Chapter 59: Chapter 58: She Still Doesn’t Know How to Cherish a Sincere Heart…

Xi Zirong looked down at her hand gripping his arm, then glanced at Xu Jianbang standing nearby. He gave the man an exceedingly polite smile. Not wanting to make things difficult for Xu Su, he nodded at her. “Okay.”

He reached out and took Xu Su’s hand in his. “Don’t pick up any more,” he said in a low voice. “It’s cold out. You should head home early too.”

“…” Xu Su was speechless. ’Does this guy think I’m picking up scraps as a part-time job?’

Xu Su didn’t waste time explaining. She only let out a sigh of relief after Xi Zirong had left.

Turning back, she looked at Xu Jianbang, who was still gesturing beside her. She had no idea what he was trying to say, and she didn’t expect to figure out sign language in such a short time.

She bent down, picked up the woven plastic sack, and handed it to Xu Jianbang. She shouted into his ear, “Uncle, I’m going home now. You should head back early too.”

Xu Jianbang had a hearing impairment, so he could only make out a few words if someone shouted into his ear. He stopped gesturing, having clearly understood. He hesitantly took the sack and gave Xu Su a smile she couldn’t quite describe. Then, he waved, turned, and shuffled away…

It was the kind of smile that was worried he’d caused her trouble, yet also a little timid…

Xu Su felt a prickle in her nose and an inexplicable urge to cry…

A hand landed on her shoulder, carrying with it the aroma of roasted chestnuts mixed with baked sweet potatoes. She turned her head to see that Zhou Mochen had returned at some point.

He was clearly aware of the situation with Xu Su’s relatives. He looked down at her closely, his brow furrowing as he asked, “Are you okay?”

Not far away, several other students from First High School were still lingering. Xu Su knocked his hand off her shoulder and said in a low voice, “Don’t get handsy…”

Zhou Mochen pressed his lips together, watching her without a word.

Xu Su quickly got into the car, silently praising her own quick thinking for making Xi Zirong leave so promptly.

’Who would have thought that the boy who was usually so shy would hug her in public today…’

’Thank god Zhou Mochen didn’t see it…’

’In her past life, when he saw someone hug her, what did he do again?’

Xu Su clenched her fists, closed her eyes, and refused to remember.

When Zhou Mochen got in the car, he was met with the sight of the young woman’s cold face, an unwelcoming look that warned strangers to keep their distance.

If anyone familiar with Zhou Mochen saw Xu Su now, they would probably exclaim that the girl was just like him…

This was an unconscious habit picked up from her past life, from years of being by Zhou Mochen’s side day in and day out, which sometimes made her expression and demeanor bear a slight resemblance to his.

Her hand was grabbed, and Xu Su heard Zhou Mochen’s voice. “How about I go find out who stole your uncle’s things?”

Xu Su’s eyes snapped open. She hadn’t expected him to actually go and ask about what just happened. Thankfully, judging by his expression, he hadn’t heard that she’d just been hugged by a boy…

After the initial shock, Xu Su’s heart relaxed, and she shot him an irritated glare. “And then what? You’re going to use your usual tactics on some poor person who steals scraps?”

The sarcasm lacing her words made Zhou Mochen’s face turn cold. “Who am I doing this for? Can’t you just speak to me nicely?”

Xu Su pulled her hand from his grasp, annoyed by how both of them kept getting handsy. She turned her head to look out the window. “No. This is just how I am. I don’t know how to talk nicely. If you want to hear sweet words, don’t come to me.”

Silence filled the car. Zhou Mochen didn’t say another word. After a moment, Xu Su turned her head and urged, “Are you going to drive? It’s getting dark, can’t you see?”

She was bossy and her tone was incredibly impatient. When had Zhou Mochen ever been treated like this? Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to endure it and started the car.

Just as Xu Su was marveling at how his temper seemed to be improving and thinking the matter was over, the sound of a screeching halt filled her ears.

Zhou Mochen had pulled the car over to the side of the road. He turned his head to look at her, his voice breaking the silence, hoarse and raw. “I like you, but that doesn’t mean you can trample all over me. Xu Su, don’t treat me like this.”

The sky gets dark early in the winter. School had let out after five, and they had spent so much time on Xia Sheng Road. It was now past six, and everything inside and outside the car was shrouded in a gray gloom.

In the dim car, she could vaguely make out the fierce look in Zhou Mochen’s eyes. He was truly angry now.

’Trample…’

Xu Su mulled over the word… She had to admit, his choice of words was brilliant. She really had been acting spoiled lately, taking his affection for granted.

’Is he getting tired of it? Has he realized I’m not that likable after all?’

Xu Su suppressed the delight in her heart and met his gaze, her tone still deliberately bratty. “Then you can just stop liking me, Zhou Mochen. And can you stop looking so wronged?”

She looked completely unfazed, confident in his indulgence…

She still didn’t know how to cherish someone’s true feelings…

Zhou Mochen looked at Xu Su, a bitter feeling flooding his heart… But as he thought about it, his stern face gradually softened, as if he had suddenly shed all his anger.

’She’s still young,’ he thought. ’I’m five years older than her. Why get so serious with a little girl?’

Then, Xu Su realized that the atmosphere in the car, which had been tense to the breaking point, had suddenly lightened.

She had been all ready to pick a fight and piss Zhou Mochen off for good.

’It would be best if he started to hate me and never wanted to like me again.’

’I never expected… did he just talk himself out of being angry?’

Zhou Mochen suddenly leaned over, scooped the girl up, and held her tightly in his arms. He turned his face toward her and whispered, “Go ahead and make me angry, Xu Su. Test me and see if I can really bring myself to do anything to you.”

The man’s voice was hoarse, tinged with a sense of grievance and pain.

Caught completely off guard by the sudden embrace, Xu Su didn’t even have time to react before she felt his warm breath tickle her ear as he spoke. In an instant, she felt like she was about to explode.

But before she could push him away, Zhou Mochen ruffled her hair, then decisively let her go. His face was now devoid of any emotion. “Provoke me on purpose one more time, and I’ll hug you one more time. Xu Su, you’d better think it over…”

Xu Su was furious. She grabbed the blanket covering her legs and threw it at him. “Zhou Mochen, you’re shameless! Who’s provoking you on purpose? You’re the one who gets angry over nothing! If you don’t like it, then don’t come looking for me! I never forced you to come!”

“Mm.” Zhou Mochen picked up the thin blanket. Though his handsome face was tense and his jaw clenched, his voice was calm. “I’m the one insisting.”

Xu Su’s expression changed, wary that he was about to lose it again. But after speaking, Zhou Mochen did nothing else and simply started the car.

The New Year was in five days. The Xu Family had officially moved into their new home a while ago and had even thrown a housewarming party, inviting all their relatives over to celebrate.

However, Xu Su had been at school at the time and hadn’t gone back for it.

The new house was closer to First High School than the Old Industrial Zone was. Soon, the car arrived near the new subsidized apartment the Xu Family had been assigned. Just as Xu Su let out a silent sigh of relief and prepared to get out, he called out to her.

Zhou Mochen handed over the baked sweet potatoes and roasted chestnuts he had waited in a long line to buy. He seemed to have returned to his usual self. “Take these. They’re still warm… I’m sorry. I lost my cool for a bit back there.”

For someone so used to being domineering, his sudden show of vulnerability left Xu Su a bit stunned.

Her silence, however, sent a wave of panic through Zhou Mochen. He mistakenly thought she was holding another grudge against him in her heart.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep