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

Winter days are short and dark. Even before evening self-study started, it was already gloomy. Xi Zirong leaned against the bench, his head turned to the side, his expression unreadable. He reached out and pulled Xu Su over, choosing to apologize: "I'm sorry, it was my fault."

The boy's voice was a little hoarse, and he was being somewhat cautious.

Xu Su: "......"

This person knows how to soften her heart...

Xu Su remained silent for a while, then sat back down, letting him hold her hand, and explained softly, "If it were up to me, I would tell him after graduation, Xi Zirong. I don't want the whole school to know about this; it's not a good news story."

"Yes, there's still more than a year until graduation," Xi Zirong replied, then calmly asked, "What will you do if he keeps bothering you during this year?"

Xu Su had already made plans. She said, "I live at school now, so I won't see him for months. Xi Zirong has already promised me this afternoon that he won't appear at school anymore, so I just need to study hard and talk to him about it after the college entrance examination."

As long as Zhou Mochen doesn't show up at school, she can have some peace and quiet. Anyway, she won't see him, so she'll just reply to his messages occasionally to appease him. She'll deal with everything after graduation.

In truth, Xu Su was afraid of Zhou Mochen deep down, but since she had chosen to be with Xi Zirong, she would have to confront him sooner or later. She had been prepared for this situation the day she agreed to be with Xi Zirong.

However, no matter what, Xu Su just wanted the day of the showdown to come later.

Call her an ostrich if you want; she'll postpone things as long as possible.

"He promised not to show up at school?" Xi Zirong chuckled. "Then what did you promise him that he would agree not to bother you at school?"

He's really perceptive, Xu Su thought helplessly; her boyfriend is too smart.

She chose to be honest and confess, "Didn't I block his contact information before? Now I've unblocked him and promised to reply to his messages occasionally, that's all."

“That’s it…” Xi Zirong repeated slowly, rubbing his temples as if he had a headache.

Then, in a serious tone, he asked, "Su Su, what if I said I really mind you replying to his messages?"

"..." Xu Su was a little stunned by the question.

She said somewhat blankly, "Then what do you want me to do? Should I make it clear to him now? I already told him that after I realized I liked you, I made it very clear to him that I didn't like him, that I hated him, and that I wanted him to stay away from me, but it didn't work. You saw it yourself, he still came to the school to find me."

Xu Su said, "The premise for him not coming to school is that I occasionally reply to his messages. Xi Zirong, what do you want me to do? I really don't want the whole school to know. If he comes to school twice more, he might find out that we are together."

Xu Su had a terrible headache. For the first time, she began to doubt whether she had been too hasty in agreeing to be with Xi Zirong, even though she knew Zhou Mochen's obsession...

Now we're in a dilemma, what should we do?

She inexplicably thought of Zhou Mochen's reddened eyes that afternoon; what if he knew she was already with someone else...

Sensing Xu Su's hesitation, Xi Zirong tightened his grip on her hand and said firmly, "Don't be afraid of him, Su Su. I'm your boyfriend. I can't let my girlfriend reply to other men's text messages, not even if it's just perfunctory. You know me, I'm very petty."

He said, "If you're worried that the whole school will know about his harassment of you, then let's settle it off-campus. Su Su, I think he's a proud person. If he had any backbone, he wouldn't bother you since you like me."

Xi Zirong had met Zhou Mochen, and even though it was only briefly, she was deeply impressed by him.

In Xi Zirong's judgment, that man was aloof, proud, and extremely outstanding. She believed that such a man would not pester a girl who already had someone she loved. Rather than constantly replying to his text messages and giving him hope, it would be better to be direct and clear.

Xu Su was speechless at his thoughts, and after a long while, she gave a dry laugh. She really didn't know what to say...

Xi Zirong was completely unaware of Zhou Mochen's obsession.

In Zhou Mochen's eyes, what does backbone matter compared to Xu Su?

Xu Su glanced at her watch. They had been talking for too long, and there were less than ten minutes left before evening self-study. She decisively stood up and changed the subject: "Go to class first. Xi Zirong, you don't know him well enough. We can talk about these things later."

Xi Zirong grabbed her arm, insisting on an answer: "Running away won't solve the problem. Tell me, how do you plan to deal with him? Are you really going to wait until after graduation?"

It was completely dark by now, and Xu Su was at her wits' end after being questioned for so long.

Seeing that it was pitch black all around, she didn't care about anything else and directly reached out to wrap her arms around Xi Zirong's neck. The boy was stunned for a moment, but quickly lowered his head to cooperate.

Xu Su pressed her face against his neck and rubbed against it before saying, "If you're worried that he'll steal me away, then keep a close eye on me, Xi Zirong. I allow you to keep a close eye on me. You can be more confident. I didn't choose him when I had to choose between the two before, and now that I'm with you, I won't be easily swayed by him."

Both of them are incredibly smart, but Xu Su isn't stupid either; she knows what's been bothering Xi Zirong for so long.

Xi Zirong wanted Xu Su to tell all her suitors that she was already taken, thus confirming his status as her boyfriend.

Xu Su's heartfelt comfort was very effective. Xi Zirong held her waist with one hand and placed the other hand on the back of her head, trying to get her closer. She said softly, "Let him hug you, Su Su, he has hugged you before."

The boy's voice was hoarse, somewhat aggrieved, and even carried a hint of coquetry, making Xu Su cry out that she was wronged.

She nuzzled his neck again, continuing to soothe him: "He did hug me, but I didn't ask him to. Didn't you force yourself to hug me before? He's the same as you were before."

Xu Su pursed her lips. Actually, Xi Zirong had been like a leech to her before, always looking at her with a pitiful expression, which somehow softened her heart.

Looking back now, Xu Su doesn't even know how she fell in love with Xi Zirong; it seems it really started with her soft heart.

She started to soften towards him and couldn't bring herself to refuse him decisively. This clever young man gradually eroded the distance between them, and she naturally agreed to be with him.

But in the beginning, Xu Su was also forcibly hugged by him.

Reminded by this, Xi Zirong also thought of the past events, and his tone immediately became less self-righteous. He turned his head and paused before speaking: "Don't see him alone again in the future, and don't let anyone else hug you. Su Su, you don't know how much I mind these things."

Xu Su was in a hurry to get back to the classroom. She patted Xi Zirong's shoulder and said casually, "I promise you, I promise you, Xi Zirong, let go, we're going to be late."

Xi Zirong seemed genuinely distressed. He was reluctant to let go of her hand and asked in a pleading tone, "How about we skip class? I want to hold you forever."