Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 118: When Did You Start Liking Me?

They used to have a few hours to study together every evening during the self-study session, but now that Wu Qianqian had joined, that was pretty much out the window.

Xu Su thought for a couple of seconds. Looking at the expectant expression on the young man’s face, she couldn’t help but nod. "Alright, I’ll eat with you."

Xu Su never would have guessed that just for agreeing to eat with Xi Zirong, she would be nagged by Qian Jia and Huang Feng for a full two weeks about choosing a guy over her friends.

It wasn’t until Xu Su stopped even eating meals with them that Huang Feng and Qian Jia finally realized what she’d said before might actually be true.

She really hadn’t been with Xi Zirong before. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

It was only after they actually got together that she decided they should have their meals together.

Xu Su admitted it readily. "I told you guys already. If I was really with Xi Zirong, I would’ve told you right away. We really weren’t together before."

This was the first normal relationship she’d had in two lifetimes, and she cherished it dearly.

Unlike the childish, play-house romances of middle school, high school relationships—especially by the second year—held more promise for the future. Couples would set their sights on the same university.

They would strive together and improve together.

The romances of the academic aces in the Rocket Class all revolved around grinding practice problems, exams, test scores, and university applications.

Nothing that happened in the class could escape the notice of their homeroom teacher, Teacher Wu.

As an unmarried teacher, the age gap between him and his students wasn’t that large. Compared to the older teachers in other classes, he was quite open-minded.

Halfway through one of his math classes, he suddenly stopped, looked out at his students, and said with a smile, "I’ve heard about the study groups you’ve all been forming recently. I’m not going to meddle with you changing seats on your own during evening self-study. As your teacher, what I care about are your grades."

"Whether you’re changing seats to genuinely study or for... other personal reasons, as long as you can deliver satisfactory results on the final exams, I can turn a blind eye. I don’t want to be the villain who breaks up young lovers. Who knows? Maybe a few couples from our class will actually make it in the long run."

The entire class erupted in laughter. Many of the more boisterous boys whooped and hollered, pointedly looking over at the few openly dating couples in the class.

It was rare for the Rocket Class to be so noisy. Teacher Wu let them have their fun for a moment before tapping his lectern with an eraser. Once everyone settled down, he continued, "I may teach math, but I understand youthful romance. If you want to date, we teachers can’t stop you. However..."

Teacher Wu’s expression grew serious. "You need to keep it healthy, understand? I don’t want a repeat of what happened with Qiu Kai and Deng Hui in the first semester. You are students; you should be focusing on your studies. Your grades are the priority."

Qiu Kai and Deng Hui had both chosen the science track and were now in the same class as the girl at the center of the incident, Gu Yunjia. As soon as Teacher Wu mentioned them, the three parties involved—now a cautionary tale about puppy love—lowered their heads in shame.

Throughout it all, Xu Su listened with a perfectly straight face and proper posture. Even when Teacher Wu’s gaze occasionally swept over her, her expression remained unchanged.

Finally, Teacher Wu concluded with a smile, "As for the rest... you’re all nearly adults. You should know what’s what, so I won’t give you a lesson on the subject. In short: study hard. Get into the university you want, and only then will you see a much wider world."

Whoa~

Everyone in the Rocket Class was a high-achieving student, so they all understood the subtext of Teacher Wu’s words.

With such an open-minded homeroom teacher giving his tacit approval, most of the young couples in the class became a little less distant and stopped being so secretive.

Several previously hidden couples were exposed.

Even Qian Jia hadn’t been eating with Huang Feng recently. She had formed a study group with three other classmates. These days, the four of them were always together—eating together, studying together—projecting a very diligent image.

Huang Feng, whose gossip Attribute was maxed out, could tell at a glance that something was up between Qian Jia and a boy in her group named Xu Ran.

But Qian Jia flatly denied it, insisting they were just good classmates. She helped him with chemistry, he tutored her in physics, and they were simply helping each other out.

As it happened, Xu Ran was Xi Zirong’s roommate. So, during lunch that day, Xu Su looked at the refined young man eating across from her, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

Xu Su asked him, "That guy in your dorm, Xu Ran... what’s he like?"

Xi Zirong paused. "What’s he like in what sense? Academically? He ranked forty-sixth in the grade on the last joint exam."

As the class president—and one with an incredible memory, no less—he remembered the grades and rankings of his classmates with perfect clarity.

Xu Su was a little surprised. ’Even Teacher Wu probably doesn’t remember things in that much detail, does he?’

But that wasn’t what she wanted to know.

Xu Su was more direct. "Not his grades. I want to know what he’s like in private. His character, personality, daily habits, things like that."

Qian Jia was one of her only two best friends, and Xu Su felt like a mother vetting a potential son-in-law, wanting to find out everything for her. She had a walking encyclopedia right here, so it would be a waste not to ask.

She hadn’t expected, however, that Xi Zirong’s expression would slowly change as he listened to her questions.

He frowned at her. "Susu, are you asking me about another guy’s character and personality? Even his personal habits?"

It wasn’t that Xi Zirong was overthinking things. It was mainly that he realized Xu Su had never shown this much concern for him. She’d certainly never asked about *his* personal habits.

"..." Xu Su fell silent for a moment, mentally kicking herself for not being clearer.

When they finished eating, Xi Zirong stood up and took both their trays to the designated return area.

When he returned, Xu Su briefly explained the situation, then added with a retort, "You didn’t actually think I’ve fallen for another guy, did you? And that I would come to *you* to get information on him? Xi Zirong, do you really think I’m that much of a player?"

"Of course not." Xi Zirong picked up a yogurt drink, inserted the straw, and handed it to her. "It’s just, I’ve never seen you show that much interest in me."

Xu Su took the yogurt and had a sip. They left the cafeteria and started walking toward the sports field. Lately, they had developed a habit of going there to sit after lunch. There were plenty of stone benches and steps, and as long as it wasn’t raining, lots of other students would hang out there after their meal.

As they walked, Xu Su picked up the conversation. "That’s because I already know you. I have a good grasp of your character and personality and all that. What I want to know about now is Qian Jia and Xu Ran."

Xi Zirong’s eyes lit up. He had zero interest in other people’s affairs; he had only latched onto the first part of her sentence.

He asked with a smile, "So tell me, what am I like in your eyes? Susu, I’ve always wanted to know what it is you like about me. I need to maintain those qualities and work hard to improve them."

"..." Xu Su saw right through him. ’He’s just fishing for a confession,’ she thought.

As it happened, Xu Su had a question of her own. She turned the tables on him and asked curiously, "Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you the same thing. When did you start liking me? I feel like you just latched onto me out of the blue."