Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 56 - 55: Xu Su Felt Her Head Ache Again...
If he was just giving her a ride because it was on his way, picking up a neighbor’s kid from school might seem... barely plausible.
This would only make sense if the person was warm-hearted and the two families were on very good terms.
However, even though he had only met the man once, the memory of his severe, icy face was enough for Xi Zirong to know that this "neighbor big brother" was not the helpful type.
As for what would compel a neighbor to lend her his phone, Xu Su hadn’t said.
But regardless of the reason, it proved their relationship wasn’t so simple.
Xi Zirong stared at her, stunned. "That man... he likes you?"
Xu Su was taken aback by his directness. After a moment, she slowly nodded. "Mm, that’s more or less it."
’There was no reason to hide it.’
Xi Zirong’s brow furrowed in complete confusion. "Do your parents know how he feels? They just let him drive you to and from school?"
Xu Su scoffed. Even though you weren’t supposed to air your dirty laundry in public, she said it anyway: "They’re probably happy to see it happen."
’Seeing his expression shift unpredictably, she wondered what else was going through his head.’
Xu Su pulled out her phone and glanced at the time. It was almost twelve.
She looked up. "Xi Zirong, the bell’s about to ring. I’m going to head out."
"Wait." Xi Zirong’s voice was urgent. "What about you? Do you like him?"
Xu Su paused, mid-turn, and answered honestly, "No."
The boy’s eyes lit up. Xu Su added, "The only thing I like is school. Xi Zirong, you’re still young. Why are you always thinking about this lovey-dovey stuff? You should be focusing on your studies."
"..." Xi Zirong paused, then said with a hint of resignation, "So, how did your morning exams go? That’s what I was looking for you to ask about earlier."
At the mention of this, Xu Su’s spirits lifted, and her mood brightened. She said proudly, "I think I did pretty well, especially on the chemistry exam. For the last three major problems, you gave me at least thirty similar practice questions over the past week. There’s no way I messed them up."
Seeing her like this, Xi Zirong chuckled softly. He looked down and said, "So, that meal you promised to treat me to... when are you going to make good on that? How about right now?"
Xu Su shook her head. "I can’t. I’m not eating at school today."
’If I don’t go out to meet him, Zhou Mochen has the kind of temper to blow up my phone. And if I don’t answer, he’ll probably assume something’s happened and come straight to the school to find me.’
Xi Zirong’s smile faded. He said slowly, "Xu Su, are you planning to board at the school next year to avoid him? So he can’t drive you anymore?"
This time, Xu Su was genuinely surprised. ’I can’t believe he figured that out.’
She said, "That’s part of the reason. Xi Zirong, stop asking. I really have to go."
Xi Zirong nodded, his composure returning. "Xu Su, if you ever need help with anything, you can tell me. I don’t mind being bothered."
Xu Su waved a hand dismissively. "I know."
Before the final bell could ring, Xu Su set her water bottle on a stone bench, ran to the restroom, and then started walking toward the school gate.
On her way out, her thoughts drifted uncontrollably to Xi Zirong, and Xu Su felt a knot of complicated emotions.
’I always thought his feelings for me were just a typical teenage boy’s fleeting crush on a pretty girl.’
’That crush wasn’t even directed at the real me. It was probably for some perfect girl he’d imagined, born from not really knowing me at all.’
’A boy’s love is like a castle in the sky. These feelings would surely fade as he got to know my real personality.’
’After all, in my heart, I know the real me is short-tempered and impatient. I rarely even have a good attitude toward him. Other than a pretty face, I have no redeeming qualities. It’s all just a boy’s idle fantasy.’
’But now, I’m suddenly realizing that this boy might actually like me. Maybe... even a little more than I thought...’
His words from last night echoed in her mind.
’That boy... with his red-rimmed eyes... so full of heartache... wanting to hug me...’
Xu Su’s head began to ache again.
’I haven’t even figured out what to do about Zhou Mochen, so when did Xi Zirong start becoming an issue?’
’So much so that now he’s giving me a headache, too.’
A young man’s sincerity is pure and precious. No one wants to hurt that, and Xu Su was no exception.
’I’m already wondering if I should start distancing myself from him when the next semester begins...’
First High School was huge. It took Xu Su nearly ten minutes of walking to get off campus and reach the spot where Zhou Mochen was parked.
The moment she got in the car, Zhou Mochen handed her a hot water bottle. He must have timed it perfectly, as the water inside had clearly just been boiled. She could feel the searing heat even through its fluffy cover. In this frigid weather, far from finding it too hot, Xu Su couldn’t bear to part with it.
Zhou Mochen was in the middle of setting up a small folding table. He lifted a large food container, then glanced at her. "Put it on your stomach," he said.
Xu Su shot him a look. "How do you know so much about this?"
Zhou Mochen smiled. "Mm, I did some quick research online this morning. If your cramps are really severe, you should see a doctor. Don’t just try to tough it out."
He took several stacked dishes from the food container and placed them on the small table. He looked at her again. "That time during military training, when you were looking so sick in my car... was it for this same reason?"
The man’s calm features, gentle tone, and occasional concerned glances made Xu Su extremely uncomfortable.
’I could go head-to-head with the gloomy, ruthless Zhou Mochen, but this version of him—the one who was so considerate and always put me first—I really couldn’t find a single fault to get angry about.’
Seeing her stay silent, just staring at him, Zhou Mochen smiled again. "Why are you so fond of staring at me today?"
’It was like this in the morning, and it’s happening again now...’
Whatever occurred to Zhou Mochen, his smile grew even wider.
Xu Su: "..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Zhou Mochen rarely got angry and usually treated everyone with an air of detached calm, but he wasn’t one to smile often. To outsiders, he might seem good-tempered, but he was actually the most difficult person to approach.
This gentle demeanor was simply a product of his upbringing, drilled into him by the Zhou family’s strict household rules. Over the years, he had learned to never let his feelings show on his face, able to maintain a relaxed posture no matter how furious he was.
But the smiles he had shown Xu Su these past few days were completely genuine.
Looking at him now, he didn’t seem like the same person as the madman from her memories.
Zhou Mochen handed her a pair of chopsticks. "Don’t just space out. Eat while it’s hot. I had our family’s housekeeper make it for you specially."
’A housekeeper, huh...’ Xu Su recalled that in her past life, Zhou Mochen had indeed hired a housekeeper with excellent cooking skills when he was in Chang City.
She looked down. The dishes were all hearty and down-to-earth: pig’s trotters stewed with soybeans, beef brisket braised with carrots, a plate of garlic choy sum, and on the side, a bowl of sweet egg drop soup with brown sugar.
Xu Su wasn’t one to fuss over food, but in the time since her rebirth, she truly hadn’t eaten a single decent meal.
At school, she ate in the cafeteria, where just getting full was enough. The meals she had at home on weekends were just ordinary family cooking; they were hardly what you’d call sumptuous.
After one bite of the beef brisket, Xu Su’s eyes narrowed in bliss. She thought back carefully. The last time she’d eaten beef was... in her past life.
The small table sat between them. Zhou Mochen watched her from the opposite side. Seeing the girl eat with such satisfaction, a familiar, bittersweet ache swelled in his chest. "How about I bring you lunch from now on?"
