Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It

Chapter 443 - 441: Don’t Wrong Yourself, I Can’t Bear to See You Wronged

Jiang Chusheng’s lips curved into a smile. After a brief handshake, he pulled his hand back. "I’ve heard a lot about you."

’I’ve heard a lot about you...’

Xu Su blinked, her thoughts drifting to her past with Xi Zirong...

’I guess you could say I was a total jerk to his childhood friend...’

Xu Su felt a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond.

Just then, Sika returned.

The two men tactfully stepped away. Sika helped Xu Su change her pants, unable to resist teasing her. "So that Xi Zirong is your high school ex-boyfriend? Susu, your relationship history is pretty impressive! You haven’t been idle for a moment, and the quality is so high!"

"..." Xu Su was speechless once again.

Still, Xi Zirong was definitely an ex she could be proud of, in no way inferior to Jiang Chusheng, the man of Sika’s dreams.

In fact, she was still in shock. Why would she run into Xi Zirong in a place like this?

After she finished changing, Xi Zirong came back in. Sika, ever so tactful, made her way out to give them some space. As she left, she shot a look at the oblivious Jiang Chusheng.

And so, only Xu Su and Xi Zirong were left in the tent.

Xu Su had gotten a bruise on her knee. It wasn’t actually serious, but it looked alarming on her smooth, porcelain-like skin.

Xi Zirong frowned as he examined it. He then produced a bottle of medicinal wine for bruises, placed her leg on his own, and asked with his eyes downcast, "Were you that flustered to see me? Running off so recklessly just to avoid me."

"That’s not it," Xu Su explained with a dry laugh. "I was just too surprised. I was just really, really surprised."

’So surprised that my first instinct was to hide.’

Xi Zirong held her leg with one hand and rubbed her knee with the other. His expression was unreadable as he said flatly, "I was surprised too. I never thought I’d see you here. At first, I thought I was hallucinating, that I’d gone crazy from missing you."

"..." Xu Su fell silent for a moment, completely unsure how to reply. Instead, she asked in confusion, "Why did you decide to come to the Tibetan Area for a trip?"

She had never heard him mention having plans like this before.

"Because Jiang Chusheng told me," Xi Zirong said, looking up at her, "that if you feel lost about the future, you should go see the world and find your answers on the road."

His gaze had changed, yet it also seemed the same—just as focused and stubborn as ever.

He hadn’t mentioned her at all, but Xu Su felt as if every single word was directed at her...

Her expression froze slightly, and she stopped talking.

Xi Zirong rubbed her knee for over ten minutes, only stopping when it was flushed red and warm to the touch.

As he washed his hands, he asked casually, "Who was that man in your group who blocked me?"

"His name is Si Xuan. He’s the leader of my guild in the online game I play, and he’s also the leader of our team-building trip."

Regarding the team-building trip, Sika had already told Jiang Chusheng all about it on the road, explaining almost everything before he even asked.

"The leader, huh? Seeing the way he acted, I thought you’d gotten a new boyfriend."

Xi Zirong smiled and looked at her. "Don’t you forget, you promised me that if you ever wanted a new boyfriend, I’m first in line."

’I’m first in line...’

Xu Su’s eyes widened. She had no memory of ever making such a promise.

Xi Zirong frowned. "Trying to go back on your word?"

"..." Xu Su felt he had changed even more in the short time they’d been apart. The last time they met was at the teacher appreciation banquet, where he had been smoking with a dejected, world-weary expression.

This time...

He seemed so much sharper. The gentle boy she first met was completely gone. His skin was a bit tanner, his boyishness had faded, and he now possessed a kind of sharp, piercing handsomeness.

While she was at a loss for a reply, Xi Zirong walked over, leaning in closer to look at her.

"Did you forget what you said? That if you could split yourself in two, you’d give one of you to me, and one to Zhou Mochen?"

Xi Zirong seemed to be dead serious about this. "By your own logic," he said sternly, "if you break up with him, then I’m the only one left. So, is my conclusion that I’m first in line wrong?"

Xu Su: "..."

’He makes so much sense, how am I supposed to argue with that?’

’Is this the power of a top science student?’

’His logic is flawless!’

’So I did make that promise without even realizing it...’

Xi Zirong bent down, bringing his face even closer, and pressed, "Hm? Are you really going to go back on your word?"

His scent, both familiar and strange, wafted over to her...

"Don’t get so close!" Xu Su hurriedly leaned back, her face flushing red without her realizing it. She turned her head away. "I won’t! I won’t go back on my word!"

Xi Zirong’s gaze lingered on her blushing face before he slowly straightened up. He spoke softly, "The last time I saw you two, you seemed to be fighting. Have you broken up now?"

"..."

Xu Su blinked, trying her best to recall that last time...

’Ah...’

’I think it was in that private room, the time I made Zhou Mochen drink a whole bottle of red wine before I’d leave with him. Did Xi Zirong witness the whole thing?’

’And afterward, I even kissed Zhou Mochen right in front of him...’

At this thought, a wave of horror washed over Xu Su.

’I’m such a jerk. What must Xi Zirong have been feeling at that moment?’

’What was going through his mind, seeing the ex-girlfriend who dumped him kiss her new boyfriend, especially when he was already so depressed and world-weary?’

Xi Zirong’s wrist twitched slightly, then stilled. "Susu, why do you still space out so much?"

His voice held a trace of helpless indulgence that made Xu Su’s heart pound.

She quickly explained, "I didn’t break up with him. We fight sometimes, but we made up afterward."

’We haven’t seen each other for nearly a month. How can he still seem so hung up on the past...?’

Xi Zirong hummed in acknowledgment, his eyes fixed on her face as he asked softly, "He doesn’t seem to have a very good temper. Has he been bullying you?"

Zhou Mochen had indeed been furious that day. Later, in Shen Chen’s private room, he had bullied her terribly. The description ’not a very good temper’ was definitely accurate.

Thinking about what happened that day, Xu Su paused for a moment before shaking her head. "No. I’m the only one who bullies him. He would never bully me."

As she spoke, she reached up to touch her face, awkwardly changing the subject. "Is there a flower on my face or something? Why do you keep staring at me like that?"

Taking in her momentary hesitation, Xi Zirong fell silent for a long while, his thoughts unreadable.

Finally, he smiled and said, "What am I supposed to do? I haven’t seen you in so long, it feels unreal."

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his hand to the back of Xu Su’s head and ruffled her hair. "How about a hug?"

Xu Su’s eyes widened, but before she could say a word, he grabbed the nape of her neck and pushed her head into his midsection.

He was standing while she was sitting. It was another one of those face-burying hugs that she couldn’t refuse.

Xi Zirong pressed Xu Su’s face against his waist, her nose filling with his familiar, clean scent.

A scent that was once so, so familiar...

"Did he really bully you or not?" Xi Zirong tightened his hold on the girl in his arms and murmured, "Susu, don’t let yourself be wronged. I can’t stand to see you suffer."