Sweet Temptation: After Rebirth, The Campus Heartthrob Can’t Hide His Feelings Anymore - Chapter 96

The black umbrella belonged to Zhou Xuci.

Zhou Xuci’s figure gradually came into focus in Xu Zhizhi’s eyes.

He walked over, and the black umbrella tilted toward her once again.

Two-thirds of the umbrella shielded Xu Zhizhi, while the evening wind blew the rain toward Zhou Xuci, instantly soaking his shoulders and leaving half his hair drenched.

Zhou Xuci was different from Shen Yu.

Shen Yu was willing to stand with Xu Zhizhi in the pouring rain, letting himself get drenched alongside her.

Zhou Xuci was also willing to accompany Xu Zhizhi in the rain, but he always thoughtfully brought an umbrella, ready to shelter her from the storm at any moment.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes were red and swollen from crying. Through her tear-filled gaze, she looked up at Zhou Xuci, choked up and unable to speak.

Zhou Xuci raised his hand, wiping the rain from her face, and said with heartache, “You’ve been wronged.”

The suppressed emotions erupted like a volcano. Xu Zhizhi threw herself into Zhou Xuci’s arms.

Zhou Xuci held her close, tilting the umbrella downward to partially envelop her, hiding all her disheveled state.

Xu Zhizhi wrapped her arms around Zhou Xuci’s waist, clutching the small remaining piece of the traffic accident liability determination form tightly, crying uncontrollably.

After ten long years of darkness, she finally had an answer.

Yet, instead of feeling relieved, she felt even heavier.

The terrifying days that once felt like an eternity flashed before Xu Zhizhi’s eyes.

The image of Sun Xiuya’s hysterical screams was no longer her nightmare.

Shen Yu stood five meters away from them, his gaze fixed on the large black umbrella.

With that umbrella, Zhou Xuci had created a warm harbor for Xu Zhizhi.

Shen Yu, drenched by the heavy rain, could barely keep his eyes open. He staggered backward a few steps, step by step.

He turned around and walked back to the Shen family, utterly dejected.

At this moment, his heart was filled with a sense of powerlessness. Xu Zhizhi no longer needed him. The girl who had once fervently chased after him would truly never run after him again.

Losing someone was this painful.

He couldn’t accept it.

In his pocket were two tickets to an art exhibition. Shen Yu had waited in line for over three hours to buy them.

Just like Xu Zhizhi in the past, he had silently given, hoping that one day he might earn a single glance from her.

Shen Yu now understood firsthand how bitter Xu Zhizhi’s past had been… She had endured disappointment after disappointment, until despair made her give up chasing him.

After her outburst of tears, the pent-up emotions were released, and Xu Zhizhi slowly calmed down.

She looked at Zhou Xuci, drenched by the rain, and raised her hand to gently wipe the raindrops from his face.

“A-Ci, take me home.”

I have my own small home, even if it’s rented, it’s still my refuge.

Zhou Xuci nodded without asking for an explanation. Holding Xu Zhizhi close, he shielded her with the umbrella and took her back to her small apartment.

Both of them were soaked to the bone.

Xu Zhizhi took a hot shower. Afterward, she sat in front of her easel, began mixing colors, and started painting, stroke by stroke.

A blinding flash of lightning pierced through the glass window, followed by rolling thunder that seemed to crack right overhead.

Xu Zhizhi’s hand, holding the brush, tightened abruptly, faint veins appearing on the back of her hand. She quickened her pace, spreading cool-toned colors across the canvas.

This oil painting was darker than usual, lacking its former luster.

Her creative work had changed along with her state of mind.

Zhou Xuci had someone deliver a set of clean clothes and took a shower.

When he came out, he saw Xu Zhizhi engrossed in painting.

Zhou Xuci picked up a dry towel and walked over to her.

The towel fell onto her head, and he gently dried her damp hair.

“If you don’t dry your hair properly, you might get sick during the rainy season,” Zhou Xuci said with concern.

Xu Zhizhi set down her paintbrush, her gaze fixed on the somber painting. “What do you think of my work?”

Zhou Xuci looked at the latest painting while continuing to dry her hair, sharing his thoughts. “The walls are too high, like a cage.”

The overall composition felt oppressive.

Layer upon layer of towering walls made it seem as though she were trapped, with no way out.

Xu Zhizhi’s expression remained calm. “But that’s how it’s always been, so many high walls, so tall that you can only see a sliver of the sky.”

“The walls are too solid. No matter how hard I try, I can’t break them down.” Xu Zhizhi lowered her head, staring at the dark shades on her palette.

Her painting lacked brightness.

It was no longer vibrant.

“Then don’t try to break them all down,” Zhou Xuci said, gently patting her head before leaning in, resting his chin on her shoulder. “If you can’t break them, then smash them, create a crack.”

“Once there’s a crack, light can seep through.” Zhou Xuci picked up a brush, dipped it in a warm hue, and drew a line across the high wall.

He had no talent for painting, the stroke looked abrupt, as if it had torn through the canvas.

But Zhou Xuci didn’t mind. Pointing at the abrupt stroke, he said softly, “With a crack, miracles can happen.” Life might even grow from it.”

Xu Zhizhi stared at the discordant warm stroke, her eyes glistening with tears.

“You’re right. We should create a crack.” She took the brush from Zhou Xuci’s hand, mixed some lighter colors, and enriched the abrupt stroke, eventually forming a fissure in the high wall.”

Flecks of light seeped through the gap.

By the time Xu Zhizhi finished adjusting the painting, the entire canvas felt richer, no longer gloomy, the colors had brightened.

Zhou Xuci held Xu Zhizhi in his arms, kissing her hair again and again.

“Zhizhi, do you need me to guide you out?” he asked tenderly.

Xu Zhizhi buried her face in his shoulder. “I can walk out on my own… toward you.”

“Okay, I believe you. They had developed a tacit understanding, sensing each other’s sorrows and silently staying by each other’s side.

Companionship was the gentlest, most profound form of devotion.

A week later, Jing University was about to start its new semester.

Xu Zhizhi had yet to respond to Sun Xiuya’s request.

Thinking she was avoiding the issue, Sun Xiuya had someone deliver the admission letter and plane ticket to her.

Xu Zhizhi had checked the official report on the car accident from years ago, and it largely matched what Sun Xiuya had told her.

Her mother had indeed been driving under the influence.

It was also true that her mother, rushing to see her one last time after receiving a critical condition notice, had caused a severe accident.

After receiving the admission letter and plane ticket, Xu Zhizhi directly arranged to meet Sun Xiuya.

They met at a relaxed café.

Before leaving, Xu Zhizhi tidied herself up and glanced at the oil painting hanging on the wall.

She stared at the crack in the high wall for a long while, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips, then stepped out.

Sun Xiuya arrived earlier than Xu Zhizhi and chose a corner seat, waiting for her.

Xu Zhizhi walked over and sat opposite Sun Xiuya, meeting her gaze at eye level.

To her, Sun Xiuya was no longer someone to be looked up to as a superior.

“I’ll be going abroad soon,” Sun Xiuya took a sip of coffee, reminding her, “I’ll be staying overseas for three years. You should break up with that young master from the Lu family as soon as possible.”

…