Living Only For Myself: Make Those Who Hate Me Regret It-Chapter 121: I Can’t Help But Feel There’s a Little Green on My Head
Xi Zirong was in a black jacket, his tall, lean figure standing perfectly straight. He was the very picture of a handsome, elegant youth.
The moment he heard Xu Su say she was cold, he unzipped his jacket without a second’s hesitation. He pulled her into a tight hug, enveloping her within its warmth. "If you’re cold, we’ll talk while we cuddle. Susu, still cold?"
Xi Zirong was wearing a sweater under his jacket, and its warmth, infused with his own body heat, pressed against Xu Su. With his voice right beside her ear, she felt the chill in her limbs and cheeks instantly vanish, replaced by a blossoming heat. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Xu Su struggled uncomfortably, but Xi Zirong only held her tighter. She quickly blurted out, "I’m not cold anymore! Let me go. This is so inappropriate. What if our classmates see us?"
"No one will see. You just got out of the shower. Holding you like this will keep you from catching a cold."
He rested his head on Xu Su’s hair, inhaling her shampoo’s fragrance. He nuzzled her hair with his chin before speaking. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back early? Susu, were you really going to leave me alone in the classroom to tutor your friend?"
Xu Su was a little confused. ’What does he mean, leave him alone in the classroom? There were still at least a dozen other students in there. And besides...’
"...Wu Qianqian isn’t just my friend, she’s your classmate, too. Don’t act like tutoring her is some huge favor you’re doing just for me, okay?"
Recalling Qian Jia’s words and that strange feeling from earlier tonight, Xu Su took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The only thing she smelled, however, was his clean, boyish scent.
After a moment of silence, Xu Su grabbed the hem of Xi Zirong’s jacket. Still in his arms, she tilted her head back to look at him and asked, "Xi Zirong, I’ve realized that Wu Qianqian seems to like you. Did you know that?"
Xu Su wasn’t one to beat around the bush. She always asked what was on her mind, and if something made her uncomfortable, she said so directly.
Swallowing her pride for the sake of peace was simply not in her nature. Xu Su had never experienced the insecurity and anxiety that came with being in love.
Xi Zirong’s hand moved to the nape of her neck, gently massaging it. He didn’t stop as he heard her question, merely lowering his head to look at her. "You’re only realizing that now? Susu, I thought you knew all along. You really didn’t?"
"...?"
Her eyes were drawn to the slow bob of his Adam’s apple. ’...Kind of alluring...’
’But what is he saying? I don’t understand at all.’
Xu Su was completely baffled. "Are you saying you thought I already knew Wu Qianqian liked you, and I *still* asked you to tutor her?"
Xi Zirong nodded. "Yeah. Isn’t that what happened?"
Xu Su fell silent.
’What did he just say?’
’He actually said, "Isn’t that what happened?"’
A moment later, Xu Su felt her temper snap. She threw her arms around Xi Zirong’s neck and pulled him closer.
Staring at Xi Zirong’s face, which still held a trace of grievance, Xu Su ground out her words through clenched teeth. "You don’t actually think I’m crazy, do you? Like I’m actively *trying* to get cheated on? Why would I make my own boyfriend get close to a girl who has a thing for him?"
"So you knew Wu Qianqian liked you, and you *still* tutored her for over a month? And all the while I was acting like a total fool, bringing you two water?"
The more Xu Su spoke, the angrier she became. She suddenly realized Qian Jia was right. To everyone else, her behavior lately must have made her look like an absolute idiot—a pathetic, clueless idiot at that.
But the angrier she got, the better Xi Zirong’s mood seemed to become.
A smile finally broke through the sullen expression he’d worn ever since she’d ditched him without a word. "As long as you remember I’m your boyfriend, we’re good. Xu Su, don’t ever ask me to get close to other girls again. Not even ones who aren’t interested in me."
He leaned in close, his voice tinged with a wounded tone. "You care so much about your friends. I was genuinely afraid you’d just wrap me up and give me to her as a present. Susu, I was terrified that if I told you she liked me, you’d break up with me. You wouldn’t do that, would you?"
Xu Su’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious? You really thought that?"
’It’s true that I value my friends, but did I really give him the impression that I’m the kind of person who would gift-wrap her boyfriend for one of them?’
’So much so that even though he knew Wu Qianqian liked him, he was still willing to do what I said and tutor her for over a month?’
An entire month!
Xu Su couldn’t put a name to what she was feeling. She remembered how, over a month ago, when she’d first asked him to tutor her friend, he’d been radiating a gloomy aura.
"What else was I supposed to think?" Xi Zirong sounded full of resentment. "I thought I made it perfectly clear I didn’t want to tutor your friend, but you still insisted. You even told me you wouldn’t get angry."
His hand, which had been massaging her neck, moved to her cheek, stroking it slowly as he spoke in a low voice. "You said you wouldn’t get angry if I tutored other girls, but Susu, *I* was angry. I was angry that you were so generous. Do you understand now what I was trying to say before?"
"Stop touching my face, it tickles." Xu Su turned her head to dodge his hand and got back to the point. "So, when did you realize Wu Qianqian liked you? I don’t get it. If you knew she liked you, why did you still..."
Xu Su trailed off, suddenly unable to finish her sentence.
Xi Zirong was right. She *had* insisted he tutor Wu Qianqian, and she had acted so magnanimous about it.
From his perspective, considering how much she valued her friendships, it wasn’t a stretch to think that if she’d known about Wu Qianqian’s crush, she might have pushed him away for the sake of that friendship.
After all, Xu Su really did treasure her friends. She didn’t have many, which made those friendships seem all the more precious.
She just never imagined that Xi Zirong would think she was that kind of person.
’Has he been watching too many dramas where guys give up their girlfriends for their "bros"?’
’Did he just come up with a gender-swapped version of that plotline?’
Xu Su tried to lower her arms from around Xi Zirong’s neck, but he stopped her.
The young man dipped his head, making it easier for her to keep her arms around his neck. His tone was incredibly gentle. "Are your arms tired? If not, keep holding me. Susu, I like it when you do this."
"So, can I stop tutoring your friend tomorrow? She’s really slow, Susu. I don’t have as much patience for other people as you seem to think."
"..." Xu Su recalled how Wu Qianqian had spent nearly half the study session on a single problem that evening. She fell silent for a moment.
It was hard to say if she genuinely couldn’t grasp it or if she was just trying to talk to Xi Zirong longer.
Xu Su was still bothered. She mumbled, "So if she were smarter, you’d be more patient? Xi Zirong, I’m starting to feel like I’m being played for a fool."
’Even though I’m the one who set myself up to be played...’
Still, Xu Su was unhappy.
She remembered what Qian Jia had said—that the class was calling her "the Martyr" behind her back.
Xu Su shoved him away. "Nope. The more I think about this, the more messed up it feels. When, exactly, did you figure out she likes you?"
