Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Don’t Treat Me Like This.

Despite Xu Su’s earnest reassurances that she’d be fine by morning, Xi Zirong’s worried frown didn’t lift all night.

The next morning, he waited for Xu Su outside the girls’ dorm. Only after he took her arm to examine it did he finally relax.

Overnight, all the alarming welts had completely vanished.

While a part of her was instinctively happy that her boyfriend cared for her so deeply, she mostly felt an immense sense of pressure.

She just wanted a simple high school romance—nothing epic, and certainly not a love as deep as the ocean.

But it seemed like things were slowly veering off in the opposite direction.

~~

The final exams were soon over. On the last day of June, Teacher Wu officially announced the start of summer vacation.

They had a three-day break, from July 1st to July 3rd. Just like the grade above them, they were to return to school on July 4th, at which point they would officially be seniors.

Xi Zirong had gone home the previous night to get his car and bring it to school. Early the next morning, the five of them had breakfast together in the cafeteria before setting off.

Xu Weiping had bought a cell phone after his promotion, so Xu Su just gave him a call to let him know she wouldn’t be coming home for the summer break.

Xu Weiping was, of course, unhappy about it. He was furious that his daughter was closer to her maternal grandmother’s family, fearing that if she married well in the future, all her support would go to her uncles.

But Xu Su was old enough to make her own decisions now; she wasn’t about to cater to Xu Weiping’s whims. The fact that she even called to inform him was a show of respect.

In the passenger seat, Xu Su tilted her head to look at Xi Zirong as he drove. His profile was handsome, his gaze focused as he handled the steering wheel with practiced ease.

’Mmm… he’s even more handsome now.’

She stared for so long that Xi Zirong pressed his lips together, flustered. “Susu, don’t look at me like that. I can’t focus on driving.”

“…” ’Can’t I even look at my own boyfriend?’

Xu Su cleared her throat and awkwardly changed the subject. “I was just noticing how skilled you are at driving. You don’t seem like someone who just got their license.”

They came to a red light. Xi Zirong gently applied the brakes and glanced over at her, his smile soft and affectionate. “Don’t worry, my skills are more than good enough. I’d never joke around when it comes to your safety.”

The friends in the back seat groaned that they couldn’t take it anymore.

Especially Huang Feng. Out of the five people in the car, she was the only single one. Usually, it didn’t bother her, but right now, she felt a sudden twinge of bitterness.

She clenched her fist and made a solemn vow. “Once I get into college, I’m going to find a boyfriend too! I’m done watching you guys be a couple.”

With so many good friends on their way home with her, and about to see her grandmother, Xu Su was in a fantastic mood. She turned to Huang Feng in the back and coaxed with a grin, “Alright, let’s all get into the same university then. We’ll help you vet the candidates. If you’re going to get a boyfriend, we’ll make sure you get the best.”

Huang Feng sounded a little deflated. “With our grades, it’ll be hard for us all to get into the same university. Once we start college, we’ll all have to go our separate ways. I’d hate that.”

It was a sad topic to bring up, especially after they had just seen the seniors go their separate ways.

Who knew how many people’s youthful longings were etched onto the school’s confession wall over the years? How many unspoken crushes would now never be voiced?

Qian Jia said, “Anyway, we’ve all agreed. We’re all applying to universities in Beijing. Even if we’re not at the same school, at least we won’t be far from each other. We can meet up anytime. We’re going to be best friends for life.”

Xu Su glanced at the quiet Xu Ran, then asked Qian Jia, “Did you two agree on that as well?”

Xu Ran’s grades were about the same as Qian Jia’s, so it wouldn’t be hard for them to get into the same school. But from what Xu Su could see, their dynamic didn’t resemble a couple’s at all. There always seemed to be a sense of distance between them.

Sure enough, Qian Jia’s lips twitched into a smile. “We haven’t talked about it.”

“…” ’Did I just ask the wrong question?’ Xu Su thought.

The cheerful atmosphere in the car suddenly turned awkward. Just as Xu Su was wondering what to say to break the tension, the phone in her pocket began to vibrate.

Letting out a huge sigh of relief, Xu Su pulled it out to look.

…She had celebrated too soon.

She must have been holding the phone for a while, because Xi Zirong couldn’t help but spare her a glance. “Who’s calling?”

Huang Feng leaned forward from the back seat, curious. “’Crazy Zhou’? Susu, what’s with that contact name?”

A nickname like that clearly had a story behind it.

“…” Xu Su tightened her grip on her phone and explained awkwardly, “…It’s exactly what it sounds like.”

The call went unanswered and stopped vibrating. But before Xu Su could even take a breath, another one came through.

“Answer it.” Xi Zirong’s voice had lost its earlier warmth, replaced by a distinct chill.

The other three weren’t fools; they pieced it together almost instantly.

“Could it be a love rival for our God Xi?”

Huang Feng and Qian Jia were both expert gossips. Sensing drama, their eyes lit up with curiosity.

Even the usually silent Xu Ran shifted his gaze toward her.

’Answer the phone?’

Xu Su actually answered. “Hello.”

’If I don’t answer, there’s no telling what Xi Zirong will think,’ she thought. ’Answering it is the more upfront thing to do.’

“Susu, when are you heading to your grandma’s today? I’m not far from your school right now. Can you come out and see me for a bit?” The line was noisy on his end, but Zhou Mochen’s voice was as pleasant as ever.

The car was dead silent. Xu Su didn’t know if the others could hear the voice on the other end of the line, but she saw the knuckles on Xi Zirong’s hand gripping the steering wheel turn white.

“…” ’Did he hear that?’

Xu Su felt a prickle of dread and was already regretting her decision to answer the phone.

She quickly lowered the phone’s volume, making sure Zhou Mochen’s voice couldn’t be overheard, then rushed into the receiver, “I’ve already left. If that’s all, I’m hanging up.”

He paused for a second on the other end. “The bus from the city to Kang County doesn’t depart until nine, and it’s not even eight yet. How could you have left?”

“Are you trying to avoid me again? Xu Su, you only have a three-day break. I’m not saying anything about you spending the whole time in the countryside, but you can’t even let me see you for a minute?”

Even with the car’s air conditioning blasting right on her, Xu Su broke out in a nervous sweat. “No, I can’t! Zhou Mochen, can you please stop being so annoying?”

Her voice dripped with annoyance, and the person on the other end fell silent for a long moment. “Xu Su, my patience has its limits. Don’t treat me this way.”

Even through the phone, the anger in Zhou Mochen’s voice was impossible to miss.

Too bad for him, Xu Su wasn’t falling for his act anymore. Without another word, she hung up.

’As if she could ever get things straight with Zhou Mochen quickly, let alone in a situation like this.’

The car fell silent again. But unlike the previous awkwardness, this time the atmosphere was heavy and suffocating.

Even if they hadn’t heard the voice on the other end, between Xu Su’s replies and that strange contact name, everyone could piece together what was going on.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep