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

His expression, as if he was afraid of being misunderstood by his girlfriend, made Xu Su's heart skip a beat.

“We’ve already broken up, you don’t need to explain this to me.” Xu Su stood up somewhat awkwardly, not wanting to be alone with him. “Xi Zirong, let’s keep our distance at school from now on, it’s better for both of us.”

"Let me finish." Xi Zirong reached out and pulled her. "I didn't dodge; Gu Yunjia helped me by the arm. Other than that, I have nothing to do with her. Do you believe me?"

Her arm was suddenly grabbed, and Xu Su tried to shake it off in a panic. "I know, I know, are you done?"

"Yes, I've explained everything I wanted to." Xi Zirong released her hand and looked at her quietly. "Xu Su, can you answer a few questions for me?"

Xu Su paused slightly, then nodded stiffly.

"You misunderstand what it felt like when Gu Yunjia and I kissed?"

"...I don't remember."

"I see..." Xi Zirong smiled and continued to ask, "I remember hearing that person ask you why you wanted to cry."

"You heard wrong."

"Okay, I'll pretend I misheard. I'll ask one last question." Xu Su's stubborn denial only made Xi Zirong's smile widen. "Are you still going to apply to Peking University?"

Xu Su was startled: "What do you mean?"

"It's nothing, I just wanted to know if your application has changed."

“…Xi Zirong, have you forgotten?” Xu Su lowered her head. “We’ve already broken up.”

She wasn't stupid; the meaning behind Xi Zirong's words was quite clear, but Xu Su couldn't let herself continue to be entangled with him.

Regardless of who it was for, they should have no further involvement.

"Break up? It seems like that happened. It was my fault. I was too foolish back then, unwilling to refuse you even a little, even if you were the one to break up with me." He smiled, his voice very calm: "Now that I think about it, I should have made my words a reality at the villa that day."

Xu Su was startled.

"I made one mistake: I didn't let you know how much I love you."

Xi Zirong continued, "I've never been a very emotional person, but my feelings for you are so intense that even I'm amazed. Although I'm only eighteen this year, I don't think I'll ever like someone this much again in my life, and I feel that you like me quite a bit too."

He said with certainty, "Don't deny it. If I really get together with Gu Yunjia, you'll probably have to hide and cry."

As Xu Su listened, her initial shock eventually turned into utter speechlessness...

She even hid and cried...

She gave a dry laugh, "You're really confident..."

"It's not confidence, it's intelligence. I've been missing you terribly these past two months in the hospital. I've only managed to get through it all thanks to the memories we shared together. It's like doing a math problem; I'm constantly analyzing every word and action you take."

He smiled, his eyes bright: "The final conclusion is that you like me very much."

"Your temper isn't actually that good, but you're quite patient with me. When we're together, you usually go along with me, even if my demands are childish or my possessiveness is unreasonable. If you didn't really like me, Xu Su, you wouldn't be so indulgent with me."

Perhaps it was a case of being too close to the situation to see clearly. When the two were together, Xi Zirong was always anxious and insecure. Unexpectedly, after the breakup, in his days alone, he was able to discern from his memories how different Xu Su was towards him.

Aside from the matter with Zhou Mochen, where Xu Su was out of fear and had no other choice but to get rid of him, she gave Xi Zirong all the sense of security she could.

She was even willing to risk her grandmother finding out she was dating someone by bringing him home.

What else could this be but liking?

For someone like Xu Su, to go this far shows how much she cherishes this relationship.

"..." Xu Su was speechless. Why did Xi Zirong become so confident after the breakup, and even list out evidence of how much she liked him?

She didn't understand the point of saying all this now.

The classroom was silent. The announcement had already started outside. It was too late to go to morning exercises now. Xu Su simply sat down slowly and looked at the boy who had also sat down opposite her. She rubbed her temples with a headache.

"I've never denied liking you; it's just that you've always refused to believe it." Xu Su was speechless. She really hadn't expected that this person would only realize her feelings for him now!

Xi Zirong's lips curved into a beautiful smile. "So you like me, and I like you too, so Xu Su, I won't give up on you."

OK!

Xu Su finally understood the central idea behind his long and roundabout explanation.

Her lips twitched slightly: "...Are you misunderstanding something?"

Xu Su looked up at him, her voice serious, "I like you, so I agreed to be with you back then, but I fell in love with someone else later, so I broke up with you. I thought I had made things very clear to you at the villa last time."

“We’ve already broken up, and I’m with Zhou Mochen now, Xi Zirong. What we need to do now is keep our distance. I don’t want my boyfriend to misunderstand.”

I fell in love with someone else later...

I don't want my boyfriend to misunderstand...

Xi Zirong narrowed her eyes slightly: "You like me now too. It's okay if you don't admit it. I have my own judgment. Xu Su, if I can win you over once, I can win you over a second time!"

Xu Su was so impatient with him back then, but in the end she still chose to be with him. Now, compared to the beginning, at least Xi Zirong can be sure that she likes him.

This means they're trying to steal Zhou Mochen's girlfriend...

Xu Su was stunned for a moment, then laughed in anger: "Haven't you had enough of a beating yet? Xi Zirong, after being hospitalized for so long, haven't you learned to back down? You still call yourself smart? Is this your kind of smartness?"

“He is indeed powerful and influential, but Xu Su, we are still young and have a long future ahead of us. I will grow up and become stronger. Don’t underestimate me.”

"Stop being childish, Xi Zirong. Don't act like a prince going to slay a dragon. Nobody's playing fairy tales with you here. I only like Zhou Mochen now, understand? You don't want to be a homewrecker, do you?"

Xu Su's voice was cold and ruthless, as if she only wanted him to give up. "This is the last time I'll be alone with you. From now on, I will keep my distance from you. Let's be strangers."

After saying that, Xu Su stood up, intending to go out for some fresh air. She didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Xi Zirong stood up immediately and reached out to hold her hand: "I said all this just to tell you not to forget how much I like you. I know he is very powerful, and I won't make things difficult for you. But Xu Su, I will work hard to become stronger, so that at least one day in the future when you want to be with me, you won't be afraid of his power and back down."

He was still the same gentle and polite young man he had always been, his eyes and brows incredibly tender: "Can you answer my question now?"

Xu Su was taken aback, then realized what his question was, hesitated for a long time, and was unwilling to answer.