Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 104: You’re watching me every day, where am I supposed to find you a love rival.
Xi Zirong’s expression stiffened. He turned his face to the side and emphasized, "Don’t be curious about the first-year students. They’re only fifteen, a full two years younger than us."
At six-thirty in the summer, the light was ample—so ample that Xu Su immediately spotted the blush on his profile.
"..." ’He gets flustered so easily, and he loves to sulk.’
But the more flustered he got, the more Xu Su couldn’t resist teasing him.
Her mischievous streak flared up. She smiled, tilting her head to study him. "Xi Zirong, are you upset just because Huang Feng praised some first-years for being handsome and having good grades? And here I was, thinking you were so good-tempered and emotionally stable."
Xi Zirong turned to look at her. "It has nothing to do with anyone else. You know that. It’s what you think that I care about." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
His directness caught her off guard.
She paused. After a long moment, she finally said, "I’m not curious about the first-years. Huang Feng was just so excited talking about them, I couldn’t very well rain on her parade, could I? Xi Zirong, I’m just now realizing you’re actually quite petty."
’I barely said anything, and he’s getting mad over *this*?’
’Besides, it’s human nature to appreciate beauty.’
’There’s nothing wrong with looking at a handsome guy.’
’Studying is already stressful enough. Can’t I at least take a moment to appreciate the finer things in life?’
Xi Zirong remained silent.
The two of them walked side by side toward the competition classroom. He didn’t speak again until they had entered and sat down. "Xu Su, you were right. I really am petty. What I’m most afraid of is you attracting a few more love rivals for me."
His voice was low, and he sounded dispirited.
Xu Su turned to look at him, her gaze meeting his clear eyes, and it slowly dawned on her.
This person was jealous.
And he was being all sulky and awkward about it.
For some reason, Xu Su’s heart softened. She didn’t understand what she was feeling.
’Does feeling your heart soften for someone mean you like them?’
She forced a small smile. "You watch me every day. Where would I find any rivals for you?"
Xu Su had never truly liked someone before. In her two lives, aside from Zhou Mochen, Xi Zirong was the boy she had interacted with the most.
He was wonderful. He possessed all the gentleness, courtesy, sincerity, and fiery passion that young love should have.
’Compared to Zhou Mochen’s oppressive and suffocating affection, Xi Zirong’s feelings were healthy and wonderful, weren’t they?’
Xu Su had never experienced anything like it, and her heart was truly starting to flutter.
~~~~
The outcome of the competition was far too uncertain. Among the nineteen students in the competition class, very few would dare to say with any confidence that they would pass the preliminary round. They couldn’t even guarantee clearing that first hurdle; the semifinals to follow would be an absolute bloodbath.
Still, it wasn’t unheard of for students to get guaranteed admission to top universities through these competitions each year. For students who were highly specialized, at least, the competition was undoubtedly a bit easier than the college entrance exam.
After more than a month of high-intensity instruction from the two teachers, September arrived, and the day of the preliminary round finally came.
Although City No.1 High School didn’t have many students competing, a bus was still arranged to take them to the test site.
The preliminaries were held locally. After getting off the bus, they saw that the area outside the test site was already packed with examinees from high schools all across Chang City, as well as the supervising teachers from the various schools.
In contrast to City No.1 High School’s rather pathetic turnout, the schools famous for their competition programs had sent massive throngs of students.
Xi Zirong stood beside Xu Su, looking toward the largest group of students in the distance. "That’s Experimental Middle School. Unlike our school, competitions are their main focus. They have dedicated competition classes. In Chang City, their competition program is much stronger than City No.1 High School’s."
Xu Su followed his gaze. Experimental Middle School seemed to have about a hundred students there. Compared to the paltry few from City No.1 High School, they certainly looked like a force to be reckoned with.
As they were watching the other students, other people were watching them, too.
Although City No.1 High School’s competition results weren’t particularly outstanding, it was, after all, one of the top city-level high schools in Chang City. Moreover, this time, Xi Zirong, widely acknowledged by the other schools as the top student in his year, was competing.
Then, Xu Su noticed that a lot of eyes were on her.
Curious, admiring, appraising, scrutinizing...
Amidst all these varied gazes, Xu Su remembered what Huang Feng had said during summer break.
She had said that the news of Xi Zirong pursuing a girl had become the biggest piece of gossip across all of Chang City’s major high schools.
Previously, Xu Su had either been at school, at home, or in the countryside.
’Now that I’ve finally shown my face in public, of course all these students from other schools are staring.’
The corner of Xu Su’s mouth twitched. She took a few steps to the side, trying to put some distance between herself and the boy beside her.
But Xi Zirong immediately followed her, asking in confusion, "What’s wrong?"
"..." Xu Su gave him a complicated look. "You don’t know what’s wrong? Xi Zirong, you’re too famous! Now I’m the one getting all the attention."
Xi Zirong raised an eyebrow, looking a little hurt. "You can’t blame me. You know this is my first time at a competition, too."
... ’What does that have to do with how many competitions you’ve been to?’
In the first place, very few first-years from City No.1 High School ever entered the competition.
Most students didn’t officially compete until their second year.
Before they could exchange a few more words, Teacher Wu called everyone to gather around and handed out an exam badge and an admission ticket to each person. "Come straight back here after the test. We’ll be waiting for you. Just do your best, and don’t feel any pressure."
Holding her exam badge—which had her photo, school, and class on it—and her admission ticket, Xu Su lined up to enter the test hall.
Xi Zirong was right behind her. The students in front and behind them were also from City No.1 High School. Students from other schools a short distance away were still casting furtive glances in their direction.
Xu Su realized that Xi Zirong seemed to know a lot of people. Several boys in different school uniforms even came up to greet him.
Then, they would pretend to casually glance over at Xu Su before looking back at Xi Zirong with unconcealed envy and reluctantly walking away.
Xu Su: .....
They weren’t in the same exam hall. Xu Su was assigned to one on the first floor, while Xi Zirong had to go up to the second.
Before they parted, Xi Zirong told her, "Do your best. I’ll finish early and wait for you downstairs."
The students all around them, who were also about to enter their exam halls: ...
’Sure, there were couples at their schools, but they were all secretive about it!’
’So what if he’s a study god? Does he have to announce his relationship to the whole world?’
Being stared at by so many students from other schools made Xu Su feel a discomfort she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She gave Xi Zirong a little push. "You’d better get going."
Xi Zirong nodded, perfectly composed. He glanced at her one last time before heading toward his own exam hall.
Xu Su found her assigned seat. A round-faced girl at the next desk leaned over. Her eyes were sparkling, and she had the friendly, forward manner of someone who makes friends instantly. "Hey, are you Xu Su? Are you really dating God Xi from your school?!"
The boy sitting in front of the round-faced girl overheard and turned around to look as well.
Soon, Xu Su noticed that the student in front of her was also secretly straining to hear her reply.
