Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Xu Su, You Have to Admit You Like Me

’It’s pretty normal for a young girl to cry when faced with his cold expression, right?’

’As for reaching out to grab him…’

Xu Su watched him lazily. ’I didn’t expect him to be so proper… He was pretty quick to dodge that underclassman who was clearly interested in him.’

For once, Xi Zirong didn’t look away under her gaze. Instead, he leaned closer. “I only want you to hold my hand, and I only want to hold yours. Xu Su, you said you’d mind, so can I take that to mean you like me, too?”

’You like me, too…’

The boy’s gaze was bold and direct. It made Xu Su’s ears burn, and she couldn’t help but turn her head to avoid his eyes.

Xi Zirong was relentless. He pressed on, “Xu Su, is it that hard to admit you like me?”

’Is it that hard to admit I like Xi Zirong?’

’My heart softens for him, and I mind it when other girls get close to him… That must be what liking someone is, right?’

Xu Su couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling.

But at this very moment, the person who came to mind was, surprisingly, Zhou Mochen.

“…I don’t know how to tell you…” Xu Su chose her words carefully, wanting to try and explain her entanglement with Zhou Mochen to him.

She hesitated for a long time, not knowing where to begin.

’Who, without experiencing it firsthand, could ever tell that Zhou Mochen, who looked so noble and righteous on the outside, was actually an obsessive psycho?’

Xi Zirong was perfectly patient. “Take your time. Say whatever you want to say. Xu Su, we have all the time in the world.”

Xu Su glanced at her watch. The lunch break was long, and they still had about an hour before the afternoon classes started, but she no longer felt like talking.

She really didn’t know what to say. She certainly couldn’t tell him she had been reborn. She was wary of Zhou Mochen, and her fear of directly rejecting him stemmed from firsthand experience; she knew what a lunatic he was.

But so far, Zhou Mochen hadn’t done anything extreme, so she really had nothing concrete to tell.

She hesitated for too long, so long that Xi Zirong grew uneasy. “Xu Su, are you thinking of how to reject me again?”

Xu Su looked at him, feeling uncharacteristically lost. “If I don’t reject you, then what do you want me to do? Start dating you right now?”

Her question was so direct that Xi Zirong pressed his lips together a bit unnaturally, but he still didn’t look away. “I’m not asking you to get together with me right now. But Xu Su, you have to admit you like me. You do like me.”

The boy’s eyes shone like stars, and Xu Su almost couldn’t stop herself from giving in.

Her hesitation was so obvious, how could Xi Zirong not see it? He just assumed she was too shy to admit it out loud.

Not wanting to make things difficult for the girl he liked, Xi Zirong said gently, “Forget it. If you won’t admit it, then you won’t admit it. It’s enough that I know.”

Then, he just looked at Xu Su and grinned foolishly.

He had a goofy grin on his face, completely lacking the cool, aloof air of an academic ace whose intelligence crushed his peers.

’If we called Hu Anqi back right now and let her see this side of Xi Zirong, the girl probably wouldn’t like him anymore…’

But Xu Su liked it. Seeing Xi Zirong with that silly grin, her heart began to race. She shot to her feet and abruptly changed the subject. “Class is starting soon. Let’s go back to the classroom. Aren’t your legs tired from squatting for so long?”

“Not tired. Xu Su, I’m pretty good at sports.” Xi Zirong stood up with her, still not letting go of her hand. He said, “I don’t just know how to study. Don’t think of me as some weak scholar.”

“…?” Xu Su raised an eyebrow. ’Pretty good at sports?’

’At a high school where the PE teachers were perpetually ’frail and sickly,’ they barely had any proper PE classes. How could he possibly be ’pretty good’?’

The disbelief in Xu Su’s eyes stirred the boy’s competitive spirit, making him eager to show off in front of the girl he liked.

Xi Zirong said, “I’ve learned a lot of sports, Xu Su. I told you I’m outstanding, and not just in academics.”

He tugged on Xu Su’s hand, drawing her closer, and said in a low voice, “Do you like guys who play basketball? I know a little. I’ve also learned some Sanda and boxing. Xu Su, will you like me more and more, okay?”

Xu Su could believe that Xi Zirong could play basketball. After all, during their few PE classes, she had seen him play with the other boys from their class. It was definitely more than the “know a little” he claimed…

’But… boxing? Sanda?’

Xu Su couldn’t resist squeezing his arm. Through his autumn school uniform jacket, she felt solid muscle, completely at odds with Xi Zirong’s usual slender appearance. She was utterly astonished. “…..Are you telling the truth?”

Xi Zirong’s face started to turn red again, and his eyes darted away. “Mhm, it’s true. Xu Su, I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Seeing him look like some virtuous gentleman being harassed, Xu Su finally realized what she’d just done and abruptly snatched her hand away from his arm.

As if she’d been burned, Xu Su hurried off toward the classroom, saying, “Class is starting soon. Let’s go back.”

The two of them entered the classroom one after the other, their faces flushed to varying degrees. The more observant students could tell at a glance that something was up.

However, in everyone’s eyes, the two of them were already a “couple,” so upon seeing this obviously strange behavior, the students just withdrew their gazes without much concern.

The whole school practically knew about their class president’s romance. This gossip wasn’t fresh anymore.

Instead, it left them with an indescribable heartache.

The slang for the pain of watching a couple’s public displays of affection hadn’t been invented yet. If it had, the students of the Rocket Class would have known exactly why they felt that way.

~~

「The weekend arrived quickly.」

A week ago, Xu Su had promised Zhou Mochen she would go home this weekend to pack her winter clothes.

After school let out at noon, she went back to her dorm to pack her summer clothes and shoes. She filled two bags and left the school gate with one in each hand.

More than a full month had passed since the two of them had parted on bad terms. This was also the longest Zhou Mochen had ever gone without seeing her.

He saw her from a distance carrying two large bags. Zhou Mochen got out of his car to meet her, took her luggage, and put it in the trunk.

Then he looked at her carefully and smiled softly. “I listened to you. I’ve endured for so long without bothering you. Susu, are you still angry?”

’Are you still angry…?’

Xu Su’s already foul mood from seeing Zhou Mochen plunged into a strange sense of guilt because of his words.

She didn’t know why she felt this way. ’How could I actually feel guilty toward Zhou Mochen?’

’Even if I tormented him to death, he would deserve it! He brought all of this on himself. He’s the one who came chasing after me!’

Seeing Xu Su remain silent, Zhou Mochen slowly let his smile fade and sighed. “In a bad mood again? Or are you still angry with me?”

He took Xu Su’s hand and apologized sincerely. “Last time was my fault. I wasn’t calm enough, and I scared you. I’m sorry. Look, I’ve spent this time reflecting on my actions. From now on, I’ll listen to you. How about you give me a smile?”

The “reflection” Zhou Mochen mentioned referred to his text messages during this period, which had been a one-sided affair of him sending them and Xu Su not replying.

Occasionally, Xu Su would open and read them. They were mostly words of concern, with a few apologies mixed in.

To be honest, compared to his high-and-mighty, arrogant self from her past life, the Zhou Mochen of this life had indeed changed a lot.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep