Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 98: Xu Su, I’ll Give You However Much You Want
The hole-in-the-wall eatery had no air conditioning, only a single fan whirring away, barely stirring the air.
After just two bites, Zhou Mochen was choked by the spice and started coughing. He grabbed a napkin to cover his mouth, his forehead beaded with sweat from either the heat or the spice—he couldn’t tell which.
He looked utterly disheveled, a far cry from his usual cool and detached demeanor.
As she watched him, Xu Su thought, ’I should be laughing.’ And then she did, a small smile gracing her lips.
Once Zhou Mochen got his coughing under control, he saw her smile and smiled back, his eyes filled with adoration. He knew she was deliberately teasing him.
Then, he picked up his chopsticks, lowered his head, and continued to eat.
Zhou Mochen couldn’t handle spicy food well—at least, not yet.
He had grown up on a light diet and disliked dishes that were oily, salty, or spicy.
In his past life, it was only after getting together with Xu Su that he gradually changed his eating habits to accommodate hers.
But if he forced himself to finish this whole bowl of spicy hot pot now, especially on an empty stomach, his stomach would surely protest.
One bite, two bites, three bites...
Xu Su’s expression had darkened, her smile long gone. She shot to her feet. "That’s enough. If you can’t eat it, don’t force yourself. Zhou Mochen, stop putting on this martyred act. It makes me uncomfortable."
’It’s really making me uncomfortable...’
’Aren’t you supposed to be fierce? Domineering? So why are you acting like this?!’
’If you can’t eat it, then just say so! Who are you putting on this act for?’
’As if I’m going to appreciate the gesture?’
Xu Su snapped, "Stop eating. Go pay. We’re going to a different place."
It didn’t quite feel like anger, but Xu Su didn’t have time to analyze it. She just wanted this scene to be over with, and fast.
Zhou Mochen remained seated. He watched her in silence for a few seconds, his lips bright red from the spice, completely stripped of any intimidating aura.
Xu Su shot him a glare and walked out.
Next door was a noodle shop, where Xu Su ordered a bowl of stir-fried noodles for Zhou Mochen.
By the time Zhou Mochen came out after paying, Xu Su was already sitting inside, waiting for him by the fan.
Zhou Mochen held a bottle of plum juice in his hand and passed another one to her, coaxing, "Are you mad that I can’t eat spicy food? Susu, don’t be angry. I’ll learn."
He sat on a plastic chair, tilting his head to look at her, his tone as serious as if he were discussing a major project.
"..." Xu Su ignored him. She took the plum juice, twisted off the cap, and took a slow sip, gradually calming her frustration.
The stir-fried noodles arrived.
Xu Su pushed the bowl toward him. "Eat."
The stir-fried noodles looked appetizing. The owner pulled the noodles by hand, and every strand was perfectly chewy, coated in a light sauce. It had been one of Xu Su’s absolute favorites during her three years of junior high.
Looking at the bowl of noodles, which contained no chili peppers, Zhou Mochen suddenly realized something.
A peculiar glint appeared in his eyes. Zhou Mochen leaned in close to Xu Su and whispered, "Susu, you couldn’t bear to torture me anymore, could you? Are you worried about me?"
Like a man in despair finally seeing the clouds part to reveal the moon, Zhou Mochen felt a glimmer of hope after his long ordeal.
’The girl he liked was finally starting to worry about him.’
His blunt question startled Xu Su. "Zhou Mochen, what nonsense are you talking about? Just eat your noodles. I want to go home!"
’Worried about him? Yeah, right!’
’In her mind, Zhou Mochen was the last person on earth who needed anyone’s sympathy.’
’If she had that kind of energy to spare, she’d be better off feeling sorry for herself. He’d been clinging to her for two lifetimes, and she still couldn’t shake him off.’
’What is he even talking about...’
Zhou Mochen pressed his lips together, his gaze darkening slightly.
By the time he finished his noodles, it was nearly three o’clock.
On the highway, Zhou Mochen tried to take Xu Su’s hand, but she swiftly pulled it away.
"Zhou Mochen, just drive."
He chuckled. "My driving is pretty good; I can manage with one hand. Come on, Susu, let me hold your hand?"
Xu Su rolled her eyes, not bothering to grace him with a response.
For once, she didn’t fall asleep in the car. Xu Su spent the entire drive gazing at the scenery rushing by outside the window, letting her mind go blank.
After they got off the highway, Zhou Mochen asked, "Can we head back a little later? Have dinner with me first."
He had only eaten half of the noodles earlier.
Xu Su glanced at him. "What are we eating?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
He seemed to have a few ideas already. "Steak?"
Xu Su shook her head. "No."
Zhou Mochen thought for a moment. "Japanese? Want to try some salmon?"
Again, Xu Su shook her head. "No."
"Seafood? I know a restaurant in Chang City that does decent seafood. Want to give it a try?"
Xu Su was growing impatient. "No, and no!"
The atmosphere in the car instantly soured, becoming heavy and stagnant.
Zhou Mochen’s smile, which had appeared when she agreed to eat with him, completely vanished.
It dawned on him that the young woman was just toying with him for her own amusement.
When he fell silent, Xu Su turned to look at him, puzzled. She was met with the sight of his tightly clenched jaw and ashen face.
Xu Su: "..."
’Who pissed him off now? He looks furious.’
Xu Su ordered bluntly, "The food you had sent over last time was pretty good. I want to eat meat. All kinds of meat."
’The cook this guy hired is amazing,’ she thought. ’I have no idea where he found her. Her cooking is better than what you’d find in many hotels.’
The screech of tires echoed as the car jerked to a stop. Xu Su lurched forward, only to be yanked back by her seatbelt.
Zhou Mochen turned his head, his gaze searing. "Are you sure you want the same food as last time? Susu, that means you have to come home with me."
Imperial Central. Of course, Xu Su knew it was Zhou Mochen’s primary residence in Chang City.
His question caught her off guard. "The same place as last time?"
’That was the place where they had that huge fight,’ she recalled. ’Where she’d said so many hurtful things. It was a wonder that the proud Young Master Zhou could even take it.’
"Yes," Zhou Mochen said. "I hired a cook. You like her food? I’ll call her now and ask her to get started."
He moved fast, dialing a number and giving a few simple instructions.
Xu Su was still lost in thought long after Zhou Mochen had hung up.
’Imperial Central...’
’She had lived there in her past life, too. She moved in right after her college entrance exams.’
’Back when her grandmother was rushed to the emergency room and she couldn’t scrape together the money for her medical bills, she had been at her wit’s end and had gone to Zhou Mochen to borrow money. What was his condition for lending it to her back then?’
While she was lost in her daze, a hand enclosed hers. Zhou Mochen’s voice broke the silence. "What are you thinking about?"
Xu Su snatched her hand back and subconsciously wiped it on her pants.
Zhou Mochen caught the movement out of the corner of his eye, and his pleasant mood instantly evaporated.
’He was finally realizing it,’ he thought. ’His mood rose and fell with her every little action.’
Xu Su turned to look at him as the car drove into a familiar underground garage, and the world outside grew dim.
Her mind went blank as she asked softly, "Zhou Mochen, if I asked to borrow two hundred thousand from you, what would you do?"
Her voice was quiet, as if she weren’t even asking him, but someone else entirely.
After pulling the car perfectly into a parking space, Zhou Mochen shut off the engine and answered her seriously, "I’ll give it to you. Xu Su, however much you need, I’ll give it all to you."
