,” Zhou Xuci’s expression turned serious, “Don’t worry. From now on, Zhizhi has me. I will always hold her hand tightly and walk with her through this life.”

Xu Zhizhi looked up, gazing at Zhou Xuci’s handsome profile, and felt an unprecedented sense of security in her heart.

It was deeply comforting.

Having introduced him to her parents, it felt like she had officially acknowledged him.

After leaving the cemetery, Xu Zhizhi and Zhou Xuci walked side by side on the street.

Zhou Xuci took Xu Zhizhi’s hand and gently kissed the back of it with great solemnity.

“Baby, tell me about your parents,” Zhou Xuci said.

Xu Zhizhi’s expression faltered slightly as she sank into deep memories, trying to find traces of them in her hazy recollections.

Then, she shook her head. “They left too early. My memories of them are very blurry.”

“I only vaguely remember that the place I lived in as a child wasn’t particularly wealthy, but it was a warm and cozy home.”

“My mother was a very gentle person,” Xu Zhizhi said with a nostalgic expression. “I remember the sound of her humming softly by my ear, but her face has grown blurry in my memory.”

Xu Zhizhi lowered her head dejectedly. “If it weren’t for the photos, I’m sure I would slowly forget what they looked like altogether.”

“But I always have this strange feeling, I believe they must have loved me deeply, unconditionally. I grew up embraced by warmth.”

Zhou Xuci held Xu Zhizhi tightly in his arms, his voice filled with tenderness. “From now on, you’ll have many people who love you deeply.”

“Whatever warmth you’ve missed, I’ll make up for it.”

Xu Zhizhi buried her face in Zhou Xuci’s shoulder, her eyes slightly damp. “They both left me one after another because of accidents, leaving me all alone. I used to resent them for it, I was so angry that I didn’t visit their graves for two years.”

“Life in the Shen family was hard. At one point, I suffered from severe neurasthenia and had to take medication constantly, which left me in a poor mental state.”

“During that time, I would blame my parents. Life is so bitter, yet they left me behind to endure it all alone. I was truly heartbroken.”

Xu Zhizhi let out a soft sigh of relief. “Later, Uncle Shen, who had been stationed abroad, returned. Only then did Sun Xiuya start to hold back and not treat me as harshly as before. After some treatment, I slowly began to recover.”

Life, in truth, is remarkably resilient. As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, the instinct to survive can take root.

During her darkest moments, Xu Zhizhi had countless times cruelly gripped her own throat in the dead of night.

Yet, in the end, she never went through with it.

Zhou Xuci’s eyes reddened, tears welling up as he lowered his head to gently kiss her hair. “Thank you, my love, for never giving up on yourself, no matter how difficult things got.”

His heart ached for her again.

Sensing Zhou Xuci’s sorrow, Xu Zhizhi looked up at him, raising her hand to softly wipe away the moisture at the corner of his eye. She gave him a sweet smile. “Of course, I had to pull through.”

“You’re Zhou Xuci, the unattainable dream of Jing University. How could I not have a taste of you yet?” Xu Zhizhi teased him playfully. “With such an irresistible charm, shouldn’t I take a few bites, five, six, seven, or eight?”

It feels so good to be alive.

Being alive means she can shamelessly act spoiled with Zhou Xuci and receive all of his doting affection.

Not only will she live, but she’ll live beautifully.

Zhou Xuci was amused, his eyes crinkling with laughter as he pinched her chin, his warm breath drawing closer. “My love, how do you want to ‘eat’? Just five, six, seven, or eight bites? Hmm?”

In an instant, the atmosphere grew more intimate.

Xu Zhizhi found herself lost in his deep gaze once again, her cheeks flushing and heart racing. She whispered softly, “Well then, maybe just a small bite?”

Zhou Xuci’s face was right in front of hers. “Where would you like to taste?”

Xu Zhizhi’s mind worked quickly, tossing the question back at him. “That depends on where your limits are.”

“I have no limits. You can taste wherever you want.”

What a thrilling back-and-forth.

Zhou Xuci’s proximity made Xu Zhizhi blush even harder. She glared at him and pushed against his chest. “You troublemaker…”

“Is this all it takes to be considered bad?” Zhou Xuci pinched Xu Zhizhi’s cheek, released her from his embrace, then took her hand and interlaced their fingers. He whispered softly, “Baby, there’s plenty more mischief to come.”

…