Locking away my heart and love! Going back to 2000 to be a top student again.

She didn't know if she liked Xi Zirong, but she didn't want to reject him anymore. She was becoming more and more soft-hearted towards him and couldn't bring herself to say anything heartless.

Moreover, Xu Su realized that no matter how heartless she was or how harshly she rejected Xi Zirong, Xi Zirong only became more determined and persistent, trying her best to get closer to her with the spirit of a simp.

Instead of keeping him hanging like this, why not give it a try?

In fact, according to the classmates, including Huang Feng and Qian Jia, they had already tacitly agreed that the two of them were dating, as they were getting too close.

At least don't let down the sincere heart of this young man in front of you.

Xi Zirong has always been good to Xu Su. He deserves credit for Xu Su's two top-three finishes in the final exams. It is a great favor that cannot be repaid. So why not grant his wish?

Xu Su thought about many things, but she knew that the most fundamental reason was that she seemed to have a bit of a crush on Xi Zirong.

She's only ever liked someone once in her two lifetimes, so why can't she give it a try?

But what about Zhou Mochen?

Seeing that the girl was lost in thought again, Xi Zirong asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Xu Su pursed her lips, calming her wavering heart: "It's nothing."

She can't do that, much less try it; Zhou Mochen wouldn't be able to stand it.

Outside the car, other students from the No. 1 Middle School also walked out of the examination room one after another, and two teachers took turns asking them questions.

Soon all the students were on the bus.

Several students looked dejected and on the verge of tears. When asked by the teacher, they choked up and said that the questions were too difficult and they hadn't finished the last two major questions.

Teacher Song patted them on the shoulder as encouragement.

As the bus started its return journey, the students inside began comparing their answers.

Those who had different answers all came to ask Xi Zirong which answer she gave.

The person who gave the same answer as Xi Zirong cheered with delight.

Sometimes Xi Zirong's answers were different from theirs, so they all fell silent and sighed.

Xu Su couldn't help but laugh as she watched. Was this person using Xi Zirong as the standard answer?

There was no doubt that he might have made a mistake.

Seeing the smile on the girl's face, Xi Zirong smiled back, lowering her voice to a whisper, "Xu Su, I'm very outstanding. Would you like to try liking me?"

The smile on Xu Su's face slowly disappeared. She lowered her eyes, concealing the wavering within them, and remained silent.

Zhou Mochen knew she was participating in the competition, and as soon as she returned to No. 1 High School, he sent her a text message.

Xu Su clicked on it and glanced at it, but didn't reply.

More than a month into the second year of high school, Xu Su had not returned home once and had only seen Zhou Mochen once.

He only reluctantly showed up after he couldn't control himself and started bombarding her with phone calls.

It has been about twenty days since I last met Zhou Mochen.

Xu Su silently counted the days, realizing that this person was probably reaching their limit of tolerance.

She didn't know what to do.

Sure enough, after lunch, Xu Su returned to the classroom, and Zhou Mochen immediately called her.

The phone was on silent, and the regular vibrations came through the fabric of the school trouser pocket.

Xu Su took out her phone, looked at it silently, and did not answer the call.

Soon, the vibration stopped, the call ended automatically, and the next second, a text message came in.

Zhou Mochen: I'm at your school gate, Xu Su, come out, I need to see you today.

A feeling of suffocation and helplessness washed over me.

This is Zhou Mochen. She won't give her any other choice. Xu Su had been thinking about this all her life: Why?

Why should you, just because you like me, be able to control my entire life?

Can't I like someone else?

Why?

Before she could think for long, her phone vibrated again; Zhou Mochen was calling once more.

Xu Su hung up the phone casually, stood up expressionlessly, and walked out.

In the quiet alley, the weather was sweltering. Despite the air conditioning in the car, Zhou Mochen, dressed in white and black pants, leaned against the car door, glancing at his phone from time to time, exuding a gloomy aura.

When he looked up again, he finally saw the girl in the black and white school uniform walking towards him from afar. He slowly straightened up and waited quietly in place.

Xu Su stood a step away from him. "What is it?"

The girl's stiff and distant attitude made the man's face slowly darken: "Xu Su, what have I done to offend you this time? You can tell me directly. I told you not to give me the cold shoulder."

Xu Su lowered her eyes and remained silent.

"It's because of your parents again? Because of changing your dad's job? This wasn't my idea. You threw such a tantrum last time, how could I dare interfere in your parents' affairs again? It was my..."

"Don't tell me that, I don't want to hear it." Xu Su interrupted him, looking up, clearly impatient: "Zhou Mochen, if you have nothing else, I'll go back."

Xu Su checked the time; there was less than an hour before class started.

Zhou Mochen suddenly grabbed Xu Su's hand, pulled her close, and stared at her intently: "Tell me, what are you angry about again? We haven't seen each other for twenty-two days, what did I do to offend you? Just tell me."

His eyes were filled with suppressed anger, and Xu Su's hand was gripped so tightly it hurt.

If this were a normal suitor, Xu Su could openly tell him that she already had someone she liked.

But given Zhou Mochen's state, Xu Su dared not say anything.

The more things were like this, the more irritable and unwilling Xu Su became.

This frustration reached its peak after trying several times to shake off his hand without success.

Xu Su shouted somewhat out of control, "You've already offended me. Why do you always like to force others? I want to break free from your hand, why do you keep holding me? Zhou Mochen, has no one ever taught you something as simple as respecting a girl's wishes?"

His face suddenly turned extremely ugly. After a moment of stalemate, he forced himself to regain his composure, with only his taut jawline revealing his mood.

Zhou Mochen not only didn't let go, but moved even closer. He gritted his teeth and said, "If respecting your wishes means letting you go, Xu Su, don't even think about it. I can't do it."

It's happening again...

Xu Su closed her eyes, feeling utterly powerless.

She spent a year trying to teach this person to respect other people's wishes and give the girl he likes an equal right to choose.

He's like a superior, drawing a circle around you, allowing you to do whatever you want within it, but you can never leave it.

On the surface, Zhou Mochen indulged her endlessly and was completely obedient to her, but the purpose of this indulgence was to make Xu Su fall in love with him and want her heart and soul.

Her face was cupped in her hands, and Xu Su opened her eyes to see Zhou Mochen's magnified features.

Before she could react, a stamp was firmly placed on her forehead. "Xu Su, remember this: you are mine, understand?"

The kiss, which was brief and fleeting, was attempted again after those words were spoken.

Xu Su suddenly turned her head to one side and kissed her right cheek. Due to the disparity in strength between men and women, she couldn't push him away and her face turned red with anger: "Zhou Mochen, I am an independent individual. I am not anyone's possession."