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

Thinking about this, Xu Su felt a pang of doubt again. Why did she always habitually consider Zhou Mochen's thoughts?

Even though they've already broken up, and even though that person did such a terrible thing to her, why does she still care so much about what he thinks?

What he thinks doesn't matter. She has been forced by Zhou Mochen for two lifetimes, and the psychological trauma is immense. No matter how much she feels sorry for Xi Zirong, she doesn't dare to accept him again.

Zhou Mochen is still able to maintain her composure because she's not with Xi Zirong. If there were even the slightest hint of that...

Gan!

With Xu Su's rebellious nature united, what's there to be afraid of!

Why should I still be so afraid of him even after we've broken up?

"Okay!" Xu Su said, "I'll take your car back to Beijing tomorrow. Why not take a ride if there's a chance to hitch a ride!"

“That’s right,” Xi Zirong’s smile widened with satisfaction, and she asked again, “Where are you planning to stay tonight? Huang Feng’s? Or…”

Xu Su knew his unspoken meaning: he wanted to ask her if she was going back to the Royal Central Hotel where she and Zhou Mochen used to live that night…

She paused for a moment and then said, "I'm staying at a hotel tonight."

"A hotel?" Xi Zirong frowned. "Isn't it inappropriate to stay in a hotel during the first month of the lunar year? How about I..."

“Xi Zirong!” Xu Su glared at him.

“I’m not asking you to come to my house,” Xi Zirong was taken aback by her glare, then smiled and said, “I have a vacant house, you can stay there for one night.”

Xu Su: "I'm not going."

Xi Zirong looked at her with a smile, leaned closer and said, "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to live there with you. I'll take you there and then go home. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely won't stay any longer."

The three "absolutely" statements made Xu Su blush.

Damn, this guy is getting worse and worse...

Xu Su pushed his face away and said seriously, "I'm not going!"

What's the deal with living in your ex-boyfriend's house?

"Really not going? You'd rather stay in a hotel than go?" Xi Zirong looked regretful, reached out and patted the top of her head, sighed, "Are you afraid of me, or someone else?"

Xu Su: "..."

She's afraid of everyone.

She was afraid that Zhou Mochen would be furious if he found out, and she was also afraid that Xi Zirong would suffer the same fate as she had in the snow area...

Don't be fooled by the boy's pure and innocent appearance. If she were to stay at his place tonight, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

Xu Su lowered her eyes and focused on eating, resolutely refusing to be swayed by him.

After dinner, Xi Zirong got into her car and insisted on taking her to the hotel. Xu Su had no choice but to accept it and couldn't kick him out.

Midway through, I received a call from Zhou Mochen.

He knew Xu Su was returning to Beijing tomorrow, so he came specifically to ask where she would be staying tonight.

Xu Su gave a perfunctory reply and hung up the phone.

Xi Zirong, sitting in the passenger seat, listened the whole time. Only after she hung up did she say unhurriedly, "You're still in close contact. Didn't you break up?"

"Yes, we broke up." Xu Su's voice was calm. "But I guess we'll get back together."

"What do you mean?" Xi Zirong tilted her head and stared at her. "You like her that much? So much that you can't let go?"

Although Xu Su refused to say last time, Xi Zirong was not stupid. Just from Zhou Mochen's words and his state, she could guess most of the situation.

He vaguely knew what mistake Zhou Mochen had made, and he already deeply resented him. Now, hearing Xu Su say that they would get back together, his voice suddenly turned cold.

Xu Su remained silent, focusing on driving.

She was well aware that she was too biased towards Zhou Mochen, but many things cannot be explained by reason.

She softens when that person cries.

I'm angry about that, so I'm hardening my heart to be harsh with him.

Deep down, I couldn't bear to see him cry. Last time, I thought he was really stupid enough to have someone film a 'rape' video, and that felt like a bolt from the blue.

She couldn't even bear to think about what she would do if Zhou Mochen really did that.

They might even bite him to death.

At that moment, she finally understood what Sika meant by possessiveness.

Zhou Mochen can only belong to her alone; no one else can touch him.

No matter how awkward, angry, or upset they are, that's their business, and absolutely no other woman should be involved.

They arrived at the hotel in silence. After checking in, Xu Su looked at Xi Zirong, who was still following behind, and said helplessly, "Are you going back? Are you really planning to go up and sit for a while?"

Xi Zirong looked straight at her, her eyes full of grievance: "Let's talk."

"..." Xu Su was speechless under that gaze and tacitly agreed to follow him.

Let's talk it out. She didn't want to keep going on like this endlessly. Hesitation would only lead to more trouble.

Of all the men, only Xi Zirong didn't make her feel oppressed.

If Xi Zirong is allowed into the room, she won't feel uncomfortable.

If it were Shen Chen, she would probably go weak in the knees just seeing him from afar.

The same goes for Zhou Mochen. Now, when she's alone in a room with Zhou Mochen, she feels flustered and scared.

Once inside the room, Xu Su turned on the heater and handed Xi Zirong a bottle of water.

The two sat on the sofa in silence.

After a long silence, Xi Zirong spoke softly, "Are you really still choosing him?"

“Hmm…” Xu Su nodded slightly: “If I were to date again, it would probably be him.”

"Can I ask why?" Xi Zirong raised her eyes, her gaze locking onto the girl opposite her: "Did you choose him because you genuinely like him, or because you're afraid of his power, afraid of his entanglement, and it was a choice you had no other choice but to make?"

Xi Zirong had witnessed firsthand how crazy that man was, and she had come to deeply understand how obsessed he was with Xu Su over the past few months.

Was this crazy person's choice made out of desperation, or out of genuine affection?

Xu Su: "..."

This is a sharp question. Admittedly, she loves Zhou Mochen, but deciding to choose him again requires more than just love.

More than anything, she was afraid of his relentless harassment.

I'm afraid he'll go crazy, but I also feel sorry for him crying...

It was a very complicated feeling; only Zhou Mochen could give her this feeling.

She felt guilty, reluctant, and soft-hearted towards Xi Zirong, but she was able to let go, to completely let go.

If Xi Zirong could start a new relationship, Xu Su's first reaction would be to be happy for him.

But that won't work for Zhou Mochen. Forget about starting a new relationship, he can't even look at other girls twice.

With such an obvious comparison, is there even a need to choose?

Even so, she didn't want to hurt the boy in front of her...

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Su steeled her heart and said, "Xi Zirong, I'm serious, it's really impossible for us in this lifetime."

Xi Zirong's expression remained unchanged as she quietly looked at her: "But your eyes tell me that you still like me."

"..." Xu Su was speechless for a moment, unable to admit her own...

She cleared her throat and said seriously, "Did you notice the way I looked at Zhou Mochen? I'm twenty years old this year, and I can understand my own feelings. I genuinely like him, really, really like him."