Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 68 - 67: "1 minute, Xu Su, hug for 1 minute.
"Did you burn yourself? Spit it out!" Xi Zirong shot up, grabbed a nearby trash can, and patted Xu Su on the back.
Xu Su shook her head at him, signaling that she was fine.
Her eyes welled with tears from the heat, but she swallowed it down in the end.
Xi Zirong pulled out a tissue for her. "Did it hurt? Couldn’t you feel how hot it was when you were holding it?"
Xu Su felt embarrassed, like she’d never had anything nice to drink before. ’But on such a cold day, holding a hot cup in my hands, I really couldn’t feel a thing...’
She pushed away the hand patting her back. "Okay, that’s enough. Just sit down. I’m fine now."
Xi Zirong moved her drink a little farther away. Seeing her confusion, he said, "I’m afraid you’ll zone out and drink it again."
He really was going to great lengths for her.
Xu Su pouted. "It’s your fault anyway. You’re the one who insisted we get something to drink."
"Yep, my fault," Xi Zirong agreed good-naturedly. He pulled a phone out of his pocket and asked, "Do you have a phone at home? Or how about you take my phone? When I get home, I can call it. If you’re scared being home alone, I can keep you company." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
His phone was a black candy bar phone, not as flashy as the swivel-top phone Zhou Mochen had given someone, but it was still quite good-looking.
’But no matter how good-looking it is, I can’t just take his phone.’
She shook her head, about to refuse, but when she saw the worry filling Xi Zirong’s eyes, she abruptly changed her tune. "I have my own phone. You can just save my number."
They sat in the shop for half an hour. By the time they were downstairs from Xu Su’s apartment, it was already 8:30.
"Xi Zirong, you should head back early. Thank you for today."
Xi Zirong nodded. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, "What time are you going to your grandpa’s place tomorrow? Should I come pick you up?"
"Pick me up for what? I can just take the bus tomorrow." Xu Su didn’t understand his train of thought. ’I had no choice but to let him walk me home today; there’s no reason to trouble him every single day.’
Xu Su said, "I’ll also leave early tomorrow evening to catch the bus. Xi Zirong, don’t even think about walking me home. If you’re really that worried, you can send me a message. I’ll reply when I see it."
She handed him the book bag she was holding and was about to go upstairs when Xi Zirong grabbed her again.
Xu Su turned back, exasperated. "Do you remember what you promised me last time?"
Xi Zirong pressed his lips together. "I just wanted to say... Happy New Year."
’Ah...’
Xu Su had almost forgotten. In just a few more hours, it would be the new year.
She leaned in and replied, "Happy New Year to you too, Xi Zirong."
His hand hadn’t let go. Still holding her wrist, he pressed, "So, are you going to wish me a happy birthday?"
Xu Su was a little surprised. "It’s your birthday today? Your birthday is on New Year’s?"
Xi Zirong shook his head. "It’s on the third day of the first lunar month. But I might not see you then, so... are you going to wish me a happy birthday in advance?"
Xu Su was a little speechless. ’Who goes around asking people for birthday wishes?’
But then, she wasn’t a petty person. With a slight smile, Xu Su said, "Alright, alright. Happy birthday, Xi Zirong. By the way, how old are you?"
Xi Zirong paused for a second, then smiled. "I’ll be seventeen after this birthday. Xu Su, we were born in the same year, but my birth month is earlier than yours. Don’t even think about being my ’older sister’."
Her thoughts seen through so easily, Xu Su fell silent for a moment.
Her birth month was late in the year. She rarely met anyone born in the same year who was older than her, but to her surprise, here was one right in front of her.
Xu Su pouted. "How come you also started school a year late, just like me?"
’Most of our classmates will only be turning sixteen after the new year.’
’It was because of the family planning policy. I was sent to the countryside and couldn’t get my household registration for a long time. Eventually, we had to register me as a year younger just to get it done, which is why I started school a year later than my peers.’
’What about Xi Zirong?’
"I repeated first grade."
Xu Su looked up at him, a little disbelieving. "You were held back? You’re God Xi. How could you have been held back?"
Hearing her call him that, just like their other classmates, Xi Zirong felt a bit embarrassed. "I wasn’t held back. It was because I transferred. The school here required me to start over from first grade."
’Oh, so that’s why,’ Xu Su sort of understood now.
It sounded a bit complicated, though, and she didn’t want to ask for more details. "Alright, well, I’m going up now. Be safe, and get home early."
His hand was still holding hers. Xu Su tried to pull it away, utterly exasperated. "Let go, Xi Zirong!"
Xi Zirong slowly loosened his grip as she’d asked, then said sheepishly, "Xu Su, your friend is having a birthday. Aren’t you going to give him a present?"
"Huh?" It hadn’t occurred to Xu Su that this was what he was getting at, and she couldn’t react for a moment. "You’re just telling me now. How could I have had time to prepare anything?"
"Yeah, I don’t want anything else." Xi Zirong suddenly lowered his head and said softly, "Can I get a hug from my ’friend’ as a birthday present?"
Xu Su: ...
She looked up, ready to glare at him, only to find that his expression was completely serious.
’...Actually, giving a classmate a hug really isn’t a big deal.’
’But is that really all he’s thinking?’
He had been her ’tutor’ for so long, after all. Facing his expectant gaze, Xu Su found it hard to refuse.
’I’m discovering that I’m growing softer and softer toward Xi Zirong...’
After a moment of silence, Xu Su said, "Then... don’t you move. I’ll do it."
’Since it’s a gift, I should be the one to give it, right?’
Then Xu Su saw him close his sparkling eyes and lean toward her, striking a ’ready to be hugged’ pose.
Xu Su thought for a moment, then reminded him, "...It’s just a normal, friendly hug. Don’t be like that..."
The boy opened his eyes and urged, "Yeah, just hug me."
"..." Xu Su was starting to regret agreeing to this.
Stuck in a difficult position, Xu Su gritted her teeth and decisively wrapped her arms around Xi Zirong’s waist. She was about to let go less than a second later when he locked his hands behind her back, pulling her into his embrace.
"One minute, Xu Su. Let’s hug for one minute."
Xi Zirong rested his head on her shoulder, burying his face in her thick scarf. His voice was muffled. Xu Su pushed him twice, but even though he clearly wasn’t using much force, she just couldn’t push him away.
Xu Su grew anxious. "Xi Zirong, don’t be a pervert!"
Xi Zirong’s low chuckle sounded by her ear. Then he released her and stood up straight. She couldn’t see his expression in the dark, but he sounded very happy. "Go on up. What floor are you on? I’ll wait for the light to turn on before I leave. Since you’re home alone tonight, let’s talk on the phone all night. I’ll keep you company."
Xu Su couldn’t be bothered with his nonsense. "Just hurry back. Send me a message when you get home, that’s all. What’s there for me to be scared of by myself? I don’t need you to keep me company."
Afraid he would say something else outrageous, Xu Su turned and ran upstairs.
After getting home, she flicked on the living room light and ran to the balcony to look down.
Sure enough, Xi Zirong was still in the same spot, looking up. He saw her head just as she peeked out.
Afraid the neighbors might hear, Xu Su didn’t call out, just waved down at him.
